“Teacher He, Dad, Mom, and teachers, good afternoon.” Su Jing looks like a good kid, with his mentors, parents and many high school teachers present. He has to act better.
“A’Jing, come and greet the teacher.” Su Jing’s father, Su Zhenyue, beckoned. He had a little white hair on his head but he sat upright with his waist, essence, and spirit. He looked much better than Su Jing had seen him two months ago. Su Jing’s mother, Ye Qin, just smiled at Su Jing. She is also very good-looking, ruddy, bright-eyed, and had a tendency to regain her youthful beauty. It must have been because of the Magical Beast meat and Immortal World deciduous leaves that Su Ya brought back.
“Teacher He, May you live as long as Southern Mountain and your fortune be as boundless as the Eastern Sea (Tran: A way of wishing elderly in China).” Although he doesn’t think much of this old ritual in his heart, Teacher He and his father are both biased towards the ancient literati and attach great importance to it. Su Jing has to greet them in it. Besides, it’s not shameful to salute the elders who are as respectable as his grandfather’s.
“Get up quickly.” He Ruixiang, with a kind smile on his face, helped Su Jing up and laughed. ‘I heard you’ve been doing well recently, and you’ve been raising pets. Why don’t you give me one?’
“If you want. I can bring one as a gift.” Su Jing said.
“That’s not possible. The birthday gift has to be counted separately.” He Ruixiang’s earnest manner made everyone laugh.
“He earned a little money and he spends it in disorder. I haven’t had time to teach him a lesson.” Su Zhenyue has a stern face, but it’s hard to conceal a trace of pride. Who doesn’t want his son to have a good future? The word “looking forward to his son becoming successfull” applies to almost every family.
“Ha-ha, young people have their own abilities, He can spend a little money, strictly speaking, earning without spending, is not conducive to promoting economic development.” He Ruixiang is very open-minded, defending Su Jing.
“That’s it. Teacher He’s right.” Su Jing immediately smiled and echoed. He didn’t know how to tell his father. Now that he has his father’s mentor to support him. What’s there to fear?
Seeing Su Jing’s complacency, Su Zhenyue stared at Su Jing. Ye Qin was amused. She took Su Jing hand and sat him down beside her. He whispered, “You are seldom complacent and forgetful. I’ll have to settle accounts with you later. Little Ya went back and said something unclear.” What she didn’t know was that Su Ya spent most of her time playing with his pets and forgot her business. She just pretended to go to the seafood shops and fishing grounds before leaving, and the answer was clear.
After Su Jing sat down, he couldn’t speak at all. He Ruixiang and Su Zhenyue and other teachers were talking about ancient interesting things and teaching interesting things. Su Jing couldn’t get in their conversation at all, so he sneaked away and went to the yard to meet his classmates.
When it was more than six o’clock, the party was almost all here, and the birthday banquet was officially started. First, He Ruixiang’s eldest son, second daughter and youngest son gave their birthday speech, and then He Ruixiang’s grandson and granddaughter gave their birthday speech… After a series of traditional rituals, He Ruixiang blows the birthday candles and shares cakes (playing birthday songs).
Next, it is the gift-giving session. Generally speaking, the birthday gift is just to be delivered by hand. It will not be arranged as a session, because many times it will lead to embarrassing situations. If anyone’s gift becomes more valuable than others, it will not only make the birthday banquet awkward but it will also make poor people lose face. Nevertheless, there is no such worry about giving gifts to He Ruixiang. He Ruixiang usually returns gifts as valuable as he receives. There is basically no comparison between the importance of gifts. Gifts to him are more interesting and meaningful than who they are. This has become a very interesting and happy session.
“I will give my present first.” He Ruixiang’s youngest son, He Jingdong, has a well-thought-out look.
“Kid, you won’t send architectural drawings again, will you?” An old man laughed and made everyone laugh. This is an allusion. When He Jingdong was only eighteen years old, he won the Youth Architectural Design Award and presented the design drawings as a birthday gift to him Ruixiang. He Ruixiang was very proud that year. He praised the He Jingdong and boasted for his eighteen years old son. He Jingdong was very happy that day. The first year, the second year and the third year, He Ruixiang couldn’t help but send so many architectural drawings. It’s proud to receive this kind of gift in the first year, but everyone gets tired of receiving the same gift every year. So, it became a joke between relatives and friends after dinner.
“Cough, of course not.” He Jingdong coughed twice, hiding his embarrassment and took out a scroll, took out a picture from it and opened it in public, and immediately let people’s eyes shine. This is a painting of an old pine tree, giving people a sense of vitality, though old, It is a good painting and it also has a good implication.
“Ohhh!” He Ruixiang’s eyes were bright and he was even shocked, but after staring at the painting for a while, he showed a relieved smile and said, “Although it’s a modern copy, it’s a first-class painting and it’s worth collecting.”
“Wasn’t it an antique?” He Jingdong suddenly wondered, but fortunately, his father liked it.
“Old He, I’d like to present my ugly gift too.” A lean old man came out and said. Su Jing was surprised. Isn’t he Shen Hong, the grandfather of Shen Jiayao, the chairman of the perfect Pet Paradise? Why does he seem to be familiar with He Ruixiang?
But when Su Jing thought about it, he was relieved. He Ruixiang liked painting and calligraphy and antiques, while Shen Hong was an antique Appraiser. They were similar in taste, age, and acquaintance.
“This old man, will he take out his baby and give it as a gift?” Su Jing slandered in his heart. Once he met Shen Hong, he was most impressed by his old and cunning ways. If he was not vigilant, the Purple Sandalwood would have been deceived by him.
But this time, Su Jing looked down on Shen Hong. Shen Hong took out a teapot and let everyone see it. Although Su Jing didn’t know what kind of teapot it is but looking at He Ruixiang’s face, it should be an antique item.
Relatives and friends have given gifts, paintings, pipe, rocking chair… There are all kinds of gifts, some are very interesting and meaningful, some are very ordinary daily necessities, Peng Ming also sent a cricket and Su Jing was thankful that he did not prepare a cricket as a gift.
He Ruixiang was most satisfied with the gift of Yang Wei. She gave him four treasures of the study: Ink, Paper, Pen, and Inkstone, each of which had a good origin. The pen was an ivory wolf pen, the ink was a pine smoke ink, the paper was a fine writing paper, the inkstone was an easy-to-wash ancient inkstone. He Ruixiang could not let go after reading it. He wrote well. Brush writing, so he especially likes this gift, and it can be used in the future, but it seems valuable. He hesitated for a while to accept it. He thought about how to return it to Yang Wei. He did not have the habit of taking advantage of his students.
Su Zhenyue’s gift is a painting and calligraphy. He Ruixiang is also satisfied.
“Teacher He, this is my gift.” Su Jing followed his father, handed the box up, opened it, and took out a tree root larger than his palm. This left everyone in the audience stunned. Who gave a tree root as a gift? But when they saw the natural shape of the tree root, everyone was shocked.
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