Don't Say You're Heartless (Modern Edition)

88 Filial Piety

At half past eleven in the afternoon, the two had finished eating. Since their relatives were still around, they couldn't leave, so they went outside the restaurant to chat.

As soon as she stepped out, Shen Qiuhua let out a long breath. It was simply too noisy inside. For someone like her who was used to peace and quiet, it was torture.

"Are you okay?" Yang Qiong held her hand and asked with concern.

"Why wouldn't I be?" A serene smile lit up her face, and their hands intertwined warmly. Perhaps due to the wedding atmosphere, the two were unusually clingy today, each exchange of glances sweet enough to make others feel uncomfortable.

Liu Manzhi, who couldn't stand it, coughed. Seeing the two turn to look at her, she smiled and asked, "Cousin, can your calligraphy really sell for 200,000 yuan?"

"I've sold a few pieces so far, and that's basically the price." Shen Qiuhua was a meticulous person. She didn't dare claim that every piece could fetch that price, but for now, that was indeed the going rate.

"Then you must be quite rich now?" Liu Manzhi's eyes widened in innocence.

"Just enough to get by."

Liu Manzhi pouted in a way that was just like her mother's. "Cousin, I'm not trying to borrow money from you. Why are you being so modest? I may not have your talents, but I still make tens of thousands a month. I'm just curious-how did your calligraphy suddenly get so good?"

Shen Qiuhua and Yang Qiong exchanged a glance, as this was a question that could easily raise suspicion.

"With calligraphy, it comes down to talent and hard work. After I started working, there was an art teacher at my school who was very skilled in calligraphy. I learned from him for a while, and later, I just practiced on my own." Shen Qiuhua was quite gifted at making up stories, smoothly inventing a 'Teacher Gu' as her mentor.

Liu Manzhi nodded, looking thoughtful. "Cousin, do you think I could master it?"

Shen Qiuhua was always supportive of anyone practicing calligraphy. While everyone's aptitude varies, only a few can achieve great success. Still, practicing calligraphy helps cultivate patience and self-restraint, and even if one doesn't become famous, it's beneficial for personal development.

"As long as you're willing to work hard and dedicate yourself, it's certainly possible."

Liu Manzhi deflated a bit at that. If she had that kind of dedication, she wouldn't have opened a shop at such a young age. She was pretty, charming, and good at talking, but she simply didn't like studying. Just hearing words like 'hard work' and 'dedication' made her head ache.

"Isn't there a faster way to learn?" Seeing how good Shen Qiuhua had gotten in less than a year, she figured there must be a shortcut.

Shen Qiuhua shook her head. "The road to knowledge is paved with hard work, that saying couldn't be more true."

Liu Manzhi was completely disheartened, but a new idea popped into her head. "Cousin, my birthday is next month, and I'm planning a party. You have to come!"

To be honest, Shen Qiuhua wanted to refuse on the spot, but that wasn't her style. She nodded, but didn't say if she'd attend or not.

Yang Qiong, standing beside her, couldn't help but curl her lips in disdain. This Liu Manzhi really never stops, does she? Talking about a birthday party- everyone could tell she just wanted to get a calligraphy piece from Qiuhua as a gift. What a schemer!

As the three continued chatting with their own thoughts, a group of people came out of the restaurant. Some unknown relatives or friends, clearly drunk, staggered out, laughing loudly.