Chapter 34 - Grinding on the Ink Slab Requires Proper Techniques and a Proper Posture (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The bank had approved their loan the very next day. The amount of the loan was 30 million dollars. Wen Xinya, together with Qiu Yifan and Ouyang Feng, went to the bank and settled the paperwork, successfully transferring the money to an account that was registered under Grampy’s name.

With Qiu Yifan’s assistance, the set up of the company was a breeze.

“What are you thinking about? The ink slab will be destroyed if you continue to grind it.” Si Yiyan placed the calligraphy brush on the table and focused his vision on her.

Though he wasn’t sure what was the content of their discussion a few days ago, he had guessed that there was something going on, as she had been frequently meeting with Qiu Yifan and Ouyang Feng in recent days.

Si Yiyan had investigated about Ouyang Feng and knew his background. It wasn’t difficult to guess her intention of starting an investment company with him.

Once again Wen Xinya had impressed Si Yiyan with her decisiveness and courage and was able to devise a concrete plan of actions based on her vision. He was able to clearly see her change, from a young street gangster to an entrepreneur who had a great ambition of building her own financial career through starting an investment company.

“How is it possible for me to destroy an ink slab? You are just being difficult with me!” Wen Xinya was deep in thought about her earlier meeting at the Chaofan Lawyer Corporation. She recovered from her daze and controlled her emotions when she heard Si Yiyan.

Si Yiyan remained silent. He took another ink slab from the shelf, added a small amount of water on it and started grinding with the right amount of strength. Then, he picked up his calligraphy brush and started writing the word “xin” on a piece of paper. “Please look carefully.”

The word “xin” appeared gracefully on paper in the Liu-calligraphy font. It was simple yet elegant. With such expressive and harmonious strokes, in unity with his skillful writing, Si Yiyan was able to display the toughness in his strokes, accomplishing exactly what the Liu-calligraphy font represented.

Grampy had mentioned this before, the Liu-calligraphy font was one that could most accurately present the temperament of the writer. He had to focus on his brush strokes with absolute purity of mind. The font was thin but had power in every stroke, expressing the beauty and gracefulness of the bamboo. When she started learning about calligraphy, Grampy asked her which font she would like to start with. She chose Liu-calligraphy font without hesitation.

“What did you notice?” asked Si Yiyan plainly.

“I know you have good calligraphy skills. You don’t have to show off in front of me.” Wen Xinya looked at the nicely written word in Liu-calligraphy font and secretly admired it with envy and jealousy.

“I am not referring to the font. I am asking if you have noticed any difference between using the two ink slabs.” Si Yiyan knocked her forehead lightly with his hand.

Wen Xinya took a closer look and immediately noticed the difference. Words written with the ink from the ink slab she used were dull. There was no power in her strokes and the dampness from the ink permeated the paper. As for the word written with Si Yiyan’s ink slab, its black ink glowed and there was power in each stroke. There wasn’t any ink permeation on the paper he used. “Why is that so?”

Si Yiyan replied with a smile, “There is also great knowledge behind the skill of ink slab grinding. You want to learn?”

“Yes!” Wen Xinya looked at Si Yiyan with a sparkle in her eyes.

“Come over and stand beside me!” Si Yiyan waved and signaled for her to come over. His eyes gleamed as if he had finally achieved what he wanted.

Wen Xinya only had a great desire to learn about the skills of using an ink slab, so she didn’t notice anything on his expression. When he waved to her, she immediately went over and stood beside him. “Will you teach me?”