Seeing that the old man's gaze was still fixed on the painting by Giuseppe Castiglione, Fatty Jin said cautiously, "No one wants to go to the hospital during the New Year. Even if the teacher is easygoing, there's no guarantee he won't go."
The old man smiled and waved his hand, saying, "You little fatty, your teacher is in good health. I'm over 90 years old; every extra day I live is a bonus. Going to the hospital or not doesn't matter..."
"Let's go check it out. Xiao Jin just parked the car downstairs..."
The old man's nephew also joined in the persuasion.
"Alright, you guys...maybe when I get back from the hospital, I won't be able to see anything anymore..."
The old man shook his head repeatedly, but still agreed. Just as Fatty Jin walked behind him, ready to push the wheelchair, the old man suddenly said, "Wait, this little boy is coming today, I want to write a calligraphy piece for him..."
The master never thought his calligraphy was worth much money. Although most of the people who came to visit him were there to ask for his calligraphy, he would often write for those who didn't ask for it, whenever he could.
This also shows the kind nature of the old man. There are many counterfeit calligraphy works of the old man on the market. Once, the old man and a friend were browsing in a calligraphy and painting store. The friend pointed to a piece of calligraphy that was being sold and asked, "Is this piece of calligraphy real or fake?"
The gentleman smiled and said, "It's better written than mine."
Many people suggested that he investigate the origin of the fake calligraphy and paintings, but he smiled faintly and said, "It's a good thing to use my calligraphy to exchange for some firewood and rice; it can be considered as making good connections."
Fatty Jin knew why Zhuang Rui had come today, so he stopped what he was doing and said, "Teacher, he really wants you to write a piece of calligraphy for him. He bought a shop in Panjiayuan and wants you to write his name on it..."
"Okay, I can't write very big characters while sitting down. I'll try to write them as big as possible, and you can take them to be enlarged before having them engraved on the signboard..."
The old man had thought things through carefully. He asked Fatty Jin to bring him a brush for writing large characters. After moistening the brush, he looked at Zhuang Rui and asked, "Young man, what name do you plan to give the shop?"
Zhuang Rui quickly replied, "The name will be Ruixuanzhai. My girlfriend and I are getting engaged soon, so we'll take one character from each of our names. Is that alright, sir?"
The old man pondered for a moment and said, “The Analects of Confucius says: ‘Be wise and intelligent, but guard your foolishness.’ The Book of Songs also has the story of daylilies that dispel worries. In ancient times, men and women were also referred to as yin and yang, with yin in front and yang behind. Young man, I think your shop name would be better if you took the sound of 'Xuanrui Zhai' and called it Xuanrui Zhai. What do you think?”
Zhuang Rui thought for a moment and immediately felt that it was wonderful. The brush, ink, paper and inkstone of the Four Treasures of the Study, the paper mostly refers to Xuan paper, and the jade and jewelry passed down from ancient times are the embodiment of the wisdom of our predecessors. The name Xuanruizhai is far better than the one he chose.
"Thank you for bestowing this name upon us, sir. It shall be Xuanrui Zhai!"
Zhuang Rui agreed without hesitation.
After Jin Pangzi laid out the Xuan paper, the old man picked up his brush and wrote three characters on it. Although the characters were not large, they were elegant and unrestrained, vigorous and powerful. Just as Zhuang Rui was about to praise them, the old man suddenly shook his head and said with great dissatisfaction, "Not good, write one again..."
"Brother Jin, don't throw it away, I'll keep it..."
When Zhuang Rui saw Jin Pangzi move the three characters aside, he quickly reached out and snatched them back. This was the master's calligraphy; even if the master wasn't satisfied, he was.
"Haha, you want that piece of writing that's been written to a fault? I'll write a postscript for it too..."
The old man laughed heartily, gestured for Zhuang Rui to place the calligraphy on the table, wrote his own name on it, and then rewrote it for Zhuang Rui.
The old man was very meticulous in his work. He didn't stop until he had written on the fifth sheet of paper, which was when he was finally satisfied. However, Zhuang Rui was even more satisfied because the old man had also written his name on the first four sheets.
For Zhuang Rui, this is more than just a piece of calligraphy; it represents the old man's earnestness and dedication, which is something Zhuang Rui should cherish even more.
"Wait, let me write another one..."
The old man was in high spirits today, perhaps because he hadn't written in a long time. He asked Fatty Jin to lay out a new sheet of Xuan paper, looked up and asked Zhuang Rui and Qin Xuanbing's names, and then wrote the eight characters "琴瑟和谐，珠联璧合" (a harmonious union, a perfect match) on it.
The inscription reads: "Wishing my dear friend Zhuang Rui and his wife Qin Xuanbing a harmonious and loving marriage, and a lasting union. This was written on the fifth day of the first lunar month of the year Yi You."
"Thank you, thank you sir..."
Seeing the master's forehead covered in sweat and his hands stained with ink, Zhuang Rui's eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.
He only knew Fatty Jin, and had absolutely no connection with the master. He never expected that after writing the inscription, the master would write such a congratulatory message for him. Zhuang Rui was truly moved by the master's actions.
Compared to the practice of high-ranking officials charging tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan for writing a piece of calligraphy that looks like dog's scratch, the master's attitude of treating everyone who asks for his calligraphy equally, regardless of social class or status, was something Zhuang Rui had never expected before he came. He was deeply impressed by the old man's personal charm.
"No, no, you're the guest. The two of them are fine..."
After washing the old man's hands, Jin Pangzi and he lifted the old man's wheelchair, one on each side. The old man waved his hand repeatedly, indicating that his nephew should carry him.
"Sir, this is nothing. I'm not carrying just anyone; you're a giant panda..."
Zhuang Rui knew the old man was humorous and open-minded, so he made a joke.
"Okay, if it really is a giant panda, then the two of you won't be able to lift it..."
The old man laughed heartily and didn't insist any further. However, when he opened the door, the cold wind blew on his face, and he shivered.
Unbeknownst to the old man, in that instant, the spiritual energy in Zhuang Rui's eyes surged into the old man's body from behind, without sparing any amount of spiritual energy.
Zhuang Rui had no other way to help the old man, so this was the only way he could feel better. This was also the first time he had risked being discovered to use his spiritual energy to treat someone else's body.
"I should have come out for a walk a long time ago. This cool breeze feels quite nice..."
When Zhuang Rui received that spiritual energy, he felt a cool sensation, but afterwards he could feel an indescribable comfort within his body. Even though the old man's physical functions had deteriorated significantly, Zhuang Rui still felt it even though he had almost exhausted all his spiritual energy.
After seeing the old man off in Fatty Jin's car, Zhuang Rui, led by the old man's nephew, retrieved the calligraphy the old man had written for him, tears streaming down his face. He couldn't help but cry; the sparkle in his eyes had been almost completely drained this time.
Chapter 547 The King White Lion
The sixth day of the Lunar New Year is the Beginning of Spring.
Since the beginning of winter, the weather in Beijing has never been as good as it is today. The long-unheard whistling of pigeons flying in the sky has also begun, as they fly overhead.
Several pigeons, tired from flying, made cooing sounds and landed on the roof of Zhuang Rui's house.
After leaving the master yesterday, Zhuang Rui went to an old shop in Liulichang that specializes in making plaques and gave them the calligraphy written by the master to be enlarged and made into a shop plaque.
As for the eight-character couplet that the gentleman inscribed for his wedding, Zhuang Rui planned to take it back to Pengcheng to see if the reclusive Mr. Fang in Pengcheng had time to frame it for him. A famous framing master would also show his respect for the work of a master.
Today, Zhuang Rui's family is returning to Pengcheng. However, Ouyang Wan and Zhuang Min are taking their little girl back by plane, while Zhuang Rui and his brother-in-law are driving back.
Although it was much more troublesome, Zhuang Rui had no choice but to do so in order to bring the white lion along. Given the size of that big guy, let alone getting on a plane, he hadn't even left the courtyard house during this time. Although Zhuang Rui's courtyard house wasn't small, it was still a very small territory for the white lion.
They set off from Beijing early in the morning and arrived in Pengcheng close to evening. Zhuang Rui was exhausted and went back to his villa to sleep.
"Hey, you pervert, are you sleeping with your wife in your arms in the middle of the night? Why are you bothering me?"
Zhuang Rui was sound asleep when he was woken up by his phone ringing. When he saw the number and the time, he was furious. This guy is married, yet he's still so irresponsible. In this freezing weather, who would disturb someone in the middle of the night?
"Get out of here, you know your wife went back to Hong Kong for the Lunar New Year. I'd love to hug her though..."
"Fine, go ahead and hug any woman you like. There are hotels right outside your house, 300 for the whole night. Haven't you been wanting to for a while? I'm going to sleep, buddy, I've been driving all day..."
Zhuang Rui replied irritably and was about to hang up. What kind of situation was it if his wife wasn't bothering him anymore?
"Damn, buddy, I haven't had a full night's sleep in almost a week. Do you think you don't want to be in charge now that you're not a major shareholder of the kennel anymore?"
Liu Chuan's furious voice came through the phone.
"What's wrong with the mastiff kennel? It's doing just fine without me, isn't it?"
Zhuang Rui was taken aback. What did his sleeping have to do with the mastiff kennel? To be honest, he could count the number of times he had been to the kennel on one hand since it was built, and he had never cared about anything there.
"Hey, the female mastiff has given birth! I kindly called you here to see, and you're not even grateful..."
Liu Chuan's words brought Zhuang Rui to his senses. To be honest, he was really interested in this. Witnessing the birth of life, no matter what kind of creature it was, was something to look forward to.
"Wait, I'll be right there..."
Zhuang Rui glanced at his watch; it was 1:30 a.m. Ignoring the freezing weather outside, he put on a thick coat, rushed out of the room, and ran to the garage to back out his car.
"White Lion, come up..."
Zhuang Rui's actions startled White Lion. After Zhuang Rui opened the front door, White Lion, with its massive size, nimbly sat in the passenger seat.
Half an hour later, when Zhuang Rui's car was a few hundred meters away from the Tibetan Mastiff kennel, he could clearly hear the deep growls of the Tibetan Mastiffs everywhere. The kennel, which was usually quiet at night, was now filled with the sound of the Tibetan Mastiffs. The sound was very penetrating and could be heard clearly even from a great distance.
The police dog base of the Public Security Bureau, not far from the Tibetan Mastiff kennel, was completely silent. They must have been terrified by the Tibetan Mastiffs. Previously, someone from the police dog base had approached the kennel, saying that the barking of the Tibetan Mastiffs was causing the number of qualified police dogs at the base to decrease.
When Zhuang Rui drove to the entrance of the Tibetan Mastiff kennel, the dogs inside became increasingly agitated. The howling of countless Tibetan Mastiffs gathered together sounded terrifying to Zhuang Rui's ears. He believed that even a real lion would have no choice but to flee in the face of so many angry Tibetan Mastiffs.
"Waaaaah..."
The white lion's mood was also affected by the Tibetan mastiff outside, and it became a little impatient. It kept gently patting the car window next to it with its paws. Fortunately, it didn't really use its strength, otherwise, the car window might have been smashed.
"Alright, White Lion, get out of the car..."
Zhuang Rui turned off the car engine at the entrance of the Tibetan Mastiff kennel, fearing that the roar of the engine would further agitate the Tibetan Mastiffs inside.
Unexpectedly, after the white lion opened the car door with its paw and jumped out, it stood two or three meters away from the car and roared to the sky, as if announcing the arrival of its king.
Tibetan mastiffs are different from ordinary dogs; their barks are not barks, but howls, or more accurately, roars.
At this moment, the white lion looked very strange. Its fur stood on end, its facial expression did not seem to be furious, and its mouth did not open and close wide. When listened to closely, it did not sound particularly fierce or harsh, but its voice could be heard from miles away.
The white lion's voice was like a smooth, round pebble striking the bronze drum with all its weight, slowly rising until it slowly and resiliently tore the bronze skin into a pile of rubble.
When the white lion's high-pitched roar suddenly rose from the deep sonic waves, the likely consequence for the other Tibetan mastiffs was a huge disaster for their eardrums. When the white lion's roar sounded, the mastiff kennel suddenly fell silent, without a sound. The only sound that filled the world was the white lion's roar.
Standing next to the white lion, Zhuang Rui was also gripped by the sound. The surrounding environment was so quiet it was almost unsettling. Zhuang Rui felt as if he were in a desert or a vast grassland, completely empty.
At that moment, Zhuang Rui suddenly realized that the reason many Tibetan monasteries use Tibetan mastiffs as their guardian beasts might be because, in areas where lions cannot appear, the Tibetan mastiff, with its majestic roar, demonstrates the dignity of Buddhism. ...
Just as the white lion unleashed its regal dignity and vented its primal wildness without restraint, another majestic roar echoed through the kennel, seemingly responding to the white lion's voice. Zhuang Rui recognized it as the roar of the Golden Mastiff King.
"Mr. Zhuang... could you... could you put a chain on this Tibetan Mastiff?"
Two or three minutes passed, and the roars from the white lion and the mastiffs in the kennel gradually subsided. Then, a weak voice came from the gate of the kennel, clearly frightened by the white lion's roar.
"It's alright, the white lion doesn't need to be chained..."
Zhuang Rui recognized the security guard and refused his request. From the time the white lion was born until now, Zhuang Rui had always treated it as his friend and family, and had never put a leash on the white lion.
After being rescued by the white lion, Zhuang Rui developed an inseparable bond with it and decided that if possible, he would take the white lion with him when he went out. Otherwise, he would not have given up taking a plane and driving for more than 10 hours to bring the white lion back to Pengcheng.
The white lion seemed to understand the security guard's words. It shook its big head unhappily and growled at the guard booth, which frightened the guard so much that he dared not open the door.
"Mr. Zhuang... Mr. Zhuang, you should probably put him on a leash. The female mastiffs at the kennel have been giving birth lately, and the male mastiffs have been very unstable. He's injured people twice already, and even Brother Zhou almost got bitten. I'm scared..."
Even though the security guard knew that Zhuang Rui was the owner of the Tibetan Mastiff kennel, he didn't dare to come out of the guard post to open the gate. At most, the owner could only fire himself, but the Tibetan Mastiff was different; it could kill him. He clearly understood which was more important.
"Okay, I'll hold it here, you open the door and then go into the guard booth, is that alright?"
Zhuang Rui was both amused and exasperated by the security guard's words. Not to mention that he never wore a dog leash, even if he did, he would never put it on the white lion.
The guard post had been reinforced with additional steel plates. When the security guard saw Zhuang Rui put his arm around the neck of the snow-white Tibetan mastiff, he weighed the situation in his mind and decided that he couldn't lose his job. So he carefully came out from the guard post, opened the gate, and then "whoosh" darted back inside. His movements were so agile that Zhuang Rui was amazed.
As soon as the white lion entered the kennel, it ran towards the mastiff area. Zhuang Rui turned around, closed the gate, and chased after it. He was worried that someone who didn't know the white lion might use a tranquilizer gun to kill it. For safety reasons, the kennel was registered with the Public Security Bureau and was equipped with a total of five tranquilizer guns.
"Wood, I knew it was you guys when I heard the white lion roar. Why has this little guy become so impatient? Male mastiffs are best bred after they're two years old, otherwise it's very bad for their health..."
Liu Chuan came from afar to greet the white lion, but avoided it as it was running. The male mastiffs in the kennel had been very unstable these past few days, and he was afraid that the white lion was the same.
Zhuang Rui grabbed Liu Chuan and pulled him towards the mastiff section, saying, "Has it been born yet? Take me to see it..."
"They're not over there. The six female mastiffs that are preparing to give birth have been given separate kennels..."