Chapter 21: The Demon Lord Junzhu's Slacking Daily Life Chapter 21: Calligraphy and Painting Class

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the window into the room, illuminating Qianqian lying on the bed. She stared at the ceiling with wide eyes, not moving a muscle.

Why? Because the moment she thought about having to go to class today, she simply couldn't fall asleep. It felt like ten thousand ants were crawling in her heart; she couldn't calm down at all. Aaaah! She couldn't help but wail inwardly, feeling like her whole being was falling apart.

Why do I have to go to class! Why do people have to go to class! Right now, Qianqian sat on the bed, her face full of world-weariness, doubting life itself.

At this moment, Yan Shuang'er, already dressed neatly, walked over. Seeing Qianqian sitting there with a head of messy hair like a silly goose, she couldn't help but burst out laughing with a "puchi" sound. She walked to the bedside, sat down, gently patted Qianqian's shoulder, and comforted her: "Don't be unhappy, just hold on for a few more days and you'll be on break."

Hearing this, Qianqian lifted her head and looked at Yan Shuang'er with a pitiful expression, her voice carrying a sob: "How many more days?"

Yan Shuang'er patiently explained to Qianqian: "Generally, the Shangshufang has class for five days then rests for two days. Although you've only had one day of class so far, as long as you hold on for two more days, it'll be time for the Shangshufang's unified break. So, hang in there!"

"Alright..." Qianqian nodded listlessly, climbing out of bed unwillingly. Seeing she was finally willing to move, Yan Shuang'er hurriedly had Mantou bring water in to help Qianqian wash up. When Mantou saw Qianqian actually getting up on her own initiative today without needing to be called, she too wore a face of surprise.

But surprise was just surprise; Mantou still sprang into action immediately, and together with Baozi, they nimbly got little Qianqian cleaned up properly. Servants brought up breakfast; Qianqian and Yan Shuang'er ate breakfast together. Qianqian ate with loud smacking sounds, relishing it. Thinking of lunch at noon, she ate two extra xiaolongbao. After the morning meal, during the meal the Princess Consort walked in. Seeing little Qianqian eating, she also wore a face of surprise. With yesterday's lesson as precedent, the Princess Consort today didn't have much to worry about. After breakfast, she watched the three leave and then returned.

The three arrived at the Shangshufang before long. Qianqian sat in her seat. After a while, Qi Xi walked in carrying a small schoolbag. "Good morning, Qianqian." Qi Xi came to the seat next to Qianqian. "Morning, Xi Xi." The two children happily sat together, chattering away.

"Morning Qianqian, morning Qi Xi." Ai Jiao, just arriving at the doorway, called out loudly. Qianqian and Qi Xi both looked toward the doorway simultaneously. "Morning, Ai Jiao." Ai Jiao swapped seats with the child in front of Qianqian and sat in front of Qianqian.

Thus, the three children chattered together. As they spoke, the teacher entered. Today's teacher wasn't Bai Fuzi, but a man who looked in his forties, wearing pince-nez glasses and a gray robe. He walked up to the lectern, lowered his head, pushed up his glasses, and said: "Oh, there are new faces. Hello everyone, I'm your Mathematics teacher, my surname is Wang, you can call me Wang Fuzi. Today I'll teach you to recognize numbers within twenty." Then, Wang Fuzi slowly lowered his head, seriously wrote the numbers 1 to 10 on a sheet of paper, and held it up high. He began teaching the children how to count from one to ten, his voice gentle and full of patience.

All the children followed along with rapt attention, naturally including Qianqian. She stared intently at the paper in Wang Fuzi's hand, softly reciting each number, but in her heart she silently longed for class to end. Longing, longing, the time for class to end finally arrived.

Finally, when the teacher said this lesson would end here, the whole classroom instantly filled with a relaxed and happy atmosphere. All the children, hearing class was dismissed, beamed with joy, left their seats in groups, and prepared to go to the dining hall for a meal. They talked and laughed, as if forgetting the fatigue of the study just past.

Qianqian and Qi Xi also rose together, tidied up their books, and headed for the dining hall. Today, they had a new companion — Ai Jiao. Ai Jiao actively joined their group, and they walked out of the classroom together with Yan Shuang'er, Yan Wang, and Qi Yu to the dining hall to eat. After lunch, the afternoon class was Calligraphy and Painting, taught by Bai Fuzi. As soon as Bai Fuzi entered the classroom, he asked Qianqian: "Qianqian, did you understand everything I taught yesterday after you went home?" Qianqian replied confidently: "I understood it all." Bai Fuzi smiled and said: "That's good."

He continued: "Today we won't have Language class; we'll have Calligraphy and Painting class." Then Bai Fuzi said: "Next, I'll give each of you a sheet of paper. Everyone draw what you most want to draw on the paper. It can be an animal, a plant, a landscape, or a figure. After you finish, hand them all in, and we'll see who drew the best. Did everyone understand?"

"Understood!" everyone shouted in unison. Bai Fuzi handed a sheet of paper to each child. After distributing them, the children began heated discussions, consulting on what to draw. Ai Jiao turned her head and asked: "Qianqian, what are you planning to draw?" Qianqian frowned in thought: "I don't know, haven't decided." Then she asked Qi Xi: "Qi Xi, what are you planning to draw?" Qi Xi thought for a moment and said: "I'll draw my Xiao Bai. Xiao Bai is a white cat I keep." After asking, she said: "What about you, Ai Jiao?" Ai Jiao said: "I'll draw a landscape painting." After speaking, the two picked up their brushes and began painting. Qianqian pondered for a moment and also picked up her brush.

In less than an hour, all the children had finished and handed their paintings to Bai Fuzi. Bai Fuzi collected every child's painting, placing them one by one in order on the table. Bai Fuzi picked up the first painting, held it up, and displayed it to everyone. Everyone's gazes were drawn to that flawless white paper, on which was painted a pink flower, its petals delicate and dewy, with green lotus leaves below setting off the flower, making it exceptionally beautiful and moving. The whole picture was vivid in color, making one involuntarily exclaim in admiration.

Holding the painting, Bai Fuzi asked softly: "Whose painting is this?" As soon as he finished speaking, a thin, small girl slowly stood up. She lowered her head somewhat bashfully, not daring to meet everyone's eyes.

Bai Fuzi looked at her gently and asked again: "Why did you think to paint a lotus flower?" The little girl twisted her fingers nervously; after a good while she finally mustered the courage to speak: "Because every summer, many beautiful lotus flowers bloom in my family's pond. They're so beautiful I couldn't help wanting to paint them."

Hearing this, a gratified smile appeared on Bai Fuzi's face. He encouraged her: "You painted really well! How about we give your painting a name?" The girl thought for a moment, then carefully replied: "Let's call it 'Lotus Painting'."

Bai Fuzi nodded in satisfaction and praised: "That name is quite good! Alright, sit down quickly." Then he wrote the three characters 'Lotus Painting' neatly and squarely on the painting. The little girl sat down, her heart full of joy.

Immediately after, Bai Fuzi picked up the second painting and continued displaying it for everyone to admire. Like this, one exquisite painting after another was presented before the crowd, each displaying the children's unique creativity and talent.

Until Bai Fuzi held up a painting, on which was drawn a little cat...