Chang'an.
This was once the imperial capital, and countless nobles and royalty were buried beneath its soil. Chang'an had also made headlines more than once for unearthing ancient tombs.
The terrain of Chang'an District consists of the Eastern Plateau, the Southern Mountains, and the western plains. The lowest altitude is 384.7 meters, and the highest is 2886.7 meters. The land slopes from south to north and from east to west. The south is dominated by the Qinling Mountains, while the north is part of the Wei River fault basin's alluvial plain. The west is the Wei River alluvial plain, and the east comprises the Loess Plateau and gullied river valleys.
Chang'an was home to countless families, and any given surname could potentially trace its lineage back to royal or noble descendants. Of course, the concept of nobility had long since vanished from the lands of Jiuzhou.
"Did you hear? Old Master Xia is preparing to hold his final calligraphy and painting exhibition. After this exhibition, the old master will completely retire from the art world."
"It's actually quite normal to think about it. After all, the old master is already so old. Even if he retires from the art world, it's perfectly normal. The old master is eighty-seven this year."
"Damn it, stop blabbering and hurry up."
"Hahaha, President Zhou is brilliant. All of us here will have to depend on President Zhou for our livelihoods from now on. Even a little something squeezed from President Zhou's fingertips would be enough for us to live on for a lifetime."
In an office, several people burst into laughter, their faces filled with arrogance.
Zhou Tao, the vice president of the Calligraphers and Painters Association, was also the head of the Zhou family.
He had occupied this position for more than half his life and had always wanted to advance further. However, to put it bluntly, as long as Old Master Xia did not abdicate, he would never be able to move up.
Now that the old master was voluntarily stepping down, he would naturally ascend to the position smoothly. Of course, he did not want Xia Mingzhong to retire peacefully. The conflict between the Xia and Zhou families had a long history, and it could be said that they had been competing since childhood.
Xia Mingzhong had shown a talent for calligraphy and painting from a young age. At the age of eleven, his painting of "Autumn Scenery of a Pond" caused a sensation in the literary world. Everyone thought it was just scribbling, but later, during an interview, they learned it was realism. Consequently, many people went to the site to compare it with the painting, and when they did, they were stunned to find it was indeed accurate.
After that incident, Xia Mingzhong's calligraphy and paintings were highly sought after by many. Even now, many influential figures were willing to pay a considerable price for a piece of his work.
However, Xia Mingzhong's calligraphy and paintings had been clearly priced for a long time: one thousand yuan per piece.
Despite the cheap price, it was actually very difficult to obtain even a single piece.
Zhou Yin had also been suppressed by Xia Mingzhong since childhood. Xia Mingzhong was always first, and Zhou Yin was always second. This rivalry had continued for decades.
"Grandpa, President Chen's company is relocating and hopes you can write a piece of calligraphy for them."
A young man, dressed in Zen attire, with a slender build and a chiseled face, exuded handsomeness and an air of refinement.
Xia Mingzhong, clad in loungewear and adorned with prayer beads around his neck and wrist, seemed to possess an innate refined aura. However, when he put on his glasses, an imposing presence radiated from him.
"I am no longer writing. After the final exhibition, I plan to retire and enjoy my old age at home," the old master said with a gentle smile, a hint of it playing on his lips.
"Grandpa, are you still thinking about Aunt?"
Xia Lingxuan sighed and looked at his grandfather meticulously tending to a cherry tree, speaking softly.
If there was anything his grandfather cherished most, it would undoubtedly be this cherry tree.
The old master had three children: one daughter and two sons. The daughter was Xia Shumeng.
Xia Shumeng was the eldest, followed by Xia Lingxuan's second uncle. His father was the youngest.
The second son had no talent for calligraphy and painting, so he pursued a career in politics and was now a prominent figure in education. The third son, upon reaching adulthood, became interested in online novels and founded an online novel website called "Whale Network," which was one of the top three in the industry.
He himself was also an author, having published numerous books, two of which were listed by the education bureau as among the top ten must-read books.
Thus, they had all achieved success in their respective fields.
However, the old master's life remained filled with regret.
"Your aunt loved eating cherries the most, but unfortunately, the climate here isn't very suitable for cherry trees. I remember back then, after eating cherries, your aunt would bury the pits, hoping they would sprout.
"But she ate cherries for seven or eight years, and they never sprouted. It wasn't until the day she passed away that a small sprout emerged. I've been nurturing it ever since, as if your aunt were still by my side.
"There isn't a single surviving cherry tree in all of Chang'an except for this one in our home. Do you think it might be your aunt watching over it?"
Xia Lingxuan remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, "Grandpa, Aunt is already gone."