Chapter 296 - Finishing the Painting In Half an Hour
Translator: Lav
Editor: Likia
The man surnamed Xu laughed loudly. “Hahaha! You really aren’t afraid of talking big. We have seen innumerable paintings and there are professionals present, such as these people here. They are all renowned painters in the country, but they don’t dare say that they can redraw something from what they saw when they were a child, not to mention Zhang Sengyou’s art, an antique from the Tang and Song Dynasties. Even if your family owns mountains of gold and rivers of silver, how is it possible for them to let a child play with such an amazing work of art?”
Everyone thought it was reasonable, but Shi Lei just casually replied, “What antique from the Tang and Song Dynasties? It’s just a painting of Buddha bought from the countryside and drawn by an old artisan there.”
His words caused another uproar. Old Bai sighed, shook his head, and looked at Wei Xingyue in complaint.
Wei Xingyue was as confused as the others. She looked at Shi Lei and thought: This guy has always been quite strange. Although he is occasionally reckless and perhaps not as well-educated as most, compared to these fuerdais, he is not someone to make irresponsible remarks.
Wei Xingyue composed herself and asked, “Are you sure you can repaint it?”
Shi Lei smiled. “I always used thin paper to trace it when I was bored as a child. Then I started using opaque paper and I could pretty much draw it, and I learned how to colour later. I really don’t know much about drawing and I can’t promise that I can draw other things, but if you are talking about this painting, then mine will definitely be closer to Zhang Sengyou’s style than this one.”
No one in the display room believed him. Old Bai only shook his head and sighed, giving Wei Xingyue a few looks. He was close to chasing Shi Lei out. The reason Shi Lei could finish his sentences was due to Old Bai’s generosity. If it was someone else, he probably wouldn’t be able to.
But Wei Xingyue suddenly smiled. She always had strange confidence in him. It was built on a foundation of her daily interactions with him. She believed that he definitely wasn’t someone who spoke without thinking.
“Everyone, Old Bai, I know that no one believes him and, to be honest, I don’t really either. But I have faith in my friend. Since he said this, I believe that he can show us a better version. Whether we believe it or not, we can find the answer after he draws. However, our time is limited and it’s unrealistic to draw the entire piece, so perhaps we can let Shi Lei draw the head and take a look at it. Everyone here has profound knowledge in art and should be able to see the quality of the painting. If we are lucky and Shi Lei’s painting is good enough for you all, then we can give him more time in the future to finish it.”
Her words were honest. After all, it was impossible to finish an entire colored painting within a short amount of time. Even Zhang Shengyou himself may have had to spend a few hours or even more to prepare and start painting. Although Shi Lei only needed to paint a head, it was more than enough to confirm the style and technique.
Old Bai gave Shi Lei a deep look and asked seriously, “Can you really?”
Shi Lei laughed, “Give me half an hour to forty minutes and I can finish the whole thing.”
Wow!
This attitude.
Wei Xingyue’s expression darkened again. I finally found a way for you get out of this. You only need to draw a little to make them ignore what just happened, yet you want to finish the entire painting within thirty to forty minutes?
Old Bai didn’t know what to say. He was annoyed at this arrogant young man. Even if they had a painting to copy in front of them, many professional and famous painters here in the room wouldn’t even dare to claim that they could finish within forty minutes, not to mention doing so from memory. If Shi Lei was saying that he didn’t understand anything about drawing, then he really wasn’t afraid to say it.
At this time, Chen Yanü stepped forward and gestured “please.” She made a few gestures to Wei Xingyue, who whispered, “Sister Nü told you to follow her to the painting room. It’s noisy and inappropriate to paint here.”
Shi Lei nodded and walked toward the door.
Wei Xingyue clenched her teeth and thought that since they had already spoken, she just had to hope that Shi Lei was really certain. He didn’t need to paint too well, as long as it was similar in style and had a different structure from this one, then the professionals who attended the gathering today would be able to see the difference in the foundations of the paintings. When that time came, even if Shi Lei’s painting was the one that was not-so-amazing, he would be able to get out of it. After all, no one saw the real Buddha painting before and they were simply guessing.
“Please have patience. Whether Shi Lei is talking big or not, at least give him this forty minutes. As his friends, and as the person who invited him to this gathering, I’m willing to believe him. Of course, Shi Lei never learned how to draw and he has very shallow knowledge in the subject, so it’s inevitable for his artwork to be a joke. I hope that after he finishes his painting, everyone here can righteously judge whether his painting is indeed in Zhang Sengyou’s style and won’t dwell any further on this. Zhang Sengyou left the world a long time ago. Perhaps what he saw is just another version of the painting. No one really knows which copy can express Zhang Sengyou’s style more accurately.”
Everyone knew that Wei Xingyue was finding an excuse for Shi Lei, but she was still reasonable. The man surnamed Xu didn’t dare speak as everyone looked at Old Bai, waiting for his acknowledgement.
Old Bai pondered for a while before nodding. “What Xingyue said is somewhat reasonable. If Shi Lei’s painting is obviously different from this one in a structural aspect and we can see that his techniques resemble that of Zhang Shengyou’s, then we will pass him. As to the Buddha painting he saw and the one I have, there’s no need to think which one is closer to Zhang Sengyou’s original style. At least Shi Lei can provide me with another possibility to look into, and that’s an accomplishment.”
Since Old Bai spoke, everyone naturally agreed.
They began to play the waiting game. However, the atmosphere in the room was quite odd because no one believed that Shi Lei could paint something that would satisfy them. As for Old Bai, part of him found it unbelievable, but another part of him was looking forward to it.
Thirty minutes quickly passed and there was barely ten minutes left to the forty minutes that Shi Lei had requested.
These ten minutes were extremely long.
Everyone eventually heard footsteps and they all looked up in unison. The quick footsteps sounded like someone was running.
The door opened and Chen Yanü dashed out with extreme delight on her face. She waved her hands in the air. Her actions and expression were extremely exaggerated. The people were all shocked at the scene. Perhaps Shi Lei really did paint a different work of art? Perhaps the painting that Old Bai bought really was a random copy that someone drew?
Chen Yanü’s elegant and solemn image completely disappeared as she rushed next to Old Bai and continuously gestured with excitement on her face.
While everyone was guessing, Shi Lei also appeared, walking leisurely and confidently into the room with a two by one foot sheet of rice paper.
They could faintly see the vivid colors of the ink that had yet to dry.
Chapter 296 - Finishing the Painting In Half an Hour
Translator: Lav
Editor: Likia
The man surnamed Xu laughed loudly. “Hahaha! You really aren’t afraid of talking big. We have seen innumerable paintings and there are professionals present, such as these people here. They are all renowned painters in the country, but they don’t dare say that they can redraw something from what they saw when they were a child, not to mention Zhang Sengyou’s art, an antique from the Tang and Song Dynasties. Even if your family owns mountains of gold and rivers of silver, how is it possible for them to let a child play with such an amazing work of art?”
Everyone thought it was reasonable, but Shi Lei just casually replied, “What antique from the Tang and Song Dynasties? It’s just a painting of Buddha bought from the countryside and drawn by an old artisan there.”
His words caused another uproar. Old Bai sighed, shook his head, and looked at Wei Xingyue in complaint.
Wei Xingyue was as confused as the others. She looked at Shi Lei and thought: This guy has always been quite strange. Although he is occasionally reckless and perhaps not as well-educated as most, compared to these fuerdais, he is not someone to make irresponsible remarks.
Wei Xingyue composed herself and asked, “Are you sure you can repaint it?”
Shi Lei smiled. “I always used thin paper to trace it when I was bored as a child. Then I started using opaque paper and I could pretty much draw it, and I learned how to colour later. I really don’t know much about drawing and I can’t promise that I can draw other things, but if you are talking about this painting, then mine will definitely be closer to Zhang Sengyou’s style than this one.”
No one in the display room believed him. Old Bai only shook his head and sighed, giving Wei Xingyue a few looks. He was close to chasing Shi Lei out. The reason Shi Lei could finish his sentences was due to Old Bai’s generosity. If it was someone else, he probably wouldn’t be able to.
But Wei Xingyue suddenly smiled. She always had strange confidence in him. It was built on a foundation of her daily interactions with him. She believed that he definitely wasn’t someone who spoke without thinking.
“Everyone, Old Bai, I know that no one believes him and, to be honest, I don’t really either. But I have faith in my friend. Since he said this, I believe that he can show us a better version. Whether we believe it or not, we can find the answer after he draws. However, our time is limited and it’s unrealistic to draw the entire piece, so perhaps we can let Shi Lei draw the head and take a look at it. Everyone here has profound knowledge in art and should be able to see the quality of the painting. If we are lucky and Shi Lei’s painting is good enough for you all, then we can give him more time in the future to finish it.”
Her words were honest. After all, it was impossible to finish an entire colored painting within a short amount of time. Even Zhang Shengyou himself may have had to spend a few hours or even more to prepare and start painting. Although Shi Lei only needed to paint a head, it was more than enough to confirm the style and technique.
Old Bai gave Shi Lei a deep look and asked seriously, “Can you really?”
Shi Lei laughed, “Give me half an hour to forty minutes and I can finish the whole thing.”
Wow!
This attitude.
Wei Xingyue’s expression darkened again. I finally found a way for you get out of this. You only need to draw a little to make them ignore what just happened, yet you want to finish the entire painting within thirty to forty minutes?
Old Bai didn’t know what to say. He was annoyed at this arrogant young man. Even if they had a painting to copy in front of them, many professional and famous painters here in the room wouldn’t even dare to claim that they could finish within forty minutes, not to mention doing so from memory. If Shi Lei was saying that he didn’t understand anything about drawing, then he really wasn’t afraid to say it.
At this time, Chen Yanü stepped forward and gestured “please.” She made a few gestures to Wei Xingyue, who whispered, “Sister Nü told you to follow her to the painting room. It’s noisy and inappropriate to paint here.”
Shi Lei nodded and walked toward the door.
Wei Xingyue clenched her teeth and thought that since they had already spoken, she just had to hope that Shi Lei was really certain. He didn’t need to paint too well, as long as it was similar in style and had a different structure from this one, then the professionals who attended the gathering today would be able to see the difference in the foundations of the paintings. When that time came, even if Shi Lei’s painting was the one that was not-so-amazing, he would be able to get out of it. After all, no one saw the real Buddha painting before and they were simply guessing.
“Please have patience. Whether Shi Lei is talking big or not, at least give him this forty minutes. As his friends, and as the person who invited him to this gathering, I’m willing to believe him. Of course, Shi Lei never learned how to draw and he has very shallow knowledge in the subject, so it’s inevitable for his artwork to be a joke. I hope that after he finishes his painting, everyone here can righteously judge whether his painting is indeed in Zhang Sengyou’s style and won’t dwell any further on this. Zhang Sengyou left the world a long time ago. Perhaps what he saw is just another version of the painting. No one really knows which copy can express Zhang Sengyou’s style more accurately.”
Everyone knew that Wei Xingyue was finding an excuse for Shi Lei, but she was still reasonable. The man surnamed Xu didn’t dare speak as everyone looked at Old Bai, waiting for his acknowledgement.
Old Bai pondered for a while before nodding. “What Xingyue said is somewhat reasonable. If Shi Lei’s painting is obviously different from this one in a structural aspect and we can see that his techniques resemble that of Zhang Shengyou’s, then we will pass him. As to the Buddha painting he saw and the one I have, there’s no need to think which one is closer to Zhang Sengyou’s original style. At least Shi Lei can provide me with another possibility to look into, and that’s an accomplishment.”
Since Old Bai spoke, everyone naturally agreed.
They began to play the waiting game. However, the atmosphere in the room was quite odd because no one believed that Shi Lei could paint something that would satisfy them. As for Old Bai, part of him found it unbelievable, but another part of him was looking forward to it.
Thirty minutes quickly passed and there was barely ten minutes left to the forty minutes that Shi Lei had requested.
These ten minutes were extremely long.
Everyone eventually heard footsteps and they all looked up in unison. The quick footsteps sounded like someone was running.
The door opened and Chen Yanü dashed out with extreme delight on her face. She waved her hands in the air. Her actions and expression were extremely exaggerated. The people were all shocked at the scene. Perhaps Shi Lei really did paint a different work of art? Perhaps the painting that Old Bai bought really was a random copy that someone drew?
Chen Yanü’s elegant and solemn image completely disappeared as she rushed next to Old Bai and continuously gestured with excitement on her face.
While everyone was guessing, Shi Lei also appeared, walking leisurely and confidently into the room with a two by one foot sheet of rice paper.
They could faintly see the vivid colors of the ink that had yet to dry.
