Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: 059 He stared dumbfounded as Bai Lian took down the Iridium (second update)_3

Chapter 155: 059 He stared dumbfounded as Bai Lian took down the Iridium (second update)_3

Translator: 549690339

He looked at Qiu Xuezheng, wanting to say something, but remembering Grandpa’s attitude last time, he didn’t dare to speak.

“Hmm,” Qiu Xuezheng lowered his head, slowly took a sip of tea, his gaze still fixed on the doorway, “Don’t go out these next few days, practice your large characters more, polish your temperament.”

Qiu Boqing went to meet the Ren Family, Ren Qian wanted him to make contact with Qiu Xuezheng on his behalf.

But when the words reached his mouth, he didn’t dare to say them.

About to go upstairs to practice calligraphy, the gatekeeper brought someone in, “Teacher Qiu, student Bai has arrived.”

Not just anyone could enter Qiu Xuezheng’s residence; he had informed the gatekeeper in advance.

Bai Lian crossed the threshold, slowly walking in. She was carrying a schoolbag and greeted Qiu Xuezheng politely, “Teacher Qiu.”

Her brows and eyes relaxed and casual.

Qiu Boqing did not recognize Bai Lian, his eyes flicked over her before he intended to go upstairs.

“… You’re still in the library?” After a long silence, Qiu Xuezheng spoke seriously, “You may not necessarily win third prize this time; there are many participants in the Orchid Pavilion Award.”

Qiu Boqing, who was about to go upstairs, paused in his steps.

He turned around abruptly, looking at Qiu Xuezheng, “Grandpa, you recommended her for the Orchid Pavilion Award?”

Qiu Xuezheng frowned slightly, “That’s right, her calligraphy is very unique, and her artistic conception is much stronger than yours.”

Qiu Boqing’s gaze shifted to Bai Lian. He rested his hands on the stair railing and looked at Bai Lian with an inquisitive and competitive air, “What did you score at Level 9?”

Hearing his question, Qiu Xuezheng also looked at Bai Lian.

Bai Lian’s cold white face showed little expression, only raising her eyebrows slightly as she slowly inquired, “What Level 9?”

“CCPT,” Qiu Boqing’s face became colder, his eyes growing colder as he watched Bai Lian, the inquisitive look fading away, “Calligraphy and painting ranks, you haven’t taken this test?”

Bai Lian was not even clear on what CCPT was, merely frowning, “Do I need a certificate for that?”

What does a certificate prove?

“It seems you haven’t even taken Level 9,” Qiu Boqing withdrew his gaze, a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth, he looked towards Qiu Xuezheng, “Grandpa, who exactly is she? Why would you prefer to recommend someone who hasn’t even passed Level 9 over recommending my junior sister?”

“Qiu Boqing,” Qiu Xuezheng slammed down his teacup with a “snap” and scolded, “Mind your language, once you’ve seen Student Bai’s work, you’ll understand.”

Qiu Boqing was very dissatisfied that Qiu Xuezheng hadn’t recommended Ren Wanxuan.

“Let’s wait until she has passed Level 9,” Qiu Boqing turned around and went back upstairs.

Behind him, Qiu Xuezheng shook his head.

Unlike Qiu Boqing, he knew that Bai Lian was unaware of even the Orchid Pavilion Award, not to mention CCPT. It was beyond his expectations yet rational, which made him all the more curious about who Bai Lian’s teacher was, which hermit it could be.

“He’s taking up for his junior sister; don’t take it to heart,” Qiu Xuezheng apologized to Bai Lian.

“I indeed haven’t taken it,” Bai Lian shook her head, then immediately brought up another matter, “Do all these now require a certificate?”

She seemed to learn a new term.

Examinations for certificates.

Without a certificate, one would not be recognized.

“Let’s go try out the brush,” Qiu Xuezheng led her upstairs, explaining as they walked, “Not just calligraphy, even traditional Chinese doctors need a certificate to practice, practicing without one is against the law.”

Without permission from law, it’s forbidden.

Even traditional Chinese doctors need certificates?

Bai Lian followed, murmuring in amazement, “So the wandering herbal doctors no longer exist?”

“There used to be some in Xiangcheng,” Qiu Xuezheng was surprised by the archaic term Bai Lian used and after a moment’s pause, said, “Later, due to the need for medical practice certificates, these people disappeared.”

Bai Lian fell silent for a bit.

She was now starting to understand why Lu Lingxi was always managing Zhang Shize.

Qiu Xuezheng opened the door to his study, solemnly took out a pen box from the drawer, opened it to reveal a dark brown weasel hair brush, “Try this brush today; see if it feels right for you.”

He also took out some plain white paper.

Letting Bai Lian test the brush first.

Bai Lian uttered an “Mhm,” no longer thinking about the certificate issue, placed her schoolbag aside, and then approached the desk, noticing at first glance the weasel hair brush Qiu Xuezheng had brought out.

With her eye for quality, she could naturally tell that this brush was very precious.

Qiu Xuezheng’s desk was large, and he was stooping over to grind ink. He smiled at Bai Lian, “Go ahead and try.”

Bai Lian nodded slightly, took the weasel hair brush in her right hand and lightly held up her somewhat wide sleeve with her left. She dipped the brush in the ink, bent over, and wrote a large “Xiang” character.

This was the first time Qiu Xuezheng saw Bai Lian write in large characters. The strokes were fluid, the brush tip penetrated deep into the character, today’s character was even better than last time’s.

This indicated that her performance last time was not a fluke, but her normal level.

“There it is,” Qiu Xuezheng stopped, looking at Bai Lian with a sharp gaze, “Although this time many masters’ students have joined, I believe you will definitely get third prize!”

Third prize…

Bai Lian tilted her head slightly, pondering for a moment, “Please wait.”

“What?” Qiu Xuezheng didn’t understand.

Bai Lian carefully placed the weasel hair brush down, lifted her right sleeve, revealing a brilliant ribbon inside and a silvery white small ball tied around her wrist.

Qiu Xuezheng watched, dumbfounded, as Bai Lian effortlessly removed the metallic white sphere from her wrist.