Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 14: Everywhere is Scrolly

Zhao Yifu chatted with Song Jie for a while and gradually discovered the difficulties faced by these outer disciples who had reached the end of their term.

Without the protection of Molu Academy, they seemed out of place in this world.

Either give up the magic of painting and choose to return to a normal life, or leave Moyang City and even Mozhou and travel around the world to find that chance.

He asked, "Brother Zitai, what about you? What are you going to do?"

Song Jie was stunned for a moment, then sighed and said, "What else can I do? I don't have the ambition to go out and explore the world. After all, I have already started a family these years."

"I'll probably be like that senior brother. If I still haven't achieved anything in a few years, I'll just live my life in peace."

"Let's not talk about me anymore. Since Brother Junxin has come here with a suitcase, he must be selling calligraphy and paintings, right?"

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "That's right, but I'm better at painting, so I'm going to set up a painting stall."

Song Jie was delighted: "This is quite a coincidence. I sell calligraphy and Junxin sells paintings, so we don't interfere with each other."

Since he had said so, Zhao Yi Fu simply opened the bookcase and took out the pens, ink, paper and inkstone inside, and set up a stall here with Brother Zitai.

Song Jie glanced at Zhao Yifu's box and then asked, "Junxin, why are there no finished paintings in your box?"

Zhao Yifu smiled and replied, "Brother Zitai, I haven't decided what kind of paintings to sell yet, so I came here today to check out the market."

Song Jie nodded repeatedly after hearing this. He asked, "What kind of paintings are you good at?"

Zhao Yifu replied: "I am best at figure painting, followed by flowers, birds, insects and fish, and then landscapes."

Song Jie pondered the matter for a moment, then said, "Figure painting... I'm afraid it's not easy."

"Look at that stall at the corner of the street. It's run by a fifty-year-old scholar. His figures are so lifelike that even the government would ask him to draw a wanted poster."

"That's real skill. Just by listening to the prisoner's description, he can draw a 60% to 70% likeness. It's truly amazing."

Zhao Yifu felt his scalp tingling when he heard this. He could not compare with this unique skill.

So he asked helplessly, "Brother, are those paintings of flowers, birds, insects and fish selling well?"

Song Jie said, "People buy both flower and bird paintings and landscape paintings, but look at the man over there at the east end of the street. Although Old Qi is not a famous artist, he specializes in flowers and birds, and many people come here to admire his reputation."

"He could have set up his stall on the front street, but because his home was in the alleyway in the back street, he chose to set up his stall here because it was 'close to home.'"

After hearing this, Zhao Yifu looked at the chubby and wealthy-looking "Old Qi" and was speechless.

Song Jie added, "And there's Old Lu over there, a master at painting landscapes. He doesn't even come to his stall often anymore. He just has his family bring in recent paintings to sell, and he's not worried about sales at all."

Zhao Yifu said helplessly, "These three are all talented people, why are they still hanging around in this back street?"

Song Jie sighed and said, “Because the works in the front street are not only by famous artists, but also by famous scholars!”

Zhao Yifu was speechless.

What is a scholar?

After passing the provincial examination and becoming a juren, one becomes a scholar.

In other words, the calligraphy and paintings sold in Qianjie are not only good, but also gilded with the word "power", which naturally makes them extraordinary.

He couldn't help but think that if he could be listed on the local list in the future, he would probably be able to sell paintings on the front street.

Wait, even though he's already a Juren, he still wants to sell paintings. Doesn't that seem a bit unpromising? Zhao Yifu scratched his head. Right now, his only feeling was "voluptuous." The scholars in this world were truly "voluptuous."

He smiled bitterly and said, "It seems that setting up a stall here is completely useless."

Song Jie comforted him, "It's okay. In fact, we can sell it at a lower price. Then naturally someone will want to buy it back to decorate their home."

Zhao Yifu shook his head after hearing this and said, "No, that won't do. If he buys mine just because it's cheaper, even though he knows there are better ones, then he won't think my paintings are good."

Song Jie was stunned, and then he realized that what Zhao Yifu was talking about was the yang and spiritual energy generated by recognition and praise.

He suddenly smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Junxin is indeed worthy of being a freshman from the mountains. After so many years, I almost forgot that I had to rely on the words I wrote to gain Yang and spiritual energy."

"This stall is set up here solely for the livelihood of my family."

Zhao Yifu came to comfort him, saying, "Brother Zitai, I don't have any ideas. I just said so."

Song Jie was about to say something else when he heard a noise coming from the west end of the street.

He turned his head and his face changed drastically.

"Brother Junxin, it's Zhu Bancheng who's here. Let's hold our conversation until he's gone."

Zhao Yifu looked over and saw four ruffians sweeping the street.

What is 'street sweeping'?
That is, he would not let go of any stall he encountered along the way, either extorting money or taking some goods at will, and was extremely domineering.

However, they did not touch some stalls, at least they did not touch the stalls that Song Jie had introduced earlier. It seemed that they were bullies who only bullied the weak and feared the strong, and did not dare to take action against those who had real skills.

And that 'Zhu Bancheng' was the leader among the ruffians. No one along the way dared to look him in the eye, which made him feel very proud and proud.

But at this moment, he suddenly noticed a new face.

The newcomer, dressed in a dark brown Confucian robe, sat there in a fresh and lively manner, looking at him with sparkling eyes that were full of curiosity and eagerness to try.

Zhu Bancheng felt that his authority was challenged, and immediately led his men forward to get to know this lively newcomer.

But when he was halfway there, he immediately recalled the scenes from his favorite knight picture books: the first satisfying moment for the protagonist when he was a hidden dragon in the abyss was to punch the local thugs and bullies and kick the street urchins... Yes, people like him.

Especially the young man, who, despite wearing a Confucian robe, looked large and strong, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and seemed eager to try...

Zhu Bancheng slowed down his pace, his mind racing. The arrogant words that were on the tip of his tongue turned into a gentle greeting: "You look unfamiliar, young man, but are you from out of town?"

Song Jie was bewildered. Was Zhu Bancheng such an easy-going person? When did he become so gentle?

Zhao Yifu felt regretful. His hands were itching to move, and he had already rehearsed the actual combat scenes of the Crane Claw Grappling Technique in his mind many times...

It's a pity.

However, since the other party was so sensible, Zhao Yifu's thoughts could easily slide in another direction.

He said with a smile, "My dear hero, I am indeed not a local, but I have lived outside Moyang City since I was twelve years old. I was studying there before and only recently moved into the city."

Zhu Bancheng was stunned for a moment. He didn't care about what Zhao Yifu said in the second half. He only heard him being addressed as "hero".

He was deeply touched, and this lively young man called him a hero!
Since you speak so nicely, please don't make things difficult for me.

(End of this chapter)