Zhulan went to see a session; the Painting shop's competition is a marketing strategy for the Painting shop. The shop itself has raised many painters, and when a painter gains fame through the competition, the value of their paintings increases, creating a renowned artist. The Painting shop not only gains fame but also abundant wealth.
To put it bluntly, it's all a money-making scheme. Even if a painter they cultivated doesn't win a prize, the competition still promotes the Painting shop. Moreover, paintings are auctioned after each competition, ensuring the Painting shop never loses.
Zhou Shuren looked at Jiang Sheng, "Have you ever thought about how your reputation would fare if your paintings, now highly sought after, don't win?"
