Chapter 122: A Day with Long Huang-er (Part 1) (1/2)
“Every person has a most favorite thing in their heart. In this case, we will paint our most favorite thing, regardless whether it’s a person, a thing, a scenery, good or bad, difficult or simple, all of them that can be portrayed by the paintbrush. If you cannot even sketch your most favorite thing, then you have lost the true purpose of learning how to paint. Use your mind to think, use your hand to paint, even if the painting is bad, it doesn’t matter. As long as you have strived hard to do it, then that will be okay.”
Ye Wuchen had successfully ignited their passion. He did not need to explain anything about the method, did not need to demonstrate, did not need to sketch an uninteresting outline to be followed; he only fired up their spirits and had them gather their state of minds to paint their most favorite thing in their minds.
Hua Buhao looked at the once boring painting class as if it was now under a burning fire from being flooded by passion. On the face of those students who follow the rules inflexibly, they were now full of unprecedented earnestness with single-hearted devotion.
“The kind of painting you have taught them was the rigid painting that I was talking about.” Ye Wuchen approached Hua Buhao, and said in a low voice to try not to disturb those students who were in serious concentration, “To be frank, the method that you’ve applied on them was the same method that you used on yourself. You had taught them what to paint and what not to paint; you told them which methods to use and which not to. You must bear in mind, that every person has their own nature and style, this also results in different styles that they will develop during painting—their painting styles. As a teacher, you should nurture their own unique painting style. The style that suits them best can make them progress more quickly. The method of following the prescribed pattern, can only distort or even ruin their own unique style, making them advance slowly. Worst case would be that they would forget the reason why they wanted to paint and eventually give up on painting.”
He turned his head around. Looking at those enthusiastic students while smiling, he said, “Now that they are enthusiastic, after finding a reason to learn painting, they will be able to portray, and retain their most favorite thing.”
Ye Wuchen’s words had brought an expected shock to Hua Buhao. The unprecedented high spirits of the students were the iron-like evidence. After all these years, a few comments completely overturned the way he taught people to paint, yet it did not cause him any bit of unacceptance. He drooped his head, ashamed, and said, “Today, after I hearing these instructions from Master Ye, it feels like I am being enlightened with perfect wisdom and sudden realizations. As it turns out, during all these years of teaching, I have been making people confused!”
Ye Wuchen shook his head, “Mister, you are being too serious. You must bear in mind that it will be easy to say that every person has his own unique style, but putting them into action is very difficult. Especially when you are to attend to a lot of people, it will be a few times harder than usual.”
Hua Buhao bent at the waist once more, and in a serious tone, he said, “No! As a teacher, my greatest gratification is to see my students surpass me. Master Ye, your comments have shown me a designated path, so how can I neglect it? Even if it is exhausting, it will calm and comfort my heart.”
The huge art studio was full of sounds of paintbrush against paper. Rustling sounds echoed, yet no one talked, as they concentrated their attentions and dared not to disturb others while also not allowing others to disturb them. Even Long Huang-er was painting well-behaved in her seat. Her seating posture was not that elegant, and the way she held the paintbrush was a horrible sight, but at least her face exposed a rare seriousness. That pair of sparkling eyes stole glances at Ye Wuchen from time to time.
Ye Wuchen could not help but think that she was painting him.
“Teacher, I’m done painting!”
After a very long time, the very first student who Ye Wuchen had questioned raised her hand and yelled, unintentionally calling him the teacher. Ye Wuchen walked over to the painting and observed it for a few moments, then asked in a low voice, “Do you feel that this painting of a phoenix feather flower is similar to what you have in your mind?”
“It’s different.”
“Where do you think is different?”
“Oh…The shape of the flower is not that beautiful, the leaves are somehow wide, also… it’s an unfit match.”
“En, since you are able to point out the areas that are different from what you have imagined, the next time you paint it, you should be able to adjust them better, right?”
The little girl immediately nodded her head with confidence, “En! I certainly will, I will surely be able to paint the most perfect phoenix feather flower and show it to teacher.”
She took off the previous painting, then delicately started to portray it on the new paper. Her expression did not contain the slightest degree of impatience or boredom, and was still as concentrated as before.
Ye Wuchen quietly moved to the back of the studio. From there, he proceeded behind Long Huang-er’s seat, looking at her painting board. Suddenly, as if he was struck by thunder, he wished he could immediately cover his eyes and run away… This could not be him. This was certainly not him.
Long Huang-er stole a furtive look in front, only to discover that Ye Wuchen’s figure was not there. Immediately, she subconsciously glanced behind her, and at once, she saw him standing there with an extremely strange expression. She was startled, and in a great rush, extended her arms to cover her painting board, but then she lowers her hands and said with a big grin, “Did I paint it nicely?”
“... Let’s not discuss whether it is nice or not. What are you painting?” Ye Wuchen asked carefully, for fear that he might get the answer that he was expecting. This time though, he did not have the courage to take another look.
“Of course it is you. I’ve found out that the you are my most favorite person just now.” Long Huang-er said happily.
“……”
“Princess, can you just tell me the truth, do you really like painting?” Ye Wuchen said helplessly. To be able to portray a person this way, the condition was so grave that it made him gasp in surprise.
Long Huang-er thought for a while, then she answered honestly, “I dislike it… but what I dislike even more is to learn etiquettes. The so-called feminine arts and the principles of being a woman—I hate them.”
“Then let’s just secretly slip out and play, okay?” Ye Wuchen said. Even if he was to face the consequences of Long Yin’s anger, he could not bear Long Huang-er destroying his image.
Long Huang-er’s eyes brightened, almost jumping out in her excitement. Ye Wuchen stucks up an index finger to make a hush gesture as a request for her to lower her voice. He proceeded to Hua Buhao and said, “Master Hua, the princess’ heart is clearly not focused on painting, and you cannot force her. Interest is the most effective teacher, so you cannot compel it through force. I would like to take the princess to look around, and find something she really likes. We will come back again tomorrow. If the Emperor questions it, you only need to answer them that I have brought the princess here, and that she went out with me. This certainly doesn’t mean that I am deceiving our ruler.”
Although Hua Buhao was reluctant, hearing that Ye Wuchen would come again tomorrow, overjoyed him. H respectfully said, “Please do as you wish, Master Ye, and I will respond accordingly. As for the students, I already know what I should do.”