The Art of Teasing - Chapter 82

Chapter 82

After Old Master Qi listened to his young disciple explain the matter clearly, he was genuinely infuriated by these people.

He and Wen Ru had been old friends for decades, and he knew the Wen family's affairs inside out. This child had lost her mother before she was even born. Wen Shiyi, terrified of retaliation from the Lian family, had used their biological father-daughter blood tie as a talisman, keeping her by his side and refusing to let the Lian family take her away. He treated her as if she were someone else's child. It was old Mr. and Mrs. Wen who had raised her. Wen Ru was a sociable man who couldn't stay idle at home and loved to travel everywhere. His wife, growing old and her health gradually failing, could no longer manage the child, and she feared a nanny wouldn't provide proper care. So whenever Wen Ru went out, he took the child with him.

When Wen Ru first brought her out, she was only the size of a dumpling, fair and tender, her large, limpid eyes filled with curiosity about everything. If anyone went over to tease her, she would grin and smile as soon as they did, waving her little arms and legs, laughing until she drooled. If ever a day passed when Wen Ru didn't bring her along, and there was no child for everyone to dote on, they all felt something was missing.

When she learned to talk, she babbled and chirped along with them all day, and even imitated them picking up paintbrushes and grinding ink. Everyone loved to tease her—they'd give her a brush and let her paint. She would fiddle with the brush in her hands for a long time, eventually achieving a grip that was somewhat like, yet not quite, the correct way to hold it. She would crawl from one end of the painting table to the other, stopping only when she reached the ink dish. After dipping the brush in ink, she would point at the paper, asking someone to give it to her, and only then would she suspend her wrist and begin painting on it.

Even back then, he could see this child had some natural talent for painting. It was a pity, however—she was Wen Ru's granddaughter, and the old man wanted to teach her himself.

During gatherings, no one had much time to attend to the child, so they simply gave her brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and let her amuse herself. A child of barely two or three years old would stand on a chair, lift a brush, and paint by herself on the white paper spread across the table—painting chicks, painting birds. If no one disturbed her, she could quietly paint for an hour or two. When she grew tired of painting, she would sit on the chair to rest a while, then climb back up and paint again. This level of concentration made everyone treasure her all the more. Although Old Man Wen insisted on teaching her himself, that didn't stop everyone else from offering her pointers in their spare moments.

No one knew quite how the child learned, but her painting style gradually shifted toward meticulous Gongbi brushwork, and she was always tugging at him, insisting he teach her.

By the time she was four or five, when he visited Wen Ru's home and passed through the courtyard, he saw a painting table and chair set up there. This girl was standing on the chair, painting directly from life, facing a Qionghua tree in the yard. By then, her paintings already possessed a certain strength of form and structure, showing great promise. With such a fine seedling before him, he naturally wanted to take her as a disciple. He tentatively raised the matter with Wen Ru—after all, this child clearly showed more talent and interest in Gongbi painting than in freehand Xieyi. Wen Ru was very hesitant. He called the child over and asked if she was willing to take Grandpa Qi as her master, and then carefully explained to her the differences between Gongbi and Xieyi painting.

The child thought for a long time. When asked if she understood, she said she did, and then asked Wen Ru if she could take Grandpa Qi as her master.

And so the matter of apprenticeship was settled. He and Wen Ru chose an auspicious day, invited a group of close friends, and the child kowtowed, offered tea, and formally became his disciple—the youngest personal apprentice he would ever accept. After taking her on, he accepted no more personal apprentices.

She was just over four years old when she entered his tutelage. He taught her hand in hand—talent, skill, virtue, conduct, and how to navigate the world; he taught it all. This young disciple of his—one couldn't say he raised her, but one must say he taught her. Even Wen Ru couldn't deny that. Now, when people in the field mention Wen Zhengyu and Kunlun Art Studio, they all say that he, Qi Qianshu, taught a fine disciple. Among all his disciples, this youngest one had the finest character. He had brought her up both as a disciple and as a granddaughter. He understood her temperament better than even Wen Ru did. The conflicts between her and Wen Shiyi, matters difficult to tell Wen Ru, she would tell him. She would ask, "Master, is it wrong for me to be like this?" And she would also say, "Master, when I miss my mother, I really hate him."

Why Wen Shiyi fell, how he fell, how Ye Ling partnered with her to open the studio, and how Ye Ling, behind the scenes, helped her block all those unsavory characters—he had seen it all clearly. Whatever Ye Ling's motives might be, she had genuinely treated Wen Zhengyu well, without ever harming her. When Wen Shiyi fell, the grandfather and granddaughter emptied their family coffers to repay his debts. It was extremely hard for her to support the family. Ye Ling sought her out to buy antiques, and for that, she paid a commission.

Social courtesies, business dealings, friends helping each other out with small favors and looking after one another—none of this was out of line. And yet, for something so trifling, people from the Ye family had actually come to kidnap his young disciple. The kidnapping failed, the perpetrator was caught, and still the family came to threaten mutual destruction—fish dead, net broken.

Old Master Qi's fury surged upwards, impossible to suppress.

He knew his own disciple's capabilities well enough. And the root cause of this matter still lay with Ye Ling.

At the meal, he told Ye Ling that since they had already filed the report, they still had to await the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation results and evidence. If Ye Ling had any leads, she should submit them to the Commission. He had an old friend whose son worked at the Discipline Inspection Commission. If Ye Ling had any questions, she could consult him. He then gave her that person's phone number and contact information.

Ye Ling noted it down and, with deep gratitude, thanked Old Master Qi and the several other elderly masters present.

Wen Zhengyu knew her master's temper—usually, his words were gentle and his manner mild, but once his anger was roused, his rage was formidable. She truly feared her master might become ill from fury. After the meal, she accompanied her master home and then called Dr. Shen to examine old Mr. Qi. Aside from slightly elevated blood pressure—for which he prescribed some antihypertensive medication—there was nothing else wrong.

Wen Zhengyu said to Mr. Qi Qianshu, "At your advanced age, your health is paramount. If anger brings on some ailment, what good would that do?"

Mr. Qi Qianshu replied, "You said so much in front of us old fellows because you wanted us to help you take a stand, to help Ye Ling, isn't that right?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded and said, "There is that intention. She's been good to me, and I must acknowledge that kindness. Where I can lend a hand, I will. Also, I've heard about this family from my second aunt. They aren't the type to know restraint or to back down. If this matter could be resolved amicably, I'd certainly prefer that, but they simply aren't the kind of people with whom things can be resolved amicably. They might even think I'm afraid, that I'm easy to bully, and become even more aggressive. Although my family has fallen, I cannot fall as a person. Besides, I still have relatives and my master protecting me."

Qi Qianshu asked, "Aren't you afraid they're capable of anything?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "I am afraid, but I still won't compromise with such petty villains. You taught me, 'Without a backbone of steel, one cannot stand firm.' I remember it all." She paused, then continued, "Even if no one steps forward on my behalf, I won't bow my head in this. It's not right, and one shouldn't conduct oneself that way. Ye Ling has helped me so much. If, in her time of trouble, I retreat out of fear, I wouldn't be able to hold my head up in life ever again."

Qi Qianshu nodded and said, "That is the principle: true friendship is tested in adversity. Those who call you brother in good times but scatter like birds and beasts when trouble comes are fair-weather friends. Better to part ways early."

Wen Zhengyu chatted with Mr. Qi Qianshu for a while longer. Seeing that his spirits were still good and he hadn't been angered into illness, she finally felt at ease.

The old master had a chess appointment and needed to go out.

After leaving her master's house, Wen Zhengyu got into her car and reported the day's events to everyone in the family group chat.

Lian Xin sent a voice message: "I've already heard about today's events from Lian Xi. Yu'er, talk to your second aunt about this matter."

Wen Zhengyu agreed.

When she arrived home, Madam Wen Shishu was busy adding items to old Mr. Wen's storeroom collection.

She went over to help Madam Wen Shishu organize things, and at the same time, told her about how Second Brother Ye had come to cause trouble at her studio.

Madam Wen Shishu, exasperated, raised a finger and poked Wen Zhengyu's forehead. "You still want to get involved in Ye Ling's family affairs?"

Wen Zhengyu hugged Wen Shishu's arm and said gloomily, "Under normal circumstances, Second Brother Ye should be coming to apologize and resolve the conflict, not acting like this. I can't go around with two carloads of bodyguards following me all the time—I can't afford it. Running a small business with that many bodyguards is also ridiculous."

Wen Shishu asked, "Tell me honestly, setting aside the disgusting, underhanded behavior of the Ye family's second branch, does this have anything to do with Ye Ling?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "It does. She treats me very well, and I'm quite fond of her too."

Wen Shishu was so irritated her teeth itched. She exclaimed, "No help. Refuse."

Wen Zhengyu said, "Fine. Then I'll withdraw the bodyguards Ye Ling lent me soon, and return the bodyguards Grandmother sent as well."

Wen Shishu grabbed Wen Zhengyu and pulled her back, then rapped her knuckles sharply on her forehead. "You're even threatening me now."

Wen Zhengyu rubbed her forehead where Wen Shishu had painfully struck her. "There are only ever thousand-day thieves, never thousand-day guards."

Wen Shishu said, "Ye Ling."

Wen Zhengyu understood that her second aunt truly disapproved of her being involved with Ye Ling. If her second aunt was unwilling to help Ye Ling, she couldn't shamelessly insist. She bowed her head and continued helping the old master organize his storeroom.

Wen Shishu asked, "What's so good about Ye Ling?"

Wen Zhengyu felt a bit unhappy. She originally didn't want to respond to her second aunt, but after thinking it over, she still replied, "When I'm with her, I don't feel intruded upon, nor do I feel that aside from painting, there's nothing else in life worth being interested in. She's a very fine and very interesting person." She was silent for a moment, then said, "This matter isn't just about helping her. It's also because the trouble has found its way to me. And furthermore, she has helped me—I can't just sit back and do nothing. As for you not liking me being with her... honestly, Grandmother doesn't like it either."

Wen Shishu's eyebrows arched. She asked, "So after the debt of gratitude is repaid, you'll part ways?"

Wen Zhengyu hesitated slightly, then said, "To be honest with you, asking me to develop something deeper with her—I can't quite bring myself to agree yet. I feel it hasn't reached that point. But asking me to stop seeing her, to refuse her... I can't bear to do that either. It would hurt a bit. But if you want to use this matter to make me cut ties with Ye Ling—give up on that idea. I won't do it."

Wen Shishu raised her finger and pinched Wen Zhengyu's ear, saying, "So stubborn with me."

Wen Zhengyu said, "Even if you pinch my ear off, I still won't do it."

Wen Shishu, gritting her teeth, exclaimed, "Don't you believe I might turn around and help the second branch deal with her?"

Wen Zhengyu wasn't swayed by Wen Shishu's threat. "With people that disgusting—if you're not afraid of getting yourself covered in filth and stench, go right ahead and help them."

Wen Shishu was so angry her liver ached.

Wen Zhengyu then wrapped her arms around Wen Shishu's arm coaxingly, calling "Second Aunt" in a drawn-out, wheedling tone.

Wen Shishu, utterly exasperated by her, sighed and said, "This matter isn't something you can meddle in, so stop blindly stirring the pot. The matter ends here, as far as you're concerned. As for other things, someone will naturally take care of them."

Wen Zhengyu looked at her second aunt, her curiosity piqued.

Wen Shishu said, "Your former uncle-in-law is just waiting for Third Brother Ye to vacate his position so he can install his own people." She raised a finger and poked Wen Zhengyu's forehead forcefully, saying, "It has absolutely nothing to do with you, yet you insist on jumping in. Alright. Tell Lian Xin and Lian Xi—if they dig up anything valuable from Ye Che and Second Brother Ye, let me know, and I'll pass it up the chain."

Wen Zhengyu caught the implication and asked, "Not through Ye Zhan?"

Wen Shishu glanced at Wen Zhengyu, clearly annoyed. "Ye Zhan isn't anyone to you. If it went through Ye Zhan, you wouldn't need to come to me. Those two siblings will absolutely spare no effort on this matter." She lowered her voice and said, "If this is handled well, once the position is vacant, your elder cousin can move up accordingly. Considering his age and rank, if he can take this step, his prospects will improve significantly." She gave a light snort and cast a sidelong glance at Wen Zhengyu. "So here I am, putting effort into this matter, and I'll still end up owing Lian Xin a favor. I was hoping to wait and see if I could pick up some advantage from the sidelines, but you just had to drag me into the water first." She added to Wen Zhengyu, "Don't get involved in this anymore. Your paltry abilities—someone could sell you, and you'd still help them count the money. This time, Lian Xin and Ye Ling will handle the matter and come away with full pockets. Only you—nearly throwing your little life away. Foolish child, you."

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