The Forty-Ninth Chapter: People Like Paintings (Additional)

  On September 1, the provincial capital office of Mashixiang Economic Zone began to operate. The preliminary work mainly focused on advertising and publicity. Shen Rong led four employees of the office to print the tax preferential policies of the economic zone directly on business cards for widespread distribution. At the same time, a large number of posters and promotional materials were produced to expand the publicity. The investment promotion work of the economic zone started in the provincial capital. Ye Zhenran believed that this was like a small grass, which was currently slowly sprouting from the vast land of the provincial capital, putting on green clothes, but would eventually grow into a large area, as described by Li Houzhu of the Tang Dynasty, "Further and further, still growing".

  According to Ye Zhenran's previous request, the location of the office was near J University. Ye Zhenran felt that since the economic zone would focus on new technology-based enterprises, J University was a piece of fertile land waiting to be developed. As a graduate of J University, he knew best what had happened in the campus over the years. In recent years, many professors and lecturers he knew had either turned their research results into businesses or started their own companies, "entering the sea" one after another. Under the wave of reform and opening up, intellectuals realized that technology was productive force, and thus, technology-based enterprises sprouted up like a hundred flowers blooming together. Choosing J University as one of the venues for the economic zone's activities was Ye Zhenran's well-considered decision. He believed that setting up an office in J University would have twice the effect with half the effort, given its high reputation and rich human resources. By attracting talents from J University to start businesses in the economic zone, it would not only attract attention but also gradually produce a "butterfly effect", rapidly increasing the influence of the zone. Therefore, he required the economic zone to provide the most comprehensive services and preferential treatment to J University, making it a breakthrough point.

  The weather in September, the hot summer has passed, although Jiangnan is still hot and sultry, but compared to the scorching heat of July and August, it's much more pleasant.

  On September 2nd, Ye Zhenran took three graduate entrance exams in a row and didn't leave the examination room until 4 pm. Although his undergraduate major was computer science, he had a solid foundation in basic theoretical courses and made some preparations for the exam, so he felt confident that he could pass.

  After leaving the examination room, Ye Ziran walked aimlessly along the winding river in the campus towards the east. Zhang Nianyue had not arrived at school yet because there was still a week before the new semester started. Although she had asked him to pick her up at Jianan when he went to the provincial city for the graduate exam, he thought it was inappropriate and called her before leaving, asking her to stay with her parents in Jianan for a few more days. After all, there was still more than a week before school started, and if she followed him to J University so early, her parents would have their own thoughts about it. Nianyue initially refused on the phone but eventually listened to Ye Ziran's advice and stayed in Jianan. She probably realized that after the new semester started, they could see each other frequently, and if they upset her parents now, it might not be worth it.

  The campus has not changed much, the chrysanthemums along the riverbank are in full bloom, and the willow branches hang down to the ground. This scene is familiar to Ye Zhenyan, who had seen it for four years. Now, returning to his alma mater, the scenery remains the same, but people have changed. After graduating from university, classmates went their separate ways, and for more than two years, except for occasional phone calls, they basically had no contact with each other, forming a strong contrast with the vows made before graduation, which made Ye Zhenyan feel indignant. Ye Zhenyan walked along the riverbank to "White Bridge", seeing students in twos and threes on both sides of the bridge leisurely admiring the scenery.

  Here is the translation:

  This place is located in the central area of J University, it's the most lively place on campus. The south bank of the bridge is the library building, and the north bank is the famous "Love Corner" of J University - "Bell Tower". The library building and Bell Tower are separated by the White Bridge, each with a beautiful small square connecting to the White Bridge. In the eyes of students, the south side of the bridge is filled with the fragrance of books, while the north side is filled with the fragrance of love, and the White Bridge is the gathering point of two streams of people, just like a ribbon that perfectly combines the two normal states of university life.

  As he walked to the south side of the bridge, Ye Ziran unexpectedly saw his graduating classmate Kong Wei and two girls walking towards him with smiles.

  Before coming to the provincial capital, Ye Ziran and Kong Wei had a phone call and knew that he hadn't gone to work yet. Unexpectedly, they met here.

  "Kong Wei!" Ye Zhenran shouted loudly.

  Kong Wei exclaimed in surprise: "Ye Ziran!"

  The two of them quickened their pace for a few steps and warmly punched each other in greeting.

  Ye Ziran and Kong Wei were "sworn brothers" in college, with a very close relationship. Before graduation, both had the opportunity to stay at school as teachers, but Ye Ziran ultimately chose to participate in the open recruitment of grassroots cadres by the Organization Department of Jianan Municipal Committee and was assigned to work in Changjia. After they parted ways, they often kept in touch by phone and were familiar with each other's situations. When Kong Wei learned that Ye Ziran intended to pursue a master's degree at J University, he provided many study materials and information about various tutors.

  At this time, a girl next to Kong Wei walked over and called out: "Ye Zhenran, long time no see."

  It turned out to be Cai Xiaojuan, Kong Wei's girlfriend. She smiled and greeted her, saying: "Xiaojuan, you're getting prettier and prettier! How are you? When can we drink your wedding wine?"

  Cai Xiaochan is one year junior to Kong Wei, and they have been friends for many years. In college, they often watched movies, had meals, and played together with Ye Ziran and others, and were very familiar with each other. Hearing Ye Ziran's question, he replied: "Ye Ziran, didn't we agree before graduation? We several people will get married at the same time."

  Yezhen laughed and asked Kong Wei, "Does this still count? If it does, you two will have to wait patiently, my girlfriend hasn't met me yet."

  Cai Xiao-chang smiled and said, "This is easy, I have a beautiful lady by my side." She pointed to her companion with a smile, but before she could finish speaking, her companion quickly used the "Crab Claw Technique" to twist her waist. Cai Xiao-chang let out a loud cry and hastily said, "Image! Image! Huang Yu-wen classmate, please maintain your ladylike image."

  Kong Wei spoke up beside them, "You two, let me introduce you. This is Huang Yuwen, a talented young woman from J University, who graduated from the same class as Xiao Chang and our school's Academy of Fine Arts. She is now studying painting under Zhu Zhaoxi, a famous painter in our province."

  She was just laughing and joking with Cai Xiaoquan, but as soon as Kong Wei introduced her, she stopped and smiled at Ye Zhenran, nodding her head in a dignified manner. Ye Zhenran secretly sighed, knowing that this girl was not ordinary, not only beautiful, but also having an elegant demeanor, with an air of refinement that rivaled Nian Yue's.

  Kong Wei pointed at Ye Zhenran and introduced: "Huang Cai, this is my classmate Ye Zhenran. He is now the deputy head of Ma Shi Township in Chang Jia County. Can you smell a 'fragrance'?" Kong Wei chuckled and joked: "Deputy Head Ye is not simple anymore, his name has spread far and wide after he led the team to kill the 'Two Lis'."

  Huang Yuwen was unmoved when Kong Wei introduced Ye Zhenran's identity in the first half of the sentence, but when she heard the second half of the sentence, she was shocked. Her eyes, like a pair of scissors, immediately circled around Ye Zhenran's face twice and said: "You're that Ye Zhenran!"

  Ye Ziran nodded, seeing Huang Yuwen's two clear and bottomless gazes circling around his face twice, only to feel that her gaze had turned into some kind of substance, touching his face, even his skin seemed to be able to clearly feel the movement of her gaze.

  Kong Wei observed minutely, and upon seeing this, he pulled Cai Xiaojuan's hand and said to the two of them: "Ye Zhenran, Huang Caimei, I remembered that Xiaojuan's parents asked me to go once, let's leave first, you two chat for a while." After finishing speaking, he winked at Ye Zhenran.

  Ye Ziran: "......"

  It seems that the sentence "girlfriend has not met yet" made Kong Wei over-enthusiastic. This thing is messed up! Ye Zhenran self-deprecatingly said a sentence. For Kong Wei's enthusiasm, he could only be speechless. If Huang Yuwen becomes fake because of this, wouldn't it be chaotic? He was hesitant in his heart, but couldn't show it on his face, after all, Kong Wei's intention was for his own good, and he also had a good impression of Huang Yuwen, if he just walked away, it would be too embarrassing for her. So, he could only comfort himself in his heart, how could such a rich and talented beauty easily take a liking to him?

  Then, after Kong Wei and others walked a few steps away, Ye Zhenran smiled at Huang Yuwen and said: "Little Huang, let's go for a walk."

  Huang Yuwen was very calm and not afraid of strangers at all. She smiled and said, "Ye Chang, your name is as famous as thunder."

  Yezhen glanced at her and said, "Isn't that an exaggeration?"

  Huang Yuwen stood up straight and looked at him with a serious expression, saying: "It's true. My teacher Zhu has told me your story many times. He was an eyewitness to the event and was deeply moved."

  Ye Ziran murmured an "oh" and recalled that Zhu was her teacher, so she wasn't just being polite. However, the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Seeing the genuine respect in her bright eyes made his head spin, and he hastily changed the subject: "Being able to become Zhu's student, you're really lucky. I reckon that in a few years, China will have another great master of traditional Chinese painting, and she'll be a beautiful female artist. In Chinese history, beautiful female artists are always famous for centuries."

  Huang Yuwen's face turned slightly red as she said, "What artist? This is belittling me. I just want to be a painter and use my brush to paint the natural scenery that I see."

  Ye Ziran was a bit unpredictable, and it was unclear whether her words were self-deprecating or self-aggrandizing. The title of "artist" had indeed become somewhat tainted in recent years, with anyone who sang, acted, or had even a hint of fame calling themselves an "artist". He said: "Painters all have their own favorite animals and flowers, in the history of Chinese painting, Qi Baishi's shrimp, Xu Beihong's galloping horses are all famous, then there's Zhang Shanzi who calls himself a tiger fanatic, Zheng Banqiao who loves to paint bamboo, what does Xiao Huang want to use as the subject of his own paintings?"

  Huang Yuwen shook her head and said: "I'm still in the learning stage of painting, I haven't formed my own style yet, it's far from that realm."

  Yeziran said, "No, I've heard that these painters have been observing certain animals or landscapes with rapt attention since they started learning to paint, using their brushes to depict the details they observed, and only after a long time did they become experts in this area."

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