"Good day, old sir..."
Gu Luotang hadn't expected the old gentleman to respond, so she politely bowed slightly. Wan Yunting also smiled at him, remaining silent.
Seeing the polite young couple, the old gentleman paused his steps to offer them some insight. Pointing to the woodcut print of Mr. Lu Xun on the wall, he chuckled to Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang, "Lu Xun's life was particularly passionate and vigorous. He not only propelled our literature forward but also promoted education at Peking University in the capital. He taught at Peking University back then, and President Cai was his teacher. The Peking University emblem was even designed by Lu Xun..."
Thus, the old gentleman recounted little-known details and anecdotes from the period when Mr. Lu Xun taught at Peking University in the capital. This left Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang astonished. Judging by the old gentleman's discourse and his knowledge of literature and Mr. Lu Xun, he was undoubtedly a prominent figure from the capital, perhaps even a significant personality in literary circles. However, he wore a mask, so Gu Luotang couldn't recognize him.
The old gentleman spoke eloquently about Mr. Lu Xun's past, drawing the attention of nearby tourists who stopped to listen. Everyone nodded repeatedly, impressed by the old gentleman's erudition; he was clearly a man of letters.
"So, we really should learn from the spirit of people like Lu Xun. He not only left us with countless earth-shattering literary works but also made invaluable contributions to the advancement of woodcut printmaking."
The old gentleman spoke for over twenty minutes without taking a single sip of water. Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and the surrounding tourists listened intently. Finally, they all applauded him. "Well said, sir..."
"Haha, I won't keep you all from continuing your tour."
The old gentleman smiled, waved his hand, and continued his stroll forward.
"Safe travels, sir..."
Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang politely watched him merge back into the crowd. They also felt that the old gentleman must be an important figure, though they didn't know who he was.
The two then resumed their exploration, in fact, following closely behind the old gentleman.
Suddenly, Wan Yunting spotted a young man behind the old gentleman. He saw the young man stealthily reach into the right pocket of the old gentleman's jacket with his right hand, extract the old gentleman's phone, and was about to slip it into his own trouser pocket.
The next second, a large hand grabbed the young man's wrist, causing him to shudder. He turned to see Wan Yunting. The young man struggled forcefully, but Wan Yunting's hand held him as firmly as a vice.
The young man's heart pounded with alarm, and he hissed menacingly in a low voice, "Kid, let go, or I'll kill you!"
"Heh."
Wan Yunting gave him a cold laugh, lifted his wrist, and then twisted it. The young pickpocket let out a scream of pain: "Ah..."
The phone dropped from his hand but was caught by Wan Yunting's left hand.
With such commotion, the old gentleman, who continued walking ahead, didn't even realize his phone had been stolen by the young man.
Wan Yunting snatched the phone from the young man's hand. He slightly twisted his wrist with his left hand, and the young man cried out again in pain, falling to his knees.
"Sir, your phone."
Wan Yunting called out to the old gentleman ahead. The old gentleman turned his head, looking at the phone in Wan Yunting's hand. Only then did he pat his pocket and realize his phone was missing. He stepped forward, took the phone from Wan Yunting, and said with a smile, "Young man, thank you. Otherwise, I'd have to ask my granddaughter to buy me another phone."
Wan Yunting waved his hand and smiled, "It was just a simple matter, sir. You're too kind."
"Impressive, young man, and brave..."
The old gentleman looked at Wan Yunting with newfound respect, deeming him a righteous person for daring to act against injustice, someone clearly extraordinary.
Moreover, from Wan Yunting's overall demeanor, the old gentleman had already sensed his uncommon nature when he was explaining Mr. Lu Xun's story.
The memorial hall's security guards immediately approached. Wan Yunting handed the young pickpocket over to them, saying, "Take him directly to the police station."
"Young man, would you be willing to exchange numbers? Perhaps I could treat you to a meal sometime." the old gentleman offered.
Wan Yunting took out his phone and replied with a smile, "Sir, exchanging numbers is fine, but please, allow me to treat you. Earlier, you shared Mr. Lu Xun's deeds with us, and we learned a great deal. If anyone should be treating, it should be me."
"Hahaha, I was just sharing my interest with you young folks," the old gentleman laughed heartily.
They then exchanged phone numbers. However, the old gentleman's phone rang. Upon seeing the caller ID, he raised an eyebrow. He answered the call with an impatient tone, "I already told you, I'm just out for a stroll. You don't need to come looking for me..."
Seeing the old gentleman take a call, Wan Yunting exchanged a look with Gu Luotang.
"Alright, then you come find me at the memorial hall. That's all."
The old gentleman hung up the phone with evident impatience. Seeing that he had matters to attend to, Wan Yunting said no more, smiling politely, "Then, sir, we have other matters to attend to and will be leaving. I'll call you another day to invite you for a drink."
"Alright."
The old gentleman nodded with a smile upon hearing this, "Then let's arrange another time."
Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang nodded slightly with smiles and turned to leave.
Shortly after they departed, several middle-aged men, accompanied by several young men in formal attire, hurried into the Lu Xun Memorial Hall. After searching for a while in the bustling lobby, they finally spotted the old gentleman's figure. "He's over there, quickly!"
"Elder Fan..."
The leading middle-aged man bowed respectfully towards the old gentleman's small back. "You've truly given us quite a search."
"Indeed, they said you had disappeared, and we were beside ourselves with worry."
Another middle-aged man looked visibly concerned. However, finding the old gentleman, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Shen He, Liu Shuhuai, do you two think this old man is so senile that he can't find his way home, making you worry yourselves sick?" The old gentleman, Fan Liren, turned around, his sharp old eyes beneath his retro glasses scanning the two middle-aged men before him. They were none other than Shen He, Chairman of the Beijing Art Association, and its Vice-Chairman, Liu Shuhuai!
"Elder Fan, please don't be angry. We know you haven't returned to your hometown in many years, so you wanted to look around. But could you at least inform us before you go out, so we can be prepared..."
Facing the old gentleman, Shen He, the chairman, acted like a filial elementary student, completely devoid of airs, speaking respectfully and even pleadingly.
"Prepared for what?"
Fan Liren was not so polite with them. He pointed at Shen He and Liu Shuhuai, scoffing, "This old man is back to see the changes in my hometown. So don't try any of that with me, and don't send people to follow me. I'm not so senile that I can't find my way home. Go about your business, and don't mind this old man."
"This..."
These words caused Liu Shuhuai and Shen He to exchange bewildered glances, their faces etched with difficulty.
Allow us to formally introduce the old gentleman before you. He is the renowned master Fan Liren, a towering figure in Beijing's art circles! Not only in painting and calligraphy, but also in literature, he is considered a grandmaster.
He also served as the president of a university in the capital and later founded the Art Association, serving as its first chairman. He has lived through various waves of eras, and this gentleman is now nearing ninety years of age, yet his health remains robust.
Fan Liren's paintings are even used by leaders as gifts for foreign dignitaries or presidents. His artworks or calligraphy pieces command astronomical prices at auctions.
Therefore, he is considered the foremost figure in China's art world today!
While Yuan Deyou, invited by Huangfu Hongfang, was a master, Fan Liren is a grandmaster. Yuan Deyou himself would respectfully address him as Elder Principal Fan.
"Alright."
Seeing this, Shen He and Liu Shuhuai could only comply. They said, "However, Elder Fan, are you truly not planning to attend the Calligraphy Lanting Award competition? I heard there are several young individuals with profound calligraphy skills this year. Wouldn't you want to see them?"
"What's there to see?"
Fan Liren turned away, looking at a magnificent calligraphy work by Mr. Lu Xun displayed on the wall behind the exhibition glass. He said, "How much achievement can young people have in calligraphy today? It's nothing more than the disciples cultivated by those fellows, blowing their own horns. It's not worth my time, it would only dirty my old eyes."
These words caused Shen He and Liu Shuhuai to exchange a glance. They shook their heads in resignation, knowing that the old gentleman was utterly disillusioned with the current generation of young artists.
After all, the societal atmosphere had changed drastically from the past, when everyone could recite a few classical poems or write a piece of calligraphy.
Looking at the younger generation across China, the societal impetuosity had fostered a similar restless spirit in the youth. Coupled with the invasion of foreign cultures, young people were engrossed in games and comics, indulging in various forms of entertainment that the elderly couldn't comprehend.
In contrast, those genuinely interested in traditional Chinese culture were few and far between.
Even among young people in artistic and cultural circles, they learned only superficialities and engaged in mutual comparison and flattery, pushing the entire art scene into a state of decay.
Consequently, Fan Liren was completely disappointed with the young people in today's art circles!
Those who claimed to be calligraphy prodigies or geniuses were merely puffed up by hype. Those who could truly write beautiful characters were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.