The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 122 - 119: Anyway, She Won’t Win

Chapter 122: Chapter 119: Anyway, She Won’t Win

The first lesson was instructional, and the second involved learning and practicing calligraphy.

Master Han: "In writing, first sculpt the form and exert spirit; have both skin and blood, both strength and sinew; let the threads weave forth, the networks distinct, thus a fine character is made."

"When beginning to learn, one should first focus on the bones and sinews; without a solid structure, what can the flesh adhere to?"

"For every calligrapher, regardless of the style, it is essential that the bones, sinews, blood, and flesh are all present; sinews represent the sharpness, bones the fine brushstrokes, blood the ink’s flow, and flesh the ink’s body; sharpness brings the brush to life, and flow constitutes the essence of the ink."

Master Han wrote the sixteen characters they were learning that lesson in the sand for the children while explaining, then demonstrated again on fine paper.

"Once you grasp the knack of writing, wherever you write, it won’t be too bad."

As Xuanyuan Que was exceptionally bright, he deliberately showcased several font styles, broadening the children’s horizons.

Ruo Xuan gazed at the various fonts of Master Han’s writing, each with its own posture, full of form and spirit, some rigorously structured, others bold and free, some with the flamboyance of soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes... From the plump to the slender, they came in a thousand different styles!

"Master’s writing is so good, I want to be just like you, adept in every font," Ruo Xuan praised sincerely.

Still, she thought the handwriting of Divine Lord Xuanyuan was even more beautiful!

Princess Kangyi looked down disdainfully at Ruo Xuan, "Boasting shamelessly; Master is a contemporary calligraphy expert, can you compare with him? Have you learned even to hold a brush yet?"

Ruo Xuan: "I’ve known how for nearly a hundred years now!"

Xuanyuan Que: "Ahem!"

Ruo Xuan then shut her mouth.

Princess Kangyi rolled her eyes: "Boasting shamelessly!"

Master Han glanced at Princess Kangyi: "One hundred large characters!"

Princess Kangyi: "..."

Why was it always her who got punished?

She thought the master was too mean, and she intended to tell her great-aunt, the Empress Dowager!

Ruo Xuan blinked her large eyes: This master is great! I like him!

Yan Jiaojiao made a face at Princess Kangyi: Haha... Someone else gets to write two hundred large characters like me!

Princess Kangyi glared fiercely at Yan Jiaojiao.

Master Han noticed the children’s subtle actions but didn’t voice them outright, saying nothing of the sort: "Each craft requires specialization; my writing is not that good. The true masters of contemporary calligraphy are Master Xing and Master Yan; if there’s a chance, I will find their calligraphy for you to appreciate and learn from."

"However, handwriting reflects the person, and everyone’s writing is different, nor does it need to be the same. The main purpose of copying others’ calligraphy is to learn how to maneuver the brush, to have a shape in mind before the brush touches paper, not to replicate someone else’s writing exactly. You just need to remember that writing requires a complete composition of bones, sinew, blood, and flesh; practice often, write frequently. When you can handle the brush as if it flies, you will always produce your own fine writing."

"Next, practice diligently for half an hour. Once done well, submit it for my review."

Half an hour?

This was not sounding wonderful, thought Yan Jiaojiao with a pout.

Ruo Xuan also felt it was inauspicious. Right after class, her brother had climbed the mountain and told her that Zhang Jie and Xue Jiajie had come looking for her to go hunting on the mountain.

Practicing for half an hour would mean making Zhang Jie and the others wait, wouldn’t it?

Ruo Xuan: "Master, may we leave class early once we’re done with writing practice?"

Master Han: "If the writing is done well, you may leave early."

Ruo Xuan’s eyes brightened: "Master, what counts as good writing? I’d like to leave early; I have friends visiting."

Xuanyuan Que glanced at her.

Master Han: "A clean page without ink blots, correct characters, neatly written – that will suffice."

Ruo Xuan smiled: "That simple?"

Master Han nodded: "Just that simple."

Simple? This would be challenging for a child of a few years, but not so for Ruo Xuan.

Yan Huan felt hopeful for an early dismissal: "Master, Xuanbao’s friends are my friends too. Since friends have come from afar, I must entertain them properly."

Yan Jiaojiao quickly chimed in: "Master, Xuanbao’s friends are my friends as well, and I too must entertain them."

Master Han nodded, "Once you’ve finished copying your assigned characters, if they’re written better than Xuanbao’s, you can finish class early."

Yan Jiaojiao: "..."

She had to copy two hundred large characters!

Yan Huan: "No problem, my writing is way better than Xuanbao’s, this is going to be too easy!"

Princess Kangyi looked down on him, "Your writing is only fit to be compared with hers!"

Ruo Xuan heard this and looked at Yan Huan, sincerely praising him, "Then Brother Huan’s characters must be really good!"

She felt her own handwriting was quite good.

Yan Huan was too embarrassed to admit his writing was good, so he waved his hand and said, "I don’t write well, I’ve just practiced a few more years than you, Xuanbao. You’re smart, and with a little practice, you’ll write better than me."

Master Han laughed, "You’re all mistaken, Xuanbao’s writing is very good, none of you can match it. Practice well and bring it to me to see. If it’s up to standard, then you can finish class early."

After finishing, Master Han went next door to drink tea; he’d been talking for a quarter of an hour, and his throat was dry.

He would come back to give them guidance after letting the children practice on their own and having a sip of tea.

Upon hearing this, Princess Kangyi immediately felt indignant. Her writing wasn’t as good as Xuanbao’s?

How could that be possible?

In the Capital City, her masters said her writing of the ’hairpin-small script’ was already showing bone and muscle, looking quite professional—in the capital, aside from a few princes, no one could surpass her!

Once Master Han had left, she said to Ruo Xuan, "Xuanbao, how about we compete in writing?"

Ruo Xuan looked at her: "Sure, how shall we compete?"

Yan Jiaojiao bristled at this, "Do you have no shame? You’ve been practicing for a year, Xuanbao is younger than you and hasn’t practiced at all, do you really have the nerve to compete with her?"

Yan Huan also said, "Xuanbao, don’t compete with her, she’s taking advantage of your lack of knowledge. Although I don’t want to build up others’ ambitions and destroy our own prestige, I have seen her writing, and it’s not just a little better than yours."

Ruo Xuan exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? That’s surprising! I thought my writing was unmatched among you all, except for Brother Xuanyuan!"

Isn’t she just four and a half years old? Her writing is even better than mine, a Hundred-Year Flower Fairy?

Yan Jiaojiao: "..."

Although Xuanbao’s writing isn’t as good as the crybaby’s, Xuanbao is truly cute—adorably self-confident!

Princess Kangyi was furious, "What do you mean? You think you can’t compare with me? Let’s have a contest, do you dare to compete?"

"I’ve got nothing to fear! Let’s do it."

"If I win, you have to give me the dress you’re wearing."

She didn’t deserve to wear the dress that my little cousin gave her!

The dress she wears shouldn’t be prettier than mine!

I have to win it and then destroy it!

"If I win? I don’t want the dress you’re wearing; it smells too stinky!" Ruo Xuan said disdainfully.

Yan Jiaojiao and Yan Huan couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

Princess Kangyi was so angry she almost wanted to hit someone, "The perfume on me is a tribute from a foreign land, don’t talk nonsense if you don’t understand. If I lose, I will give you all the jewelry on my head."

Ruo Xuan: "I want new ones."

She disliked the essence of others on things they had worn.

She only liked the scent of sunlight, dew, and soil.

Divine Lord Xuanyuan had the scent of sunshine on him, which smelled really nice.

Princess Kangyi: "Fine. You can choose anything from the Treasure House."

Ruo Xuan’s eyes shone brightly, "What does ’choose anything’ mean?"

Princess Kangyi: "If you win, whatever catches your eye, you can have a set! Not just one set, ten sets are fine, too!"

Anyway, she wasn’t going to win!

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