Jiang Ning approached the desk, pondered briefly, then calmly picked up his brush and dipped it in ink.
His movements flowed like clouds and water, his wrist nimble and natural. The brush danced across the paper, each stroke—rising, falling, pausing—revealing his profound mastery.
The character for "benevolence" (仁) began with a steady, weighty stroke. Its left and right strokes were both forceful and graceful, brimming with boundless power and tender warmth, as if to speak of the magnanimous heart of a benevolent person.
The three dots of the character for "heart" (心) resembled falling stars, their placement exquisite and balanced, perfectly anchoring the entire character like the foundation of a spirit, solid and unwavering.
Though the character for "depth" (厚) had many strokes, Jiang Ning handled it with clarity and distinct layers. Each stroke was meticulously defined, the interplay between them like the tacit understanding between old friends, radiating harmonious beauty.
The character for "virtue" (德) concluded with majestic grandeur. Its horizontal stroke stretched like a thousand-li battle formation, vast and magnificent. The final flourish was clean and decisive, carrying an undeniable authority and momentum, as if to emphasize the importance and solemnity of moral character.
Tang Xiachuan stood to the side, his eyes wide and fixed on the tip of Jiang Ning's brush, not daring to relax his gaze for a moment.
His lips parted slightly, his face etched with disbelief.
When Jiang Ning finished the final stroke, Tang Xiachuan involuntarily leaned forward, his hands trembling slightly. He seemed to want to touch the precious rice paper, yet feared his touch might desecrate this treasured masterpiece.
"Master Jiang, this... this calligraphy is simply divine!"
Tang Xiachuan's voice trembled slightly, filled with awe and admiration. "I've had the privilege of appraising many fine calligraphic works in my lifetime, but none possess such exquisite brushwork, nor imbue their characters with such profound cultural depth and philosophical wisdom.
These four characters—'Benevolence, Virtue, Generosity, and Integrity'—have gained a soul. Each stroke and dot seems to whisper profound truths about how to conduct oneself in the world.
Your calligraphic mastery has truly reached its zenith!"
As he spoke, he shook his head slowly, repeatedly savoring and admiring the four characters, his eyes filled with rapture and wonder.
***
*Ding-ding-ding!*
The crisp ringtone of his phone suddenly rang out. Jiang Ning casually picked up his phone and saw that it was a call from Su Yunlong, the esteemed Lord of the Su Clan.
"Hello, Jiang Ning? Where did you and Mengmeng run off to? Your mother and I are at your house." Su Yunlong's voice came through the phone, tinged with slight impatience.
Jiang Ning quickly replied, "Dad! You and Mom are here? Mengmeng and I are at the villa complex. I'll bring her back right away."
Su Yunlong responded, "Alright, hurry back. I brought some premium ingredients, and I've also invited Meng to join us for lunch. We're all waiting for you to show off your culinary skills. Hurry back now. I'm hanging up."
"Okay," Jiang Ning said quickly.
*Beep... beep... beep...*
The line went dead.
Jiang Ning turned to Tang Xiachuan with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Elder Tang. Let's end here for today. Contact me again when you're ready."
Tang Xiachuan smiled in response. "No problem, Master Jiang. Go take care of your business. I'll reach out to you later."
"Mengmeng, say goodbye to Grandpa Tang and Grandpa Zhang," Jiang Ning said softly, taking her hand.
"Goodbye, Grandpa Tang, Grandpa Zhang," Mengmeng replied, her childish yet perfectly standard English carrying her farewell to Tang Xiachuan and the old housekeeper, Zhang Haichen.
With their goodbyes exchanged, the two turned and left the Villa A19.
Tang Xiachuan watched their figures recede into the distance, his heart filled with admiration and a touch of wistfulness. "In this day and age, it's probably impossible to find another genius like Master Jiang in the entire Great Xia Kingdom. Three Grandmaster-level skills—culinary arts, calligraphy, and an Erhu technique that is truly one-of-a-kind. Master Jiang is destined to leave an indelible mark on history."
Old housekeeper Zhang Haichen nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right! Master, I believe we should extend our contract with Master Jiang beyond just one year, regardless of whether he wins the Culinary God Championship. If his fame grows, our Tang family and the company we partner with will soar to new heights, reaping immeasurable benefits."
"We must find a way to continue our contract with him. If Master Jiang's fame spreads far and wide, becoming a household name, then our Tang Family and the company we partner with will rise with him, reaping boundless benefits."
Tang Xiachuan sighed softly. "Alas, I fear Master Jiang may not wish to renew our contract. However, the calligraphic masterpiece he left behind will undoubtedly become priceless in the future, as his reputation grows."
Jiang Ning continued to converse with Mengmeng in English throughout their journey.
"Mengmeng, your paternal grandparents are already at our house. Are you excited?" Jiang Ning asked, smiling warmly at her, his eyes full of affection.
"Of course, I'm excited! I haven't seen them in ages!" Mengmeng exclaimed, bouncing with delight, her face radiant with joy.
Since being adopted into their family, Mengmeng cherished every moment of her life with her parents, grandparents, and paternal grandparents. This precious family bond was her greatest treasure, and she longed to forever hold and enjoy the warmth and love of her family.
At that moment, Mengmeng seemed to grow even more radiant, her entire being radiating pure happiness.
"Daddy, walk faster! Mengmeng can't wait to get back and see Grandma and Grandpa!" Mengmeng, like a cheerful little rabbit, hopped ahead, frequently turning back to urge Jiang Ning on.
Jiang Ning quickened his pace to catch up, cautioning, "Mengmeng, slow down! Watch your step..."
*Thud!*
"Ah!"
Before Jiang Ning could finish, Mengmeng's foot struck a stone, sending her tumbling forward. She was about to fall.
"Clear Breeze Phantom Step!"
Seeing this, Jiang Ning's heart tightened. He instantly activated his movement technique, vanishing from his original position in a flash and reappearing before Mengmeng like a gust of wind. He swiftly wrapped his arms around her waist, securing her.
With a fluid roll, Jiang Ning brought Mengmeng close against his chest, cradling her securely as he rose.
Mengmeng's face turned as pale as paper, clearly shaken by the sudden danger.
Fortunately, Jiang Ning's speed was exceptional. He had averted disaster with a hair's breadth to spare.
Otherwise, the consequences of her fall would have been unimaginable, especially with a stone chair just ahead.
*Waaah...*
Mengmeng, overwhelmed by fear, threw herself into Jiang Ning's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Don't be afraid, Mengmeng. Daddy's right here." Jiang Ning gently patted her back, murmuring words of comfort.
"Daddy, are you hurt? It's all Mengmeng's fault, Daddy..."
Mengmeng looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, and spoke with surprising maturity.
"It's okay, Mengmeng. Daddy's fine, not hurt at all. I'm a super big hero, you know. This little situation is nothing."
Jiang Ning smiled and brushed the dust off his clothes, trying to calm her.
"That's right! My daddy's a super big hero!"
Mengmeng paused, recalling her father's usual bravery. Gradually, her tears subsided.
In Mengmeng's heart, Jiang Ning was the ultimate superhero, capable of anything. This image grew ever stronger.
As long as her father was by her side, she felt completely safe.
Just now, he had appeared beside her in a flash, from four or five meters away. How amazing was that?
"Let's go, Mengmeng. We'll need to be more careful where we step from now on," Jiang Ning said softly.
"Okay, I understand, Daddy. Mengmeng will definitely watch her feet more when she walks from now on."
Mengmeng nodded obediently. She realized her earlier recklessness and knew she had made a mistake.
-----------------------
Completed English PDF of this fan-fic on my Patreon shop if you want to support and own the full fan-fic in one go. Just grab the PDF and binge the entire story from start to finish!
Guys, I've uploaded some High Quality english translated fanfic on my Patreon shop! Feel free to check it out-if you're interested, you can grab a copy and support me there.
Here are a few titles of recently uploaded fanfics:
New Addition:
" Dragon Ball: Arrogant Villains Fall in Seconds "
" Douluo: Venom System Domination "
" Dragon Ball: Mr. Satan's Bull-Headed Legend (18+) "
" Chaos Lightning Cultivator "
" After Drugging My Senior Sister, I Can No Longer Hide (18+) "
" The Clueless Girl Gets Fu**ed Every Day (18+) "
" Threatening Heroine at Start—Now the Male Lead Is Wearing the Green Hat (18+) "
Your support means a lot-thanks in advance, legends!
many more are available 90+
patreon.com/RoyalStories
(End of Chapter)