Xiao Hua was quite curious. He leaned forward to look and saw Wang Zhengfei begin with a few casual strokes, sketching around the edges of the entire sheet of xuan paper. Let alone a human figure, even a child's scribble seemed prettier than these few strokes of Wang Zhengfei's. Yet in only a few breaths, Wang Zhengfei added a few light touches among those lines, and the outline of an exceptionally full-bodied woman emerged!
"Excellent..." Xiao Hua did not understand painting, but seeing Wang Zhengfei so composed, not looking at the woman at all as his brush seemed divinely guided in outlining her, he could not help but praise him inwardly. Such an intelligent child is truly rare in this world!
He also understood now why Master Wang had not sought out another painter.
Wang Zhengfei used a thick brush to sketch the general outline, then picked up a slender fine-tipped brush and carefully filled in the details. At the end, he even took a rough little red brush from the embroidered pouch behind him and lightly embellished the cheeks, lips, and other parts of the portrait. Finally, he drew a deep breath, took out the thickest brush from the brush washer, dipped it in ink, and struck twice at the portrait's eyes like lightning. Xiao Hua felt his eyes light up. The person on the xuan paper seemed to come alive; that shy bashfulness of a maiden in love, that dreamy absent-mindedness, instantly revealed the thoughts of the young lady on the swing.
"Good!" Xiao Hua forgot that he was hiding nearby and nearly cried out.
Fortunately, Wang Zhengfei was wholly absorbed in gathering his thoughts and did not notice. Once he put down his brush, he raised his head and called, "Steward, this humble one has finished the