Li Huan felt that this two-courtyard house was even more beautiful than Su Qing's own in Xilin Alley.
Upon entering through the ornamental gate, one was flanked by covered walkways on both sides, connecting the east and west wings to the main house. The walkways were paved with green tiles, and though neglected, one could see weeds growing between the cracks. This didn't detract from its antique charm in the slightest; instead, it lent the place a profound sense of enduring time.
Beneath the green-tiled roofs, one side of the walkway featured latticed windows set into the walls, while the other side, under the eaves, was adorned with a regular, hollowed-out meander pattern. The walls of the covered walkway were carved with images of flowers, birds, fish, and insects—truly a place of carved beams and painted rafters, beautiful beyond words.
