novelraw Chapter 346 - 185: Are You Trying to Scam People with a Counterfeit?
Chapter 346 - 185: Are You Trying to Scam People with a Counterfeit?
The Lin Family Sisters led Yang Chen to Lin Zhengtian’s study.
Although it was a study, its area was quite large, even more spacious than their living room at home.
Usually, the old gentleman would write and paint in here, and the walls of the room were filled with his works.
Lin Zhengtian was exchanging insights with some experts.
Seeing Yang Chen arrive, Lin Zhengtian cheerfully introduced, "Let me introduce a young friend to you all, this is Young Master Yang Chen. Young Master, let me introduce you to these old friends."
Director Liu Qingguo of the City Museum, Deputy Director Zhang Tiancang, Chairman Chen Yingjie of Hai City Calligraphy and Painting Association, CEO Liu Chuanxiong of Incense Collection Art Appraisal and Trading Company, Layman Qingfeng Zhao Jingzhong, Master of Chinese Painting Tang Shoucheng.
Yang Chen very courteously greeted everyone one by one.
Because Yang Chen was specially introduced by Lin Zhengtian as a young master, everyone thought he was a genius painter like Zhang Quan, and they were curious about whom Yang Chen studied under and which family he belonged to.
Yang Chen never hid his job and truthfully told everyone that he was just a ride-hailing driver.
Instantly, all the experts were stunned and then curiously looked at Lin Zhengtian.
Lin Zhengtian chuckled and said, "I know you all must find this very strange. Anxiang, please go and bring that painting for the seniors to appreciate."
Lin Anxiang nodded and quickly ran to her room to get the painting "Lake Light Maple Leaf Girl" by Yang Chen.
Lin Zhengtian chuckled and said, "Young Master, come, take a look at our paintings and give us some advice."
The other experts naturally showed disdainful expressions. What kind of appreciation level could a ride-hailing driver have?
Can he even give advice?
Lin Zhengtian was either showing off or being overly modest, there was really no need for this.
Yang Chen casually looked at a few of the paintings, noticed some discrepancies, but since there were so many people today and artists cared about face, he didn’t want to pick faults publicly, so he smiled and nodded, saying, "Not bad, Elder Lin’s work is not bad, everyone’s work is not bad."
What the heck?
Not bad?
This kid seems a bit too rude, right?
Lin Zhengtian, master of both calligraphy and painting, Chinese painting grandmaster Tang Shoucheng, ancient style expert Layman Qingfeng Zhao Jingzhong...
Any one of them is an authority, and he actually said not bad?
Liu Qingguo: "Young friend, your words are a bit impolite!"
Liu Chuanxiong: "Not just impolite! Elder Lin’s paintings are rare treasures that many collectors struggle to obtain, and you say not bad. What? Can you paint better?"
Zhang Tiancang knew his son Zhang Quan had some issues with Yang Chen, and he was holding back his anger.
Such a good opportunity to attack Yang Chen, he certainly wouldn’t miss it.
"A mere child talking nonsense! Are the paintings of the masters something you can belittle?" Zhang Tiancang angrily rebuked.
Yang Chen was dumbfounded.
What’s happening?
Isn’t "not bad" supposed to be a compliment?
Do people in the cultural and art circles understand these three words differently than ordinary people?
It can’t be, we’re all Dragon Country people, with Dragon Country words, right?
Are these three words derogatory here?
Lin Zhengtian chuckled and said, "Everyone, no need to be so agitated. When Young Master says ’not bad’, it means there’s room for improvement? Then I will consult with Young Master, hoping to make further progress in painting. I hope Young Master won’t hesitate to give advice."
Yang Chen roughly understood why these people were angry. So saying "not bad" doesn’t work, and he must say things like "excellent, amazing, invincible" and so on.
Yang Chen: "Elder Lin, don’t call me Young Master, I feel ashamed hearing it. Just call me Yang Chen, or like my aunt, call me Ah Chen, or Xiaochen, that’s fine. I’m just a ride-hailing driver, there’s no way I can exchange insights with an authority like Elder Lin."
Lin Shuying: "Everyone is just exchanging, there’s nothing wrong with that. Whether right or wrong, good or bad, it doesn’t matter. Art is subjective, the same thing can be rendered differently by different people, which is perfectly normal."
Lin Zhengtian: "Haha... Shuying is absolutely right. I will call you Xiaochen then. Xiaochen, don’t overthink it, don’t have any mental burden, just speak your mind."
Looking at those experts’ ugly faces, Yang Chen was also feeling quite disgusted inwardly.
Dammit, you want me to save your face or not?
Fine!
Then I’ll let each of you see clearly what your true level is.
Yang Chen casually pointed at a painting "Farmer Returning Home" and started to critique.
"This painting, from the aspects of composition and color, is truly a masterpiece. It depicts the scene of a farmer returning home after a day’s work, accompanied by stars and the moon."
This painting was Layman Qingfeng Zhao Jingzhong’s work. Hearing Yang Chen’s praise, a smile appeared on his face.
However, Yang Chen then changed his tone, saying, "But the author of this painting made a common sense mistake, perhaps related to the fact that it’s created behind closed doors."
When these words came out, Zhao Jingzhong’s smile disappeared.
Zhang Tiancang: "Nonsense! Do you know whose painting this is? How dare you talk nonsense!"
Yang Chen: "I critique the painting, not the person."
Zhao Jingzhong: "Heh... the young brother is right. Can you tell us what kind of mistake the author made in this painting?"
Yang Chen: "Judging by the farmer’s white hair and beard, he should be an old man. In ancient times, an elderly person who still had to work in the fields couldn’t possibly have such a straight posture, there would inevitably be a hunched back and other signs. Moreover, he’s a farmer, not a soldier, how could his body be so straight and sturdy? The most accurate portrayal would be to depict him as a stooped, faltering old man. The author of this painting must have based it on their own or nearby elderly bodily conditions when painting the old farmer in the painting, without genuinely visiting the countryside to see what elderly people in their seventies or eighties actually look like. So, I say he made a common sense mistake, a typical case of being out of touch, right?"