儒林外史

Born into poverty in a small Yuan‑era village, Wang Mian loses his father at seven and helps his widowed mother by herding cattle. While tending the herd he steals moments to read old books and eventually teaches himself to paint delicate flowers without any outlines, a style that quickly draws the admiration of townsfolk. By his late teens his work is praised throughout the county, yet he shuns official appointments and prefers the quiet of his brush.

When a local magistrate learns of his skill, a summons arrives, but Wang refuses to trade his independence for a bureaucratic post. Instead he packs a few belongings, says farewell to his mother and the farmer who raised him, and sets out for the bustling city of Jinan. There he ekes out a living by selling his unusual flower pictures and offering modest divinations, a fragile start that hints at the larger social games he will soon confront.