Chapter 255

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"I'll let Eldest Brother and them know too......"

Guben smiled in agreement: "The babies' full-month celebration, we absolutely must set up a few more tables."

"It would be nice if Xiao Zheng could take this opportunity to come back for a visit."

Grandma Gu's eyes showed longing: "Ruirui hasn't seen her father in a long time, she misses him terribly......"

Guben joked with a smile: "It's not that Ruirui misses her dad, it's that you, Old Man, miss your grandson, right?"

"These old bones of mine have long since seen through it all."

Grandma Gu said one thing but meant another: "Children and grandchildren have their own fortune; whether he comes back or not doesn't matter, and I don't want to delay their prospects because of myself."

Guben heard the underlying meaning: "I'll call Eldest Brother right now and make sure he comes back for a visit."

"You child......"

Grandma Gu was amused into anger: "Deliberately talking back to me, huh."

"No such thing......"

Guben denied it: "I'm the one who misses Eldest Brother and wants him to come back, is that not allowed?"

"You just run your mouth."

Grandma Gu poked his forehead with her finger, seemingly scolding but actually happier than words could say.

Guben's execution was top-tier; he fished out his mobile phone on the spot and called Eldest Brother.

Grandma Gu perked up her ears to listen; hearing the eldest grandson agree and say he would ask for leave to come back, she finally truly set her mind at ease and broke into a smiling expression again.

Guben pretended not to see, took Lele from the old lady's arms, and carried his precious daughter back to the room to sleep.

"The babies are sleepy, let them all sleep for a while."

Seeing Dabao yawn too, Lin Xiyu signaled the nannies with a look.

The three nannies understood tacitly and also carried the babies back to the bedroom.

"Aren't you going to rest for a bit?"

Female Cousin saw she had no intention of resting and was a bit surprised.

"I'm not sleepy."

Lin Xiyu had her own plan: "I want to go see Hu Nainai."

"How will you get there?"

Female Cousin wanted to give her a ride: "I'll drive you there."

"No need."

Lin Xiyu smiled and declined: "Hu Nainai hasn't had chemo these past two days, she's at home, her place is close, I can just walk over."

"How is Hu Nainai's health?"

Female Cousin smiled knowingly and didn't insist further.

"I heard it's not too good."

Lin Xiyu's brows and eyes dimmed: "Chemo worked well at first, she recuperated for a while, but it relapsed."

"Take it to heart a bit less, everyone has that day......"

Female Cousin self-deprecatingly joked: "Not just Hu Nainai, even us younger generations, who knows which day we might encounter some calamity, can't escape it, close your eyes and a lifetime is past."

"Not chatting anymore, I have to hurry over."

Lin Xiyu turned and walked out: "You're making my heart panic, I won't be at ease until I see Hu Nainai."

"Since you're leaving, I'm not staying here either."

Female Cousin hurriedly followed: "I'll go see Grandma too, she's a year older than Hu Nainai, after New Year she'll be 87."

"How has Grandma's health been recently?"

Lin Xiyu was startled again by Female Cousin's words, heartbeat disordered.

"Same old problems."

Female Cousin added: "Eyes blurry, can't see too clearly."

"Appetite, is it good or not?"

Lin Xiyu still wasn't reassured, asking as she walked.

"Eating rice is okay."

Female Cousin deliberately misunderstood, joking with a smile: "For dinner she likes to drink a small cup, her alcohol tolerance is even better than mine."

"I'm not asking about her rice capacity, I'm asking about her inflammation."

Lin Xiyu was quite helpless: "Didn't Uncle say he accompanied Grandma to the hospital for a checkup, said it was chronic atrophic gastritis?"

"Oh oh, you mean that......"

Female Cousin realized: "I heard Uncle say the doctor said to take streptomycin, drink just a small spoonful every day......"

Lin Xiyu's eyes revealed shock: "Can streptomycin be drunk directly?"

Female Cousin wasn't too sure: "The doctor said to drink it, so it should be fine, right."

"Sigh, forget it, I won't ask you anymore."

Lin Xiyu helplessly held her forehead: "When I have time I'll go see Grandma myself, or bring her to my place to stay for a few days."

"Does your place have room to stay?"

The female cousin's eyes revealed surprise: "Three nannies, plus you two as a couple, one old lady, and five children......"

"Squeeze a bit and it should be enough."

Lin Xiyu knew in her heart: "As long as Maternal Grandmother is willing to come, adding a bed is still very easy."

"You ask her."

The female cousin gave an awkward smile: "Maternal Grandmother doesn't easily agree to move places; anyway I can't persuade her. I've wanted her to stay at my place for a few days, but she's never agreed."

"You live alone, the house is cold and quiet; what would Maternal Grandmother go there for?"

Lin Xiyu spoke with righteous confidence: "My family has many people, it's lively; just for the four little babies, Maternal Grandmother will certainly be willing to come......"

The female cousin: "......."

You have many children, you have the right!

——

Yongquan Hutong No. 2 Courtyard.

When Lin Xiyu arrived, the three Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters happened to all be there; the atmosphere in the room was somewhat oppressive.

"Is it Xiyu?"

Hu Nainai's complexion didn't look too good; she was lying on the bed, and only upon hearing it was her did she reluctantly open her eyes.

"Hu Nainai......"

Lin Xiyu looked at the old person tormented by illness, and for a moment couldn't hold back; tears brushed down in a rush.

"Don't cry......"

Hu Nainai smiled kindly, turning to comfort her instead: "Grandma is fine; won't die for a while yet."

"I'll send you to the hospital......"

Lin Xiyu sobbed and cried: "You'll get better."

"No need."

Hu Nainai smiled with relief, yet her attitude was very firm: "Grandma knows her own illness; don't spend that wronged money anymore."

"You don't need to consider the money."

Lin Xiyu still wanted to persuade further: "I'll pay......"

"You're a good child; Grandma knows in her heart......"

Hu Nainai insisted on refusing: "Grandma has been able to persist this long, finish carving that set of works for the Intangible Cultural Heritage application; Grandma is already very satisfied."

"Already finished?"

Lin Xiyu was truly happy for Hu Nainai.

"Working so desperately, how could it not be finished?"

Zhang Jie's words carried resentment: "It's because Hu Nainai exhausted herself carving the picture that she had a relapse......"

"Cough cough."

Wang Lei quietly tugged Zhang Jie's sleeve, signaling her not to speak further.

"Let's not talk about this first......"

Hu Nainai brought up paper-cutting, and her eyes instantly lit up: "Unfold that picture, let Xiyu have a look."

"I'll do it, I'll do it......"

Li Ang rushed to speak, carefully unfolding the scroll.

The scroll was over three meters long, base color white, red hollowed-out patterns; against the pure white scroll they appeared exceptionally fresh and pleasing to the eye.

"So beautiful!"

Lin Xiyu looked at the finely carved, vivid figures and landscapes, and praised from the bottom of her heart.

"Hu Nainai put real effort into this picture......"

Wang Lei sighed sincerely: "Every stroke without the slightest error; flowers, birds, figures all in one breath; watching from the side I admired from the bottom of my heart."

"I feel the same......"

Li Ang also chimed in with flattery: "This picture counts as Hu Nainai's peak work; if not for her poor health, using the paper-cutting art form to perfectly replicate a genuine Along the River During the Qingming Festival wouldn't be impossible......"

"Mm-hmm."

Zhang Jie also nodded along; thinking of Hu Nainai enduring the torment of illness and persisting in carving the picture, she couldn't help wanting to cry again.

"This work, what name does Grandma want to give it?"

Lin Xiyu's eye rims were also red; without asking she could imagine how much heart and blood Hu Nainai had poured into the Intangible Cultural Heritage application.

"Grandma hasn't decided yet......"

Hu Nainai's eyes showed expectation: "Just right that you several are all here; together help Grandma think of a nice-sounding name."

"No problem, let me go first......."

Li Ang deliberately teased to make Hu Nainai happy, shaking his head and swaying, imitating an ancient scholar's manner, using his mobile phone in place of a folding fan, tapping the palm of his other hand, and began his performance.

"On this picture there are Jinan's Three Great Attractions, also historical figures Li Qingzhao, Xin Qiji, and poetry masters like Yuan Haowen, who wrote poems praising Quancheng's charm; it can be said to combine mountains, waters, flowers, birds, poetry, songs, and fu all in one......"

The pose was struck well, but at the crucial moment he froze; just when everyone was watching expectantly, waiting for the continuation, his speech tempo paused, and then there was no more......

"'All in one' how about it? You go on, say it!"

Zhang Jie couldn't wait, laughing and urging him.

"Can't think of any more....."

Li Ang's ear roots reddened; he touched his nose and gave an awkward smile.

"Sigh."

Lin Xiyu and Wang Lei sighed in unison.

"Hehe......"

Hu Nainai was indeed amused by him, laughing very happily.

"I knew I couldn't count on you......"

Zhang Jie laughed and scolded, giving him a big white eye.

"I can't do it, you do it......"

Li Ang retorted stubbornly, unconvinced.

"Let me think......"

Zhang Jie twirled her hair around her finger, tentatively saying: "Call it Quanyun?"

Wang Lei gave a fair assessment: "Although barely satisfactory, it's still acceptable......"

"Quancheng Fengyu Tu, how about that?"

Lin Xiyu heard Quanyun and inspiration flashed; she blurted it out.

"I think it works!"

Li Ang was the first to agree.

"Better than Quanyun."

Wang Lei also followed with flattery: "More fitting, it has the feel of a timeless masterpiece."

"Hu Nainai, what do you think?"

Lin Xiyu listened happily, turning her head to look at Hu Nainai.

"Quancheng Fengyu Tu......"

Hu Nainai murmured it softly a few times, joy showing in her eyes: "Good, let's settle on this, this painting will be called Quancheng Fengyu Tu."

"Hooray!"

"Finally accomplished."

"With a name we can apply for Intangible Cultural Heritage."

The three of them, Li Ang included, were in high spirits, cheering in unison.

"Have you figured out the process for applying for Intangible Cultural Heritage?"

Lin Xiyu, amidst her joy, didn't forget the proper business.

"I've already inquired......"

Li Ang, eager to show off, rushed to answer: "We need to fill out the JN City Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Work Application Form, and also write in detail the project application content, the applicant's specific information, and the applying unit, etc......"

"The applicant is easy, just write Hu Nainai."

Lin Xiyu frowned: "As for the applying unit, I don't know if a spontaneously formed folk organization can work."

"I asked......"

Li Ang nodded: "It should be possible."

"That would be great."

Lin Xiyu's eyes showed joy: "Good thing we established the Mass Art Museum beforehand, otherwise without an applying unit, it would really be a big problem."

"Senior Sister's decision was wise......"

Li Ang smiled ingratiatingly, flattering: "And we have to thank Brother-in-law for his strong support."

"Don't put it that way....."

Lin Xiyu was embarrassed: "We only did our little bit, being able to help Hu Nainai fulfill her wish is everyone's credit."

"When is the evaluation?"

Zhang Jie's eyes showed anticipation: "I can't wait to know the result."

"The application hasn't even been submitted yet......"

Li Ang laughed teasingly: "What are you getting excited for?"

"Then hurry up and write it......"

Zhang Jie urged pressingly.

"Running errands I can still do....."

Li Ang shrank his neck, a bit apprehensive: "Such literary stuff, I really can't write it."

"Wang Lei, you......"

Zhang Jie turned her gaze to Wang Lei again.

"I'm a science student....."

Wang Lei laughed awkwardly: "Playing with scissors, carving knives, moving my hands is fine, the rest, forget it."

"You two are really cowardly enough......"

Zhang Jie disparagingly curled her mouth: "Dropping the chain at the critical moment."

"Aren't you a liberal arts student......"

Li Ang counterattacked very quickly: "Now is exactly the time for a liberal arts student to perform."

"That's right."

Wang Lei nodded in agreement.

"Who said I'm a liberal arts student?"

Zhang Jie glared at the two dissatisfied: "You two still have the nerve to say you're my senior brothers, you don't even know I studied Civil Engineering......"

Wang Lei's eyes showed surprise: "A girl like you studying Civil Engineering?"

"I'm willing......"

Zhang Jie's face darkened: "Is it any of your business?"

"Alright, you two stop glaring at each other, what's there to argue about?"

Li Ang smiled helplessly and could only temporarily play peacemaker: "Among the three of us, there has to be one who can write, right? You can't expect Sister Xiyu to write — don't forget she's the treasure mother of four kids, we wouldn't dare trouble her."

"Me writing isn't out of the question."

Lin Xiyu spoke up at the right moment: "These days you've all worked hard taking care of Grandma Hu; I should contribute too. Physical labor is out, but mental work I can still do."

"Sister Xiyu..."

Zhang Jie was so moved she wanted to cry: "You're truly too good."

"Alright, stop flattering me, let's continue with the actual business."

Lin Xiyu put a stop to the nonsensical flattery: "What's the deadline for the application?"

"It's the end of October."

Li Ang had inquired in great detail: "Results come out around next year's New Year."

"What about the forms?"

Lin Xiyu asked again: "Where do we get them?"

"The Cultural and Tourism Bureau."

Li Ang seized the chance to claim credit: "I've already picked them up; I came today precisely to tell Grandma Hu about this."

Lin Xiyu was pleasantly surprised: "Bring it over, let me have a look..."

"Sure thing."

Li Ang hurriedly fished out a kraft paper bag from his backpack and handed it over.

"Good grief, how many pages is this?"

Lin Xiyu took it and distinctly felt her wrist sink.

"Quite a lot."

Li Ang laughed in agreement, too embarrassed to say in front of his senior sister that when he first saw so many forms his head spun, and his first reaction was thank goodness Senior Sister had given birth and left the hospital — besides her, no one could handle this job.

Lin Xiyu pulled out a thick stack of papers from the bag, flipping through them page by page, examining carefully.

"Xiyu, what all needs to be written?"

Grandma Hu, seeing her stay silent for a good long while, grew anxious.

"Grandma Hu, it's like this..."

Lin Xiyu gave it a rough read-through and got a general grasp: "The materials we need to prepare fall into two parts — one part is applying for the intangible cultural heritage project, the other is applying for the intangible cultural heritage inheritor; both can be applied for simultaneously."

"Applying for intangible cultural heritage inheritor is not only a highly proud honor, but also grants subsidies and special funds, tax preferential policies for founding enterprises, and local governments will assist in building venues for cultural transmission and learning, provide free advanced training, and opportunities for international exchange."

"Especially influential inheritors can even become NPC deputies or CPPCC members, and their children's education enjoys bonus-point preferential policies."