Chapter 359 — Her Family
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 4 of 4
"The very same!" Dou Huaiying said smugly, pleased that Song Yan recognized it. "This is the one called 'Fairy from Beyond the Heavens.' I'm giving it to you. Use it yourself when you go back, or keep it for my grandson—either way, it's a rare treasure."
Rare was an understatement; it was precious beyond measure.
An ordinary family with such an inkstone would treasure it as an heirloom.
Song Yan reflected that his father-in-law was a man of letters, and just as a famed sword belongs with a renowned scholar and rouge with a hero, so this inkstone must be worth even more in his father-in-law's eyes. He had meant to refuse outright, but out of the corner of his eye he caught the hopeful look on Dou Huaiying's face, and his heart could not help but quiver.
Father-in-law, are you lonely?
All these years he had lived inside a circle he had drawn for himself. Others could not step in, and he was unwilling to step out. Over time, others no longer knew how to enter, and he no longer knew how to leave.
He thought of his father-in-law's unguarded kindness toward him, and his eyes grew moist.
"Father-in-law!" Song Yan said with a shameless grin. "Since you've kept so many fine inkstones, you must have kept fine ink as well, surely? What use is an inkstone without ink? Why not bestow a few fine ink sticks on me too? When your grandson takes the examinations in future, how will he write fine characters without good ink?"
Dou Huaiying laughed heartily, thoroughly delighted.
He beckoned to Song Yan. "Come with me—I really do have several fine ink sticks hidden away here, from Shouyuan's grandfather's collection. I'll give them to you as well!"
Song Yan followed him to the storeroom, fairly skipping with glee.
Sixth Uncle Dou Heng and his family had arrived.
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To all my readers, brothers and sisters: the second update will still be around 11 p.m. Those who find that too late, just read it tomorrow morning!
o(n_n)o~