Chapter 30: A famous master, about to take the throne

Zhou Zhongdang laughed loudly and said, "That's right, but I have never announced it to the public. This seemingly cheap painting of 'The Pleasure of the Lotus Pond' is a 'painting within a painting' that contains a hidden secret."

"During the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in the Republic of China, your grandfather, a real estate tycoon in old Shanghai, was worried that the famous paintings of Bada Shanren would be lost in the war, so he spent a lot of money to hire a skilled craftsman to attach this Republic of China painting to the returned calligraphy and painting "Pond Fish Picture"."

"So that's how it is." Zhou Mengyao smiled.

Zhou Zhongdang continued, "Many antique appraisers have appreciated this painting from the Republic of China, The Lotus Pond, at Zhou's residence, but they did not discover the hidden mystery in it, that it is a priceless 'painting within a painting'."

"Mr. Lin only took a glance and said that this is a 'painting within a painting', which is better than thirty years of treasure appraisal skills. He is truly a gifted treasure appraiser!"

Lin Lang replied modestly: "Uncle Zhou, you are too kind. I guessed it by accident. I am not a genius in treasure appraisal~"

Zhuang Jingxue saw that her husband Zhou Zhongdang wanted to take Lin Lang as his apprentice, so she said, "Mr. Lin, the antique appraisal industry is just like the crosstalk industry. They are both traditional industries that emphasize the inheritance of knowledge from a teacher."

"Without a master, you can't be recognized by the mainstream treasure appraisal community."

"Your uncle Zhou is the leading treasure appraiser in the city of Changhai and a well-known treasure appraiser in the country. He wants to take you as his apprentice. What do you think?"

Zhou Zhongdang looked at Lin Lang expectantly, as if he was already prepared to be Lin Lang's master, just waiting for Lin Lang to kneel down and kowtow to accept his apprenticeship.

Zhou Mengyao smiled and said, "Lin Lang, this is a great thing. Why are you still hesitating?"

Unexpectedly, Lin Lang declined politely, saying, "I am grateful to Uncle Zhou for looking up to me, but I have a stubborn personality and am used to being free and undisciplined. I am not suitable to be bound by the rules of the sect."

"I appreciate Uncle Zhou's kindness, but I'd better forget about becoming his disciple!"

"Uh……"

Zhuang Jingxue was stunned. She didn't expect to be rejected by Lin Lang.

"Uh……"

The smile on Zhou Zhongdang's face came to an abrupt end. He never expected that Lin Lang would be so disdainful to take him as his master. He felt a little humiliated.

"Uh……"

Zhou Mengyao was shocked and asked, "Lin Lang, are you stupid?"

"After you become my father's disciple, you will be learning from a famous family and can quickly make a name for yourself in the treasure appraisal world."

"With the social connections of our Zhou family in Yihai City, and your master as your backer, not to mention the big shots in the antique business, they will give you some face. Even the celebrities from all walks of life in Yihai City dare not underestimate you!"

After hearing this, Lin Lang replied: "Mengyao, how could I not understand what you said?!"

"Since I have inherited the glory of my master, I must abide by the rules of the sect and not bring disgrace upon the sect. I, Lin Lang, have been alone for many years, free of worries and used to being free and undisciplined. I am not suitable to be bound by the rules of the sect."

"Uh..." Zhou Mengyao's eyes looked a little disappointed.

Zhuang Jingxue looked at her husband Zhou Zhongdang, afraid that he would be embarrassed, but unexpectedly Zhou Zhongdang was not angry at all, but laughed loudly.

"Mr. Lin, I admire young people like you who are both talented and have great character."

"I have decided to accept you as my disciple today!"

"I will make an exception and not set any rules for you. As long as you obey the law and don't harm society or bring disgrace to the sect, it will be fine. Do you have any excuses now? Can you refuse to become my disciple?"

Lin Lang said sadly: "Uncle Zhou, I respect you very much, but how can I force you to become my disciple?!"

Zhou Mengyao couldn't help laughing and said, "It's always been others who begged my dad to become my disciple but were rejected. I didn't expect that the extreme reversal would happen today. The person who was rejected turned out to be the treasure appraiser Zhou Zhongdang. How interesting!"

Zhuang Jingxue winked and gave her daughter Zhou Mengyao a cold look.

"Uh..." Zhou Mengyao tried hard not to laugh.

Zhou Zhongdang laughed loudly and said, "We have already established the fate of master and disciple. Today, I, Zhou, will be tough and arrogant for once and must accept you as my disciple."

"A famous treasure appraiser fell from the sky and insisted on taking me as his apprentice. I'm the only one who can do that!"

"Uncle Zhou, if you insist on taking me as your apprentice, it's not impossible, but a man's knees are made of gold. I swore in front of my deceased parents' graves that I would never kneel to anyone for the rest of my life."

"Kneel down to the heavens, the heavens have their own rules."

"Kneel down on the ground, the ground nourishes all things, it is the environment."

"Kneel down to your parents. They gave birth to me and raised me. This is human nature. I should be grateful."

"When you become a disciple, you must kneel down and worship. I'm sorry that I can't kneel down and become Uncle Zhou's disciple!"

Zhou Mengyao complained: "Old classmate, why does your words sound like an excuse for a polite refusal?"

Zhuang Jingxue originally thought that Lin Lang was deliberately trying to take her husband Zhou Zhongdang as his disciple in order to covet her daughter and the Zhou family's property. However, she did not expect that Lin Lang was so ambitious that he simply disdained to become his disciple.

After hearing this, Zhou Zhongdang actually said: "As a teacher, I cherish and love talents!"

"Alang, you have a natural talent for appraising treasures. It doesn't matter if you don't kneel when you become my disciple. I don't care about those red tapes. As long as you can pass on my legacy, the Treasure Pavilion will have successors, and I can be said to have fulfilled my wish."

"Master will make an exception for you again and allow you to join the sect without kneeling. Do you still have an excuse to refuse now?"

"Alas~" Lin Lang sighed and shook his head.

“It seems that Uncle Zhou is sincere in accepting me as his disciple. I can’t refuse such a kind invitation. If I refuse, I would be ungrateful.” Lin Lang was somewhat reluctant.

(Readers with little experience may not understand why the male protagonist needs to become a disciple to gain experience.)

(To explain: the male protagonist has a system and also becomes a disciple, which requires a background of a famous master. With the help of the prominent connections of the famous Zhou family in Haihai, he can directly enter the upper class society.)

(The people of the Xiahai have always been a very special group in the Xia Kingdom.)

(The upper class in Shanghai pays attention to one’s origin and background. Rich people from humble backgrounds are never worthy of a glance from the local Shanghai business tycoons.)

(With the capital background of the old Yihai Zhou family, and relying on the four generations of the Zhou family's wealth for more than 100 years and the connections that have been entrenched in Yihai, Lin Lang's master is from a famous family. From then on, he can talk to most of the celebrities in Yihai.)

(This is called being a jerk. It requires background. The benefits of the male protagonist becoming a disciple will be known later.)

Zhou Zhongdang was overjoyed after hearing this, and said with a loud laugh: "It is better to do it now than to wait for a day. Let's simplify the ceremony of becoming a disciple and start the formal ceremony now."

"Uh... Uncle Zhou, you're not afraid that I'll regret it, are you?"

"That's right!"

"I don't want to miss the chance to have you, a rare treasure appraiser, as my apprentice. Everything will be simple. Now you can write the letter of apprenticeship and prepare to formally become my disciple." Zhou Zhongdang smiled from ear to ear.

"Uh... well!"

Lin Lang reluctantly picked up the brush in the study and wrote the letter of apprenticeship on the spot.

Zhou Mengyao, who looked very happy, stood aside and polished the calligraphy for Lin Lang, praising him: "Lin Lang, your calligraphy is very good~"

While writing calligraphy, Lin Lang said with a smile, "My parents enrolled me in a calligraphy class when I was five years old. I have been practicing calligraphy since I was a child."

"Hehe..." Zhou Mengyao smiled sweetly.

When Zhuang Jingxue saw that her husband Zhou Zhongdang had finally found a beloved disciple, she couldn't help but smile and ordered the servants to prepare tea sets, rulers and other items for the apprenticeship ceremony.

Zhou Zhongdang prepared a red envelope in advance for accepting a disciple, and was very happy to have a beloved disciple.

Soon, Lin Lang wrote the letter of apprenticeship.

After everything was ready, Master Zhou Zhongdang and his wife Zhuang Jingxue sat in the center of the study, and the simplified apprenticeship ceremony officially began.

The auspicious time has arrived.

Lin Lang first straightened his clothes, then respectfully presented the letter of apprenticeship with both hands.

Mr. Zhou Zhongdang: Daojian!

I am Lin Lang, your disciple, and I have long admired your superb skills in appraising antiques. I am grateful that you have agreed to accept me as your disciple. I am willing to follow your teachings, inherit your legacy, unite with your colleagues, study hard, and inherit and promote national culture!

I am sending this invitation with all my sincerity to respectfully pay my respects to you as my disciple!

Lin Lang clasped his hands together, raised them above his eyebrows, then bowed and said, "I bow to you and enter your sect. I will be with you forever."

"The second bow is to respect the master. Master and disciple join hands to shine the moon over the nine states."

"Bow three times to follow the teacher's instructions, always remember the teacher's kindness, and the merits will last forever."

After bowing to the master three times, Lin Lang began to serve tea according to etiquette.

"Master, please have tea!"

Zhou Zhongdang smiled from ear to ear, took the teacup and took a sip of tea, then put it down and handed Lin Lang a red envelope containing a transfer check for 88,000 Chinese yuan.

"Thank you, Master!" Lin Lang took the red envelope.

"Master Wife, please drink tea!"

Zhuang Jingxue took the teacup with a smile, took a sip of tea, put it down, and handed Lin Lang a red envelope, which also contained a transfer check for 88,000 Chinese yuan.

"Thank you, Master!" Lin Lang took the red envelope.

The ceremony of paying homage to the master and offering tea symbolizes the respect and inheritance between master and apprentice.

Then, Master Zhou Zhongdang, holding a ruler, admonished: "One knock on the head will make you clear-headed and dedicated to the group."

"Two knocks on the shoulders, bravely shoulder the heavy responsibility, and dare to innovate."

"Knock on the body three times, do things in moderation, and proceed step by step."

Lin Lang replied respectfully: "I will follow the master's teachings. I will uphold the tradition and bring honor to the master's school!"

The ceremony is completed.

The gorgeous Zhou Mengyao smiled happily and said, "Congratulations, Dad, you have a beloved disciple!"

Zhou Zhongdang was grinning from ear to ear, and said loudly, "Today's family dinner has turned into a master's dinner. Alang, you must drink a few glasses with Master to celebrate."

"Master, there is something that has disappointed you. I wonder if I should tell you or not?"

"As the saying goes, a master and his apprentice are like father and son. From now on, we are a family. If you have anything to say, just tell me, Alang!"

Lin Lang pretended to be mysterious and said: "Master, today is the apprenticeship banquet, you are not allowed to drink!"

"Why?" Zhou Zhongdang was puzzled.

Lin Lang naturally couldn't reply. He found out through the universal entry system that Zhou Zhongdang had two cardiovascular organs with more than 70% stenosis. He was prone to myocardial infarction after drinking and had to have a heart stent.

So, Lin Lang lied, "I know a little about Chinese medicine. Through face-to-face diagnosis, I found that Master's face and eyelids are a little swollen, there are horizontal lines on the bridge of the nose, the face is red, and the lips are purple. This means that Master has insufficient blood in his heart and stagnant heart meridians. He must not drink alcohol."

"Master, have you experienced chest tightness, shortness of breath, or palpitations recently? Have these symptoms improved on their own after rest?"

Zhou Zhongdang exclaimed after hearing this: "Alang, you're right. I've been feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath lately. I feel weak when I move around too much, and I occasionally have heart attacks. Could it be that I have a heart disease?!"

Lin Lang said in shock: "Master, you need to see a doctor in time and have a coronary angiography. There is a high probability that you will be diagnosed with cardiovascular stenosis and need stent treatment."

"Uh..." Zhou Zhongdang's face changed instantly after hearing this.

Zhou Mengyao wiped the cold sweat off her forehead and said weakly, "No way?"

"My mother is a famous heart surgeon in Shanghai. If my father really has a heart disease, wouldn't my mother be able to tell?"