Chapter Fifty-One: Sending Paintings

  Ye Zhenran shook his head and stopped worrying about the jade pendant. He took back the jade pendant that Hu Yaping returned to him, put it around his neck, and then heard Zhu Huajia ask again: "Ye Chang, how do you know Huang Yuwen? Are you old friends?"

  Ye Ziran smiled and said: "I just met Huang Yuwen this afternoon."

  Zhu said in surprise, "I saw you two coming in and laughing together, not like newly acquainted friends? Moreover, I'm not familiar with Huang Yuwen? She's always been cold towards boys..."

  Before he could finish, Huang Yuwen's face turned bright red, and Ye Ziran was also extremely embarrassed. Hu Yaping quickly interrupted Zhu: "Old Zhu, how can you talk like that? Ye Chang and Huang Yuwen met by chance, do you think only people who have known each other for many years can laugh and chat?"

  Zhu didn't say a word, just smiled and stared at the two faces, as if admiring a pair of precious jade artifacts. Huang Yuwen's face turned red, feeling uncomfortable under Zhu's gaze, and said irritably: "Teacher, aren't you specially painting two paintings for Ye Zhenran to give to him?"

  Zhu painter hehe smiled and jokingly said: "Indeed, female students are outgoing, just met Ye Chang for a moment, and they're already thinking of sending the teacher's things."

  As soon as this was said, Huang Yuwen became even more like a startled little deer, becoming restless. Ye Zhenran hurriedly helped her out of the situation: "Huang Yuwen is just joking, how could I dare to accept Zhu Huajia's gift?"

  Zhu finally put away his smiling face and said seriously, "Yue Chang, don't say anything else, my life was saved by you, and besides, you are the parent official of my hometown, relying on your care." He turned his head and said to Hu Yaping, "You go get those two new paintings."

  Ye Ziran stood up to decline, but Huang Yuwen looked at him and said: "Do you still need to be so polite with Teacher? My teacher rarely gives away his paintings easily. This was specially painted for you."

  Zhu nodded and said: "Exactly. Ye Chang, this is what I have in mind, don't say anything else for now, let's take a look at the painting together."

  Hu Yaping slowly unfolded two six-foot paintings on the carpet in the living room. The first painting depicted Donglin Temple at the foot of Xishan Mountain, with a waterfall cascading down from the top of the mountain and disappearing into the clouds; a stream flowed gently in front of the temple, where a monk stood quietly at the entrance, as if he had just finished his meditation. A few rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the walls and eaves of the temple's main hall, making the bright yellow temple appear even more majestic and sacred.

  Ye Zhenran had long known that Zhu's painting style was fresh and rigorous, with a high tone and grand momentum, and he was skilled at meticulous and colorful landscape paintings. At this moment, looking at this "Xishan Donglin Temple" painting, Ye felt an even deeper appreciation for Zhu's artistry. He could see that this painting had fully expressed Zhu's understanding of the art of calligraphy and painting, with the temple shining brightly in gold and jade, the mountains and rivers rendered in fine ink, and the entire painting executed with lively yet orderly brushstrokes.

  The details of the trees, streams, and temples on Xishan Mountain were layered and harmonious, with a profound sense of interest. Ye knew the value of this painting and felt a little uneasy when he thought that Zhu had intentionally given it to him as a gift.

  Huang Yuwen had looked at the painting several times before Ye Zhenran, but standing in front of it now, together with Zhu and Ye, she still felt her heart racing and her eyes widening. She gently swayed her fingers as if imitating the teacher's brushstrokes. Zhu said to Huang: "Yuwen, do you think the color used on the main hall is different from my usual style?"

  Huang Yuwen nodded and said, "Yes, teacher, your paintings are mostly distant mountains and near waters, with thick ink colors that can penetrate, but how does this painting have such varied colors yet combine them in an exceptionally perfect way?"

  Zhu, the painter, nodded in apparent appreciation of Huang Yuwen's gaze and said: "The most difficult part of landscape painting is capturing the 'spirit' of a single piece. You certainly understand that good paintings need to have just the right amount of white space to give people room for imagination. The combination of ink and color is the most important component of the overall work. This painting aims to convey the beauty of mountains and water, as well as the majesty of temples. Mountains are inherently solemn, temples are inherently majestic, and these two elements are connected through the flowing stream and the monks exiting the temple gates - two dynamic objects that bring movement to the stillness of the mountains and lightness to the heaviness of the temples. Through the sunlight shining down on the colors, from dark to light, the visual focus of the painting is drawn towards the empty space, relying entirely on the richness and subtlety of the ink and color."

  Huang Yuwen nodded frequently as she listened to his words.

  Zhu said to Ye Zhenran with a smile: "This painting took me ten days to complete, and it's one of my most satisfactory works."

  Ye Ziran said uncomfortably: "Zhu, this is too valuable, I'm afraid I can't accept it."

  Zhu the painter shook his head and said, "Yechang, don't be polite. This painting is a gift to you, and it's also where it belongs. I just hope you won't give it as a present to those high-ranking officials, degrading its character."

  "Alright, I won't see him off."

  The painter Zhu unfolded another painting, also a landscape. In the painting, a middle-aged man stood on the shore, his clothes fluttering in the wind, but he remained unmoved, looking up at the distance with an air of grandeur. In front of him was a winding river, and behind him were four or five large trees whose branches were bent down by the wind, their leaves rustling. The distant trees, grass, clouds, and gray sky merged into one, while on the opposite bank of the river were five or six small houses connected together. This painting's brushwork was different from that of "West Mountain East Forest Temple", with a light and elegant spirit, flat and smooth petals, and a delicate appearance. In this painting, Zhu used light ink to outline the branches, which intersected naturally and harmoniously. The leaves were rendered in thick, heavy ink, while the overall structure of the flowers, branches, and leaves was dense yet expansive. The brushstrokes were concise and powerful, with solid and empty spaces juxtaposed, giving the impression of a delicate flower that still retained its elegance despite being on the verge of wilting. The figure's painting style was also extremely simple, with only the person standing upright and unmoving amidst the wind-blown trees and clothes, his posture revealing his character. When Zhu gave this painting to Ye Zhen, was he praising his integrity and moral character? Or was he subtly expressing his hope that Ye could maintain his integrity in his official career, working for the benefit of the people, and keeping his backbone intact amidst the turmoil of politics?

  Ye Ziran was even more delighted with this painting, smiling and praising it repeatedly: "Good, good, this painting is too good."

  Huang Yuwen glanced at him and asked softly, "What's good about it?"

  Ye Ziran said: "The trees move, the flowers move, the clothes move, and the village relies on people's stillness." When he said this, Ye Ziran couldn't help but sigh: "The spirit is strong and powerful, a kind of spiritual temperament hits you in the face, famous paintings by famous artists are indeed extraordinary."

  Zhu the painter smiled and said: "This painting is also a gift to you, it's a blessing for the country to have another pillar, it's a fortune for the people, the road ahead is long and arduous."

  Ye Ziran was deeply moved after hearing this, his political ideal was to benefit the people and eliminate the many injustices in the world. Zhu Huaiyu used painting to convey meaning, obviously having high hopes for Ye Ziran who had saved his life.

  Huang Yuwen then praised him with a sentence: "Ye Zhenran, you passed the test."

  Hu Yaping watched with interest the interaction between Huang Yuwen and Ye Zhenran, thinking it was interesting. Usually, Huang Yuwen, in front of everyone, except for teachers, never showed courtesy to males, this time she broke her usual style, did it mean that this proud girl had feelings? She then quietly tested with language: "Huang Yuwen, you often say you want to go to Changsha to paint from life, coincidentally Ye is working in Changsha, later ask Ye for his phone number, and you can often go to Changsha."

  This sounds like there's a hidden meaning, how can it be said that "asking Ye Zhenran for a phone number is needed to go to Changjia frequently"? Does it mean that without his phone number, I won't be able to go to Changjia to write? Huang Yuwen sensitively sensed the intention behind this and replied: "Teacher's wife, I don't need Ye Zhenran's approval to go to Changjia."

  Hu Yaping smiled and said: "That's right, but since Ye Chang is working at Chang Jia, with him taking care of things, it's more convenient after all."

  Ye Ziran said, "Zhu Hua's family, Hu Ayi, you all call me Ye Chang, it feels a bit awkward to hear. From now on, just call me Xiao Ye." After pausing for a moment, he continued, "If Huang Yuwen goes to Chang Jia to paint from life, I'll be a good host, don't worry."

  Hu Yaping glanced at Huang Yuwen and nodded, saying: "Indeed, it's more intimate to call you Xiao Ye, like a family member. What do you think, Old Zhu?"

  Zhu the painter nodded in agreement: "Right, that's good. Calling you 'Ye Chang', we don't mind, but it would make Huang Yuwen feel inferior."

  Huang Yuwen's face turned red, she glared at Zhu the painter and said discontentedly: "No matter what you call him, it has nothing to do with me, don't use me as an excuse."

  Zhu smiled and ignored Huang Yuwen, asking Ye Zhenran: "Little Ye, do you have any official business this time in the provincial city?"

  Ye Ziran said: "There are both public and private matters."

  "What did he say?"

  Ye Ziran told Zhu, the painter: "The public matter is that the Mashan Economic Zone has set up an office in the provincial capital, located near J University. The office was established to attract investment and business for the economic zone, its function is to assist new businesses in their establishment, from name search, registration to successful registration and future tax returns, providing a one-stop service. Currently, the main target of our work are scientific and technological talents. In order to attract high-tech enterprises to settle in, we have formulated preferential tax policies. The economic zone offers tax incentives to reduce the local taxes of up to 40% for settled enterprises, which is a very favorable measure."

  Zhu said: "Alright, I know many people, if they have such intentions, I'll introduce you."

  "Thank you."

  Zhu smiled and said: "If I can really do something for my hometown, I'll be so happy that I won't have time to thank you. What's this private matter you're talking about?"

  Yeh Chien-ying replied: "I signed up for the September graduate school entrance exam for a major in economic management, and I'm hoping to use two years to recharge myself."

  "What about your job? Are you going to quit and study?"

  Ye Ziran said: "It's half-time off work. If I pass the exam, from now on, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I will spend three days reading books, and the rest of the time working in Mashixiang."

  Zhu nodded and said: "This arrangement is proper, neither work nor reading will be neglected. Moreover, this way you can come to my home often."

  Yezhen smiled and said: "I'm afraid of disturbing you often."

  Zhu waved his hand repeatedly: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."

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