Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 421 - 149: Guidance

Chapter 421: Chapter 149: Guidance

Yueyao accompanied Zhuang Ruolan for lunch before returning to Begonia Garden. Perhaps because her mood was relaxed, Yueyao found beauty in everything she saw, even the withered branches on the trees seemed uniquely beautiful.

Yueyao had just lain down and closed her eyes when she was awakened by Xi Yu. Yueyao was accustomed to taking a half-hour nap at noon and usually woke up on her own without needing to be called; everyone who served her knew this habit, and wouldn’t wake her unless it was something important.

Xi Yu quickly explained, "Miss, Uncle Master has come, and he has brought along a gentleman with him. They have been waiting outside the courtyard." Xi Yu’s intuition told her this gentleman must be of high status; otherwise, Uncle Master would not be so courteous to him.

Yueyao blinked away the sleepiness, instantly wide awake. Nine times out of ten, this gentleman was Mr. Yu Shan. Yueyao hurriedly got up to wash and dress. After she made herself presentable, she went out and, as expected, saw Mr. Yu Shan.

Yueyao respectfully greeted them, "Uncle, Mr. Yu Shan."

Ma Chengteng turned to Mr. Yu Shan and said, "It’s my fault; I forgot to have my attendant inform Yueyao in advance of your visit today. For making Mr. Yu Shan wait, please do not take offense." Ma Chengteng was worried that Mr. Yu Shan, annoyed at having to wait, might refrain from giving Yueyao guidance.

Mr. Yu Shan was not concerned with these trivial matters; instead, he stared sternly at Yueyao and said, "I’ve heard that this Begonia Flower painting is your work. Is it truly yours?" He had initially not believed it to be Yueyao’s work considering the massive improvement in just two years, but Ma Chengteng asserted it was indeed painted by Yueyao. Thus, Mr. Yu Shan came, half in doubt. If it was a lie, he’d only have made a wasted trip; if true, then he couldn’t miss the chance to witness a prodigy.

Yueyao nodded and answered, "Yes, it’s my painting."

Mr. Yu Shan, not one to waste words, said directly, "Now, paint another one for me to see." No matter what Yueyao said, it wouldn’t convince him; he only trusted what he could see for himself.

Ma Chengteng nodded at Yueyao.

Yueyao, without choice, had Xi Juan and Xi Yu bring a painting board from the study and place it in the corridor where she sat down to begin painting.

The same painting at different times and with different painter’s emotions results in distinctive artworks. Yueyao, not fond of Mr. Yu Shan’s tone and with a surge of indignation, painted quite differently from the day before.

It took Yueyao more than two hours to complete the painting, which was rather vivid. The begonia flowers, illuminated by the sun, were bright and splendid, like clusters of flames. With the contrast of green leaves, the intense colors created a powerful visual shock.

Outspoken and flamboyant people would like such a painting.

In a low voice, Ma Chengteng asked, "Mr. Yu Shan, what do you think?" Now that he had seen it with his own eyes, the claims of fraud could be dismissed. Ma Chengteng had a small hope that Mr. Yu Shan would take Yueyao under his tutelage.

Mr. Yu Shan looked at Yueyao with a very complex expression, thinking this child was quite extraordinary. Such talent at merely ten years of age promised unfathomable potential in the future—at this thought, Mr. Yu Shan’s gaze heated.

Overwhelmed by such an intense look, Yueyao asked, "Sir, is there something amiss?"

Mr. Yu Shan replied, "The brushwork and skill are not bad, and the artistic conception is well expressed, but the coloring is lacking, which detracts from the whole painting." The overall direction is right, but the details need correcting. If perfected, it would be flawless. Many times, it’s the details that are overlooked, yet a true masterpiece does not tolerate mistakes in the details.

Yueyao felt her coloring was quite acceptable and didn’t understand why Mr. Yu Shan dismissed it outright.

Mr. Yu Shan seriously said, "A great painter cannot tolerate even the slightest flaw. Although you are exceptionally gifted and have a talent for painting, there are still many areas where you are lacking and need to work harder." This was indeed a fine sapling; talent and comprehension were both present. Mr. Yu Shan felt the impulse to take Yueyao as his disciple, but reason told him he shouldn’t.

Yueyao nodded repeatedly and responded, "I will strive to correct it."

Mr. Yu Shan was satisfied with Yueyao’s attitude and continued, "A good painting requires not only exceptional skill but also the accompaniment of poetry to be considered top-grade. How is your level of poetry? How is your calligraphy?" A great painter is not merely skilled at painting; cultural depth and calligraphy must match as well. Otherwise, one cannot be called a great painter and is merely a gardener of painting.

After thinking for a moment, Yueyao said, "I am learning." Yueyao was well aware that she had no talent for poetry, so she planned to master calligraphy first and leave poetry to fate.

Mr. Yu Shan, an experienced individual, understood her meaning upon hearing her words. Not wanting to learn meant no time for it, and so he said, "Recite a poem for me, then."

After some thought, Yueyao wrote on the painting, "The spring breeze gently enters the garden, every corner blooms with begonia flowers, spots of rouge hide behind new greens, clusters raising their heads to catch the morning glow."

What Yueyao wrote could hardly be called a poem, but it nonetheless stunned Mr. Yu Shan. Naturally, it wasn’t the poem that impressed him, but Yueyao’s calligraphy. The poem was not especially good, only rhyming, yet Yueyao’s willow-body calligraphy was refined, graceful, and carried an idiosyncratic vigor.

Even Mr. Yu Shan, with his strong resilience, couldn’t help but ask, "When did you start practicing calligraphy?" A ten-year-old child capable of writing such a strong and distinctive Willow-body calligraphy style is not just extraordinary.

Yueyao smiled and said, "My father started my enlightenment when I was two years old, and from then on, I began copying Master Liu’s calligraphy. I’ve never stopped over the years." Yueyao did this because she did not want to end up like her previous life, where after many years of learning, her calligraphy was lifeless and formless, merely second-rate.

Mr. Yu Shan felt some regret and said, "Your writing is excellent, but it lacks a bit of vigor. If only..." He stopped mid-sentence as he looked at the calluses on Yueyao’s hand and said no more. He was being too demanding; the child before him was an extremely diligent person. It was a pity she was a girl; naturally, a girl’s hand strength is less than a boy’s, and it might be difficult to express spirited character in her writing. Still, to have come this far was already quite remarkable.

Ma Chengteng was puzzled and asked, "Yueyao, I remember that you are currently practicing the Plum Blossom calligraphy style, haven’t you been practicing the Willow-body style anymore?"

Although Ma Chengteng was surprised, Mr. Yu Shan was utterly shocked upon hearing this. Mr. Yu Shan said incredulously, "You’re practicing another style too?" If Yueyao had been in her twenties and could write two styles so well, he wouldn’t be surprised, but she was just ten.

Yueyao wrote down another line of text.

Upon seeing the Plum Blossom-style small script that Yueyao wrote, Mr. Yu Shan did not say too much—her writing was far inferior to the one before.

Ma Chengteng hastily explained, "The child has only been learning this style for a short time, just a year. Give her a few more years, and she will definitely write it better than the Willow-body calligraphy style."

Mr. Yu Shan was very surprised and asked, "Only a year?"

Yueyao nodded and said, "A year and a half, not yet..."

Mr. Yu Shan looked deeply at Yueyao, then smiled brightly and said, "The waves behind drive on those before them; in every generation, new talents emerge."

Ma Chengteng said joyfully, "Mr. Yu Shan, does this mean you agree to take Yueyao as your student?"

Mr. Yu Shan shook his head and replied, "I cannot take her on as a student, she already has the foundation of a Great Painter. She just needs to pay attention to some details and needs more practice, like this coloring you see..." He then began pointing out the mistakes Yueyao had made.

Ma Chengteng had duties to attend to in the afternoon, so he left someone in the yard and went to fulfill his duties. Upon his return and hearing that Mr. Yu Shan was still in the Begonia Garden, he hurried over and saw Mr. Yu Shan instructing Yueyao.

As night gradually fell, Mr. Yu Shan left.

When Ma Chengteng escorted Mr. Yu Shan to the door, he couldn’t help but say, "Mr. Yu Shan, I want to know, why won’t you take Yueyao as your disciple? Is it that she doesn’t meet with your approval?" However, he could see that Mr. Yu Shan was quite fond of Yueyao!

Mr. Yu Shan gave a laugh but didn’t answer Ma Chengteng’s question.

Ruo Lan said to Ma Peng beside her with a smile, "Husband, I didn’t expect our cousin to have such talent, even drawing Mr. Yu Shan’s instruction. I’ve heard Mr. Yu Shan intends to take on a Closed-door Disciple; I wonder if that disciple could be our cousin." If Yueyao could become a student under Mr. Yu Shan, it would be a great opportunity for her.

Ma Peng shook his head and said, "Our cousin is indeed gifted and has a talent for painting, but after all, she is a girl, and I think it’s very unlikely." A girl who cannot even leave home, how could she create masterpieces? She cannot spend every day painting flowers!

Ruo Lan’s expression dimmed a bit, "Indeed, what good is it to be talented as a woman? In the end, isn’t it just about getting married, having children, serving one’s husband, and raising heirs?" Thinking of Yueyao’s obsession with painting, she gave a wry smile, unsure how long Yueyao could keep it up.

Zhuang Ruolan had finished her morning meal when she heard the maid outside announce that Nanny Jiang had come. She said, "Yueyao probably won’t be coming; let Nanny Jiang go back!" With yesterday’s events, the painting-obsessed Yueyao would hardly have time to come and learn to make pastries.

Early in the Si hour, Nanny Hao came to apologize to Zhuang Ruolan, "Eldest Young Madam, our young lady will not come to learn pastry-making today; I beg your understanding." The apology wasn’t instructed by Yueyao but decided by Nanny Hao on her behalf. Yueyao’s mind was all on painting; she wouldn’t think about the promise to learn pastry-making in the next few days.

Zhuang Ruolan said with a smiling face, "It’s alright, let my cousin focus on painting. And also, make sure no one disturbs her." If someone can become so absorbed in an activity that they forget themselves, they’re already successful. Zhuang Ruolan had no doubt about the heights Yueyao could achieve.

Yueyao spent an hour practicing calligraphy every day; the rest of the time, she was painting and then coloring. According to Nanny Hao, their young lady was a bit obsessed again. She didn’t even go to greet the Eldest Young Madam, which made Nanny Hao worry immensely.

Zhuang Ruolan did not mind, but she did not allow these matters to be spread. Zhuang Ruolan’s household was strict; many people knew about Mr. Yu Shan’s visit to Lian Mansion, but the fact that he was instructing Yueyao wasn’t discussed. Precisely because of this, Yueyao was able to paint quietly in the Begonia Garden.