Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 2857 Learning from each other
He Xiaoyue and her friends had originally planned to go to Xinghualou, but since they had invited Chen Shixin, it was not appropriate to go there. The place was too grand, and it was inevitable that people who met for the first time would feel intimidated, and it would also cause the other party to misunderstand their evaluation of themselves. After thinking for a while, she decided to find a mid-range store.

There is a shop like this not far away, with a sign that reads "Nan Guo". The owner came from Guangdong to open the shop. Its business model is to start selling tea and snacks in the morning. Its positioning is "mid-range", specializing in the business of "middle-class families". The building decoration is exquisite and upscale, the dishes are varied and the prices are moderate. In the morning, morning tea is also sold. There is also a banquet hall for banquets, which has attracted a large number of local middle-class people: senior naturalized cadres, technical workers in factories, farmers and small and medium-sized businessmen, and the business is quite hot.

This shop claims to have "authentic Cantonese flavor" and serves "Cantonese cuisine" and "Cantonese-style snacks". In fact, these two in the 17th century were very different from the old time. Many famous dishes and snacks in Cantonese cuisine were "first created" by the elders in this time. In the past, restaurants and teahouses were two different businesses. According to the rules, restaurants could not run teahouses at the same time. The "two-in-one" business model in the south was said to be unique in the 17th century, and it was not until the s that it gradually became popular. So this shop is essentially "Kun-flavored". It is said that the boss and the chef were both instructed by an elder named Li.

The Nan Guo Restaurant is much smaller than high-end restaurants like Xinghualou, and its location is slightly off. However, its facade decoration is quite exquisite, with an antique style - of course, this antique style is actually the "antique style" of the old time. For a Guangzhou veteran, this style would evoke his old dream of Wuyang. But for the people in the 17th century, this is "Australian style".

Nan Guo Restaurant is three stories high. At night, the lights of the restaurant are like stars. Two red lanterns hang high on both sides of the door, reflecting the wooden signboard with the four characters "Nan Guo Restaurant" written in gold lacquer, and the signature is "Hong Huangnan". In front of the door are marble steps, which are wiped clean.

It was the beginning of the evening business, and the restaurant was gradually becoming lively. Standing at the door were two receptionists wearing long dresses with slits on both sides and a high collar, and they greeted the guests with a smile in authentic "Guangzhou Mandarin". Their voices were gentle and sweet.

Chen Shixin is a native of Guangzhou, and He Xiaoyue is also from Guangzhou. Hearing the familiar hometown dialect, they felt very warm in their hearts. They had a good impression of each other before entering the store.

When you enter the store, you will see a stone-built "feng shui pond" and a rockery bonsai that serves as a screen. A group of colorful goldfish are swimming in the pond. There are more than ten pots of orchids placed along the wall.

There are many octagonal palace lanterns hanging in the hall, and round tables are neatly arranged. Each table is covered with a red tablecloth embroidered with golden dragon and phoenix patterns, which looks both festive and solemn.

At this moment, the evening guests gradually took their seats, including families, friends, and business travelers who were entertaining clients. They were either talking in low voices or laughing heartily, and the air was filled with the smell of fireworks and grease, full of relaxation and joy.

Because they wanted to "talk about something", the three of them went upstairs. The second floor was a semi-open private room, separated by a screen. It had a certain degree of privacy, but it did not have the consumption requirements of a formal private room. They chose a seat by the window. Looking out the window, there were thousands of lights outside and people on the street. They looked at the night scene and couldn't help but be a little dazed. It was not until the waiter came to take the order that they came back to their senses.

"I don't know how many times I have watched it, but every time I see it, I can't help but watch it again..." He Xiaoyue sighed.

Chen Shixin smiled: "When I came to Lingao, the streets were not as luxurious as they are now, and there were no such bright lights. But I had just come from Guangzhou at that time, and I had never seen a whole street with lights! Standing on the streets of Dongmen City, I really felt like I was in heaven."

"You two are really good at talking," Guo Xier frowned, "Order, order!"

"You guys have to pay for the food and drinks. I'll leave it to you!"

"It's rare for me to come here!" Guo Xier explained immediately, but lowered her head and began to flip through the menu.

In a short while, she ordered several dishes. The signature dishes here are roast goose and clay pot rice, which are made of exquisite ingredients and are the first of their kind in Lingao's mid-range restaurants, so she ordered both. Seeing that the new rose, lily and water chestnut soup had never been tried before, she ordered one. He Xiaoyue ordered a lotus seed and red bean paste. As for Chen Shixin, he ordered a coconut milk sago.

He looked at the two girls sitting in front of him. He Xiaoyue wore a pink cross-collared cotton jacket with a waist and white gauze Luosong pants. It was neither bold and unrestrained like the "Song style" nor loose and shapeless like the Ming Dynasty clothes. She looked graceful and elegant, with a hint of femininity in her purity. Guo Xier wore a sky blue dress with the hem hanging down to her ankles, revealing a white jade-like instep, and a section of her collarbone on the collar...

As an artist, he had seen many beautiful girls. Most of the models in Trini's studio were from the personal secretaries of the elders, and some of them were S-level. In terms of appearance, He and Guo were far inferior, but in spirit and vitality, they were far superior. Could it be true as Director Fang said: "Women at work are the most beautiful"?

The three of them chatted while eating. From the fashion style of clothing design to painting creation, and then to the principles of photography, the more they talked, the more they understood. Even Guo Xier, who couldn't speak a word on weekdays, was fascinated by what she said - this man in front of her really knows a lot! Especially things related to "beauty", he can easily pick them up and speak clearly. For example, when they design clothes, although they also know the basic principles of color matching, in actual application, they often directly apply the color matching in the "clothing reference materials". Chen Shixin can speak clearly about the color matching problem, and there are many insights on specific application that they have never heard of, and even completely opposite to the teaching materials in their training class.

"Is that what the Italian said?"

"Some are from what Mr. Trini said, and some are from what the leaders taught us." Chen Shixin was secretly pleased to see them gradually becoming addicted.

"Comrade Chen, you know so much, you must be from a family of painters, right?" "No, no, my father is an oil painter who specializes in painting on eaves columns and furniture, so I have some connection with him."

Chen Shixin continued, "...Although I like painting, being a painter is just enough to make ends meet. So my parents paid for my education, hoping that I could turn my life around. But I was not cut out for it. I failed to study in the community school and only loved to read 'Kun books'..." At this point he laughed, "Slap your mouth, slap your mouth, talking about the past, I'm saying something old again..."

"Oh, oh, oh, it's okay. What next?" Guo Xier asked anxiously while gnawing on a chicken foot.

"At that time, there were many Australian magazines and illustrated books on the Guangzhou market, which were available for rent at book stalls. I and a few childhood friends would go to read books every day, and we became more and more fascinated. Later, the Great World was built on the banks of the Pearl River, and many machines and ships came. They were all new to me, so I often went to the riverside to draw them. One day, I was lucky enough to meet a leader..."

He roughly recounted how he met the leader, how the leader taught him painting, and later how the leader sent him to Linggao to study.

"…In fact, both my father and I think painting is not something that should be done in public. Being a scholar or a scholar is just an embellishment after having achieved fame. If you want to make a living from it, then you are inferior. When I first came to Lin Gao, I also wanted to learn a skill so that I could make a living in the future."

At this point, Chen Shixin couldn't help but sigh: "I think I underestimated myself. It wasn't until I came to Lingao that I realized there is such a thing as 'art' in the world! From then on, I started to learn painting seriously."

He became more and more excited as he spoke: "Let's talk about fashion design. What is the relationship between being a tailor and painting? Later, when I saw the reference materials the leader gave me, I realized that to make good clothes, you must first have a sense of beauty and a keen eye that is good at discovering the beauty of life..."

He Xiaoyue nodded secretly: Today's meal is totally worth it.

"Great! I also want to learn the ins and outs of this." He Xiaoyue said, "I wonder if Mr. Trini is still accepting apprentices?"

Chen Shixin laughed loudly: "He is so popular now that it is hard to even find a job as his apprentice!"

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"Then, how about I become your disciple?" He Xiaoyue proposed boldly again.

"Me?" Chen Shixin was stunned, then smiled and said, "Young lady trusts me so much?"

"Of course, I have a very sharp eye for people." He Xiaoyue was quite confident, completely forgetting the past when she was deceived and sold by a man.

"You don't have to become my disciple. If you really want to learn, I'll teach you for free." Chen Shixin's eyes swept across their faces. "It's my great honor to be able to exchange and learn with you two rising stars in fashion design!"

If this was said in the Ming Dynasty, it would be teasing. But for them, it contained a compliment. He Xiaoyue smiled. Guo Xier said, "We are embarrassed to teach you for free."

"No problem, no problem. We are learning from each other. But I have to make it clear. My time is limited, so I need to plan my schedule carefully. What's your schedule?"

"We basically have nothing to do after get off work, so we can spare one or two hours a day."

"Okay, I'll arrange the time." Chen Shixin took out a notebook and wrote it down. He and He Xiaoyue exchanged mailing addresses. For all naturalized cadres, their mailing address is not their residence or work unit, but a numbered mailbox, so that they can ensure that they can be accurately notified by mail no matter where they go.

As we were talking, with a loud shout from the waiter, three clay pots that had just been taken off the charcoal fire and were emitting white steam were brought up with iron tongs - the restaurant's specialty clay pot rice was served.

(End of this chapter)