Ge Liutao had lived nearly half her life without any real friends, seldom interacting with others in the village, except perhaps being a little closer to Aunt Juan.
This time, coming to the tea garden, Aunt Ah Yu’s enthusiasm and cheerfulness had rubbed off on her. Everyday, she followed her to learn about tea, choose leaves for making tea snacks, grind tea powder together, and learn to make those tea treats, her face gradually showing more smiles.
Chiang Xiao felt bringing them to the tea garden was indeed the right move. Even if they didn’t end up learning it well and couldn’t make a business out of tea snacks, just allowing them to make some friends and be happier was already a huge gain.
Meanwhile, she was seemingly oblivious to the passage of days on the mountain, unaware that people at the foot of the mountain were already going crazy over her.
Those getting a bit crazy were from the G Province Painters Association.
This exhibition had six judges, and among them, a painting that unanimously received high scores from all judges was the one signed by Xiao Chiang named Secluded Valley Orchid.
The judging was public, and the association also invited reporters from G Province Television Station and G Province Daily to Furong Hotel’s meeting room for the event, along with a few academic authorities who were also invited to attend.
Of course, there were also some individuals from various fields who, though not invited, were interested in painting and spontaneously came to watch.
Among them were two people Chiang Xiao hadn’t expected – Uncle Lee from the county town, and He Jin from Mingchen Studio.
When the Secluded Valley Orchid was hung up, He Jin suddenly stood up.
"Eh, I never expected to actually see a good painting!"
The Secluded Valley Orchid was quite large in size. Upon seeing it, Uncle Lee’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, "I heard that the paintings from this competition would eventually all be displayed, right? Little He, keep an eye on this for me. I want this one!"
"Old Lee, what do you mean ’you want it’?" He Jin said with a teasing smile, "Sorry, but I also have my eye on this painting. I also want it! To tell you the truth, I have a feeling that the painter is going to be famous in the future. I need to collect this piece now. In a few years, its value will surely multiply. Whether I can afford to buy a house, a car, or marry a beautiful woman might just depend on this painting!"
Uncle Lee couldn’t help but laugh.
"Keep dreaming. Your Mingchen Studio itself is worth who knows how much, and if you want to get married to a beauty, just stop letting those misfits come over to cause trouble! Do you really need to fight with me over this painting? Besides, you know I’m planning to open a hotel in the provincial capital, and we need paintings! Don’t even think about competing with me for this one."
"Tsk tsk, Old Lee, you just don’t understand, do you? Why would you hang something like Secluded Valley Orchid in your hotel? Continue working with that Chiang..." He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, turned his head to look again at the Secluded Valley Orchid, and asked in shock, "Old Lee, that beautiful girl you brought to Mingchen Studio the other time, her last name was Chiang, right?"
"That’s right, Xiao Chiang."
He Jin slapped his thigh, "Old Lee, you’ve really hit the jackpot! Xiao Chiang! Didn’t you hear just now? The painter of this Secluded Valley Orchid is Xiao Chiang!"
Uncle Lee was dumbfounded, "You mean to say that this painting was done by Xiao Chiang?"
"I’d bet it’s that bizarre girl!" He Jin’s eyes gleamed.
Before, he had visited Uncle Lee’s guesthouse only to find that their piece of crap painting, Prosperous Blooms, had been replaced by a Welcoming Pine!