Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Chen Puqing paused, his tone becoming serious, and mimicked Director Zhao's tone, saying, "Brother Biao, Director Zhao asked me to pass on a message to you. Your contribution this time is not just about generating foreign exchange."

"You have opened a whole new door for our country's cultural export! Let those foreigners see that China not only has industrial and agricultural products, but also cultural arts that will leave them in awe!"

"The department leaders value you highly; your name has already appeared on the desks of several high-ranking officials. Director Zhao said, 'Keep up the good work, your future is limitless!'"

Zhang Dabiao scratched his head. It was all just empty talk, but it didn't matter anyway.

After exchanging pleasantries with Zhang Dabiao, Chen Puqing brought various foreign language comic books, giving Zhang Dabiao ten of them as souvenirs before leaving the courtyard. Zhang Dabiao, however, remained seated, his emotions still running high.

He knew that Chen Puqing was a messenger, and that it was Director Zhao who spoke, and that it reflected the attitude of those above. But this wasn't just empty talk.

In this special era, being able to earn foreign exchange for the country, especially through cultural products, is a contribution that is more meaningful than any monetary reward.

This means that, in the eyes of those "above," Zhang Dabiao has transformed from a "talented young man" into a "talent with immense value."

This amulet should be quite useful in the turbulent days to come.

Since I'm just killing time anyway, I might as well make some money.

He picked up the foreign language version of "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" from the table, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" is just an appetizer.

Next, let this "Zhang Dabiao whirlwind" sweep even more fiercely through the world of comic books!

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The news that the foreign language version of "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" sold out at the Canton Fair and that its global sales exceeded 350,000 copies was like a mushroom bomb, triggering an unprecedented earthquake in the Chinese art world, especially in the comic book circle.

Zhang Dabiao, an eighteen-year-old first-year student at an arts and crafts school, transformed overnight from a "prodigy" into a phenomenal painter renowned both domestically and internationally.

This news thrilled the younger generation of painters, who spread the word and hailed Zhang Dabiao as their idol and founder of a new school of painting.

But at the same time, it also made the older generation of painters restless.

In late July, the latest issue of the magazine "Fine Arts" published an article by "Danqingke" entitled "Only by Upholding Tradition Can We Innovate - A Brief Discussion on the Tradition and Future of Comic Strips".

On the surface, the article discusses the artistic development of comic strips, but between the lines, it is full of criticism of the style of "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King".

"...Recently, some young painters have taken a different approach, abusing Western painting techniques, especially pen hatching used in engineering drawings, in the creation of traditional Chinese comic strips. This trend should not be allowed to continue."

"...The essence of traditional Chinese painting lies in the charm of its lines, which is what is known as 'the use of brushstrokes with a bone-like structure.' To replace lively depiction with stiff lines is tantamount to abandoning the essential for the trivial, losing the soul."

"...Even worse, some people regard the storyboarding language of Western films as the gold standard, creating bizarre and outlandish compositions in pursuit of momentary visual stimulation, completely ruining the expressive essence of the traditional opera stage with its 'one table and two chairs.' This is a crooked path, absolutely not the right way of art!"

The article was strongly worded and full of inflammatory rhetoric. Although it did not name names, it was clear to anyone with a discerning eye that it was aimed at Zhang Dabiao.

The article immediately caused a huge uproar in the industry.

Several veteran painters of the traditional line drawing school spoke out on various occasions to support the views of "Danqingke" and criticized Zhang Dabiao's painting style as "worshiping foreign things and fawning on foreigners" and "destroying tradition." Some even called him a "traitor to the comic strip world."

Suddenly, a storm was brewing.

However, they underestimated the younger generation's desire for change, as well as the enormous influence of Zhang Dabiao's works.

Within a few days, the editorial department of the "Fine Arts" magazine received a flood of submissions, almost all of which refuted the views of "Danqingke".

Among them, an article by Zhou Muye entitled "On the Contemporary Significance of 'Film Storyboard Comic Strips'" is the most incisive and weighty.

As a young backbone teacher at the Arts and Crafts School and Zhang Dabiao's class teacher, Zhou Muyi's statement represents the attitude of the new generation of academics.

In the article, he refuted the conservatives' arguments point by point.

"...The so-called 'pen hatching' is not a rigid technique, but a brand-new artistic language for shaping light, shadow, volume, and texture. It is not a replacement for traditional line drawing, but rather a complement and development. The development of art lies in embracing diversity, not in being stagnant."

"...The so-called 'film storyboard' is a great revolution in comic strip art, moving it from 'static' to 'dynamic' and from 'stage play' to 'cinematic'! It greatly enriches the narrative ability and artistic expression of comic strips, making them more in line with the aesthetic needs of readers in the new era."

"...Mr. Danqingke's concern about 'losing tradition' is truly unfounded. Comrade Zhang Dabiao's works are precisely innovative flowers blooming from the soil of traditional culture. Isn't the exquisite research on classical costumes and architecture in his 'Nezha Conquers the Dragon King' the best way to inherit tradition?"

At the end of the article, Zhou Muye wrote emphatically:

"Times are changing, and aesthetics are evolving. To treat centuries-old aesthetic standards as infallible rules is like trying to stop a chariot by clinging to outdated methods—it's futile. Comrade Zhang Dabiao's works represent the future and direction of comic strip art. This is not a crooked path, but the right one!"

This article was like pouring a spoonful of cold water into boiling oil, instantly escalating the entire debate to a fever pitch.

Painters from both the old and new schools of thought engaged in heated debates in various newspapers and magazines, arguing fiercely.

Zhang Dabiao, at the center of the storm, completely ignored all of this.

He was busy taking Mu Wanqing around Beijing, keeping an eye on the renovation progress of his cadre's apartment (he had already arranged for Master Lei to start the renovation), and also taking Mu Wanqing to Panjiayuan and Liulichang to see if they could find some more treasures.

He had just turned eighteen and was still a student.

Going up against those old guys whose average age is over fifty? Not worth it.

Those are all national treasures. We won't say much about whether they're conservative or not, but if a few of them were to die of anger, Zhang Dabiao would be committing a huge crime.

If Zhang Dabiao had previously thought these people were corrupt and decadent, his comic book "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" was mostly based on the original animated film. Putting everything else aside, the older generation's aesthetic sense now seems really good.

Furthermore, Zhang Dabiao has experienced the impact of AI painting firsthand. He understands that if he can't beat it, he can't beat it, and he can also understand the fear of the older generation. He felt the same way when facing AI painting.

Therefore, it's better to ignore it to avoid trouble and make things difficult to explain.

Wouldn't it be better to spend that time with your fiancée and browse through antiques and collectibles?

The teachers had already rushed to the front to help him share the burden, so he was happy to have some free time.

The debate escalated, and Zhang Dabiao's fame only grew.