Chapter 279: A Flow of Inspiration (2)
"You have quite an amazing hand. Are there prosthetic bodies specifically for the arts?" Vander asked.
"If I were a Transformer, I'd have to pay extra for my paintings. It's just some other tricks," the fat artist said. "What do you think?"
"Give me a cartoon-style one."
The fat artist spent about three minutes adding and revising the details. Chu Hengkong noticed that his speed was much slower than when he was eating mushrooms; he was truly "finishing" every stroke. The finished product looked good, and the fat artist offered 20 emerald branches for it.
"What a bargain." Chu Hengkong counted out exactly 20 emerald branches and gave them to him. "Look, my friend is also an art lover, and he's quite curious about your secrets. Let's chat sometime?"
The fat painter smacked his lips and said, "If you'd like to buy me a sandwich..."
"I'll treat you to two."
"That's very generous of you. Thank you!"
It was getting late, and the chubby artist finished painting for another twenty minutes before closing up shop. His clothes weren't particularly fancy, and he looked like a student earning a living part-time. During their conversation, Chu Hengkong learned his name was Kualu, and he came from a working-class family in the fifth generation. He had average grades and planned to return to his hometown to work at an amusement park after graduation.
"That place is amazing, sir. You'd be missing out if you didn't visit Jingsha during your trip!" Kwalu beamed as he spoke of his hometown. "You can join any enthusiast in a thrilling legendary battle, brave the devil's house with your friends, scream on a roller coaster, and drive a luxury car in extreme racing—all the entertainment you can imagine is there, and I'm not exaggerating!"
"It sounds like it's suitable for couples, but not so suitable for a group trip like ours."
"You're worrying too much. Many of my classmates go there together. Amusement parks are places that bring joy to everyone, and everyone can enjoy themselves." Kwalu took a bite of his sandwich. "There's a huge demand for artists there, and I plan to get more internship experience while I'm studying so I can have something to talk about during interviews. Maybe I'll be hired to draw cards."
"It's a job suitable for you. After all, you can draw 16 cards in two minutes." Vander squinted.
"You think too highly of me. I don't have that ability yet." Kwalu pulled out an inspiration mushroom. "Sixteen images in two minutes is all thanks to the mushroom. With one of these mushrooms, even an amateur can reach that speed—in fact, it can be even faster, but the quality will be much lower. I don't recommend it."
He handed the inspiration mushroom to Fander. Chu Hengkong raised his eyebrows and said, "Young man, you really don't hide anything."
"Look at what you said, there's nothing to hide!" Kwalu said cheerfully, "How can I keep such a useful mushroom to myself? In a few months, everyone will be using it. I can make a quick buck now while it's new. By the time everyone has one, no one will be so interested in it anymore."
He then enthusiastically shared a few tips on buying mushrooms, so Chu Hengkong could bring some local specialties back home to show off. Fander had initially had a bad impression of this guy, but after chatting with him, he found him to be quite nice. Before leaving, he asked, "Little brother, please forgive me for asking something offensive. Do you have any qualms about using this thing? It always feels like someone is painting for you, which is a bit off-putting."
"Well... sir, what do you think a painting is?"
"Artistic pursuit? Self-expression?" Chu Hengkong said.
"99% of painters will tell you this, but I have to tell you that 100% of painters have another idea in their minds." Kwalu looked around and said exaggeratedly, "It's a huge success, and it's a great success!"
"I really believe that."
"I have both, and they're both genuine. Those who value artistry won't be happy to eat mushrooms, but those who rely on painting to support their families, why not make a few extra bucks?" Kwalu said with a grin. "Maybe when I'm job hunting, everyone will be using mushrooms, and I'll be well-experienced by then. And if mushrooms aren't popular anymore—it's not like I don't know how to paint, so I'll just do whatever I have to do."
"I think your job search will be successful," Chu Hengkong told him. "As long as your grades are good, I'd be happy to hire you if I were to recruit new people."
"Thank you for your good wishes."
Everyone said goodbye to the painter, Kwalu, and turned to walk towards the bookstore. It was already evening, and pedestrians were bathed in the orange-red sunset. Street musicians turned to play melodious music.
On the way, they caught up with a high school after class. A few boyish boys had eaten mushrooms and were playing piccolo around the girls. After they finished playing, they started to cheer: "I'm a musician! I'm a musician!"
The girl was carrying a violin on her back, so she must be studying music. Seeing them like this, her face turned red with anger: "How dare you call this music!"
"It sounds better than yours, don't you agree?"
The girl rolled up her sleeves on the spot: "Fuck you! Red Sun Demon Subduing Palm, kill!"
"Ah, she hit someone! Teacher, someone hit someone!" "Fuck her!" "A gentleman uses words, not violence!"
The little girl performed a set of Longxiang boxing techniques with great vigor. It was estimated that the school's physical education teacher must be a martial artist from the Yueque Palace. Chu Hengkong watched the excitement for a while and heard Fan De say, "Brother, I think this is not going to be easy."
Chu Hengkong remained noncommittal: "Let's talk about it when we get back."
·
Before even entering the bookstore, Chu Hengkong could already hear the chatter inside. As he entered, he happened to see a venomous otter throwing a bottle into the pool. A large seal caught it with its paw, leaning against the edge, glaring. The two animals, vastly different in size, were locked in a tit-for-tat confrontation, with the crucian carp playing mediator.
"Friends, don't fight in the store. If you want to fight, go to the ring!" Bangbang Crucian Carp banged on a gong.
[Everyone saw that he provoked me first.] The big seal raised his tablet angrily.
Poison Otter sneered repeatedly: "Before you speak, look at what you wrote five minutes ago."
[I wrote this in front of everyone, and you tell me what the fuck is wrong with what I said?]
"All you're talking about is problems."
I can't stand it anymore. I can't talk to this bastard anymore.
"Then go out, go out, go!"
Gulibo and the other small animals trembled in fear. The crucian carp manager pulled out two pairs of boxing gloves, one large and one small, and threw them out, banging the gong and shouting, "First round! Begin!"
The Otter Editor donned boxing gloves, leaped into the pool, and delivered a jab to the seal's stomach. The seal, furious, rolled over, using its immense weight to unleash a crushing blow, submerging the Otter beneath its fat. The Otter, relentless, grabbed the seal's fur and attempted a shoulder throw, but the weight difference prevented it from succeeding and it only managed a firm grip. The seal responded with a Water Flow Karate technique, the Great Leopard Claw. The two fought to a close, thrilling finish.
"Good, left hook! Uppercut! Hit it in the eye, beautiful!" Ji Huaisu cheered while holding a bag of potato chips.
Chu Hengkong went over to watch the fun: "What started the quarrel?"
"A young writer just visited the bookstore and said he doesn't want to write anymore and plans to return to his hometown to grow mushrooms." Ji Huaisu shrugged. "He feels sad that creators will be replaced by mushrooms in the future, that agriculture will be the mainstream of future development, and that he will become the remnant of the tide of the times."
"I guess Editor Otter is trying to nudge him in the right direction."
“Yes.”
"Where's the store manager?"
Ji Huaisu stretched his cheeks and imitated a seal: "What the store manager said is a wise decision. Sooner or later, you will be erected by mushrooms. If you don't want to write, get out."
"Wow." Vander exclaimed, "Wow."
The venomous otter had just delivered a powerful uppercut when it heard this and said angrily, "Look at what it's saying!"
[Am I wrong?] The big seal continued to hold up his sign. [You've only been writing for a short while and you're already scared by a mushroom. If your mental state is so poor, don't write anymore!]
"Wow, brother, you talk like you have a strong mindset. I don't even know who's the one who shuts himself up once a month!"
I say pessimistic things every day, but I haven't given up, okay? If you want to be a professional writer and make money writing books, you're going to face competition! In the past, you had to write better than your peers, to have your own unique style. Now, you have to write better than a mushroom! If you can't even compare yourself to a mushroom, how can you say you want to be a writer? Go home and grow mushrooms!
"Is it fair to compete with mushrooms?" Dudu Otter Bang Bang knocked on the pond. "A professional writer who eats mushrooms can write a book in a week. While you're busy choosing words and sentences, the mushrooms have already written an entire paragraph. How can a lesser writer compete with such a thing?"
[Transform! Become a skilled hand!] The big seal refused to give in. [Writing requires this kind of awareness. I'm Seismic Point 5!]
"What's with the natural mass 5 thing?!" The otter slapped the seal's nose.
[That talent is also a kind of capital...]
Seeing that the quarrels of the little (??) animals were becoming increasingly irrelevant, Chu Hengkong coughed a few times and said, "We did make some progress this afternoon..."
The seal and the otter both turned their heads. Just as the crucian carp was about to strike the gong, he raised his head and said, "Round two—are you still fighting?"
"What's wrong?" asked Dudu Otter with concern.
"We have a basic understanding of the sales channels. If we want to make mushrooms extinct, we can do it overnight." Vander said, "But you know, that's not the problem."
Poison Otter sighed: "It's not a problem of this magnitude..."
Ji Huaisu looked around, bewildered, "What's so difficult about this? Isn't it all over if we just take it all out?"
"Of course we can wipe it out in one fell swoop. If you ask the seal store manager to take action, the problem can be solved in less than one night." Finder rolled up his tentacles, "But what right do we have to do that?"
"Why else..." Ji Huaisu reacted, "Ah, mine. This is not a crime."
"If we're going to stop something, it has to be dangerous, or at least bad," said Vander. "But mushrooms themselves aren't inherently evil. They're just a convenient tool. Even if the people who grew them were using it to make a fortune, we have no legitimate reason to stop them. A person who grows a useful product and profits from it is perfectly legitimate.
The problem lies in people's definition of mushrooms, and in discussions about creation, fairness, and art. Everyone naturally has their own opinions on these issues. How can we shut up over a billion people and stop them from using mushrooms?
This was precisely why Trek was reluctant to intervene. It was difficult to judge right or wrong, and the boundaries of creative standards were quite vague. Especially in the Jingsha city-state, there were quite a few writers who were Transcendants.
If using mushrooms is unfair, then is writing with a deft hand unfair? Is drawing with a magical blade unfair? And how should we judge using the special abilities of family and friends to help with creation?
"This matter... can't be discussed..." Ji Huaisu pondered it, "It's different from inventions like sewing machines and cars that relieved people of tedious work. If tools complete original work for people, then originality itself needs to be redefined..."
"Whether or not to eat mushrooms is something professional writers have to consider, but what unsettles me is everyone's attitude," Dudutao said. "I don't think this kind of thing counts as creative work, but it's certainly efficient and can maintain a 'not too bad' standard. If everyone generally agrees that mushroom works are good, then where does that leave the stories I like and support? Should those who honestly write and paint on their own be overshadowed by mushrooms?"
Manager Bang Bang Crucian rang the gong for the third time and spoke seriously, "Since the bookstore's founding—over two hundred years—we have always encouraged creativity, supported innovation, and celebrated individuality. We believe this is the soil in which good stories are born—it's essential. But when tools replace people—things become bad, very bad."
[You can't force everyone not to eat mushrooms.]
"Shut up Seal."
【I won't make plans with you. 】
Just as the third round was about to begin, Chu Hengkong snapped his fingers to draw everyone's attention back.
"Huaisu just mentioned the definition, and I think that's a good starting point," he said. "Before discussing concepts like creation or meaning, let's first look at what mushrooms are."
He pulled out a book that had silver eyes on the cover.
(End of this chapter)
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