Rebirth: He Decides to Lie Flat-Chapter 34 - 031 Signed by Xiaosi
Chapter 34: Chapter 031 Signed by Xiaosi
Chapter 34 -031 Signed by Xiaosi
Eventually, Song Jiawen agreed to Teacher Song’s request, becoming his final disciple.
Song Qingping was immensely proud.
The round-faced man was also very excited—he had acquired a genius younger sister apprentice.
“By the way, Jiawen, there’s a calligraphy and traditional painting competition in Beijing at the beginning of May. You should participate; I’ll recommend you,” he said.
Song Jiawen shook her head in refusal, “I don’t have time. At the end of April, I need to go to Beicheng to take part in a physics competition.”
Even if she had the time, she wouldn’t go. Painting was purely a hobby and a means to earn living expenses, nothing more.
“Physics competition?”
Song Qingping frowned, “Why bother with that? It’s such a brain drain. You’d be better off practicing your brushwork and traditional painting.”
What a waste of talent!
Song Jiawen remembered her mathematics and physics teachers advising her the day before to do more practice problems and not waste time on painting.
For a moment, she wasn’t sure how to respond to Song Qingping and simply said, “The school has already registered.”
Song Qingping slammed the teacup he was holding onto the table, visibly annoyed.
It was not easy to find a talented disciple; it had been years since he’d recommended anyone for the traditional painting competition. Why was Yunzhou First Middle School competing with him for talent?
The round-faced man quite understood his teacher’s feelings. This was a youth traditional painting competition with an age limit; if not for that, even he would participate.
Of course, many wanted to participate, but only a few were qualified. It was not that Teacher Song was too picky, but the fact was that their levels were simply not up to par. Attending would only make them a laughingstock. It wasn’t worth it.
However, Miss Deng of the Deng family did not possess such self-awareness. She always thought her paintings were quite good. When Teacher Song didn’t recommend her, she blamed him for making things difficult.
So, lately, the teacher hadn’t even been answering her calls.
Song Jiawen wasn’t aware of how precious this opportunity was, but even if she were, she wouldn’t care.
Her concern right now was money: living expenses and the funds she would need for university next semester.
The apprenticeship ceremony was simple; she handed Song Qingping a cup of tea, and that was it.
Song Qingping wasn’t particularly demanding in this respect; having Song Jiawen as his disciple was already a benefit to him. Having her address him as “teacher” satisfied him completely.
Knowing that Song Jiawen was eager to make money and that she had taken leave from school to be there, he made sure there was nothing else planned for the afternoon so she could stay in the studio to paint traditional Chinese paintings.
“Some time ago, I asked Liu Meng if you knew how to paint Chinese paintings. They sell better than other paintings and are also a bit more expensive. But she was evasive and wouldn’t give a straight answer. When I pressed, she found me annoying, saying it disturbed your studies. If you’re going to major in traditional painting, your grades are good enough. What’s there to disturb?” he said.
Song Jiawen didn’t expect Song Qingping to be so talkative. She bowed her head and continued painting, pretending to be wholly engrossed in her work.
Gradually, the room fell silent.
Once again, Song Jiawen painted peonies, but this time, she added two small bees to them, which served as the finishing touch. This added vibrancy and spirit to the painting…
Watching from the side, Song Qingping’s gaze deepened.
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“Sign your name,” he said.
The paintings Liu Meng brought that didn’t have signatures were often among those Teacher Song would sell in his gallery. Occasionally, some student paintings would go on sale, and if someone liked them, they’d buy them. However, because the artists were not famous, the selling prices were not high.
But half of them Song Qingping kept for himself and did not sell.
Now that Song Jiawen was his disciple, selling her paintings would naturally differ from before.
He had Song Jiawen sign her name first, then stamped his own seal at the bottom. This was a way to start building her reputation in advance.
Especially now that with the signature, the price of the paintings would naturally rise. Just this Peony and Bee Picture could sell for at least a thousand.
Song Jiawen thought for a moment and finally inscribed the name “Xiaosi” in the lower right corner.
“Xiaosi?”
Song Qingping was surprised, “Why would you choose that name?” It lacked distinctiveness, didn’t sound appealing, and was not as good as Jia Wen.
“Simple and easy to remember,” she said.
Song Jiawen looked at those two characters and felt she should write them out.
“Well, if you like it, that’s all that matters.”
Song Qingping thought this was a pen name Song Jiawen had chosen for herself, and though it sounded a bit odd, being called “Master Xiaosi” by others in the future would be even stranger.
But kids at this age are somewhat rebellious, and he feared she might be unhappy if he disagreed. Besides, it was already written, so let it be for now.
He’d carve a seal with her real name later on; after finishing a painting and signing her name, she could simply stamp her seal, and it wouldn’t make any difference.
At five-thirty in the afternoon, Song Jiawen left Teacher Song’s courtyard to return to school.
Stepping out of the quiet alley, she was enveloped by the sunset, bathed in golden hues.
Song Jiawen walked along the road toward the nearest bus stop. Not far away, in front of a restaurant resembling a thatched cottage, a green Jeep was parked, with several men in military uniforms standing in front of it, each holding a cigarette, smoke swirling around them.
Song Jiawen didn’t look in that direction and carried on straight to the bus platform behind them.
“Jiajia?”
Hearing the familiar call, Song Jiawen’s upper body stiffened; she didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Since arriving in Yunzhou, she hadn’t gone to see Song Xiwen once and had intentionally tried to forget her.
Her feelings towards this older sister were complicated.
In the past, she had longed for her tenderness and had been very close to her, after all, no matter what, she was the only “family member” at home who had been kind to her.
But now…
Song Jiawen really didn’t want to face her.
“Jiajia, is that you?”
The man, after calling once and seeing that Song Jiawen didn’t turn around, thought he might have mistaken someone else for her, but the face of his sister-in-law… he was sure there was no one else who looked that similar.
Turning around reluctantly, Song Jiawen’s dark eyes looked towards the man walking out of the smoke, and she called him faintly, “Brother-in-law!”
“It really is you.”
Zhou Youming looked surprised, “Why are you in Yunzhou? Not that, but when did you come? Why didn’t your sister tell me?”
Song Jiawen pursed her lips, unsure of how to answer him.
It was only then that Zhou Youming noticed the Yunzhou First Middle School uniform she was wearing, and he was even more astonished.
He knew Song Jiawen was smart and had good grades, but he had never imagined she was so outstanding that First Middle School would poach her.
What he had not expected even more was that she had been attending First Middle School and both he and his wife were oblivious to it.
It’s one thing for him not to know, but what about Song Xiwen?
This was her own younger sister.
Zhou Youming keenly sensed there was an issue, but he knew now was not the right time to ask for details.
He tossed away his cigarette butt and pointed with a gesture towards the restaurant behind him, “Come on, join us for a meal. After we eat, I’ll take you back.”
“Brother-in-law…”
“You’ve got to eat, right? Or are you saying you don’t want to have dinner with me?”
Song Jiawen lowered her eyes and sighed inwardly.
Although Zhou Youming had been nice to her in the past, due to Song Xiwen, she hoped to keep her distance from him in the future—the kind where they didn’t contact each other if it wasn’t necessary.
After all, she wanted to stay far away from Song Xiwen, let alone her husband.
