When Yi Shuyuan and Wu Minggao left the magistrate's study together, Wu Minggao was in high spirits. Yi Shuyuan could only be described as outwardly calm; inwardly, he still had a few grumbles.
After truly witnessing Yi Shuyuan's mastery of calligraphy, Lin Xiu not only lavished him with praise, but also said he had previously neglected the importance of compiling the County Gazetteer and would often seek Yi Shuyuan out for discussions in the future.
Good grief. Those were all fine words, but wouldn't that make it harder for me to slack off from now on?
When Wu Minggao and Yi Shuyuan returned to the Library together, the former still did not leave. As Yi Shuyuan tidied his desk, he glanced at him curiously.
"Don't you have official business to attend to, Lord Wu?"
Rather than answering, Wu Minggao walked over to the desk and helped Yi Shuyuan organize the papers, praising them as he worked.
"Wonderful calligraphy, truly wonderful! Your calligraphy has improved yet again, sir. Or perhaps, when you first came to the County Office, you were merely jotting down a few casual words..."
Watching Yi Shuyuan quietly organize the papers, Wu Minggao could not help feeling stirred.
Reaching such a realm in calligraphy was already extraordinarily difficult. It was hard to imagine that, in this brief span of time, Mr. Yi had climbed another step beyond the top of a hundred-foot pole.
Seeing Wu Minggao's somewhat bashful expression, Yi Shuyuan spoke.
"Once I have prepared a calligraphy seal, I will certainly write another piece for you, Chief Clerk."
Er, it seemed the seal was already finished!
Wu Minggao did not know that, however, and his face immediately blossomed into a smile.
"Oh, how could I possibly accept? But since you've offered, Mr. Yi, how could I refuse?"