The Qi Baishi Cup National Painting Finals have officially begun.

Backstage, Li Mingzhu carefully admired painter Tian Sheng's "Old Man and Corn".

The more I look at it, the better I think it is drawn; the more I look at it, the more hopeless I feel.

"Sigh, my husband said I have a great chance of beating Tian Sheng, he must be just trying to comfort me," Li Mingzhu thought to herself.

At that moment, a middle-aged man walked up behind her and asked, "Mingzhu painter, is 'Hope' your work?"

This man had a square face, wore gold-rimmed glasses, and exuded a scholarly air.

"Hello, Painter Tian." Li Mingzhu hurriedly stood up and looked nervously at the famous painter Tian Sheng.

"Mingzhu, don't be nervous."

Tian Sheng smiled and said, "This painting is really well done. If nothing unexpected happens, the champion will be chosen before you and me."

"The championship is definitely yours," Li Mingzhu said helplessly. "Painter Tian, ​​my painting can't compare to yours."

Tian Sheng smiled and said, "Anything is possible until the results are in."

After a moment, he added, "Participation is the most important thing in a competition. As long as you don't give up, even if I don't participate in the next one, you will definitely be the champion next time."

Li Mingzhu was taken aback. She thought Tian Sheng was encouraging her, but it turned out to be a show of bravado.

The way you're saying this makes it sound like Tian Sheng is the undisputed champion of this year's competition.

Li Mingzhu can humbly say that she will fail, but her opponent cannot say that she will fail; that would be a provocation.

On second thought, she felt somewhat happy.

The swaggering and showing off indicated that Tian Sheng felt threatened.

He subconsciously believed that "hope" could potentially defeat "the old man and corn".

Thinking of this, Li Mingzhu held her head high and said, "My husband said I would win the national championship, and I believe in him unconditionally."

"Oh?" Tian Sheng smiled slightly. "Who is your husband, a famous painter? What are his works?"

Li Mingzhu shook her head, "My husband is a businessman who owns a supermarket, not in this industry."

"Haha..." Tian Sheng laughed, "A businessman who only knows how to make money, reeking of money, does he understand art?"

"What did you say?" Li Mingzhu's eyebrows shot up. "Tian Sheng, apologize to me right now."

Her voice was loud, immediately attracting the attention of the contestants and staff.

Tian Sheng didn't expect Li Mingzhu to have such a temper. It was just a comment about her husband, why did she get so angry?

People drew closer, and director Chen Li asked, "Painter Tian, ​​Painter Li, what's wrong with you two?"

Tian Sheng said, "Director Chen, Ms. Li's husband is a supermarket owner. I jokingly said that he doesn't understand art, and Ms. Li got angry."

Chen Li nodded and said softly, "Mingzhu, this is an artist's stereotype of businessmen. Let it go."

"Impossible!" Li Mingzhu showed no mercy to the director, staring at Tian Sheng. "My husband is a businessman with a conscience. You must apologize."

Chen Li frowned; Li Mingzhu's lack of respect was making her unhappy.

Tian Sheng was somewhat angry. As a well-known painter, it was excessive for him to be criticized by an unknown junior.

“Ms. Li, you should respect your seniors. Besides, I didn’t say anything wrong.”

"Merchants are all profit-driven, obsessed with money. What else could they be but filthy greed?"

"You say your husband is a businessman with a conscience, then I would like to ask, where is his conscience?"

Tian Sheng spoke very quickly, finishing his sentence in one breath, until his face turned red and his neck became thick with suppressed emotion.

Li Mingzhu sneered, "Everyone in the provincial capital of Central China knows that my husband's tobacco and liquor store never sells counterfeit cigarettes or alcohol. Isn't that the mark of a conscientious businessman?"

"The average monthly salary in the provincial capital is 400 yuan, while my husband's employees earn an average monthly salary of 1,500 yuan. Are they honest businessmen?"

"He uses half of his net profit every month to raise wages for his workers. Isn't that a conscientious businessman?"

Li Mingzhu remained unyielding and said in a deep voice, "Painter Tian, ​​please answer my question, immediately!"

"Impossible!" Tian Sheng said. "How could a businessman offer a salary that exceeds the average wage by a thousand yuan? Who are you trying to fool?"

Director Chen Li also thought it was impossible and said with a smile, "Mingzhu, give me some face and let it go."

At this moment, one of the contestants spoke up, "Li, is your husband Wang Peng, the owner of the Brothers Tobacco and Liquor Store?"

Li Mingzhu turned her head to look at him.

This person's name is Sun Jianxiang, from the Central Plains, and he is his opponent in the same group.

“Sun Jianxiang, my husband is Wang Peng. Do you know him?” Li Mingzhu asked.

“I don’t know him, but I’ve heard of Mr. Wang’s reputation,” Sun Jianxiang said. “He does indeed pay his employees a high salary of 1,500 yuan.”

Li Mingzhu immediately said, "If you don't believe me, you can go to the provincial capital and ask around."

For a moment, the air was very quiet, and everyone stared at Li Mingzhu.

After a long silence, director Chen Li said sincerely, "If this is true, your husband is indeed a businessman with a conscience."

TV directors are also working people, and her salary is even lower than that of supermarket employees, which is a big blow to her.

She looked at Tian Sheng and said, "Painter Tian, ​​you misunderstood her husband. Apologize, and this matter will be over."

We have to give the director face.

Tian Sheng chuckled lightly, "Alright, I apologize to your husband. He's an anomaly among businessmen, and he changed my stereotypes about businessmen."

"Mingzhu, I hope you achieve good results."

Tian Sheng waved his hand and turned to admire his own work.

Li Mingzhu was not satisfied with the half-hearted apology, but the matter had to end there.

Director Chen Li put her arm around her shoulder and whispered, "I have confidence in your work if you can beat her."

Li Mingzhu nodded emphatically, her fighting spirit high and her confidence full.

"Honey, cheer me on! I'm going to beat Tian Sheng and win the championship for you!"

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