Sheng Tang, Xiao Yu would never have sought his help while they were in school, yet now he didn't hesitate to ask.Wei Jun dialed his father's number; Wei Zhonghua was currently holding a meeting at t...Chapter 506 Couplet of Spring Festival

Therefore, upon seeing this kind of aura from Xiao Yu, the old man couldn't sit still anymore. He put down his work and walked over to Xiao Yu's side. When he saw Xiao Yu’s writing, he was utterly shocked. Although Xiao Yu seemed so young, the bone spirit and charm in his writing were too much for him to look up to.

Those who had been writing Spring Festival couplets on this old man's stall also walked over when they saw the old man approach Xiao Yu. They didn't know much about calligraphy, but could tell that Xiao Yu’s handwriting was very pleasing to the eye.

After finishing the Spring Festival couplet, Wang Junlin brought a large square red paper. Looking at this big piece of paper, he knew it would be used for sticking a character "Fu" (happiness) on the shadow wall, which was also a custom in northern China. People usually stick a character "Fu" on their shadow walls and post them upside down, known as “fortune has arrived”.

Xiao Yu dipped his large pen into the inkstone to draw a huge stroke on the red paper. With each stroke he made, Xiao Yu’s brush moved with ease, every line was forceful and powerful, like iron hooks and silver lines, making one feel as if they were looking at an erudite scholar standing tall between heaven and earth, overlooking all the people below.

"Clap clap......" When Xiao Yu finished his last stroke for this large character "Fu", the old man started clapping first.

The old man admired Xiao Yu's calligraphy very much. Judging by his appearance, he didn’t seem to be more than twenty years old, but was able to write such charming and enchanting characters with a brush pen, which many calligraphers dream of achieving in their lives. Only those who could write with the charm would deserve being called masters.

"Young brother, you really have the style of a grandmaster! I admire you so much......" This old man looked at Xiao Yu and saw that he had remained calm all along without any airs of self-satisfaction, which couldn't help but make him say how admiring he was towards him.

There were many masters who could write with charm in brush pen nowadays. But a young person like Xiao Yu has always been extremely rare since ancient times.

"Haha, you're flattering me too much!" After hearing what the old man said, Xiao Yu chuckled and replied.

Xiao Yu's home had many rooms, each room’s entrance needed to be stuck with a small Spring Festival couplet, and there were also some characters "Fu" (happiness) in the courtyard. So after talking to the old man for a sentence, he started writing again.

More than an hour later did Xiao Yu stop his brush and stand up straight. After more than an hour of work, Xiao Yu finally completed all the Spring Festival couplets needed at home.

"Young brother, can you also write a pair of Spring Festival couplet for me

Xiao Yu had just finished writing when the old man approached him. This elderly gentleman was excited by what he saw; Xiao Yu, being so young and already achieving such success in calligraphy, could one day become an unparalleled master like Wang Xizhi. That’s why he requested a piece of Xiao Yu's handwriting.

"Well... alright then!" After hearing the old man's words, Xiao Yu thought it over before responding.

He was not opposed to giving away his writing or being seen by others doing so as long as people were not profiting from his work. Besides, during holidays like Chinese New Year, helping people write couplets is a common occurrence. Recalling that Zhong Kui used to help neighbors and villagers with their Spring Festival couplets in the past, Xiao Yu readily agreed to the old man's request.

The elderly gentleman was actually a professor of Sinology from a university who could also write decent calligraphy. He set up a stall here during holidays out of sheer boredom and wrote couplets for people. However, after seeing Xiao Yu's work, he felt that his own writing paled in comparison.

"Please help me write a couplet too!"

"Right! Please do it for me as well!"

Seeing the old man’s request being accepted by Xiao Yu, those who had gathered around him also started asking for his assistance.

"Umm... alright then!" After hearing their words and noticing that it was still early in the day, Xiao Yu agreed to their requests.

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's agreement, all the surrounding people began cheering.

The louder the cheers grew, the more people gathered around. When Xiao Yu finished writing a couplet for the elderly gentleman, those who had come later also joined in line after seeing his work.

Some of these people understood calligraphy while others did not; but all were impressed by how gracefully Xiao Yu's handwriting was written compared to that of other people on the street. Therefore, they queued up behind him.

"However, let’s agree that I’ll write until five o'clock in the afternoon and whatever is done will be accepted, and those who are not served should not take it personally!" As Xiao Yu noticed the growing line, he informed everyone of this arrangement.

Xiao Yu had no choice but to make this announcement. With more people coming each moment, if there were no time limit set, he might end up writing till late at night and still not be able to finish. If that happened after waiting so long, they would likely become frustrated with him.

SOME people at the back of the queue, seeing how long it was and having heard Xiao Yu's words, left one after another.

"I'm telling you, young man. We are not afraid of trouble and are willing to wait in line, but you say you will stop writing at 5 PM. Isn't that setting a high standard"

After hearing Xiao Yu's words, some people left, but others did not. A thirty-something youth showed an expression of disgust upon seeing Xiao Yu and said this.

"Sir, if you don’t want to wait, no one is forcing you. But please mind your language." Upon hearing these words, Xiao Yu only smiled without saying anything. He didn't speak up, but that didn't mean others wouldn't, so Wang Junlin retorted immediately after the youth finished speaking.

"Oh my! How did eating sunflower seeds produce such a pest Since you set up your stall, can people not talk anymore What kind of garbage are you writing"

This person didn’t move from the line when he heard Wang Junlin’s words but exaggeratedly shouted.

"Garbage characters If they're garbage, why don't you wait then Furthermore, it's free. They’re doing you a favor by giving it to you for free. Why are you complaining about this and that"

The elderly man who was in his sixties couldn’t stand hearing any more of this nonsense and said something back.

"Are you crazy Who would pay if they can get it for free" This person looked at the elder with disdain and said.

"If you know it's free, don't bring up such nonsense! He will write until however late he wants to." The elder stared at this person angrily as he spoke.

"Haha, although it's free, we’re not easily waiting either. Besides, the air I breathe is also free; why aren’t you making me wait in line to breathe"

This person smiled lightly and said with a look of disdain on his face.

""Um..."" The elder was at a loss for words upon hearing this. He sighed inwardly, "Isn't arguing with such an unreasonable person lowering my intelligence" With that thought in mind, he shook his head and stopped speaking.

The person saw the elder no longer argue and showed a victorious smile.

The passage of time was gradual, and although Xiao Yu wrote very quickly, it was calligraphy with a brush pen rather than hard-pen writing, so even if he sped up, there were limits.

"Xiao Yu, it's five o'clock!" When Wang Junlin approached Xiao Yu, he softly reminded him of the time.

"Oh!" Upon hearing Wang Junlin's words, Xiao Yu looked at the sky and realized it was indeed getting late. He glanced at the people waiting in line for their couplets and saw around ten more ahead of them, including the person who had just spoken. After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Yu continued writing.

Xiao Yu had no particular feelings towards this person; he knew that in such a vast world, all kinds of people existed. If he were to fuss over every individual like this one, he would think himself foolish. Thus, he simply ignored him.

"There are still around ten people left. I will finish writing for everyone today and then stop." Xiao Yu said to the queue in front of him.

Upon hearing this, everyone let out a sigh of relief. They had already checked the time earlier and saw that it was five o'clock; they had been waiting over two hours by now. If Xiao Yu were to say he wouldn't write anymore at this moment, their wait would have been in vain. Just as they were feeling regretful, hearing that he would finish writing for them all brought smiles back to their faces.

After all, after waiting for two hours, it wasn't entirely a waste of time. However, if Xiao Yu had said he wouldn’t write anymore, there was nothing they could do about it since he had already announced that he would stop at five o'clock.

Xiao Yu focused on writing when it came to the person who had spoken earlier. Seeing this moment, a smile appeared on his face: "Hurry up and finish! I’m waiting for dinner!"

Xiao Yu looked up briefly at this person. When he saw him, his brows slightly knitted together before quickly relaxing into a small smile. Shaking his head, Xiao Yu lowered himself back to writing the couplet.

The man who saw Xiao Yu's work had a look of satisfaction on his face; although he knew a bit about calligraphy, he couldn't tell how excellent Xiao Yu's handwriting was but could sense that it was very good, at least better than those written by others in the street. That's why he waited here for over two hours.

Within half an hour, Xiao Yu finished writing couplets for everyone present and sent them on their way; with the sky now darkening, Xiao Yu packed up his belongings along with Wang Junlin when they noticed that the elderly man from earlier was still standing there.

"Old sir, is there anything else" As this old gentleman had spoken up numerous times to support him, Xiao Yu asked him out of curiosity once he saw that he hadn’t left.

“Actually, young brother, on the tenth day of the first lunar month, our district's retired cadres activity center will host a calligraphy contest and is still short one judge. I was wondering if you would consider joining us; what do you think...”re! Everything is here!" Upon hearing Xiaozhao's words, Old Yu quickly replied and moved two boxes from a long chair by the door over to them.Driver Xiaozhao immediately started rummaging through one...