CIATB Chapter 144 A Glimpse of Beauty!
Chapter 144 A Glimpse of Beauty!
As soon as the old man finished speaking, everyone's eyes in the main hall focused on Zhang Yan.
The heavy, ink-dripping wolf-hair brush was placed in Zhang Yan's hand, which seemed somewhat abrupt.
The air was thick with a tense yet gloating atmosphere.
"Writing Spring Festival couplets? Grandpa thinks too highly of him!"
"That's right. He's an orphan who grew up in an orphanage. It's hard to say whether he's ever even touched a calligraphy brush."
"The last time we appraised this treasure, it was pure luck. This calligraphy is the result of childhood training; it can't be faked."
Nie Xiaorou, the cousin from my third uncle's family, crossed her arms and curled her lips in disdain.
In her opinion, calligraphy is the most elegant art, while the man in front of her exudes a vulgarity that has nothing to do with art.
Second Aunt Liu Yun covered her mouth and whispered gloatingly to the people around her.
"Just wait and see. If he can write the character '一' today, then he'll be considered capable."
"At that time, let's see what face the old man will have left to protect him."
These whispers were just loud enough for everyone to hear.
Nie Qingcheng clenched her fists.
She wanted to bring Zhang Yan back and refuse on his behalf.
In her view, this was not a test at all, but a deliberate attempt to make things difficult!
Zhang Yan can appraise antiques, play the piano, cook, and even pilot mecha... but he has never said that he can do calligraphy!
However, Zhang Yan simply smiled at her, indicating that she should not worry.
He looked at the brush in his hand, then at the huge sheet of red paper in front of him, nearly two meters long.
There was not a trace of panic on his face.
There was even a hint of... eagerness to try?
【Ding! 】
The main quest "True Family" has been unlocked. A special scene has been detected: a calligraphy display.
[System auxiliary functions activated! Temporary skill 'Calligraphy Sage Trial Card' (Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Orchid Pavilion) has been activated!]
Duration: 10 minutes.
In an instant, Zhang Yan felt a strange change occur in his body.
The calligraphy brush that had seemed somewhat unfamiliar to him at first now felt like an extension of his arm, so familiar that it couldn't be more so.
Countless insights into brushwork, ink techniques, and composition flooded his mind like a tidal wave.
Lift, press, pause, abrupt change...
The key points of each movement are clearly imprinted in his muscle memory.
The world before his eyes had changed.
That red sheet of Xuan paper was no longer just a piece of paper.
It is a vast world.
What he needs to do is to navigate this world with ease and skill.
He did not write immediately.
Instead, he closed his eyes.
The entire courtyard was so quiet that you could hear the snowflakes falling.
Everyone held their breath and watched him.
Some people are waiting for him to make a fool of himself, while others are nervous for him.
Only Nie Qingcheng, looking at his calm and focused profile, felt her wildly beating heart gradually calm down for some reason.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
A full half minute passed.
Zhang Yan's eyes snapped open.
In that instant, his entire demeanor changed.
If he was a piece of warm, smooth jade before, he was reserved and calm.
At this moment, he is like a sword drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed, its power soaring high!
He moved.
There was no test stroke, no dipping of ink.
With a flick of the wrist, the brush tip, sharp as a knife, slashed directly onto the rice paper!
"Whoosh—"
The brush moves like dragons and snakes!
His movements were so fast they were dazzling.
To onlookers, all they could see were afterimages flitting across the red paper.
That's not writing.
That's dancing!
He's swinging a sword!
His body swayed slightly with the movement of his brush, each movement brimming with the beauty of power and rhythm.
Sometimes it soars like an eagle across the sky, with grand and sweeping movements, exuding a majestic aura.
Sometimes it moves like a fish playing in the water, lively and graceful, full of charm.
The onlookers initially approached the situation with the intention of simply enjoying the spectacle.
But gradually, the mockery and disdain on their faces froze.
Instead, there was an undisguised shock.
Nie Xiaorou's mouth dropped open. Her pride in her artistic appreciation seemed so pale and powerless at this moment.
She couldn't understand the specific strokes of those characters, but she could feel that what was coming towards her was an ultimate "beauty" she had never seen before.
That kind of beauty transcends technique and reaches the soul.
The smile on Liu Yun's face also froze.
She doesn't understand calligraphy, but she's not blind.
She could see how beautiful each and every word born from Zhang Yan's pen was!
It was better than anything she had ever seen written by any famous author!
Old Master Nie, who was standing at the very front, was completely stunned.
His cloudy old eyes were now wide open, bigger than copper bells, staring intently at the tip of Zhang Yan's pen.
His body was trembling slightly.
Not because of excitement, but because of... shock!
As a seasoned calligraphy enthusiast, how could he not see how astonishing Zhang Yan's work was!
That brushstroke style is running script!
But it's more than just running script!
It contains the elegance of Wang Xizhi, the grandeur of Yan Zhenqing, the eccentricity of Mi Fu, and the beauty of Zhao Mengfu…
He has perfectly integrated the essence of calligraphy masters throughout history and created his own unique style!
This... this is beyond what the word "genius" can describe.
This is a monster!
He is a once-in-a-century prodigy in calligraphy!
Time seems to stand still at this moment.
The moment Zhang Yan wrote the last word and slowly put down his pen.
"call--"
He let out a long sigh of relief.
Fine beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead.
On the red paper in front of him, two lines of bold, vigorous characters, written with flowing strokes, leaped off the page.
First line: The way to pass down a family tradition is to preserve its virtues.
Second line: Unremarkable in dealing with the world, but genuine in heart.
Every word is a gem, the pen moves with the force of wind and thunder!
Each word seems to possess life and a soul.
Whether standing, lying down, running, or walking, they are all graceful and spirited.
That grand and majestic atmosphere, coupled with a touch of unrestrained and genuine spirit, perfectly matches the Nie family's style!
The entire venue was deathly silent.
Everyone seemed frozen in place, staring blankly at the couplet, unable to utter a single word.
"good!"
"good!!"
"good!!!"
A thunderous roar shattered the silence.
Grandpa Nie shouted "Good!" three times in a row, his face flushed with excitement and his beard trembling.
He rushed forward, his hands trembling, wanting to touch the couplet, yet afraid that his hands would soil this masterpiece of calligraphy.
He handled it with utmost care, as if it were a priceless treasure.
"Help! Help!"
The old man turned around abruptly and roared at the butler and servants in the courtyard with all his might.
"Take down that calligraphy piece by Mr. Qi Gong from your house!"
"Now! Immediately! Right now!"
"Hang this couplet on the front door!"
"From this day forward, this will be the face of the Nie family!!"
These words caused an uproar in the room.
The calligraphy hanging above the gate of the Nie family is a gift from Mr. Qi Gong, and it is one of the greatest honors of the Nie family.
Now, the old man actually wants to replace it with the handwriting of a young boy?
This is no longer just approval.
This is... the highest level of reward!
Liu Yun's face turned pale and then flushed, as if she had been dyed.
Nie Xiaorou was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear into the ground.
Nie Qingcheng looked at the man who remained calm despite being surrounded by people. His beautiful peach blossom eyes sparkled with excitement, almost turning into a pool of spring water.
Her man is always like this.
When everyone thought he was finished, he silenced them all in the most shocking and direct way.
Zhang Yan looked at the system panel and saw that Grandpa Nie's approval rating had skyrocketed from "60 (appreciation)" to "95 (highly admire/considered a confidant)". A slight smile appeared on his lips.
This is a sure thing.
Dinner time.
The large round table in the Nie family's house was full of people.
Zhang Yan was personally arranged by Old Master Nie to sit between him and Old Madam Nie. This position should have belonged to the eldest son, Nie Zhenbang.
This one action says it all.
During the meal, the old lady kept serving Zhang Yan food and asking about his well-being. She was even more affectionate towards him than towards her own grandson.
This made some people feel even worse.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Several aunts from collateral branches finally couldn't resist and started causing trouble.
A woman dressed in a mink coat and wearing heavy makeup spoke, seemingly unintentionally.
"Oh dear, Xiao Yan is such a good kid, he's perfect in every way, it's just... his background is a bit of a pity."
"yes,"
Another immediately chimed in, "Qingcheng is the apple of our Nie family's eye. If she gets married in the future and doesn't even have a respectable in-law, wouldn't people laugh at us?"
Their voices weren't loud, but they were loud enough for everyone at the table to hear.
The words were filled with contempt and attack on Zhang Yan's status as an orphan.
This is the most vicious and malicious statement, aimed at destroying one's heart.
Because it is a fact that cannot be refuted.
The atmosphere at the dinner table instantly turned cold.
Just as Nie Qingcheng was about to slam her hand on the table and stand up, Old Master Nie's face also darkened.
But there was one person who moved faster than all of them.
Old Mrs. Nie, Gu Yue, who had been watching Zhang Yan eat with a kind expression and hadn't said much, slowly put down her chopsticks.
She didn't get angry or yell at anyone.
He simply glanced at the gossipy women with a calm, almost icy look.
"When did it become your place, women from collateral branches, to criticize my grandson-in-law?"
The old lady's voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
"If you can't control your mouth during the Lunar New Year, get out of here."
"The Nie family's New Year's Eve dinner won't be short of your chopsticks."
The entire room fell silent instantly.
The faces of those aunties instantly turned a deep purplish-red, but they didn't dare utter a single word.
After the old lady finished speaking, she didn't look at them again.
She turned her head, and her kind and gentle smile returned to her face.
She picked up the largest, plumpest shrimp and placed it into Zhang Yan's bowl herself.
"Xiao Yan, ignore them."
"Come on, eat more, you're so thin."