Chapter 33 He has to take responsibility for her.
After hearing Zhang Yi's words, some people secretly went to see the talented scholar from Hedong.
With a pointed face, long eyebrows, thin eyes, and thin lips, he certainly had a mean-spirited appearance.
Fortunately, he was slender, tall and elegant, and possessed a refined demeanor, which did not diminish the dignity of a talented scholar.
Children speak without thinking; how can we take their words seriously?
Those with a more magnanimous heart can easily console themselves with this thought and let it pass. Who would hold a grudge against a child? It would seem petty and intolerant.
That's what Luo Jun thought; a few jokes and the matter would be over.
However, Bai Lian did not intend to do so.
Talented people often have eccentricities.
Bai Lian was generally a good-natured person. Because he always had his own worries, he didn't care much about external things. As long as things were alright, he was fine with it. He was quite carefree. But when it came to his paintings, the situation was quite different. That's what made him so strange.
He becomes quite stubborn and inflexible when it comes to anything related to his paintings, and he won't let go of any trivial details.
"I don't have any real skills? Then I'd like to ask you, what exactly do you mean by real skills?"
They actually started arguing with a child!
"I...this..."
"I was just talking nonsense..."
Under everyone's gaze, he stammered, almost bursting into tears, looking very pitiful.
But the person in front of him had no intention of letting him go.
"Who gave you permission to talk nonsense?"
"I...I..."
Suddenly, she covered her face and began to sob softly.
They're still just kids.
This is going too far.
He was indeed harsh; he wasn't wrong at all.
Many people think this way, harboring a subtle sense of contempt in their hearts.
“We arrived late, and the seats were taken. He was afraid we would be upset, so he said that to persuade us to leave so that more people would get hurt. He didn’t mean to offend us.”
Chen Yu was unreliable, and no one else dared to offend the distinguished guest, so Liu Min had to step forward.
"Does that mean you can talk nonsense?"
They pressed on relentlessly.
And his contemptuous and disdainful gaze.
All of this made Liu Min very uncomfortable.
Liu Min is not someone to be trifled with.
"Whether it's nonsense or not, we'll know once we compare them. Isn't the point of making friends through painting?"
As he spoke, he used force to push the person who had been hiding behind him all along to the front.
"This is Young Master Yao, who is nine years old this year. He has been studying painting for many years, and his skills are exquisite and unique, which is praised by everyone. Young Master, have a competition with her. If you are better than her, then we are wrong and you can decide for us without any objection. What do you say?"
Once Shanlai makes a move, his skills will surely amaze everyone. No matter how amazing your skills are, you, the talented scholar from Hedong, can never compare to the freshness of a child prodigy. He just wants your reputation as a talented scholar to be used as a stepping stone!
But Liu Min bet that he wouldn't compete.
Smart people wouldn't compare, because it's not worth it at all.
Comparing the same child, neither winning nor losing is honorable.
However, how could Bai Lian make such a deduction based on common sense?
"Alright, let's have a competition. I'd like to see just how exquisite your skills and ingenuity are. Please!"
Shanlai became the center of attention; people looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
Shanlai had no desire to make herself a spectacle for others to see; she disliked that feeling.
She slowly frowned.
Liu Min quietly took her hand, squeezed it gently, and whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid."
Shan glanced at him, her eyes clearly saying, "What are you afraid of?"
Liu Min was so choked up that she didn't want to say anything more, and she even threw her hand away in anger.
Many people today want to make a name for themselves by taking advantage of the talent of Hedong, and a dozen or so paintings have been set up on the stage.
Among the dozen or so people, Shanlai was the youngest. Even the desk was too high for her, so someone had to find her a stool to stand on.
Zhang Yi had long forgotten about crying. Looking at Shan Lai, such a small child who was almost invisible in the crowd, she lowered her head and said with great self-reproach, "It's all my fault. I spoke carelessly and caused him to be like this..."
Liu Min sneered and asked, "Have you learned your lesson? Will you still speak so recklessly in the future?"
Zhang Yi did know he was wrong, but when he said those words, he meant to make himself feel better, not to give others an excuse to criticize him. Liu Min actually took advantage of his kindness and didn't give him any face at all! The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He turned his face away and ignored him in a huff.
Liu Min didn't have time to pay attention to him; at the moment, he was only concerned about Shan Lai on the Yonggui Terrace.
Can you paint landscapes?
Shanlai was laying out the paper, his mind completely focused, when he suddenly heard this sentence, which startled him so much that his heart stopped beating.
"That was terrifying!" she muttered under her breath, then asked, "What are you doing up here?"
Of course, I came because I care about her.
But she was ungrateful.
He got angry and ignored her.
Why aren't you saying anything?
Liu Min thought, forget it, why bother arguing with her?
"If you can, you should paint landscapes."
"Why?"
"Didn't I tell you that his scenery is the best? Even the Emperor praised it."
"If his is the best, then why paint landscapes? Shouldn't we avoid his strengths?"
Liu Min was pleased with her question.
"He is the best, so it's only natural that you are not as good as him. Even if he beats you, it doesn't necessarily bring him any glory. You don't even understand such a simple truth?"
He said it, and Shanlai understood.
"You think I'll lose, so you want me to paint a landscape so that I can lose more gracefully later."
Upon hearing this, Liu Min glared at him. "Otherwise what? Do you really think you can beat him?"
Shanlai smiled and shook his head, "How could I possibly compare?"
Liu Min laughed too, "It's okay if we can't beat him. Just listen to me. Don't be afraid of losing. Even if he tries to hit someone, I'll take the hit for you."
Did he get beaten up?
Shan Lai imagined it for a moment and couldn't help but smile.
Only three incense sticks are burned out; regardless of whether the painting is finished or not, one must stop painting.
The people below had been waiting impatiently for three incense sticks. When the last incense stick was lit, some of the impatient ones pursed their lips and secretly blew on it, wanting the incense to burn out as quickly as possible. Their eyes were wide open, staring at the embers. A gust of wind blew by, and the embers suddenly went out. It was clearly the wind that extinguished them, but the group of people acted as if the fire had been pressed on them. The fire burned them, and they shivered violently, suddenly standing up and rushing straight to the stage.
Bai Lian's paintings were naturally reserved for the final exhibition. Before that, he would critique the paintings and offer guidance.
The vast majority of people on stage came for this reason. Pingcheng is just a small place; where could they find a person who could paint better than the famous Hedong talent?
Bai Lian is a true lover of painting, and he respects everything related to painting.
His evaluations were incisive yet gentle, delivered in a soft and gentle tone, always offering guidance without the slightest arrogance.
With such behavior, even with that kind of face, who would think he's mean?
Everyone felt as if they were bathed in a spring breeze and benefited greatly.
Shanlai listened from the side, his heart also eager to try.
He truly is a talented man; this trip was worthwhile.
She also hopes to get some pointers so she can draw better.
Commentary is something only outsiders can do. If you're just admiring yourself, you'll find it good no matter which way you look at it. In short, it's all good. How can that lead to any progress?
They've arrived.
Shanlai stood up straighter, a polite smile appearing on his face, his eyes sparkling, looking very well-behaved.
He's still just a child, why bother arguing with him? Even if he's not good, you should at least say something nice to him so he doesn't get upset.
The drawing paper was lifted up.
As Liu Min had expected, the performance was indeed stunning, and praises rose and fell in waves.
Bai Lian, who was about to say something nice, was also stunned.
A landscape painting in the freehand style, with birdsong returning home at dusk.
The nearby peaks are painted with bold strokes, rugged and winding, while the distant mountains are painted with light brushstrokes, tranquil and vast. The scenery is winding and meandering, with fresh and moist clouds and mist. Birds flutter among them, calling to each other, and returning wearily to the sparse woods below the peaks, creating a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere.
The entire painting is characterized by a harmonious balance of light and dark ink, with lines that are both powerful and fluid, and a coherent and dynamic brushwork.
In terms of technique alone, his skill is no less than Bai Lian's.
So Bai Lian said something similar to what Mr. Lian had said back then.
"I don't have much to say, just okay, that's all."
Shanlai looked somewhat disappointed and asked, "Isn't there anything wrong with it?"
Bai Lian pondered for a moment and said, "If I had to say what's wrong with it, it would be that this mountain belongs to Fu Kangchen, the trees to Lü Yuanlin, and the birds to Gu Jingzhai. I didn't see anything of yours. But you're still young, and it's too much to ask for things of your own now."
Fu Kangchen, Lü Yuanlin, Gu Jingzhai.
Shanlai didn't know any of these three people, but for some reason, when he first heard the name "Gu Jingzhai," his heart skipped a beat.
Like Mr. Lian, Bai Lian couldn't help but ask Shan Lai who his teacher was.
How to respond to such a question? Shan Lai is extremely adept at it.
But since this is Young Master Yao Shan, not Yao Shanlai, there should be some difference.
So Shanlai told Bai Lian, "My master is a reclusive sage who does not wish to be known by outsiders. Please forgive him."
Bai Lian left home to travel around the countryside for this very reason!
I was absolutely overjoyed.
He gripped a child's hands tightly, his eyes blazing. "If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening! I sincerely wish to see you. If my wish is granted, I will gladly die ten thousand times over! Please introduce me to you!"
Shanlai did not doubt his sincerity, but who should he see?
Shanlai longed to see this person even more than he did.
Seeing it might bring back memories of the past, those bygone days...
But even his father didn't know.
father……
What was the deeper meaning behind my father's last words?
Bai Lian continued to plead, offering his assurances incessantly.
But Shanlai didn't hear a single word.
She had a headache, so bad that her lips trembled and her face turned ashen.
Liu Min saw this, pushed aside Zhang Yi who had been chattering and asking questions beside him, and strode towards the center of Yonggui Terrace.
He brought her out of there, so he has to take responsibility for her.
He rushed in front of her, shielding her with his body, and glared angrily at the person in front of her.
"Stay away from her! What are you doing?"
Bai Lian ignored him, his strange temper flaring up as he shoved the man aside, yelling, "Get out of my way!"
Liu Min screamed and fell to the ground.
Those around him who recognized him also exclaimed in surprise.
"This is Vice Minister Liu's only son, and Grand Secretary Yue's grandson!"
Bai Lian didn't care whose son or grandson he was; right now, all he wanted to see was the teacher who had produced the child prodigy.
He still grabbed Shanlai and kept asking questions, shaking Shanlai's shoulders violently as he did so, making Shanlai unsteady on his feet.
Liu Min got up from the ground, feeling both ashamed and angry. Seeing that Bai Lian was still harassing Shan Lai, he felt his blood rush to his head and broke free from the arms that were holding him, ready to rush up and fight with Bai Lian.
The young masters started fighting, so the servants who accompanied them couldn't just sit idly by.
Things were truly chaotic on the Yonggui Stage.
Luo Yun shouted until her throat was hoarse, but it was no use at all; she was almost knocked over by the crowd.
At this moment, a servant from who-knows-who was below the stage shouted:
"Young Master! The Old Madam wants you to go home quickly! The Master is back!"
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