Chapter 121: The New Teacher in Painting Class (1/2)
There was one shared characteristic among the teachers of the Imperial Institute—strict. They treated all the students equally, they did not feel the need to make salutations towards the students who came from influential families. When the old man with a face full of white beard saw Ye Wuchen enter the room, his eyes had a feverish adoration that surpassed the students’. That day, during the competition, he was one of those who had personally witnessed the painting skills of Ye Wuchen. From that day on, he realized what real painting was, and what being at the peak of painting skills looked like.
Knowledge had no age limit, and to this old man who loved painting more than his own life, he considered Ye Wuchen to be like a heavenly being. Although it may seem to be inappropriate for this occasion, his face was full of visible excitement. He looked as if he could not control himself as he might rush in front and kneel down to the ground to ask Ye Wuchen to become his teacher.
“Master Ye, you are finally here. This old man has long been inspired by your painting skills, only that I am not able to witness them in person. This old man had heard yesterday that you will be coming. I’m so excited that I wasn’t able to sleep last night. Now that Master Ye is here, I will not continue to show my shameful skills. May we request Master Ye to give us a lecture? If you were to fulfill my humble request, this old man will be eternally grateful.”
This old man was quite fervent, and quite eager to announce his request. He immediately forgot about Long Huang-er who was standing beside Ye Wuchen. For him, to be able to hear the lecture of such amazing person with extraordinary painting skills, was already enough enjoyment for this lifetime. He dared not to claim himself as a teacher in front of Ye Wuchen, and addressed himself as an “old man”.
The students below the stage had their faces full of amazement. Not a single one among them had expected that this teacher, who seldom smiled or talked, would have such an attitude towards a person just a few years older than them. Although, after the news spread, some had regarded Ye Wuchen almost like a god. These students, who had prestigious backgrounds and a very strong arrogance treated themselves as if they were greater than the sky, so only a few of them would revere a person based only on news. Now though, the old man’s attitude to the visitor compelled them to have no choice but to put away their deliberately assuming arrogance.
This was about painting again. Ever since Ye Wuchen arrived in this world, almost everything that he encountered was related to painting. Ye Wuchen regretted that he had only spent three months learning about painting on and off, yet amazed at how it was very good help to him in this world.
“How shall I address you, mister?” Ye Wuchen asked politely.
“This old man’s last name is Hua, first name Buhao” The old man answered promptly.
Hua Buhao… Hua Buhao. Ye Wuchen almost laughed on the spot. How can someone who was bad at painting learn painting skills? No wonder he was only a beginner painting teacher.
[Note: though the characters are different, Hua Buhao’s name reads the same as the words for “bad in painting”]
He fixed his expression, then patted Long Huang-er’s back and said, “Princess, you may go to your seat, Today, I will personally teach you how to paint, okay?”
How could she not agree to something this interesting? Her eyes brightened and shenodded excitedly. She hurriedly ran to her painting board and sat down. Although she does not remember her seat, she could find it in one single glance, because it was the seat that was always empty.
The words from Ye Wuchen naturally meant that he had already agreed to Hua Buhao’s request. Hua Buhao immediately grew very excited and he hurriedly stepped down from the platform, and respectfully allowed Ye Wuchen to step onto to it. Afterwhich, he stood in a corner, concentrating all his attention on Ye Wuchan, for the fear that he might miss any detail, or any word that Ye Wuchen would say.
Ye Wuchen, up on the platform, swept his gaze through the area. This room was an art studio with luxurious decorations. More than thirty male and female students were present, each had a wide painting board in front of their seats. The students had preeminent traits that showed how they were not from ordinary families. As a princess, Long Huang-er’s seat was naturally at the center. Her dark eyes were looking at him with excitement as this was the first time to feel that attending school could actually be interesting.
After a few moments of silence, he suddenly smiled, “Everyone, you might have many questions in mind that you would like to ask, so don’t worry, and just ask. Nobody will rebuke you.”
Upon saying these words, those young men and women seem unable to hold themselves back, one by one they started to shout loudly, bringing the entire room into chaos.
“I’ve heard that the worm you drew was taken away by a bird, is this true?”
“Can you paint us a lotus flower that can open by itself? I want to witness it with my own eyes.”
“I’ve heard that you have defeated the very powerful Lin Xiao, is this true? How can you be so awesome?”
“At what age did you start to learn painting, who taught you?”
……………………
“My brother really admires you, I also admire you, can I marry you in the future?”
“My older sister had requested of father to go and propose marriage. Why didn’t you agree to it? Was it because my sister cannot be compared to the sister from the Hua family?”
At first, the confusing questions revolved around the topic of painting skills, but afterwards it became related to everything, bringing a bitter smile to Ye Wuchen. He coughed, and gestured for the voices to lower down, then he smiled and said, “Okay, you have already asked all the questions you want. Now it’s my turn to speak.
“If you want to learn what kind of a person I am, then you should find out on your own. The information that has come from other people’s mouths might not be completely true.
“If you really want to see the fully blossomed flower, why don’t you strive harder to comprehend the art of painting? In the future you will be able to make an even better painting that other people will praise and be amazed by. Isn’t that better? A painting from another will ultimately, belong to another. If you are able to paint it all by yourself, it will be the most satisfying and most enjoyable thing. Isn’t it right?”
Upon hearing these words, Hua Buhao was silent and was nodding excessively. The students, who did not seem to completely understand, still nodded accordingly. Although majority of them do not understand the implied meaning, they have at least calmed down.
“In that case, everyone please remember my name. Today, I will temporarily substitute as your teacher, but during other days, you should feel honored and proud of this”
Ye Wuchen picked up a paintbrush, and using the most traditional way of writing in this world, he wrote his own name on the canvas, then turns the painting rack around to show the three big words in bold calligraphy “Ye-Wu-Chen” appeared in front of their eyes. They gazed at this name, his arrogant and confident voice still echoed beside their ears.
“I was his student.” Many years later, when they spoke of this matter to friends or descendants, their faces will be full of honor and pride. And the listeners will one by one, expose a face full of envy and enthusiasm. Afterwhich, they would regretfully sigh and say, “But the time was too short; just one day.”
Hua Buhao’s eyes moves as if they were magnetically attracted and fixed onto the three big characters. Just three characters, merging into one impressive and magnificent being. At the first impression, it warmed the heart and delighted the eye, and under further careful examination, one would appreciate the boundless grandeur between the characters, like a mountain in the clouds, like the mighty waves that beat the shore. To be able to write these characters to this magnificent extent he had not heard mention of it before, let alone known someone who had personally witnessed it.