Chapter 84: Guest Professor at Qing University
Sensing Xiao Bao’s accusing gaze, Jun Shiling glanced at the innocent Xia Wanyuan and snorted lightly.
“When are you going to stop having cavities so you can eat cake?”
“Hmph, bad Daddy,” Xiao Bao mumbled indignantly.
Jun Shiling stepped forward and picked up the little dumpling, “Go to sleep.” Xiao Bao struggled for a while with his short legs, but to no avail. He resigned himself to fate and leaned on Jun Shiling’s shoulder.
It was just that his thirsty gaze was fixed on the strawberry cake on the table, looking very pitiful.
Seeing Jun Shiling and Xiao Bao go up to the second floor, Xia Wanyuan guiltily took the remaining half of the cake on the table*. Mm, it was delicious.*
After eating, Xia Wanyuan returned to the bedroom.
That night, the faint smell of strawberries lingered at the tip of Jun Shiling’s nose, making him feel enticed.
Since Elder Zhong did not have to attend classes that weekend, he had agreed to meet Xia Wanyuan at home.
Xia Wanyuan went there earlier. There was still an hour before her appointment with Elder Zhong, so she spent her time strolling around the campus.
As she slowly walked down the sunny Ginkgo Road, Xia Wanyuan looked around. Suddenly, she was attracted by the words written by a teacher on the blackboard in a window.
Xia Wanyuan could not help but walk into the education block. The teachers in the classroom were probably preparing for class. They were lecturing in the empty classroom, occasionally writing a few words on the blackboard.
Xia Wanyuan stood quietly at the back door, listening to the teacher talk about literature and history.
Professor Zhang had a public lecture that was open to the entire country. He was preparing for the lesson seriously. Halfway through his passionate lecture, he suddenly noticed a person wearing a mask standing at the back door of the classroom.
“Student, what’s the matter?” Professor Zhang stopped his lecture and asked curiously.
“I was just passing by. I saw that you were lecturing well and wanted to learn from you,” Xia Wanyuan replied humbly.
“Then come in and sit.” Since this public lecture was going to be shared with everyone, Professor Zhang waved at Xia Wanyuan. Xia Wanyuan did not decline and entered the classroom to find a seat.
With the students sitting below, Professor Zhang spoke even more enthusiastically.
Furthermore, this student had somewhat exceeded Professor Zhang’s expectations. After listening to his class, she gave many constructive opinions. According to this student’s question, Professor Zhang revised his thesis.
“Which faculty are you from?” Professor Zhang did not expect that the students from other faculties had such high literary and art attainments.
“I’m not a student. I was just passing by.”
Professor Zhang was about to continue asking Xia Wanyuan questions when the teacher’s door was suddenly pushed open. “Professor Zhang, the school leaders ask you to go over immediately.”
Professor Zhang put down his speech and rushed to the school office. When he came back, the classroom was already empty.
When they arrived at Elder Zhong’s house, he had something on at the last minute and had not returned yet. Madam Zhong was waiting for Xia Wanyuan at home.
Madam Zhong was an extremely gentle woman. Xia Wanyuan had chatted with her very happily. Originally, Madam Zhong had received Xia Wanyuan at home because of Old Master Zhong’s instructions.
After drinking tea with Xia Wanyuan for a while, she fell in love with this obedient little girl in front of her.
“Old Zhong, let me tell you. I was in class just now. There was a young person who was really talented. It’s a pity that the leader suddenly looked for me. I forgot to ask for the young person’s name.”
“Don’t bother about that talented young person of yours for now. I’ll introduce you to a youngster later. That’s the real talent.”
After Elder Zhong was done with his work, he saw that it was already past the agreed time with Xia Wanyuan, so he rushed home. He did not expect to bump into Professor Zhang on the way home, so he brought him back.
“I think Old Zhong is back. Let’s go out and take a look.” Madam Zhong was chatting happily with Xia Wanyuan when Old Zhong’s hearty laughter came from outside.
“Sister-in-law, I’m here to freeload again.” Professor Zhang greeted Madam Zhong when he saw her.
“Huining, is friend Xia here?” Elder Zhong looked around but did not see Xia Wanyuan.
“Elder Zhong.” A slender figure walked out from behind the door. Xia Wanyuan appeared before everyone like a lotus.
The first thought that came to Professor Zhang’s mind was that he was shocked by the little girl’s appearance. When he recovered his senses and saw what she was wearing, he looked at her beautiful eyes again.
]You’re that student from the classroom just now?!” Professor Zhang exclaimed.
“Yes, hello.” Xia Wanyuan was also a little surprised. She did not expect to bump into the professor who had just given a lesson here.
“Old Zhang, the talented young person you mentioned just now was Xiao Xia?” Upon hearing Professor Zhang and Xia Wanyuan’s words, Old Zhong laughed. “What a coincidence. The youngster I’m going to introduce to you is also Xiao Xia.”
“Come, come, let me introduce you.” Elder Zhong pointed at Professor Zhang. “This is Professor Zhang, a core professor at the Arts department of Qing Dynasty.”
“Old Zhang, this Xiao Xia is the talented youngster I wanted to introduce to you.” Elder Zhong paused. “She’s the one who drew that boneless painting.”
Professor Zhang had seen all kinds of storms in his life, but this time, he was truly shocked.
In his view, it was impossible to draw that boneless painting to that extent without at least thirty to forty years of foundation. How old did Xia Wanyuan look? How could she draw such a painting?
However, Elder Zhong never lied. Just now in the classroom, Professor Zhang had also felt that the young woman in front of him had deep knowledge.
“The new generation really surpasses the old! I really didn’t expect that the person who drew that painting would be so young.”
The admiration Professor Zhang had for Xia Wanyuan was overflowing.
“In the previous Chinese Arts competition, your work won the championship.” Professor Zhang paused for a moment and looked at Xia Wanyuan regretfully. “Your standard is already high enough, but it’s a pity that your qualifications are too low. Otherwise, I would have directly agreed to let you go to that visiting professor from the Arts major.”
Elder Zhong admired Xia Wanyuan and thought for a while. “Old Zhang, why don’t we get Xiao Xia to send out some paintings anonymously first? When she becomes famous, we can recruit her to the Qing University. What do you think?”
Professor Zhang thought for a while and felt that Elder Zhong’s suggestion was feasible. “I’m going to the Painter Association in a few days. Let me bring a painting that you drew over.”
Elder Zhong had a complete set of ink and paper at home.
To the Eldest Princess of her previous life, playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all common occurrences. Hence, there was no need to prepare anything. Xia Wanyuan dipped a brush in ink and began to write on the paper, not even needing to draw a line.
He could tell that Xia Wanyuan wanted to draw a black bamboo.
The first move to draw the bamboo pole determined the layout of the scene. Xia Wanyuan used her brush to draw the bamboo pole straight and cleanly, without any pause.
Just by looking at the strength and posture of Xia Wanyuan’s strokes, Professor Zhang had already begun to nod repeatedly. From this small bamboo pole, he could already see Xia Wanyuan’s deep mastery in painting and calligraphy.
After Xia Wanyuan finished painting, Professor Zhang looked at the painting on the table with an excited expression.