Chapter 608: The Third Question

Editor: Henyee Translations

Gu Dajiang returned with the twenty-odd paintings.

As soon as he entered, he said to Mountain Elder Qi, “I didn’t disappoint you. I’ve already brought back all the paintings.”

Mountain Elder Qi was speechless. He already knew the process. The completion rate of the matter was far beyond his expectations.

He asked Gu Dajiang to put all 20 paintings on the table and looked at them one by one. There was indeed no problem.

Finally, Mountain Elder Qi’s gaze landed on the horse painting in Gu Dajiang’s hand. The others did the same, but Mountain Elder Qi didn’t say anything, so they could only wait.

However, Mountain Elder Qi quickly retracted his gaze and asked him curiously, “You used this painting to attract other students. If you didn’t have this painting on hand, how could you take back these twenty paintings?”

Gu Dajiang said, “Then I can only ask other students for them. There are some students in the academy who don’t have good family backgrounds. They sell paintings or help others write letters to support themselves financially. There should be more than one who wants to reduce the burden. As long as I find one, that student will definitely be able to help me find the other nineteen.”

Although there were students in the academy who spent money like water and cared about their reputation despite their family’s difficulties, there were definitely students who wanted to reduce their family’s burden and rely on themselves.

Naturally, there were also such students who formed groups.

Gu Dajiang actually empathized with such people, so he could tell at a glance. As long as he secretly negotiated with them, he believed that it wouldn’t be long before he could complete the mission.

The mountain elder raised his eyebrows. It made sense.

“What if you’re penniless and don’t have the ability to buy their paintings?”

Gu Dajiang wasn’t afraid. “Then I’d tell them that I know someone who will buy their paintings and I can still take back these 20 paintings.”

Even if these students didn’t believe him, it was fine. There was still Zhuo Guang, right? This guy could still vouch for him.

Mountain Elder Qi laughed out loud and looked at Gu Dajiang with even more satisfaction.

As expected of someone introduced by Qin Wenzheng. His thoughts were novel and not pedantic. He was flexible and would not pretend to be noble. Very good.

It was the same for the first question. He knew to avoid the difficult matter and find a breakthrough elsewhere. He would not be so stubborn as to think of an answer. If he offended his wife and daughter, he would end up in a situation where his family was at odds.

Still…

After the mountain elder finished laughing, a malicious expression suddenly appeared on his face.

Gu Yundong’s mouth twitched. Grandpa mountain elder, you should practice your facial management. In the past, when you were an official, did you often suffer because others saw your expression? Was that why you resigned early and came back to teach?

The mountain elder said, “Regarding the second question, you have indeed passed. However, although you have brought back these paintings, you have also promised those students that before the school ends, you will get the artist to point out the shortcomings in the paintings. Now that it’s almost noon, it’s too late for you to give the paintings to the artist before taking them back. Besides, don’t forget that I still have a third question waiting for you.”

He knocked on the table with a smile and glanced at the paintings on the table. “Even if it’s an expedient, you can’t go back on your word to others. If you enter school in the future, you won’t have the face to talk to these classmates, right?”

Mountain Elder Qi felt that the artist Gu Dajiang was talking about was most likely Qin Wenzheng. Unless Qin Wenzheng was in the prefectural city, he would never be able to bring the paintings back to the academy before the school ended.

But Qin Wenzheng was in Fengkai County.