Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Previously, Zhang Dalang only wanted to entrust his two younger sisters to Xiao Ran.

I never expected Xiao Ran's abilities to be so terrifying.

Zhang Dalang still didn't know the specific identities of Li Ke, Cheng Chumo, and Qin Huaidao, but he did know that they were all from wealthy families in Chang'an.

They are beyond my reach.

But everyone here is willing to work here.

Zhang Dalang had no choice but to admit defeat.

Considering Yan Yao, Yan Liben also stayed at Xiao Ran's house.

Yan Yao wanted to be with the two little princesses, Third Sister.

In the evening, Wang Ji, Yu Shinan, Chu Liang, Yan Liben and others returned, accompanied by four little girls and Xiao Hei.

Yan Yao just arrived and really likes the dog.

At first, I was a little wary of Xiao Hei Da, but after discovering that he was gentle, I wasn't afraid anymore.

You could hear the cheerful laughter of the four little girls from a great distance.

Yu Shinan and Chu Liang were both there, and they always ate at two large tables at home.

Although Yan Yao was young, she did not go with Yan Liben, but instead went to a table with Princess Li Lizhi and the others.

"Wow, this dish is delicious!" Yan Yao was shocked when she first tasted scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

"Mmm, mmm~ It's red, it's good~" The little princess even put some food on Yan Yao's plate.

Yan Liben, on the other side, was also shocked. "I had heard others say that the food here was very delicious, but I didn't expect it to be this delicious!"

"Hahaha, once you're here, you don't want to leave. This old man is shameless; you can't get rid of him," Li Yuan said with a laugh.

“Speaking of which, the old man is the one who arrived the earliest,” Sun Simiao replied.

Despite the significant differences in their social status, they were not treated differently.

Many people were well aware of this, even members of the royal family like Li Yuan, who treated him as just an ordinary friend.

Li Yuan, holding a rough porcelain bowl, was arguing with Sun Simiao, saying, "I arrived the earliest, so I should eat more meat."

Over at the wooden table, Princes Li Tai and Li Ke were huddled together, listening to Li Wu recount how he "almost got pricked by a thorn" while helping Xiao Ran repair the fence that afternoon. Li Ke even patted Li Wu's shoulder with a smile, showing no airs of a prince whatsoever.

Zhang Dalang, the young man from the village, sat at the corner of the wooden table, holding a bowl in his hands, and occasionally exchanging a few words with Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao.

This scene was something Yan Liben in Chang'an would never have dared to imagine.

Yan Liben came from a family of officials. His elder brother, Yan Lide, was appointed as the Grand Master of Works. He was accustomed to the hierarchical rules of Chang'an from a young age.

There is an insurmountable chasm between princes and guards, and an even greater difference between former emperors and commoners.

Even when scions of prominent families sit at the same table with their collateral relatives, they are seated according to seniority and rank. How could there be such a chaotic scene?

Guards could joke and laugh with princes, commoners could sit next to the former emperor, and even princesses were serving food to commoner maids.

He clearly saw Li Lizhi pick up a piece of red and yellow vegetable with her chopsticks and put it into San Niang's bowl. San Niang seemed to be used to it.

I don't think it's a big deal.

That was Princess Chang Le of the Tang Dynasty.

If this were in Chang'an, Third Sister would probably have a hard time even getting close to the princess's entourage, let alone having food served to her by the princess herself.

"Try this, it's the 'scrambled eggs with tomatoes' that the young master mentioned." Chu Liang interrupted his thoughts.

Yan Liben took it and picked up a piece of the red and yellow dish with his chopsticks—the sweet and sour taste spread on his tongue, so fresh that he was stunned for a moment.

He had never seen or tasted this dish before, and it had a refreshing flavor that was more down-to-earth than the delicacies found in Chang'an.

"How is it?" Chu Liang asked with a smile. "Young Master Xiao always has some novel foods here. Once you stay for a while, you won't want to leave."

Yan Liben nodded, his gaze returning to the center of the courtyard.

Li Yuan was still arguing with Sun Simiao when Yu Shinan, standing nearby, smiled and advised, "You're both so old, why are you still arguing about this?"

Li Taizheng handed Li Wu a flatbread, which Li Wu took and bit into without any hesitation.

Yao Niang had already become familiar with San Niang, and the two were whispering to each other, while Xiao Hei lay at their feet, wagging its tail happily.

No one put on airs, and no one deliberately flattered anyone.

Li Yuan was no longer the "former emperor," but just an old man who loved to argue with people.

Li Wu was not just a "bodyguard," but a man who could joke and laugh with the prince.

Third Sister Yao Niang and the princess were just little maids vying for food.

Yan Liben suddenly understood why Li Ke, Cheng Chumo, and other nobles from Chang'an were willing to stay in this rural area to help repair fences and plant crops.

Why did elders like Li Yuan and Sun Simiao willingly choose to reside here permanently?

It's not that Young Master Xiao Ran has any extraordinary abilities; it's just that there's no hierarchy of status among them.

Here, everyone is just a "person"—an ordinary person who laughs, makes noise, and fights for food.

He spent half his life painting portraits with these hands.

I have painted the majesty of emperors, the heroic spirit of meritorious officials, and the exotic charm of envoys from the Western Regions, but I have never seen such a heartwarming scene.

If one could capture this scene with a pen, depicting the laughter, the warmth of the meal, and the harmonious atmosphere that transcends social hierarchy, it would surely be more captivating than portraits of emperors or paintings of meritorious officials.

The evening breeze rose again, rustling the peach trees in the corner of the courtyard.

Yan Liben picked up the rough porcelain bowl, took a sip of the warm rice soup, and suddenly felt relieved—coming to Kaolao Village was definitely the right decision.

After dinner, Princess Li Lizhi of Yuzhang personally brewed tea for Li Yuan, Yu Shinan, and the others.

Yan Liben noticed that Yu Shinan and Chu Liang treated Li Lizhi as an ordinary junior, not as a princess.

Li Kecheng and the others lit the lanterns, and the four little girls chased each other around the yard with their dogs, their laughter filling the air.

The four little girls, tired from playing, followed Princess Li Lizhi to wash up and went directly to the kang (heated brick bed).

It's not cold anymore, and we don't need to sleep on the kang (heated brick bed), but Third Aunt and the two little princesses seem to have gotten used to it.

The kang (heated brick bed) was quite large, and there was more than enough room for Yan Yao as well.

At the beginning, Yan Liben did not bring any daily necessities such as clothes.

After Xiao Ran agreed, he sent his coachman home to fetch the items.

Considering that she was staying at Xiao Ran's house, she felt embarrassed to bring any servants or anything like that.

Li Yuan and none of the princesses and princes were brought along.

Empress Xiao doesn't count; Xiao Yu is a junior.

Before going to sleep, Yan Liben wanted to go and see them, but hesitated because he thought about the two little princesses.

"Uncle, is something the matter?" Princess Yuzhang asked.

"Sixth Sister, Yao Niang has gone to sleep!"

"Yes, Uncle has gone to sleep. Come and check on him!" Princess Yuzhang understood that this was out of concern.

It's understandable that this is the first day.

"Alright, alright, let me see. This girl is usually a bit shy around strangers." Yan Liben went to the living room inside.

I saw four little maids on the kang (heated brick bed). The one on the far right was Third Sister, followed by Yan Yao, the little princess, and the little princess of Chengyang on the other side.

The four little girls were all neatly arranged and sleeping soundly.

Seeing this, Yan Liben was relieved.

Having peers of the same age means parents have much less to worry about.

Yan Liben then returned to his room.

The next day, Third Sister and the two little princesses took Yan Yao to school after breakfast.

Yan Yao didn't ask Yan Liben any questions and quickly integrated into the group.

Zhang Dalang stopped burning glass and went to discuss building a house with Zhang Jinhe.

Xiao Ran's house needs to be expanded, and so does the school.

We need to find quite a few people.

This matter needs to be discussed with Zhang Mingde. The expansion of the school building requires the village's reserve funds.

We need to consult with several elders who manage the emergency funds.

We still need Wang Shen's help to find someone.

Xiao Ran doesn't need to worry about these things.

Xiao Ran had to burn some willow twigs to use as charcoal pencils.

Since there were no pencils in the Tang Dynasty, they had to make their own to make do.

Charcoal pencils made from cork are the most readily available method; the branches of the old willow trees in the backyard are soft and have fine fibers, which are just right.

The old willow tree in the corner of the yard has sprouted new branches, while last year's old branches hang down to the ground, as thick as a finger, with a grayish-brown bark that feels smooth and thornless to the touch.

He bent down and rummaged through the willow bushes, picking out only the old branches that were free of insects and were straight. He broke off about ten branches and carried them to the open space next to the kitchen.

"Young man, what are you doing breaking off these willow branches? You don't need such thin branches for starting a fire!" Zhang Erya, carrying a bamboo basket, passed by and saw him squatting on the ground fiddling with the branches. She curiously came over.

“To make a ‘pen’ for drawing.” Xiao Ran picked up a willow branch and scratched the surface with his fingernail. “Uncle Yan wants to learn sketching, so he needs a soft charcoal pencil to draw well. This willow branch is just right for burning.”

Li Lizhi's eyes lit up: "It's different from the charcoal sticks used for tracing?"

"

"Almost, but it needs to be finer and more even." Xiao Ran nodded with a smile, then turned and went to the kitchen to get a wood-chopping knife and an old earthenware jar.

This earthenware pot was previously used to boil herbs, and there's still some charcoal ash at the bottom, which is perfect for burning charcoal.

He first sat on the bluestone slab and carefully peeled off the bark of the willow branches with a wood-chopping knife.

The bark of the old willow branch is brittle and can be easily peeled off, revealing the off-white wood inside with such fine grain that the direction of the fibers can be clearly seen.

"You have to remove the bark completely, otherwise the charcoal will crack when you burn it." He explained to Li Lizhi and the others as he shaved the branches, arranging them in a row, each cut into half-foot lengths, with a uniform thickness as if they had been specially polished.

Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, Xiao Yu, and the others were all very interested in what Xiao Ran was doing.

After pruning the branches, Xiao Ran spread a layer of fine sand at the bottom of the pottery jar.

This is a method I learned from burning herbs before, to prevent the willow branches from sticking to the bottom of the jar.

Next, the chopped willow branches were placed vertically into the earthenware jar, leaving as few gaps as possible. A broken piece of earthenware was then placed over the jar's opening, leaving only a finger-width slit for ventilation.

"The fire can't be too strong; it has to be simmered slowly, otherwise it will burn to ashes."

He lit a fire in the earthen stove next to the kitchen and placed the earthenware pot on the embers beside the stove, only letting the flames occasionally lick the pot.

Princess Yuzhang squatted beside him, watching as he occasionally lifted a shard of pottery to peek inside. Wisps of smoke rose from the pot, carrying the warm, slightly burnt aroma of wood. "Young master, how long will this take to burn?"

“It will take about half an hour.” Xiao Ran added a few thin pieces of firewood to the stove to reduce the fire. “If the fire is too big, the charcoal will become brittle; if the fire is too small, it won’t burn through. The wood inside needs to slowly turn into charcoal without burning it to ash.”

During this time, Yan Liben passed by and saw them busy around the pottery jar. He came over and asked what they were doing. When he learned that they were using charcoal pencils for sketching, he immediately squatted down and refused to leave. His eyes were fixed on the pottery jar, and he was even more nervous than Xiao Ran: "Can this willow charcoal really be used to draw in detail?"

"It should work. Willow wood is soft, and the charcoal core is fine, so the lines drawn can be thick or thin."

As soon as Xiao Ran finished speaking, he saw the blue smoke from the mouth of the pot gradually fade. He quickly moved the pot away from the stove and placed it in the cold ashes beside it.
"It needs to cool down slowly; opening the lid now will cause a fire."

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, when the pottery jar was no longer hot to the touch, Xiao Ran finally lifted the pottery shards.

The willow branches inside had turned dark black, and felt as light as a feather in the hand. If you scraped them with your fingernail, you could scrape off fine charcoal powder, but they wouldn't break.

"Done!" He picked up a pen, used a machete to flatten one end into a pen tip, and smoothed the edge to prevent it from scratching the paper.

Yan Liben quickly came over, took the charcoal pencil, and tried it on the scrap paper.

The pen tip glides across the paper, leaving a uniform black mark. It can be made thinner with a light touch and thicker with a little more pressure, making it much more flexible than the charcoal sticks he usually uses.

"Wonderful! This charcoal pencil is even better than I thought!" He couldn't help but draw a few simple willow leaves on the paper. The lines were smooth, and he could even draw the fine lines of the veins.

Seeing his excited expression, Xiao Ran smiled and put the remaining willow charcoal into the bamboo basket: "Make do with this for now. We'll find some softer wood later so we can burn even better charcoal."

Zhang Erya also picked up a charcoal pencil and drew a crooked little black mark on the paper. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "This is much easier than tracing with a brush. It's perfect for the village children learning to draw!"

"Young master, do you have time to talk about the sketch now?" Yan Liben asked impatiently.

“Yes, yes, Uncle, don’t worry.” Xiao Ran found a piece of paper.

Compared to the sketching paper of later generations, the paper from the Tang Dynasty was somewhat inferior.

Xiao Ran looked around; he was still missing one item.

Learning to draw usually starts with learning about cubes, cylinders, and spheres.

Xiao Ran can no longer find these simple plaster casts.

"Fifth Sister, do you have a small box? Something small, preferably without any other decorations on the outside, the simpler the better." Xiao Ran gestured.

“Yes, yes, I have this, young master,” Princess Yuzhang quickly replied.

He then ran to his room and quickly brought out a square box.

There was nothing else inside except the lock; it was just a bit big.

It was probably used by Princess Yuzhang to store her personal belongings.

Xiao Ran asked Princess Yuzhang to put the box on the other side.

Yan Liben and the others gathered around Xiao Ran.

Even Li Yuan, Sun Simiao, and Empress Xiao, who were at home, came over, quite curious.

Let's start with the basics.

That's all I can say. Xiao Ran learned a little bit when he was in school, but he only knows these basics. He doesn't know anything else.

The development of sketching in the Tang Dynasty still depended on the great painter Yan Liben.

Xiao Ran placed the charcoal pencil on the coarse paper and waved his hand with a smile: "Uncle, don't be in a hurry. I've only learned a little bit and can't say anything profound. I'll just talk about the two most basic core points."

"Don't overcomplicate sketching. Just focus on capturing the form and distinguishing light and shadow."

As soon as he said this, everyone around fell silent. Yan Liben leaned forward, his eyes full of focus: "'Catching the shape' and 'Dividing light and shadow'? Young master, explain in detail."

“‘Capturing the shape’ means first accurately drawing the outline of something.” Xiao Ran tapped the paper with his fingertip, trying to be as straightforward as possible.

"No matter what you're drawing, first look at whether it's square, round, or long overall. Make sure the lines aren't crooked; make sure they're straight where they should be and curved where they should be. Don't draw a square as flat or a round as an oval. Make sure the viewer can immediately recognize 'what this is.' That's the most basic thing."

Sun Simiao nodded, stroking his beard, and said, "That's simple. It's like recognizing something; you make out its appearance before you act." (End of Chapter)