1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 255 The Charm of Jinan

"I'll also tell my older brother and the others."

Gu Bin smiled and agreed, "We must set up more tables for the babies' one-month celebration."

"It would be great if Xiao Zheng could take this opportunity to come back."

Grandma Gu's eyes shone with anticipation: "Rui Rui hasn't seen her father in so long, she misses him terribly."

Gu Bin chuckled and joked, "It's not that Rui Rui misses her dad, it's that you miss your grandson, isn't it?"

"I'm an old man, I've long since let go of all worries."

Grandma Gu said one thing but meant another: "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. It doesn't matter whether he comes back or not. I don't want to ruin their future because of myself."

Gu Bin understood the underlying meaning: "I'll call my older brother right now and tell him he absolutely must come back."

"You kid."

Grandma Gu laughed in exasperation: "Are you deliberately trying to argue with me?"

"Nothing."

Gu Bin denied it: "I just miss my older brother and want him to come back, is that not allowed?"

"Just be poor."

Grandma Gu tapped his forehead with her hand, seemingly scolding him, but in reality she was overjoyed.

Gu Bin was incredibly efficient; he immediately pulled out his phone and called his older brother.

Grandma Gu listened intently, and only when she heard that her eldest grandson had agreed and would take leave to come back did she truly feel at ease and smile again.

Gu Bin pretended not to see, took Lele from her arms, and carried his precious daughter back to the house to sleep.

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

Seeing that Da Bao also yawned, Lin Xiyu gave the nannies a wink.

The three nannies understood immediately and took the babies back to the bedroom.

"Aren't you going to take a break?"

Her cousin was somewhat surprised to see that she didn't seem to want to rest.

"I am not sleepy."

Lin Xiyu had her own plans: "I want to go see Grandma Hu."

How will you get there?

Her cousin offered her a ride: "I'll drive you there."

"Need not."

Lin Xiyu smiled and declined, saying, "Grandma Hu hasn't had chemotherapy these past two days. She's at home, and her house is nearby. I can just walk over."

How is Grandma Hu's health?

My cousin smiled knowingly and didn't insist any further.

"I heard it's not very good."

Lin Xiyu's eyes darkened: "The chemotherapy was quite effective at first, but after a period of rest, it relapsed."

"Try to think positively; everyone has their day."

My cousin joked, "Don't even mention Grandma Hu, even we younger generations might encounter natural disasters or man-made calamities one day. We can't escape them, and when we close our eyes, our lives are over."

"I have to go now, I need to hurry up and get there."

Lin Xiyu turned and walked out: "What you said makes me uneasy. I won't feel at ease if I don't see Grandma Hu."

"If you leave, I won't stay here either."

My cousin quickly followed: "I'm going to see Grandma too. She's a year older than Grandma Hu. She'll be 87 next year."

How has Grandma been feeling lately?

Lin Xiyu's heart skipped a beat again at her cousin's words, and her heart raced.

"It's the same old problem."

My cousin added, "My eyes are blurry, I can't see very clearly."

"How's your appetite?"

Lin Xiyu was still worried and kept asking questions as she walked.

"The food was alright."

My cousin misunderstood and laughed jokingly: "She likes to have a drink with dinner, and her alcohol tolerance is better than mine."

"I wasn't asking about her appetite, I was asking about her inflammation."

Lin Xiyu said helplessly, "Didn't my uncle say he took Grandma to the hospital and they said it was antral gastritis?"

"Oh, you mean this?"

My cousin suddenly realized, "I heard from my uncle that the doctor prescribed streptomycin, just a small spoonful every day."

Lin Xiyu's eyes widened in shock: "Can streptomycin be taken directly?"

My cousin wasn't quite sure: "The doctor said to drink it, so it should be okay, right?"

"Sigh, never mind, I won't ask you anymore."

Lin Xiyu sighed and said, "I'll go see Grandma myself when I have time, or I can bring her to my house for a few days."

Do you have a place to stay?

My cousin looked surprised: "Three nannies, plus you and your husband, an old lady, and five children."

"Squeezing it in should be enough."

Lin Xiyu knew in her heart: "As long as Grandma is willing to come, adding an extra bed is easy."

"Why don't you ask her?"

My cousin laughed awkwardly, "Grandma doesn't like to move easily. I can't persuade her to come and stay at my house for a few days, but she hasn't agreed."

"You live alone, and the house is so cold and quiet. What would Grandma do there?"

Lin Xiyu said confidently, "My family is large and lively. Just because of the four little babies, Grandma will definitely be willing to come."

cousin:"."

You have many children, so you're right!

-

No. 2 Yongquan Hutong.

When Lin Xiyu arrived, her three junior brothers and sisters were all there, and the atmosphere in the room was somewhat oppressive.

Is that Xi Yu?

Grandma Hu didn't look well. She was lying in bed and only opened her eyes when she heard that it was her.

"Grandma Hu"

Looking at the elderly woman suffering from illness, Lin Xiyu couldn't hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.

Don't cry.

Grandma Hu smiled kindly and comforted her in return, "Grandma is fine, she won't die anytime soon."

I'll take you to the hospital.

Lin Xiyu choked back tears and said, "You'll get better."

"no need."

Grandma Hu smiled with relief, but her attitude was firm: "Grandma knows her own illness well, don't waste any more money."

"You don't need to worry about money."

Lin Xiyu wanted to persuade her again: "I'll pay."

"You're a good child, Grandma knows that."

Grandma Hu insisted on refusing, saying, "Grandma is already very satisfied that she has persisted for so long and finished carving that piece that was applied for intangible cultural heritage status."

"is it finished?"

Lin Xiyu was genuinely happy for Grandma Hu.

"With such a desperate effort, is it really impossible to fail?"

Zhang Jie said with a hint of resentment, "Grandma Hu's relapse was caused by overworking herself with the carving."

"Cough cough."

Wang Lei quietly tugged at Zhang Jie's sleeve, signaling her not to say anything more.

Let's not talk about that now.

Grandma Hu's eyes lit up instantly when she picked up the paper-cutting: "Unfold that picture and show it to Xiyu."

"I'll do it, I'll do it!"

Li Ang spoke quickly, carefully unrolling the scroll.

The scroll is over three meters long, with a white background and red openwork patterns that look particularly refreshing and pleasing to the eye against the pure white background.

"so beautiful!"

Lin Xiyu looked at the exquisitely depicted and lifelike characters and landscapes, and praised them from the bottom of her heart.

"Grandma Hu really put a lot of effort into this painting."

Wang Lei exclaimed sincerely, "Every stroke is flawless, and the flowers, birds, and figures are all done in one go. I was truly impressed as I watched from the sidelines."

"I think so too"

Li Ang also chimed in with praise: "This painting is arguably Grandma Hu's masterpiece. If it weren't for her poor health, it wouldn't be impossible for her to perfectly replicate a real 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' using the art form of paper-cutting."

"Uh-huh."

Zhang Jie nodded in agreement, and thinking of how Grandma Hu endured the torment of illness while persevering in carving the picture, she couldn't help but want to cry again.

"Grandma, what name do you want to give this piece?" Lin Xiyu's eyes also reddened. She didn't need to ask to know how much effort Grandma Hu had put into applying for intangible cultural heritage status.

"Grandma hasn't decided yet."

Grandma Hu looked expectant: "Since you're all here, let's help Grandma think of a nice name together."

"No problem, let me go first."

Li Ang deliberately tried to amuse Grandma Hu by shaking his head and imitating the manner of an ancient scholar. He used his cell phone instead of a folding fan and tapped the palm of his other hand as he began his performance.

"This painting depicts Jinan's three famous scenic spots, as well as historical figures such as Li Qingzhao and Xin Qiji, and renowned poets like Yuan Haowen, who wrote poems praising the charm of the city of springs. It can be described as a collection of landscapes, flowers, birds, poetry, and songs."

He struck a pose well, but then he faltered at a crucial moment. Just as everyone was watching him expectantly, waiting for him to continue, he paused, and then... nothing more.
"How about we become one? Tell me then!"

Zhang Jie couldn't wait and urged him with a smile.

I can't think of anything.

Li Ang's ears turned red, and he touched his nose, giving an awkward laugh.

"Ugh."

Lin Xiyu and Wang Lei both sighed in unison.

"hehe."

Grandma Hu was indeed amused by him and laughed very happily.

I knew I couldn't count on you.

Zhang Jie laughed and gave him a big eye roll.

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

Li Ang retorted defiantly.

"Let me think."

Zhang Jie twirled her hair and tentatively asked, "Should I call you Quanyun?"

Wang Lei's fair assessment: "While it's barely satisfactory, it's still acceptable."

"What do you think of the 'Charm of Jinan' painting?"

Lin Xiyu heard Quan Yun's inspiration flash by and blurted it out.

"I think it works!"

Li Ang was the first to agree.

"It's better than Quanyun."

Wang Lei chimed in with flattery: "That's even more fitting; it has the feel of a timeless masterpiece."

"Grandma Hu, what do you think?"

Lin Xiyu listened with delight and turned to look at Grandma Hu.

"The Charm of Jinan"

Grandma Hu muttered to herself a few times, her eyes shining with joy: "Okay, it's settled then. This painting will be called 'The Charm of Jinan'."

"Great!"

"Finally it's done."

"Once you have a name, you can apply for intangible cultural heritage status."

Li Ang and his two companions were in high spirits and cheered in unison.

Have you figured out the application process for intangible cultural heritage status?

While Lin Xiyu was happy, she didn't forget the important matter at hand.

"I've already inquired about it."

Eager to show off, Li Ang eagerly answered, "We need to fill out the JN City Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Application Form, which requires detailed information about the project, the applicant's specific details, and the applying organization, etc."

"It's easy to write 'Grandma Hu' as the applicant."

Lin Xiyu frowned: "If we're talking about applying to organizations, I wonder if it's acceptable for non-governmental, spontaneously formed organizations?"

I asked.

Li Ang nodded: "It should be possible."

"that would be great."

Lin Xiyu's eyes lit up with joy: "Luckily, we established a mass art center beforehand, otherwise, without an application unit, it would have been a real problem."

"Senior sister's decision is wise."

Li Ang smiled and flattered, "I also have to thank my brother-in-law for his strong support."

Don't say that.

Lin Xiyu said with embarrassment, "We only did our best. It is thanks to everyone that we were able to help Grandma Hu fulfill her wish."

When will the selection be held?

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

The application hasn't been submitted yet.

Li Ang chuckled and joked, "What are you getting so excited about?"

"Then hurry up and write it!"

Zhang Jie urged them on.

"I'm good at running errands."

Li Ang shrank back, a little intimidated: "I really can't write something so literary."

"Wang Lei, you..."

Zhang Jie then turned her gaze to Wang Lei.

I am a science student.

Wang Lei laughed awkwardly: "Playing with scissors and carving knives is fine, but as for anything else, I'd rather not."

"You two are such cowards."

Zhang Jie curled her lip in disdain: "You let us down at the crucial moment."

"Aren't you a humanities student?"

Li Ang retaliated quickly: "Now is the time for liberal arts students to shine."

"Yes."

Wang Lei nodded in agreement.

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

Zhang Jie glared at the two of them with displeasure: "You two have the nerve to call yourselves my seniors, you don't even know I studied civil engineering?"

Wang Lei looked surprised: "Why would a woman like you study civil engineering?"

"My pleasure"

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

"Alright, you two stop staring at each other. What's there to argue about?"

Li Ang smiled helplessly and could only temporarily act as a peacemaker: "One of the three of us has to write it, right? Are you suggesting that Sister Xiyu write it? Don't forget that she's a mother of four, and we wouldn't dare trouble anyone else with her."

"It's not that I can't write it."

Lin Xiyu spoke up at the right time: "You've all worked so hard taking care of Grandma Hu these past few days, so I should do my part too. I'm not good at physical work, but I can handle mental work."

"Sister Xiyu"

Zhang Jie was so moved she almost cried: "You're so kind."

"Alright, stop flattering me, let's get back to business."

Lin Xiyu stopped the nonsensical praise: "When is the deadline for application?"

"It's at the end of October."

Li Ang inquired in great detail: "The results will be available around the Lunar New Year next year."

"Where's the form?"

Lin Xiyu asked again, "Where do I get it?"

"Culture and Tourism Bureau".

Li Ang seized the opportunity to claim credit: "I've already received it. I came today to tell Grandma Hu about it."

Lin Xiyu was pleasantly surprised: "Let me see it."

"okay."

Li Ang hurriedly took a brown paper bag from his backpack and handed it over.

"Goodness, how many pages is this?"

Lin Xiyu took it and clearly felt a weight on her wrist.

"It's quite a lot."

Li Ang smiled and agreed, too embarrassed to say in front of his senior sister that when he first saw so many forms, he was overwhelmed and his first thought was that it was fortunate that his senior sister had been discharged from the hospital after giving birth, because no one else could do this job.

Lin Xiyu pulled out a thick stack of papers from the bag, flipped through them page by page, and examined them carefully.

"Xi Yu, what do you need to write?"

Grandma Hu became a little anxious when she saw that she hadn't said anything for a long time.

"Grandma Hu, it's like this."

Lin Xiyu glanced through the materials and got a general understanding: "The materials we need to prepare are divided into two parts. One part is to apply for the intangible cultural heritage project, and the other part is to apply for the intangible cultural heritage inheritor. Both can be applied for at the same time."

“Applying to become an intangible cultural heritage inheritor is not only a great honor, but also a source of subsidies and special funds. Starting a business is eligible for tax incentives, and local governments will also fund the construction of venues for cultural dissemination and learning, provide free training and study, and offer opportunities for international exchange.”

“Especially influential inheritors can also become representatives of the National People’s Congress and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and their children can enjoy preferential policies such as bonus points in education.”