Chapter 22: Spend a thousand gold

Chen Wanrong got out of the car and helped Zheng Qing get out of the car. He could only take on the responsibility of pioneering the road and walk in his head to clear the way. Zheng Qing and the other two followed him. There were too many people, and Chen Wanrong took the elders' efforts to squeeze over. When he came to the gallery, he saw Wu Daozi, Wang Han, Gao Qingtai, Ma Zhizhong and Zhou Sheng, looking at the crowded heads, and was particularly excited.

When they saw Chen Wanrong coming, Wu Daozi and the others surrounded him. After a moment of greeting, Chen Wanrong joked: "There are so many people today, Brother Wu, you have to seize the opportunity."

Wang Han laughed and said, "Brother Chen, don't worry, there will be no mistakes."

Zhou Sheng is the shopkeeper of Wangjiang Tower. Chen Wanrong and the others did not invite him, so he came too. Chen Wanrong was very surprised. Just as he was about to understand, Zhou Sheng said it first: "Shopkeeper Chen, Mr. Wu painted his paintings for our store. The news spread, and there were endless visitors. Mr. Wu opened today, so how could I not come."

Chen Wanrong really didn't expect this, but after thinking about it, it was reasonable. Wu Daozi was sure to become famous. If he didn't come and gain some benefits, he would be too blind. He smiled and said, "It's a great honor for Manager Zhou to come."

Zhou Sheng smiled very kindly: "Shopkeeper Chen, I can't serve anything else, but this food and drink is still good. When the opening is over, I will gather at Wangjiang Tower to celebrate Mr. Wu."

It turned out that he was treating a guest, and this matter was optional. Chen Wanrong refused to comment: "I appreciate the kindness of the shopkeeper Zhou, I will tell you later."

Zhou Sheng looked somber: "Shopkeeper Chen, why not say it? I'll say that this is the final word."

Chen Wanrong didn't want to get entangled with him in this matter, and followed his words: "Okay, okay, that's it." Zhou Sheng threw down the sentence "This is almost the same" and stopped talking.

"When is it going to be opened? We are waiting to buy paintings." The onlookers were a little impatient and began to urge.

"We have been waiting for a long time and there is no movement at all. Isn't this a scam?"

Wu Daozi frowned and was about to comfort them, but Chen Wanrong rushed to stand up: "Everyone, we are very grateful. Please rest assured that you will be satisfied. Today's opening is not as good as finding Zhang. We have prepared a lot of surprises for you, so you can snatch your strength and yell at that time."

"Somewhat surprise?" People were interested.

Chen Wanrong's eyes flashed, and he looked a little naughty: "Since it's a surprise, it's natural that the truth will be revealed at that time. Now the secret of heaven cannot be revealed!"

"Just say a little bit, don't be too much." People are more interested.

With a wave of his right hand, Chen Wanrong said firmly: "Let's wait." He turned around and entered the gallery. Behind him was a complaint of "Why is this person so unreasonable."

"Brother Wu, are you all ready?" Chen Wanrong was still a little worried. You should know that the painter brought by Princess Taiping must be a master-level painter. Although Wu Daozi is very talented, it is hard to say if he is not prepared.

Wang Han slapped Chen Wanrong's shoulder and said, "Brother Chen, don't worry. Brother Wu's talent, can't you believe it? Besides, today's competition does not necessarily mean the winner or loser. Even if there is a difference, it's okay. It's a great honor to be able to compete with famous masters."

This made sense. Chen Wanrong hit each other with his hands and agreed: "Brother Wang, I didn't expect this level."

Wang Han said confidently: "Everything is ready, just wait for the princess to arrive."

As soon as the words were finished, someone shouted loudly: "The princess is here!"

When it comes to Cao Cao, Cao Cao is here, this point is too accurate. Chen Wanrong and the others hurriedly welcome him out, and the crowd is separated. Princess Taiping walked in her head with a smile on her face, which is particularly friendly and elegant, not like a high-ranking person at all. Sima Chengzhen and Princess Taiping came side by side, with big sleeves floating, and a breath of air coming out of the world came to her face.

Behind the two were two men, one was older and in his fifties, wearing luxurious brocade, with a big belly, bright eyes, and when it was turning, it felt majestic. The other man was in his thirties, and was also wearing luxurious brocade, with a strong aura.

Next were servants like Ye Liu and others. Chen Wanrong smiled at Ye Liu and Ye Liu smiled, which was considered a gift.

"I've seen the princess!" Chen Wanrong and the others gathered to greet him.

Princess Taiping was in a good mood and swayed her right hand lightly: "Forgive, forgive. Today, I am here to see you, I am not obeying your etiquette. Is this Miss Zheng?" she pointed at Zheng Qing and asked.

Chen Wanrong introduced: "Princess, she is Zheng Qing, my fiancée."

Princess Taiping looked at Zheng Qing for a while: "Oh, Wanrong, you are so lucky to have a lovely person like Miss Zheng."

Zheng Qing blushed and hurriedly bowed: "The princess is too good, so Zheng Qing dare not be the one."

Chen Wanrong said proudly: "What the princess said is that with her help, I will save a lot of worry."

"Somewhat capable? You can praise it so much." Princess Taiping looked at Zheng Qing with interest.

Chen Wanrong smiled and happily talked about Zheng Qing’s special features: “I won’t talk about these things about female workers, but I can still take them out. What surprised me the most was that her number of techniques can be calculated by just checking the accounts and reading them.”

Princess Taiping didn't want to believe it: "Is it so powerful?"

Wang Han stepped forward to salute: "The princess doesn't know. Miss Zheng does have such ability, and I admire her." Wu Daozi, Ma Zhizhong, Gao Qingtai and Zhou Sheng hurriedly echoed.

"I didn't see that it turned out to be a talented woman." Princess Taiping grabbed Zheng Qing, looked left and right, and said with great satisfaction: "He's a lovely man!"

Chen Wanrong then introduced Zheng Zhou, Wu Daozi and the others one by one. Princess Taiping looked at Wu Daozi and Wang Han, but was not sure and asked, "Wanrong, who is the real master today?"

Wang Han wants to explain that Chen Wanrong took the lead: "The princess has a wise eye, can she recognize a hero?"

"You are so lucky that you are actually keeping your back. OK, I will recognize the heroes again." Princess Taiping was surprised and complained, looked Wang Han and Wu Daozi, pointed at Wu Daozi and said, "It's Mr. Wu who has extraordinary skills in painting, right?"

This time, it was Chen Wanrong's turn to be surprised: "How did the princess know?"

"I have a wise eye!" Princess Taiping kept her in a silence.

Chen Wanrong had no choice but to ask, and had seen Li with Sima Chengzhen and introduced Sima Chengzhen to Wu Daozi and the others. Sima Chengzhen's name Wu Daozi and others were well-known. Even though they knew that Sima Chengzhen was coming today, they were still very surprised and held the Li highly respectful one.

Princess Taiping introduced two men to Chen Wanrong and the others: "This is Uncle Wang, Wei Sixun."

The older man bowed and met: "I have met you all." The sound was like a loud bell, shocking the eardrums.

Chen Wanrong didn’t know who Li Sixun was, but only knew that he was a royal family. Wang Han and Wu Daozi were different. The two held rituals and respectful manners. Wu Daozi said sincerely: "I heard for a long time that the master was superb in painting and was very skilled in landscape paintings. He was a master. Today, he was lucky to meet him in three lives!"

"It's easy to say, it's easy to say." Li Sixun gave a brief gift, looking like he didn't care, and he didn't take Wu Daozi, the unknown man, to heart.

"This is Li Zhaodao." Princess Taiping introduced the young people.

Wu Daozi rushed to say, "I heard for a long time that Lord Li has a great landscape, and I chased Lord Li. Today I met Lord Li and his son, how lucky I am to see him, how lucky I am to see him!"

Li Zhaodao is Li Sixun's son, and he is a master of landscapes and towers. He is very famous in Chang'an. After looking at Wu Daozi for a while, he didn't take it seriously and gave up after a gamble.

Chen Wanrong saw the expressions of the father and son, and kept silent, thinking that it would surprise you later.

Princess Taiping came for the painting today. After the ceremony, she immediately asked, "Wanrong, can you start?"

Before Chen Wanrong could speak, Wang Han waved his hand and started. The guys threw the firecrackers into the fire. After a while, the sound of firecrackers sounded, and it was very lively. The two guys carried a plaque and covered it with red silk. Chen Wanrong smiled and said, "Princess is welcome to unveil it."

Today, she is the most noble person here, and it is the most suitable for her to unveil. Princess Taiping is not polite: "Master, please." Sima Chengzhen's famous laity in the world is naturally qualified to unveil. With a chant of the Tao, the two of them held a corner, shook lightly, and the red silk fell down. The plaque said the four words "Tianxia Gallery".

"Good words!" A sound of praise sounded.

Princess Taiping commented: "The character is elegant and elegant, and the architecture is needless to say. It is a masterpiece that catches up with the famous masters today. Whose masterpiece is it?"

"The princess is too awarded, Wu Daozi is graffiti, please don't laugh." Wu Daozi admitted modestly.

Sima Chengzhen nodded constantly and was very satisfied with the word. Li Sixun and his son praised the word, and their disdain for Wu Daozi was reduced, which made him feel a little more favorable.

"Hang it!" Wang Han ordered, and the guy hung the plaque on it, which attracted a lot of praise.

There are two doors in this gallery. If the Zhuque Street is hung, a plaque will naturally be hung on the other side of Yanqing Street. Relatively speaking, Yanqing Street is more deserted. This time, Li Sixun and his son are invited to open the show. The father and son have noble identities, and are worse than Princess Taiping and Sima Chengzhen. You are not polite, so you can take off the red silk. Wang Han ordered and hang it up.

The opening has been completed, and the next highlight is the next one. Princess Taiping asked: "Can you see Mr. Wu's painting skills?"

She was really anxious, and Chen Wanrong smiled and said, "Princess, wait. Our painting is unique today. Since it is a competition, we must have a bride price."

Princess Taiping was interested and looked at Chen Wanrong: "What kind of betrothal gift is it?"

Chen Wanrong did not answer the question, but just said a moment, and came to the door with a gold-painted box. The guy hurriedly brought a table. Chen Wanrong put the box on and opened the lid. Wang Han and Wu Daozi brought a bag of things and put them on the table. They untied the cloth piece and saw that it was a golden ingot.

"This is one thousand taels of gold. Whoever wins Mr. Wu will have this gold." Chen Wanrong explained with a raised voice.

One thousand taels of gold are ten thousand silver, and it really cost ten thousand gold, which surprised the audience. The sound of surprise sounded, and it took a long time to stop. The sound of surprise came, followed by a burst of discussion, buzzing, and it took a long time to calm down.

What Wu Daozi needs most now is the opportunity to become famous. If there is no big news, it will not become the focus of people's attention. Thousand taels of gold are a large number. If not, it will not show his great talent.

This is Chen Wanrong's idea. The reason for this idea is that if there is no such bounty, even if Wu Daozi wins the competition today, he will not attract famous masters. Only when famous masters come will Wu Daozi's reputation spread.

Princess Taiping did not expect that Chen Wanrong would dare to offer a reward of 1,000 taels of gold, and was very surprised. Li Sixun and his son were secretly shocked. If they dared to give such a heavy reward, Wu Daozi must be a talented person. He would restrain his underestimation.

Chen Wanrong put the golden cakes in the box, covered the lid, locked them, then sealed them with wax, and finally wrapped them in red silk, and lifted the table to the door and placed them: "Who is the one who is willing to give it a try?"

"Is it true?" Someone in the crowd was worried.

Chen Wanrong raised his voice and said, "The red mouth and white teeth are naturally keeping his word. There are also princesses, Taoist priests, two masters, and everyone witnesses." This was said firmly.

No one had any questions. There was another situation in the crowd, and there was a lot of discussion. Whose bounty would fall into? Needless to think about it, there must be a brave man under the heavy reward. With such a large bounty, someone will definitely come to challenge it. Today, there was a good show, and they all stretched their necks and tiptoed, ready to see it.

The guy prepared all the tools for painting, and a large table with neatly stacked high-quality canvases. Wu Daozi walked up and clasped his fists: "Everyone: Wu Daozi is not talented, and he is willing to throw bricks and attract jade to learn from all the talents."

This is for fame, not arrogant, but in Wu Daozi's words, he said it very humblely. At the same time, his expression and tone are very sincere. He is definitely not an arrogant person, and he suddenly feels good about it.

Princess Taiping, Sima Chengzhen and Li Sixun, nodded constantly and admired her very much.

"Show your skills first." Someone in the crowd shouted.

"Yes, show your skills!" The crowd wanted to see the show, so naturally they sang together.

Princess Taiping had long wanted to see Wu Daozi's painting skills and agreed with this proposal. However, Chen Wanrong had other ideas and stood up and said, "Everyone: If Brother Wu shows his skills now, would it be interesting? Who would like to give a painting? Please!"

The crowd was buzzing first, and then there was a silence. If there weren't a thousand taels of gold there, there would definitely be a so-called painter who was not as good as the challenge. With so many bounties, Wu Daozi didn't have real skills, so dared to set up this stage? People have the same heart and the same principles, and they dare not challenge without first-class painting skills.

Wang Han was a little worried and asked in a low voice: "Brother Chen, what should I do?" No one challenged me, and this plan was about to fail. How can I not be anxious?

Chen Wanrong was not worried at all and smiled and said, "Brother Wang, don't be anxious. It doesn't matter whether there is anyone to challenge it. What is important is to let people know that Brother Wu is looking for a opponent for a price of ten thousand gold. This is enough."

It doesn’t matter if there is anyone here to challenge it. The important thing is to spread the matter. As long as it is spread, Wu Daozi’s reputation will be famous and his purpose can be achieved. Wang Han patted his forehead and said, “I’m not expecting this, I’m just a little worried. Since Brother Chen is so confident, just do it.”

Princess Taiping looked around and asked softly: "Uncle Wang, what do you think?"

Looking at Wu Daozi's calm and composed look, Li Sixun was really a little nervous. He weighed the pros and cons of the two sides and couldn't make up his mind for a moment: "I haven't thought about this yet."

Princess Taiping asked, "Wanrong, are there any requirements for painting?"

"When I go back to the princess, there is no requirement. As long as I think I have strengths, I can draw it. The mountains, rivers, towers, people, horses, galloping cattle, live fish, and birds are all OK." Chen Wanrong answered without thinking.

Wu Daozi is a genius and is good at painting skills. Even if he compares his own strengths with his own weaknesses, he may not lose. Even if he loses, it is not much. Money is not important. What is important is that he can achieve fame.

Li Sixun shook his head and said, "This is not fair!" Painters are good at each other. Some are good at landscapes, some are good at horses, and some are good at running oxen. It is really unfair to use their own strengths to compare with others' shortcomings. Unless Wu Daozi is a generalist, it is really difficult to make Li Sixun believe that Wu Daozi is a generalist.

Sima Chengzhen said loudly: "Since that's the case, I'm so ugly."

No one expected that Sima Chengzhen would come to challenge him. Princess Taiping was stunned: "Master..."

Sima Chengzhen smiled and said, "Don't worry, princess, if I expected it is not bad, a talent that is rare in a century has emerged. I have a little bit of knowledge about this painting technique, how dare I not throw away any bricks and attract jade?"

"Master's magical skills!" Sima Chengzhen's name is very famous. Many people knew his name and couldn't help but cheer.

Sima Chengzhen is not greedy for money. He will never challenge him to win gold, but to really compete. The person present is the most famous of Princess Taiping, followed by Sima Chengzhen. Princess Taiping is a superior, not good at painting and cannot count. If Sima Chengzhen can convince Sima Chengzhen or make him praise a few words, Wu Daozi's fame will go straight. Chen Wanrong was excited and busy laying the canvas: "Master, please!"

He was not humble either. Sima Chengzhen picked up the brush, thought for a moment, drew the brush, and drew it on the canvas. After a while, he put down the brush and smiled and said, "I'm so ugly!"
Chapter completed!