Chapter 56: Master Ye’s Master (two in one)

As expected, Hu Xiuli was thinking about how to curry favor with the Wang family at the welcoming banquet.

Coincidentally, the master of traditional Chinese painting, Master Ye, was returning to the capital. As soon as the plane landed, Hu Xiuli impatiently brought him to the Rong family and said that she wanted to welcome him to the banquet.

“Master Ye, please have some tea.”

Rong Ruo placed her painting on the tea table in the living room in advance. Master Ye sat down and just as he raised his teacup, he noticed the painting on the corner of the tea table.

Seeing the painting, he quickly put down the teacup again and started admiring the painting. “Not bad, you’ve improved again.”

Hu Xiuli, who was pouring tea at the side, smiled. “Master Ye, you just got off the plane. Take a rest first and don’t be in a hurry to show her your paintings. Every time you help her with painting, you don’t charge a single cent. I’m really sorry.” She gave him a look. “Rong Ruo, hurry up and pour some tea for Master Ye.”

Rong Ruo made a gesture to pour the tea, but Master Ye quickly waved his hand. “As a person, once I see art, I won’t feel thirsty or hungry anymore. It’s easy to get a thousand gold coins, but it’s hard to get a talented pupil. Rong Ruo is the pupil I’m proudest of.”

He studied the mountains and rivers in the painting, stroking his beard, he clicked his tongue in praise. “The most important part of traditional Chinese painting is its life force and essence. The most amazing thing about Little Ruo’s painting is her essence. It’s simply vivid, but her life force is a bit lacking…”

Seeing Rong Ruo’s nervous expression, Master Ye smiled and said, “It’s alright, it’s alright. When women paint, their life force will be a little lacking compared to men. I’ll help you with it in a while.”

Hu Xiuli felt a little sad. “No wonder I’ve never seen a woman become a master of traditional Chinese painting.”

Master Ye put down the painting and said thoughtfully, “That’s not true. My master is a woman, but the life force in her painting is so strong that its better than mine even at my current level.”

Rong Ruo was extremely happy and said confidently, “As long as you give me more guidance, I believe that I can do it too.”

Master Ye smiled and stroked her head without saying anything. He was embarrassed to discourage his beloved pupil’s enthusiasm. After all, motivation was just as important as inspiration in art.

Seeing this, Hu Xiuli’s hope was ignited again. She knew that Rong Ruo had shown great talent in traditional Chinese painting for many years. She said, “Your master must be quite amazing, Master Ye.”

Thinking of his master’s short life, Master Ye nodded his head with some sadness, “Even though I said she was my master, she actually only taught me for a day. But with just one day of teaching, I have already achieved what I have today. You can imagine how talented my master was.”

After Master Ye left, Rong Ruo focused on modifying the painting. She was prepared to give it to Grandpa Bo after the changes were done. Anyway, Grandpa Bo did not know that this painting had been modified by Master Ye. He would think that it was done by her alone and would definitely praise her endlessly, perhaps… Even Bo Yunli would be impressed by her.

Just as she was thinking, Hu Xiuli came over with a tray of chestnuts and said gently, “Do you know why I am in such a hurry to invite Master Ye over?”

Rong Ruo ate one. “Of course, it’s to help me with the painting.”

Hu Xiuli used a piece of tissue to catch the seed that Rong Ruo spat out. “You’re half right. In a few days, Wang Dongqing’s grandfather will return to the country. Your grandfather wants you to treat this painting as a gift and present it to Grandfather Wang at the welcoming banquet.”

“Grandfather Wang?” Rong Ruo turned around. She was not happy. “This painting is for Grandfather Bo!”

Hu Xiuli’s tone was soothing. “My dear, this painting is for Grandfather Wang first. You can paint one for the Bo family later. Your father wants to work with the Wang family. Your grandfather heard that Grandfather Wang likes to paint too. This painting of yours is extremely important to continue our family’s business.”

Rong Ruo held the painting in her hands and was very reluctant to part with it. “Isn’t it enough for father to discuss business matters with President Wang?”

“Xiuli, this granddaughter of mine has really been spoiled rotten by you!” As an old man’s voice rang out, the servants lifted the curtains to the inner room. Rong Ruo’s grandfather, Rong Shengming, walked out of the inner room with his crutches.

Rong Shengming was different from Hu Xiuli. He had always been strict with his granddaughter. From the moment Rong Ruo was born, he had devoted all his efforts to nurture her. He had placed all the hopes of the Rong family on his granddaughter.

If one were to say that Rong Ruo talented and capable, it was because she had inherited all her skills from her grandfather.

Rong Ruo was most afraid of her grandfather. She held the painting in her hands and did not dare to say anything more.

Hu Xiuli advised, “Rong Ruo, listen to your grandfather. This time, we are competing with the Su family for business. If you don’t help, then Su Ye will mock you. On that day, both Master Ye and your grandfather will be there. I guarantee that you will be in the limelight at the welcoming banquet!”

Hu Xiuli understood her daughter very well. Her words pierced into Rong Ruo’s heart.

Rong Ruo’s eyes rolled around. She seemed to have thought of something and a scornful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. Then, she nodded in agreement.

Only then did Rong Shengming’s angry expression ease up. He had already inquired about it. Although President Wang was the chairman of the Wang Group, the real power was still in the hands of Grandfather Wang.

Speaking of Grandfather Wang’s preferences, once the man had competed with Grandfather Bo for a painting at an auction and lost bitterly. There was now a lot of animosity between the two.

Rong Shengming said shrewdly, “The Su family has the skills, and our family has the price advantage. Now it’s time to see who can please Grandfather Wang… Rong Ruo, focus on repainting your piece these few days. Don’t let Grandpa down.”

Rong Ruo’s painting was so good that even Master Ye couldn’t stop praising it, let alone Grandfather Wang.

Rong Shengming sneered. The outcome was obvious.

Back then, he was lucky enough to have the guidance of an expert to defeat Su Chenshuo. He didn’t think that Su Jinyang would still want to stir up trouble now.

Rong Shengming didn’t feel that he was in the wrong in the slightest. In any case, those who deserved to die were all dead. What happened back then was a done and dusted. No one would ever know the truth!

—

It was 8 AM the next morning.

It was time for the morning self-study session at Jingdou First High School.

Zhang Guangqiu stayed by the back door and quietly patrolled the classroom. The first thing he saw was Su Ye sitting in the last row.

Her back was straight and her posture was upright, which was a sharp contrast to all the other students who were hunched over their desks.

Zhang Guangqiu nodded. This child was worth teaching. He stretched out his neck to see if Su Ye was also reading or doing exercises.

But the next second, he was stunned!

Su Ye was not reading nor doing exercises! She was looking at her phone!

She did not try to hide what she was doing. She had put her phone on the phone stand and was looking at it brazenly.

Zhang Guangqiu could not bear it anymore and rushed into the classroom.

The boys in the back row, who were copying homework, saw the teacher suddenly rush in and were so scared that they almost died.

When they realized that their form teacher had gone straight to Su Ye, they let out a long sigh of relief. One by one, they opened up the closed homework again and sneakily glanced in Su Ye’s direction. It had been a long time since they saw her being scolded. They were so excited.

Su was not in a hurry. When she saw Zhang Guangqiu reach out his hand, she took out a brown paper bag from the desk drawer and stuffed it into his hand.

She said in a low voice, “This is the medicine I promised you yesterday. This is the amount for a week. From now on, come to me every Monday to get it. I will adjust the prescription as we go.”