Three matters

He stroked his chin, frowned as he looked at Zhao Ruxi for a moment, then suddenly nodded. "Zhiwei and seeing the Layperson Zhiwei." He looked at the crowd, "You may call her Zhao Zhiwei."

Zhao Ruxi: "..."

Is naming a person really that casual? Is that how the name "Layperson Kumu") came about?

Gong Cheng and Wu Zong felt that their master had finally proven reliable for once.

A girl's given name should not be called casually; it is considered disrespectful.

The master giving his junior sister a name is like a teacher giving a student preparing for the imperial examination a courtesy name; it carries the master's expectations for his disciple. This makes it convenient for everyone to address each other, which is truly wonderful.

Zhao Ruxi touched her nose and bowed to everyone. "Zhiwei greets everyone."

After everyone returned the greetings, Kang Shilin didn't give Zhao Ruxi a chance to give her opening remarks. He simply waved his hand and said, "Alright, let's start drawing."

Turning around, he noticed that Uncle Lu and Qingfeng had already set up some wooden shelves, and quickly asked, "Girl, what are these?"

"An easel," Zhao Ruxi replied helplessly.

It seems there's no chance to talk to him about tuition fees now. I'll find another opportunity to discuss it later.

She gave the box to Qingfeng and directed Uncle Lu and the guards to set up the shelves.

Gong Cheng was an official in the Ministry of Ministry of Works. He usually looked at various agricultural tool drawings and water conservancy drawings. When he saw this novel easel, he immediately began to study it.

Seeing the servants place the thick sheets of white paper they had brought onto the easels, and put a few charcoal pencils and a steamed bun on the shelf in front of each easel, Wu Zong couldn't help but pick up the steamed bun and ask curiously, "What's this?"

"Steamed buns, also called mantou," Zhao Ruxi said, "Are used to correct mistakes in drawing."

Seeing that there was a table, she directed Uncle Lu and the guards to move it over so that Qingfeng could take the items out of his bundle and set them up.

She didn't know if plaster existed in the world. Since she was confined at the time, she couldn't go out to look for it, so she still asked the carpenter to make some simple cylinders and cones and paint them white.

The difference between Western Ocean and China painting lies in the fact that Western Ocean painting is three-dimensional, which is completely different from the two-dimensional perspective and the use of lines in China painting. How to use light and shadow to represent this three-dimensionality, to use light and shadow to represent the outline and boundaries of objects, rather than simply drawing a straight or curved line. Cones and other objects are the simplest and clearest examples.

Time was of the essence, so Zhao Ruxi picked up a charcoal pencil and started drawing quickly, explaining as she drew.

The others gathered around her, listening. After Zhao Ruxi quickly drew the cone, they also picked up their charcoal pencils and started drawing.

Actually, the easiest people to teach this kind of painting are those who have never been exposed to painting before. They don't have any preconceived notions about painting, so if you explain it to them, as long as they're not too slow-witted, they can all understand it.

The people in the painting academy, not to mention Kang Shilin and his two disciples, were all well-known in the painting world, otherwise they wouldn't have caught Kang Shilin's eye and been included in this painting class.

They had all been drawing since childhood, and representing objects directly with lines had become an instinct; however, charcoal pencils, being hard pens, were completely different from the soft brushes commonly used in calligraphy. Accepting new ideas and learning the correct way to hold a pencil were quite challenging for them. Before they knew it, half an hour had passed.

Zhao Ruxi checked the time and ran to Kang Shilin's side, softly calling, "Master, come here."

"Quiet down." Kang Shilin was completely absorbed in the new painting technique.

He's the oldest, but he's just as quick to learn new things as the younger generation. He's already got the hang of it and is slowly adapting, which is when he's most addicted.

Zhao Ruxi glanced at him helplessly. "It's too late, I have to go back." She had originally wanted to discuss some things with him.

Kang Shilin then stopped drawing, looked up from the paper, glanced at Zhao Ruxi, looked at the paper again, and finally reluctantly put down his charcoal pencil. "What is it?"

Zhao Ruxi pointed to the other end of the corridor. "Let's go over there and talk."

Kang Shilin had no choice but to go with her.

Zhao Ruxi now knew the old man's quick temper, so to avoid making him impatient, she first stated. "I have three things to say."

"Alright, alright, hurry up and say it." Kang Shilin turned his gaze away from Wu Zong and the others, finally deigning to glance at Zhao Ruxi.

"First, I'd like to ask, why didn't Madam Xiao come? Didn't she say she also wanted to learn painting?" Could it be because of the difference between men and women that she didn't come?

Mentioning this, Kang Shilin frowned. "She missed her class the past two days; it seems something happened at home." He waved his hand, "Don't ask me what happened, I don't know."

Zhao Ruxi had no choice but to swallow back the question that was about to come out. She made up her mind to find out more later.

She then asked, "The second thing is about my schooling. Now that I'm your student, could you talk to the academy and say that I won't be attending afternoon classes? When you have time, I'll learn painting from you in the afternoon; when you don't have time, I'll do my own thing."

"That's no problem." Kang Shilin thought it was a small matter. "However, what else do you need to do? You can't keep going to Xiao Yatou's place to draw jewelry designs, can you? You're not short of money now, there's no need to waste your time there."

"Yes and no," Zhao Ruxi said. "I'll go when I have time, but I won't stay there all the time. I want to paint, practice calligraphy, and maybe do something else."

Upon hearing that the painting would be done at this time, Kang Shilin readily agreed, "Okay, I promise you."

"The third thing is the money you gave me. You are my master, and my second and third senior brothers are my senior brothers. How could I accept your money? I absolutely cannot accept your money."

Kang Shilin became impatient upon hearing this. "Just take it. What are you fussing about? Do you think I'd shortchange you three thousand taels of silver? Do you know how much one of my paintings is worth? And your three senior brothers are the same; none of them are short of money. The painting your senior brother gave you last night—take it out and sell it. Don't even think about selling it for less than two or three thousand taels."

Zhao Ruxi was extremely envious upon hearing this. This is what a winner in life is like. Relying on one's own skills, one can live freely by painting a few pictures.

She said seriously, "How can this be allowed..."

She had only said a few words when Kang Jinlin impatiently interrupted her, "People of our generation shouldn't talk about such mundane things. Alright, I'm going to paint." He turned and left, very decisively.

Zhao Ruxi knew his temper. If she refused again, she would become an ordinary person in her master's eyes and would surely be disliked by him.

She could only follow behind him, saying, "Then thank you very much, Master and Senior Brother. I will repay you with more good things when I find them in the future."

Kang Shilin was then satisfied.