A Valiant Life

Teacher Xia was currently busy in the house when she heard knocks on the door. She immediately put down everything, “They’re here, they’re here! Son, come out quick!” After completing her sentence, she opened the door.

A smile emerged on her face after she opened the door and saw the people outside, “Come in, come in! There’s no need to take out your shoes. Come in!”

Although Shan Wei Yan’s dad wasn’t too happy with the house, he still managed a smile, “Alright, alright. Since it’s our first time here, we didn’t buy you anything.”

Teacher Xia replied, “Your presence is enough! There’s no need to buy anything. Come in, please!” After which, she shouted towards the kitchen, “Why are you still standing inside? Hurry up and come out to greet the guests!”

Shen Hong didn’t smoke on a regular basis, but today, he had bought a pack of Zhong Hua cigarettes. He quickly helped Father Shan to light a stick.

Father Shan nodded his head and went past him. He went to look around the moment he stepped into the house.

The house was rather small.

But it was still rather clean.

“Shen Liang, why are you still hanging around in the house? Hurry out and meet the guests!” Teacher Xia shouted. She then embarrassedly told the guests, “This child is rather shy.”

Father Shan laughed, “No worries. We’ll see how this kid is like.”

They only had one daughter, so naturally, they’d be more particular. Their family was still moderately affluent. Their jobs were also rather dignified. Who says that the house is all that matters? They still had to look at the child. If the child was the kind that had not been brought up well, then it still wouldn’t be acceptable even if the other party had a lot of money.

Shen Liang was rather nervous. He came into the living room and greeted, “Good morning, uncle and auntie.”

Father Shan and Mother Shan widened their eyes and nodded inwardly. This kid wasn’t too bad. He was refined in mannerisms, which could be considered rather attractive. They were rather satisfied with him. It was now down to their daughter to decide.

Shan Wei Yan scanned Shen Liang intently. Her face was rather red, after all, it was her first time dating. She was also rather embarrassed. However, overall, she was still doing okay.

However, Yang Ning Ning had rather high standards. Such an ordinary person had nothing to catch her attention.

Father Shan opened his mouth and said, “I’m rather satisfied with this child. Daughter, how about you? If you aren’t satisfied, just say it. There’s nothing wrong.”

Teacher Xia stood by the side and laughed, “Yes, yes. If you aren’t satisfied, just say it. If dating isn’t successful, at least you can still be friends.”

Shan Wei Yan nodded her head rather embarrassedly. “Dad, I’m alright.”

Hearing this, Teacher Xia’s family laughed. This was a good step ahead. The children had agreed.

In the living room, everyone chatted up. Teacher Xia went to get busy in the kitchen.

Very quickly, the time had arrived.

“Let’s eat, Brother Shan. Do you want some wine?” Shen Hong asked. This was what the host should do.

“Okay.” Father Shan nodded his head. If there was anything to talk about, they’d talk about it at the dinner table. And they had to make things clear.

They started eating.

Very quickly, half an hour had passed.

Father Shan put his cup of wine down, “Teacher Shen, I’m going to put this bluntly. I only have one daughter. Our family isn’t poor, but neither are we very rich. I’m very happy with your kid, Shen Liang. However, if they are to get married, I’m hoping that your son would be able to provide a house. My family will provide the interior decoration and house appliances. I don’t want my daughter to suffer later, or to not have a safe environment.

Shen Hong grit his teeth, “Okay, that’s possible. However, our family doesn’t have that much money. However, we’d definitely be able to afford the down-payment. Is it okay with you all?”

Father Shan nodded his head, “Okay. We aren’t unreasonable people. Paying the down-payment is enough. We’ll let the children earn their own money for the furniture.”

Yang Ning Ning was using her phone. She was actually texting Shan Wei Yan.

“Why would your father agree to this? This guy’s house is mediocre. You can totally do better than this.”

“Ah, I’ll just listen to my mum and dad. Moreover, this Shen Liang seems rather nice.”

“You’re okay with this? You’re just a wooden block. In future, when you go to work, when you are released from work, when you cook, or when you buy stuff, you’ll have to go through meticulous planning and calculations. How uninteresting is that? How about you disagree with this? I’ll help you find someone better.”

“That won’t be necessary. It seems rather good to me.”

“Argh, why are you so stupid? This is a lifelong decision! Not just some small matter. Right now, the other party isn’t even able to afford a house. In future, when everything has been settled, he still may not be able to buy a house!”

Mother Shan was sitting beside her daughter and naturally, she could read their chat. She read what Yang Ning Ning said and she felt that was true.

As a parent, who wouldn’t want the best for her child?

This guy’s family wasn’t that bad. Their occupations were also good. However, it was just an ordinary family. She smiled and said, “We have said a lot today. Let’s allow the children to mingle for a while. Let’s talk some more after we finalize our decision?”

Father Shan was stunned. He didn’t know why her wife said such things.

However, when Teacher Xia heard this, she groaned inwardly. She felt that something wasn’t quite right.

Shan Wei Yan raised her head, “Mom, I feel that he’s rather handsome.”

Teacher Xia’s family was pleased when they heard this statement.

“Shen Liang, why don’t you bring her to your study to play for a bit. I’ll be talking to auntie and uncle.” Teacher Xia said.

Shen Liang nodded, “Okay.”

In the study.

Yang Ning Ning couldn’t really stand Shen Liang. She didn’t even put him in her eyes. She didn’t know what Shan Wei Yan saw in him.

This house is just too dilapidated. If her own future boyfriend was to stay in such a place, she’d definitely reject him.

Shan Wei Yan scanned around his room. After which, she stared at a painting that was hung up on the wall, “Shen Liang, this painting is really pretty. Who painted it?”

Shen Liang raised his head, “I heard from my mum that it was a birthday gift from her student.”

Yang Ning Ning barged into the conversation, “Who knows? They might just have spent ten dollars at a random roadside stall.”

Shen Liang laughed awkwardly.

Shan Wei Yan frowned, “Ning Ning, don’t say that.”

“Oh.” It seemed that Yang Ning Ning didn’t take her words to heart. She sat in front of the computer and read the news.

Shen Liang talked to Shan Wei Yan for a while. The two of them talked about a few small matters. Both of them were still unable to dispel the shyness between them.

“Holy sh*t, look at this news! Ten of Master Lin’s paintings were taken in by the National Museum. One painting is worth at least ten million or more. Whoever has just one painting would be rich.” Yang Ning Ning raised her voice and said.

Shan Wei Yan and Shen Liang were both drawn over. They looked at the headlines and were immediately stunned.

“Amazing!”

Yang Ning Ning curled her lips, “Shen Liang, if your painting was painted by him, you’d be rich.”

“Hm?” Shen Liang was momentarily dismayed, and then said, “How could that be?”

Yang Ning Ning said in disdain, “It’s definitely not. If it is, the sun would rise from the West.”

“Ning Ning.” Shan Wei Yan was a little unhappy. Ning Ning was saying some nasty things.

However, when Shan Wei Yan was about to help Ning Ning apologize to Shen Liang, she realized that he was just standing there like a fool, gazing at the painting.

“What is it?” Shan Wei Yan asked.

Yang Ning Ning glanced at home, and said with some disdain, “He must definitely be thinking how good it would be if this painting was painted by Master Lin.”

Just at this moment, Shen Liang finally reacted. He immediately pushed opened his door and ran towards the living room, “Mom, mom! Come here quick! What’s the name of your student?”

The parents who were having a conversation at the dining table were shocked.

Teacher Xia was rather unhappy at her son’s impudence, “What are you acting so crazy about?”

Shen Liang was feeling rather excited, “Mom! What’s the name of your student who gave you the painting in the study room?”

“Lin Fan. Why do you ask?” Teacher Xia replied.

“Is he called Master Lin?” Shen Hong asked again.

Teacher Xia didn’t quite understand. She thought about it, “My student did call himself Master Lin before.” She then suspiciously asked, “What is it?”

Shen Liang was so excited that his face turned red, “Mom! Follow me for a while! I just read this piece of news. Just come with me!”

Teacher Xia didn’t know what was going on, but she still followed him. Father Shan also tagged along.

Inside the study room.

Shen Liang pointed at the painting, “Mom! Look at this! ‘Wishing Teacher Xia a happy birthday! Wishing you longevity! – From your student, Master Lin.'” He then pointed at the news on the computer, “Mom! Look at this news. Are they the same person?”

Teacher Xia was stunned. She looked at the news on the computer, then looked back at the painting hung on the wall. She was astonished! She said in disbelief, “It can’t be, can it?”

She didn’t dare to confirm it herself.

However, Father Shan fixated his gaze on the painting, “I’ve read the news a few days ago. This Master Lin should be Lin Fan. The news going around right now is that one of Master Lin’s pieces of artwork is worth up to ten million or more. In fact, it’s so high in value but yet there’s no market for it. There isn’t even any of his artwork up for sale!”

Shen Hong stood at the side. He didn’t say a word. His breathing seemed to have increased in pace. If this was true, what did it mean? He didn’t even have to think about. He could be a millionaire in an instant.

Yang Ning Ning was also stunned. She then skeptically said, “How could this be possible? Maybe they just have the same name and same surname?”

She didn’t believe this. If this was true, she wouldn’t have any sense of superiority anymore. They were one painting away from being a millionaire. Who would be able to stand this?

Shen Hong said, “Wife, why don’t you make a call to your student? We won’t have to keep guessing.”

Teacher Xia took out her phone, “I’ll call him now.”

Very quickly, the call got through.

“Teacher Xia, what is it?” The voice of a young man could be heard through the phone.

Teacher Xia asked, “Lil’ Fan, let your teacher ask you this. Are you that Master Lin? You signed off with Master Lin on the painting you gave me, so…”

When Lin Fan heard this through the phone, he momentarily laughed, “Teacher, that’s me! You haven’t guessed wrongly. Right now, you have to keep my artwork safe. Currently, they have a high value but there’s no market for it. The painting that I gave you is the Peace and Prosperity Painting. It’s two meters by forty-three centimeters. It’s considered one of the smaller paintings among my other artworks. If you are to sell it, it’d easily be worth three to four million. However, I have a feeling that it’d be higher, after all, none of my artworks are up on sale. Hence, many people prefer to keep them. If I am to die now, this painting could go up to billions…”

Everyone in the study was lost for words. When Lin Fan admitted that he was also known as Master Lin, all of them were completely and thoroughly stunned.

At this moment, Teacher Xia hurriedly replied, “Lil’ Fan, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? Your teacher didn’t know! Let me return you the painting. It’s too precious!”

Lin Fan said, “Teacher, this is my birthday gift to you. If you are to return it to me, wouldn’t you be looking down on me? This painting is considered yours now. It’s none of my business if you sell it or give it to someone else. It’s all up to you.”

During his teacher’s birthday, he had already thought about this. Amongst all of his classes of knowledge, Chinese Art was the only one that could increase in value, and hence, he had given his teacher a painting. It was a form of thanks and repayment for all the care that Teacher Xia had given him during his time in the university.

“I’m not selling it. I’m not going to sell it even if I’m poor. Your teacher will definitely keep it and to pass it down the generations!” Teacher Xia replied excitedly.

Lin Fan said, “That’s good! Teacher, if that’s all, I’ll put down the call now. Just call me if there’s anything.”

Teacher Xia replied, “Okay. Go and get a good rest, Lil’ Fan. My son is currently on a date. If it’s successful, you have to come for their wedding.”

Lin Fan laughed, “Definitely. Even if Teacher doesn’t invite me, I’ll still come.”

After the call was put down, the room was completely silent.

Shen Liang was still in shock. Never would he ever have thought that something worth millions would be hiding in his house.

Shan Wei Yan’s father sighed. Thereafter, he said, “Teacher Shen, Teacher Xia, we’ll take our leave now. We won’t bother you.”

The situation now left both families on two different playing fields. The other party had a painting from a Master worth tens of millions. What rights did they have to negotiate with the other party? The other party obviously had better choices now.

Teacher Xia said, “Hold on. Why leave when everything is going great? Didn’t we say that we’d let the children interact more? I’m very pleased with your daughter. If possible, we should carry on.”

At this moment, both Father and Mother Shan smiled, “Okay. Let us continue eating and let the children interact more.”

“Okay.”

Only Shen Liang and the other two were left in the study room.

Yang Ning Ning’s face suddenly looked constipated. This wasn’t what she had imagined.

How had it become like this all of a sudden?

Of course, the painting was immediately kept by Teacher Xia. They didn’t hang it in the study room anymore.

It was just too precious.

They didn’t feel at ease placing such a precious item around.