This pearl pendant is set in silver. The pearl is large and round, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. Although it is not as valuable as a black pearl, it is quite old and can be considered an antique, worth about ten or twenty thousand yuan. I immediately thought of taking it out and giving it to this girl named Yanzi.
"Yanzi, come here, let me introduce you. This is Zhuang Rui. Let's keep to ourselves, you can call him Brother Zhuang. Little brother, if this were in ancient times, you'd have to call her sister-in-law..."
"Brother Zhuang, hello, welcome to my home..."
The girl greeted Zhuang Rui obediently.
Jin Pangzi's words almost made Zhuang Rui, who was sitting on the sofa, stumble and fall. Luckily, Jin Pangzi said it first, otherwise the misunderstanding would have been huge when he delivered the gift.
To be honest, this girl is quite pleasing to the eye. Not only does she have a good figure, but her round face is also quite cute. However, no matter how Zhuang Rui looks at her, he feels that this girl named Yanzi and Fatty Jin look more like father and daughter than lovers.
"Uh, well, Yanzi, your brother Zhuang came today without bringing anything, so take this and wear it..."
Zhuang Rui took the pearl pendant out of his pocket.
"Wow, bro, you're really generous! This is some old stuff. Well, Yanzi, thank you, Brother Zhuang, this gift is quite substantial..."
The chain of this pendant was made of old silver, and its color was easily distinguishable from modern silver. Fatty Jin recognized it at a glance, examined it carefully in his hand, and then handed the pendant to Yanzi.
"Thank you, Brother Zhuang..."
Although Yanzi didn't know how much the thing was worth, she knew what Jin Pangzi was doing. She gave Zhuang Rui a sweet smile, which made Zhuang Rui very jealous. This Jin Pangzi was really an old cow eating young grass.
"Brother, you must have something to say since you've come all this way, right? Just say what you need to say, and I'll definitely get it done for you if I can..."
After exchanging a few polite words with Zhuang Rui, Fatty Jin got straight to the point, knowing he didn't have the face to ask Zhuang Rui to come and pay a New Year's visit.
Zhuang Rui smiled and said, "Brother Jin, there really is something going on. I've taken over that shop in Panjiayuan that we were talking about a while ago, but I'd like to change the name..."
"Hehe, I know, brother, you want to ask the teacher for a piece of calligraphy, right?"
Fatty Jin laughed when he heard this.
Chapter 543: Asking for Words (Part 2)
"Hey, Brother Jin, you're right. I really did come here this time to ask the master to write a name for a plaque..."
Talking to someone as sharp-eyed and witty as Fatty Jin is so refreshing. Before Zhuang Rui could even finish a sentence, Fatty Jin already knew why he had come.
The reason Zhuang Rui sought help from Fatty Jin was that among the living masters of calligraphy and painting, Fatty Jin's teacher was the only person Zhuang Rui could admire.
The old man was a few years older than Zhuang Rui's maternal grandfather. He came from a noble family, but his life was full of hardships. There were many titles that could be applied to him, such as famous educator, classical literature scholar, calligrapher and painter, cultural relic appraiser, scholar of "Dream of the Red Chamber", poet, and master of Chinese studies. They were almost too numerous to count.
The elderly man lost his father at a young age and his family fell into poverty. After dropping out of Beijing Huiwen Middle School, he devoted himself to self-study and studied calligraphy, painting and classical literature with many famous masters. Qi Baishi, a famous painter in modern times, was once his teacher.
The master's family background was extremely illustrious. He was the eighth-generation descendant of Prince Hongzhou, the fifth son of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. His ancestor, Prince Hongzhou, was a notoriously eccentric prince in history, who enjoyed holding funerals and eating sacrificial offerings. However, some historians have suggested that he used his "eccentricities" as a pretext to avoid getting involved in the struggle for the throne between Emperor Hongshi and Emperor Qianlong.
The old man rarely mentioned his family background. He never mentioned or liked others to say that his surname was Aisin Gioro. In his ID card, household registration book and all official documents, there was never any mention of Aisin Gioro.
There was once a very interesting story. Many people wrote to the master, and they would add the surname Aisin Gioro before their names on the envelopes. The old man was so annoyed that he simply wrote "No such person found, please return" by hand. Unexpectedly, after the letters were returned, the envelopes were kept and collected by many people, which is quite a wonderful anecdote.
Not long ago, Zhuang Rui read the master's oral biography and, while learning calligraphy and painting appraisal from Uncle De, he heard Uncle De mention the master's character and scholarship many times. That's why he wanted to obtain a piece of calligraphy from the master to decorate his antique shop.
Zhuang Rui once read in the master's autobiography that after the old man became famous, he would gladly comply with any request from those who sought his calligraphy, regardless of their social status, and would not be willing to refuse them.
In the places where the master once worked, from the principal to ordinary workers, especially the ordinary workers, almost everyone had a piece of his calligraphy. Sometimes the master would even write something and deliver it to them. The old man once joked, "The only place I haven't written anything is in the toilet..."
Although the master rarely refuses to write calligraphy for people, he couldn't just go to him on his own, so Zhuang Rui thought of Fatty Jin and asked him to make an introduction.
"Brother, it's not that I'm not giving you face, this matter..."
After explaining Zhuang Rui's purpose, Fatty Jin looked troubled, which puzzled Zhuang Rui. To be honest, because the master was known for granting every request, his calligraphy was widely circulated in the antique and calligraphy market, and its prices weren't very high; ordinary people could easily obtain it. Could it be that Fatty Jin's last disciple couldn't even get a single piece of his teacher's calligraphy?
"Brother Jin, are you perhaps asking for payment? No problem, just tell me how much you need..."
The "runbi" mentioned by Zhuang Rui refers to the fee for writing articles for others, which is a practice that has been recorded since the Jin and Song dynasties and became more common in the Tang dynasty.
However, at that time it was called "writing fee" instead of "manuscript fee" and the writing was mostly epitaphs or postscripts, which was the signboard that Zhuang Rui sought.
However, in today's society, some local officials, who are fond of calligraphy but whose handwriting is not very good, go around writing inscriptions for people and collecting money and gifts, euphemistically called "writing fees," which is actually a different kind of bribery.
"No, no, don't get me into trouble. The teacher never charges for writing. I didn't mean it that way..."
Jin Pangzi was startled by Zhuang Rui's words and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "The main problem is that our teacher is too old now, over 90 years old. Although he's still in good spirits, he can't walk anymore, and his eyesight isn't very good either. So many people ask him to write, he's racking up a huge debt. His little notebook is full of over a hundred names he owes. We students don't want to burden him too much, so we rarely ask him to write anything now. Brother Zhuang, can you understand?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui come to his door to ask for a favor and bring such an expensive gift, only to be refused, Fatty Jin felt a little embarrassed. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "How about this? I'm going to see my teacher tomorrow, and you can come with me. Let's see how he's feeling. Maybe if you don't ask him, he'll write to you instead..."
"Okay, Brother Jin, I'd also like to pay a visit to the old master. It would be wonderful to hear his teachings in person, regardless of whether they're actually spoken..."
Upon hearing Jin Pangzi's words, Zhuang Rui was overjoyed. He knew that someone of the master's age had his life nearing its end; he might pass away at any moment. To Zhuang Rui, meeting the master was far more valuable than acquiring a single piece of calligraphy.
After agreeing to visit the master with Fatty Jin the next morning, Zhuang Rui left Fatty Jin's house and returned to the courtyard house. He found that his grandparents had moved back to Yuquan Mountain. The environment of the courtyard house was rather noisy and not suitable for the elderly to recuperate.
"Brother Hao, Happy New Year! How's everything at home?"
After Zhuang Rui took the white lion for a walk in the yard, he walked to the front yard and saw Hao Long coming out of the room.
"Boss, everything's fine, everything's fine, hehe..."
When Hao Long saw Zhuang Rui, he quickly ran over, his face beaming with joy.
"What's wrong, Brother Hao? Why are you so happy? Did your family introduce you to someone?"
Zhuang Rui said jokingly.
Upon hearing this, Hao Long actually became shy and hesitant, stammering for a while before saying, "I don't even know if she'd be interested in me..."
It turns out that Hao Long's trip home was indeed arranged for him to go on a blind date. The matchmaker was a distant relative of Hao Long's in the city. Hearing that Hao Long had become successful, she introduced him to a girl who was a graduate student in Beijing and about the same age as Hao Long.
Nowadays, the higher a woman's education level, the harder it is for her to get married. According to Hao Long, the girl's family was also from the countryside. She was very quiet and didn't look down on Hao Long for being a high school student. She said that the two of them could date first.
Zhuang Rui burst into laughter upon hearing this, teasingly saying, "Brother Hao, you're amazing! You managed to find a graduate student without making a sound. Here's what we'll do: if you can win that person over, I'll prepare a new house for you in this front yard. If you don't like living here, I'll give you a house outside..."
"Boss, it's not even close to happening yet. That girl is a graduate student, and you know I only graduated from high school. I'm not very good at talking either. Could you teach me how to get along with girls?"
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Hao Long looked somewhat worried. Clearly, the other man's educational background made him feel inferior, and he felt that the two of them were not a good match.
"How am I supposed to teach you? I'm not some Ximen Qing who specializes in this kind of thing..."
Zhuang Rui rolled his eyes. He thought, "I haven't been a virgin for long either, I'm not much better than you." But after thinking for a moment, Zhuang Rui said, "A higher education doesn't mean anything. You two both come from rural areas, so your lifestyles shouldn't be that different. But your hobbies are a bit of a problem..."
"Yes, when I was with her, there were some things she talked about that I had never heard before, so I couldn't keep up with the conversation..."
Hao Long also looked worried. He was originally a country boy, and after spending so many years in the army, in a place where even cockroaches were male, he had no chance to meet girls, let alone know what girls' interests and hobbies were.
"How about this, Brother Hao? These days, high school students can apply for undergraduate programs in adult college entrance exams. You don't have anything to do here anyway, so why don't you study for it and take the adult college entrance exam this May or June? If you pass, at least you can be closer in terms of academic qualifications, and you'll have more in common. What do you think?"
Zhuang Rui knew that Hao Long had good grades before joining the army, but he joined because his family was too poor to afford university. Back then, there were no student loans or similar things. If he studied hard now, he might be able to pass the exam.
"Hey, Hao, what's wrong with giving it your all for your own happiness? Even if you don't succeed, going to university isn't a bad thing..."
Seeing Hao Longfa's furrowed brows, Zhuang Rui added fuel to the fire.
"Okay, boss, we'll do it your way..."
Hao Long's brows relaxed, and he clenched his right fist tightly, as if he were preparing to participate in a competition to win the championship.
Zhuang Rui smiled and said, "Alright, after I'm done with my work in a few days, I'll find you a set of adult college entrance exam study materials..."
Zhuang Rui played with the white lion in the yard for a while. Ouyang Jun and the others also returned. The New Year celebrations weren't over yet, so naturally they continued drinking that night. The children set off firecrackers in the yard. Although Ouyang Gang had moved back to Yuquan Mountain, the courtyard still had a festive atmosphere.
After having a good meal and seeing Ouyang Jun off, Zhuang Rui returned to the backyard and went into the basement through the side room. He wanted to find a piece of calligraphy or painting to show the old man for his appraisal the next day.
Zhuang Rui himself is a collector, and he also knows that the master never claims to be a calligrapher. He once said that he was just a teacher and an antique appraiser, and that calligraphy and painting were just hobbies.
For collectors, seeing authentic works of art from ancient times is the most exciting thing, and Zhuang Rui's actions can be seen as catering to their tastes.
Chapter 544 Seeking a Calligraphy (Part 2)
The next morning, Zhuang Rui left the courtyard with a painting by Giuseppe Castiglione, "Emperor Qianlong and His Concubines Enjoying the Garden," and some seasonal fruits that were rarely seen in winter. These were gifts from someone to his maternal grandfather, and Zhuang Rui was essentially using them as a way to present them to his grandfather.
The place where Zhuang Rui arranged to meet Fatty Jin was the famous little red building at Beijing Normal University. The master had lived there since the last century and had never moved. Since he couldn't drive the car directly downstairs, Zhuang Rui could only wait for Fatty Jin at the back gate of Beijing Normal University.
"Brother, the fruit is fine, but the teacher won't accept this..."
Fatty Jin rolled down the car window and frowned when he saw what Zhuang Rui was holding. He could tell that Zhuang Rui was holding a painting. Although the old man accepted gifts, he mostly accepted very cheap things and never accepted antiques.
Zhuang Rui smiled and said, "Brother Jin, this is a painting I brought back from Hong Kong. It's closely related to the old man's ancestors. I wanted to show it to the master to see if it was painted by a painter from that time."
"Don't mention anything about the teacher's family background; he doesn't like hearing that. Go inside and find an opportunity. I'll let you take out the painting, but the teacher's eyes... sigh, let's go..."
Jin Pangzi parked the car and took out a fluffy panda toy from it, leaving Zhuang Rui dumbfounded. Wasn't it said that the old man didn't have any children? What was Jin Pangzi doing with a toy?
"Hehe, the teacher is getting old, but he's very humorous and has a childlike heart. We students give him some fun things. This panda is to say that the teacher is a national treasure, and there's a story behind it..."
After Jin Pangzi finished telling the story, Zhuang Rui laughed. He had heard the story before, but from Jin Pangzi's version, Zhuang Rui heard the original version.
This is a well-known joke about a gentleman who, due to poor health and a constant stream of visitors, became so annoyed that, in his usual humor, he wrote a note and posted it on the door: "The panda is sick. No visitors allowed!"
The visitor smiled knowingly, turned around and left, no longer disturbing the old man.
The joke circulated for so long that many people believed it to be true. Even some of the teacher's students wrote it into their articles with great certainty. Later, the teacher came out and said, "This is a misconception. I have enough self-awareness to not dare to call myself a national treasure."
Actually, the gentleman had accumulated a huge debt of writings, and there were too many people asking for his calligraphy. He couldn't do anything at home and couldn't get anything done properly, so he had no choice but to hide in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, because there were armed police on guard there and ordinary people couldn't get in.
But hiding for too long wasn't a good idea. After returning home, the man wrote four sentences: "I am hibernating. No visitors allowed. Knock on the door or push the door open, and you will be fined one yuan."
The note was posted on the door. But it was only there for a day before someone took it down and kept it.
Helpless, the man wrote another note a few days later in ballpoint pen: "I am ill and unable to socialize. Leave a message if you need anything. Please respect yourself."
They glued it firmly to the door, but visitors continued to come.
Later, cartoonist Ding Cong learned of this and drew a cartoon entitled "The Giant Panda is Sick" as a gift to the gentleman. This is the truth of the story.
Upon arriving at the Little Red Building, Fatty Jin greeted an elderly man who looked to be around 60 years old, asking, "Happy New Year! Are there many people visiting to see the teacher today?"
"No, you're the first group, go ahead..."
The old man smiled kindly. He was the master's nephew, a very honest and upright teacher who had served the master for decades and was very familiar with students like Fatty Jin.
"Thankfully, not many people came today, otherwise the teacher would have had to expend a lot of energy..."
Jin Pangzi called out to Zhuang Rui, and the two went up to the second floor of the small building. This kind of small building has only two floors. The first floor is where the master's nephew lives, and the master himself lives on the second floor. One of the two rooms on the second floor is the master's studio.
Fatty Jin knocked hard on the door; the gentleman's hearing wasn't very good anymore. But soon a cough came from inside, followed by a question: "Who is it?"
"Teacher, it's me. I've come to wish you a Happy New Year. Can you recognize my voice?"
"You little brat, come in, and close the door behind you..."