Yi Yong, wearing high-prescription glasses, clearly saw the carbon pen shoot out like an arrow, precisely landing in the not-soft soil beneath a large tree at the building’s base.
He stared at the pen, then looked back at Luo Yingbai, remembering how he had slapped Luo’s head twice just days ago, suddenly feeling his hand hurt.
Principal Yi, having seen many strange people and things over the years, quickly calmed down. He had bought the teapot casually from a roadside antique stall and didn’t believe anyone intended harm—just an unfortunate coincidence that nearly caused a disaster.
Fortunately, his grandson had met Luo Yingbai at that store. Thinking this, Principal Yi felt relieved.
Without pulling rank, he sincerely thanked Luo Yingbai: “Thank you this time. If Didi hadn’t happened to meet you crying outside, our whole family might have died without knowing how. We can’t let you come for nothing. Young people shouldn’t carry too much money on the road. I’ll have your teacher transfer your compensation.”
As Luo Yingbai was about to speak, Principal Yi waved his hand, smiling kindly: “I won’t take advantage of the younger generation. Don’t refuse. Come, sit and have some tea.”
Luo Yingbai: “…”
Yi Yong looked at the teapot and weakly said: “Let’s have a drink.”
At least for a year, he didn’t want to drink tea again.
Luo Yingbai reminded: “Besides the teapot, that calligraphy scroll is also tainted. It’s fake anyway, so just burn it.”
“Oh, fake?” Yi Yong became interested. “Tell me why.”
His tone was more curious than challenging, and even Principal Yi looked at Luo Yingbai with interest.
Luo Yingbai smiled: “Su Shi’s calligraphy is clean and smooth, natural and elegant. This scroll is too wild, deliberately affected. It must be a later imitation.”
He spoke casually and confidently. Yi Yong openly admired him, while Principal Yi looked at the calligraphy and smiled, saying: “Everyone says Su Dongpo was wild in nature, writing poetry and calligraphy unconventionally. How can you be sure he didn’t intentionally do this?”
Luo Yingbai calmly responded, explaining his perspective on Su Shi’s artistic style and interpretation, ultimately impressing the two scholars with his unique insights.
Yi Yongdao said: “Stay home for dinner today, let your teacher’s wife make something delicious for you.”
