“Great! Your dad’s handwriting is also very beautiful.”
Zhenye looked at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall and said, "Ancestor, I still think your handwriting is more beautiful. I also want to learn to paint."
"Alright, the ancestor will teach you."
Li Chang'en, with great foresight, prepared four sets of utensils.
“I’m telling you, a person’s handwriting is a person’s face. If others see your handwriting before they see you in person, they will form an opinion of you.”
“We don’t need calligraphers in our family, but when you show your handwriting to others, people should know that you are cultured and have character.”
Come on, let me see your skills.
Actually, there are courses on the mountain, and the four of them practiced quite well. Gu Yaozu has the most beautiful handwriting.
Each of the four wrote a poem and gave it to Zhou Shixiong to read.
"Not bad, not bad, especially the fourth brother, he has a lot of integrity. The eldest brother's handwriting is also good, but you need to find your own style."
Third brother, your skills are just average. With such a pretty face and a good personality, you definitely need beautiful handwriting to give you an edge.
"Don't worry, Ancestor. When I come back next year, I will definitely impress you. I really promise."
"Good. The old ancestor is looking forward to seeing your handwriting next year."
Second brother, actually, among the four of you, your handwriting is the most conventional. Like your brother, you need to find your own style so that people can immediately recognize it as Zhang Ruifeng's handwriting.
"Yes, Ancestor, I'll write another one for you to see."
The second son's specialty was clerical script. After he finished writing one piece, Zhou Shixiong applauded.
"Ruifeng, very good. You should practice writing in the clerical script from now on."
"It's the Ancestor!"
“The four of you should all sign your own writings. I’ll have Chang’en frame them and hang them in my study.”
"Ancestor, isn't it inappropriate to hang this up?"
"Haha, Weiyu, are you still embarrassed? It's okay, you can write again next year and hang them all up together, then you'll know how much you've improved. Isn't that better?"
"Okay. I'll listen. It's a little embarrassing, but I'll definitely be the one who improves the fastest."
Watching from the side, Li Chang'en was deeply moved. These four young masters were truly outstanding individuals, and they were only seven years old.
"Grandpa, would you like to rest for a while? It's almost time for lunch. Let's paint again this afternoon."
"Okay, let's go to the greenhouse, it's so pretty there."
They then moved on to the greenhouse. The four children didn't understand anything about greenhouses; they just knew it was pretty.
"Ancestor, it's so beautiful. But I don't know what kind of flower it is," Zhang Weiyu exclaimed after taking a look.
"You're still young, so it's fine if you like it. But Ruifeng and Yaozu, you two need to work on your tempers. You have quick tempers, and growing flowers can help calm your minds."
Take a look and see if there's anything you like. If so, take it home.
All four shook their heads. "Ancestor, we don't want to."
“Ancestor, these flowers will still look beautiful here with you. I’m afraid that if I take them back and grow them here, I’ll ruin them. Let them stay here so I can still have a chance to see them.”
Zhang Hongmei came in. She had just told the kitchen that lunch was ready.
"Uncle, shall we go eat?"
"Come on, we can't let my kids go hungry. Children need to eat a lot to grow strong."
At this moment, Liang Dan led Liu Jingsong and Liu Qiang in.
The dinner table was bustling with activity, and there really was a festive atmosphere.
"How is it? Is it delicious?"
"Grandpa, I think it's so delicious, even better than my family's chef. Seriously, I'm eating three bowls today."
"Eat as much as you like. The old man would love to see you eat more. Liu Qiang enjoys eating. That's how people should live, that's how you enjoy life."
Liu Qiang smiled at Zhou Shixiong and continued eating.
"Chang'en, go and prepare. We'll take photos this afternoon."
"Yes, Ancestor, take a few more pictures of me. I need to go study. If you miss me, just look at my photos."
Zhang Hongmei didn't say a word to this big-faced child.
Li Chang'en specially hired a photographer. After resting for a while after dinner, the shoot began.
The six children took individual photos with Zhou Shixiong. Then came a group photo of them, as well as a photo of Zhenye and the other three with Zhou Shixiong.
Also included are Zhang Shouyi and Zhang Hongmei, a married couple. There's also a photo of the two of them with Zhou Shixiong.
Gu Chuanming was also called over and took a photo with Zhou Shixiong. The two of them had never actually been photographed together in their lives.
Finally, a group photo of everyone.
"Chang'en, have them print the photos by headcount, especially the group photos, enlarge them all, frame them, and hang them in the living room and study."
Li Chang'en went down to give instructions. The younger children also skipped their afternoon nap and went to the study to learn to draw.
Gu Yaozu is truly talented; among all the artists, his flower-and-bird paintings are the most outstanding.
"Old Gu, you have a really good eye. If your old man knew this in the afterlife, he would be very pleased."
"That's right, my Yaozu is born with it. The old man has loved literature and calligraphy all his life, how could he not be happy to see such a promising talent?"
Yaozu, you must continue this tradition of calligraphy and painting. It's a family tradition of the Gu family.
"Yes, sir."
The kitchen made three-ingredient dumplings for dinner, which the children naturally loved. Watching them eat, Zhou Shixiong ate a couple more himself.
It was already past eight o'clock in the evening when the family finally went home.
When we got home, we all took a shower and then sat in the living room.
"Shouyi, he's really getting old."
"Yes, I'm getting old!"
"Alright. Let's go over tomorrow morning." After saying that, Gu Chuanming and Zhang Xingguo took the six children next door. Their kung fu skills couldn't be neglected.
Zhang Hongmei lay face down on the bed, and Zhang Shouyi massaged her back.
"Brother Zhang, I feel more tired from sitting all day than from going to work."
"I'm willing to serve my wife. I guarantee I'll make you feel completely comfortable."
The next morning, Zhang Hongmei pinched Zhang Shouyi hard twice. He was so shameless, he even had other tricks up his sleeve. He really lowered his standards.
"Wife, why are you trying to provoke me again so early in the morning?"
Zhang Hongmei quickly got out of bed and moved far away from him. She went into the bathroom and into the open space inside.
After tidying himself up, he came out and found Zhang Shouyi still lying in bed.
"The sun must be rising in the west today."
"Hehe, today is the last day of the year, of course I'm going to stay in bed."
"You can stay here, I'm going to exercise."
"Wife, why don't you lie in bed with me?"
"No, I'm going to exercise and watch the children practice."
"Wait ten minutes, then we'll go together."
Inside the training room, six children were exercising, their faces covered in sweat. The couple came in; Zhang Shouyi helped his wife with warm-up exercises, then Zhang Hongmei practiced Tai Chi while Zhang Shouyi practiced boxing.
The practice room was filled with the sounds of exercise, but there was no sound of talking.
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