Almighty painter

Chapter 547 Special Issue

Gu Tongxiang is actually still a little immature.

After all, he has never joined a high-end art association, so he still thinks in terms of self-marketing rather than that of a power owner.

Gu Tongxiang is not the old swan that Miao Angwen thought he was.

He is a bald peacock who, no matter how beautifully he twists his butt, no one cares about him.

Long before the start of this membership selection process, Director Ruan had discussed this with the entire film crew's director team.

According to him, any shots related to Gu Weijing would be cut out during editing, and even this name would not appear in this discussion meeting.

This is in contrast to Miao Aung Win, who has made a lot of fanfare, will become the protagonist of the entire documentary, the focus of public discussion, and has enjoyed unlimited glory.

Except for those few small words on the candidate list announcement.

No one will know the existence of the name "Gu Weijing" anymore.

Brother Hao is a very "fair" person in his dealings with others.

As a godfather, you should have rewards and punishments.

Miao Angwen listened to him, so he just flicked his finger and the pheasant turned into a phoenix, and it went without saying that it could fly to the paulownia tree.

If Gu Weijing doesn't listen, then no matter how good your painting is, you will never be able to make a name for yourself in the art industry in Yangon without Brother Hao's approval.

When it’s time to strike, strike.

This does not change because of personal preference.

Managing people is like taming horses.

When it comes to horse training, all it takes is choosing the right reward or punishment at the right time.

The small packhorse that plows the fields, carries sacks, and does hard labor, even if it is black and thin, it works hard to pull the mill, and when it is time to feed it carrots, it has to be fed carrots.

The same reason.

Even the accompanying pedigree certificate is thicker than the Encyclopedia Britannica, recording the family tree back to the time of Christ, and it's as beautiful as a thoroughbred racehorse that was carved out of ice.

When you are not well behaved.

If you need to spur someone, you must spur them ruthlessly.

No matter how valuable a horse is, if it cannot be bridled or restrained, its value will depreciate a thousand times for its owner. If it is lucky, it can be taken for breeding, otherwise, its only use is to eat its horse meat.

Worse case scenario.

If all the other foals in the stable were to learn bad habits or become wild, it would be difficult to lead the team.

The week before.

Director Ruan had actually informed everyone about this decision. Since no one objected at the time, he carefully put together this big drama.

At that time, even Lin Miaoang did not show his prickly side in public.

Lin Miaoang did not accept the big red envelope of $2000 that Director Ruan had prepared, but he did not say anything out of dissatisfaction.

Director Ruan, who had been a little nervous, was now greatly relieved.

I feel that this guy is not as difficult to deal with as the rumors say!
who knew...

"You clearly agreed to it at the beginning, why are you trying to deceive me at such a critical moment?"

Director Ruan was furious.

Maybe even.

He still felt a little aggrieved.

It was as if he had rehearsed it many times beforehand, and everything went smoothly without any setbacks. But when the show officially started, the audience suddenly encountered the unlucky director who used stupid extras to steal the show.

I'm so depressed that I have no place to complain.

He felt that Lin Miaoang was a dishonest and particularly unrefined person.
-
This time it was not a performance. Director Ruan might have been angry or aggrieved, and his eyes were a little red.

But Lin Miaoang still kept his head down.

Lin Miaoang stared at the work ID of senior director of the National Art Association on the table with a somewhat introverted look. His photo was in black and white, which was very rare in this era.

In the photo, he is standing under the Brahma temple in Bagan.

From a professional perspective today, the aperture was at least two stops smaller during exposure.

So the whole world is like a random frame pulled from an old silent movie 35mm film strip.

The shadows are hazy, as if covered by a layer of gauze.

Black tower, black tree, black flower, grey river, grey sunshine, grey people. Only in the sunshine at noon, the young Lin Miaoang smiled foolishly with his teeth shining brightly.

That was the only bright spot in the picture.

When recording the data, the staff just thought it was a great work of a great photographer, and at his level he couldn't understand the mystery behind it.

He just nodded as if he understood what he said, pretending to be very inspired, and gave him a thumbs up to show how awesome he was.

Lin Miaoang just nodded awkwardly.

If you weren't too introverted.

He actually wanted to tell the other person how awesome he was.

The photo is terrible, but the person who took it is awesome.

He likes photography.

When he was working as a mechanic in a car repair shop, the only place where he could get access to a camera within ten bus stops from his home was the photo shop next to Diplomat Avenue in the embassy district.

When he was young, he would often stare eagerly at the display photos taken by the photographer for customers in front of the store.

At one time, he was mistaken for a spy.

He wanted to discuss photography skills with the photographer, but the owner of the photo shop thought his whereabouts were suspicious and even suspected that he wanted to steal customers' things, so he waved a broom and drove him out.

His first work camera in his life was a smuggled Nikon FM2 that his girlfriend bought for him with her two years of savings. She worked in a bedding factory during the day and as a cashier in a restaurant at night, and it was paired with cheap black-and-white film.

That summer, they went to Bagan and took this photo.

He always thought that his wife was an awesome person.

It's awesome that you worked so hard to buy yourself a camera.

He was able to tolerate a person like me who was away from home all year round and stayed in the mountains and forests all day long, and only divorced me after so many years.

Also awesome.

Lin Miaoang seems to have become a very respected photographer now. He is not surrounded by people, but wherever he goes, people call him "teacher" or "sir".

Not rich.

But he is one of the few "noble" photographers in the whole country who can afford a Leica M11.

Any M-mount 50mm fixed-focus lens in the camera box in his hand could be sold for tens of thousands of dollars if sold second-hand, which is enough to match the owner of the photo studio whom he once envied so much and had a whole room of photographic equipment.

However, Lin Miaoang had been asking himself the same question over and over again in his heart:

If he had known the price he had paid to get to where he is today, would he have picked up the camera again forty years ago?

Taking something to the extreme always requires paying a price and making compromises elsewhere.

For example, life.

For example, family.

For example... learn to compromise.

Fernando Pessoa, a representative of Portuguese late symbolism, wrote in his poetry that art and life live on the same street, but never in the same house.

“You always have a choice at a certain moment where you can only push the door and walk into one of the rooms.”

Lin Miaoang chose not to give in during the filming, so he had to make concessions many times in his life.

If you want to investigate and report on the shocking proliferation of poppy fields, sometimes you will inevitably have to find a way to bribe the drug dealers' gunmen.

I may even act as a silent and helpless spectator at some farce.

It's like the famous biologist who infiltrated a group of orangutans, fell in love with them, and yet did nothing to help them with their painful deaths other than record them.

Deep down, Lin Miaoang doesn't like Miao Angwen.

But Gu Weijing...

He doesn't like it either.

Lin Miaoang doesn't care about anything except photography.

Many years ago, painters and photographers were somewhat of enemies in high-end occasions.

Painters often criticize photographic works for being emotionless, and photographers often pick their noses and scold painters for painting nonsense and scribbling, without any effort, and yet selling them at sky-high prices. But he knows one thing that remains unchanged -

At the age of 18, signing with an international gallery, how much of this was due to your own efforts and how much was due to your family?
He was too lazy to point it out.

However, they are all princes who are high and mighty.

Why, those who have connections like Brother Hao are certainly not good people. Your family is more powerful, you can have connections like Cao Xuan, and you can sign with a top-notch super gallery, so you are more noble?

Don't be ridiculous, okay.

It's just dog eat dog.

Lin Miaoang has paid so much for his photography career to get to where he is today, why should he offend Brother Hao?
Or.

Who is Gu Weijing? Why should he offend Brother Hao for you?
Lin Miaoang is not even a painter. They are not working in the same boat. No matter how awesome Cao Xuan is, even if he can call the wind and rain in the field of Chinese painting, he can cover the sky with one hand.

He also cannot get the benefit of a few grains of rice.

"Lao Lin, this matter has nothing to do with you. It's a complicated matter. Don't get involved. You might end up being used as a gun." A colleague nearby carefully reminded him in a kind voice.

Lin Miaoang suddenly laughed, and as he laughed he kept shaking his head.

"Mr. Lin, we are all in the same business here. I will not hide anything from you. Let's be frank. This matter cannot be stopped by you, nor can it be stopped by me."

Director Ruan took several deep abdominal breaths and finally lowered his blood pressure which was almost off the charts.

He patiently took the teapot from the small bar next to him and came over to refill Lin Miaoang's tea.

"I don't know who got you to support Gu Weijing, but to be honest, as long as you didn't take his house or anything, and you were willing to come out and say a word for him in this situation, that's enough."

Director Ruan said in a gentle voice, "Please, give me some face and don't embarrass me or yourself. Even if you don't want to give me some face, you should give some face to all of our colleagues, right? Not letting Gu Weijing go to the court is a clear request from that gentleman. We are all small minions who do things, and we have no choice."

He watched the amber tea pour into the cup.

He said helplessly, "Besides, I just chose to ignore it. I didn't have to find that Gu Weijing. I don't think I did anything excessive. I was very gentle. Let me be honest with you. This kid Gu Weijing is also a god-like person who can get recommendations from several great painters such as Cao Xuan and be signed to the Ma Shi Gallery. He has his own world to explore."

"You think our Artists Association is important, but they may not take it seriously. This Gu Weijing... Young Master Gu, he may not even care about joining the association, and he may just run off to Europe or Hong Kong to make a fortune. You insisted on coming here and being a pawn, offending Brother Hao. From your perspective, ask yourself, why bother?"

"We don't fight over houses or land. Isn't that the way we think?"

He put down the teapot, patted Lin Miaoang's shoulder, ignored the horrific rash on his skin, and like a caring brother, took the other's hand and persuaded him.

What Director Ruan said were truly sincere words from the heart.

Cold treatment.

It's really just a gentler approach.

Gu Weijing just didn't get selected by the National Gallery today, he didn't suffer any other losses.

The original intention of that big shot must have been to teach Gu Weijing a severe lesson.

For example, the issue of joining the Yangon Painting and Calligraphy Association, whether there was any cover-up during the period - if Director Ruan really wanted to make a fuss about this, he would have something to catch.

At least.

At that time, in order to save trouble, the old man Wu next door did not even sign the membership certificate with Gu Weijing himself.

He could easily hold an additional meeting to discuss this matter in detail and stomp on Gu Weijing's face a few times.

But after hesitating for a long time, Director Ruan became timid.

He placed Gu Weijing's membership materials in front of his desk and read through them several times from beginning to end, looking at the several letters of recommendation...all of which had signatures so impressive that he wished Director Ruan could secretly steal them and keep them.

Finally, he put on his reading glasses again and carefully looked at the inscription by Cao Xuan and the copy of the contract agreement provided by the Ma Shi Gallery for a while.

"Forget it, Animad (Burmese for fuck), why did I have to offend this passerby so much and make this young master Gu hate me to death?"

Brother Hao or Cao Xuan, who is more impressive?

He didn't know.

But the gods let them pinch him as they please, there is no need for him to come here and act like a little ghost.

In other words, even if I'm a ghost, I still use traditional Kung Fu, and I know when to stop, without stabbing with a bloody knife.

There is no need to make it impossible for the other person to live his life as a human being and to rush to be the most conspicuous and disgusting little devil.

When two armies are at war and exchange lists of prisoners, they still have to be careful not to have blood on their hands.

Director Ruan still knew how to handle things in a proper manner.

He dealt with Gu Weijing like he was dealing with a dangerous time bomb.

Cold treatment.

It is not recommended, and I will never deliberately use it as a target.

Please ask this young man to leave carefully and pretend you didn't see him.

When Lin Miaoang suddenly mentioned Gu Weijing, Director Ruan's first reaction was not even to say that Gu Weijing was not good enough or that he cheated, but to kick the recording crew out to talk in private.

Amitabha, God bless us, be good. If we are not elected to the Artists Association and feel angry, please go find Brother Hao. You are a magnanimous person, please don’t bother with people like me.

It's a loss of face and not worth it.

Even many people present might not have thought that the investigation into old man Wu's malfeasance did not cause much trouble, and it was because Director Ruan secretly let it go without leaving any trace.

Since Brother Hao didn't give any specific instructions, he was not willing to investigate it thoroughly.

To put it bluntly.

If it is really found out that Gu Weijing cheated, he would be a bit confused. Should he deal with it or not?
Lin Miaoang doesn't care who Cao Xuan is, but Director Ruan actually does.

people.

You have to leave yourself a way out.

This is reality.

The reality for old bureaucrats is that everyone is actually a master at pushing Tai Chi and smoothing things over, and everyone lives a helpless life.

The kind where you call me a monkey and I call you a person whose conscience has been eaten by a dog, seemingly with sparks flying, is actually designed to be performed for the camera.

In reality, there is no such irreconcilable confrontation between good and evil.

Many people are good, but the good ones are not that fearless.

Bad.

It doesn't seem to be that bad.

Lin Miaoang is a brave man who doesn't blink an eye when facing a minefield when he picks up the camera. When he puts down the camera, he doesn't want to provoke Brother Hao in real life.

Director Ruan seems to have become a loyal ally of interests who cheers for Brother Hao. If he has a choice, he also hopes to stay a chance.

The Art Association is like a family where a husband and wife have lived together for thirty years and are fed up with each other but cannot get a divorce.

Since I can't get divorced.

Only by practicing Tai Chi, trying to smooth things over, and compromising with each other can life go on smoothly.

It is difficult for people to become absolutely brave.

Money, wine, common interests, etc. ... If the cost is too high after weighing the pros and cons, people will often choose to back off.

Only the same.

"Received benefits and used the means?" Lin Miaoang raised his head slightly, "Director Ruan, I have a question. Do you have an ideal?"

"Uh?"

"Have you ever been truly moved by anything in your life? Have you ever felt that it was worth putting aside all your calculations for a reason, because this is the right thing to do? Have you ever simply been willing to help a stranger who you have never met before?"

"At that moment, you felt that you were not afraid of anything?"

Lin Miaoang stared at Director Ruan and smiled contemptuously, "People like you won't understand."

Gu Weijing - Lin Miaoang never thought that he would see this name again in the internal manuscript of Myanmar Mirror's "A Review of 35 Years since Khun Sa's Surrender: A Special Review Commemorative Issue on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking".

As a local photographer, he maintains long-term cooperation and content supply relationships with many newspapers.

His main source of daily income comes from this.

Lin Miaoang was a guest at the editorial office of Mirror the day before yesterday. When he read the report at first without any opinion, his first reaction was that it was a duplicate name. After taking a closer look, his second reaction was actually anger.

There are always some areas in a person's heart that he does not want to be desecrated.

He started taking photos related to the issue of drug orphans twenty years ago, and he knew what the living conditions of the children in those orphanages were like.

You are awesome, it's okay.

If you want to go to the National Artists Association to gild yourself, that’s fine. Lin Miaoang can’t do anything about it, and he is too lazy to do it.

But in this kind of situation, coming here to show off is really too much.

(End of this chapter)