Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

When Shang Song finished washing up and returned to the living room, her father had already left.

"Your dad went to the market. Some of the ingredients for tomorrow's New Year's Eve dinner need to be bought today to ensure they're fresh," Shang's mother said to Shang Song as she placed millet porridge and steamed buns on the table. "By the way, Songsong, after breakfast, go to the community activity center."

"Huh? What are you going there for?" Shang Song sat down and took the chopsticks that Xie Jing silently handed him.

"We're getting Spring Festival couplets! The community hired Teacher Guo to write them there, free of charge! They're much better than the printed ones we buy."

Mrs. Shang served Xie Jing a full bowl of porridge. "Professor Xie, if you don't mind being bored, how about Songsong takes you for a walk? It's just in the neighborhood, not far. You can pick up the Spring Festival couplets and take a stroll around to get familiar with the area."

Xie Jing nodded. "Okay, not boring."

Shang Song was biting into a steamed bun, but his eyes were glancing at Xie Jing beside him.

Xie Jing agreed.

A smirk crept onto his lips.

After the meal, the two changed into their outdoor clothes.

The community activity center is located next to the community garden; it's a small, single-story building.

A long table was set up outside, and Teacher Guo was practicing calligraphy.

There were more than a dozen people lined up in front of the table, mostly elderly people and parents with children.

Shang Song pulled Xie Jing to the end of the line and whispered an introduction to Teacher Guo, "Teacher Guo is a local celebrity. He used to be a Chinese teacher at the No. 1 Middle School in the city and was also my parents' old colleague. He is an exceptionally skilled calligrapher and writes Spring Festival couplets for people every year after he retired."

Xie Jing's gaze fell on Teacher Guo's brushstrokes. After watching for a while, he nodded slightly, which was considered his approval.

The procession moved slowly.

The winter sun was warm and cozy, and Shang Song couldn't sit still. He would look at the words for a while, and then turn his head to look at Xie Jing behind him.

With only one person left in front of him, Shang Song was pondering which couplet to choose when suddenly, Teacher Guo's old-fashioned cell phone started loudly playing "Good Luck".

After finishing writing the last character, Teacher Guo picked up the phone: "Hey? Huh? What? You got into an argument? Where? East end of the market? Oh, you old woman! ...Okay, okay, don't rush, stand still, I'm coming right away! Right away!"

After hanging up the phone, Mr. Guo looked anxious and repeatedly bowed to the crowd in line, saying, "I'm so sorry, so sorry, neighbors! My wife got into an argument with someone at the market, I have to go check on her right away! These Spring Festival couplets... I'm afraid I won't be able to write them this morning! I'm so sorry!"

A murmur of disappointment immediately rippled through the queue.

"My family is waiting to put them up!"

"Teacher Guo, are we still writing this afternoon?"

The person in front of Shang Song went about tidying up his last Spring Festival couplet and taking it to dry.

"Ah! My couplet!" Shang Song looked at the empty space in front of him. He had been waiting in line for so long, and it was almost his turn, but the task was about to fall through. He subconsciously cried out in frustration, and his face fell.

Xie Jing's gaze swept over Shang Song's slumped face, then glanced at Teacher Guo, who was grabbing his coat and hurrying to leave. He stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Excuse me, may I borrow your pen and ink?"

Teacher Guo looked up and was taken aback. Was this young man going to write it himself?

But he didn't have time to think it through and hurriedly waved his hand, "Use it, use it! Help yourself! The brush, ink, paper and inkstone are all on the table, anyone who knows how to write can use them! Sorry, I really have to go!"

After saying that, he jogged away.

Shang Song stared blankly at Teacher Guo's retreating figure, then looked at Xie Jing, who had already walked behind the table, and scratched his head in confusion.

He watched as Xie Jing first examined the brush and ink used by Teacher Guo, then took a new sheet of red paper, laid it flat with a paperweight, and then picked up the brush placed on the brush holder, slowly licking the ink on the inkstone with elegant and skillful movements.

He leaned slightly forward, suspended his wrist, lowered his elbow, concentrated for a moment, and then the pen tip fell steadily.

It is clerical script.

The strokes are round and vigorous, the structure is symmetrical, with silkworm head and wild goose tail, and it is steady and solid.

Even the brushstrokes exude a profound and weighty strength, perfectly complementing the festive red paper and adding a touch of elegance and style.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

The neighbors, who had been whispering amongst themselves, now all peeked out and discussed in hushed tones.

Shang Song was completely stunned.

He knew Xie Jing was learned and had excellent calligraphy, but he had never seen him write large characters.

Looking at Xie Jing's focused face as he wrote, and at those long, slender fingers with distinct knuckles, his heart began to pound uncontrollably again.

With the final stroke completed smoothly, Xie Jing straightened up and placed the brush back on the brush holder.

The entire couplet is full and fluent, with glossy black ink, which is quite different from Mr. Guo's calligraphy style, but makes it appear more ancient and dignified.

"Great! It's so well written!" Someone in the crowd cheered first.

Immediately afterwards, exclamations of praise rose and fell.

Just then, an elderly man behind Shang Song in line stepped forward, beaming, "Young man, your calligraphy is really beautiful! Um, Teacher Guo has left, and our line is so long... Could you do us a favor and write one for us too? Just some simple auspicious words will do! We're not picky!"

The people in line behind them chimed in:

"Yes, yes, yes! Young man, please help us! We've been waiting all morning!"

"Thank you for your help!"

Seeing the scene escalate so quickly, Shang Song snapped out of his arrogance. He stepped between Xie Jing and the crowd, his face filled with anxiety: "Hey, uncles and aunties, this isn't appropriate, is it? Xie... he's my friend. He didn't come here to write Spring Festival couplets; he just happened to be here. Besides, writing calligraphy is tiring!"

He knew that Xie Jing preferred quiet, disliked crowds, and hated being bothered by irrelevant matters.

Let him sit here like Teacher Guo, writing Spring Festival couplets for so many people?!

Shang Song didn't even dare to think about it.

Xie Jing looked at Shang Song, who was protecting him.

He watched as Shang Song anxiously spread his arms, clumsily shielding him from the crowd's requests.

His tone was anxious, and his movements were clumsy.

He really didn't want to write.

He only intended to write for Shang Song.

Moreover, he would feel uncomfortable in such a noisy situation where he is being watched and asked for favors.

It's easy to reject these people.

With just a word, a glance, or even without him saying a word, Shang Song would continue to shield him, even if he himself might be criticized by the neighbors as "stingy" and "uncouth."

But that would put Shang Song in a difficult position, make him feel awkward, and leave a bad impression on the circle of acquaintances his parents have known for many years.

Shang Song brought him home in the hope that he could be accepted and integrated into this warm and ordinary world.