Chapter 292 - Seven Bullions
Translator: Lav
Editor: Seliniaki Ilikia
Shi Lei only had two chances to use the Drawing Card every month, and it would last for an hour each time. This meant that he could use use the Drawing Card and be possessed by any master painter for two hours each month.
Of course, he wouldn’t use it immediately because he had to use the one hour efficiently.
Wei Xingyue was standing not far from the bathroom waiting for him after he walked out.
Wei Xingyue held onto Shi Lei’s arm in habit when Shi Lei returned and jokingly asked, “Did you wash you hands?”
Shi Lei pulled his arm out in pretended disgust and replied earnestly, “No.”
Wei Xingyue laughed before putting her arms around his. Shi Lei was speechless.
They walked through the corridor. Two young women in cheongsam were standing in front of the display room to greet the guests.
Wei Xingyue guided Shi Lei over. When they walked in, the young women bowed slightly and greeted them in soft voices. “Welcome.”
Shi Lei nodded toward them and looked forward. A few screens in the display room created a wall that separated the room into a few different areas of around the same size.
There was a long table right in front of them covered in white tablecloth. A few rectangular brocade boxes sat on top.
Even though Shi Lei didn’t have too much knowledge of art, he knew that those brocade boxes were used to hold the paintings.
Yanü was standing next to the table with a slight smile on her face as she nodded to greet every single guest who walked toward the table.
There were two square tables placed on either sides of the display hall with tea and other drinks on them.
Wei Xingyue grabbed Shi Lei by the arm and brought him to the front of the long table. When he walked past the screens, he saw that some paintings had been hung on the wall asymmetrically. There were some hollow indentations on the wall with glass on the outside, filled with all sorts of containers of different shapes and made of materials. They were clearly all valuable antiques.
“Sister Nü, is Old Bai here yet?” Wei Xingyue asked with her arms around Shi Lei’s.
Chen Yanü nodded and gestured with her hands. It wasn’t sign language, but a simple hand gesture that even Shi Lei could understood. She was saying that Old Bai was already here, but that he was chatting with a friend and would come soon.
“So these are the other artworks for display other than the copy of Zhang Sengyou’s work?” Wei Xingyue lowered her head and glanced at the long table. Shi Lei then noticed that there was a paper slip beneath each brocade box labeling the name of the artwork and its painter.
There were only six boxes. Shi Lei took a glance at the labels. Besides one name called “Shi An” that he had some impression of, he had never heard of the other names.
Wei Xingyue looked at Shi Lei and saw that he was frowning slightly. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
Shi Lei suddenly beamed as if he understood something and mumbled something under his breath.
“What’s wrong? Is there one you like out of these six?” Wei Xingyue asked.
Shi Lei thought: Yeah right. As if I would like a painting. I just suddenly remembered that Shi An is Liu Luoguo’s nickname. No wonder it sounded familiar.
At first, he had thought that he had some impression of it, since he and the painter shared the same last name. When he read the title of “Flower and Grass Themed Poem on a Round Fan” on the paper slip beneath the brocade box, he suddenly recalled that in the crosstalk “Residential Boasti,” there was the phrase “Liu Shian’s fan,” which explained why he found the name somewhat familiar.
As for Liu Luoguo, Shi Lei knew him because he listened to Mr. Liu’s crosstalk “Monarch’s Fight Against His Subjects.” He felt like he was quite knowledgeable since he knew about a famous painter.
“I don’t understand these, so there’s no like or dislike. I just suddenly remembered who Shi An is.”
Wei Xingyue rolled her eyes and didn’t know whether to believe him or not. Although these paintings weren’t by master painters like Tang Bohu, they were still painted by famous painters specializing in different fields. When Shi Lei said that he only knew Shi An, Wei Xingyue didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry.
When she was about to say something, the quiet display room suddenly became lively. Chen Yanü walked around the table as she looked at the door with a smile.
The sound of people politely addressing someone as “Old Bai” reached their ears. Wei Xingyue turned toward the door with a smile on her face and grabbed Shi Lei, pulling him toward the door.
Shi Lei followed her gaze and saw an old man wearing a set of white Tang clothing with a short scepter decorated with a dragon’s head in his right hand and two purplish-red walnuts in his left hand. He was smiling at different people.
“Old Bai.” Wei Xingyue dragged Shi Lei over and greeted the elderly man.
Old Bai smiled lightly. His wrinkles seemed to display his intelligence.
“You are here? I’ll let you comment on my painting later.” After saying that, Old Bai’s gaze fell on Shi Lei.
Although this was completely unrelated, only Shi Lei felt like he was extremely out of place. However, he bowed out of politeness toward an elder. “Hello, Old Bai. My name is Shi Lei. I’m Wei Xingyue’s friend.”
Wei Xingyue quickly helped Shi Lei introduce himself. “Old Bai, he’s a very close friend of mine, so I brought him over to expand his knowledge.”
Old Bai nodded with a smile. “Hello, friend. Yanü mentioned you to me earlier, saying that you have a wonderful finishing touch. It looks like I used Yanü’s luck to get this painting.”
“I just randomly said it,” Shi Lei quickly replied.
“Haha, it’s nothing big. Everything is destined by fate. I also think that there’s a connection with what this young friend said.” Old Bai looked at the people who wanted to greet him but didn’t want to intrude on his conversation with Wei Xingyue and Shi Lei. “Xingyue and my young friend, first have a look for yourselves. I must greet all the guests today before I do so. We can start looking at the paintings in about ten minutes.”
Wei Xingyue nodded. “Please handle your business first.”
They walked in and out of the different areas. Wei Xingyue was obviously very familiar with the artworks, since she didn’t look at them closely. Shi Lei didn’t look at them seriously either because he didn’t understand anything at all. He stood in front of a painting by Qi Baishi and just stayed there for a while. Well, someone like Shi Lei who knew nothing about arts only recognized Qi Baishi. Qi Baishi’s shrimps were renowned, but Shi Lei could not figure out the shape, even after staring at it for a long time. He only silently counted the number of shrimp. He had heard of a story story that claimed that every shrimp Qi Baishi drew could exchange for a small yellow fish at the time. Obviously not real yellow fish, but a bullion.
Wei Xingyue was about to speak when she saw that Shi Lei seemed to be moved by the painting. Then she heard Shi Lei’s murmur.
“This is worth seven bullions!” Shi Lei exclaimed in a soft voice.
Wei Xingyue felt darkness take over her. No matter what kind of art it was, how did it become such a vulgar thing?
There were people gathering. Everyone walked toward the long table.
Old Bai casually spoke a few words that were normal greetings and polite words of welcome. Then, he began to introduce the six paintings on the table. As for the copy of Zhang Sengyou’s painting, Old Bai would naturally take it out after everyone finished looking at the six paintings.
Chapter 292 - Seven Bullions
Translator: Lav
Editor: Seliniaki Ilikia
Shi Lei only had two chances to use the Drawing Card every month, and it would last for an hour each time. This meant that he could use use the Drawing Card and be possessed by any master painter for two hours each month.
Of course, he wouldn’t use it immediately because he had to use the one hour efficiently.
Wei Xingyue was standing not far from the bathroom waiting for him after he walked out.
Wei Xingyue held onto Shi Lei’s arm in habit when Shi Lei returned and jokingly asked, “Did you wash you hands?”
Shi Lei pulled his arm out in pretended disgust and replied earnestly, “No.”
Wei Xingyue laughed before putting her arms around his. Shi Lei was speechless.
They walked through the corridor. Two young women in cheongsam were standing in front of the display room to greet the guests.
Wei Xingyue guided Shi Lei over. When they walked in, the young women bowed slightly and greeted them in soft voices. “Welcome.”
Shi Lei nodded toward them and looked forward. A few screens in the display room created a wall that separated the room into a few different areas of around the same size.
There was a long table right in front of them covered in white tablecloth. A few rectangular brocade boxes sat on top.
Even though Shi Lei didn’t have too much knowledge of art, he knew that those brocade boxes were used to hold the paintings.
Yanü was standing next to the table with a slight smile on her face as she nodded to greet every single guest who walked toward the table.
There were two square tables placed on either sides of the display hall with tea and other drinks on them.
Wei Xingyue grabbed Shi Lei by the arm and brought him to the front of the long table. When he walked past the screens, he saw that some paintings had been hung on the wall asymmetrically. There were some hollow indentations on the wall with glass on the outside, filled with all sorts of containers of different shapes and made of materials. They were clearly all valuable antiques.
“Sister Nü, is Old Bai here yet?” Wei Xingyue asked with her arms around Shi Lei’s.
Chen Yanü nodded and gestured with her hands. It wasn’t sign language, but a simple hand gesture that even Shi Lei could understood. She was saying that Old Bai was already here, but that he was chatting with a friend and would come soon.
“So these are the other artworks for display other than the copy of Zhang Sengyou’s work?” Wei Xingyue lowered her head and glanced at the long table. Shi Lei then noticed that there was a paper slip beneath each brocade box labeling the name of the artwork and its painter.
There were only six boxes. Shi Lei took a glance at the labels. Besides one name called “Shi An” that he had some impression of, he had never heard of the other names.
Wei Xingyue looked at Shi Lei and saw that he was frowning slightly. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
Shi Lei suddenly beamed as if he understood something and mumbled something under his breath.
“What’s wrong? Is there one you like out of these six?” Wei Xingyue asked.
Shi Lei thought: Yeah right. As if I would like a painting. I just suddenly remembered that Shi An is Liu Luoguo’s nickname. No wonder it sounded familiar.
At first, he had thought that he had some impression of it, since he and the painter shared the same last name. When he read the title of “Flower and Grass Themed Poem on a Round Fan” on the paper slip beneath the brocade box, he suddenly recalled that in the crosstalk “Residential Boasti,” there was the phrase “Liu Shian’s fan,” which explained why he found the name somewhat familiar.
As for Liu Luoguo, Shi Lei knew him because he listened to Mr. Liu’s crosstalk “Monarch’s Fight Against His Subjects.” He felt like he was quite knowledgeable since he knew about a famous painter.
“I don’t understand these, so there’s no like or dislike. I just suddenly remembered who Shi An is.”
Wei Xingyue rolled her eyes and didn’t know whether to believe him or not. Although these paintings weren’t by master painters like Tang Bohu, they were still painted by famous painters specializing in different fields. When Shi Lei said that he only knew Shi An, Wei Xingyue didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry.
When she was about to say something, the quiet display room suddenly became lively. Chen Yanü walked around the table as she looked at the door with a smile.
The sound of people politely addressing someone as “Old Bai” reached their ears. Wei Xingyue turned toward the door with a smile on her face and grabbed Shi Lei, pulling him toward the door.
Shi Lei followed her gaze and saw an old man wearing a set of white Tang clothing with a short scepter decorated with a dragon’s head in his right hand and two purplish-red walnuts in his left hand. He was smiling at different people.
“Old Bai.” Wei Xingyue dragged Shi Lei over and greeted the elderly man.
Old Bai smiled lightly. His wrinkles seemed to display his intelligence.
“You are here? I’ll let you comment on my painting later.” After saying that, Old Bai’s gaze fell on Shi Lei.
Although this was completely unrelated, only Shi Lei felt like he was extremely out of place. However, he bowed out of politeness toward an elder. “Hello, Old Bai. My name is Shi Lei. I’m Wei Xingyue’s friend.”
Wei Xingyue quickly helped Shi Lei introduce himself. “Old Bai, he’s a very close friend of mine, so I brought him over to expand his knowledge.”
Old Bai nodded with a smile. “Hello, friend. Yanü mentioned you to me earlier, saying that you have a wonderful finishing touch. It looks like I used Yanü’s luck to get this painting.”
“I just randomly said it,” Shi Lei quickly replied.
“Haha, it’s nothing big. Everything is destined by fate. I also think that there’s a connection with what this young friend said.” Old Bai looked at the people who wanted to greet him but didn’t want to intrude on his conversation with Wei Xingyue and Shi Lei. “Xingyue and my young friend, first have a look for yourselves. I must greet all the guests today before I do so. We can start looking at the paintings in about ten minutes.”
Wei Xingyue nodded. “Please handle your business first.”
They walked in and out of the different areas. Wei Xingyue was obviously very familiar with the artworks, since she didn’t look at them closely. Shi Lei didn’t look at them seriously either because he didn’t understand anything at all. He stood in front of a painting by Qi Baishi and just stayed there for a while. Well, someone like Shi Lei who knew nothing about arts only recognized Qi Baishi. Qi Baishi’s shrimps were renowned, but Shi Lei could not figure out the shape, even after staring at it for a long time. He only silently counted the number of shrimp. He had heard of a story story that claimed that every shrimp Qi Baishi drew could exchange for a small yellow fish at the time. Obviously not real yellow fish, but a bullion.
Wei Xingyue was about to speak when she saw that Shi Lei seemed to be moved by the painting. Then she heard Shi Lei’s murmur.
“This is worth seven bullions!” Shi Lei exclaimed in a soft voice.
Wei Xingyue felt darkness take over her. No matter what kind of art it was, how did it become such a vulgar thing?
There were people gathering. Everyone walked toward the long table.
Old Bai casually spoke a few words that were normal greetings and polite words of welcome. Then, he began to introduce the six paintings on the table. As for the copy of Zhang Sengyou’s painting, Old Bai would naturally take it out after everyone finished looking at the six paintings.
