Song Ziqing saw off a shocked Jones and a smug Bai Mei.
Lin Chengyu gently took Song Ziqing's hand and said tenderly, "Darling, lately we seem to have focused too much energy on Jones and Bai Mei. Actually, we should be more concerned about our own little family."
Just then, Song Jingwei hung up the phone. He excitedly announced to everyone, "Chengyu, Ziqing, Uncle Zhiwen just called personally to invite our whole family to his birthday party this weekend!"
Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Lihua came downstairs. She glared at Song Jingwei and questioned him with dissatisfaction, "Hey, why didn't you ask for our opinions before agreeing to your uncle's request?"
Song Jingwei scratched his head somewhat awkwardly and explained, "Uh... I was thinking that we couldn't go to celebrate Uncle's 70th birthday last year because Ziqing was pregnant. He invited me again this time, and I really felt bad refusing again!"
After hearing Song Jingwei's explanation, Zhang Lihua's expression softened slightly.
She turned to Lin Chengyu and Song Ziqing and said, "In that case, let's make some preparations. But I really can't handle all of Uncle Zhiwen's relatives and friends! By the way, will Uncle Zhiwen's three sisters be attending his birthday party?"
It's important to know that during the Republic of China era, Song Zhiwen's three sisters were no ordinary people.
The Soong sisters were born and raised in Shanghai, and also lived and worked there after their marriages. They were one of the most prominent sister groups in 20th-century China.
Song Ailing married Kong Xiangxi and became incredibly wealthy; Song Qingling was once the honorary president of the country, patriotic and loved by the people, and admired by all; Song Meiling married Jiang Ruiqing and became powerful and influential.
Song Ziqing smiled and comforted her, "Mom, don't worry. Chengyu and I are here, we'll take good care of you. Besides, a birthday party is about everyone having fun together, so just relax and enjoy yourself."
Lin Chengyu chimed in, "Yes, Mom. Our Song family has been scattered all these years, so it's rare for us to get together. Let's have some fun!"
Hearing what Song Ziqing and Lin Chengyu said, Zhang Lihua's mood gradually calmed down.
Their family never coveted the power and wealth of the Song family. Moreover, the Song family has long since faded from the historical stage and become an ordinary family.
Even if they wanted to seize the Song family's power, they would have no way to do so.
As for wealth, that is, money, their family is not lacking.
The collection in Song Ziqing's ring space alone is something that ordinary families cannot possess.
“Alright, I’ll do as you say. But we’ll have to prepare a special birthday present for Uncle Ziwen.” Zhang Lihua said, glancing at Song Jingwei.
"Don't worry, Mom, I know what I'm doing." Song Ziqing said with a confident expression.
She plans to paint a landscape painting as a gift for Song Zhiwen. Recently, her skills in traditional Chinese landscape painting have improved by leaps and bounds, especially in terms of artistic conception. She has won praise from many masters of traditional Chinese painting in the industry, who believe that she has reached the level of a master.
As if telepathically connected with Song Ziqing, Lin Chengyu asked directly, "Ziqing, are you planning to personally deliver a landscape painting to your uncle as a birthday gift?!"
"Darling, you're such a clever little devil!" Song Ziqing was delighted with his cooperation.
Song Jingwei said with a smile, "I'm sure you'll like Ziqing's paintings."
Zhang Lihua nodded, "Yes, Ziqing has been smart and quick-witted since she was a child, and she is also very talented in painting."
However, the Song family couple in their previous life did not have much education or ideas, and did not properly cultivate their daughter, making her choose economics, a subject she was not very interested in, which was a waste of her artistic talent.
As a child, Song Ziqing loved drawing the most. The beautiful women in her family's calendar became her source of inspiration, and the portraits of the beauties she drew were remarkably lifelike.
However, the Song couple didn't know to guide their daughter to find a teacher or anything like that. They let her develop freely and treated painting as a hobby.
Perhaps because it was just a hobby, she never really liked working in economics, which is related to her major.
However, painting and calligraphy have become true loves. Even though they have not received professional training, they have spent a lot of their spare time learning them on their own.
Because of this, after she transmigrated into this body, she inherited the original owner's memories and quickly mastered traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.
Furthermore, based on her original form, she made significant progress in both traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, as if she had been injected with spiritual water, giving both her paintings and calligraphy her unique soul.
Lin Chengyu disliked seeing his parents-in-law's somber expressions, so he quickly changed the subject, saying, "One painting might not be enough as a birthday gift, right?! How about we ask Uncle Zhiwen from Suzhou to carve a Changhua jade seal? Doesn't Ziqing still have a 'Big Red Robe' in his space? That chicken-blood stone is perfect for a birthday gift!"
Upon hearing Lin Chengyu mention "Da Hong Pao" (a type of traditional Chinese robe), Song Ziqing instantly retrieved it from her ring space using her mind and placed it directly into Lin Chengyu's palm.
"This seal stone is yours for the taking. You and Su Zhou can discuss how to carve the jade seal. You must put in 100% of your skill to carve it. You should know that Uncle Zhiwen's vision and perspective are extraordinary. He certainly won't be too interested in ordinary seal stones!"
Lin Chengyu carefully accepted the bloodstone. He understood the preciousness of the stone and knew that Song Zhiwen had refined taste. This carving had to be done with utmost care.
He also has a lot of ideas about the craft of carving, and recently he has been in more contact with Su Zhou, and has also learned a lot about the appreciation of seal stones from him.
Mi Fu's theory of appreciating stones can be summarized in four words: "lean, wrinkled, transparent, and porous," which can still be applied to the concept of appreciating stones today.
"Slender" refers to the slender shape, strange shape, upright body, and clear lines of the ornamental stone. However, it also requires that the slenderness reveals the strangeness, the strangeness reveals the sinews and bones, the bones have a firm and divine quality, and the spirit is concentrated in the spirit.
"Wrinkles" refers to the undulating shape of an ornamental stone, sometimes visible and sometimes hidden, with concave and convex surfaces and lines that are sometimes clear and sometimes dark. However, it is also required that there be changes in the wrinkles, and that there be a form in the changes, with the form revealing mystery.
"Transparency" refers to the fact that the stone is exquisite and translucent, with a consistent appearance inside and out; its shape and texture are intricate and varied, and its texture is delicate and clean; its color is colorful and its luster is dazzling.
"Loop" refers to the exquisite shape of an ornamental stone, with interconnected caves, rugged stone bodies, and interlocking openwork. But within the 'loop' lies a spirit, a spirit that reveals wisdom, and wisdom that is ingenious.
A good seal stone is one that possesses this character, making it a rare and valuable seal stone!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
