Almighty painter

Chapter 343
"Oh, oh oh!"

Lao Yang's mind swayed when he heard this, and he tried his best to remember every word of Cao Xuan's words.

Yu Zhiding... is the most impressive, painting the Buddha Ding Guanpeng and painting the number one scholar Tang Dai, which are slightly worse.

In terms of technique alone, Castiglione is not good enough.

He tried his best to carry these statements silently.

Wen has no first, Wu has no second.

Different from the good deeds of later generations, who tend to judge only based on their reputation and market price, the list and collection tips compiled include the top ten painters of the Qing Dynasty and the top ten court painters.

Talk about painting and Taoism.

Only stand at the highest point.

At least he has a similar status to those famous painters, so he is qualified to comment.

This kind of green plum cooking wine, discussing the pros and cons of famous calligraphers and painters all over the world, has to be done by great scholars. Often only the disciples of the master and people around him can listen to it. Secret.

Because there is a suspicion of offending someone.

Even their autobiographies and documentaries will not mention such details.

What you learn is what you earn.

"Old man, you don't have to belittle yourself in this life. I'm not bad at the word "rules". When I was a child, I played boy kung fu. Now, after practicing it for 90 years, the iron tree should also bloom. But because of this, I stick to the rules and regulations. In my first few days When I put down my pen to do this, I am not sure whether I will be able to escape from the cage."

Cao Xuan shook his head: "The authorities are confused, but onlookers know clearly. I am afraid that future generations will have to comment on the pros and cons of vertical and horizontal brushwork."

"And watch."

Lao Yang is not trying to be clever and flatter him here.

Although the old man claims to be a fan of the authorities, bystanders know clearly.

But Lao Yang would not think that he was qualified to be a bystander.

"Tell me, from the perspective of an outsider like you, who among my current disciples has the highest talent and will have the greatest achievements in the future? Who is the most suitable to be my successor?"

Cao Xuan asked softly.

Lao Yang stopped breathing for a moment, his eyes dim and unreadable.

Shall I come and see?
This is a question that can easily be answered incorrectly and you are on the wrong team.

Mr. Cao's inscrutable mind, his disciples must have gone crazy wanting to know the answer.

In terms of honors and achievements, the eldest and youngest, Lin Tao and Tang Ning, are evenly matched. The former is better because of his seniority, while the latter is better because of his worth.

However, in terms of financial resources, the other three of the four disciples could not compare with the fourth disciple Liu Ziming.

among these people.

In fact, only the third senior sister Zhou Ming, who was second only to Lin Tao in age, was a bit indifferent and had almost jumped out of the fight.

Lao Yang was very curious about how much benefit he would get if he revealed today's conversation in the study and Mr. Cao's tone to Mr. Liu.

Lao Yang would like to ask more, how much money is the other party willing to spend in order to put in a nice word for him on an occasion like this?

With 80 million, he shouldn't be stingy at all.

Unfortunately, I can't ask.

"It can't be Brother Gu, right?"

Lao Yang didn't know what kind of strange thoughts he had, but he accidentally gave the answer that sounded the most bizarre and unbelievable. Looking at the old man's appearance today, it didn't seem that unbelievable.

"I'm talking about my disciples. That kid is not considered my disciple yet. He hasn't kowtowed and hasn't served tea yet. How can I hand over my position to an outsider?"

Cao Xuan smiled.

The kind look on his face didn't look like he regarded Gu Weijing as an outsider at all.

"Of course I excluded him from our discussion today, not because he does not have the qualifications, but because a painter under the age of 20 is like an immature baby in the traditional concept of the Eastern painting profession. . It is highly malleable and highly variable. If I died tomorrow, I would not trust my entire painting legacy to a child to inherit."

"It's not a good thing for me, Weijing, or the other children for a child to walk around in a busy city with a large amount of money. I will have to go and see about him for another five or six years before I can say anything about it."

Cao Xuan held a corner of "Wisteria Flower Picture" with his fingertips.

"Of course, you can't say it to death. To be able to paint such a painting today is like a carp jumping over the dragon's door. He must be able to come up with three paintings that make me feel excited. My position, Even if it is for a child to sit on, who dares to be dissatisfied?" Cao Xuan added.

Lao Yang thought about it and said, "Then I ask myself, I think it should be Miss Tangning."

Cao Xuan did not object, nor did he nod immediately.

He slowly stretched out two fingers: "20 years."

"Year 20?"

"Young phoenixes are better than old phoenixes. They want to take over my class. If they can't do Yu Zhiding, they have to be Ding Guanpeng or Tang Dai." The old man said softly: "Xiao Ning has the highest talent. Normally speaking, he can't do it." It will take another 20 years of polishing before we can complete the legal articles."

"Ziming's family is the best. He has gold and jade in his mouth, wanders in the world of mortals. He is very spiritual, his spirit is not low, and his talent is actually not bad. But because of this, he lacks a little concentration. Even at my age, can I Reaching my painting skills depends on luck.”

"Tang Ning and Zi Ming, one is weak in calmness and the other is weak in concentration."

"Whoever among them can pierce this layer of window paper with great perseverance is qualified to bear the burden on me."

"This girl, Zhou Ming, is the daughter of my old friend. Her talents and family background are only average, but before Gu Weijing, she was the one who made me feel the calmest among the children. She worked hard and lived up to the expectations of God. . It’s not like there’s really no chance of catching up from behind.”

Cao Xuan did not mention his second apprentice Lin Tao.

If you can't stop drinking and can't steady your hands, it will be difficult for a painter in his 70s or [-]s to climb higher in the future.

Why are you talking about this bald "child"?
"In short, they are waiting for me to make a decision, and I am also waiting for a few children, who can give me a surprise."

"surprise?"

"A picture... a surprise like the "Wisteria Flower Picture". To summarize this painting again, the brushwork and scale in this painting are all average, but he painted with painstaking efforts, filled the ink with his heart's voice, moved with his heart, and moved with his heart. Let God walk away. At this point, it means 'it comes naturally'."

"The best part of Gu Weijing's paintings is here."

"Before this shining point, other technical shortcomings were just small details. Zhu Jingxuan said in "Famous Paintings of the Tang Dynasty" that the essence of the so-called exquisite products is the four words of informality. This is not about technique, but The heart of a painter. Keep it up, my expectation for Xiao Ning is for her to become the next top scholar Tang Dai with unparalleled skills and paint "Forty Scenes of the Old Summer Palace". As for Gu Weijing, I hope that maybe he can be more further……"

"Become the next Yu Zhiding." Lao Yang said just right.

"No, it's better than that. It's to become the next Gu Weijing." Cao Xuan smiled mysteriously.

"His painting is really great. I regret a bit that I saw the photo first instead of the actual painting."

After talking so much at noon, Mr. Cao seemed a little tired.

"Ask Mr. Gu to send the painting over quickly. My living room just needs a flower scroll for decoration."

Cao Xuan waved his hand.

"That's great." He stood up and sighed for the last time. "The master teaches well and the students learn quickly, both are good. I think this is the inheritance of teachers." Lao Yang put away the photos on the table, gave him a thumbs up, and said with a smile.

Cao Xuan had already stood up and was going to take a lunch break.

Hearing this sentence, his expression suddenly became a little dazed.

familiar.

Assistant Lao Yang just licked it casually out of habit, but it happened to lick it into Cao Xuan's heart.

It seems like so many years ago...

It seems that the title of a reporter's article in "Hushe Monthly", the art review magazine of the Republic of China founded by Mr. Zhou Zhaoxiang and Mr. Qi Baishi, was roughly the same?
It's just that Cao Xuan at that time was not a master who taught by words and deeds, but the student behind him who was praised as an art prodigy.

Cao Xuan imagined what his teacher would say if he could live to this day and see a painting by a child like Gu Weijing.
"It's the opposite, it's not particular. This painting is very particular."

In his mind, there appeared in his mind the appearance and appearance of the old gentleman who had shaved his head and wore a suit in the late Qing Dynasty. He had been accused of being a fake foreign devil in the late Qing Dynasty, but in the Republic of China, he started to wear long robes and mandarin jackets.

The teacher will definitely pat the folding fan gently and comment like this.

In a daze, more than half a century has passed.

A new generation replaces the old.

I miss you so much.

Cao Xuan's eyes turned red unconsciously.

The old man had sagging skin on his face and low eyelid tension, so he couldn't hold back tears. A tear slowly slipped down the corner of Mr. Cao's eye.

This scene happened to catch Lao Yang's eye.

In an instant.

The assistant was shocked as if he had been struck by lightning.

The whole person became overwhelmed.

No matter how surprised he was just now, it was only because of Mr. Yu Cao's high evaluation of Gu Weijing.

Cao Xuan's own demeanor and reaction were generally within Lao Yang's expectations.

So much so that the old gentleman's gasping exclamation reached Lao Yang's ears.

He still has a bit of complex and secret excitement like "I knew the painting was great as soon as I saw it. No, even Mr. Cao had to take a few breaths. Mr. Yang, I am awesome!"

But the scene now is no longer one of surprise, but...horror.

Why did the old man cry suddenly?
Could it be that a master like Cao Xuan, who is like an immortal or a Buddha, can't help crying sometimes?
But it's just a calligraphy and painting by a junior.

No matter how good the painting is, no matter how high the level is, no matter how high it is, how can it be like this!
The little heart in Lao Yang's chest kept beating.

The poor assistant was completely stunned by Mr. Cao's sudden reaction.

"Old man, what's wrong with you, old man? I'm just looking at a painting. It's not serious. It's really not serious. Are you feeling uncomfortable..."

Lao Yang hurriedly handed over two tissues, his eyes fell on Lao Cao's face, and he did not dare to move away for a moment.

He had already begun to rummage through his pockets, looking for the quick-acting Jiuxin Pills he carried with him.

Made up my mind.

Whenever the old man seemed to be overly agitated, he would immediately call for an ambulance.

"No, on the upper shelf of my bookshelf, in a dark sandalwood box, there is an old diamond record, a traditional Peking Opera aria recorded by EMI Records in 1935, a double-sided version."

Mr. Cao was still sitting at the table, lost in thought.

He did not take the tissue handed over by Lao Yang, but whispered: "Go and put it out, put side A on it, be careful."

"Old man, we'll talk about other things later, or I'll call the family doctor first..." Lao Yang suggested as he saw that Mr. Cao was in a different state and felt uneasy.

"I'm fine, go get it."

Cao Xuan's voice was very soft, but his tone was undeniable.

"Ok."

The assistant couldn't resist the old man's temper, so he obediently ran to open the cabinet door of the study room.

The old man’s study has an old-fashioned record player that can be used for both decoration and listening purposes, as well as a large collection of various records.

From Sony's golden collector's edition of Haydn's "Clock Symphony" to American film soundtrack master Henry Mancini's classic record "Dear Heart", there are also some rock and English folk songs from the 70s and [-]s.

Strange to say.

In Lao Yang's impression, unlike many people of his generation, Mr. Cao Xuan was not a person who was very keen on traditional Eastern Xia opera.

Occasionally, I bump into an old gentleman listening to records, usually some English songs. On the contrary, his second apprentice, Professor Lin Tao, always likes to hum a few arias from "Shajiabang" or "Wujiapo".

It reminds me that the old man later had a long experience of studying in the West.

Lao Yang thought Cao Xuan's music taste was more Westernized.

At this time, what old Peking Opera records do you suddenly want to listen to?
The assistant was confused, and the movements of his hands were not slow at all.

There is a small dark wood box on the top shelf of the bookcase. The box is spotless, and there is a small delicate brass lock hanging on it.

The lock body was only about the size of a thumb and looked old. However, it was not locked and seemed to be taken out by the owner frequently.

Lao Yang took off the box and opened it carefully.

There is an old-fashioned Peking opera vinyl record inside, with the EMI (EMI) trademark printed on it with a very dated feel and [Yang Xiaolou and Mei Lanfang’s new play "Farewell My Concubine", recorded for you by the British business Oriental EMI record company ] cover title.

"Farewell My Concubine, this is a famous play. Is this the original record from [-]? You played it really authentically." Lao Yang praised it habitually.

Old Peking Opera records are treasures among fans.

Anyone who owns the first Eastern Xia drama record, the 1908 version of Tan Xinpei's "Selling Horses", can exchange it for a house at the auction.

By 1935, records were no longer a rare thing in Beijing and Shanghai, but a famous drama like "Farewell My Concubine" was still very valuable for collection.

"This……"

Lao Yang carefully put the record, which was two years older than him, into the gramophone, and then he was startled again.

This box that Cao Xuan carefully collected and carried with him was not just one record.

After he took the record away.

A page of extremely exposed black and white photos that was sandwiched in the box fell out.

(End of this chapter)