Jiang Yu had already decided on what to paint for the competition. It was inspired by the sanitation worker she had seen that morning on her way to class.
The overall colour tone of the painting was dark. A single streetlamp cast a warm orange glow, illuminating the falling snow. Beneath the light stood the focal point of the painting, a sanitation worker bent over, shovelling snow. He was bundled up in thick clothing, wearing heavy gloves and labouring against the cold. His shadow stretched long and black on the ground beneath him.
It took Jiang Yu a full week to complete this painting. She used oil painting techniques this time, emphasising the dark hues to the extreme, creating an atmosphere that was both sombre and deeply moving. The figure appeared somewhat hazy, enveloped in the warm glow of the streetlamp. It was dimly lit, yet undeniably evocative.
The painting was not particularly difficult in terms of technique, but it carried a profound emotional impact, warmth tinged with a quiet sorrow.
“You truly excel at painting scenery. In this piece, the background and the figure blend seamlessly into one composition… When it comes to landscapes, I don’t think there’s much more I can teach you.” The old master couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. If he didn’t know Jiang Yu’s background, he might have thought she was some legendary artist in the painting world.
Jiang Yu’s work was flawless in terms of colour and composition. Even if there were minor imperfections, they only served to enhance the painting, making it feel more complete.
Her only weakness, perhaps, was in painting human figures. Yet, she possessed a rare talent in this area as well, her characters seemed alive, filled with an undeniable soul. Even if her technique was slightly lacking compared to seasoned portrait painters, her work was still breathtaking.
Of course, that ‘lacking’ was only in comparison to professionals. Among her peers, she would easily rank in the upper echelon.
This was precisely what caught Shen Zhiwei’s attention. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have trusted Jiang Yu to illustrate Water Margin for her.
Jiang Yu’s talent was astounding. She had only been painting for three or four years, yet her skills were so refined that anyone who saw her work might assume it was created by an artist with decades of experience. After all, painting was an art that required years of accumulation.
“Is this the piece you’re submitting for the competition?” Teacher Shen leaned in to examine it, studying it carefully for several minutes before commenting, “It’s excellent. I’ve noticed that you have an almost instinctive sense for colours. The way you combine them is often unexpected yet astonishingly harmonious. Especially your Starry Sky, the way you use colour is simply masterful. Just wait and see. When your painting is displayed at Pang shijie’s gallery, it’s going to surprise everyone.”
Jiang Yu smiled but didn’t say much.
She was certainly confident in Starry Sky, but saying so outright might come across as arrogant. It was better to remain modest.
Teacher Shen held the painting carefully, reluctant to let it go. She had chosen to study painting because of her love for the art, so naturally, she admired every one of Jiang Yu’s works.
“This piece is perfect for the competition,” she said, carefully storing it away.
The Lan Hua Youth Art Competition wasn’t just for art students like Jiang Yu, regular students could enter as well. Of course, their chances of winning were slim. This was a national competition, after all and with the rise of art education across the country, there were countless skilled participants.
But with Jiang Yu’s talent, Teacher Shen wasn’t worried at all.
“I’ve already booked the plane tickets to B City,” she continued. “Teacher Hu has approved your leave and once we land, Pang shijie will have someone pick us up from the airport.”
Jiang Yu nodded slightly, then turned to the old master. “Master, are you not coming?”
The old man shook his head. “I’m too old for that kind of travel. You all go ahead without me.”
He had attended countless exhibitions over the years and the trips were exhausting. He simply didn’t have the energy to travel back and forth anymore.
Jiang Yu nodded in understanding. “Then I’ll go with shijie.”
The old master quickly added, “No, Mingshen will be going with you.”
Jiang Yu turned to look at Lu Mingshen, who nodded and said, “My leave is ending soon. After this trip, I probably won’t be back for a while.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit down. After spending so much time together, they had formed a bond. Knowing that Lu Mingshen would be leaving soon made her feel reluctant to part ways.
“You’ll be staying at my place in B City,” Lu Mingshen added.
Compared to S City, B City was much drier. The weather was decent when they arrived, there was sunshine and the temperature wasn’t too low. However, due to the smog, the sun only appeared as a faintly glowing circle in the sky.
“It’s been so long, but B City’s air still makes me uncomfortable,” Teacher Shen muttered, putting on a face mask she had prepared in advance.
B City rarely had clear blue skies. Most of the time, it was covered in haze, making the city feel perpetually gloomy.
Jiang Yu had lived in B City in her past life, so she was used to the climate. It was dry and cold, which could be tough for people from the south to adjust to.
The three of them walked out of the airport and quickly spotted the person Pang shijie had sent to pick them up.
“Shen jie, Jiang jie, Mr. Lu…” The man seemed well-informed, addressing them by name without hesitation. He helped load their luggage into the car and asked, “Would you like to go straight to the hotel, or do you have other plans first?”
Teacher Shen decided to head straight to the hotel, but Lu Mingshen didn’t go with them. He nodded toward a flashy red sports car parked nearby and said, “I’ll be fine. Someone came to pick me up.”
Jiang Yu and Teacher Shen turned to look and saw a stylishly dressed, handsome young man leaning against the car. Noticing their gaze, he waved at them.
“If you need anything, just call me. I’ll also be attending the exhibition,” Lu Mingshen said, turning to Jiang Yu with a warm smile. “After all, this is your first time having your work displayed in a gallery. I wouldn’t miss it. Even Old Master Cui told me to take plenty of photos.”
Jiang Yu pressed her lips together and smiled. Though her painting was being exhibited for the first time, she herself felt quite calm. However, Teacher Shen and the others were more anxious than ever, to the point that even she started to feel a little nervous.
After sending Jiang Yu and the others off in the car, Lu Mingshen turned and walked toward Lu Mingyu before getting into his flashy car.
“This car of yours is seriously over-the-top. Afraid people won’t notice you, huh?” Lu Mingshen said as he fastened his seatbelt in the passenger seat.
Lu Mingyu replied, “Dage1, you just don’t get it. This is a globally limited edition. It took me a lot of effort to get my hands on it. And this bright red colour, how else would people notice my car and realise just how expensive it is? Otherwise, how will they know I’m rich?”
He spoke with such conviction that turning pure bragging into something so righteous seemed like a skill in itself.
Lu Mingyu then sneaked a glance at his older brother. Seeing that his expression remained fairly relaxed, he grew bolder and couldn’t resist asking, “Dage, who was that jiejie with you just now? She’s really beautiful. If she entered the entertainment industry, she’d definitely become a huge star. Can you introduce… me… to…”
Before he could finish, Lu Mingyu was met with a chilling, murderous gaze from his brother. His voice grew softer and softer until it trailed off completely. “Dage, why are you looking at me like that?”
Lu Mingshen said calmly, “I just suddenly realised that while I was away, you’ve gotten thinner again. Clearly, you lack proper exercise.”
His tone remained gentle as he added, “Tomorrow, report to the military.”
Lu Mingyu: “…”
What did he do wrong?!
Jiang Yu and Teacher Shen were directly sent to their hotel, which had been booked by Pang Yu. It was a double suite and was quite decent.
She reached out to open the curtains. The room was warm, so Jiang Yu took off her down jacket.
“Let’s order some takeout first, eat, rest a bit and then, do you have anywhere you’d like to go tonight?” Teacher Shen asked while arranging everything.
Jiang Yu replied, “Tonight, I need to go out for a bit. I have an appointment to deliver the Liangshan heroes painting, so you don’t have to worry about me.”
Teacher Shen nodded, then hesitated before saying, “How about I go with you? Given your age, I can’t help but worry.”
Although Jiang Yu usually displayed a composed and mature demeanour, making her easy to trust, her young age made that trust feel somewhat precarious.
Before they came to B City, the old master had repeatedly reminded Teacher Shen to take extra care of Jiang Yu because of her age.
Jiang Yu thought for a moment and said, “That might not be ideal. I’m just delivering a painting and I’ve met the person before. Don’t worry about me… I’ll update you on my location in real time. Will that work?”
Teacher Shen frowned but reluctantly agreed.
After they ate their takeout and got some rest, Jiang Yu told Teacher Shen before taking the painting and heading to the restaurant where she had arranged to meet Shen Zhiwei.
Shen Zhiwei had arrived first. When Jiang Yu entered, she was playing with her phone. She wore a white knitted sweater, her slender figure exuding a delicate and frail elegance. With her long black hair draped over her shoulders, she had the refined, fragile beauty reminiscent of Lin Daiyu.
“Jiang Yu!” Shen Zhiwei greeted her with a wave.
Jiang Yu walked over, pulled out a chair and sat down. “Sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way.”
Shen Zhiwei smiled. “I haven’t been here long either. Speaking of taxis, I remember one time when I was rushing to the airport. I took a cab, but the driver got into a fender bender on the way and immediately kicked me out, storming off to settle the dispute. Such a hot temper… And it was raining that day too. I should’ve just asked my family’s driver to take me.”
Since the two often kept in touch over the phone, their conversation flowed naturally.
Jiang Yu handed her the box containing the painting. “Take a look. You’ve seen the photos a few times, but this is the real thing. Since I had to travel, I didn’t put it in a frame, it’ll be easier to carry this way. You’ll have to get one yourself.”
But Shen Zhiwei was barely listening. She was too excited, her eyes practically glowing as she focused entirely on the lightweight box in front of her.
Inside was, of course, the Liangshan Heroes painting. At 1.2 meters long, it depicted all 108 characters. As Shen Zhiwei carefully opened the box slightly, the first figure she saw was Timely Rain Song Jiang2, standing in the forefront.
“This is amazing…” she murmured, her face flushing with excitement.
- Dage: eldest brother. ↩︎
- “Timely Rain” Song Jiang is a central character in Water Margin, one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels. As the leader of the 108 outlaws of Liangshan, he is known for his loyalty, generosity and strategic mind. His nickname, ‘Timely Rain’, reflects his reputation for helping people in need, much like rain arriving in a drought. Despite his rebellious leadership, he ultimately seeks amnesty from the government, leading to a tragic downfall for many of his comrades. ↩︎
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