Chapter 197 Origin
The houses in the teachers' and staff's quarters were built in the early days of liberation. This type of house is similar to a tube-shaped building, but the layout inside is much better than that of a tube-shaped building. Not only are they equipped with gas, but they also have flush toilets, which was unique at the time.
Professor Yao's home is on the first floor with two rooms. There is a small living room at the entrance. On the left side of the living room are the kitchen and bathroom. On the right facing south are two rooms. One is a bedroom and the other is used by Professor Yao as a study. The wall there is covered with architectural books.
The area of the entire room is not large, but not small either, about 70 square meters, and there is a small garden outside the first floor. The garden is well maintained, with several roses in full bloom, ivy climbing on the wall, the ground paved with colorful gravel, and uniquely shaped potted plants in the corner.
Professor Yao did not let Song Yuanchao sit in the small living room. Instead, he took him directly to the small garden, where there were two rattan chairs and a small round coffee table.
"Sir, your garden is very beautiful." Song Yuanchao looked around and praised.
"Haha, I've taught architecture for a lifetime, and I only do this in my spare time. It doesn't fit in a small place, so this is the only way. However, from an architectural point of view, the Japanese style of this small courtyard is more suitable, but I don't like Japanese people, so I didn't arrange it that way." Professor Yao said with a smile, and Song Yuanchao nodded slightly. Professor Yao was right. Chinese gardens are unique, but both northern gardens and Suzhou gardens need a venue. Only a suitable venue can reflect the characteristics of the garden.
On the contrary, in such a small garden, the Japanese style can do more. However, due to historical reasons, Professor Yao's generation has a very bad impression of Japan. Although many years have passed, the two countries have re-established diplomatic relations and the people have resumed exchanges. The past seems to have turned the page. Now we advocate friendship between the two countries, but it is impossible for Professor Yao to arrange the garden in the Japanese style.
"Sir, are you alone at home?"
"I'm going to stay at my daughter's house for a few days, so I can be alone for a few days." Professor Yao replied with a smile.
"Would you like tea or coffee?" When Professor Yao suddenly asked this question, Song Yuanchao felt as if he had returned to the 21st century.
"Is there coffee?" Song Yuanchao was stunned and asked subconsciously.
"Of course, it's hand-grinded." Professor Yao winked at Song Yuanchao and said playfully.
Although Professor Yao and Song Yuanchao are nearly thirty years apart in age, Professor Yao's personality is not at all old-fashioned, but rather quite interesting.
"Then coffee, thank you." Song Yuanchao readily thanked him.
"Wait!" Professor Yao asked Song Yuanchao to sit down first, turned around and walked towards the kitchen. After a while, he came back with a pot of coffee, two coffee quilts, a sugar jar, a milk jug and other things.
He quickly stood up to help take it and placed the things on the small coffee table. At the same time, Song Yuanchao smelled the long-lost aroma of coffee.
"You came at the right time today. This coffee was sent to me by my students in Southwest China. It tastes just as good as imported ones. You can try it." Professor Yao took the coffee pot and poured coffee into two coffee cups, saying with a smile.
For a moment, the whole garden was filled with the aroma of coffee. Professor Yao asked Song Yuanchao to add sugar and milk himself, as much or as little as he wanted. Then he picked up the cup of black coffee in front of him and drank it without adding anything, with an intoxicated expression on his face as he took a sip.
Song Yuanchao was not polite either. He used a stainless steel tongs to pick up a sugar cube from the sugar jar, then used a spoon to get some milk, and then used a small spoon to stir it in the coffee cup. When it was almost done, he picked up the coffee and took a sip.
"This coffee is really good, very pure." After taking a sip of the coffee, Song Yuanchao savored it and praised it.
When Professor Yao saw Song Yuanchao fiddling with coffee very skillfully, he showed a little surprise on his face. You know, not many people know coffee in this era, even if Song Yuanchao is a college student. And there are even fewer people who know coffee and can drink coffee. Song Yuanchao's expression is not pretentious. Professor Yao can tell at a glance that Song Yuanchao is a person who drinks coffee and understands coffee.
"Xiao Song, have you ever drunk coffee before?" Professor Yao asked curiously.
Song Yuanchao nodded. "Yes, I have. I am from Shanghai. My father graduated from St. John's University. I have always loved drinking coffee. I drank it a few times with my father when I was a child. But after my father passed away, I rarely drank it. I finally drank coffee again in your place in the past few years."
Professor Yao suddenly realized that this made sense.
Song Guangzeng received Western education, which Professor Yao of St. John's University certainly knew, as it was the best university in China at that time. In addition, Song Yuanchao was from Shanghai, and Shanghai, as the Pearl of the Orient, was known as a foreign land, so it was natural for Song Yuanchao to drink coffee.
Over coffee, the two chatted about the interesting experience of Professor Yao's first time drinking coffee when he was studying in Europe. Listening to Professor Yao's story, Song Yuanchao laughed from the bottom of his heart. He never thought that the seemingly serious Professor Yao actually had such a humorous side.
"By the way, Xiao Song, what do you want to talk to me about today?" After talking for a while, Professor Yao suddenly remembered the important matter, put down the coffee cup in his hand and asked.
Song Yuanchao handed over a cigarette, struck a match to help Professor Yao light it, and then said, "Sir, I would like to ask you for a favor..."
Hearing this, Professor Yao's kind expression suddenly became serious, and two sharp eyes swept towards Song Yuanchao.
Asking me for help? Could it be that Song Yuanchao was acting as a lobbyist for someone else? Was it his classmate or someone else who had run into trouble in my class? The final exam was coming up soon. Could this guy be planning to use my backdoor?
For a moment, this thought flashed through Professor Yao's mind, and his expression looked very unhappy. He was even prepared to kick him out if Song Yuanchao started talking about what happened at school.
Unexpectedly, Song Yuanchao's next sentence surprised him, because Song Yuanchao told Professor Yao directly that he had a courtyard house, and heard that Professor Yao was an expert in the Department of Architecture, so he hoped to give him some reference and help in renovating this courtyard house.
Seeing that Song Yuanchao was not looking for him for academic matters, Professor Yao's expression eased, and he suddenly became interested in the help Song Yuanchao offered.
"Siheyuan? What kind of Siheyuan? Where is it?"
When Song Yuanchao told Professor Yao the address, Professor Yao was stunned and looked at Song Yuanchao suspiciously: "I remember that the yard was under the Second Light Industry Bureau, right? Oh, the backyard has become a slum, it has been separated for a long time!"
"Do you know this courtyard?" Song Yuanchao asked in surprise.
"I know, of course I know. There is no courtyard in this city that I don't know about." Professor Yao said with a smile, with pride in his expression.
When he was an assistant to Liang Sicheng and his wife, he traveled to many places with his teacher, not to mention the city of Yanjing. To put it in one sentence, all the famous courtyard houses, big and small, in Yanjing City were in Professor Yao's mind.
"This yard belongs to me now, including the front and back yards. The layout of the yard has been damaged a lot, and many places need to be repaired over the years. I thought if I have to repair it, I might as well do it well. It would be even better if it can be restored to its original state."
Listening to Song Yuanchao's answer, Professor Yao looked at him deeply. He was really surprised that Song Yuanchao could buy this quadrangle. This quadrangle is not small in size. It costs a lot of money just to buy it. Moreover, the property rights of the Second Light Industry Bureau are also in it. How did Song Yuanchao do it?
However, Professor Yao would not ask such a question. Since Song Yuanchao was able to get this courtyard house, he must have his own way. Considering that Song Yuanchao mentioned earlier that his father graduated from St. John's University, he probably has overseas connections. It seems that this student's background is not simple.
No matter what Song Yuanchao's background is, it has nothing to do with Professor Yao. All he cares about is that courtyard house.
"It's not easy to get back to the way it was before..." Professor Yao sighed while smoking after hearing Song Yuanchao's request.
"Sir, what do you mean?" Song Yuanchao asked.
"Do you know who owns this courtyard?" Professor Yao asked.
"This, I asked about it before I took it. I heard that it used to be the Prince's Mansion?"
"Beile Mansion, haha, that's not right or wrong." Professor Yao laughed. Seeing Song Yuanchao's puzzled expression, he finally revealed the answer: "Do you know Mu Zhang?"
"Mu Zhang'a?" Song Yuanchao thought for a moment and asked, "Are you talking about Mu Zhang'a, the military minister during the reign of Emperor Daoguang?"
"Yes! It's him!" Professor Yao nodded and said, "Mu Zhang'a is not just a minister of military affairs. In addition to being a minister of military affairs, he has also served as the Left Censor-in-Chief, Minister of the Lifanyuan, Governor-General of the Grain Transport Administration, President of the Hanlin Academy, Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Palace, and Prince Taibao. He served as the Minister of Military Affairs for more than 20 years from the Daoguang period to the early years of the Xianfeng period. He was deeply trusted by Emperor Daoguang and was an absolute powerful minister."
"In addition, Mu Zhang'a has another famous disciple, Zeng Guofan. Do you think he is powerful? Is he famous?"
Song Yuanchao nodded, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt something was wrong. He vaguely remembered that Mu Zhang'a's mansion was not there.
"I didn't say this is his mansion, I just said this yard belongs to Mu Zhang'a." Professor Yao explained with a smile. Mu Zhang'a has been in power for more than 20 years. Naturally, he has more than one residence in Yanjing City. In addition to the mansion that everyone knows about, there are of course other places.
The courtyard that Song Yuanchao took over originally belonged to Mu Zhang'a. It was Mu Zhang'a's villa, used to accommodate his concubines and for other purposes.
After Emperor Daoguang passed away and Emperor Xianfeng ascended the throne, Mu Zhang'a fell out of favor, was dismissed from his post and never reappointed, and part of his property was confiscated. This courtyard was also confiscated at that time. Emperor Xianfeng then gave this courtyard to a member of the royal family, and it became a Beile's Mansion.
After listening to Professor Yao's explanation, Song Yuanchao suddenly realized. No wonder he always felt that this courtyard was a little unusual when he was walking around it. Although more than a hundred years have passed, many remaining traces can still make people feel the grandeur of the past. However, he never expected that the first owner of this courtyard was the famous Mu Zhang'a.
