The next day.
Chen Nan slept until past nine in the morning.
This sleep successfully replenished the mental energy he had expended the day before searching for Chen Hanlu at the Emperor's Nightclub.
*Screech!*
The moment he pulled open the curtains, the bright sunlight made him instinctively close his eyes.
It had cleared up outside!
After washing up, Chen Nan returned to his room and found the brush, ink, and Xuan paper.
These were tools Chen Hanlu usually used for practicing calligraphy. Although this girl had a cold demeanor, her brushwork had won many awards.
He temporarily placed the Laoganma chili sauce, chopstick holder, and fruit platter from the dining table onto the coffee table. He spread the Xuan paper flat, shook the ink bottle in his hand vigorously, and then, bracing himself for his mother’s scolding, found a soup bowl, poured ink into it, and began to prepare the brush.
He wanted to personally inscribe a few characters to have them carved as a signboard.
Chen Nan had never studied calligraphy before, but during his three years in prison, he had been forced by Wu Shan to practice it for nearly two years.
It wasn't until a year ago that Wu Shan, exasperated, threw away all the stationery.
According to Wu Shan, Chen Nan was an unparalleled prodigy.
After two years of calligraphy practice, he had attained a level comparable to contemporary calligraphy masters.
Just then, the door to the adjacent bedroom was opened, and Chen Hanlu, wearing a black nightgown, walked out listlessly.
Seeing the brush and ink on the dining table, Chen Hanlu's expression suddenly turned grim: "Who told you to use my brush and ink?"
Chen Nan said awkwardly, "I was thinking of writing a few characters to have them carved on the signboard."
"You know calligraphy?" Chen Hanlu showed a smile in front of Chen Nan for the first time, but it was a cold, sarcastic smile.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're hoping I'll inscribe a few characters for you, aren't you?"
Chen Nan cautiously asked, "If I thought that, would you agree?"
Although Chen Hanlu was being a bit self-important, this was an excellent opportunity to improve their sibling relationship.
What else could he do?
Directly tell her she was being conceited and that her calligraphy was worthless in his eyes?
If he really did that, their sibling relationship would surely deteriorate further.
Chen Hanlu did not answer him, but looked at Chen Nan coldly: "I have a question for you."
Chen Nan: "Go ahead."
"What happened last night? Why did you come back unscathed?" Chen Hanlu couldn't figure out what had happened the night before.
"Nothing much, I know the owner of the Emperor's Nightclub, he wouldn't dare do anything to me," Chen Nan replied truthfully.
Chen Hanlu said with disgust: "Master Li Wu is a prominent figure in Jizhou, with assets in the billions. How could you possibly know such a prominent figure?"
Chen Nan: "I'm not lying, I really know Li Ping'an."
Chen Hanlu: "Heh, why don't you say you're Li Ping'an's eighteenth-generation ancestor?"
Chen Nan said awkwardly, "If I said my generation is even higher than his eighteenth-generation ancestor, would you believe me?"
"Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?" Chen Hanlu, infuriated, entered the bathroom.
Chen Nan showed a bitter smile.
Although Li Ping'an possessed billions in wealth and was a prominent figure in Jizhou, his other identity was the eighty-eighth-generation disciple of the Red Silk Hankerchief.
While he was an ordinary person, he was the thirty-second-generation disciple of the Wu Sect.
If they were to calculate by generation, there was a gap of fifty-six generations between them!
He walked to the bathroom door and said, "Hanlu, won't you help your brother inscribe a few characters?"
"Get lost!"
"Alright!"
Chen Nan was not discouraged.
Although their sibling relationship had not made any substantial progress.
For him, it was still a significant improvement, as the entire conversation was longer than what they had exchanged in previous years.
After washing up, Chen Hanlu returned to her room, changed into a dress, and then left home with her schoolbag.
At this moment.
Chen Xiazhi came out, yawning continuously.
Chen Nan asked in confusion, "Isn't today Sunday? Why is Hanlu carrying her schoolbag out?"
Chen Xiazhi explained, "She's going to the neighboring community to tutor a junior high student in English. I'm going later too."
"I told you that earning money is my responsibility," Chen Nan said with slight displeasure, "Have you forgotten what I said before?"
Chen Xiazhi chuckled, "Brother, I know you care about us, but tutoring a first-year junior high student is very easy. They say the working people are the most glorious, so please don't take away that honor, okay?" As she spoke, she hugged Chen Nan's arm and started to shake it, acting spoiled.
Chen Nan finally relented: "Fine, but remember, nothing is more important than your studies."
"Brother is the best, muah!" Chen Xiazhi pouted and pecked Chen Nan's cheek, but he pushed her away: "Go play somewhere else!"
Chen Xiazhi made a face and cheerfully went into the bathroom.
After Chen Xiazhi left, Chen Nan picked up his brush and, in Lishu script, wrote the four powerful characters "Chen Shi Yi Guan" on the Xuan paper.
In fact, Chen Nan was best at Kaishu, but many shop signboards were in Kaishu, which appeared uninspired.
It was precisely for this reason that he chose Lishu.
After all, in the calligraphy world, there was the saying "Han Lishu, Tang Kaishu." Just the difference in script on the signboard could make people feel the uniqueness of the medical hall and leave a deep impression.
Although Lishu was not his most proficient script, it still demonstrated his profound skill.
Afterward, Chen Nan spent three thousand yuan to order a signboard made of red sandalwood from an advertising company at the south end of the shantytown, and then went to a second-hand furniture store to buy a set of office desks, chairs, and benches.
The total cost was three thousand four hundred and eighty yuan!
"Chen Nan, you're here at the right time, I have something to tell you."
As soon as he returned to He Family Tofu Shop, He Shanshan, wearing a floral long dress, walked down from upstairs.
Because she was rushing down the stairs, her ample bosom couldn't help but tremble, which was quite eye-catching from afar.
Chen Nan's breathing quickened, and he recalled what had happened the previous day.
If Wang Ning hadn't appeared and ruined his plans, he would have already scaled the high mountains and crossed the small streams, reaching the depths of the peach garden, right?
Chen Nan: "Sister Shanshan, please tell me."
He Shanshan said awkwardly, "I can't rent this place to you anymore."
Chen Nan was taken aback, knowing that He Shanshan was surely thinking of his well-being.
If he opened a pharmacy here, Sun Sihai would definitely not let him off.
Not to mention the presence of Zhao Yuan, a scion of a wealthy family.
But he didn't expose her, instead clearing his throat, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes: "Sister Shanshan, are you really willing to let me leave here?"
A blush quickly spread across He Shanshan's pretty face, and her breathing even quickened: "You... don't talk nonsense. We are innocent, why would I be reluctant?"
Chen Nan raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you want me to take advantage of you yesterday?"
A simple look directly triggered He Shanshan's condition.
Although Wang Ning had interrupted them yesterday, she had fantasized about being with Chen Nan when she fell asleep that night.
Fortunately, the prop was an eggplant, if it had been a cucumber, it would have surely broken.
But considering the danger posed by Zhao Yuan and Sun Sihai, she said with a red face, "Letting you take advantage of me and renting you the house are two different things. You can come over anytime you want to take advantage of me, but I can't rent the shop to you!"
Chen Nan's lips curved into a sly smile: "But if I rent your place, won't I be able to take advantage of you all the time?"