As someone carefully nurtured and educated by the Zheng Clan, she naturally knew about the four arts of chess, zither, calligraphy, and painting. Even if she was sold to a brothel, she would be able to stand her ground against those top-rated courtesans. Hence, this painting by Sun Mo instantly subdued Dong He.
Ding!
Favorable impression from Dong He +100. Friendly (250/1,000).
“So, my new master is so impressive?”
Dong He’s agitated heart pounded rapidly. Just with the painting skill that was at the ‘Wondrous Blossom’ level, her new master would be able to easily become the valued guest of those high officials and powerful people. That was right, Old Master Zheng loved paintings and calligraphies. Her new master must have definitely caused her old master to admire him due to his painting skill, right?
Dong He felt that she had found the crux.
But in truth, be it writing a book or his painting skill, these were just the tip of the iceberg behind why Sun Mo would be so highly regarded by Zheng Qingfang. The true reason why the ex-prime minister, which had served two dynasties, regarded Sun Mo so highly and treated him as an equal was due to his performance in his occupation as a teacher.
For a person like Zheng Qingfang, he would ‘categorize’ his friends.
There were friends who shared the same interests as him, comrades who were like-minded, and also people like Sun Mo who were overflowing with talent, impressing him with their capabilities and becoming his friend.
Zheng Qingfang had never treated Sun Mo as a junior.
Other than admiring his talent, what he was doing was also considered an investment. If Sun Mo became a 5-star great teacher in the future or even a secondary saint, he would prove to be of great aid to his clan.
As spirit qi gathered on the paper, the [A Walk in Early Spring] immediately became brightly colored, becoming extremely gorgeous. Soft, tender green stalks of grass, various-colored horses, the reflection of the sunlight from the beautiful streams…this painting suddenly looked ‘alive’. “Awesome!”
Gu Xiuxun sighed in admiration.
This was the first time she saw the birth of a famous painting. No, more accurately, only an extremely few people were fortunate enough to witness such a scene.
The Wondrous Blossom Realm could be divided into three grades The third-grade, when spirit qi existed, the painting would no longer be black and white. It would become like reality, displaying an intense atmosphere.
Those who saw it would involuntarily stop walking and focus on it.
The second grade would cause the admirers of the painting to be influenced by its artistic conception. They might lose control of their emotions and become crazy fans of the painting, wanting to possess it for themselves. There was no need to mention anything about the first-grade. That was already the territory of a Saint Artist.
Sun Mo’s painting was clearly at the third-grade, but it was already considered extremely impressive. One must know Sun Mo’s current age.
He was only twenty!
In the entire Tang Country, most probably, none of his peers could stand equal to him.
Ding!
Favorable impression points from Gu Xiuxun +100. Friendly (710/1,000).
Wonderful!
Wonderful!
Wonderful!
Zhang Qingfang applauded as his eyes turned wet.
Zheng Qingfang’s shock was different from Dong He and Gu Xiuxun’s because he had seen Sun Mo’s painting skills twice. Hence, he didn’t feel surprised by Sun Mo’s performance. What shocked him was the meaningful content of this painting!
This was a painting that depicted the denunciation and life of the lower-class people!
Going for a walk in spring, flying a kite, fishing from streams, singing folk songs…
They should originally be youths playing happily. But when one took a closer look, they would see that these children were slaves and had worked hard. They had no joy in their lives, only fatigue.
The great disparity in social class hit Zheng Qingfang directly in his face, assaulting his senses.
Although this was a walk in spring, happiness only belonged to higher-class people! This painting of Sun Mo had an ingenious concept. People who were clearly descendants of wealthy clans occupied the majority of the painting
Their laughter and idleness could be seen by the painting admirers with a single glance. They would also be influenced by the scene and feel as though that had happened to themselves, or they would thirst for such a lifestyle, recalling their playful childhood time.
At this moment, the emotions of the painting admirers would be one of joy.
But as they looked at the painting deeper… when their eyes glanced toward the corners, and the children slaves entered their vision, they would suddenly feel uncomfortable.
Ordinary people might not sense anything, but Zheng Qingfang was a major official who once ruled over an area. People like him could experience the disparity between the different social classes the most.
Sun Mo put away his brush. He then took a few steps back to admire his painting. After that, his lips twitched.
“What? You have reached the Wondrous Blossoms Realm, yet you are still not satisfied?”
Gu Xiuxun teased.
“The quality of the scenery is too inferior!”
Sun Mo shook his head.
Gu Xiuxun clenched her dainty fists, wanting to beat Sun Mo on the head. (You’ve done something impressive, yet you are pretending that it was insignificant!)
“Old Master!”
Dong He cried in shock because she discovered Zheng Qingfang was currently wiping away his tears. This caused her to immediately feel terrified.
“Uncle Zheng?”
Sun Mo also jumped in fright. “I’m fine!” Zhang Qingfang cupped his fist. There was an ashamed look on his face as he dipped into a slight bow before Sun Mo. “Not being able to let the commoners lead a good life is truly my dereliction of duty as the Prime Minister!”
Zheng Qingfang’s words were filled with lament, colored deeply with the pain in his heart.
“Prime Minister Zheng!”
Gu Xiuxun was also shocked. (Isn’t this simply a picture of people enjoying life? Why do you have to be so agitated? As expected, the thought processes of people who had been officials are different from others!)
No, it wasn’t that their thought processes were different. It was their horizons.
“Uncle Zheng, I casually drew this. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Sun Mo hurriedly stepped aside, not daring to accept the bow. At the same time, he suddenly felt some regret.
Honestly speaking, Sun Mo was smacking Zheng Qingfang’s face by doing this. One must know that Zheng Qingfang was the Prime Minister of two generations. Now, by drawing the suffering of the lower-class people in a painting, wasn’t that saying that Zheng Qingfang had been neglecting his job while holding a high office? Fortunately, Zheng Qingfang’s heart state was great. If it was another high official here, even if they didn’t say something like ‘How dare you insinuate that the officials are not doing their jobs! Men, drag him off to be beheaded!’, they would surely flog the artist! “Hehe!” Zheng Qingfang smiled and patted Sun Mo’s shoulder. On the contrary, he admired Sun Mo even more now.
If Sun Mo only wanted to show off his skill, he would at most be a talented young man. However, he drew this with the concept of ‘dawn’ for the common people. The artistic mood of this painting instantly elevated, becoming high-end and classy!
Given the brilliance of the current emperor, Zheng Qingfang believed that if Sun Mo sent this famous painting over, the emperor would surely reward him by making him a county magistrate, allowing him to fulfill his ambitions and wishes for the common people.
“What a pity!”
Zheng Qingfeng suddenly felt a little regret. If Sun Mo wasn’t a teacher and was an official instead, he would definitely become an important one that would benefit the common people!
Ding!
Favorable impression points from Zheng Qingfang +1,000. Reverence (1,440/10,000).
Upon hearing the notification, Sun Mo’s lips twitched. Wasn’t the number a little too high?
“Zheng Qingfang was the prime minister. This painting of yours has touched him too deeply on an emotional level!”
The system sighed ruefully.
It didn’t expect Sun Mo to have drawn three paintings, and all three were considered famous paintings. This talent was truly second to none.
The system gave Sun Mo the skill, but as to how he would use it or whether he was able to unleash the skill’s potential to the limit, everything solely depended on Sun Mo.
The past examples all proved that Sun Mo truly had great talent!
It was like when one cast his ultimate when playing a game. Some would carry the entire game by using the ultimate appropriately, while others would simply waste it!
“Uncle Zheng!”
Sun Mo felt very awkward. “It’s fine!”
Zheng Qingfang walked toward the painting. He wanted to touch it but was afraid that he would damage it. After he admired it for one round, he couldn’t help but ask, “Sun Mo, I wonder if you are willing to part with this?”
Zheng Qingfang also knew that his request was very excessive because this was a famous painting. In addition, the creative concept within was so intense. This could absolutely be a family heirloom.
However, he really couldn’t bear it.
He wanted to hang this painting in his study to remind him and his sons constantly that the main purpose of becoming an official was to benefit the common people!
“I’ve already decided that this painting is to be given to you. If you don’t dislike it, please feel free to take it!”
Sun Mo smiled. Being able to influence a major character like Zheng Qingfang with a painting was also not bad. One must know that these people were the ones who determined national policies. They could affect the way a country was operated.
Leaving aside other stuff, just a tax cut would allow everyone to have some more money in their pockets. They would be able to put more meat on the table for their families then.
Gu Xiuxun was an intelligent woman and also knew of Zheng Qingfang’s identity. When she started to ponder about the reason why this major character was so emotionally moved, she soon discovered the roots of it.
A moment later, she felt an additional hint of admiration toward Sun Mo, as well as disappointment in herself.
Originally, Gu Xiuxun felt that she wasn’t too inferior compared to Sun Mo be it when comparing great teacher halos, teaching capabilities, or cultivation base. But now, there was a disparity in terms of their thinking.
Although Gu Xiuxun originated from an ordinary family, she had never thought of their difficulties before. She only thought about becoming a great teacher so she didn’t need to lead a life of suffering any longer. Ding! Favorable impression points from Gu Xiuxun +200. Friendly (910/1,000).
un
Zheng Qingfang brought the [A Walk in Early Spring) away and left satisfied.
“You don’t have to send me off. I know you are very busy!”
Zheng Qingfang felt a little embarrassed that he kept using the same method. This wasn’t too good, right?
In the recent half-a-year, he had obtained three famous paintings from Sun Mo. This caused the number of art pieces in his private collection to increase, and the quality was higher as well.
(Mn, I have to find a chance to show off to those old friends of mine!)
Xia He had sat in the carriage for a while and could now look at Dong He who was standing beside Sun Mo. A mocking smile appeared on her face. (What a silly lass, from today onward, our lives would start to have a great disparity. You, will have to look up to me in the future!) In the Zheng Clan, both of them were partners as well as competitors who fought evenly. But now, the answer was revealed.
Zheng Qingfang looked at Xia He gazing out of the window, and he involuntarily said, “Xia He!”
“Old Master!”
Xia He responded. She began to move closer and knead his legs for him.
“There’s no need.”
Zheng Qingfang waved his hand and indicated Xia He to sit properly. “Do you feel that Dong He was very stupid?”.
“This slave doesn’t dare!”
Xia He’s countenance changed. If it wasn’t for the space in the carriage being too narrow, she would have knelt.
“From your daily performances, I’ve always thought you are somewhat more intelligent than Dong He. But I didn’t expect Dong He to make me see her in a new light today.”
Zheng Qingfang suddenly felt some regret. It wouldn’t have been bad to give a woman with far-sighted vision like Dong He to his eldest son as a concubine.
After all, not any woman could be a concubine to a character like Zheng Qingfang’s eldest son.
What was lacking the most in this world?
Talent!
Xia He’s lips twitched. Sparkling tears could be seen in her eyes. She was unconvinced. (Why did the Old Master say that Dong He is better than me? Just because she had chosen Sun Mo?)
“Sun Mo might be able to become a secondary saint one day!”
Zheng Qingfang sighed with emotions.
“Se..secondary saint?” Xia He felt that her old master was spouting nonsense. How many secondary saints were there in the Nine Provinces? What capabilities did that Sun Mo have? But after that, she suddenly frowned because it was very rare for her old master to speak without thinking.
“There are some people whose entire lives change because of one decision they made!” After Zheng Qingfang cast a deep glance at Xia He, he hugged the [A Walk In Spring) and closed his eyes to rest. (Xia He, you completely have no idea what you just missed out on.)
(I can be sure that you will surely regret it in the future.)
Dong He stood beside Sun Mo and watched the carriage leaving. She felt a sense of relaxation like a fish that had leaped out of the vast sea.
(Xia He, I will definitely live a better life than you!)
Dong He clenched her fists. “Master, the wind outside is cold. Should we return?”
