74: Chapter 73 Writing

Li Zhenguo had not felt this exhilarated in a long time.

He rose abruptly, not even glancing at the unfinished game on the chessboard, and strode toward the desk by the window.

High-quality Xuan paper had already been laid out on the table.

He took a wolf-hair brush from the rack and dipped it generously into the thick ink.

The tip of the brush moved across the Xuan paper without the slightest hesitation.

Four large characters leaped onto the paper: "Empty Heart, Open Valley."

After finishing the last stroke, Li Zhenguo set the brush down by the inkstone and turned to look at Deputy Director Liu Qiang, who was standing to the side.

"Deputy Director Liu Qiang, come here."

"Come and see how this calligraphy is. You are the Honorary President of our provincial Calligraphy Association. Since there are no outsiders here today, don't hold back; tell me the truth."

Hearing this, Deputy Director Liu Qiang stepped forward quickly and waved his hands repeatedly. "Teacher, you are really embarrassing me."

"That title of the Calligraphy Association was just something people below forced upon me to curry favor. With my meager skills, it's fine for self-amusement, but how could I dare to show off in front of you?"

Though he was humble in speech, Deputy Director Liu Qiang's gaze never left the calligraphy on the table.

He studied it for a moment, weighing his words.

"Teacher's brushwork is like a heavy sword without an edge. It looks unremarkable on the surface, without any flashy sharpness. But looking closely at the underlying strength, every stroke reveals the accumulation of time; the more you look, the more profound it becomes."

After hearing this flawless evaluation, Li Zhenguo remained noncommittal, simply making space.

"Talking without practicing is a hollow act."

"Come, you write one too. Let me see if your calligraphy has regressed at all in the years you've been in the Provincial Party Committee Compound."

Deputy Director Liu Qiang did not decline; he walked to the table, spread out a new sheet of Xuan paper, lifted the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote with a suspended wrist.

He wrote four characters: "Sea Accepts Hundreds of Rivers."

After finishing, Deputy Director Liu Qiang put down the brush, gently blew on the wet ink, and took half a step back.

"I have embarrassed myself."

Everyone crowded around to look.

Deputy Director Liu Qiang's characters were structurally rigorous, steady, and flawless, perfectly adhering to the rules of traditional calligraphy.

Li Zhenguo turned his head and looked at Ruobing, who was standing behind Director Qi Shan.

"Ruobing."

"You are a young person with a sharp mind. You come and take a look; how is your father's calligraphy?"

Ruobing stepped forward and stared at the four characters for a long time.

She had received a good education since childhood and could see that the foundation of the calligraphy was solid, but she couldn't find the right angle to offer a specific critique.

Moreover, evaluating her own father on such an occasion—too light would seem perfunctory, and too heavy would lack propriety.

Her eyes darted, and she walked to Li Zhenguo's side, tugging on the old man's arm.

"Grandfather, you are setting a trap for me."

Ruobing pouted playfully. "The ancients say a child should not judge their father. You are asking me to evaluate my own father's calligraphy in front of so many elders; that is simply not proper. Please don't make things difficult for me."

With a clever retort, she neutralized the tricky question completely.

Li Zhenguo pointed at her and burst into hearty laughter.

"You girl, you are truly a little slippery one."

After laughing, Li Zhenguo turned his gaze toward Zhu Wenhao.

"Zhu Wenhao."

"You tell me, how do you evaluate these two pieces of calligraphy?"

Hearing this, Zhu Wenhao showed no hesitation or awkwardness.

He walked to the front of the desk, his gaze lingering on each of the two pieces for several seconds.

"Grandfather, Director Qi, Deputy Director Liu Qiang. Since Grandfather has spoken, I will be straightforward."

He pointed to the "Empty Heart, Open Valley" piece written by Li Zhenguo.

"Grandfather's calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, but lacks stamina."

Everyone was shocked. To dare say the words "lacks stamina" in front of Li Zhenguo—this young man's boldness was truly too great.

Zhu Wenhao continued: "The start is as heavy as a thousand jun, reflecting the decisiveness you had back then in the Provincial Party Committee Compound. But as it reaches the end, the brush tip unconsciously retracts."

"This is because you have been in semi-retirement for many years; your heart is calm, and you no longer concern yourself with affairs of the court. That sharp, decisive edge has dissipated, and when it lands on paper, it naturally lacks the stamina to sustain it to the end."

After hearing this, Li Zhenguo did not get angry; instead, he nodded heavily.

Zhu Wenhao turned around and shifted his gaze to Deputy Director Liu Qiang's "Sea Accepts Hundreds of Rivers."

"As for Deputy Director Liu Qiang's piece, it has enough to maintain the status quo, but lacks the drive to forge ahead."

"These four characters are structurally rigorous, horizontal and vertical, without a single flaw. But every stroke is conventional and cautious, not daring to overstep the bounds by even a step. It is too focused on rules, seeking stability in everything, and preferring not to achieve merit as long as there is no blame, thus losing the sharpness needed to break the deadlock."

Li Zhenguo broke the silence.

"Correct! Very well said!"

"Deputy Director Liu Qiang, did you hear that? Do you know why you have been stuck in the position of Deputy Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission for so many years, unable to make the breakthrough?"

"It is because you are too stable!"

"Sometimes, being stable is a good thing; it ensures no mistakes are made. But the current economic situation in Jiangnan Province requires a trailblazer who dares to break conventions! You blindly seek stability, waiting for documents from superiors and for others to express their stance in everything. This approach will only make you timid and cause you to miss the opportunity to advance further!"

Deputy Director Liu Qiang lowered his head and responded repeatedly: "Teacher's instruction is correct; the student has taken it to heart."

By critiquing the calligraphy, Li Zhenguo had exposed the fatal weakness in Deputy Director Liu Qiang's official career in public.

This was not just a reprimand; it was a form of guidance.

Li Zhenguo turned to look at Zhu Wenhao. "Zhu Wenhao, you have criticized both of us thoroughly. Come, you write one too. I want to see what kind of skill you have."

Zhu Wenhao picked up the wolf-hair brush. He did not immediately dip it in ink; he just held the brush with one hand, suspended in mid-air, and closed his eyes.

The power struggles of the ming dynasty and the conflicts within the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee—the various schemes of these days intertwined in his mind.

He was regulating his breathing, brewing his intent.

Ruobing, standing in the back, watched this demeanor and muttered under her breath.

"He certainly has a big ego."

Deputy Director Liu Qiang turned his head and glared fiercely at his daughter.

"Ruobing! You are talking a bit too much today!"

Reprimanded by her father in public, Ruobing lowered her head in grievance, biting her lip, her heart full of unwillingness.

Before leaving, her mother had confided in her privately, saying that her father had brought her to see Elder Li today mainly to arrange a match between her and Zhu Wenhao.

She was a proud daughter of heaven, highly educated, with a good job, and numerous suitors. She looked down on this rumored second-generation heir who only knew how to eat, drink, and wait to die.

Seeing him today, not only was this person arrogant, but he was also putting on airs.

Just as she was complaining to herself,

Zhu Wenhao opened his eyes.

His wrist pressed down sharply, and the brush tip touched the Xuan paper.

The brush moved like a dragon or a snake, with the force of a thousand jun.

He did not write auspicious words to please his elders, nor did he write about landscapes or moonlight.

He left eight large characters on the Xuan paper: "An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles."

Between the lines, there was an irresistible pressure—the ambition that only those who have truly controlled the world possess.

These eight characters were written for Li Zhenguo.

He was telling this grandfather who had retired to the second line: Even though you are old, you still have the ability to play on the chessboard of Jiangnan Province.

He finished the stroke.

"Grandfather, this grandson has embarrassed himself."

Everyone crowded around.

Director Qi Shan, who had a military background, could best feel the aura of battle in the calligraphy. Looking at the piece, he felt a sense of iron horses and golden spears rushing toward him, and he actually felt the urge to stand at attention and salute.

Deputy Director Liu Qiang was completely stunned. As an honorary president, he actually saw shadows of Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhenqing in this calligraphy, along with a profound depth he could not understand.

Ruobing stood at the very back, craning her neck to take a look.

She did not understand calligraphy, but she could feel that these eight characters were by no means ordinary.

The trace of disdain in her heart wavered unknowingly.

Li Zhenguo stared at the calligraphy, remaining silent for a long time.

"Good! A truly good 'old steed in the stable'!"

Li Zhenguo said "good" twice, then turned to look at Zhu Wenhao.

"Zhu Wenhao, how about gifting this calligraphy to your grandfather?"

Zhu Wenhao bowed slightly.

"That would be my honor."

Li Zhenguo laughed heartily, his mood extremely joyful.

"Old Wang! Old Wang!"

He shouted toward the door.

Butler Wang Jianan walked in quickly.

Li Zhenguo pointed to the calligraphy on the table with the ink still wet.

"Take it and have it mounted!"

Butler Wang Jianan stepped forward, carefully gathering up the Xuan paper.

Just then, the sound of steady footsteps came from outside the study.

"Old Leader, I heard your laughter just as I entered the compound. What is so happy?"

The person who arrived was the Minister of the Organization Department of Jiangnan Province, Minister Xiao Dingyu.

Everyone in the study turned their heads. Director Qi Shan and Deputy Director Liu Qiang stepped forward to greet him.

Minister Xiao Dingyu responded to each one, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally landing on Li Zhenguo.

Li Zhenguo pointed to the Xuan paper that Butler Wang Jianan was about to put away.

"Minister Xiao Dingyu, you have come just in time. Zhu Wenhao just wrote a piece of calligraphy that I like very much. Go and take a look."

Minister Xiao Dingyu walked to the table and lowered his head to examine it. The dominance contained within these eight characters made his heart tremble.

"Good calligraphy."

Minister Xiao Dingyu gave his evaluation.

He raised his head, his gaze lingering on Zhu Wenhao for a long time, and nodded slightly.

Seeing this, Li Zhenguo waved his hand.

"Everyone is here. Let's go to the front hall for dinner!"

After saying that, he walked straight to Zhu Wenhao and grabbed his wrist.

"Zhu Wenhao, tonight, we grandfather and grandson must have a good drink."

Not allowing Zhu Wenhao to retort, Li Zhenguo pulled him and walked out.

This kind of treatment was something no one else present had ever enjoyed.

The crowd followed behind, filing out one by one.

Ruobing's feet uncontrollably followed closely for a few steps, her gaze fixed on Zhu Wenhao's straight back, her mind full of the composure he had shown while wielding the brush just a moment ago.

Director Qi Shan, walking at the very back, slowed his pace and walked side by side with Deputy Director Liu Qiang.

Director Qi Shan looked at Ruobing's figure in front and leaned toward Deputy Director Liu Qiang, teasing him.

"Deputy Director Liu Qiang, a grown daughter is hard to keep. However, this Zhu Wenhao is indeed excellent; he is worthy of your Ruobing."

Deputy Director Liu Qiang shook his head, did not reply, and just quickened his pace to follow.

As for his daughter's thoughts, let nature take its course.

The group crossed the courtyard and headed toward the brightly lit front hall.

A new banquet was about to begin.