Xiao Chan took the chili to wash up, while Su Yang returned to the small courtyard excitedly.
In fact, Zhu Biao was a little puzzled by Su Yang's performance.
Although chili was a new thing, it did not make Su Yang so happy.
In the end, it was just adding a seasoning to the food. In Zhu Biao's opinion, it was of little significance.
Su Yang's excitement seemed to have come without a start.
In fact, Zhu Biao did not know that Su Yang was not excited about the chili, but about the success of the seed planting!
This meant that his idea was feasible!
Hu Shang indeed had the opportunity to bring back new varieties of seeds from other countries. As long as Su Yang kept looking, probability would definitely be able to bring corn or potatoes to Great Ming in advance!
Each person had a small cake and a pot of tea.
Zhu Biao looked at it curiously." Sister-in-law, this arrangement is exquisite."”
Zhu Tan 'er giggled." Brother Huang, I'm sorry. My husband said that this is called afternoon tea. I'm just imitating it.”
Su Yang added," Our sense of ceremony is still lacking. We need to hire an artist to draw us."”
"That way, many years later, when you see this painting, you will still remember that you had afternoon tea with Tan 'er one afternoon!”
Zhu Tan 'er laughed even more heartily when she heard this.
"Husband, you really can do whatever you want.”
"Don't tell me that we have to maintain this position while drinking tea? He really didn't know whether to enjoy it or suffer!”
When Su Yang heard this, he shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"Tan 'er, you're wrong. Who said that painting takes so long? If it were me, I could finish it in fifteen minutes!”
When Zhu Biao and Zhu Tan 'er heard this, they looked at Su Yang in shock.
The landscape figure paintings of the Ming Dynasty were tedious. Drawing, coloring, and filling all required slow and meticulous work.
This was especially true for portrait paintings. They needed to be copied, so the person being painted had to sit there obediently.
Sometimes, it was possible to draw for a few days in a row!
But Su Yang said that he could finish it in fifteen minutes?!
How could this not shock everyone!
Su Yang did not say much. Instead, he instructed Xiao Chan,"Go, bring a carbon stick from the kitchen for me. Remember, make it thinner! Just like…just like chopsticks!”
This order was strange, but Xiao Chan now admired Su Yang very much. Whatever Su Yang said she would do, she would do her best.
In just a moment, Xiao Chan took out a few carbon sticks that were as thick as chopsticks.
Su Yang praised her when he saw her,"Little Chan is still smart!" Not only was the thickness of the carbon strip just right, but the length was also suitable!”
At this moment, Zhu Biao was sitting under a tree with a teacup and drinking slowly. Zhu Tan 'er was using the wooden fork Su Yang made to pick up a piece of cake.
The pomegranate trees were lush, blocking out a large area of sunlight.
However, there were scattered mottled spots of light scattered on the ground of the courtyard. Zhu Biao and Zhu Tan 'er also had jumping spots of light on their bodies.
Su Yang held the drawing board and carbon strips and immediately said,"Tan 'er, don't move. This scene is just right!”
Without waiting for Zhu Tan 'er's reaction, he immediately started drawing on the drawing board.
Although Zhu Tan 'er was curious, she did not dare to move an inch because Su Yang said not to move.
Zhu Ben wanted to stand up and walk behind Su Yang to take a look, but on second thought, Su Yang did not invite him.
Anyone who had a bit of heritage would not want people to watch them when they painted.
Therefore, Zhu Biao also accompanied Zhu Tan 'er and sat down obediently.
Fortunately, Su Yang was very fast. As expected, he stopped writing after fifteen minutes.
He let out a long sigh." This scene is really heartwarming. The Dao is natural. If it was intentional, it wouldn't have such an effect."”
Then, he handed the drawing board to Zhu Biao.
Zhu Biao took it and his eyes widened!
On the drawing board, Zhu Tan 'er's expression and movements were vivid. The cake on the table, the stars on the ground, and the buildings behind her were all drawn by Su Yang.
This painting was completely different from what Zhu Biao had seen before!
Before he could think of how to describe it, he heard Zhu Tan 'er exclaim.
"This painting is too similar! Tan 'er had never seen such a similar portrait before!”
Only then did Zhu Biao realize that it was "alike"!
Su Yang casually used a charcoal pen to sketch out the lines and accurately restored Zhu Taner's appearance.
Even the furniture and the house were made in such a realistic way, giving people a sense of realism!
Traditional Chinese painting emphasized charm and blank space. It did not require the characters to be similar, but the charm had to be excellent!
Therefore, it was a great test of the artist's personal aesthetic and attainments.
Gu Kaizhi's Admonitions for Female Historians was like this!
However, Su Yang's painting took a completely different path.
Zhu Biao couldn't say which one was better, but it was obvious that each had its own merits.
For example, he fell in love with the painting in front of him the moment he saw it. He was plotting how to leave.
Empress Ma missed Zhu Tan 'er in the palace, but for some reason, she could not come out to meet her.
This painting allowed Empress Ma to clearly see Zhu Taner's recent situation!
In particular, Su Yang's painting was much cuter than the Jinyiwei's.
Zhu Biao could already imagine how happy Empress Ma and Zhu Yuanzhang would be when they saw this painting!
He thought for a moment and said,"Brother Su, your painting can be said to be divine!"”
"I've never seen anyone paint like this before. It's really an eye-opener.”
"I wonder if Brother Su can give me this painting, even if you have to pay a lot of money to buy it!”
When Su Yang heard this, he shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"How can that be! Brother Huang, this painting is of my Tan 'er. Why would I give it to you?”
"If you really like it, I'll draw you another one without Tan 'er. You can take it away.”
When Zhu Biao heard this, he groaned in his heart. It was precisely because Zhu Tan 'er was in the painting that he wanted it.
If he were to abort Tan 'er, then it would be meaningless!
However, Su Yang did not know that Zhu Biao and Zhu Tan 'er were biological siblings, so his request was actually very rude.
Zhu Taner naturally knew what Zhu Biao meant. She said,"That's right, Big Brother Huang. What you like is not this painting, but your husband's painting technique. Why don't you let your husband draw you another one?”
After saying that, he gave Zhu Biao a look. Zhu Biao immediately understood and stopped hesitating.
The painting was just an interlude, Zhu Biao still remembered the important matter.
He had only been the emperor for a year. The country was prosperous and the people were safe. There was still a surplus in taxes. The current situation looked good.
However, Su Yang's tone was clearly telling him that the days ahead would not be easy.
Zhu Biao had been on tenterhooks all this while. He couldn't wait any longer and asked directly.
"Brother Su, do you think we should continue our game?”
Su Yang sat down on the recliner and swayed leisurely as if he had no bones.
"Alright, continue! I'll just dictate it!"
Zhu Biao quickly took out the remaining nine copper coins and placed them on the table.
However, Su Yang said," Don't worry about the money. I'm full and sleepy now. I'll make it short for you."”
When Zhu Biao heard this, his hand that was fiddling with the copper coins paused. He did not know what Su Yang was up to this time.
"Let's put it this way, you have a surplus of nine million taels this year, not bad.”
"Next year, the year after that, or even the next five years, you'll basically have a surplus. At the very least, you'll be able to make ends meet.”
"The adult prince will be going to the vassal state. In the next five years, there might be a war in Northern Yuan. Under the influence of these factors, I dare to say that you have enough money.”
" However, because you lowered the commercial tax, it's now 30% of the total tax. The proportion of commercial tax has also been reduced to 20% of the total tax. Therefore, starting from next year, your dependence on agricultural tax has increased to a new height.”
"So, this involves a problem. Once the agricultural tax collapses, your foundation will be gone. Without money, the country won't be able to operate normally, and it will naturally perish.”
Zhu Biao immediately grasped the main point of Su Yang's words.
The agricultural tax collapsed!
However, the current Great Ming was vast and sparsely populated. There was a lot of land, so how could the agricultural tax collapse?
……
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]