New Painting Technique
Cen Song, being young, couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked, "Mister Kumu, may we admire the paintings created by the Layperson Zhiwei using his new technique?"
Kang Shilin waved his hand. "Don't rush, she was only halfway through her drawing when the Jia Family father and son interrupted her. I'll let her finish the drawing, and then she'll show it to you."
The young apprentice has created a new painting method, so naturally it needs to be certified technically. The people in the courtyard are the best certifiers.
If she doesn't show it, and someone sees it, steals it, and displays it to everyone first, then that thief becomes the creator—wouldn't that be a huge loss?
Hearing Kang Shilin's words, everyone stopped urging him, but they could no longer concentrate on their own paintings, their eyes constantly glancing at Zhao Ruxi's painting room. The impatient Kang Shilin couldn't paint anymore and paced back and forth in the yard with his hands behind his back.
After seeing his junior sister's new painting technique, Wu Zong was in a state of shock and self-doubt. Now, seeing that his master was disturbing everyone's peace, he couldn't stand it anymore and pulled him to the kitchen in the back for tea and snacks. Before leaving, however, he was still worried and repeatedly told Wu An to stay here and call them as soon as Zhao Ruxi came out.
As everyone eagerly awaited, Zhao Ruxi finally finished the painting an hour later.
She had no idea that her master had already told others about her new painting technique, nor did she know that everyone was still waiting in the courtyard. After finishing the painting, signing it, and affixing her seal, she admired it for a while. She felt that although it had some shortcomings, it was generally acceptable, at least enough to prevent her master from hitting her on the head. She then skipped out the door, ready to hear a few more words of praise from her master.
"Layperson Zhiwei has emerged."
Someone shouted something, and everyone put down their charcoal pencils and swarmed around, startling Zhao Ruxi.
"W-What's wrong?" Zhao Ruxi glanced around and, noticing that her master and senior brother weren't there, felt a pang of panic. "What happened?"
"No, no," Cen Song quickly waved his hand, "It's Mister Kumu who said you created a new painting method, and we want to see it."
"Yes, yes, Layperson Zhiwei, may we see the painting you just finished?" others asked as well.
Zhao Ruxi was relieved and asked, "Where is my master?" Naturally, her master had to see her painting first.
"Coming, coming." Wu Zong's voice rang out at the courtyard gate.
Everyone turned around and saw Kang Shilin walking over briskly, even faster than Wu Zong.
Zhao Ruxi sweetly called out to Kang Shilin, "Master."
Kang Shilin gave a nonchalant "hmm" and walked over, asking with a serious face, "Finished drawing?"
"I've finished drawing," Zhao Ruxi said quickly. "Please give me your guidance, Master."
Kang Shilin walked straight into the house, and everyone quickly made way for him. After Kang Shilin and his two disciples went inside, they rushed forward and followed him in.
Fortunately, Kang Shilin intended this courtyard to be an art academy when he rebuilt it, and the buildings were all built to be extremely spacious. This room, which served as the studio, was a full seventy or eighty square meters, and there was no screen in the middle to separate it, in order to create an open visual effect.
Now, even with about ten people coming in together, the room doesn't feel crowded at all.
The painting table was enormous and placed near the window. Everyone followed Kang Shilin over, and upon seeing the painting unfolded on the table, they all held their breath, even Kang Shilin and Wu Zong, who had already seen a significant portion of the painting.
Zhao Ruxi painted a landscape painting.
Kang Shilin is famous for his landscape paintings. His landscape paintings feature towering solitary peaks and mist swirling around the mountains. His style is just like him: aloof, cold, and possessing an ethereal quality that no one else can capture.
It's perfectly normal that Zhao Ruxi, as his apprentice, would start by learning landscape painting.
However, her painting presents a completely different style from Kang Shilin's paintings. At first glance, the whole painting gives people a feeling of grandeur, as if you are standing on the top of a mountain, looking down at the roaring and rushing river, the towering and majestic peaks, the boundless plains, and the lush and wild forests, all of which are in full view, making people feel a surge of heroic spirit in their hearts, and wanting to shout out to express their feelings.
"How... how did you draw this?" Mr. Zhou Wenbai asked urgently.
If the painter were an emperor sitting on his throne or a general leading thousands of troops, it wouldn't be surprising to produce such a painting. They possessed a grand vision and their hearts were filled with thoughts of the nation and its people. In a state of passionate inspiration, as long as they had the painting skills, it wouldn't be surprising to create such a work.
But Zhao Ruxi was only fourteen years old, and her life had been unremarkable. Painting a flower or grass, or a small scene, was more in line with her limited perspective and mind. Zhou Wenbai simply couldn't understand how she could paint such a picture.
Zhao Ruxi touched the bridge of her nose, her clear, large eyes looking innocently at Zhou Wenbai: "If you want to draw, then draw it like this. Besides, I'm using a combination of the drawing methods and sketching techniques my master taught me."
"Old Zhou, what do you mean? Do you think this painting wasn't painted by my apprentice? That she used someone else's painting to fill the space?" Kang Shilin shouted.
"Ah, no, no." Zhou Wenbai realized his question might be misunderstood and quickly waved his hand. "I just can't believe this painting was Layperson Zhiwei. Ah, no..."
The old gentleman realized that no matter what he said, it sounded like he didn't believe Zhao Ruxi and doubted that the painting was not her work, and he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
He looked to the others for help.
But the others had completely forgotten about him. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the painting, completely absorbed in it, carefully studying and analyzing Zhao Ruxi's new painting technique.
Chen Zhongqiu and Lu Junyu whispered among themselves, "Did you notice? What painting technique was used? The whole painting looks so grand because it's so three-dimensional, perfectly capturing the imposing presence of the towering peak."
"I can't tell what painting technique it is, but look here..." Lu Junyu pointed to a spot in the painting, "He directly splashed large amounts of ink, and the imposing presence of the mountain peaks was immediately conveyed."
Zhou Wenbai immediately put the argument and misunderstanding behind him and quickly moved forward to see clearly where Lu Junyu had just pointed.
Cen Song was the youngest in the painting class, belonging to the great-grandson or grandson generation, and he was very respectful to everyone.
But now, engrossed in the painting, he completely forgot about the proper order of seniority and nudged Zhou Wenbai, saying, "Mister Zhou, you're blocking my way."
Seeing that everyone had completely forgotten about themselves, and even the usually most rational and clear-headed senior brother Wu Zong was engrossed in it, Zhao Ruxi quietly withdrew from the crowd.