Almighty painter

Chapter 137 5% of Developed Society

Like many colonial pasts, on the previous page of history, Yangon, the old capital of Myanmar, was once a very prosperous city.

This is the center of Southeast Asia, at the confluence of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

To the north is Dongxia, to the west is India, to the east is the Chao Phraya River Delta, which produces strategic materials such as rubber and grain, and to the south is the prosperous and dense international waterway.

Beautiful treasures naturally attract robbers.

So, the colonists came.

European troops occupied the country, and the red musketeers under Edward VII beat the last monarch of the Burmese feudal dynasty to the ground in the passionate melody of "The Grenadier March", and fled to other places.

For Myanmar, this is the final end of the millennium-long feudal dynasty.For the empire on which the sun never sets, which was at its peak of glory, this was just an ordinary victory.

Whether in India, Qing Dynasty, or Malaysia, from East Asia to the Middle East to Africa, they have repeated similar things countless times.

War, colonization, plunder...

Flying and domineering, it will start again and again.

"Rangoon is a city of degenerate nobility."

Chen Shenglin smiled: "I have heard similar comments from European partners or inspection groups who came here countless times."

"100 years ago, if you looked at this city from a high altitude, the bright lights at night were not weaker than those of Shanghai, Tokyo, and Osaka. Compared with this city, the Lion City at that time was nothing more than a slum made up of sailors and porters. "

Chen Shenglin said softly: "They always miss the Yangon in the diaries of the colonists in the past."

Let's be honest.

The colonists did not plunder here with a gesture of exhausting their resources, but carried out chessboard-style grid urban planning and industrial transformation of Yangon, thus completely changing the city's appearance.

It is not the goodwill of the Europeans.

It is the British's ambitious hope to build Yangon into "the new Port of Liverpool in East Asia".

As early as the Victorian era, in the design of the British House of Representatives, Myanmar would be integrated with the Indian colonies in the Far East to hinder the covetous Frenchmen on the Indochina Peninsula from expanding in Asia.

They have greatly transformed Yangon with the investment of local construction.

They brought imported religions, but also the British way of life.

This is the first place in East Asia to have electricity, railways, cold beer and frozen steaks.

A large number of Europeans came to this land.

Somerset Maugham once settled here, and George Orwell, while discussing the polo match at Eton Middle School 12000 miles away with the colonial civil servants, wrote his practice work "The Burmese Years" while drinking beer.

In the French colony, which is only a short distance away from here, the greatest female novelist of the 20th century, Marguerite Duras, has just been born.

Decades later, based on what she saw and heard in Southeast Asia as a child, she will write the landmark works "Lover" and "Love in Hiroshima" in the history of literature.

Today, Yangon still retains the largest British-style architectural complex in Southeast Asia.

St. Mary's Cathedral, the Governor's City Hall, the High Court Building... In Yangon, even the Yangon No. [-] Secondary School, which is as famous as the Dulwich International School where Gu Weijing is located, was formerly a European-style mission school.

"They say that under the glory of the British Empire, this city once gave birth to great writers such as Orwell and Maugham, and it is the most prosperous city in Southeast Asia."

Chen Shenglin said in a low voice: "Then ask me. Mr. Chen, after more than half a century after the British left, what is left of you in Yangon?"

"Could it be that the name card of the city here is Hailuoyin, the methamphetamine of the Golden Triangle, corrupt and incompetent police bureaucrats, arrogant warlords and gangsters? It's the cheap and high-quality services that provide erotic services, which is quite memorable."

The crowd fell silent.

"What do you think?" Chen Shenglin turned around and asked.

Gu Weijing listened quietly.

He has never thought about what kind of city Yangon is from the perspective of such a big entrepreneur.

European business partners told you that after the colonists left, your city was useless, but your compatriots and girls were very beautiful, and they made people feel memorable when they slept.

Even if there is a high probability that it was an inadvertent joke, it is actually quite humiliating when you think about it.

However, Gu Weijing did not answer.

What people asked was Kou Kou's father.

With such a serious topic, a middle school student like myself has little room to intervene.

"Uh... Yangon does have a glorious past."

When Papa Koko heard "corrupt and incompetent police bureaucrats", his face was a little embarrassed.

At this moment, he could only bite the bullet and say: "We are incompetent, and we failed to manage this city well, embarrassing Mr. Chen."

"Brilliant? I don't think so."

Mr. Chen smiled mockingly.

"Don't get me wrong, it's not against you, but you are really incompetent to manage the city like this." He glanced at Kou Kou's father.

The Inspector's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Wanted to get angry...but didn't dare.

Given the business environment in Yangon, the vast majority of businessmen would not be overly flattered when they saw a military and police officer like him.

However, as the saying goes, money can turn ghosts around.

If a company can reach Mr. Chen's level, its status will be reversed.

Chen Shenglin faced a Yangon police inspector, and he was not the mayor of Yangon, so he didn't need to care about Kou Kou's father's feelings at all.

If you are in a good mood, you can call him brother. If you are in a bad mood, you can tell him that the official system in Myanmar is incompetent, and you can only ignore it.

"I just don't agree with this statement. The glory of the colonists, what can the colonies be proud of? Just like the steak and beer specially provided to the second-class British civil servants, and the laborers who died beside the railway, What does it matter?"

Mr. Chen's tone was deep like that of a philosopher.

Things are never just bright side, and the colonists are even less likely to be angels.

Behind the gleaming heads of the glorious Queen Victoria and the great Edward VII are Britain, France and Japan under the Great East Asian Chess Game. Millions of people were displaced, hundreds of thousands of local soldiers died in the war, and there were several times as many laborers. Die from the heat, mud, and plague while reforming the primordial jungle.

Countless families are torn apart, and countless orphans roam the streets.

"Some sociologists like to call this situation a 5% developed society." Mr. Chen held out five fingers.

"I've always wondered what these Europeans were thinking, just like I couldn't understand what was going through the minds of those who thought Mandela screwed up South Africa."

"South Africa was indeed a developed country, but only 5% of the elite whites have the benefits and life of a developed society. Such development has nothing to do with ordinary people living in apartheid. Similarly, the prosperity of Yangon is nothing but colonization It is a fantasy dream like a castle in the air of the reader, and it has nothing to do with the land itself."

Chen Shenglin looked at Gu Weijing this time.

"Young man, have you seen the boats on the Yangon River?"

"Those cruise ships that come and go?" Gu Weijing nodded.

Their home is on the banks of the Yangon River, and they are no strangers to the luxury liners that come and go on the river every day, carrying various foreign sightseeing tour groups.

"I once read an interesting saying that every large sightseeing cruise ship is like a microcosm of Yangon in the past 100 years." Chen Shenglin clapped his palms: "A dozen European tourists stand on the top of the tower of power, 150 locals They are working hard under their feet. All the meaning of labor is to provide the best service to the right holders on the top deck."

"Very vivid."

Gu Weijing recalled the large tourist ships he had seen.

These luxury liners charge high fees, and most of the tourists are from the wealthy class in Europe.They occupied the sun deck, enjoying champagne under the sun loungers and admiring the city view.

Hundreds of boatmen spun around like ants, providing them with everything from shining shoes to lifting sliders after disembarking.

The rich only remember the scenery of the city, but no one will take a moment to pay attention to the feelings of these boatmen.

They are just worker ants that no one cares about.

"Xiao Gu, if you really want to draw a moving work, please compose it like this."

The entrepreneur touched the drawing paper in front of Gu Weijing, "The almighty Virgin Mary may really be omnipotent, but she has neither helped these children nor illuminated the city."

"Thank you, Mr. Chen."

Gu Wei nodded his thanks wholeheartedly.

He tried to move the towering Madonna to the corner of the picture and redesign the composition according to the collector's suggestion.

Just a stroke of the pen.

Gu Weijing felt the difference.

The design of the picture is very bold, and the oblique triangle picture also breaks through the rigid restrictions of the traditional composition rules, but still ensures the basic stability of the picture.

more importantly.

Even if it is just a draft, Gu Weijing can clearly feel that the picture has become more vivid.

From a staid expression style of religious and moral preaching paintings, it has become more dynamic.

Even Mr. Cao may not be able to explain this kind of composition idea full of rural flavor and hearty inspiration analysis.

No matter how powerful an artist has not lived in this land, it is difficult to have such a profound insight into the city's temperament.

Hegel once commented that the temperament of painting art is - "the spiritual portrayal of a city, reflecting the spiritual life freed from shackles."

Gu Weijing once felt the old Paris from Ray Noir's "The Ball at the Pancake Mill", and heard the ethereal chants in the old church on a thunderstorm day from the works of the female painter Carroll.

This is the temperament of painting.

When a great painter composes a picture, he always incorporates his own understanding.

Only by adapting measures to local conditions can we better obtain emotional sublimation.

Gu Weijing is still far from the level of a great painter, but this Mr. Chen's understanding of Yangon is called a high-level plan, which fills in the lack of his own composition.

The benefits of going out to collect folk songs are here.

If he has been bored in the school studio, he will not be able to understand the importance of empathy, nor will he be able to meet such an interesting person as Mr. Chen.

When Gu Weijing redesigned the sketch, the collector never left.

The secretary reminded the schedule a little bit, Mr. Chen waved his hand, and no one said anything.

Mr. Chen, a distinguished guest, has the leisure and elegance to look at the paintings, and the others have no choice but to accompany them honestly.

Everyone has been very quiet.

On the other hand, the reporter Du Wen, as if he saw the little mouse in the rice vat, excitedly wanted to chat with Chen Shenglin, but was quickly "invited" away by Kou Kou's subordinates.

"Hey, this uncle who washes the little girl's hair is Lieutenant Colonel Alai?"

Kou Kou's father suddenly let out a "huh".

"Alli... Lieutenant Colonel?"

Gu Weijing was puzzled, and even the female dean on the side was a little shocked.

The gatekeeper was indeed called Alai, and he was also very military.

But the lieutenant colonel is already considered a senior officer in the army, and he is not far behind the general.

Uncle Alai, was a lieutenant colonel?
"This is a legendary figure in the past. He is one of the founders and instructors of the current VIP defense force. If he hadn't been involved in factional struggles, he should be a general by now. Even if he was transferred to the police ranks, It will also be at the level of my superior. I heard that he was kicked out of the army, but I didn't expect to be here to guard the gate now."

Miss Kou Kou's "eighth woman" temperament is obviously hereditary.

Mr. Inspector, who has always been rigid and serious, looked much more energetic when he mentioned high-level gossip.It's a pity that due to discipline, it's not easy to spread nonsense, so I can only look hesitant to speak.

After a long time, he sighed: "It's a pity that the factions are fighting."

Gu Weijing, who didn't hear any breaking news, shook his head and continued to draw.

The political situation in Myanmar is chaotic, and various factional struggles often occur.

The world of adults is much more complicated and cruel than that of children.

The former lieutenant colonel, now the cripple who looks after the gate, similar things are not uncommon.

Gu Weijing's original plan to come to the orphanage today was to interview the profile janitor, Uncle Alai, about his heart.

The Quasimodo-style silent gatekeeper is a model with a lot of stories at first glance.

Unfortunately, he didn't come by coincidence.

After arriving at the orphanage today, Gu Weijing learned from the director that the uncle took little girl Jasmine to Yangon General Hospital for treatment.

Jasmine has AIDS. In order to prevent the virus from eroding her immune system, she needs to regularly review the amount of viral carriers in her blood according to the course of treatment.

If you didn't meet it, you didn't meet it. Anyway, there are plenty of opportunities.

Gu Weijing secretly wrote down the news and continued to draw.

After a while, the new draft was finished.

"Even if it's just a draft, I still see the painting come alive."

Mr. Chen looked at Gu Weijing's draft and nodded softly: "When this painting is really finished in the future, it must be a beautiful work."

He patted Gu Weijing on the shoulder.

"Such a young painter with aura is the hope for us to get out of the imprint of the colonial era. If you want, please give me this painting after it is finished."

The collector stopped the secretary from asking the dean for Gu Weijing's contact information, took out a business card from his pocket, and handed it to Gu Weijing.

"You can call my cell phone directly."

Gu Weijing took the business card with both hands.

This business card comes in plain color.

Rich people who are not as vividly depicted in street stall literature as he imagined like to use gold foil and platinum to inlay gorgeous business cards.

Just a simple piece of paper.

There is not even any title on the piece of paper, only the name "Chen Shenglin" and a string of phone numbers.

It seems that the weight of the name alone is enough to explain everything.

Judging from the shocked or astonished looks of the other onlookers, it can be seen that the weight of this business card is not as frivolous as it looks.

Even Kou Kou's father was surprised.

(End of this chapter)