Liang Chen Mei Jin

Chapter 215: Teaching Painting

Third Master Chen was a man who believed actions spoke louder than words, and he was usually sparing with his speech. Yet in front of her, he would occasionally say a little more. When he was in a bad mood, he simply ate in silence, occasionally serving her dishes. The East Side Room was so quiet that only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks could be heard.

Jinchao heard the sound of thunder outside and smiled as she said to Third Master, "When I was little, I was terrified of thunder. Every time there was a storm, I would hide under my grandmother's quilt and pretend to be a little mouse nibbling her hand... just to startle her."

Chen Yanyun looked up at her. He had never heard her mention her childhood before, and a faint smile appeared on his face. After a moment's thought, he said, "On the day we married... you secretly hid under the covers to munch on peanuts. So it turns out this was a habit from childhood." At the time, he had found her utterly adorable.

Outside, a sudden flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a low rumble of thunder.

Chen Yanyun noticed her eating greens with her head lowered, chewing several times before swallowing, as if she didn’t like them at all. He couldn’t help but ask, "Are you still afraid of thunder now?"

Jinchao shook her head. "Of course not, now that I’m grown up. Why do you ask?"

He hummed in response. "Just curious."

But Jinchao detected a hint of regret in his tone.

What was there to regret? She couldn’t quite understand.

The heavy rain came and went quickly, stopping by the time lunch was over. Third Master Chen no longer went to his study but instead reclined on the daybed to read. Jinchao sat on the other side, taking a cloak from her sewing basket. She noticed that Third Master didn’t seem comfortable reading on the daybed—he had shifted positions several times.

Jinchao beckoned Qingpu over and whispered a few instructions. Soon after, she brought over a cushion and offered it to Third Master Chen.

Third Master Chen waved his hand. "I’m not used to it. No need."

...If he wasn’t used to reading like this, why was he still here keeping her company?

Jinchao motioned for Qingpu to step back and said nothing more.

The sun emerged, its light streaming through the lattice window. When Jinchao looked up, she saw the sunlight falling on Third Master Chen’s profile, accentuating his straight nose and the focused way his eyes remained fixed on the book. She found herself staring. At first glance, Chen Yanyun’s appearance wasn’t strikingly handsome—not like Ye Xian’s celestial beauty. But the longer one looked, the more profound and gentle he seemed, exuding a soothing presence.

Then Third Master Chen suddenly lifted his gaze and met her eyes.

He smiled faintly. "What are you looking at?"

Jinchao shook her head, mumbling, "...Nothing." She had only embroidered a single bamboo leaf on the cloak...

But Third Master Chen sighed helplessly. "If you keep looking at me, I can’t concentrate."

His attention shifted to the sky-blue cloak in Jinchao’s hands, edged with dark indigo and embroidered with bamboo patterns. It didn’t seem like something she would wear for herself. Setting his book aside, he walked over to her and remarked with a smile, "Most young ladies’ needlework tends to be delicate and refined. But the bamboo you’ve embroidered has a certain sharpness to it... there’s real artistry in it."

Jinchao had actually imitated his Ink Bamboo Painting. In the end, all his praise circled back to himself—she wondered if he realized it.

Chen Yanyun traced the lines of the bamboo branches with his finger. "But the structure of the bamboo is loose, and the shades should balance each other. Negative space is essential." He paused, then said, "Come with me."

He led the way to the easternmost chamber, where Jinchao’s study was arranged.Jinchao instructed Qingpu to put away the items and followed Third Master Chen into the eastern side chamber. There, she saw that he had already laid out paper and was pointing to the inkstone, signaling for her to grind ink for him. Jinchao rolled up a section of her sleeve and began grinding the ink.

Third Master Chen selected a brush, moistened it with water, then dipped it in ink. His hands were well-defined, and he held the brush gracefully. With just a few strokes, the upright posture of bamboo stems came to life on the paper. Jinchao had practiced copying for a long time but could never capture such a feeling, so she leaned in for a closer look.

Chen Yanyun set down the brush and said to her, "Beyond the Sandalwood Mountain Courtyard lies the Bamboo Field Hall. It was where I lived as a child, and the name comes from Du Xunhe's poem 'Inscription on My Nephew's Study.' I used to enjoy observing bamboo, and after seeing it so often, I could capture its essence in painting."

"Window bamboo shadows sway upon the desk; wild spring sounds enter the inkstone pool."

Jinchao loved these two lines of poetry.

She picked up the brush and asked Chen Yanyun, "Third Master, may I give it a try?"

Third Master Chen smiled. "That’s precisely what I intended to teach you." He stepped aside and began grinding ink for her.

Jinchao mimicked his strokes but felt something was missing. To trouble the esteemed Grand Secretary of the Dongge Hall to grind ink for her... She felt a bit guilty and set down the brush, saying, "I’m rather inept at this—I can never get it right."

Chen Yanyun moved behind her, took her hand, and said, "Never mind. Let me guide your strokes." His other hand rested beside her, almost as if he were enveloping her in an embrace. Her hand, held by his, moved with steady strength. Jinchao caught the faint scent of sandalwood from him and, glancing sideways, noticed the agarwood Buddhist beads around his wrist. His chin rested lightly on her head as he spoke softly, "Press the tip firmly, tilt the brush slightly, and let the ink spread naturally."

His large hand completely enveloped hers, and Jinchao could only focus intently on his words.

When Chen Yanyun released her, he asked, "Understand?"

Jinchao had only grasped the gist and nodded. "I’ll probably need more practice."

Chen Yanyun reassured her, "This isn’t something mastered overnight. It’s natural to struggle at first. When I was young, my handwriting was poor—I had to practice twenty pages of small seal script daily for three years before it became somewhat presentable. If you have questions, just ask me. Your husband’s knowledge should suffice to answer them."

As they spoke, Xiangfei announced from outside that Zhutao, sent by Madam Chen, had arrived.

Jinchao returned to the western side chamber to meet Zhutao, whose almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks gave her a bright, lively appearance. She curtsied with a smile. "Greetings, Third Madam... The eldest and second madams of the Wu family have arrived. They’ve asked for you to join them for some conversation—the more, the merrier."

Jinchao informed Third Master Chen, changed into a short jacket, and went to Madam Chen’s quarters.

Before even entering, she heard lively chatter from the western side chamber. Inside, a square table with scroll-and-grass motifs had been set up, and the Wu family’s eldest and second madams were playing mahjong with Madam Chen and Wang Shi. Madam Chen smiled and invited Jinchao to sit beside her, saying, "Your second sister-in-law went to Bao Xiang Temple to offer incense today and happened to run into the Wu family’s eldest and second madams. They took shelter from the rain at the temple and came back together, so we thought we’d play a round of mahjong..."

She then asked if Jinchao wanted to try and offered to give up her seat.

Jinchao privately reflected that Third Master Chen must have kept Sixth Master Chen’s affairs from Madam Chen—otherwise, she wouldn’t be here playing mahjong.

With a smile, Jinchao declined. "I can recognize a few leaf cards, but mahjong is truly beyond me."Sitting nearby sipping tea, Madam Qin smiled and said, "Come sit here, sister-in-law, and chat with me for a while." Beside her sat Sun Shi, who had just become pregnant a little over a month ago. There was also Chen Zhao playing cat's cradle with a young maid.

Madam Chen added, "Jinchao, stay a while longer. Xi Jie'er should be arriving soon." She then instructed Luo to fetch embroidery hoops and needles, saying, "When she arrives, you can teach her first."

Jinchao understood Madam Chen's good intentions. Chen Xi was a shy child who rarely visited her. If this continued, they would never grow close.

Sun Shi cheerfully called her "Aunt" and asked, "I heard you're from Shi'an. The walnut cakes from Shi'an are quite delicious."

Madam Qin set down her teacup and coughed lightly, but Sun Shi didn't notice and continued with a smile, "I love pastries, and now that I'm expecting, I crave them even more. If you'd like, Aunt, I have two compartmented boxes of sweets that my mother brought from Suzhou. Suzhou's desserts are so delicate..."

Jinchao hadn't expected Sun Shi to be so warm. In her past life, she'd never even spoken to these nieces-in-law. She accepted the offer with a smile.

Meanwhile, Madam Wu, who had just finished her round, said to Madam Chen, "Looking at all your daughters-in-law bearing children one after another—my eldest and third sons' wives haven't shown any signs at all!"

Madam Chen beamed, naturally pleased with her thriving family, and pointed at Jinchao: "...We're just waiting for her to add another!"

Madam Wu's second daughter-in-law studied Jinchao and remarked, "Third Master's wife is beautiful, with a fortunate face. Any child she bears will surely be blessed." Not only was Madam Wu's second daughter-in-law eloquent, but she had also learned the art of face-reading from her aunt who practiced cultivation.

Madam Chen grew even more satisfied the more she looked at Jinchao. She told Madam Wu's second daughter-in-law, "A few days ago, I was feeling depressed and had no appetite. She cooked meals and brought them to me, saying minor illnesses shouldn't be treated with medicine but with dietary remedies. After a few days, I felt much better."

Jinchao smiled modestly. "I just happened to know what might help."

Madam Qin's smile faded slightly—she hadn't known about Jinchao sending meals to Madam Chen.

Madam Wu then brought up her eldest son's affairs: "My eldest daughter-in-law hasn't shown any signs after two years of marriage. The bedroom servant girls around my eldest son have all been taking contraceptive soups. I thought of elevating one to concubine in a couple of months. When I mentioned it to his wife, she's been crying and making a fuss these past two days—it's quite vexing..." The conversation then shifted away from Gu Jinzhao.

Soon, Chen Xi arrived with her maid to pay respects.

After exchanging a few words with her, Madam Chen directed her to Jinchao.

Chen Xi obediently greeted Jinchao, who smiled and invited her to sit beside her. "Xi Jie'er, have you learned embroidery before?" Jinchao asked.

Chen Xi replied softly, "An Momo taught me a little," still very reserved, her fingers twisting together.

Chen Zhao, having tired of playing cat's cradle, cheerfully took Chen Xi's hand. "Fourth Sister, let's go play outside! The lotus flowers behind Grandmother's courtyard have bloomed. We can pick some to decorate the house. We can even ask the maids to steam lotus leaf rice!" Chen Xi was tempted—picking lotus flowers and leaves sounded much more fun than learning needlework—but she hesitated, glancing timidly at Jinchao.

Jinchao looked up and noticed Madam Qin chatting with a maid, seemingly oblivious to the scene.Madam Chen had asked her to teach Chen Xi needlework, so letting Chen Xi and Chen Zhao go play at this moment might not be appropriate. But if she didn’t allow it, Chen Xi might think she was too strict and rigid. Jinchao then spoke softly to Chen Xi, "Learning needlework isn’t something that has to be done right away. You and Zhao Jie'er are still young, and playing by the lotus pond isn’t safe. When I was little, I once fell into the water while picking lotus seed pods by the pond, and it scared the maids serving me half to death..."

Chen Xi couldn’t help but ask, "You liked playing by the lotus pond too?" as if she now saw Jinchao as a playmate.

Jinchao smiled and nodded. "If you like it, I can even make lotus leaf rice. I use mushrooms, peas, and shrimp—it’s very fragrant."

Chen Zhao, who had been sulking, widened her eyes at this. Even Chen Xi found it sounded delicious.

So Jinchao had a servant fetch some lotus leaves from the pond and took the two girls to the small kitchen to make lotus leaf rice.