Lu Zhiruo's eyes were wide open as she stared at the dagger.
"I can't accept this!"
Sun Mo hurriedly rejected. "This is too valuable!"
"Sigh, that's not true. Money can't buy a good heart. After all these years of retirement, today is undoubtedly the happiest day of my life. I've read a famous work and seen the birth of a famous painting. How delightful!"
As Zheng Qingfang spoke, he drank another cup before coughing.
"Master, you drank too much."
The old servant advised. He was worried about Zheng Qingfang's body.
"Ahem, it doesn't matter!"
Zheng Qingfang signaled the old servant not to meddle.
He had been a high-ranking official in the imperial court for many years, naturally he had seen this kind of marvelous scene several times, but those painters were already in their declining years.
After all, a skill like painting required time to accumulate. But how old was Sun Mo? To be able to reach this level at the age of twenty was simply too terrifying.
As for the novel, although the literary talent was a little lacking, the story was very well written. Zheng Qingfang closed his eyes and saw the arrogant and unyielding Monkey King, the determined and persistent Venerable Sanzang, the lecherous and greedy Zhu Bajie, and a Monk Sha who had no presence but was still memorable. All of them were vivid in his mind …
Zheng Qingfang didn't dare to say that this book was a masterpiece that would be passed down from generation to generation. But there was no problem for it to become famous in the Middle-Earth Nine Provinces a few years later.
Zheng Qingfang gifted the chasing cloud dagger to Sun Mo purely because he admired Sun Mo's talent. It was because this young man who had a radiant smile was someone who excelled in both painting and calligraphy!
"Take it. I'm old anyway. I don't have the chance to ride a horse anymore."
When Zheng Qingfang saw that Sun Mo still wanted to decline, he put on a stern expression. "If you continue to reject me, are you not treating me as a close friend?"
The old servant was speechless. (Old Master, it's true that you can't ride a horse, but your descendants can. This is especially so for your grandson. He has coveted this dagger for a very long time, yet you didn't give it to him. Now that you gave it to Sun Mo, it would be strange if your grandson didn't find trouble for you.)
"It's really too valuable!"
Sun Mo didn't know what to say!
"Teacher is amazing!"
Seeing that Zheng Qingfang insisted on giving such a precious spirit weapon to Sun Mo, Lu Zhiruo's heart was filled with admiration for her teacher.
Ding!
+ 20 favorable impression points from Lu Zhiruo.
The prestige connection between you and Lu Zhiruo is very friendly. If you're a man, don't be a mother-in-law! "
After Zheng Qingfang passed the daggers to Sun Mo, he drank another cup and couldn't help but laugh.
"I really didn't expect to see the birth of a famous painting. Before this, I was still thinking that if your painting was passable, I would buy it from you for ten taels of silver per painting. Ridiculous, ridiculous!"
Zheng Qingfang thought to himself that it was fortunate that he didn't name a price, or else it would have been so embarrassing.
Lu Zhiruo and the old servant also smiled. Ten taels? Even a hundred times more would not be enough to buy that painting of Sanzang's journey to the west.
What could Sun Mo say? He just needed to pass the dagger to Lu Zhiruo and maintain a humble smile.
Seeing that Sun Mo held back his curiosity and didn't immediately admire this dagger, the old servant's evaluation of Sun Mo rose again. One must know that many people would be impatient to play with a treasure of this level when they saw it.
Zheng Qingfang drank. The more he looked at Sun Mo, the more he admired him. Not only was Sun Mo handsome, but he was also brimming with talent. Oh right, should he marry his granddaughter to Sun Mo? That way, he would be able to see his future works at the first instant!
The dishes and wine turned cold. Zheng Qingfang got the servant to remove them and change to another table. He then continued to toast with Sun Mo. He was truly too happy today.
After drinking for a while, Zheng Qingfang couldn't help but pick up the [Journey to the West] manuscript and take a few glances. After that, he would stand up and admire the painting of Sanzang's journey to the west.
The portraits of the other characters were also extremely good, but when compared to this one, they were still a little inferior.
"Eh? I keep feeling that something is missing? "
Zheng Qingfang finally discovered the blind spot.
Sun Mo didn't understand. Lu Zhiruo covered her mouth with her hand and reminded him in a low voice, "It's the signature!"
"Yes, it's the signature. How can a famous painting not have a signature?"
Zheng Qingfang was enlightened and hurriedly got Sun Mo to add on.
"Ah?"
Sun Mo felt a little embarrassed.
"Quickly write it. If you don't sign it, who would know that this is your work?" Zheng Qingfang urged. He suddenly reacted. "Could it be that you have never written a signature in the past? Wait a minute, could this be the first famous painting you have created? "
Sun Mo nodded.
"That's great!"
Zheng Qingfang was so agitated that he didn't need to use the wine cup anymore. He picked up the wine flask and poured it into his mouth.
"Old Master!"
The old servant jumped in fright.
Zheng Qingfang laughed uproariously. If Sun Mo became famous in the future, his first painting would have too much of a commemorative value. Hence, he hurriedly instructed, "You must write down today's date!"
Sun Mo didn't mind.
"Also, if you publish a book, you would usually use a pen name. What do you plan on using?"
Zheng Qingfang indicated for Lu Zhiruo to eat and not be reserved.
"Goblin?"
Sun Mo wanted to use Wu Chengen to let people know who the original author of [Journey to the West] was. However, he thought of the fact that he was the one who wrote the book. Other than the content being the same, the words were different. Even the image of the characters had been modified by him. For example, Zhu Bajie was more loathsome and Sha Wujing was two-faced. Hence, he gave up.
If people wanted to scold him after reading it, they would be scolding him instead. That way, he wouldn't be giving Wu Chengen a bad reputation.
"Ge... Ge what?"
Zheng Qingfang basically had no way to form a fixed image in his mind toward such a foreign term.
"Goblin, a type of monster!"
Sun Mo spoke casually, but he was actually probing Zheng Qingfang. A high-ranking official like Zheng Qingfang would surely have seen a lot of things. If even he didn't know about it, it meant that there was no such thing.
"Have you thought of it? Is it a monster that will appear in the second half of [Journey to the West]? "
Zheng Qingfang was curious.
"Nope."
Sun Mo was a person with an exuberant thirst for knowledge. He wanted to know if there were any other places outside of the Middle-Earth Nine Provinces. For example, if there was a western country, if there were dragons, swords, and magic.
From the looks of things now, there weren't any.
"Could it be from another book?"
Zheng Qingfang stared at Sun Mo with a burning gaze, wanting nothing more than for Sun Mo to immediately introduce it to him.
"I've thought of it. My pen name will be Gandalf!"
Sun Mo changed the topic. "There's no meaning to it, I'm just casually calling it by it."
"Up to you!"
Because of his body, Zheng Qingfang usually slept very early. But today, he pulled Sun Mo along to chat until late into the night.
It was too late and the school gates were closed. In addition to Zheng Qingfang's great hospitality, Sun Mo and Lu Zhiruo stayed in the guest room.
On the second morning, Zheng Qingfang endured the headache from the hangover and woke up early to accompany Sun Mo for breakfast before sending him off.
"Old Master, he isn't a great teacher. He merely writes good novels and draws well. Is there a need to treat him so well?"
The old servant couldn't understand why the old master would gift the chasing cloud dagger to him.
"I've been able to stand tall in the imperial court for 47 years, and the reason why I haven't fallen is because of my pair of eyes. That Sun Mo has an indescribable disposition!"
Zheng Qingfang stood at the entrance of the bookstore and stared at the departing figure of the horse carriage.
"Disposition? I admit that he looks quite handsome! "
The old servant didn't discover any disposition.
"You don't understand!"
Zheng Qingfang didn't wish to explain anymore. Someone who could draw Sanzang's Journey to the West Painting would surely have a deep understanding of things. The concept of that painting couldn't be faked.
"If Sun Mo comes again in the future, treat him as an esteemed guest."
Zheng Qingfang instructed.
...
After getting off the horse carriage in front of the Central Province Academy's entrance, Sun Mo paid the fare and walked in.
Lu Zhiruo carried a small wooden chest filled with 1,000 taels of silver and followed behind like a little tail. She would occasionally glance at Sun Mo with a gaze filled with worship.
Teacher Sun was so impressive. He wrote a novel and earned 1,000 taels of silver. In addition, he would receive more royalties in the future. Moreover, he had superb drawing skills.
She really didn't expect that Teacher Sun was a famous artist who could draw at the Wondrous Blossom Realm. Those illustrations yesterday were truly marvelous to the extreme.
"Aiya, I really want Teacher to draw a portrait of me!"
Lu Zhiruo pouted her lips. After that, she hurriedly touched the chasing cloud dagger in her bosom.
Luckily, it wasn't lost. This was a spirit weapon. If it was lost, Lu Zhiruo could only commit suicide to apologize.
At the thought of how Zheng Qingfang had given her such a precious gift, Lu Zhiruo still felt a little disbelief. In any case, if it was her, she wouldn't bear to part with it. It'd be better to leave it for her family.
"Diehard fans are so scary!"
Lu Zhiruo exclaimed. "However, Teacher Sun, who can conquer his diehard fans, is even more terrifying!"
Ding!
Favorable impression points from Lu Zhiruo + 10.
Due to Lu Zhiruo's prestige connection, Sun Mo couldn't help but turn his head when he heard the sudden notification. (I know you have big breasts, but you aren't a milk cow. Do you have to contribute favorable impression points so frequently?)
The papaya girl's eyes curved and she immediately revealed a sweet smile. After that, she hugged the small wooden chest with one hand and grabbed the corner of Sun Mo's clothes with the other.
Upon seeing Sun Mo, Mister Qin, who was guarding the door, immediately walked in and greeted him.
"Teacher Sun, good morning!"
"Hello, Mister Qin!"
Sun Mo nodded and passed over a packet of tobacco leaves. "I bought this when I passed by the market this morning!"
"I don't deserve it! I don't deserve it! "
Mister Qin hurriedly waved his hand and didn't take it.
As he was guarding the school gate, he had seen many people and heard a lot of news. Therefore, Mister Qin already knew that Sun Mo had recruited five students and had obtained the school's approval. His official recruitment would only be a matter of a few days.
Mister Qin could still maintain a sense of superiority toward intern teachers. After all, out of ten of them, nine wouldn't be able to stay. However, it was impossible for official teachers.
The difference between a teacher and a gatekeeper was too great. If it wasn't because Sun Mo had been promoted, Mister Qin wouldn't have taken the initiative to greet him with a smile and wouldn't have walked out from the door.
In the past, it was already not bad for Mister Qin to greet him through the window.
"Take it. I don't know how to smoke, so it's a waste to keep it."
A packet of tobacco leaves only cost a little. Even if Sun Mo didn't have the huge sum of royalties, he could still afford it. He only wanted to give this to Mister Qin so that it would be more convenient for him to enter and leave the school gate in the future.
If he were to return late in the night in the future, it would be easier for him to talk to the guards.
Seeing that Sun Mo had really bought it for him, Mister Qin hurriedly rubbed his hands on his pants. After wiping off the sweat and dust, he bent his waist slightly and stretched out both hands to receive the tobacco leaves.
Sun Mo noticed that Mister Qin had only used one hand to receive the tobacco leaves the other time. In addition to the fact that he had bent his waist, he deduced from these two small actions that Mister Qin should know that he had been promoted.
"Teacher Sun, please take care!"
Mister Qin waited for Sun Mo to walk over 20 meters away before he returned to the door. After putting away the tobacco leaves, he couldn't help but feel emotional. (Look at Sun Mo's EQ. He really knows how to conduct himself. It's no wonder that he can live off Headmaster An.)
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