Chapter 6, Mental Power

He went to the bathroom to look in the mirror; his cheeks had regained their color, and there was a sparkle in his eyes. Then he opened the data panel, and he couldn't help but be taken aback.

After having a fast food meal outside, Meng Yan took a walk by the riverbank, pondering how to make money

The pattern seems to have changed, appearing different from what was seen last time, but he cannot specify exactly what is different.

Regarding the secret of the jade pendant, Meng Yan did not want to let any word slip.

Meng Yan was quite unwilling

I am furious

The gap between dreams and reality is too vast, directly dousing Meng Yan with a bucket of cold water

Although he was eager to ingratiate himself with Ji Xiaomin, just two days ago he did not understand the "Eight Principles of Yong" and needed the girl to teach him step by step. Yet, two days later, he had transformed into a calligrapher; even a fool could see that there was something amiss here

Having never practiced calligraphy before, Meng Yan initially thought that these intricate patterns were the natural textures of jade. Now, upon closer inspection, he finds that these patterns possess a unique charm.

The brushwork employs the wild cursive script of Zhang Xu from the Tang Dynasty

How many people know how to write well? People buy characters, but what they are purchasing is not the characters themselves, but the reputation. The boss scrutinized Meng Yan and asked, "Who is Mr. Shanshi?"

The boss chuckled and said, "As the old saying goes, while good horses are often found, good judges are rare. This world is never short of good words, but those with the discerning eye to recognize treasures have always been few. Moreover, even if a good judge recognizes value, it is only worth two hundred yuan. Without the prestige of a renowned piece, without ostentatious value, and without collectible worth, it can only be appreciated for enjoyment. This work has a certain eccentric charm; if you truly intend to sell it, I will buy it for two hundred yuan."

Upon entering a calligraphy shop named "Qingmei Zhai," Meng Yan took out his own written works

The signature is Shan Shijun, which is not a real name but a stage name

The boss laughed heartily, leaving Meng Yan feeling quite embarrassed. He asked unhappily, "Isn't such good handwriting worth something?"

He has been promoted to a master of calligraphy, and his calligraphy skills are undoubtedly rare in the country, making it feasible for him to consider selling his works for profit

Both the physical and mental states are excellent, as if one has had a good sleep, and it is the kind of good sleep where one wakes up naturally

There is no seal, as he does not yet have a stamp

However, Meng Yan truly did not know how to sell his calligraphy

Therefore, he bypassed the Lianyun Studio and went directly to another calligraphy shop

Meng Yan spent a total of 8 hours and restored a total of 12 points of mental energy

The content of the work is a famous line by Li Bai: "Heaven and Earth are the inn of all things; Time is the transient guest of a hundred generations"

Meng Yan was left speechless when asked.

Gulu

Ji Lianyun can sell a single piece of calligraphy for three thousand; I am a master-level calligrapher, yet I only earn two hundred yuan for a painstakingly created work

Subsequently, he got out of bed with great vigor and vitality, full of energy and enthusiasm.

Mental Strength: 7 / 13

What is even more remarkable is that his spirit has significantly recovered, and his body has regained some vitality

Soon, he became engrossed once again

However, these are all minor issues

The data panel has unexpectedly changed

The front of this jade pendant features a lotus flower, intricately carved, while the back is adorned with complex patterns

2 hours can restore 3 points of mental energy

"According to what you said, there are no discerning people in the world?" Meng Yan retorted.

The boss did not raise any suspicions, after all, this piece of calligraphy is of exceptional quality; one cannot produce such characters without decades of practice. Moreover, Meng Yan is too young to possess such skill.

When I awoke again, two more hours had passed

Boss, what do you think of this piece of calligraphy?" Meng Yan handed the work to the boss for review

I haven't eaten anything all day

After finishing, it was exactly six o'clock in the evening, and there was still plenty of time left

The more I look at this pattern, the more I find it pleasing, and before I know it, I am captivated

Calligraphy Master: 0 / 800; Shooting Master: 7 / 400; Hidden Weapon Proficiency: 85 / 100

Is this the aftereffect of rapid practice? But I didn't have any aftereffects when I practiced basketball or concealed weapons before? Meng Yan lay on the bed in confusion, holding a jade pendant in his hand

"The boss has a good eye for art." Meng Yan discovered that the boss was quite knowledgeable and asked, "How much can this calligraphy sell for? mhetushu.com.com"

Name: Meng Yan

He quickly adapted

Meng Yan almost swore

Meng Yan returned to the bedroom, leaning his back against the headboard, and once again gazed at the patterns on the jade pendant, becoming captivated once more

The heart that yearned to make money was instantly doused with a chilling sensation

"How many can you collect?" Meng Yan asked

First, he went to buy rice paper and ink, intending to create a few works, and then take them to the calligraphy shop for review. With a plan in mind, he proceeded to the stationery store to purchase rice paper and ink

I am extremely hungry

View the data panel

This time, Meng Yan watched for a full four hours, completely immersed in it, forgetting the time, forgetting himself, and forgetting everything around him

The boss evaluated and stated, "Two hundred yuan, I accept."

It was not until 4 PM that he finally awakened from his state of obsession

The boss chuckled and said, "How much do you want to sell it for?"

In terms of convenience, water-writing cloth is indeed more convenient, as it does not require cutting paper or grinding ink; however, the advantage of Xuan paper lies in its ability to preserve one's own works.

Jingxiu Street is a thoroughfare imbued with an artistic atmosphere, featuring numerous calligraphy shops, painting studios, musical instrument stores, and craft shops. He carries his calligraphy works in search of a calligraphy shop, hoping to encounter someone who appreciates them.

The boss was speechless and said: "I just want to enjoy it; having one is enough. I can't collect them every day. Besides, even if I collect them, I can't sell them on hetushu.com. Why should I collect so many?"

Is mental strength related to mental state

From this deduction, when he got up in the morning, he actually had only 1 point of mental energy, nearly exhausted, no wonder his condition was so poor

Uh ... ... actually, it is not that hard

Meng Yan examined the patterns on the jade pendant once again

I will not be going to Lianyun Studio

Upon further examination, he discovered that the patterns on the jade pendant were executed in a single stroke, sometimes steady and powerful, at other times delicate and fine, flowing continuously downward, with a cohesive momentum, appearing as if naturally formed

Meng Yan felt that his spirit had recovered more than half, and his body had also regained much vitality

At the beginning, he was somewhat unaccustomed, as the saturation and soaking method of rice paper differ from that of water writing cloth, and the dispersion of ink and clear water is also not quite the same

The boss, in his forties, had a gaunt face and a languid expression. However, upon seeing Meng Yan's work, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in admiration, "These characters are beautifully written, reminiscent of Zhang Deyan's style."

Meng Yan: "At least 5,000"

There is a distinction between water-writing cloth and Xuan paper

Due to Zhang Xu's proficiency in cursive script and his unconventional and wild calligraphic style, he is honored with the title of "Zhang the Mad"

Meng Yan lied, saying: "He is an elder from our village who has practiced calligraphy his entire life"

It resembles text, yet it is not text

It resembles calligraphy, yet it is not calligraphy

Two hundred yuan is still too little, barely covering the cost of the jade pendant, and the distance to buying a car or a house is simply unattainable and far removed from reality

This pattern holds a mystery, seemingly capable of restoring one's spirit

It is not merely a change in numbers, but rather an entire additional line of information.

In terms of the speed of improvement at the master level, both are exactly the same

The boss said: "Shan Shijun has no reputation; why would people buy his calligraphy?"

Mental Strength: 13 / 13

The mental energy has been fully replenished

Meng Yan, unwilling to accept this, said: "Such excellent calligraphy, is it only worth two hundred? I have heard that a good piece of work can fetch several thousand or even tens of thousands."

Although the price is low, he can reluctantly accept it if it can be sold in large quantities

Meng Yan was eager to make money, so he took his calligraphy works and headed to Jingxiu Street

"Who in your village knows the old predecessors? Are they well-known? Did they hold high office or are they cultural figures?" the boss asked again

After purchasing some items and returning home, he cut the rice paper, dipped his brush in ink, and wrote with great seriousness

By the time he regained his senses, he was astonished to find that a full two hours had passed, and he had been completely unaware of it

It is indeed awkward; he has already advanced to the rank of a master in calligraphy, yet he has never used ink to write on rice paper, always opting to write on cloth with water instead

It turns out that the patterns on the jade pendant can nurture the spirit

The study of calligraphy has been very successful

Energy: 12

Zhang Dian refers to Zhang Xu

Other data remains unchanged, with an additional line for mental strength

After working hard to practice calligraphy, I only earn 200 yuan