"Yes, I do."
Huangfu Hongfang nodded, then took out another scroll from the box, one that hadn't been framed yet. "I know Mr. Hu also loves to study the Slender Gold Script, so I wrote a piece in that style this afternoon. I hope Uncle Fang and Mr. Hu can offer some guidance."
"Oh, quickly show us..."
Fang Guowen and Hu Tianchi became interested.
Huangfu Hongfang and Gao Jiaxu opened his Slender Gold Script calligraphy work. Liang Hongda and other masters from the association also crowded around to view it. Outside, a circle of people had gathered, but unfortunately, there were too many to get close enough to appreciate Huangfu Hongfang's calligraphy.
"Very good, very good..."
Looking at the Slender Gold Script calligraphy, Fang Guowen nodded in praise. "I heard you recently went to the capital to study calligraphy with Old Yuan, and your progress has been great."
Observing Huangfu Hongfang's Slender Gold Script, Hu Tianchi's eyes revealed a hint of disappointment, but he still smiled and nodded, "Overall, it looks very good. The form is slender and elongated, and the strokes are powerful. It's clear your fundamental skills are very solid..."
"However, the only drawback is that you haven't captured the sharp, sword-like quality of the Slender Gold Script!"
Unlike Hu Tianchi, who was being more diplomatic towards Huangfu Xueyi, Fang Guowen sharply pointed out the deficiency in Huangfu Hongfang's Slender Gold Script. "While the form is there, the true essence of the Slender Gold Script lies in its unyielding, sharp, and exposed brilliance. Not only should the strokes be decisive and neat, but there should also be a sense of spirit within it."
"But your Slender Gold Script work, while good overall, still has flaws. So, Hongfang, you still need to work hard."
"Uncle Fang, your critique is accurate. I indeed have many areas that need improvement," Huangfu Hongfang replied with a smile. Despite appearing receptive, his inner arrogance made him dismiss Fang Guowen's comments.
"Old Fang, I don't agree with your opinion!"
At this moment, Liang Hongda stepped forward, pointing at Huangfu Hongfang's Slender Gold Script. "After all, in the current calligraphy world, no one can truly write the spirit and sword-like energy of the Slender Gold Script. Hongfang's ability to write the Slender Gold Script to this level has already surpassed many, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, I think it's good too..."
The masters who sided with Liang Hongda nodded in agreement.
The Huadu Cultural Association was actually divided internally, with two factions led by Fang Guowen and Liang Hongda. This was hardly a secret.
"Who said there isn't!"
However, Fang Guowen glanced at Liang Hongda and said, "I know a young man who can write the Slender Gold Script so well, it's comparable to Emperor Huizong of Song reincarnated!"
His words stunned Gu Luotang, Huangfu Hongfang, and the others around them. They looked at Fang Guowen with confusion, wondering who this young man he spoke of was.
"Senior Sister, someone writes the Slender Gold Script even better than Doctor Wan?" Qi Miaomiao whispered into Gu Luotang's ear beside her.
Gu Luotang was also puzzled, but she didn't realize that the young man Fang Guowen was referring to was the very man she had in mind!
"Heh heh, Old Fang, aren't you exaggerating? Comparable to Emperor Huizong of Song reincarnated..." Liang Hongda, who naturally didn't believe it, glanced at Fang Guowen and sneered. "Show us his work and let us all appreciate it. Let's see if he's truly as formidable as you boast."
The surrounding people exchanged glances and chuckled. After all, in the entire calligraphy and cultural circle of Lingnan Province, there were countless enthusiasts who studied the Slender Gold Script, and the top few were basically all present. Fang Guowen, Hu Tianchi, and among the younger generation, Gu Luotang and Huangfu Hongfang were all enthusiasts who had studied the Slender Gold Script. Everyone had seen their works, and their skill was indeed better than others, but they were still far from reaching a divine level comparable to Emperor Huizong of Song reincarnated.
"I didn't bring his work!" Fang Guowen said, seeing their disbelief. "However, rest assured, I have invited him to the Mid-Autumn Festival gala. He is on his way and should arrive soon."
"Really?"
The people around were astonished. Fang Guowen's words didn't seem like a lie. This also made Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao curious, as they didn't know who Fang Guowen was talking about. Huangfu Hongfang was also curious, as Fang Guowen's high praise for someone else made him feel disdainful. He wanted to see who this person was that Fang Guowen praised so highly in public.
Meanwhile, outside the Fuyuan Tea House, Wan Yunting alighted from a car by the roadside. He had been drinking with his second brother at home and had forgotten about the Mid-Autumn Festival gala. If Fang Guowen hadn't called to remind him earlier, Wan Yunting would have decided not to come. After all, he wasn't part of their cultural association, nor was he a scholar or artist. However, thinking of Fang Guowen and Gu Luotang's invitation, Wan Yunting rushed over to join the fun and see how these scholars and artists amused themselves.
Tonight, Fuyuan Tea House was open to the public, which was why so many young ladies and gentlemen dressed in ancient Hanfu had come to join the festivities. Normally, Fuyuan Tea House only admitted scholars and artists for tea and philosophical discussions.
"Who is that person! Why isn't he wearing Hanfu?"
"I don't know, he must be a staff member of the tea house..."
Inside the tea house, everyone was dressed in ancient Hanfu, gathering in groups. When they saw Wan Yunting walk in wearing black athletic casual wear, he looked bewildered. He didn't know that he was supposed to wear ancient Hanfu for the Mid-Autumn Festival gala.
"Is this how modern scholars and artists have fun?" Wan Yunting looked around at the people. He usually found it novel when Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao wore Hanfu, but now that everyone present was dressed that way, he felt like a crow in a flock of swans, attracting countless curious glances. Intrigued, Wan Yunting wandered around before heading to the artificial lake behind the tea house. He watched as many young ladies in flowing Hanfu skirts released lotus lanterns and Kongming lanterns into the lake, while others guessed lantern riddles. It felt like stepping into ancient times, which Wan Yunting found very special.
"Senior Sister, look quickly, doesn't that look like Doctor Wan?"
In a pavilion by the lake, Gu Luotang, who was admiring others' works with Fang Guowen, Hu Tianchi, Huangfu Hongfang, and Liang Hongda, saw a figure dressed in normal attire, starkly contrasting with everyone else, and immediately recognized him as Wan Yunting.
"Brother Yunting..." Seeing that it was indeed him, Gu Luotang's previously gloomy expression instantly lit up with a happy smile. Her heart fluttered, and she held up her long skirt, disregarding Huangfu Hongfang beside her, and ran towards Wan Yunting.
This stunned Huangfu Hongfang. He and Gao Jiaxu turned back. They saw Gu Luotang running towards a man not wearing Hanfu, attracting curious glances from countless people around. "Who is that man?"
"I don't know. Look, the talented Ms. Luotang is running to greet him, and she's smiling so happily. Could he be Ms. Luotang's boyfriend?"
"Impossible! How could Ms. Luotang's boyfriend be an ordinary person!"
The surrounding people pointed and discussed, making Huangfu Hongfang raise his eyebrows. He couldn't understand why the usually gentle and quiet Gu Luotang would behave so unusually and happily, running towards a man. Who was this person!
"Brother Yunting, you're here..." Gu Luotang, running over, couldn't hide the joy in her heart. Her eyes were full of Wan Yunting.
"Yes, I'm a bit late," Wan Yunting said with a slight smile, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"No, I'm just happy you could make it." Gu Luotang's cheeks flushed. Although these words made her feel shy, for some reason, she couldn't suppress her admiration for Wan Yunting.
"Little Wan, why are you only arriving now..." In the pavilion, Fang Guowen turned around and also saw Wan Yunting, walking towards him happily.