Chapter 1880: Chapter 1480: Like I’d Believe That!

Under Mo Ziyue’s questioning, Bai Xiaosheng candidly admitted that Old Mr. Mo’s calligraphy was “average.” Seeing that the old man wasn’t around and Mo Ziyue seemed to have a subtle sense of “taking pleasure in this,” Bai Xiaosheng spoke frankly.

As a result, the old man overheard him.

The moment Old Mr. Mo came in, Mo Ziyue’s face changed, and Bai Xiaosheng also felt a bit awkward.

Lin Weiwei stood by, awkwardly accompanying with a smile.

Lei Ying, however, eyed the old man with curiosity. With his sharp hearing, he hadn’t heard any footsteps. Of course, part of it was because his attention was drawn by the conversation between Bai Xiaosheng and Mo Ziyue, but this old man was indeed a skilled practitioner. His whole get-up in black martial arts attire was clean and sharp, and his steps were light and agile.

“Grandpa, you’ve… been out?” Mo Ziyue put on a smile, trying to find something to say.

“Hmph.” Old Mr. Mo glanced at his grandson, snorting, and then shifted his gaze to Bai Xiaosheng, scrutinizing him up and down. His face clouded slightly as he asked Mo Ziyue, “Who is this?!”

“He’s a friend of mine, visiting our home this time,” Mo Ziyue answered quickly, “He’s studied Chinese medicine, and he’s quite skilled!”

Mo Ziyue also knew the old man was always annoyed that he went to study Western medicine, so he quickly clarified that Bai Xiaosheng was not like him.

Bai Xiaosheng gave Old Mr. Mo a respectful smile, politely saying, “Hello, sir.”

Lin Weiwei and Lei Ying also greeted the elderly man one after another.

“Good,” Old Mr. Mo nodded slightly at Bai Xiaosheng, showing a slightly better attitude towards Lin Weiwei and Lei Ying.

Apparently, Old Mr. Mo wasn’t concerned about whether Bai Xiaosheng had studied Chinese medicine or how skilled he was.

What he cared about was what Bai Xiaosheng had said earlier.

“Young man, what did you say about my calligraphy?” Old Mr. Mo pointed to the calligraphy and paintings on the Eight Immortals Table, asking, “I’m old now, my hearing isn’t what it used to be. I didn’t quite catch what you said just now.”

Mo Ziyue immediately felt uneasy, glancing at Bai Xiaosheng.

He originally wanted to gloss over the matter, but it was obviously not going to work.

Bai Xiaosheng quickly smiled, “Sir, your calligraphy is quite good.”

“That’s a lie!” Old Mr. Mo stiffened, glaring, “Just now, young man, you didn’t say that! Do you really think I’m deaf?”

Mo Ziyue felt bitter.

The old man, at eighty or ninety years old, took everything lightly, except for his grudge against his grandson studying Western medicine, and his immense pride in his skills in Chinese medicine and calligraphy. Now seeing his work criticized by a young lad, it was hard for him to take.

In reality, it’s not fair to say Old Mr. Mo was being petty, as there was a reason behind this.

A few years ago, a renowned calligrapher visited, and the old man asked him to critique his artwork. The guest wasn’t willing to speak honestly, so he vaguely said it was not bad.

Consequently, the old man got stubborn, saying if the guest didn’t speak the truth, he wouldn’t see patients.

Finally, the calligrapher had no choice but to say, “The painting is good. The calligraphy, however, has form but lacks spirit.”

Ever since, the old man had worked hard like practicing martial arts, diligently through winter’s cold and summer’s heat.

Over the years, he felt that his calligraphy and painting skills had improved greatly, and his family would always shower him with praise.

But then Bai Xiaosheng’s comment, “Formal but lacking intention,” was almost identical to what the calligrapher had said back then.

It was as if a heavy blow had knocked the old man back to square one.

How could he be at peace with that!

“Grandpa, my friend is visiting our home for the first time, and what he said just now was casual. Please don’t take it seriously,” Mo Ziyue tried to calm the situation.

“Yes, sir, I only have a superficial understanding. What I said earlier was a slip of the tongue. Please don’t take it to heart,” Bai Xiaosheng also said.

Old Mr. Mo shook his head stubbornly, walked directly to the Eight Immortals Table, sat down, and tapped his finger on his own calligraphy piece. “You must really be an amateur if you couldn’t just say that! How about this, write a couple of words for me to see! Then it’ll be clear to all!”

He was challenging Bai Xiaosheng to write something, just to see if he really could tell the calligraphy was formal but lacked meaning.

Mo Ziyue, hearing this, could only feel bitter, sneaking a look at Bai Xiaosheng.

To ask Bai Xiaosheng to write a couple of words?

If Bai Xiaosheng wrote them well, wouldn’t that embarrass the old man in public!

If he intentionally wrote poorly, the old man, having practiced for so many years, wouldn’t he see through it?

In any case, Bai Xiaosheng was in a bind — he couldn’t win by writing or by not writing.

It was truly headache-inducing!

Lin Weiwei and Lei Ying also felt a bit troubled.

Bai Xiaosheng thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled and spoke gently to Old Mr. Mo, “Sir, you might not know, but I indeed learned calligraphy. However, my old teacher once told me that my eyes are sharp, but I can’t execute. I know that’s called ‘having an eye but lacking skill.’ Actually, my own eyesight is average, and I’m just bolder in my remarks among the students.”

Old Mr. Mo looked at Bai Xiaosheng in disbelief.

Bai Xiaosheng continued to smile, “In fact, I was with the old gentleman for a long time, often listening to him critique others’ calligraphy, saying things like ‘form correct but lacking spirit,’ or ‘soft without substance.’ Hearing it enough, I remembered these comments. When I see writing that’s too floaty, I say it lacks substance; when I can’t discern the foundation, I say it’s missing some spirit. After a few lucky guesses, I got a reputation for having a bit of discerning eye.”

Bai Xiaosheng’s story was so convincing that even Mo Ziyue almost believed it.

Old Mr. Mo looked at him, half-convinced.

“Just now, Mo asked me about this calligraphy. I didn’t know it was your masterpiece and assumed it was a gift from someone else. And since I wanted to sound glib, I threw those words out there, and you happened to hear it, which was embarrassing,” Bai Xiaosheng said earnestly. “Please don’t take it to heart, and I really can’t write in front of you. If necessary, I don’t even dare to stay and disturb you.”

Bai Xiaosheng spoke as if it were genuine, in a very exemplary manner, refusing to write no matter what.

Mo Ziyue, Lin Weiwei, and Lei Ying couldn’t help but admire Bai Xiaosheng’s eloquence.

Old Mr. Mo seemed to believe him a little.

Seeing the young man’s sincere attitude, the old man’s anger subsided somewhat. After all these years, his self-cultivation was not in vain; it was just a moment of temper that made his tone less friendly. On reflection, this young fellow was visiting for the first time. As a guest, making things awkward would only make the Mo Family seem like poor hosts.

Old Mr. Mo went along, coughed, and said, “Young man, your words are somewhat honest. Let’s just leave it at that.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Ziyue silently sighed with relief, feeling immense respect for Bai Xiaosheng.

This guy is really something!

Such eloquence is rare!

“The old man truly has great magnanimity, not holding me to the standards of a junior. With your broad mind, this calligraphy must hold inner spirit, beyond what my feeble eyes can perceive,” Bai Xiaosheng said formally, silently putting the old man on a pedestal.

Old Mr. Mo couldn’t help but laugh, waving his hand, “Young man, stop flattering me. You, visiting for the first time, I shouldn’t have been so rude. Consider it my narrow-mindedness for the moment.”

Bai Xiaosheng hastily declared his humility.

Mo Ziyue seized the opportunity to change the subject with the old man.

After this episode, Mo Ziyue really didn’t dare to linger with his grandfather, chatting for a moment before claiming they mustn’t disturb the old man and needed to settle Bai Xiaosheng and the others.

Old Mr. Mo assented.

Mo Ziyue quickly left with Bai Xiaosheng, Lin Weiwei, and Lei Ying in tow.

Old Mr. Mo sat alone at the Eight Immortals Table, examining his calligraphy and painting, his brow furrowing more deeply the more he looked. Eventually, he glanced outside and muttered, “Your words sound sweet, and you nearly fooled me! You’re just pretending not to know? I believe you’re a crafty little devil!”

After mumbling to himself, Old Mr. Mo got up and called a servant in, giving them some quiet instructions.

The servant nodded, listened, and hurriedly left.

Old Mr. Mo, sitting alone, chuckled to himself, speaking as if to Bai Xiaosheng in the void, “Let’s see you keep pretending with me!”