The banquet lasted for over two hours, nearly getting old masters Fan Liren, Cao Hui, and Wang Mianzhi drunk. The three elders drank heartily, chatting and laughing with Wan Yunting, making Liu Shuhuai and Chen Yun, presidents of art associations from all over the country, envious as they could only observe.
Because starting today, the literary and art world gained a young calligraphy master!
“Let’s move to Jubao Pavilion for tea.”
Before everyone got too drunk, Tang Boyun invited Wan Yunting and Old Fan and the others to Jubao Pavilion. Shen He, Liu Shuhuai, Fang Guowen, and Hu Tianchi followed, as did Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Lin Yushu, and Hou Xuesong…
As for the masters on Chen Yun’s judging panel, although they followed to take a look at Jubao Pavilion, they did not ascend to the fifth floor.
Firstly, they lacked the building plaque for the fifth floor. Secondly, they were not familiar with Old Fan and Wan Yunting, so they could only wander around the second and third floors of Jubao Pavilion.
“Look, it’s Old Fan and the calligraphy great Wan Yunting! They’ve come to Jubao Pavilion!”
At this moment, on the first floor of Jubao Pavilion, a crowd of literati and scholars had gathered, especially the young talents. Upon seeing Fan Liren and Wan Yunting, they let out excited cheers and shouts, completely abandoning their usual refined demeanor and the grace of young ladies from good families. All that was visible was the infatuation and fervor of seeing an idol…
Facing the enthusiastic talents, Wan Yunting and Fan Liren paused to greet everyone. They were mobbed by the crowd on the first floor for over ten minutes. It was only then that Tang Boyun and the others managed to escort Wan Yunting and Fan Liren to the second floor of Jubao Pavilion, where they were once again surrounded by a throng of people. Each floor was more difficult than the last. It took them an hour to finally reach the fifth floor.
After everyone sat down and had some tea, a few wealthy merchant friends who had been following Tang Boyun pointed at Wan Yunting. Tang Boyun gave them a sideways glance, then sheepishly chuckled and said, “Younger brother Wan, my friends would like to offer a thousand gold for a piece of your calligraphy. Would you be willing to demonstrate your calligraphy for them on the spot?”
Wan Yunting smiled, just about to agree, when Fan Liren’s old face darkened. He said to Tang Boyun, “Little Tang, this is not right. Although Little Wan has become famous and his calligraphy is worth a thousand gold per character, you shouldn’t exploit him like this!”
Fan Liren’s words immediately made Tang Boyun’s expression somewhat awkward. He immediately stood up, bowed slightly to Fan Liren and Wan Yunting, and apologized, “I’m sorry, Old Fan, younger brother Wan. It was my oversight. I truly apologize…”
His wealthy friends also looked extremely awkward. They had shamelessly come to bask in Wan Yunting’s glory, but their true intention was to obtain a piece of calligraphy from Fan Liren!
Cao Hui and Wang Mianzhi also looked displeased. If it were Tang Boyun asking for calligraphy, they might not have felt anything, but him bringing those wealthy merchants over changed the nature of the request.
The atmosphere became awkward for a moment. Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, Huang Yaodong, Zhao Yushi, Fang Guowen, Hu Tianchi, Shen He, and Liu Shuhuai all felt helpless about Tang Boyun’s actions.
They understood Old Fan’s character, and Tang Boyun’s behavior had touched Fan Liren’s bottom line!
Wan Yunting smiled and said, “Old Fan, please don’t be angry. I’m quite happy that Brother Tang and the others appreciate my calligraphy. I don’t mind it at all.”
However, Fan Liren’s attitude was resolute. He sternly said, “Whether you mind or not is your business, but his way of exploiting you is wrong. Furthermore, as literati, one must have the integrity of a literati and absolutely cannot compromise when faced with wealth and material possessions!”
Wan Yunting gave a wry smile at these words. Although to outsiders, Fan Liren’s behavior seemed self-righteous and proud, it was true that in the past, literati all had temperaments like Old Fan.
In contrast, the current generation, upon gaining a little skill, earned a lot of money by painting and selling their calligraphy. But what was the point? Over-consumption would eventually render their works worthless!
This was precisely why Fan Liren reprimanded Tang Boyun’s actions. If Wan Yunting had agreed today, more people would come seeking his calligraphy tomorrow. If everyone had a piece of his calligraphy, then Wan Yunting’s work would lose its value.
“Yes, Old Fan is right. Younger brother Wan, it was I who was presumptuous.”
Tang Boyun also recognized his mistake and apologized to Wan Yunting with great sincerity and shame.
“Brother Tang, there’s no need for that. Please sit down and have some tea.” Wan Yunting waved his hand, naturally not blaming Tang Boyun.
He simply hadn’t thought that far. Regarding calligraphy, Wan Yunting had always approached it with a normal mindset. He had never thought about making money from his calligraphy, which was why his attitude was like this, and he held no grudges against Tang Boyun.
But Tang Boyun recognized his fault and felt guilty.
He had already obtained two pieces of calligraphy from Wan Yunting that day, and yet he still brought his friends to ask for more. Fan Liren’s reprimand was correct.
The few wealthy merchant friends looked extremely embarrassed, sensing the awkward atmosphere, and found an excuse to leave bashfully…
Fan Liren didn’t bother to say anything else. He asked Wan Yunting, “By the way, Little Wan, when are you all returning?”
Wan Yunting turned to Fang Guowen and asked, “Uncle Fang, when do you plan to go back?”
Fang Guowen smiled and said, “The competition is over now. I was planning to return tomorrow afternoon.”
Wan Yunting nodded, indicating he felt the same. However, Fan Liren said, “You should return the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, accompany us to sightsee around the area. It’s rare to visit my hometown, so stay a few more days.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Guowen became excited. Wan Yunting saw that he, Gu Luotang, and the others were fine with it, so he nodded and smiled at Old Fan, “Alright, we’ll stay for two more days and accompany you to sightsee around the area.”
“Haha, excellent…”
Fan Liren was delighted, and it was evident that he genuinely liked Wan Yunting. It was just a pity that this young man was unwilling to become his closed-door disciple. What a shame…
Afterward, everyone continued to drink tea and chat on the fifth floor of Jubao Pavilion. In the evening, they had dinner downstairs, and it wasn't until after nine o’clock that Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, Fang Guowen, and Hu Tianchi returned to the hotel.
The next day, as they had arranged to go sightseeing with Old Fan and the others in the nearby tourist attractions of Shaoxing City, Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, Fang Guowen, and Hu Tianchi got up early. Without even having breakfast, they headed directly to where Fan Liren was currently residing.
Fan Liren was originally from Shaoxing. Although his family had moved to the capital, his ancestral home was still in Shaoxing City. Before returning, Old Fan had his son personally come to tidy up the old family house, as it was the only place for Old Fan to stay upon his return.
Since he was the only one who returned, there was only Old Fan at home. Upon seeing Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and the others arrive, he greeted them warmly, introduced them to his hometown, and then the group went out to have breakfast in a small street and alley by the entrance. After Cao Hui, Wang Mianzhi, Shen He, and Liu Shuhuai joined them, the group embarked on their one-day tour of Shaoxing…
In fact, as long as everyone followed Old Fan, walking through the streets and alleys he had once traversed and listening to him recount stories of the past was like revisiting memories through a landscape.
Fan Liren’s life could be considered legendary. Although he did not appear during the tumultuous era of Mr. Lu Xun, Fan Liren had also experienced war, the founding of the nation, and the rise of the people, progressing step by step. Therefore, the ideology conveyed in his literary works was upright and just, which was why he was revered by many and became a master in the contemporary art world.
During this day trip, Fan Liren spoke the most to Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and the others about the public’s mindset and the integrity that literati should possess, advising them not to let the current frivolous and vulgar world tarnish their original intentions.
As a result, Wan Yunting benefited greatly from his teachings. Although he was not a literati and would not become a great literary figure like Old Fan in the future, Old Fan’s words had significantly elevated Wan Yunting’s state of mind, making him admire Old Fan more and more.
Time always passes quickly. The one-day tour of Shaoxing passed in the blink of an eye. Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and the others, who were returning to Huadu City tomorrow, reluctantly brought Old Fan back to the ancient street, preparing for a grand meal at Lu Xiaodie’s small tavern.
Lu Xiaodie was practicing martial arts in the martial arts hall when she heard Xiao Hua from the tavern say that Wan Yunting had arrived at the tavern. She rushed back and saw that the two tables on the second floor had been combined to accommodate Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, Fan Liren, Cao Hui, Wang Mianzhi, Fang Guowen, Hu Tianchi, and Liu Shuhuai.
Huang Yaodong and Zhao Yushi were not present today. They felt embarrassed to join the fun again, believing they had not been favored by Fan Liren…