After Descending the Mountain, Seven Big Brothers Spoil Me - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: How Does This Painting Capture the Essence?
In addition to paintings, Grandpa Wen also liked antiques. He took out a vase from his study and said, “I just picked this up a few days ago. I had it appraised, and it’s confirmed to be an antique. I don’t have anything else valuable to give, so I’ll give this to Zhouzhou. I hope she doesn’t mind.”

Zhouzhou’s eyes lit up when she saw the vase, and she nodded eagerly, shaking her little head. “I don’t mind at all. I really like it! Thank you, Grandpa!”

She received it happily, her face filled with joy, showing how much she liked it.

Little did she know that what she was actually looking at inside the vase was a spirit body.

Yes, there was a spirit body inside the vase!

Of course, a person couldn’t fit inside it, but the spirit body could transform into various forms, shrinking or enlarging at will. When Zhouzhou looked inside, she saw the spirit body lounging with crossed legs, snoring loudly.

What’s more, it was a Poverty Spirit!

Just like her, they were both impoverished!

This was Zhouzhou’s first time seeing a Poverty Spirit, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship. Sensing her gaze, the Poverty Spirit lazily opened its eyes and said, “Oh, a pauper, and an even poorer one than me.”

Zhouzhou’s face darkened instantly, and she gritted her teeth. “You’re the poor one!”

She was already starting to earn money!

Once Ancestral Master’s golden light was fully restored, she would be free from financial difficulties.

She would become a little rich woman one day!

Zhouzhou huffed in anger, but Grandpa Wen and the others couldn’t see the Poverty Spirit. Seeing her sudden change in expression, they asked cautiously, “Don’t you like it?”

Upon hearing this, Zhouzhou snapped back to reality and quickly shook her head. “No, I like it.”

As she spoke, she quietly drew a poverty talisman and threw it into the vase. Hearing the grumbling voice of the Poverty Spirit, she couldn’t help but smile, feeling pleased.

Let him blabber on!

After that, Wen Yao took them to Cui Rong’s studio, where they looked at the paintings inside and organized them. After entrusting the matter to Grandpa Wen, he chose one for himself, and Zhouzhou forcibly gave him another one to hold onto. Only then did they return to the Wen family.

Grandma Wen had prepared lunch, and Wen Yao had specifically instructed her to make more for Zhouzhou, knowing that she had a hearty appetite. Grandma Wen set a table full of dishes.

Her culinary skills were excellent, and Zhouzhou praised while giving a thumbs up, “Grandma’s cooking is as delicious as Aunt Fourth’s!”

Hearing this, Grandma Wen also smiled and said, “If you like it, then eat more.”

Usually, it was only her and Grandpa Wen at home, and they couldn’t finish their meals. But watching the little girl eat, she had an extraordinary appetite and even asked for an extra half bowl of rice!

After finishing the meal, Zhouzhou originally wanted to help with the dishes but was sent to play by Grandma Wen instead. She had no choice but to sit on the sofa.

Since there were no children in the house, there weren’t many toys. Worried that she would be bored, Grandpa Wen suggested, “Zhouzhou, would you like to learn painting? I can teach you.”

He was a teacher from the Fine Arts department, so teaching a child to paint was easy for him.

Upon hearing this, Zhouzhou became interested. “Sure, I’d love to.”

She had only learned how to draw talismans from her master and hadn’t learned how to paint yet. Shouldn’t they be similar?

Grandpa Wen looked stern but was actually patient. He taught her meticulously, starting with simple sketches.

“Draw a circle here, a line there… Do you understand?”

“Yes!” Zhouzhou nodded eagerly and couldn’t wait to try. “Grandpa, I think I’ve learned. Can I give it a try?”

The little girl seemed intelligent, and Grandpa Wen didn’t say anything. He simply nodded.

Zhouzhou held the pen with poise, her back straight. As Grandpa Wen watched and nodded, “Mm… Mm?”

The first stroke was fine, but the second stroke suddenly took a turn. Grandpa Wen was somewhat surprised, but he didn’t interrupt her and let her continue.

Zhouzhou was also drawing with great seriousness. After finishing, she happily showed it to him.

As he watched the girl’s finished painting, Grandpa Wen’s hand holding his beard trembled, almost pulling it out.

The lines on the painting were winding and meandering, appearing to be drawn haphazardly, yet there seemed to be a discernible pattern. But as for what the pattern was, he couldn’t put it into words.

He couldn’t help but feel that, rather than calling it a painting, it was more like… a ghost talisman!

Naturally, this didn’t meet Grandpa Wen’s expectations, but as he looked at the little girl’s expectant eyes, he swallowed his words and reluctantly said, “Zhouzhou, you’ve done a great job.”

Upon hearing his praise, Zhouzhou was delighted. “Then I’ll draw more for Grandpa!”

Saying that, she lowered her head and started drawing again.

Grandpa Wen thought of stopping her, but after a moment’s thought, he gave up.

Oh well, let’s just consider it as a child’s play.

Once Zhouzhou got the hang of it, she drew faster and faster, and before long, she had drawn ten pieces.

Grandpa Wen looked at the table full of “ghost talismans” and suddenly got a headache.

But he couldn’t bear to dampen her enthusiasm, so he said, “Zhouzhou, you’ve drawn so well. Grandpa really likes them. I’ll have someone frame them and hang them on the wall later.”

Upon hearing this, Zhouzhou became even happier. Indeed, painting was just like drawing talismans!

“Yeah yeah! Grandpa is the best teacher!”

Grandpa Wen chuckled awkwardly, not knowing how to respond to her words.

He certainly couldn’t say that he was the one who taught her.

Ahem.

He coughed lightly, not saying much. In fact, if one looked closely at Zhouzhou’s paintings… they were quite refreshing.

He wondered if it was just an illusion, but he felt his mind becoming clearer.

Perhaps it was because the little girl was there, her presence brightening his mood.

Grandpa Wen didn’t think too much about it and continued to teach Zhouzhou how to paint.

And so, there were many more “ghost talismans” added to the collection.

When it was time for Zhouzhou to leave in the evening, she said, “Grandpa, I’ve drawn too many. It’s too much to hang on the wall. If you have any friends, you can give them some.”

She was generous.

“Alright.” Grandpa Wen nodded.

Wen Yao glanced casually, her gaze paused for a moment, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. She heard her father praising Zhouzhou’s painting skills, and his expression seemed a bit strange.

Although her father wasn’t as skilled as Cui Rong or Master Yi Yun in painting, he had a certain reputation. His paintings could easily sell for hundreds of thousands, especially since his discerning eye could accurately judge the quality of a painting at a glance.

It was unexpected that he would praise Zhouzhou’s paintings to this extent, showing a double standard.

But children were meant to play, and there was no need to take it too seriously.

After chatting for a while, Wen Yao left with Zhouzhou.

Coincidentally, as soon as they left, someone came to visit the Wen family.

It was one of Grandpa Wen’s former students.

Seeing him organizing the paintings on the desk, the student asked, “Teacher, are these the ones you just painted?”

After saying that, he saw those paintings and his eyes widened. Were these ghost talismans?

He carefully observed Grandpa Wen’s expression and didn’t dare to voice his thoughts, so he asked, “Teacher, can you give me one?”

Grandpa Wen could immediately tell what he was thinking. This student of his had always had a mind for business. He didn’t do well academically, always ranked at the bottom, but he had a knack for business. After graduating, he became a broker for art studios, specializing in selling paintings and taking a commission.

But he was not a bad person and cared about Grandpa Wen. He would often visit him, and Grandpa Wen would offer some advice before letting him go. Seeing his eyes continuously drifting towards the paintings, Grandpa Wen chuckled and said, “Alright, I’ll give you one.”

The student was overjoyed. “Thank you, Teacher!”

Although he couldn’t appreciate them, it was a painting done by his teacher, so it must be valuable!

After chatting for a while, the old man needed his rest, and the student didn’t stay for long. He left with the painting in his arms.

When he returned home, he placed the painting in his study and planned to have it framed the next day.

In the midnight hours, as he slept soundly, a bone-chillingly cold hand touched his back.

“Hey, handsome~”