People who have never lifted a brush to write large characters will never know just how difficult it is to keep the wrist steady when lifting the brush.
Wrist strength is the most fundamental basic skill.
Due to inherent differences between men and women, at first glance of Bailian’s writing, Qiu Xuezheng thought it was a male student’s handwriting.
This shows just how powerful Bailian’s brush strength is. But now, as Qiu Xuezheng watched Bailian remove this egg-sized piece of metal and calmly set it aside, for the first time he felt the urge to curse!
He was not Chen Ju, had no dealings with iridium, and did not recognize this silvery white metal. He could only guess it was made of iron or some alloy. Judging by its egg size, it had to weigh over half a jin. The thought of half a jin already made him begin to doubt life itself.
“No, what you have here…” Unable to restrain himself, Qiu Xuezheng opened his mouth, “You’ve been holding on to half a jin of iron…”
As he spoke, he reached for the iridium Bailian had set aside, wanting to weigh it in his hand. But the moment he picked it up, the latter half of Qiu Xuezheng’s sentence trailed off.
“Student Bai, how heavy is this?” Unable to estimate the weight, Qiu Xuezheng tilted his head and asked, almost expressionless.
After putting away her iridium, Bailian lifted her brush again. Hearing his question, she slightly tilted her head and lazily replied, “Just two jin.”
“J-just two jin?” Qiu Xuezheng found it unbelievable.
Did she understand what she was saying?
“Yeah,” Bailian dipped her brush in ink. Seeing Qiu Xuezheng’s hesitant look, she raised a brow, “Is there a problem?”
Qiu Xuezheng gazed at Bailian’s breezy and somewhat tranquil face.
How could she state this so calmly?
“The best way to practice your wrist strength is by hanging a sandbag and doing balancing exercises every day. But very few can actually do it. As far as I know, even Xie Jinyun can only manage to practice calligraphy while carrying one jin of weight. Yet even this much makes him extremely outstanding. And that’s just one jin that he doesn’t carry all day long like you do. Student Bai…what you…”
Before meeting Bailian, Qiu Xuezheng had only heard of a few people at the Calligraphers Association who practiced calligraphy this old-fashioned way.
The current Head of the Association was one of them.
Every person capable of suspending heavy weights while practicing could leave a brilliant mark in calligraphy history. But only those few grandmasters did such practice.
Yet Qiu Xuezheng never expected that he would encounter someone practicing calligraphy with weights even here in Xiangcheng.
And two jin at that!
As he looked at Bailian, the eagerness and anticipation in Qiu Xuezheng’s eyes were obvious.
For this Lanting Caligraphy Competition, their Xiangcheng would surely…have a place on the roster.
“I see,” listening to Qiu Xuezheng’s explanation, Bailian gave a faint smile.
Two jin?
Bailian did not understand why Qiu Xuezheng was so shocked. Wasn’t this how everyone practiced calligraphy before? Those who practiced martial arts carried far heavier sandbags than her. Two jin was the starting weight when she first began practicing.
It was extremely common for martial artists to endure bitterness.
She had just gotten used to this body, thus only used two jin for now.
In the past, her teacher wanted to temper her patience and had her carry one jin of weight since she was six years old. By seven it became two jin!
Later on, the amount of weight she could hold with one hand grew exponentially.
So this current two jin was merely the start; she was still far from her peak…
She truly did not feel it was all that heavy.
As Bailian thought this, she lifted her brush and wrote down another “Xiang” character.
Unconstrained by the iridium, her strokes flowed swiftly as if gliding effortlessly across the paper. An airborne, dancing “Xiang” emerged before her eyes. She favored the hidden and restrained, yet it seemed as if thunder rumbled within that lone character, fury on the verge of eruption.
Qiu Xuezheng quickly grabbed the paper to take a closer look.
Then carefully blew on the ink until dry.
“Teacher Qiu,” Bailian placed her wolf hair brush into the water basin to rinse it clean before setting it aside. Only then did she pick up her iridium and languidly put it back on as she lowered her eyes, “Do you think this would be enough to win second prize?”
She was unclear just how advanced people’s research into calligraphy was nowadays. Her wrist strength also had yet to recover to its peak.
“Forget second prize,” said Qiu Xuezheng, carefully putting aside the paper with flashing eyes looking at Bailian, “I feel you might even have a chance at first prize this time! I’m rather looking forward to the judging for this Lanting Competition!”
The calligraphy world placed great importance on the Lanting Competition that was held once every three years. Early predictions had long been made about who would win first prize.
Especially regarding the contention between Xie Jinyun and Xu Yajun.
But Qiu Xuezheng felt there was a high probability…
That Bailian could pull off a major upset to become the dark horse6 of this Lanting Competition!
Qiu Xuezheng took a pile of xuan paper and carefully packaged up his beloved wolf hair brush that he had cherished for many years before forcibly stuffing them into Bailian’s hands.
“Teacher Qiu, for me to write…” Bailian held a pile of paper and was shoved a wolf hair brush.
She wanted to tell Qiu Xuezheng there was no need for such a brush.
But he completely ignored her words. “Go on home first to practice diligently. Show your best form. I’ll ask the school for your leave of absence. Alright, I should go appreciate your writing instead of sending you downstairs.”
After seeing Bailian out, afraid she might want to return the xuan paper and wolf hair brush, Qiu Xuezheng even made sure to lock the door.
Bailian stood outside carrying her backpack and holding the writing supplies, staring blankly at the door for a good while before heading downstairs.
Downstairs,
Qiu Boqing sat by the sofa, softly speaking to someone on his phone while occasionally darting his eyes towards Bailian coming down the stairs, then swiftly shifting his gaze away.
He held absolutely no goodwill towards the type to curry fame.
After Bailian left, he hung up the phone and went upstairs to find Qiu Xuezheng.
“Grandpa, you still have to give me a reason?” he stood outside the study, not stepping in, “A person who hasn’t even taken the Level 9 test, don’t you think it’s just messing around?”
Qiu Xuezheng stood in the doorway. Looking at Qiu Boqing, he said, “Don’t assess someone on certificates. You can take a look at her writing first…”
“Yet all we do is assess certificates,” Qiu Boqing cut him off. “Didn’t you accept your female apprentice after seeing her six level certificate at just nine years old? She’s acceptable, but not Wan Xuan?”
Qiu Xuezheng had no rebuttal against this fact.
Because it was true. It was an era that only valued certificates nowadays. No matter where you went, your profile would list what certificates you held and your scores. With certificates you could go anywhere under heaven11.
Before meeting Bailian, Qiu Xuezheng actually thought this way too.
But unlike Qiu Boqing, he had experienced times when certificates were unnecessary.
“There’s no need for you to keep speaking up for Wan Xuan,” Qiu Xuezheng shook his head slightly. “I’ve already signed Balian up. She will participate in this Lanting trip to Jiangjing together with all of you in a couple days.”
** Not far away from the Qiu residence on the main road, Jiang Fuli and Jiang He were still waiting for Bailian.
With Ming Donghan not present, Jiang Fuli drove. He sat in the driver’s seat and caught sight of Bailian carrying a pile of paper, looking slightly astonished, “Why so much xuan paper?”
He recognized the quality with a single glance.
“Teacher Qiu gave me them to practice with,” said Bailian sitting down beside Jiang He, putting her brush case into her bag. With too much paper to hold, she simply hugged them in her arms.
One hand holding paper and the other lazily propped against the car window with a sliver of red faintly revealed, a strange allure seemed to emanate from her.
“Practice?” Jiang Fuli saw she was seated and started the car.
Bailian did not hide the facts at all. Resting her chin atop the xuan paper, she said, “Practicing regular script to participate in the Lanting Competition.”
With one hand on the steering wheel, Jiang Fuli seemed to pause briefly at her words, “The Lanting Competition? This Tuesday, you’re going to Jiangjing?”
“Mm, probably,” came Bailian’s lackadaisical voice. “Staying two days.”
“Not spending more days touring Jiangjing?” Jiang Fuli appeared to make a suggestion as he slowly pulled away from the curb.
Spend more days playing?
“I’ll still need to come back for class.”
That did seem like something she would do. Jiang Fuli quietly glimpsed the rearview mirror.
The car stopped at the Qingshui Street intersection.
Close to six o’clock, as usual Jiang He still accompanied Bailian home. Before they exited, Jiang Fuli rapped his knuckles on the back of Jiang He’s head, lightly warning him, “Don’t stir up trouble.”
He would still go check on the lab every day.
Today was no exception.
The sky was still bright out.
Carrying a black backpack while hugging a pile of xuan paper and dressed in a thin white jacket with intricate beading fluttering softly in the wind along the hemline, Bailian stood at the Qingshui Street intersection. “Don’t worry, go on ahead first.”
Jiang Fuli stood in place watching Bailian, her slender figure as luminous as the moon.
Some people who wanted to chat with her did not dare approach.
Especially Mao Kun squatting not far away. He originally wanted to look for Bailian but now only crouched lower at sight of Jiang Fuli.
“Go on,” Bailian smiled. “I’ll watch until you leave.”
Jiang Fuli gave an “Mm,” got back into the driver’s seat, and drove off. When he turned the corner, he glanced at the rearview mirror. Bailian still lingered lazily, seeing off the car.
Only after the black car disappeared from sight,
Did Mao Kun finally dare to speak with Bailian.
“Sis,” Mao Kun hurried over with a cigarette dangling, fawning as if to help carry her xuan paper, “This is…”
He looked at Jiang He.
“Jiang He, my friend.” Bailian casually dumped the xuan paper into Mao Kun’s hands and headed into the small alleyway.
Bailian’s friend?
Mao Kun respectfully sized up the expressionless yet cool-looking child still holding a Rubik’s Cube in his hand, “So you’re Kid Bro. Nice to meet you, I’m Little Mao.”
Without a word, Jiang He simply slanted an expressionless glance at Mao Kun.
By now Mao Kun had adapted well to carrying eight jin of iridium, lifting the weight as if feather-light.
Bailian knew with one look that she was right about him back then. He had great potential but wasted too many years.
“No need to apply Gubengao1 for now,” said Bailian while reviewing her English vocabulary as they walked down the alley. “Next is herbal bathing – 15 grams of Fushen, 50 grams of Yushu fried first, 18 grams of Pelan herb, 12 grams of…16”
She listed a long string of medicine names.
Mao Kun gaped blankly at Bailian.
The list was too long for him to remember clearly.
Bailian: “…I’ll send it to you later.”
Mao Kun gave an embarrassed laugh. Just as he wanted to thank her, he noticed the pretty-faced kid bro send him a look of utter disdain.
His mental capabilities might be lacking but he could still sense the kid’s contempt.
Mao Kun: “…”
** In the Ji family’s courtyard,
Ji Hong had not returned from fishing yet, but Ji Mulan wearing a silk shawl was present.
She stood with back facing the entrance in the courtyard. Hearing movement, she coldly looked back and immediately spotted Mao Kun following behind Bailian.
A police character of interest with his yellow dyed hair and questionable background, Mao Kun looked nothing like an upstanding citizen.
Seeing that Bailian was mingling with this kind of person again, Ji Mulan could not help getting angry. “Didn’t you say you reformed? That you would study hard…”
“Pa!”
Bailian flung her backpack heavily atop the stone table. Reaching out, she seized Ji Mulan’s carefully maintained shawl. Not expecting Bailian to act so drastically nor that she would lay hands on her, Ji Mulan stumbled from the sudden yank.
With one hand clutching Ji Mulan’s collar, Bailian towered slightly taller over her. Extremely fair-faced, she slowly tightened her grip, fingers pale.
Expressionless.
Seeing the situation turn bad, Mao Kun swiftly set down the xuan paper in his hands and hurriedly brought Bailian a lit cigarette, “Sis, calm your anger!”
Bailian exhaled lightly as her other hand loosely pinched the slender cigarette, the smoldering tip a bright crimson orb.
The thin smoke gently obscured her face. Tilting her head, she tapped off the cigarette ash with cold fingertips and drawled softly, “Ji Mulan, your sole task now is to play your role before Elder Ji convincingly. Otherwise…”
She heard sounds coming from outside the entrance.
Casually flicking away the cigarette and stamping it out,
Bailian then lazily lifted her head towards Ji Mulan, smiling dangerously like a bright red Mandala flower blossoming from a pile of bones, spellbinding yet perilous.
She silently mouthed “Bang!” at Ji Mulan.
Clutching her exquisite shawl, Ji Mulan watched Bailian swiftly resume an innocent expression as she went to open the door.
“Elder Ji,” said Bailian taking the fishing pole from Ji Hong’s hand with raised brow, “Caught any fish?”
Behind him, Chen Ju had a wicker basket hanging over his back while a large fish dangled from each side of his waist. “Miss Bai, look, I caught this one and your Elder caught that other.”
He pirouetted to showcase the fish on him to Bailian.
Watching Chen Ju insisting on hanging the fish at his waist instead of simply using the creel behind him, Bailian said: “Come in first.”
When Ji Hong stepped inside, he immediately spotted Ji Mulan and halted in his tracks. “Why are you here? Eating dinner tonight?”
“I came to invite you two out for a meal. Reservations for dinner tonight with Ms. Xu,” said Ji Mulan clearing her throat softly. She did not even glance Bailian’s way, complexion somewhat pale. “Also wanted to ask…why did A Meng block me?”
“Dinner?” Without answering her last question, Ji Hong simply said, “I’ll be going for drinks with Little Chen tonight so won’t be joining you.”
Ji Mulan could barely believe Ji Hong’s reply.
She looked between Ji Hong and the weirdo with fish dangling at his waist off to the side – Chen Ju, then the yellow-haired scoundrel shrinking in the corner…
Just what kinds of vulgar characters had Bailian gotten to know after returning to Xiangcheng?
Giving up reservations made by Xu Enlian to eat here instead?
She took such pains to establish connections for them, even managing to persuade Xu Enlian and wanting to bring along Ji Hong and Bailian. Yet these two did not appreciate her efforts in the slightest.
She should have known long ago that Bailian was simply hopeless!
“Do as you please!” Still covering her neck, Ji Mulan did not even glance Bailian’s way. “I’m leaving.”
She walked straight out of the entrance and called her chauffeur to pick her up from Qingshui Street.
Stepping into a puddle on the roadside, the dirty water splashed onto her leather shoes. Ji Mulan’s expression chilled even further.
“How come you’re so late?” At dinner, Xu Enlian looked towards Ji Mulan’s arrival. “Neither of them came?”
He meant Bailian and Ji Hong.
“A Meng is doing homework,” replied Ji Mulan, face perfectly composed.
Xu En didn’t mind whether Bai Lian and Ji Heng came. He smiled and introduced them to Ji Mulan, “Miss Xu, you’ve met. This is Mr. Ren Qian, and this is Mr. Chen Gang.”
“Sorry for the wait,” Ji Mulan apologized with a smile.
Ren Qian and Chen Gang knew Xu En was a businesswoman from Jiangjing and didn’t dare let Ji Mulan apologize. Ren Qian raised his glass, “No problem, Miss Xu, rest assured. I’ll take care of the land you want.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Xu Yajun beside them.
Xu Yajun sat next to Xu En, not saying anything, and Xu En didn’t introduce who Xu Yajun was.
Ren Qian didn’t dare to speculate casually, but from Xu En’s extremely respectful attitude towards that young lady, he knew she was not simple.
“Let’s trouble Mr. Ren for everything,” Xu En smiled, then sighed, “I sent a business card to Mr. Chen, heard he had no plans this afternoon, but unfortunately, he didn’t come.”
“Mr. Chen?” Xu Yajun heard the name and lifted his head slightly, “He went fishing in the afternoon.”
Fishing?
Ji Mulan was momentarily stunned.
- Solid Foundation Ointment (???, gù b?n g?o) — literally translated, a traditional Chinese medicinal ointment used externally for promoting healing and alleviating pain. ↩︎
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