You rascal, stop right there!

The ninth day of the lunar month.

The rain was still falling in Caizhou City, but it was cold and even mixed with a little snow.

Bai Wan and Ling Shumo brought lots of bags and carefully prepared gift boxes to meet Old Man Bai.

He was lightly wrapped in a white fur coat and a thick straw hat, walking in the rain and snow.

Suddenly I felt warmth in my palms.

Ling Shumo twisted the cotton cloth on the small hand warmer and stuffed it into his hand.

He said lightly: "The purple-red copper used this time is warmer than the previous ones."

Looking at his pale face, he directly snatched the heaviest gift box and walked forward as if nothing had happened.

Bai Jinshun's yard was only separated from them by a mountain, but in order to facilitate Bai Wan's travel, he always had a carriage ready.

The rain became noticeably lighter and the snow began to increase. Ling Shumo, who was driving the carriage, tried to choose a flatter road.

As soon as they arrived at the door, they saw Aunt Xiu with a big belly and Old Man Bai waiting for them.

Bai Wan got out of the car and stepped forward, looking at him with a joyful smile: "Dad! Aunt Xiu!"

Ling Shumo bowed in greeting: "Uncle Bai, Auntie."

Aunt Xiu smoothed the hair on Baiwan's forehead and said, "It's raining now, and you still come. It's so inconvenient."

Her tone was angry and worried.

For some reason, Old Man Bai fell in love with this widow a year ago, and since then he has become her legitimate stepmother.

This gentle lady treated people very well and treated them as her own sons, which temporarily made up for the regret of the two men's parents' death.

"Abai, Zichen. Stop standing at the door and come inside."

Old Man Bai also warmly welcomed people in.

"Dad!"

Suddenly, Bai Wan was about to say something, but froze in place the moment she entered the door.

He saw Chai Jin, wearing a red official uniform, sitting inside.

Chai Jin's expression seemed a little excited, and he quickly stepped forward and bowed: "Han Huasheng..."

For a moment, Bai Wan almost looked up at the snow and complained.

"This kid is a painter at the art academy. He said he has admired Abai for a long time and came here specifically to learn from him."

"Ah--"

Bai Wan smiled helplessly and raised her eyes, but her smile was a little awkward.

"Did you say that?"

It's simply speechless.

In order to maintain superficial order, the meal was like walking on thin ice and the atmosphere was weird.

They all kept silent, so as not to scare Aunt Xiu and cause her to have a miscarriage, and disturb Old Man Bai's peace.

The two elders left when the meal was almost finished.

Chai Jin felt a little choked up in his throat and bowed respectfully, as if trying to impress others with his sincerity.

"Han Huasheng, I am born..."

"Chai Jin!" Ling Shumo smiled slightly, his smile tinged with stubbornness. "I made it very clear yesterday. Did you overstep the bounds by coming here today?"

Just call them by their names, without even mentioning their official titles.

"Han Huasheng, I am only here to pay my respects to your family. I have no other intentions."

Chai Jin rolled up his sleeves lightly, as if responding with plain words, trying to be as appropriate as possible.

This made Bai Wan speechless...

"Brother Chai, when it comes to lying, you should worship me as your ancestor!"

"Four years ago, I said that painting for the rich and powerful is different from painting for the common people. You have your own pursuits. Han naturally has his own way of painting."

He spoke every word calmly, his expression composed.

"You're not a wicked person. I believe you wouldn't use the elderly, the weak, women, and children to threaten others, right?"

Upon hearing this, Chai Jin's face darkened, his chest ached, and he felt unable to refute it.

Bai Wan's original opinion of him was not wrong. He really could not give up those fleeting clouds of fame.

If my painting skills were not inferior to others, I would not have left the academy and traveled thousands of miles to find the painting master.

Simply because he couldn't draw the best picture in the world...

If Chai Jin could find Han Miaoran and bring her to the capital, he would surely gain more favor from the emperor. If they could work together to paint the best painting in the world, he might also be famous in history.

"Han Huasheng..."

In a moment, Chai Jin barely returned to normal, as if he cared about what this person said.

"Han Huasheng, I really envy your hand."

His smile was indescribably confused and sad, and his words were incoherent.

"My painting style is obviously similar to yours, but there's a world of difference between us..."

The thatched eaves were covered with snow, rustling sound, and the drizzle was accompanied by the sound of string instruments.

There is no use in talking more.

There is no point in saying more...

He had a gloomy face, his eyes fixed on the picture of a flying god that Bai Wan had previously drawn for Old Man Bai on the wall not far away.

The shock of the painting soul may last for a hundred miles.

"Han Huasheng..."

Chai Jin still raised his hand to bow, with a green light in his eyes.

"What conditions do you want before you agree to come to Beijing?"