That small aristocratic family lived in a border town in Baihe Prefecture, which was four or five days away from Taoshu Village.

On the way, Bai had a large number of books and paintings found for Yi Sheng to see. Yi Sheng cooperated and buried himself in reading every day.

As he focused on reading, Bai looked at his profile and felt that the person she admired had returned.

I can't help but feel full of anticipation for the days to come.

However, after only a few days of working as a private tutor in the small family, her expectations were shattered.

In his spare time, Yi Sheng neither indulged in poetry and calligraphy nor painted.

He developed two new hobbies—visiting local restaurants and teaching the old ladies there how to paint.

These old women included those selling vegetables, fish, and embroidered handkerchiefs... and some were so old they had no teeth left and barely had any breath left.

The reason was that he felt they couldn't earn much money selling groceries, but could earn more by selling paintings.

He prepared paper and paints, and told the old women to come and paint.

Bai was so angry she almost laughed.

Instead of associating with scholars and intellectuals, he teaches a bunch of common folk how to paint. Isn't that just plain stupid?

"How could they possibly learn to draw? You're wasting your time."

Bai couldn't help but scold him.

Yi Sheng replied, "If you can embroider, you can paint. They've also accumulated a wealth of life experience, so painting is a natural progression for them."

Bai naturally didn't believe it.

These old women embroider the kind of tacky patterns that only locals like; they're not presentable at all.

No one will buy the paintings I create.

Yi Sheng, however, was as stubborn as a mule, doing things his own way, and spending every spare moment guiding these old ladies in painting.