Su Ling knelt proudly before his vegetable patches, admiring his handiwork with a broad grin. Suddenly, a playful puppy bounded over, its eyes sparkling with curiosity at the sight of the tender sprouts peeking through the soil. With a mischievous swipe of its paw, it aimed for the young shoots, but Su Ling scooped up the pup just in time, saving his delicate seedlings from certain mischief.
“Oh no, you mustn’t lay a single paw on them.”
Arf! Whimper…
The puppy fought with adorable determination to break free, twisting and turning until it finally surrendered and nestled into its owner’s arms. It affectionately rubbed its tiny head against Su Ling, showering him with affectionate nuzzles and leaving behind a trail of muddy paw prints on his shirt.
Glancing down, Su Ling’s expression morphed into one of bemusement.
“You’re not allowed in the backyard again, little one.”
Since the entire house was fully carpeted, the puppy’s muddy paws were a recipe for disaster!
Arf! Though the puppy could not understand a word Su Ling said, it wagged its tail excitedly and pranced around on all fours, adding four or five more cherry-blossom-shaped muddy prints to his shirt.
Faced with the rambunctious puppy’s unrelenting mischief, Su Ling had to cut short his farm chores. With a chuckle, he grabbed a rag to clean its dirt-streaked paws, then released the little troublemaker to bound around indoors.
On his recent trip to town, he took the puppy for a full check-up and vaccinations at the animal hospital. Afterward, they hit the pet store, filling their cart with essentials. Now, a dog bowl and an automatic water dispenser sat in the corner of the dining room, while the living room featured a soft and cozy dog bed, along with a collection of toys.
The little one had romped all morning, so now weariness was catching up. Cradled in Su Ling’s arms, it teetered on the edge of slumber. With tender care, Su Ling tucked it into the dog bed. There, it fought against sleep, yawning and lifting its head. Su Ling reassured it with a soothing touch, “Sleep now. I’m right here with you.”
Not entirely sure whether the little one had fully grasped Su Ling’s comforting words, but the tender touch of his caress soon lulled it into a peaceful sleep, punctuated by happy little snorts. Before long, it rolled onto its back, revealing its soft belly.
Welcoming a puppy into his life had turned each day into a burst of vibrant colors. Since the little one demanded more of Su Ling’s time and affection, certain worries quietly slipped away into the shadows.
Yawning was contagious, and as Su Ling let out a long, sleepy yawn, he closed the door and headed up to his room for a much-needed afternoon nap.
The bedroom had undergone a stunning transformation. A soft leather bed now took the place of the old wooden one, which had been given to Aunt Zhang. The floor was covered with a plush carpet, and a cozy fabric sofa nestled by the window. A new wardrobe and charming decorations completed the makeover, creating a space that felt both comfortable and inviting.
Su Ling peeled off the shirt smeared with puppy paw prints and tossed it into the bathroom laundry basket. Ready for a hot shower before bed, he reveled in the warmth of the bathroom, thanks to the new heat lamps and water heater that chased away any lingering chill.
Fresh from a steamy shower, Su Ling blow-dried his hair before slipping into bed. With the air conditioning humming softly, he pulled a brand-new silk comforter over himself and nestled into a plush pillow. Grabbing the oversized stuffed bear from the headboard, he hugged it tight and closed his eyes before sinking into complete bliss.
After sleeping like a log until three in the afternoon, Su Ling was roused by the persistent bark of a puppy downstairs. With a sleepy yawn and a tousle of his curly shoulder-length hair, he finally rolled out of bed.
Whimper… Arf arf! The small puppy at the foot of the stairs continued its incessant yipping as it tried to scale the steps with its little paws. But with each attempt, its short legs fell short, leaving it frantically scrambling in frustration.
As Su Ling descended the stairs in a set of loose, comfortable clothing, he could not help but burst into laughter at the sight of the puppy’s adorable clumsiness.
Arf arf arf! As soon as the puppy laid eyes on its owner, its tail erupted into a joyful frenzy of wagging.
Su Ling bent down and scooped up the puppy with one hand. “You’re a noisy little thing after your naps, aren’t you? Don’t you have toys to keep you busy?”
Arf! The puppy extended its tongue and began lapping at Su Ling’s chin. He jerked back slightly, giggling as the wet, raspy tongue tickled his skin.
Cradling the puppy in his arms, Su Ling walked into the living room, but the little furball suddenly wriggled free and darted toward the dining area. He trailed after it, only to find the puppy sitting attentively next to its food bowl, awaiting its meal.
Goodness, is it hungry again already? This little one certainly does have an impressive appetite, doesn’t it?
With that in mind, Su Ling grabbed some dog kibble and powdered lamb milk from the kitchen cupboard before mixing them with warm water. The moment the enticing aroma wafted through the air, the puppy sprang into action, diving snout-first into the food bowl and gobbling up the meal with enthusiastic gusto. Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
Meanwhile, Su Ling treated himself to a cup of freshly brewed coffee. With a steaming mug in hand, he strolled to the waterside pavilion, where he could enjoy the serene view of the pond.
Spanning about eighty square meters, the waterside pavilion was designed for all seasons. With doors and windows on every side, it welcomed cooling breezes in summer and retained warmth in the cooler months. Su Ling ingeniously transformed this versatile space into a combined art studio and lounge. A stylish partition screen laid in the middle to create distinct zones — a cozy lounge with a waterproof tatami mat, a small tea table, soft cushions, and a cabinet, while the inspiring studio boasted a long table equipped with brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, easels, paint racks, and display cabinets.
Su Ling enjoyed having his coffee atop the tatami mat, enchanted by the tiny door that swung open to unveil a serene pond. Within its depths, plump koi fish glided lazily through the water.
According to Li Dahai, these koi had been meticulously nurtured over four to five years. The largest exemplar stretched close to a foot in length, its shimmering vermilion scales complemented by fins and a tail that billowed like gossamer. Hence, Su Ling was immediately enthralled by its mesmerizing splendor at his first glance.
Halfway through his coffee, he grabbed the fish feed and sprinkled some over the pond. Within moments, dozens of koi darted toward the surface, mouths gaping in a mad scramble for the morsels. Suddenly, the water erupted in a spray of droplets as a magnificent, crimson-hued koi surged forth, muscling aside the other fish to swiftly claim the lion’s share of the feast.
“Still as domineering as ever.” Su Ling remarked, shaking his head in mock disbelief. After tossing the last of the fish food into the water, he dusted off his hands and drained the last of his coffee. With a satisfied sigh, he pushed himself up and strode toward the art studio.
Since coming to the countryside, his creative inspiration had surged forth unabated. In the span of merely a fortnight, he had already created two ink wash paintings.
One portrayed the simplicity of spring plowing[1], while the other depicted a mountainous vista enveloped in a veil of misty rain[2].
Su Ling’s talent for painting was nothing short of extraordinary. In his first year of university, his professor referred him to Zhang Qianyi, a great master of traditional Chinese painting. Despite being 78 years old and having sworn off taking on new disciples, he was so impressed by Su Ling’s work that he made a rare exception, welcoming the 18-year-old as his last disciple.
Under the tutelage of a legendary master, Su Ling’s proficiency in traditional Chinese painting advanced by leaps and bounds. His seven seniors showered him with praise, marveling at the young prodigy in their midst. Despite their age difference, they doted on the youngest disciple with boundless care and attention.
[1] 春耕图 (chūn gēng tú): A 春耕图 is a Chinese painting that depicts scenes of farmers working in fields during the springtime. I’m guessing it looks something like this:
[2] 山水画 (shān shuǐ huà): A 山水画 is a traditional Chinese landscape painting that portrays natural scenery like mountains, rivers, and trees. These paintings emphasize the artist’s interpretation of nature rather than realism, using brushstrokes and ink wash techniques to convey emotions and capture the essence of the scene. I’m guessing it looks something like this: