Chapter Nine A Slap in the Face

  Xie Zhongshi's temper has indeed become more and more eccentric. He paints every day, but after the painting is done, it's either hidden by Xie Xuenni at the bottom of a box or burned to ashes. At first, Xie Zhongshi would give some paintings to the villagers as New Year's gifts during festivals, but later on, for some reason, he stopped giving them out altogether. Even if someone came to ask for one, he wouldn't give it to them and would often scold them loudly.

  Xie Xue Ni squeezed Xie Yu Xiao's right arm and gave a meaningful glance. Xie Yu Xiao relaxed his tightly furrowed eyebrows, put the basket in his left hand on the wall corner, cleared his throat, and walked towards the inner room to the right.

  This house can be considered Xie Zhongshi's studio, twenty-four hours a day, he spent at least ten hours inside. The layout of the house is very simple, except for two large rectangular wooden tables, an old sofa, and an ancient wooden chair, there is no other furniture. The floor is littered with pens and papers of various sizes, as well as discarded painting paper.

  Xie Yuxiao walked in, and Xie Zhongshi still didn't lift his head. His left hand was holding a wine bottle, and his right hand was waving a large paintbrush around, muttering to himself. Xie Yuxiao wrinkled her nose, walked up to her father, took the wine bottle from his left hand, put it to her mouth, and gulped down a few mouthfuls before letting out a satisfied smack of her lips.

  Xie Zhong didn't even lift his head, still waving his brush, under his brush was a landscape painting in ink and wash, Xie Yuxiao saw at a glance that it was the scenery of the back mountain.

  "Dad, this painting of yours might be a masterpiece to others, whether from the overall visual impact or the dense ink rendering in some parts, but to me it's a failed piece. You're so anxious and restless, how can you possibly create a serene landscape with water and ink?"

  Xie Zhongshi froze, like a videotape. Suddenly, with a "slap" sound, he slammed the brush heavily onto the painting, splashing a pool of ink after which it rolled to one side with a gurgling sound. Then, he picked up the rice paper with both hands and tore it into shreds with a "rustle rustle" sound, throwing them to the ground. He then snatched the wine from Xie Yuxiao's hand and took several big gulps, tossing his head back.

  "What's wrong, what's wrong? Why can't you two just have a good conversation, every time you meet you have to quarrel, calm down. Xie Xue Ni had been listening outside the house and felt something was off, so she immediately came in to mediate."

  "It's nothing." Xie Zhongshi waved his hand, which was stained with ink. After a moment of silence, he stroked his chin, which was covered in stubble, and said to his son: "You have good taste and unique insights. If you focus on painting, you'll definitely surpass me. But you don't want to learn, instead wanting to attend school. What's the point of going to school? Can you find this kind of leisurely atmosphere there?"

  Xie Yuxiao looked at his father's stern and wrinkled face, his throat moved, and said: "Going to school is not good for anything, but I can leave this mountain ditch, realize my ideals, improve my life, and don't have to live in this broken house. Your paintings are well-painted, but what's the use? Can they be exchanged for food? If it weren't for my sister, we two would have starved to death long ago."

  Xie Zhongshi's face turned iron-green, his finger pointed at Xie Yuxiao and said several "you" words without speaking out, suddenly he slapped Xie Yuxiao with a loud "slap", saying in a state of extreme anger: "You, you this rabbit son, you understand nothing, do you know why? Do you know the value of what I painted? You don't understand, you're just a wooden blockhead, get out!"

  ?”

  A single "roll" shook the house with a loud rumble.

  Xie Yu's face had a clear palm print on it, he stood quietly in place, motionless, his mouth twitching.

  Xie Xue Ni rushed in and pulled down her father, Xie Zhong Shi's arm which was still frozen in mid-air, pushing him to sit down on the chair behind him. She scolded: "Dad, how could you hit Yu Xue like that? And so heavily! Although what Yu Xue said was wrong, you can't hit him like that!"

  "Xiao Yu, you too, how can you say such things to Dad? You don't understand him at all, he has his own pain..." Xie Xue Ni turned around and said a few words to Xie Yu, but before she could continue, Xie Zhong Shi reached out from behind and grabbed her arm, stopping her from speaking further.

  "Never mind, let him get out!" Xie Zhongshi picked up the wine on the table, took a few sips, and stood heavily on the table.

  Xie Yuxiao seemed somewhat nonchalant and replied: "Rolling just rolling, I don't understand you, but you also don't understand me, and have never thought about wanting to understand me."

  Xie Yuxiao turned around and walked out of the door, striding towards the Xie family home.

  The sun had completely set, and the dusk was rising again. The villagers who went to work in the fields also returned one after another, seeing Xie Yu Xiao excitedly greeted him, Xie Yu Xiao walked past with a gloomy face, not saying a word.

  When they arrived at Xie's house, Old Man Xie was in the courtyard teaching Xi Yu and Xi Ting some martial arts moves. The three of them were gesturing continuously. Xie Yuxiao didn't say a word, nor did he greet them, and went straight into the inner room. The three of them looked at each other in confusion, trying to guess what was wrong with their master, when they heard Xie Yuxiao yelling from inside: "All of you come in here! What are you standing outside for? Practicing what practice, what's the use? I don't know a single move and I'm still fine!"

  Xī Tíng spat out her tongue, the first one rushed in and stood respectfully beside Xiǎo Yuē, asking: "What's up, Yuē Gē?" Xiǎo Yuē didn't make a sound, waiting for Xiǎo Lǎo and Xī Yú to come in before saying: "Xī Tíng go buy me a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of wine, white wine; Xī Yú you go to the back mountain to catch a few wild chickens or something, come back and roast them to eat."

  Xi Yu and Xi Ting took orders and ran away in a puff of smoke.

  "Lingzhu, didn't you go home and quarrel with your father again? Actually, your father just has a bit of a strange temper..." said Xie Laodao.

  "Don't mention him, don't even bring it up, just mentioning it makes me angry."

  ……

  Xiting brought back the cigarettes and liquor, placing them on the wooden table, and stood respectfully to one side. Xie Yuxiao said impatiently, "Go, don't stand there, go help your sister catch some wild chickens for dinner."

  Xi Ting walked out with a sullen expression, pouting her mouth and showing extreme unwillingness. Xie Yu Xiao didn't pay attention to her, lying on the rattan chair of Old Xie, smoking and tapping his left index finger wrapped in white gauze on the armrest in rhythm. It wasn't until Xi Yu brought in three steaming roasted wild chickens on a large iron plate that Xi Ting's mood improved after handing him a cup of white wine to drink and eating two chicken legs.

  After drinking and eating enough, Xie Yu stood up and walked around the house for two circles, then said to Yúnǚ: "Let's go, I'll take you guys out for a stroll."

  The moon is full, the night is quiet.

  The three of them walked a few steps out the door, and Xie Yu Xiao turned her head to say to Xi Ting: "Almost forgot, go back and get that celadon bowl, don't let Old Man Xie find out, remember."

  "What's the bowl for?"

  "Don't ask, go quickly, I'll tell you later."

  A moment later, Xiting rushed up with a bowl in her hand.

  "Let's go," said Xie Yu Xiao.

  "Where are we going?" Xiting asked.

  "Go back to the mountain."

  "What's going on in the back hills?" Xi Yu asked.

  "Do what should be done."

  Xie Yuxiao finished speaking and quickly walked forward, with Xi Yu and Xi Ting hastily following behind her.