Chapter 014: Traitorous Minister 14
When Aunt Zhao heard that Xiao Yan had found a partner for them, a smile broke out on her face.
"Okay, I'll go find Sister Zhilan later."
Fortunately, the two families were at the end of the village, where there were not many people around. Even if one saw them coming and going, one would probably just think it was about renting land and nothing else.
When Xiao Yan returned home, Xiao Chen was already on the ground using a branch to try to get the feel of painting so as not to waste the paper.
When it was almost time, Xiao Chen washed his hands, put the hemp paper on the prepared table, and started painting.
It must be said that Xiao Chen's painting skills are indeed good. Perhaps he was inspired by Xiao Yan's paintings, and he may have added simulated three-dimensional painting techniques to his personal style.
Nowadays, most painting methods are based on lines, deepening or lightening the boundaries between light and dark to achieve a three-dimensional and realistic effect. However, the improved painting method of later generations used by Xiao Yan naturally looks more refreshing than the common painting method in the world today, especially sketching, which can be said to be unprecedented and unparalleled in this era. Isn't it amazing?
After Xiao Chen finished the painting, he looked at it carefully, but still felt unsatisfied.
"Brother, how do you make that kind of black and white painting?"
What he was asking about was the sketch of the deity drawn by Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan did not hide it: "This is called sketching, it is a painting method used in other countries overseas."
"If you want to learn, start with still life."
Xiao Yan took out the charcoal he had used before and casually drew an octagon on the paper. He then slowly drew it into a circle, adding shadows at the junction of light and dark. Soon, a very three-dimensional white sphere appeared on the paper.
He then drew apples, bowls at home, tables, etc., using geometry, perspective, light and shadow and other painting techniques.
"Once you have the zhu ji (ancient geometric shape) drawn, you can use it to transform it into an object."
Xiao Chen looked at this "new knowledge" in amazement, and was a little impatient, but when he thought about the lack of money, he stopped.
Painting requires paper, and their family’s biggest problem is that they have no money!
Xiao Chen shrugged his head and sighed, "Let's do it later."
Xiao Yan tapped the table with his fingers. "Not really. You gain what you give. I see you're quite skilled at painting. Why don't you learn while you're at it? Learning is boundless and never-ending. Don't waste your time."
"Starting tomorrow, you will paint three pictures for Aunt Zhao and learn to make five pictures of straw roofs. This is it for now. When you become proficient in the future, you can add more." Xiao Fuzi Yan assigned the homework.
Xiao Chen was not depressed when he heard this, but rather excited. This was the difference between the times.
In later generations, hearing about homework would make them feel as if they had lost their parents. But now, it was a student's good fortune to have someone willing to impart their knowledge. Besides teaching and studying, they also had to go to their teacher's home to help with chores, pay respects during festivals, and some students even had to provide care in their parents' old age and see them to their grave.
Now that he has acquired new knowledge for free, how could Xiao Chen not know what is good for him?
Xiao Chen was learning how to paint a thatched roof, and Chen Zhilan came over very quickly.
According to Aunt Zhao, she had already explained it, but Chen Zhilan insisted on meeting with Xiao Yan before discussing the partnership.
Chen Zhilan was three years older than Xiao Yan, taller than the average girl, and had a very tough personality.
Because she is often busy outside, her skin color is slightly yellow due to the sun, which is different from the fair skin of women nowadays.
"Brother Yan, are you feeling better?" Chen Zhilan's eyes moved around Xiao Yan, especially his outstanding face, from which it was clear that this man was in a very good mood.
But it is limited to the appreciation of the beauty of things, and does not have any obscene or evil intentions.
Realizing that she was being watched, Chen Zhilan was not shy, but greeted people openly.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said, "Thanks to Sister Zhilan, I am now well again."
Chen Zhilan is a close relative of Huang's from her mother's side. In the past, they could be considered cousins, but ever since Huang divorced Xiao Dashi, they could no longer be considered relatives.
However, in order to avoid any romance between a man and a woman, they used the term "sister and brother" to avoid suspicion.
She got straight to the point: "I heard from Auntie that this business was yours? But you're not very healthy, so if Brother Chen were to do the embroidery, could you guarantee the quality of the embroidery?"
To put it bluntly, I was worried about Xiao Chen's painting skills and wanted to come and see it with my own eyes.
Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Chen, and Xiao Chen immediately took out the painting he had just made.
Chen Zhilan took the painting and examined it carefully, picking at it inside and out. She was still unwilling to give in. "Brother Yan, are you feeling unwell in any way? You call me Sister Zhilan, just like you're my own brother. I still have some ginseng tonic..."
With such a good example before him, even though Xiao Chen's paintings were indeed good, they were still a little inferior to Xiao Yan's.
She still has the desire to have Xiao Yan as her painter.
The so-called sibling claim is just a way to make more money, which also shows that she is a complete businessman.
Xiao Chen was somewhat indignant, and this indignation was directed at Chen Zhilan.
He was convinced by Xiao Yan, but even if Chen Zhilan could read, she couldn't paint. How could he not feel angry when an outsider pointed fingers at the work of an expert?
Xiao Chen was not a fool. He knew that it was not convenient to lose his temper at this moment, but he was still a little dissatisfied. He pursed his lips tightly and endured it.
Xiao Yan was not in a hurry and said to Xiao Chen, "Show the painting you learned today to Sister Zhilan for appreciation."
What Xiao Chen learned today was round bodies and apples.
I have to say that Xiao Chen is indeed talented, it is completely God who is chasing him and feeding him.
It takes others a long time to learn sketching and get the shape, but he found the skills after just a few drawings and understood the composition techniques and painting methods.
Although the picture is still a bit rough, you can still see the realistic shape, which is completely useful to convince Chen Zhilan.
"Is this... Ringo?" Chen Zhilan was very knowledgeable.
Apples were introduced into China during this dynasty and were also known as ringo.
Ringo is particularly precious, much more expensive than watermelon. It is almost priceless and difficult to buy. Generally, only nobles can taste it, and most of them are royal rewards. This shows how precious it is.
Chen Zhilan had only seen it from a distance in the provincial capital and had never tasted it.
"It's indeed Ringo."
"My father once had a letter written by him, which I was fortunate to have read, but unfortunately it was burned." Xiao Yan explained why he knew so much, and at the same time, he was making up for learning sketching from Xiao Chen before.
Father Xiao knew a lot of people, and he did have some books in his early years. Unfortunately, after they passed away, Xiao Dashi felt that they took up too much space, so he used them to burn...
The main reason is that it is unlucky. Who would be willing to use it as firewood when it is not as valuable as a piece of paper worth thousands of gold?
Xiao Yan planned to attribute his knowledge to his father, as there was no way to prove it. As for Xiao Chen, he didn't even have a complete memory, let alone memories from his childhood. He hadn't been friends for ages, so he wasn't worried about revealing his true identity.
Even though he had doubts in his mind, he could not imagine that he was an outsider, not to mention that his original body had passed away in his previous life.
If the apples were rare and precious, Aunt Zhao had never seen them before and didn't know whether they were realistic, but she could clearly see the bowls and tables.
Aunt Zhao touched the paper and exclaimed in admiration, "This bowl looks just like the real thing. If any kid saw it, they'd probably come over to get it."
Xiao Yan said modestly, "It's just that I'm skilled at it."
"I'm a gifted young man, and I can understand things instantly. I wonder if Sister Zhilan is satisfied?"
Seeing Xiao Yan's firm attitude, Chen Zhilan knew that this was the only way.
"Then it will be as the contract says. Every month, the silver will be distributed according to the account."
At this point, Chen Zhilan hesitated: "Auntie, can you read?"
If several companies go into business together, they cannot do without account books.
Aunt Zhao was also a little embarrassed. There was no educated person in her family. If she had to count the money for the family, she would naturally learn it without a teacher. However, she used self-created "written symbols" that she could understand. Only she could understand them, and it was useless if others couldn't understand them.
She shook her head and asked, "How about asking Yan Ge'er to do the accounting?"
Xiao Yan: “???”
Xiao Yan offered Aunt Zhao some advice: "'Encouraging Learning' says: 'Strike a stone to create fire; without striking, there is no smoke.' Learning is the only way to know; without learning, it's unnatural. Only when you learn something can it belong to you, let alone something as important as keeping accounts. Why don't you ask Brother Cai to learn?"
Aunt Zhao said subconsciously, "How can this be possible? The second child is already fourteen, how can he still go to school?"
Generally, enlightenment begins between the ages of seven or eight and under ten years old, so that it is easier for teachers and families to see whether the child is suitable for the imperial examination and avoid wasting time and money.
A fourteen-year-old boy is already a little adult, and once he gets married he will be a real adult, not to mention that Shancai is already engaged, so it is too late to enlighten him. This is a very common concept among people nowadays.
"Why not?" Xiao Yan asked back.
"Brother Cai has a quick mind and is good at thinking of new things. It's just a matter of learning some math, what's the difficulty? Besides, our business is going big, not to mention Brother Cai, but you and uncle, Brother Mu, sister-in-law, and even my younger sister need to learn."
"Brother Cai is just one step ahead and will teach you when he comes back. Don't you think it has nothing to do with you?"
Aunt Zhao was stunned.
When it comes to such a big thing as education, only wealthy families can grit their teeth and support one person's education. How can poor people like them who can't even afford a house to live in dare to think about learning to read and write?
I really don’t dare to think about it at all, it costs money just to think about it!
Xiao Yan continued to persuade him, "We're not taking the imperial examinations, we're just learning some mathematics. What's the difficulty? If you go to school, the whole family will benefit. To be honest, I'm planning to send my younger brother to school. He's extremely talented, and it would be a waste if we delay his education."
If it is just enlightenment and you don't want to continue studying, you only need to pay a few pieces of dried meat and some food. If you want to continue studying, you need to add some silver. This is the rule set by Wang Xiucai in the village. Compared with other scholars, it is already much less.
Aunt Zhao originally planned to ask Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen to teach them, but Xiao Yan even pushed the painting to his younger brother, which showed that he was in poor health, so it was not feasible for him to teach.
Xiao Yan also mentioned that Xiao Chen was going to take the imperial examination, so he couldn't delay him. Thinking about how one person's education would benefit the whole family, and thinking about the fact that his business would definitely become bigger in the future, he couldn't afford to be cheated by someone who couldn't even understand the contract, could he? He had no choice but to agree to this idea.
"That's fine. I'll go talk to Mr. Wang tomorrow. Is this considered difficult to learn? Will a month be enough?"
It was naturally not difficult for Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen. After all, both of them were extremely talented, and Chen Zhilan was quite experienced in this regard.
"It depends on the person. Brother Cai is smart, so it shouldn't be difficult." She encouraged him.
"Auntie, please hurry up and do your embroidery these days. I won't share the payment this month, but I think it will be ready next month."
This month has only just begun, which means I will have two months to focus on mathematics until the end of next month. That should be... okay, right?
Chen Zhilan recalled the days when she was dizzy from studying, and suddenly felt a little uncertain.
"How about this? Before Brother Cai starts school, could you please keep the accounts? I'll pay one ounce of silver from the public account every month."
Aunt Zhao had no objection, and Xiao Chen naturally agreed to the unexpected fortune.
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