Luo Ning had not spoken yet, but Miss Wanying was the first to jump up and exclaimed, "What nonsense are you talking about? This painting is excellent, recognized by everyone, even the Lord Governor personally praised it."
Lin Wanrong was puzzled. Could it be that this Miss Wanying painted this? It didn't seem like it. With her fiery demeanor, how could she have such delicate brushstrokes?
Regardless of who painted it, since the words were already spoken, Lin Wanrong wasn't afraid. He smiled and said, "I called it a flawed work, and naturally, I have my reasons."
Luo Ning blushed and asked, "Brother Lin, please tell me, where is the flaw in this painting?"
Seeing her blushing face and the delicate brushstrokes, Lin Wanrong was surprised. Could it be that this talented Luo painted it?
Miss Wanying sneered, "Sister Luo, ignore him. He just likes to talk nonsense and baselessly degrades your painting."
It turned out that it was indeed painted by Luo Ning. Thinking about Luo Ning being hailed as the top talented woman in Jinling, with her proud and self-appreciative nature, being summarized by Lin Wanrong as "flawed work" in front of everyone was a tremendous blow. It was impressive that she didn't cry on the spot.
Lin Wanrong was helpless. If this little girl had said it earlier, he would have spared some face for that Lord Hou. However, Luo Ning's proud and strong personality didn't want to influence his independent judgment because of their relationship.
Seeing Luo Ning biting her lip, blushing, and Lin Wanrong's criticism, he sighed, having criticized both a male and a female talent. It seemed he was quite extraordinary.
"Brother Lin, please speak freely. Luo Ning also wants to hear your correction," Luo Ning said resolutely.
"Lady Luo, your painting, whether in lines, brushstrokes, or angles, is exquisite," Lin Wanrong praised first. Then he added, "However, it seems a bit presumptuous."
With everyone attentively listening, including Hou Yuebai and the humming Miss Wanying, Lin Wanrong continued, "From your painting, the elderly figure looks shabby, indicating an ordinary commoner not yet satisfied with livelihood. Is that correct?"
Luo Ning nodded gently, "Yes, I wanted to depict the ordinary people's concerns about this flood."
Lin Wanrong sighed, "Miss Luo, your intentions are commendable, but you lack an understanding of human nature and the common people. Our Da Hua's people, loyal and easily appeased, will treat you like parents as long as you provide them with food and clothing. But at the same time, they are also practical. If even their basic needs are unmet, they won't care about anything else. Imagine, when survival is at stake, do you think they would worry about floods, Miss? No, they are much more concerned about basic survival than anything else. The country and the nation are far from their thoughts."
The scholars and ladies present were silent. They, pampered sons and daughters, had never experienced the hardships of the lower class. Lin Wanrong's words stunned them, but they couldn't help but admit that he made sense.
Everyone fell into silence, even the contrary Miss Wanying, who looked at him with some admiration.
Lin Wanrong felt heavy-hearted, as if carrying a few large stones. These gentlemen and ladies, neglecting reality and the masses, were truly unbearable.
Luo Ning, based on her understanding, thought she had depicted the scene appropriately. The scholars and ladies, impressed by her work, initially admired it. Now, after Lin Wanrong's critique, they had to admit that he was making sense.
Luo Ning's eyes were red, desperately holding back tears. This was the most significant blow she had received in her adult life. She remained strong in the face of Lin Wanrong's criticism, not wanting to affect his independent judgment because of their relationship.
"To paint life, one must first paint the human heart," Lin Wanrong said, sighing. Seeing Luo Ning's teary-eyed expression, he continued, "Don't cry, don't cry. I have a remedy."
Luo Ning wiped her eyes and retorted, "Who's crying? What remedy do you have?"
Lin Wanrong took out his homemade pencil and said with a smile, "This is my treasure."
Except for Luo Ning, others had never seen this pencil. Miss Wanying, seemingly forgetting her disagreement with Lin, asked, "Lin San, what is this?"
Lin Wanrong smiled and replied, "This is a pencil made from the ashes of a black and a white horse in love for a hundred years. It's called the pencil."
Miss Wanying was momentarily confused but soon understood. This Lin San was teasing her. Annoyed, she turned her head and refused to look at him, but her peripheral vision was still watching Lin Wanrong's actions.
Holding the pencil, Lin Wanrong lightly sketched a few strokes in the eyes of the painting and added a few lines to the face. He clapped his hands and said, "Miss Luo, follow the marks of this pencil and draw it again."
The pencil mark was very faint, and others couldn't make out anything. Knowing that Luo Ning couldn't use a brush, Lin Wanrong said with a smile, "Now, Miss Luo, follow the marks of this pencil and redraw it."
Luo Ning lightly acknowledged, and with her left hand holding her sleeve, she picked up a small brush from the table. Following the marks, she started to draw.
At first, she didn't quite understand, but as she continued, she became more and more surprised. In the end, she was excited, drawing more delicately. After a long time, she put down the brush and exclaimed happily, "Brother Lin, I understand now!"
Looking at the table, everyone saw the shabby old man with lingering worry in his eyes, but it had faded, replaced by a few shallow smile lines on his face.
Thinking about Lin Wanrong's words from earlier, everyone gradually understood. Poor people on this embankment might be tired and burdened, but they could eat their fill. Therefore, there was a smile on their faces. The worries in their eyes were not about the current survival but the concern for the future after the dam was repaired. From their perspective, they might even wish for floods every year and the subsequent repairs. When poor people smiled, it was always mixed with tears, as depicted in this painting.
In fact, Lin Wanrong was not entirely satisfied with this modification. Using sketching techniques to alter a traditional painting was a bit forced. However, having criticized Luo Ning so severely earlier, he had to salvage as much as he could.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. In truth, Luo Ning's painting, with its superb techniques and heartfelt emotions, was indeed a rare masterpiece. It would be a great loss if it was discarded. Now that it was saved, it was truly a stroke of luck.
Miss Wanying sneered, "Lin San, you've got a great deal. With just a couple of strokes, you contributed to Miss Luo's painting."
Lin Wanrong was dumbfounded. Handling the brush and making a few changes in a painting—why didn't the young lady try it herself?
Hou Yuebai
, despite recognizing Lin San's artistic skills, scorned his pencil technique, thinking that this guy was overestimating himself. He decided to challenge him in painting skills next time. Only Luo Ning understood the true proficiency behind Lin Wanrong's one or two strokes, transforming the painting's ambiance. Did I really complete this painting by myself? Luo Ning looked at the painting with mixed emotions, feeling both sad and touched. In this whirlwind of emotions, she turned around and ran.
Miss Wanying anxiously called, "Sister Luo, where are you going?"
Luo Ning paused for a moment but didn't turn around, saying, "Wanying, continue painting. I need to clear my mind and will be back soon."
Miss Wanying looked angrily at Lin Wanrong, "Is this your doing?"
Lin Wanrong was stunned, thinking, "What does this have to do with me?" Seeing Miss Wanying in a huff, he joked, "Once upon a time, there was a white horse in love with a black horse..."
"You're asking for it!" Miss Wanying was violent. Upon hearing his teasing, she swiftly kicked towards him, fast and accurate. She was indeed skilled; no wonder she was the female constable in the city.
Lin Wanrong couldn't be bothered with her. He walked away and took a few steps below the embankment, planning to find a place to relieve himself. However, he saw a delicate figure sitting on the ground, staring blankly at the rolling river.
Could it be? Just a few criticisms, and this girl is contemplating jumping into the river? Lin Wanrong was alarmed and hurriedly called out, "Miss Luo, don't jump—"
Luo Ning turned her head, seeing Lin Wanrong rushing towards her anxiously. She smiled and said, "Brother Lin, what are you talking about?"
Lin Wanrong said, "Miss Luo, please don't jump. I was just joking with you. You don't need to take it to heart."
Luo Ning, feeling a mix of shame and anger, said, "Brother Lin, what are you talking about? I was never going to jump into the river."
"That's good," Lin Wanrong wiped his sweat, "As long as you're not jumping into the river, everything can be discussed."
Luo Ning, feeling a bit amused by his reaction, took a few steps back from the riverbank and laughed, "Now, are you relieved?"
Lin Wanrong, feeling like she had misunderstood, sighed, "Don't cry, don't cry. I have a remedy."
Luo Ning wiped her eyes, annoyed, "Brother Lin, what are you saying? I wasn't going to jump into the river."
"That's good," Lin Wanrong wiped his cold sweat, "As long as you're not jumping into the river, we can talk about anything."
Luo Ning, finding him sometimes very clever and sometimes stubborn, took a few steps back, away from the riverbank, and said with a smile, "Now, are you relieved?"
Lin Wanrong didn't mind her teasing and sat down next to her, saying, "You scared me just now. I thought you were really going to jump into the river. Miss Luo, I have to tell you, the water in the Yangtze River is muddy and yellow. If you want to jump, don't choose this place. The Xuanwu Lake has clear water and pleasant scenery. It would be more suitable for jumping into."
Luo Ning, looking at him with a smile, scolded, "Brother Lin, do you have to make jokes like this?"
Lin Wanrong sighed, "In fact, besides using the word 'genius' to describe me, I really can't find any other words."
Luo Ning softly said, "I also think so."
Lin Wanrong burst into laughter. This girl actually learned my humor. It's quite interesting.
Luo Ning's face showed some relief, couldn't sit still, and stood up, saying, "Brother Lin, I'll go back to painting. Don't follow me, or I'll die again." She finished speaking and ran off, making it seem like Lin Wanrong was a ferocious beast.
Lin Wanrong wondered if he was that scary. If it weren't for her invitation, he wouldn't have bothered coming here. After talking for so long, he forgot to relieve himself. He was about to take action when he saw a "muddy person" suddenly appear beside him.
The person was covered in mud on their body and face, barefoot, and looked somewhat familiar. Lin Wanrong was startled and asked, "Lady Luo, how did you become like this?"