"There are too many of us, so the ones at the back should leave first.
Not only can you not see anything if you squeeze in like this, but it can also easily damage your calligraphy." County Magistrate Ren, who was in the front, spoke up.
Zhang Xudong had met County Magistrate Ren once.
The person in front greeted the people in the room first, then took two steps back and looked at the two words on the list.
After they had admired it and felt excited, they went to the yard first and let others see it as well.
Finally everyone went into the yard.
Director Liu introduced the identities of both parties.
As for the old Taoist priest, he only said that he was an elder of Zhang Xudong, without going into details.
Because he didn't know much about the old Taoist's identity. He only knew that no one present was as high-ranking as him.
Zhang Xudong didn't say much, for fear that they would think too much.
County Chief Ren discussed with Secretary Xu for a while before speaking:
"Comrade Xudong, Director Liu has shared your idea with us. Secretary Xu and I have tentatively agreed with it.
But let the county build this house. After all, it’s the pride of our county, and everyone should contribute.”
Zhang Xudong refused to agree to this. After all, he was building a house in his own home, and it didn't make sense for the government to pay for it.
They discussed it again and decided to invite the best calligraphy and painting mounting master to mount the two pieces of calligraphy tomorrow.
Zhang Xudong did not ask the county to take the money. It was his personal property, so it would be more comfortable for him to pay for it himself.
After the matter was settled, several people from the county went back.
Zhang Xudong specially kept Director Liu to stay, wanting to invite him to have a drink with the old Taoist.
Zhang Xudong had just finished cooking two dishes when Director Feng came to visit him.
As soon as Director Feng entered the house, he complained to the old lady: "Auntie, your Dongzi is really no good.
He promised to hunt pheasants and rabbits for me that day. I have been waiting for more than three months.
Not only have I never seen a single rabbit hair, but now that they have a treasure, they don’t even call me to take a look.
Do you think he is being too unreasonable?"
Grandma said with a smile:
"That's outrageous. As his uncle, you should give him a beating. Let him learn his lesson."
Zhang Xudong thought about it and realized that it was true. He hadn't visited her for two months, and it was indeed a bit unkind of him.
"Uncle Feng, look, I haven't let anyone take my baby away yet. I'm just waiting for you to come.
I was thinking of cooking the food first and then calling you to treat you to a drink. But you couldn't wait and came to my house yourself."
Zhang Xudong opened his mouth and started talking.
"Stop fooling around with fools, you idiot.
I was waiting for you to invite me to drink, but I’m afraid I won’t even see the bottle,” Director Feng said jokingly.
After Director Feng looked at the calligraphy, Zhang Xudong asked He Jingxian to put all the calligraphy away.
Grandma cooked the other dishes and everyone started eating and drinking.
Zhang Xudong brought out three bottles of wine and asked Director Liu and Director Feng to drink with the Taoist priest. The Taoist priest got so drunk that he went to sleep.
After seeing off the guests, Zhang Xudong waited until his grandmother and sister fell asleep before entering the space. He then appeared at the place in the mountains where He Jingxian had been injured.
"Brother Dong, what are you doing here?"
"I want to go to the top of the mountain with you to watch the stars. When there are more people, it won't be a view exclusive to us anymore."
"Okay, let's go see the stars together. But I want you to carry me up there."
He Jingxian said with a smile, the corners of her mouth slightly curved upwards. Her lips were like the crescent moon in the sky.
"Okay, I'll carry you forever.
I carry you on my back to watch the ebb and flow of the sea tide.
I carry you on my back to watch the sunset in the desert like snow.
I will carry you on my back to experience the grandeur of the Gobi Desert.
The world is so big, I will carry you across thousands of mountains and rivers."
He Jingxian climbed onto Zhang Xudong's back and whispered, "Brother Dong, it's great to have you."
Zhang Xudong carried He Jingxian on his back and walked slowly through the mountains and forests.
The mountain breeze blew, and the withered branches swayed. But Zhang Xudong felt that it was a war song played just for him, a war dance performed just for him.
When he reached the top of the mountain, Zhang Xudong looked at the brilliant starry sky with a certain fascination.
"Brother Dong, are you worried about something? You seem a little abnormal today!" He Jingxian said, looking at the night sky.
"I am bidding farewell to the free and easy days that are about to be lost.
In the past, I lived my life as I pleased, doing whatever I wanted.
It was possible but it didn’t work anymore. I was dragged into this big trouble by the Taoist priest.
"Every day from now on, I'll have things to do, and I'll have endless things to worry about," Zhang Xudong said leisurely.
"Brother Dong, are you talking about those classics and antiques that the old Taoist mentioned?
"Then why don't we just stay away from him and ignore him?" He Jingxian asked.
"It's too late. I think the fact that we were received by Grandpa Zhou and were given calligraphy by him was all due to his help.
While he helped us achieve great honor, he also made us owe him a favor.
He was kind to me in the beginning, and he showed me affection in the future. Do you think I can hide from him? Can I hide from him?
He knows my biggest weakness is my emphasis on friendship, and he has me completely in his calculations."
Zhang Xudong said slowly.
He Jingxian was furious when she heard this and said, "That old Taoist is too wicked. He actually dared to plot against you. Let's go and settle the score with him."
"Don't worry, even though the old Taoist said he was plotting against me, he was also being frank and open about it.
His purpose was not for himself, but for the public good.
He also felt guilty. Otherwise, even if he drank more, he would not be able to get drunk.
So we can’t blame him, we can only try our best to help him.”
Zhang Xudong hugged He Jingxian and explained to him.
“You see, although this brilliant starry sky is beautiful, each star has its own trajectory.
After completing their mission, they will slowly disappear into the sky like that shooting star. This is their fate.
The same goes for people. When you live this life, you should leave some traces of your own.
Otherwise, it will be like the thirty years I have lived, coming and going silently.
How many people know that I once lived in that era?"
"Brother Dong, are you too sentimental now?
We should just do what we need to do, and not worry about other people's things."
"I just want to sigh and wonder why this person can't live the life he wants. It's really weird.
Don’t think too much, let’s just look at the stars.
I heard from the old people that every person in the world corresponds to a star in the sky.
Let’s find out which one is you and which one is me.”
Zhang Xudong said with relief.
“There are millions of stars in the sky, I just want to understand the one that belongs to you.
There are millions of people in the world, but I only need you to understand me.
Everything else is just passing clouds, and we don’t care what happens after we die.
So, with you by my side, I have the whole world."
He Jingxian leaned in Zhang Xudong's arms and murmured.
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