After Wei Xie had appraised all forty-three paintings of flowers and trees, Lu Na came in person to collect them and take them to the southern side room for Zhang Mo to appraise. Chen Caozhi thought, I wonder whether Zhang Mo will explain each painting to Lu Weiwei just as carefully. There is little to be learned from the written appraisals alone. I will ask Lu Weiwei later, and tell her what Master Wei said too.
Zhang Mo sat with his legs stretched out, examining the paintings and commenting aloud while Lu Weiwei recorded his remarks beside each painting's number. Lu Na, his son Lu Changsheng, and Lu Qin all watched from the side.
When he reached the Cold Rain Camellia Painting numbered "Bingzi," Zhang Mo chuckled, picked it out, and said to Lu Wei Rui, "Wei Rui, you painted this, didn't you?"
Lu Weiwei smiled sweetly and answered, "Yes."
Zhang Mo studied it closely, his brows creasing slightly. "Have you sought Wei Xie's instruction?" he asked mildly, raising his eyes to Lu Weiwei.
Lu Weiwei's face went pale, then flushed scarlet. Her eyes blinked incessantly, and her little mouth opened, but she did not know what to say.
Zhang Mo was very fond of this innocent, intelligent female pupil and could not bear to reproach her. He smiled and said, "No matter. Learning from the strengths of many teachers is a good thing too." His tone still carried a hint of teasing.
Lu Na normally doted on his daughter, but this time he did not come to her rescue, merely smiling as he stroked his beard.
Her face crimson, Lu Weiwei said, "Master Zhang, Master Wei has never instructed me in person. I saw several paintings by him and his pupil and tried to learn a little from them."