Xiao Hua was quite curious and leaned forward to look. He saw Wang Zhengfei make a few casual strokes, drawing around the entire perimeter of the rice paper. Let alone a human figure, even random scribbles seemed prettier than those few strokes of Wang Zhengfei's. Yet after only a few breaths, Wang Zhengfei lightly added detail among those lines, and the outline of an exceptionally plump woman emerged!
"Excellent..." Xiao Hua did not understand painting, but seeing Wang Zhengfei brimming with confidence, not even looking at the woman as his brush seemed divinely guided in sketching her out, he could not help but praise him inwardly. Such an intelligent child was indeed rare in this world!
At that moment, he also understood why Master Wang had not sought out another painter.
After Wang Zhengfei used a thick brush to sketch the general outline, he picked up a slender fine brush and carefully filled in the details. Finally, he took a crude little red brush from the embroidered pouch behind him and lightly touched up the portrait's cheeks, lips, and other features. At last, he took a deep breath, picked up the thickest brush from the brush washer, dipped it in ink, and, swift as lightning, dotted the portrait's eyes twice. Xiao Hua felt his eyes brighten. The person on the rice paper seemed to come alive—the shy bashfulness of a maiden in love, the dreamy faraway look, all at once revealing the thoughts in the young lady's heart as she sat upon the swing.
"Good!" Xiao Hua forgot that he was hidden 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