The jade dragon on the shelf was small, but it looked so powerful like the mighty dragon that it is. Lu Tian reach his hand out and carefully touch it.
"I am selling it if you like."
Walking up to the man, Uncle Zhi spoke his words and stood next to Lu Tian. However, he continues to size up Lu Tian. Every now and then, he would nod his head approvingly. Liu Shan had told him in advance. At first he didn't approve of it, but….
He turn his head to look at Yue Ling. Thinking of something, he looks at the jade dragon.
"I will gift this dragon to you."
"….."
Yue Ling stare at the middle aged man and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Knowing how Uncle Zhi is, the moment he likes someone, he will gift an item to that person. No matter how much value the item has, he will give it away like candy.
Shaking her head, she turns around and leaves the two men alone. She will ask him about the item later.
Lu Tian's brows furrow and the space between his brows crease into three lines. He stares at the jade dragon and ponder about Uncle Zhi's words. Why would the man gift such a valuable item to him?
Guessing what Lu Tian is currently thinking, Uncle Zhi faintly smiles and held his hand behind his back.
"Not many young people nowadays have good eyes like you and Miss Han. Since you have great taste in this jade dragon, I will gift it to you."
Lu Tian looks at Uncle Zhi. He wanted to say something but before he could even open his mouth, the middle age man had already spoke.
"Because SHE choose you, I will respect her decision. As I've now met you, I think you are a good person."
Listening till the end, Lu Tian did not say a word. He was not even bothered that Uncle Zhi did not let him speak. Judging by the way Uncle Zhi speaks and his demeanor, Lu Tian knows that Uncle Zhi may not be a simple person, but he has a good heart.
He then nod his head, "I thank you then."
Uncle Zhi smiles at Lu Tian and pat the young man on the shoulder, "No, it is I, who should thank you."
Finishing his words, he turns away and walks to Yue Ling. He is thankful that someone like Lu Tian entered his young miss's heart. She needs a man who is at the same level with her.
Left alone, Lu Tian took one last look at the jade dragon, then he looks in the direction of his wife. He sees that Uncle Zhi and Yue Ling are discussing about something.
However, the more he sees this scene, he notices how it is the middle age man who shows politeness to his wife. Given the age difference between the two, it should have been the other way around, but it wasn't.
As he thought this, deep inside him, he couldn't help but wonder about who his wife really is. He won't lie, every time he comes to learn something new about her, curiosity rises inside. Yet, he only had Xu Long investigate her that one time when they first met. After that, he never did. Not because he couldn't, but because he wants to respect her and wait for her to tell him. What was the point of a relationship if there is no trust?
Ending his thoughts, he takes a step forward and walks in the direction of his wife and Uncle Zhi.
Standing with her back facing Lu Tian, Yue Ling did not see the expression on his face. She continues to talk to Uncle Zhi.
"Liu Shan notified me that you've received the item."
Uncle Zhi chuckles a laugh, "Wait here, I stored it in a safe place."
Yue Ling nod her head in understanding. She turns around and gasp in a slight surprise to see Lu Tian standing behind her.
"Oh, Tian." She smiles to him, "Anything you like besides the Jade dragon?"
Gazing at her, Lu Tian thought about something, before he quickly shook his head, "There are many interesting things here. I'm sure I'll find something."
Just as he finished his last word, Uncle Zhi had already returned. Carrying with his hands was a dark wooden box. It looked old that even some of the wood pieces were missing.
Uncle Zhi saw the looks on the two peopole's face. He held himself back from smiling at how lovely these two people looked. If he was a random stranger meeting them, he would have thought they were a married couple.
Thinking of it, he does not say a word but walks over to a a long table put against the wall. Setting the dark wooden box down, he turns to look at Yue Ling and Lu Tian.
"Come take a look."
Walking over to the wooden box, Yue Ling tilt her head and looks at the details of the box. It was very simple and old but nicely carved. Stretching her hands out towards it, she unhook the latch and lift the lid open.
Lu Tian stood beside his wife an watch the scene. When the lid was opened, he arch a brow at the item inside. It was an old and faded scroll.
Unlike Lu Tian, a broad smile widen on Yue Ling's face. She did not quickly reach for the item but gaze down at it like it was an item so precious to her.
Standing on the other side of Yue Ling, Uncle Zhi stretch his head to look at the item inside the wooden box. A smile also appear on his face. He place both his hands behind his back and nudge Yue Ling with his shoulder.
"Not going to take a look? Keep waiting and this one will put it back."
"….."
Yue Ling scoffed a chuckle at his words. She rolled her eyes at the middle age man and reach out to the old scroll inside.
Uncle Zhi continues to smile but he does not say anything. He knows how much this item means to Yue Ling.
Looking down at the scroll still rolled up in her hand, Yue Ling turned to Lu Tian, "Can you give me hand?"
Lu Tian nod his head and his hand reach under the scroll. The couple then begin to open the scroll. Although it looked small at first, once it was open, the scroll was long with faint colorings.
Setting it gently down on the long table, both ends of the scroll lightly rolled down the edges of the table.
Yue Ling walked around and her fingers gently caress the scroll. This wasn't just a scroll, but a painting. An old ancient painting that her yeye had long been searching for.
Staring at the painting scroll, Lu Tian was even more amazed by it. He's seen this painting at an auction once, but the because he didn't participate in the auction, he didn't think much of it.
At the time he was young and had gone with his father and grandfather Ji. From what he remember, grandfather Ji was really interested in this painting, except that the old man didn't auction for it, so another buyer bid and won it.
Just like his wife, Lu Tian without realizing stroke the painting. The painter was truly a master painter with great skills.
Oblivious to Lu Tian's thought, Yue Ling stare at the painting and a small smile arc on her lip. She had asked Uncle Zhi to find this painting to gift her grandfather.
One stroke, two stroke….. five stroke…
Each stroke she made landed on the figures in the painting. Five men clothe in ancient Chinese attire riding their own horses. The tips of Yue Ling's finger then trace gently over the painted calligraphy at the bottom corner.
'Five Drunken Generals.'
By its name given and painting, if someone saw this painting, they would think why the artist painted this. However, they would forget to see the deep meaning behind it.
Each painted person looked so free and happy. Just like the meaning behind this painting. The irreverent nature of the theme is a proof of humor rare in the art of history. The feeling of being free with the wind while riding a horse in ancient time.
