"Slow down, slow down. Come on, drink some soup. Don't choke."
Su Ningxiang quickly filled half a bowl of soup for him, gave it to him, and rebuked, "Look at you. What's wrong with drinking later? Why are you urging us?"
The three men were so embarrassed. One was your grandfather, one was your father, and you called him brother. Is it appropriate for you to mock us like this?
Ding Ning felt too ashamed to show his face. He could feel Aunt Xiang's love, but she spoiled him too much. He quickly smoothed things over and said, "Aunt Xiang, I'm really full. I'll drink some wine to digest my food first, and then eat later."
"Well, drink less wine and eat two more bowls later. What else do you want to eat? Tell me, and I'll cook for you."
Su Ningxiang also realized that she seemed to have gone too far. She quietly stuck out her tongue and made a face at Su Zhengnan.
Su Zhengnan shook his head and smiled bitterly, but he felt very gratified in his heart. After so many years, he finally saw the naughty side of his daughter again.
The old master looked steadily forward, but he was secretly amused. "You two still want to hide it from me. Do you really think I don't know that this is my great-grandson?"
In the past, even if Ding Ning saved his life, he would not accompany him to this dinner. From the moment he woke up and saw Ding Ning's appearance, he knew that this was his great-grandson.
He was probably the only one present who had seen Su Ningxiang's man. Ding Ning inherited that man's handsomeness and fortitude as well as Su Ningxiang's grace and beauty. They were a perfect combination.
This could be considered as atonement. The Old Master secretly sighed in his heart. If it weren't for the fact that he had been softhearted and possessed, Ningxiang wouldn't have suffered for so many years.
Now, after experiencing life and death, he became more broad-minded. The kinship of blood could not be erased in any way. The older people were, the more softhearted they were, and the more they hoped to have children and grandchildren around them to share the happiness of family.
He couldn't even remember if it was fifty or sixty years ago that he would have such a joyous family dinner together.
At that time, his wife had not passed away, and the four brothers were still in their early twenties and had not married. The family ate together like an ordinary family.
At the dining table, the brothers were respectful, the wife was virtuous, and the son was filial. They chatted and laughed casually. Nothing could replace the warmth of a family.
However, he did not know when it started. It was probably because his sons had gotten married and achieved success in their respective fields. His wife had passed away due to illness. When the whole family ate together again, they could no longer find the same feeling they had in the past.
They either competed with each other, mocked each other openly and secretly, or silently ate their meals and went their separate ways. Home was no longer like home, and the meals were tasteless.
Later, he couldn't take it anymore and simply moved back to the Su family's old mansion. Out of sight, out of mind.
At the thought of this, Old Master Su's eyes suddenly teared up. He had lived a proud and glorious life, but it was also the biggest failure of his life.
He longed for family love, but he pushed it away with his own hands. He longed for excitement, but he silently endured the torment of loneliness. He succeeded in the first half of his life, but he failed in the second half of his life.
"Money Bag, eat more. It's better for a girl to get fatter."
Su Ningxiang loved the house and its crow. She treated the people around her son as her own children and kept putting food in her bowl.
This made Yagyuu Asamayu feel as if she had returned to her hometown full of cherry blossoms and the carefree childhood when her parents held her in the palm of their hands.
Unfortunately, all those beautiful things could only exist in her memory forever with the accident of her parents. She became a victim of the family and could never go back to the past.
She could only face her life alone, and she had no one to rely on.
"People who are not satisfied always don't know how to cherish what they have, and it's too late to regret until they lose it."
In fact, happiness was really very simple. Sometimes, a cup of hot tea, a smile, a warm greeting, a beautiful melody, a pleasant song, a warm embrace, or even a meal that might not be very delicious … could make people feel happy.
The warm dinner party finally ended in a happy atmosphere. Ding Ning sat on the chair and rubbed his big belly. He didn't break his promise. After drinking half a liter of wine, he was sternly ordered by Su Ningxiang not to drink anymore. Then, he ate three big bowls of rice and wiped out all the dishes on the table, which made Su Ningxiang beam with joy. Looking at her smile, Ding Ning felt that it was worth it even if his belly exploded.
Old Man Su was no longer as serious as he was in the past. Instead, he was like an old urchin who had never grown up. He laughed and enjoyed Su Ningxiang's constant complaints and nagging. The nagging that had annoyed him in the past now made him feel very happy.
"Follow me to the study!"
After drinking tea for a while, Jiang Rui said goodbye and left. Ignoring that Su Zhengnan was endlessly tasting his treasured tea, Old Master Su said to Ding Ning, stood up, and walked to the study.
Yagyuu Asamayu helped Su Ningxiang clean up in the kitchen, and the two talked and laughed like a mother and a daughter, which made Ding Ning feel very confused. "When did Money Bag become so smart that he can even chat?"
Su Zhengnan winked at Ding Ning, hinting that the Old Master was going to give him a treasure, which made Ding Ning feel that the Master of the Su Family was actually not as serious as he looked, and he was actually a bit funny.
In the study, the decoration was still simple, with worn-out furniture, old appliances, and peeling bookshelves, all of which were full of a strong atmosphere of the 60s and 70s.
The only thing that made people feel different was that the walls were full of all kinds of out-of-print calligraphy and paintings of famous masters, and on the large, semi-new writing desk, there were many valuable antiques and jades.
The first thing Ding Ning saw was the moonlight lion on the table, and he was instantly stunned. "Isn't it bought by my sister? Why is it here in Old Master Su's house? "
Seeing Ding Ning stare at the moonlight lion, Old Master Su smiled proudly. "How is it? This is the work of the Master of the Divine Burin. "
"Why is this moonlight lion here in Old Master Su's house?"
Ding Ning asked in confusion.
"This, you … I, a junior of mine gave it to me."
The Old Master originally wanted to say that his mother gave it to him, but he changed his words when they were on the tip of his tongue. He knew that since Ding Ning still called his granddaughter Aunt Xiang, he certainly did not know that Ningxiang was his mother.
Ding Ning did not think much about it. "Since the Old Master is kind to my sister, it makes sense that she bought this moonlight lion at a high price and gave it to the Old Master."
"Look, how is it? The work of the Master of the Divine Burin is really uncanny workmanship. "
The Old Master appreciated the moonlight lion fondly. He played with it every day, but he could not get enough of it.
"Uh, not bad."
Ding Ning nodded with a bitter smile. "I can't praise myself, can I?"
"What do you mean not bad? This is the pinnacle of the jade carving world. Every work of the Master of the Divine Burin can become a famous masterpiece. This moonlight lion can be regarded as a family heirloom no matter where it is."
Old Master Su widened his eyes in dissatisfaction, gritted his teeth, and said reluctantly, "You saved my old life, so I'll give this moonlight lion to you."
Ding Ning had a strange expression on his face. He knew that the Old Master called him in to express his gratitude, but why did it feel so strange to give him his work as a gift?
He hurriedly waved his hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Old Master, I can see that you like this moonlight lion very much. As the saying goes, a gentleman does not take away what others love. Although I am not a gentleman, I will not take away what others love. I am a doctor, and saving people is what I should do. I am not greedy for your gratitude, so you should keep this moonlight lion for yourself to admire."
"Are you sure you don't want it?"
Ding Ning did not know if it was an illusion, but he actually felt that Old Master Su was secretly happy as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He nodded firmly and said, "I really don't want it."
Old Master Su was indeed reluctant to give up this moonlight lion, but Ding Ning's life-saving grace was greater than anything else. Although Ding Ning was his great-grandson, he had never enjoyed any protection from the Su family. He still wanted to give him what he thought was the most precious thing as a greeting gift.
Since Ding Ning insisted on not taking it, Old Master Su was happy but also a little embarrassed. This guy did not even want the most precious moonlight lion, so what else could he give him as a greeting gift?
After thinking for a while, Old Master Su's eyes brightened. "Do you like calligraphy?"
"It's okay."
Ding Ning answered absent-mindedly, but all his attention was attracted by a stone on the desk that was pressed on the rice paper.
The stone looked ordinary, just a broken yellow stone in an irregular state. Ding Ning did not know why Old Master Su would use such a broken stone as a stone.
If the mermaid totem had not suddenly transmitted a strong wave of desire to him, he would not have taken a second look at it.
"How about this, I have Li Kuchan's' Red Peak and White Feather Painting ', Wang Xizhi's' Yellow Court Scripture ', Zhang Daqian's figure painting' Beautiful Ladies', Qi Baishi's' Beauties Vying for Beauty ', Chen Yifei's oil painting' Jiangnan Water Village ', Zhao Mengfu's' Tiaoliang Painting ', Tang Bohu's' Autumn Wind Fan Painting '… See which one you like, you can choose … two."
Old Master Su said with a pained expression. Every piece of calligraphy and painting here was an authentic work of great value. They accompanied him through sleepless nights. If he really gave them away, it would be like cutting off his flesh.
"I don't want any of them. I want that!"
Ding Ning did not have much interest in calligraphy and painting. He stared at the stone and said without hesitation.
"Stone?"
Old Master Su asked with a strange expression.
"Can I?"
Ding Ning asked with some uneasiness. Although he did not know what was so special about this stone, the thing that could make the mermaid totem yearn for it in its sleep was definitely not ordinary.
Since the old man put this ugly stone on the desk as a cornerstone, he must know its magic. This made him inexplicably nervous, worried that the old man would not give it up.
"Of course, but are you sure you want this broken stone?"
Old Master Su asked with an incredible look.
"I'm sure. Can you tell me the origin of this stone?"
Seeing that Old Master Su had agreed, Ding Ning felt relieved and asked sincerely.
Old Master Su's heart was filled with curiosity. Could this stone that he had been playing with for decades really be some kind of treasure?
But no matter what treasure it was, as long as Ding Ning did not want his calligraphy and painting or his jade carving, it would be easy.
He was secretly delighted in his heart, but his face revealed a profound expression. "Speaking of the origin of this stone, it has something to do with the fist technique that I practiced previously. When I obtained the ancient book, it was stuck to this stone."
"Oh, what's the specific situation? Old Master, tell me quickly."
Ding Ning became spirited. He thought that the remnant of the ancient book that recorded the boxing skills would not leave any clues, but he did not expect that there would be such a surprise.
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