The Versatile Master Artist

”It’s quite good.”

The principal glanced at the sketch teacher in front of him: ”But, you see, at Fitz, the teaching requirements for teachers aren’t just about technique. Your sketch is way better than those teachers from the training classes out there, but the parents might not understand it. Managing the school is also quite difficult usually...”

He began to vent.

The principal made up his mind. If this old teacher in front of him really wanted a raise, he’d at most offer him a $200 increase per month.

Or maybe $250?

The principal took another look at the sketch in his hand, deciding that the bottom line would be $300, no more.

If he went any higher, other teachers would start a fuss.

”It’s beautiful, but it’s not done by me.”

Professor Walter waited for the principal to finally give a definite answer, and then said a bit mischievously.

The principal frowned.

”Don’t worry, even though it’s not done by me, it is a student’s work from our Fitz.” Professor Walter didn’t really want to piss off the leadership, so he immediately added.

A student’s work?

A student from our school?

Being Canadian is like being the principal of a small-town high school, suddenly hearing that one of his students won an Olympic gold medal and being completely shocked.

He held onto the sketch paper, his face full of astonishment.

”Impressive, when I first saw it, I was even more surprised than you are now!”

Professor Walter felt a bit of sorrow in his heart seeing the pencil draft he had carefully sprayed with fixative and kept safe was being gripped tightly by the principal, leaving finger marks.

Once the principal released it, he quietly took the sketch back and tucked it back into his book.

”Is it possible that it’s done by Miss Katsuko Koizumi?”

The principal looked at Professor Walter with an annoyed expression.

A student like Miss Koizumi isn’t someone you taught. What are you showing off here for?

However, the daughter of a great artist is indeed remarkable; at such a young age, she can paint to this level.

Compared to her, most art students would feel they’ve wasted their time.

”It’s not Miss Sakai. Even if Miss Sakai paints well, I can’t take credit for it. You should know that every year I assign sketch square exercises to the graduating class. This is the classroom assignment submitted by a student this year.”

”A seventeen-year-old local student, Principal, can you imagine it?”

Professor Walter stroked the beard on his chin and smiled proudly: ”I bet you can never guess which kid painted this.”

”It’s not Miss Katsuko Koizumi after all.”

The principal thought for a moment and tapped the desk with the back of his hand twice, ”So, could it be... the work of Gu Weijing?”

Hmm...

The principal’s words left the sketch professor, who held a big secret to show off, at a loss.

Professor Walter stretched his neck, staring at the principal in front of him, his square face full of astonishment.

A leader is indeed a leader.

To even guess this right?

”Surely you’ve seen Gu Weijing’s painting in advance.” Professor Walter was baffled.

”Is it his work? Since it’s not Miss Katsuko Koizumi’s, I immediately guessed it was his.”

Professor Walter nodded.

The principal didn’t appear surprised, instead, there was a bit of a ’just as expected’ smile on his face.

”Since you showed me a sketch, I’ll show you something as well.”

The principal stood up.

He took a set of keys from the drawer, walked to the file cabinet by the wall, unlocked the cabinet door, and retrieved a large brown paper file folder.

”This is a file received by the school secretary’s office three days ago, looking at the contents of the file nearly scared me.”

”You know, last year North America’s campus baseball pitcher was selected as one of the top ten players in the high school sports league, directly signed to Princeton University’s NCAA professional baseball team? I’ve seen his game on TV broadcasts, and this guy’s speed is simply like a beast.”

The principal suddenly said.

”Sorry, I’m German, I prefer soccer to sports and don’t pay much attention to this.” Professor Walter shrugged.

Princeton University is an Ivy League School.

But he doesn’t even follow MLB or baseball leagues, let alone any collegiate baseball development leagues.

Professor Walter was at a loss as to why the principal would suddenly bring this up.

”No... I’m not asking you to watch baseball. What I mean is that this student is considered an excellent representation of Fitz’s educational success by the entire board. During the holiday before Christmas, when I attended Fitz’s principal’s meeting in Europe, Mr. Andrew from the North American campus bragged about his prized student for a full fifteen minutes. I could only scratch my head and endure silently at the side.”

”This year, I won’t have to endure it anymore, because after opening the school for so many years, finally...” The principal smiled as he handed the file folder, ”During my term, there appeared a student of similar high level to the high-level athletes.”

Walter took the file folder in his hand.

He found the deep brown folder was engraved with the Yangon Cultural Bureau’s affiliated Yangon Calligraphy and Painting Association English logo, and the folder had already been opened.

Walter pulled out a large stack of documents from inside.

”Notification of high-level artist and Yangon Calligraphy and Painting Association membership identification.”

The sketch professor paused slightly as he scanned the contents of the document.

Being able to join a local art association is a joyful achievement for every art practitioner.

Since ancient times, literati have looked down on each other.

Being able to become a member of an official organization is not just a recognition of your academic abilities, but also acceptance into a larger circle.