Lao Shu — ‘What, Me Worry?’

The Other China

何事值得你當真？

Lao Shu 老樹 is the nom de plume of Liu Shuyong (劉樹勇, 1962-), a Beijing-based artist, writer, critic and professor in communications. His artistic voice is unique and personal, its tenor, whimsy and profundity evoke what for decades we have called The Other China — a cultural noosphere that is as undeniably local as it is universal.

For more work by Lao Shu in China Heritage, see The Other China and Intersecting with Eternity. For his latest art work (and merch), see Lao Shu Paintings 老樹畫畫 online at NetEase 網易.

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In this, the latest addition to a China Heritage series on the northern summer season of 2026, we join Lao Shu once more as he offers a selection of paintings and bons mots about nonchalance. The chapters in this miniseries are:

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The theme of the following selection of Lao Shu’s work — 何事值得你當真？— is rendered as ‘What, me worry?’, the famous tagline of Alfred E. Newman, a childhood favourite.

Geremie R. Barmé
Editor, China Heritage
7 August 2026

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Other people really defy understanding,
it’s wild out there, and bothersome, too.
I’d rather chuck it all in at work and
spend my time like this, with a cat.

— 老樹，宜擼貓，《老樹日曆》，2026年8月6日

Flowers crazed, dancing on spring winds
dream-memories evoked by autumn rain
What can really be all that serious when
all is but a play in the realm of Samsara?

春風萬里狂花，
秋雨一段夢憶。
什麼可以當真？
諸事皆如兒戲。

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It is what it is.

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In life, flowers alone deserve our respect.

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A decent pot of tea can be a balm
for even the most prosaic heart.

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Find fellowship with flowers,
be sure to steer clear of fools.

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Whatevs.

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What, me worry?

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