Chapter 186
Xiao Qi attended the calligraphy and painting club activities at the Datang Complex Building, while Mi'er attended the photography club activities at the student council building.
The student council building was dedicated for the student council's use. Other clubs could use it if they paid rent.
The student council at Enhua University already felt like a big company in society.
The photography club and public relations club were clubs that had plenty of money, so they directly had large activity rooms in the student council building.
Other clubs that didn't want to rent fixed activity rooms could apply to the school to use classrooms. Public classrooms could be applied for use when time slots opened up.
It's said that photographers stay poor for three generations, so it's easy to imagine that it requires spending lots of money. Not to mention how much cameras and lenses cost, just playing around casually could cost tens of thousands, and that's just getting started.
Of course, new members who had just joined didn't have such high awareness and preparation yet. Many of the new female members of the photography club had joined aiming to take nice-looking photos, while some silent and unassuming members carrying large bags were actually the real enthusiasts. Those vibrant and pretty girls were just the lively scenery.
Clubs were actually like this. Many students joined clubs on impulse, but only those who were truly passionate would stay and become the backbone of a club, while smart students would slowly figure out what they truly liked and wanted to become. Confused students would probably graduate without figuring it out.
Mi'er had actually joined to take photos and post on Moments. She liked posting on Moments.
Having her wait crouching for hours to take a nice scenic photo, that restless girl simply couldn't do it.
Listening to seniors on stage earnestly analyzing lenses, discussing which lenses suited which type of photos, Mi'er was practically falling asleep. But falling asleep in this kind of situation would be too embarrassing, so she really wanted to post the bamboo weaving video she had recorded for her deskmate earlier on Moments, but the recording was too long. She couldn't bear to cut any part of it for the 15 second Moments limit.
After the tall and thin senior on stage finished speaking and stepped down, Mi'er went over, wanting him to help her make a nice 15 second video.
The male student smiled helplessly, but seeing the energetic and quite pretty young girl in front of him, he still patiently taught her.
Photography hobbyist Mi'er felt she had no hope, but posting on Moments was very interesting. She listened very earnestly as senior Chen Jianfei, a second year math major, taught her step-by-step how to extract the footage she felt was best and stitch them together. She could also speed up or slow down parts of the video. It was simply perfect. Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates
She had joined the right club with the photography club. "Senior, let's add each other on WeChat... Senior, you're also surnamed Chen, we're from the same hometown... Senior, you're a math major? I'm a computer science major, we're in the same building! Senior..."
Chen Jianfei: "..."
Mi'er successfully picked up a math major senior with eight camera lenses at the photography club, asking him to teach her and help with posting on Moments...
As soon as Xiao Qi started writing, she entered a state of concentration.
It was like this whenever she practiced calligraphy. She could calm down and focus very easily. The noise outside wouldn't affect her at all.
She had persisted in practicing calligraphy since she was little. It was probably the easiest way for her to find calm.
No matter if it was in the room without glass windows in her ancestral village, her aunt's hospital basement, the bright school and library, when Xiao Qi practiced calligraphy, her state of mind was very peaceful. This was probably the main difference between her and her high school roommate Xia Zhen. She had inner fortitude.
She was the same now. She didn't pay attention to the still running camera, or Mr. Ke the guest invited by the club's slightly odd expression, or Chu Yu in the crowd, or Li Weijin. She was immersed in her own world.
The good brush felt so smooth, it was even smoother to write with than the one she used in her dorm.
The xuan paper was the same. The ink spread and swirled on the xuan paper, giving it a special aesthetic and tactile feeling that made Xiao Qi a little intoxicated.
The Heart Sutra content was a bit complicated for Xiao Qi, but this text overall had an aesthetic beauty and was very suitable for calligraphy practice.
"When the Bodhisattva Avalokite?vara was practicing the profound Praj?āpāramitā, he illuminated the five skandhas and saw they were all empty..."
As Xiao Qi wrote more, she flowed more smoothly. She felt she had a good grasp of it and wrote faster and faster, fluently and effortlessly.
"...Therefore in emptiness there is no form, no feeling, conception, volition, or consciousness; no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind; no forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touchables or objects of mind; no sight-organ element..."
Besides people like Li Weijin, most of the members of the calligraphy and painting club were students truly interested in it. Even Chu Yu believed her own calligraphy was good, and had been praised for it since she was little, so she joined the calligraphy and painting club.
Some others were good at painting.
But he felt a little insecure inside.
Fortunately, the atmosphere became harmonious again. Those new club members began writing on the big table, leaving their own notes.
This was also part of today's event.
Chu Yu was well prepared and earnestly wrote a poem, Yellow Crane Tower.
It was quite neat. After finishing, she looked at Li Weijin with a flushed face.
"Li Weijin, are you going to write?" she asked.
When Li Weijin saw her handwriting... at an elementary school level, he didn't know what gave her the face to write this and even sign off. As for his writing, thinking of Su Xiaoqi's, he gave up. He didn't want to write.
The deputy head and several core members were chatting with Mr. Ke, kind of like interviewing him, praising him.
At last, the awkward and strange atmosphere from earlier was suppressed again.
At this time, the president came.
The president was already in his third year and had the intention to gradually withdraw from the club. Usually when the third year ended, he would hand over the president position to the next one.
The president of the calligraphy club, Li Luanliang, really had good skills. He had participated in national level calligraphy competitions and won second place.
When he arrived, the atmosphere became even more enthusiastic.
Deputy Head Han Wei immediately went up to introduce. She was probably the most suitable to take over so far, so she was very proactive. Although she personally didn't have much interest in calligraphy or painting, she was quite capable.
Like arranging today's event.
Li Luanliang came over to greet the guest first. He was really good at praising people.
"I've long admired Mr. Ke's great reputation. My grandma especially likes your Heart Sutra and really wants a copy to put in our home. I didn't expect to meet you in person today. It's truly an honor."
Ke Yinhua didn't dare look down on the young man in front of him. After all, the young man came from a family with artistic heritage. His grandfather was a famous traditional Chinese painting master that even he had to address as "Elder". His expression became more humble.
Since the other party praised him like this, it also indirectly proved that his calligraphy was good and appreciated by others.
"Mr. Ke just wrote out the Heart Sutra here. It was especially wonderful," Deputy Head Han Wei quickly added.
Li Luanliang revealed a delighted expression. He walked to the writing table in front and the other students made way when they saw it was the president.
At a glance, he saw two Heart Sutras placed in the middle. The one on top looked a little sloppy while the bottom one was steady and bold, full of charm that gladdened one's heart, especially for a calligraphy enthusiast like him.
The one on top was probably written by some student, and it was decent.
He picked up the bottom one and couldn't help sincerely praising, "I didn't expect that after not seeing you for a long time, Mr. Ke's calligraphy has improved again. It's really rare. Mr. Ke is a true master of calligraphy and a role model for my generation."
And the scene... went quiet.
Because earlier, some smart club members wanted to please the guest and had sneakily placed Xiao Qi's Heart Sutra on the bottom with Mr. Ke's on top. Since it was just a small trick, they didn't pay too much attention and just casually switched the positions.
But everyone present had just watched the two of them write the Heart Sutras, so it was clear who wrote which one.
As a result of the president's words... how awkward!
Li Luanliang was overjoyed at the sight and hadn't noticed the problem yet. His smile became even more sincere and enthusiastic: "Mr. Ke, you haven't signed and sealed it yet. You must sign it. I insist on framing this Heart Sutra nicely as the club's treasure."
And the scene...