TFWYH – Chapter 239 Continuing to Shift the Blame

Tang Wan couldn’t be bothered to waste words on her, so she turned back to the boatman. “Do you have charcoal pencils and paper?”

“Yes!” the boatman replied cheerfully. He then went into the cabin and brought out charcoal pencils and paper for Tang Wan. “Many scholars enjoy coming here to play. These sheets were left over by the scholars who rented my boat last time. Madam, please use them.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Wan took the charcoal and paper, and Ling Yu cooperated by moving the delicate dishes in front of her to the side so she’d have space to work.

Tang Wan spread out the paper and looked at Yanyan. “You’re pretty. Let me draw you, alright?”

Yanyan was stunned for a moment. She glanced at Ling Yu, who had pursed his lips and remained silent, then smiled and shook her head. “Lady Ling, the most handsome one here should be Young Master Yu!”

Tang Wan said, “I know. But he’s my husband—I don’t want to draw him for others to see!”

Ah, so that’s why!

Ling Yu’s brows instantly relaxed when he heard this.

Seeing that Ling Yu wasn’t angry, Yanyan finally felt relieved. She smiled and nodded. “It is this slave’s honor.”

Tang Wan didn’t say anything more. She picked up the charcoal pencil and began to draw.

The scholars all gathered around.

Pan Xiner was completely ignored, shaking with rage.

What did this village woman mean?

Saying she wasn’t as pretty as a courtesan?

Ha…

Laughable. She wanted to see what this village woman could possibly draw with a charcoal stick.

Tang Wan looked entirely focused, her charcoal pencil moving nonstop across the paper, occasionally lifting her gaze to study Yanyan’s face.

At first, when the scholars saw a few casual strokes on the paper, they nearly burst out laughing.

This was supposed to be drawing? Unheard of.

Even a three-year-old could draw better than Tang Wan.

So that poem earlier really must have been taught to her by Ling Yu!

But very soon, they could no longer laugh.

The outline on the paper quickly took shape—an image identical to Yanyan.

Tang Wan shaded and adjusted familiar areas with practiced ease.

Very soon, she put the charcoal pencil down.

Everyone stared blankly at the beauty on the paper, holding her pipa with her face half-covered. Then they looked at Yanyan, then back at the drawing… then at Yanyan again… over and over…

The scene fell into complete silence. The scholars were all dumbfounded.

“T-this…” Xie Wenjie dropped his fan. He squeezed to the front and stared hard at the picture of the pipa beauty, then looked up at Yanyan, his face frozen. “How can it be this similar? No! It’s completely identical!”

The others all looked as if their souls had left their bodies.

“I’ve never heard of such a drawing technique. This is incredible.”

“Who would’ve thought charcoal could depict someone so vividly? It’s like she’s about to step off the paper.”

“Even the greatest artists alive couldn’t portray a person so realistically!”

…

The scholars were excited, and the looks they gave Tang Wan were as if she were a glittering mountain of gold.

Su Yangyu was the quickest to act. He immediately rolled up the painting. “Wan-niang, fifty—no, five hundred taels! Sell this painting to me!”

“Alright!” Tang Wan nodded. She’d already planned to sell it to this sucker anyway!

Su Yangyu was delighted and immediately pulled out a five-hundred-tael banknote for Tang Wan.

Tang Wan accepted it with a cheerful smile.

The other scholars refused to give up and clamored for Tang Wan to take them as students.

Tang Wan refused to take any disciples and dumped the responsibility on her beautiful husband instead.

Her husband taught her well—if they wanted to learn, they could go learn from him!

So the scholars all swarmed around Ling Yu, completely ignoring the exquisite food on the table.

Ling Yu: …

Thank you so much.

He was completely surrounded and couldn’t escape.

Tang Wan gave him a “good luck” look, then continued enjoying her feast, even taking a small sip from Ling Yu’s wine cup.