Chapter 59, Calligraphy Copybook
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the entire Yan family paid New Year's greetings to Old Mrs. Yan.
Everyone said auspicious and pleasant words, which made the old lady laugh so hard that she couldn't stop smiling.
Old Mrs. Yan looked at her children and grandchildren, her eyes and face full of smiles.
Although she feels more comfortable in her hometown than in Linyi County, the whole family cannot get together. Every New Year, the old lady can't hide her melancholy.
Now, the whole family is together. Even if there are some bumps in the road, after all, you can't write two Yan characters with one stroke. With the bond of family affection, some minor conflicts can be resolved directly.
Seeing the old lady so happy, Daohua also smiled the whole time. When she was paying New Year's greetings to Yan Zhigao, she followed Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wenkai and kowtowed in a proper manner. She followed whatever the two brothers in front said.
Not outstanding, but decent enough.
Mrs. Li watched from the side, feeling relieved but also a little distressed.
She had always known that although her daughter was a bit straightforward and stubborn, she was still very sensible and knew her limits when it came to important matters. As a mother, she could tell that her daughter was forcing herself to smile.
After taking a look at the crowd, Madam Li's eyes dimmed when she saw Aunt Lin who was called over by Yan Zhigao.
The master's heart is biased after all!
When Aunt Lin came over just now, the entire Songhe Courtyard fell silent for a moment.
However, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone was hoping for good luck. No matter what everyone in the Yan family thought in their hearts, on the surface they appeared to be harmonious and happy.
"Brother, why do you keep following me?"
Daohua looked at her elder brother with a strange expression.
Yan Wenxiu looked at Aunt Lin and her mother and son in the yard, thought for a while and said, "Big sister, today is New Year's Day, you can't cause any trouble." As the eldest grandson of the Yan family, he has the obligation to advise his younger brothers and sisters.
Hearing this, Daohua laughed angrily: "Brother, in your eyes, am I someone who makes trouble regardless of the occasion?"
Yan Wenxiu was silent for a moment: "That's not what I meant."
Daohua sneered. Although her elder brother appeared gentle and refined, he was actually just like his father at heart. He considered himself a scholar and liked women who were well-educated, gentle and quiet.
This is nothing in itself, everyone has their own preferences, but they insist on applying this framework to all women, which is very annoying.
In their eyes, people like her who have a little bit of rebellious consciousness are objects that need to be taught and suppressed.
"Brother, if you are worried that I will make a scene, then there is no need for you to follow me. Because if I really want to make a scene, it will be useless even if you follow me." After saying that, he turned around and left.
Looking at Daohua's back as she walked away, Yan Wenxiu frowned.
He loved his older sister who had not been raised by her parents since childhood, but her personality was a bit erratic. To her, there was no such thing as an elder brother being like a father, and she had no respect for him at all.
He couldn't remember how many times she had contradicted him.
"Why can't my elder sister be as gentle and docile as Yishuang?"
Sighing, Yan Wenxiu immediately turned his attention to his other brothers and sisters. The fight between Wenkai and Wenjie last night must not happen again.
The Yan family's New Year passed in a neither hot nor cold manner.
Because Yan Zhigao had to go to the provincial capital to report on his work after the New Year, he arrived at the county government office early on the third day of the New Year to get busy.
After the Lantern Festival, classes began at the county school, and Master Qin also returned to Yan's residence on this day.
As soon as he came back, while giving gifts to each room, Master Qin learned from Aunt Lin of Shuangxinyuan that Yan Zhigao had slapped Daohua hard in front of everyone and was now ignoring Daohua.
At that time, Master Qin sneered and said, "I'm not saying anything, but this eldest daughter of the Yan family is quite rebellious. It's not enough that she contradicted me in class, but now she even disregards her own father, the head of the family. If she is not corrected, she will suffer when she gets married in the future."
Aunt Lin kindly conveyed these words to Yan Zhigao exactly as they were.
After hearing this, Yan Zhigao was silent for a long time. After thinking for a while, he asked Aunt Lin to call Teacher Qin and personally asked her to teach Daohua well.
So, on the first day of class after the New Year, Master Qin, who had obtained the "Imperial Sword", was tracing red on rice flowers when suddenly, with a "snap", a ruler hit the back of her hand.
"Miss Yan, I told you that women should imitate Madam Wei's elegant and graceful hairpin-flowered small calligraphy. Look at what you wrote. Is it possible for a woman like you to imitate the essence of the 'Preface to the Lanting Collection' by the Sage of Calligraphy?"
Daohua looked at the red and swollen marks on the back of her hand, her eyes turned cold, and she looked at Master Qin with indifference.
Master Qin frowned at being looked at and said sternly, "Miss Yan, I was entrusted by Master Yan to teach you. I know you are the daughter of the county magistrate and of noble status, but now in this class, I am your teacher after all. Shouldn't you show me the minimum respect?"
Daohua stood up suddenly and said coldly, "Teacher? Do you think you are worthy of this position?"
"you"
Master Qin was furious and was about to say something to suppress Daohua when he saw Daohua pick up the paper she had just copied and said to Wang Man'er outside the classroom: "Man'er, come in and help me clean up my desk."
Daohua looked at Master Qin with a sneer and said, "I'm giving you some color, and you really think you can open a dyeing factory?" After saying that, she left the classroom.
Leaving behind was Master Qin with a livid face, and Yan Yishuang and others who were stunned.
After leaving the classroom, Daohua did not return to the main courtyard, nor did she go to Songhe Courtyard. Instead, she went directly to the front yard with the copying paper.
In the county magistrate's office, Mr. Xiao and Mr. Lin were discussing with Yan Zhigao the trip to the provincial capital in a few days.
Yan Zhigao: "Master Xiao, please accompany me to the report this time."
Hearing this, Master Xiao smiled and nodded: "That's just right, I also want to visit my old friend in the capital."
Master Lin on the side seemed to be hesitant to speak. He also wanted to go with them. Even if he couldn't do anything, it would be good to get to know some more bigwigs in the officialdom.
Just as he was about to say something, he heard voices coming from outside the door.
"Big girl!"
"Is Father busy now?"
Yan Zhigao was a little surprised when he heard Daohua's voice. Thinking of his eldest daughter's intentional or unintentional alienation during this period, he immediately said, "Is that Daohua? Come in!"
Daohua walked into the room with the copy paper and smiled. Seeing the two masters were there, she immediately said, "If father is busy, I will come over later."
Yan Zhigao waved his hand: "It's okay, we have said everything we wanted to say, what do you want?"
Daohua placed the copy paper on the table in front of Yan Zhigao and said, "This is my copy of the Preface to the Lanting Collection. Please take a look, father."
Yan Zhigao glanced at his eldest daughter. Although he felt a little strange, he still read it carefully. After reading it, his eyes lit up: "Did you write this?"
Daohua smiled and nodded. "The copybook of 'Lanting Xu' was given to me by my third uncle. I've been copying it for two years. He said that I am suitable for writing running script."
Yan Zhigao nodded: "Well, although the strength of the bowl is still a little lacking, the brushstrokes are quite elegant and graceful. However, the brushstrokes are not subtle and subtle enough. I need more practice."
"Miss, this is a copy of the 'Preface to the Lanting Collection' by the calligrapher. Please give us your opinion on it." Master Xiao stepped forward with a smile.
Yan Zhigao laughed and said, "She's just a little girl, practicing for fun. She doesn't deserve Master Xiao's praise."
Master Xiao had already taken Daohua's copy of the calligraphy in his hand and was looking at it. He nodded as he read, "Sir, I think your calligraphy has already been copied to some extent by the calligrapher."
Hearing what Master Xiao said, Master Lin also came forward to take a look, and then he looked at the rice flowers several times in succession.
Although this eldest daughter of the Yan family is only nine years old, her calligraphy is indeed well copied.
Yan Zhigao spoke modestly for a few moments, and Daohua smiled and asked, "Father, do you think I should practice this calligraphy?"
Yan Zhigao nodded without thinking: "Of course, you've practiced well, why do you want to change to other fonts to copy?"
Daohua shook her head: "It's not me who thinks so, it's Master Qin. When I was copying the calligraphy today, Master Qin thought I should practice Madam Wei's hairpin-flowered small calligraphy. So, he gave me a ruler right at the beginning. It seems that I have to change it." After saying that, she stretched out her hand.
The red and swollen marks were immediately exposed to the sight of Yan Zhigao and the other two.
Daohua: "Father, I've been copying the Lanting Preface for two years now, and I really don't want to change to a different font. Madam Wei's hairpin-flowered small regular script is very good, but it's not very suitable for a daughter. Father, how about you go and talk to Master Qin for me?"
When Yan Zhigao saw the ruler marks on his eldest daughter's hand, his face darkened. He asked Master Qin to teach his eldest daughter well, but he did not let her punish her at will.
If my mother and wife knew about this, there would be chaos in the backyard again.
"I know about this. You should continue to practice calligraphy. I'll talk to Master Qin."
Daohua smiled and nodded: "Thank you, father. I won't disturb you anymore." After saying that, she bowed to the two masters and left quickly.
As soon as Daohua left, Master Xiao said with a smile, "The young men and women in your family are all very knowledgeable."
Yan Zhigao smiled and said, "That's just the way it is. My eldest daughter is not good at needlework."
Master Xiao's eyes flashed, and he smiled faintly, "I think the young lady is very smart. If she really can't learn, maybe it's because your teacher's teaching is not good enough."
Hearing this, Master Lin suddenly looked up at Master Xiao with a dark look in his eyes. Master Xiao seemed to be someone who didn't like to meddle in other people's business, so why did he start to take sides with Miss Yan?
After hearing what Master Xiao said, Yan Zhigao fell into deep thought.
On that day, Yan Zhigao met Master Qin at Shuangxinyuan.
Master Qin used Daohua's lively and unrestrained nature as an excuse to stop Yan Zhigao from practicing her running script, saying that if she continued to practice it, she would become more and more flamboyant and arrogant in the future.
Aunt Lin spoke up and said that Master Qin did this for the good of the rice flowers.
Finally, Yan Zhigao said in a deep voice, "You should teach Daohua what you need to teach her, but you can't punish her without any reason. Let's forget about what happened today. Master Qin, please be more patient in the future."
Master Qin nodded in agreement.
Aunt Lin gave Master Qin a reassuring look and then gestured for her to leave.
That night, Aunt Lin tried her best to persuade Yan Zhigao and finally made him calm down.
Just when Master Qin and Aunt Lin thought the matter was over, Madam Li sent a message to Master Qin the next day, saying that Daohua would not attend Master Qin's class in the future.
At this moment, Master Qin, who had originally not thought anything of it, became panicked.
(End of this chapter)
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