Chapter 19 Jiang An's Painting Talent
"Oh, it's known as the world's smelliest flower, emitting a stench like rotting flesh, and its yellowish mouth is just as bad... wait, did you just... laugh?"
Jiang Chao, who had long since suppressed his smile, had a slight glint in his eyes. "No, you're mistaken. Watch where you're going. I won't help you up if you fall."
"Hmph, my eyesight is excellent, there's no way I could be mistaken. Hehehe, the path is flat, how could I possibly trip!"
After making a funny face, he ran off in a few quick steps. Jiang Chao frowned, quickened his pace, and followed.
The two bickered and teased each other all the way home, and Wu Lifang made them each a bowl of brown sugar water.
With a touch of minced ginger, it's both sweet and spicy, and very comforting.
"Ah Chao, why are you bringing a small towel to burn incense? Hmm, it's damp!"
"Aunt Wu, when you used to burn incense, didn't Jiang Chao bring a dry towel?"
"Not bringing"
"bring!"
The two answered at the same time, but the boy's tone was noticeably higher.
The little girl, with a mischievous grin, nudged the boy with her elbow, "You stinky Jiang Chao, thanks!"
The boy, with a stern face, moved away in disgust. "Don't flatter yourself. Drink your brown sugar water!"
"Ah Chao, stop teasing Xiaxia, An'an, what...did you take?"
She put her little hands in her pockets, blinked her innocent grape-like eyes, and said, "N-nothing... I... went back to my room to play."
After Little Radish left, Wu Lifang placed the bamboo basket on the table. "Ah Chao, see if anything is missing? Maybe it's something like firecrackers!"
"Oh, there are a few missing scraps of paper. It's alright, let him play with them!"
These words put Aunt Wu at ease, as she was afraid that her second son might have another problem.
"Hey, Jiang Chao, you actually brought back the scraps of paper."
"Ha, what else? Spread the winter melon... to annoy the workers?"
"Hmm, what's so fun about those scraps of paper? Is it worth sneaking around taking them?"
puzzle?
Yes, that's very likely!
Jiang Chao sneered and rolled his eyes at him, "He has his own uses!"
On the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Yunxia was sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun when a little paper doll came running over, waving it around in front of her with a smug look on its face.
He slightly raised his eyes to examine the contents of the paper, and only then did he understand the meaning behind Jiang Chao's words from yesterday.
"An'an, did you draw this?"
"Yes, Sister Xiaxia, this is for you!"
Although it was a pencil imitation of yesterday's drawing, the girl in the drawing has a more similar charm to Yunxia, with a sweet smile, clever eyes, and a touch of playfulness in her movements.
"An'an, you drew so well. I will definitely treasure it. When you become a great painter, I will frame it and hang it on the wall. Just looking at it every day will make me happy."
"Sister Xiaxia, can An'an really become a great painter?"
The little boy nervously rubbed the hem of his clothes, his eyes filled with longing. Yun Xia chuckled and patted his head.
"An'an, where there's a will, there's a way. Besides, you have a talent for painting, which already puts you far ahead of others."
"But my brother doesn't like it..."
"Don't listen to him, stick to your own dreams."
The little boy, only a few years old, had no idea what a dream was, but he was very certain that he liked to draw.
"Yes, An'an will definitely work hard and grow up to become a great painter."
After saying that, she snuggled into her sister's arms and listened to her tell a dramatic fairy tale.
Jiang Chao, returning from visiting relatives, saw the two of them inseparable, and then noticed the sketch in the little girl's hand. He raised an eyebrow and asked:
"Yunxia, what did you say to An'an?"
Normally, Little Radish Head would be hiding in the big box at this time, and would never be playing in the yard sunbathing.
"Jiang Chao, look, An'an's painting is even better than Feng Jingling's. We can focus on cultivating her in this direction in the future."
"Hmph, painting is an expensive hobby that can't put food on the table. What's the use of painting well?"
"Brother, when An'an grows up, she wants to be a great painter, hehe!"
Seeing that Jiang Chao was about to pour cold water on her again, Yun Xia quickly got up and stepped forward, covering his mouth with her chubby little hand.
"An'an, your brother and I have something to talk about. Go back to your room and play for a while."
"Oh, okay!"
Not receiving praise from his older brother, Xiao Jiang'an was a little dejected, dragging his heels as he slowly moved back into the house.
Yunxia chattered on and on, endlessly listing the benefits of learning to draw. Jiang Chao, annoyed by her chatter, simply shoved her hands away. "Heh, are you possessed by a chatterbox? Did I say he couldn't draw?"
Hey, this looks promising!
"Who told you to have such a long face? Anyone who sees it will think you disagree."
"Paper, brushes, drawing boards, teachers—all of these cost money! Picking up a pencil stub and drawing occasionally is fine, but if you want to train someone to be a professional artist, our family can't afford that kind of money!"
These words left Yunxia speechless.
Yes, the Wu family's situation is not good. I was too idealistic. No matter what era, if you want to turn your interest into a profession, the initial investment is something that ordinary families cannot afford.
"Heh, can't say anything now, huh?"
His knowing look only made Yunxia feel more frustrated.
"It was my oversight, but... you're not allowed to dampen An'an's enthusiasm for learning to draw, or... I'll scratch your face until it's covered in scars."
"Money can be earned slowly. My little brain is very quick; do you think I can't come up with a clever way to make money? Humph!"
“Heh, Yunxia, you need to know that dreams and wishful thinking are not the same thing.”
Seeing the little girl so angry she looked like a pufferfish, Jiang Chao chuckled, raised an eyebrow, and went into the main room.
That scoundrel Jiang Chao, I'm determined to make a fortune and slap him in the face!
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, a good day for visiting relatives, Yunxia carried a bamboo basket to Director Liu's house to pay her respects. The basket was filled with brown sugar, milk, melons, and horn-shaped honey cakes.
"Xiaxia, you're here now, but you brought so much stuff. Isn't it heavy?" Aunt Xu, wearing an apron, took the bamboo basket and complained affectionately.
"Auntie, Aunt Wu said that you and Uncle are Xiaxia's great benefactors, so we can't skimp on the gifts."
"Oh my, you've become even sweeter these past few days. Auntie will make braised pork for lunch, I guarantee you'll eat until you burst. Niannian, take Xiaxia to play for a while."
Today, Aunt Xu's niece from her own family also came with her mother to pay New Year's visits. The girls crowded into the small bedroom, listening to Liu Xiaonian show off her new treasures!
"Niannian is just a little mongrel. Who in the city would keep it?"
Liu Xiaonian is such a simpleton. She didn't even realize she was being teased and kept foolishly introducing the little dog's good points. Xu Yingying, who was hitting cotton, was so angry that her little mouth was pouting so much that she could hang an oil bottle on it.
"Hey, tell me, isn't it a bit tacky to keep a mixed-breed dog?"
Yunxia, who was eating sunflower seeds and watching the show: ...
Why is the focus suddenly shifting to me?
"Cats bring poverty, dogs bring wealth. Local dogs are easy to raise, not picky eaters, just feed them leftovers. They are also extremely protective of their owners and are excellent guard dogs. Raising one is definitely worth it!"
"Hehe, Xiaxia knows so much. Look, the new hair tie I bought, isn't it pretty?"
The high ponytail is tied with a ribbon-like hair tie, with pearls hanging at the bottom. It is finely crafted and even printed with letters. It looks like an imported product from a department store.
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