ATLAS TRANSLATES

Apart from Xu Yajun, they also couldn’t find anyone else who wrote Liangti style this well.

“Did she have an extraordinary performance?” Chairman Xue also felt very surprised.

He stopped his conversation with the Jiang family steward and went to the judges to take a look.

At this glance, Chairman Xue was also a little stunned.

“This is…” For Xu Yajun, Chairman Xue had a thorough understanding. Artistic conception was sometimes hard to come by, but basics were still there. He held this piece of work with an ardent gaze, “This isn’t Yajun’s writing. Yajun definitely doesn’t have such wrist strength!”

Not Xu Yajun’s?

Then whose was it?

Which dark horse popped out from where?

The seven judges looked at each other.

Jiang Fuli, who had been sitting in front with his head bowed looking at his computer the whole time, finally raised his head. His slender fingertips tapped lightly on the table, brooking no disagreement with two words: “Bring it here.”

Chairman Xue wanted to take another look.

Hearing this voice, he didn’t dare to refuse either. He respectfully handed the piece across.

Jiang Fuli took the piece and lowered his gaze. His eyelashes covered his bright pupils as he quietly looked at the writing.

The most daunting thing about him was the invisible oppressive aura. Without doing anything, just sitting there quietly gave off an aura that made people not dare to get close.

Lowering his head now without saying a word, even Chairman Xue couldn’t hold up against it.

The entire judging room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Only the Jiang family steward beside him could withstand it somewhat.

Jiang Fuli looked for a long time. Chairman Xue finally couldn’t hold back. He looked to the Jiang family steward pleadingly.

The Jiang family steward also felt it was strange. He bent down slightly and lowered his voice, “Young Master, the plane is about to take off…”

“Mm,” Jiang Fuli handed the piece back to Chairman Xue. With one hand he closed his computer. Just two steps away, he seemed to remember something again and glanced indifferently at Chairman Xue, “Double the prize money. Send this session’s first place piece to the Jiang family.”

“Ah?” Chairman Xue was slightly stunned.

Jiang Fuli swept him a look.

His expression didn’t change much, just a face as sharp and cold as a blade’s edge.

Chairman Xue couldn’t help but shudder. He quickly replied, “Alright, I’ll deliver it myself!”

After the people finally left, the judging room instantly thawed out as if winter turned to spring on the land.

The other teacher judges rushed up at once. “Chairman Xue, let me take another look! Where did this person pop out from? This is not on the same level as the others at all!”

After appreciating it, another person suddenly asked, “How do we judge this?”

All seven people looked to Chairman Xue.

Chairman Xue looked at this piece of writing and slowly made a decision.

The scores were not completely tallied yet so names could not be posted. Chairman Xue took out his phone to call HR. “Check the participant list for this year’s Lanting Art Award.”

He was familiar with most of the participants this time.

Xie Jinyun and his disciple Xu Yajun.

Everyone on the list was a force to be reckoned with. How could someone suddenly pop out like this?

**
Bailian didn’t know that because of her piece, the seven judging teachers discussed it for a whole night at CWA.

Also didn’t sleep for a whole night.

Wednesday.

A little past 6 in the morning, when Ji Shaojun came, he saw Bailian sitting at the stone table eating and talking.

“Who are you talking to?” Ji Shaojun put down a box of milk. He didn’t see Ji Heng in the kitchen or yard.

Just as he finished speaking, a faint voice came from the bathroom, “It’s the growth hormone. Pinching the back of a cucumber suppresses the growth hormone…”

Ji Shaojun: “……”

What were these things? He could understand growth hormone but why pinch a cucumber?

Ji Shaojun didn’t understand but he didn’t dare say anything else.

After Ji Heng came out, he finally spoke up softly, “That Xu En wants to treat our whole family to a meal. Dad, Bailian, what do you think?”

Xu En’s overall impression of the Ji family was very good. The Ji family were all frank and upright with great integrity. He wanted to marry Ji Mulan so he had to treat them to a meal to discuss marriage matters.

And Ji Shaojun also had a decent impression of Xu En. Courteous with great etiquette, much better than the Ren family.

Ji Mulan was his only younger sister.

Even when Ji Mulan ran away from home back then and married into the Bai family, Ji Shaojun didn’t abandon this younger sister.

Now that she found a decent place to land, Ji Shaojun was also happy for her. Of course, if Ji Mulan improved a little more as a mother, Ji Shaojun might be even happier.

“I have class,” Bailian slowly replied, “I was absent two days and have to make up.”

“Why were you absent two days?” Ji Shaojun didn’t know about her going to Jiangjing to compete.

Bailian drank the last bit of milk. She smiled at Ji Shaojun, “I went to take a look at how Jiangjing was to consider applying to Jiangjing University.”

Ji Shaojun: “…As you wish.”

“Bailian’s not going,” Ji Heng came over with a rag for Ji Shaojun to bring out the embroidery stand. After thinking for a long time, “I’ll go with you guys.”

He had to make things clear with Ji Mulan.

Ji Shaojun nodded. He went inside to get the embroidery stand. “Then I’ll reply to Mr. Xu.”

“Grandpa, uncle, I’m going to school,” Bailian was now very sensitive to the name Ji Mulan.

She and Ji Mulan were parallel lines. As long as the other party didn’t bother her, then it was fine.

“Go on,” Ji Heng waved to Bailian with one hand while making Ji Shaojun be careful moving things with the other, “Watch for cars on the road.”

After Bailian left, he looked at Ji Shaojun who had carried out the embroidery stand.

“Is it really going to be demolished?”

Ji Shaojun put the embroidery stand properly. Unusually, he took out a cigarette with a vague “mm”, “I won’t sign.”

He squatted to the side with a very solemn expression.

Ji Heng held the rag and slowly wiped the embroidery stand. “Do you want me to go to the Ren…”

“Don’t get involved.” Ji Shaojun was extremely averse to the Ren family. Hearing Ji Heng, he knew what he was trying to do. “They won’t agree to this either.”

Seeing Ji Shaojun like that, Ji Heng didn’t mention it again. He just frowned slightly.

**
Bailian took her schoolbag and went to school.

Just out of Qingshui Street.

She saw the blue car parked across the street.

Bailian raised her brows and walked over to knock on the car door.

The passenger window rolled down to reveal the man sitting in the driver’s seat.

Jiang Fuli still wore the white shirt from last night. His right hand loosely supported the steering wheel, his palm propping up his face as he looked to the passenger side.

“Aren’t you still in Jiangjing?” Seeing him appear suddenly at the entrance of Qingshui Street early in the morning, Bailian felt it was very unexpected.

Jiang Fuli came back to his senses.

He leaned over to open the passenger door. His fingertips tapped lightly on the steering wheel. “Came back last night. Something came up at the lab. Get in first.”

He said it with a straight face.

Bailian opened the passenger door.

Just as she was about to turn listening comprehension back on, she saw several WeChat messages received on her phone.

Lance: ?This idea is simply too great?

Lance: ?I’ll try it now?

Lance: ?[Image]?

He sent a CT image.

Bailian tapped to take a look. She could clearly see the bone structure.

She was truly very resistant to Western medicine at first, but after communicating these two days, she realized there were reasons why Western medicine was so popular in this society.

The loss of most traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions was one.

Another part was because Western medicine was built on a scientific foundation. No matter what illness, it would tell you clearly.

Almost entirely relying on machines, the lesions and sources could be seen clear as day.

Bailian had to admit there were commendable parts.

They didn’t need to look, listen, question, and feel the pulse.

Bailian leaned against the seat. It was just that she had seen great masters who didn’t need equipment. Back then those wandering doctors in Xiang City could tell at a glance where the soldiers’ illnesses were.

She still felt that culture was continuous.

But now she couldn’t help but wonder, after thousands of years, how could it be about to be replaced by Western medicine that had only a few hundred years of history…

Red light.

Seeing her stay on the English listening page for half a day without playing it, Jiang Fuli shifted his head to comment on her studies, “…Meditating on English?”

Bailian came back to her senses.

Wearing a blue and white school uniform, revealing the snowy white collar inside, the window half open, the wind gently lifted her stray strands of hair. Her delicate brows and eyes dazzled.

Bailian first looked at her phone then lazily looked at Jiang Fuli. Her eyes narrowed slightly and the corners of her lips hooked up faintly, “No, I’m thinking how to kill off the English language.”

The Jiang young master who could massacre in all places at all times: “……”

He stepped on the gas.

Not for any particular reason. He knew Bailian really wanted to kill off English.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Bailian’s hand propped up her chin as she raised her brow.

Jiang Fuli turned the steering wheel. He opened his mouth very calmly, “I wanted that too, but one must be rational as a human being.”

“Peace, peace,” Bailian reopened her English listening, smiled at him, then sighed, “I know.”

Jiang Fuli turned the car around a corner and caught a hint of regret in her brow and eyes from the side.

“……”

**
Bailian returned to school. Lu Xiaohan and the others came to ask where she had gone the past two days.

“Something came up,” Bailian casually answered. She put her schoolbag on the desk and glanced in Yang Ling’s direction, frowning, “Did my deskmate come yesterday?”

“No,” Lu Xiaohan lowered her voice, “Mrs. Lu seems to have done a home visit yesterday. Not sure what happened.”

She didn’t dare say anything else after seeing Bailian’s expression.

Yang Ling had always been a loner. It was only after Bailian came that Lu Xiaohan became acquainted with Yang Ling.

Bailian sat properly and slowly took out books from her bag, thinking she’d go find Lu Lingxi for an address later.

Her phone lit up again.

This time it was a message from Teacher Qiu.

Teacher Qiu: ?The names will be announced at 10 today. Remember to let me know at the first moment.?

Bailian took out her biology book and glanced –

?Can’t watch. Have class.?

She replied very calmly.

Teacher Qiu: ???

Teacher Qiu: ?You went back to Xiang City? You just went back to Xiang City like that? You really went back to Xiang City??

Teacher Qiu asked three questions in a row.

Bailian: ?I still have class?

Teacher Qiu had no doubts she could win a prize: ?But you still have to attend the award ceremony after the results are announced! You still have to go accept the award! ?

?You can attend class anytime!?

Bailian replied very coldly and mercilessly: ?Then they can mail it back?

On the phone.

Teacher Qiu felt it was incomprehensible.

The Lanting Award that’s held every three years! Three years ago, even if Qiu Boqing was only nominated, he stuck around to the very last moment. Bailian said “mail it back”? You won’t even collect the award, yet say to mail it back?

Seeing Bailian didn’t reply, he guessed she was doing problems again.

Teacher Qiu picked up his phone to call Vice Chairman Qian.

“Vice Chairman,” Teacher Qiu spoke politely. After pondering slightly, he said, “The results will be announced soon. Let me know at the first moment.”

The Lanting Award spots at CWA were shown on a billboard.

They were selected first, then posted on CWA’s billboard. Two days later it would be released on CWA’s official website.

At 10 sharp today, it would be posted on time.

“I know,” Vice Chairman Qian was even more anxious than Teacher Qiu. It wasn’t even 8 yet but he was already waiting in front of the billboard with everyone else. “Don’t worry too much either.”

After hanging up.

Vice Chairman Qian then looked to Jian Rong beside him. He patted Jian Rong’s shoulder. “Don’t be nervous. Your second place is guaranteed.”

Jian Rong smiled and shifted his attention. “Right, where’s that female classmate from before? Why don’t I see her today?”

“Went home.” Vice Chairman Qian answered.

“Went home?” Jian Rong was somewhat astonished.

Beside them, Qiu Boqing was not surprised. “She wouldn’t win anything anyway.”

Vice Chairman Qian briefly told Jian Rong so didn’t mention Bailian anymore. After all, bringing her up was only to divert attention.

“Neither Mr. Xie or Miss Xu came today.” Qiu Boqing suddenly remembered those two. He glanced around.

“Very normal,” Vice Chairman Qian was very familiar with things. “One’s guaranteed first place, the other second place. Ironclad cases, so no need for them to come. Your generation encountered them, quite unlucky.”

This was confidence in one’s own abilities.

9:40.

Someone from CWA brought over the red billboard.

Everyone watched intensely as the billboard covered by red silk was posted on the bulletin board.

Vice Chairman Qian, who had been talking the whole time, and Jian Rong both stopped talking as they stared fixedly at the list.

The moment it struck 10.

The red silk was pulled away.

Everyone swarmed over at once.

With foresight, Vice Chairman Qian’s reasons for being sent by the Beicheng Calligraphers Association included his good stamina.

He squeezed to the front first. Starting from the bottom up, first were the nominations. He skimmed past the names and in the nominated section saw “Xu Hao” and “Qiu Boqing”.

Both had potential for third place.

Vice Chairman Qian thought at least one of them would make it into third place this time. Why were they only nominated?

How did both not perform well? Then he looked to the third place section. There were many third place winners. He read through them one by one, about to skim past when he saw a familiar name among them—

Jian Rong!

Jian Rong was Beicheng’s greatest hope this time.

Second place was practically guaranteed. How could he only get third place?

Vice Chairman Qian couldn’t believe it. He read through the third place section three times before confirming Jian Rong really did get third place.

At the same time, exclamations of “What’s going on” erupted around him. It seemed most people also questioned the scoring this time.

Even Jian Rong only got third place. Who could second place be?

Vice Chairman Qian frowned and looked in the second place section.

The Lanting Award set up many types of prizes. In the past, the art calligraphy first place awards would have 3-5 people. Second place had around ten.

Yet this year there were only five second place winners!

He looked at the name shown for the first second place winner—

Xie Yu Feng.

This was Xie Jinyun’s pseudonym in the calligraphy circle. Almost everyone present knew him.

The problem was how did Xie Jinyun only get second place??

Did Xu Yajun surpass Xie Jinyun?

Vice Chairman Qian looked at the list following right after Xie Jinyun’s name. It turned out to be Xu Yajun.

The three names after that were all people from CWA who could compete for first place this time. So why were they placed in second?

Was there no first place this year??

Everyone had this doubt and looked to the first row.

The 10 AM sunlight was a little glaring.

Vice Chairman Qian felt like something might be wrong with this world. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the first row.

Then his fingers trembled. He fumbled in his pocket and smoothed out his balled up report form several times before being able to take it out.

He looked at the last name –

Name: Bailian

Contest Name: Bai Jian

After double checking, he raised his head again to look at the first row—

Only five words.

First Place: Bai Jian

This year’s Lanting Award first place broke the record in history.

For the first time, there wasn’t a situation with multiple first place winners in parallel.

Instead, first place was specially set up for one person without any others mentioned alongside!

A complete gap.