novelraw Chapter 89: Mr. Calligraphy and Painting
Chapter 89: Mr. Calligraphy and Painting
Chapter 89 Mr. Calligraphy and Painting
Seeing the food ration tickets, Feng Zai Ning was stunned for a long time. This was the first time he had received such a return gift.
A formal post was sent along with the gift. The content roughly stated: "When chatting today, I heard Brother Feng mention that you have just arrived and have not yet settled in. Your servants also have to run around, which is quite inconvenient. After much thought, I thought it best to alleviate some of Brother Feng's burdens."
The post mentioned that these food ration tickets were printed this month and were valid for three months. They could be used in Jingxing District, and the canteen offered ginger soup, hot congee, and occasionally some meat, eggs, and small dishes.
Feng Zai Ning put down the post and picked up a food ration ticket from the wooden box. Nowadays, gold, silver, copper, and iron no longer held their former value, and the money certificates received were all large denominations. In the past, he could reward his family servants with small ingots of silver, but now it was inconvenient, and food and goods had to be portioned in advance.
If the canteen in Jingxing District was reliable, these food ration tickets could indeed be put to use. The pearls and coral he had given to Wen Gu, in the past, were certainly worth a fortune. Now, it was hard to say. Dignitaries who liked jewelry would pay a high price, but if no one liked them, their value would depreciate significantly. After a compromise valuation, what he had given away was not much different from the food ration tickets and glass writing knife that Wen Gu had returned.
In the three days since arriving in Xin Prefecture City, Feng Zai Ning had given out many gifts. The return gifts he received could be roughly divided into two categories: those emphasizing "form" and those emphasizing "substance."
"This Foreman Wen seems to be a practical person." The two from the Shen family were not very reliable, so there was no need to hold high expectations. This Foreman Wen was somewhat interesting.
Analyzing the people of Xin Prefecture he had interacted with over the past few days, Feng Zai Ning took out a thick stack of food ration tickets from the box and called his follower to distribute them to everyone as subsidies. His guards and followers could try the canteen in Jingxing District if it was inconvenient for them to cook for themselves.
The current times were unusual, and commerce in the city was far from active. In the past, servants running errands outside could buy their own food, but Xin Prefecture City had a strict neighborhood system. There were no shops on the sides of the roads, only walls of the districts. They had just arrived here and had not yet figured out which district had food for sale. Jingxing District was the first. Those who went to Jingxing District to inquire for news no longer needed to be secretive.After instructing them about the food ration tickets, Feng Zai Ning thought of the precious gourd he had seen at the Jingqing Public Office. When he chatted with his grandmother, he had also considered using shiny objects like the Treasure Bridge to build a family shrine, but he had to first understand the rules of Xin Prefecture City and the attitude of the Zhao family. The family shrine set up in the courtyard where they were currently living would remain as it was for now. It was better to keep a low profile for now, observe, and then renovate later.
The Taoist temple in Qingyun District would be permitted to operate, which must involve other interests and was not an ordinary Taoist temple. He thought the precious gourd looked quite good. Although it was refined by a Taoist priest, it would be nice to buy one and keep it at home. He would ask another day if it should be purchased directly with money and grain, or exchanged with merit money.
Jingxing District. After the construction site was halted, many laborers were temporarily without income and had to save on food. The canteen became a bit deserted, and the circulation of food ration tickets slowed down. But soon, people from Sihai District made the place lively again. Feng family's guards and followers, holding food ration tickets as subsidies, started arriving one after another. They were quite enthusiastic, being able to observe the Treasure Bridge up close, conveniently gather information, and enjoy hot soup.
Others who had moved north to the city this winter saw this and opened their minds. They had also just arrived and had not prepared many items. It was inconvenient for their servants to cook and also inconvenient to give monetary rewards. Why not use the food ration tickets from Jingxing District as subsidies? It was calculated that they could save some money and grain, and gather more information. It saved money, time, and effort. It wasn't that no one had thought of it before, but everyone had too many worries and was unwilling to be the first. Now that the Feng family in Sihai District had taken the first step and it seemed to have no problems, others followed with peace of mind. Small quantities could be exchanged directly with the canteen manager for food ration tickets, and large quantities could be exchanged at the public office.
Even those great families who often sent their servants to the city gate to meet those returning from outside had to send people to the city gate several times a day. Especially on snowy days, some stewards would bring people to the canteen in Jingxing District to wait while drinking ginger soup and hot congee. One or two quick-footed people would be left at the city gate to report any news, and they could rush over immediately when there was movement. Jingxing District was not next to the main road, but it was not far, and it was quick to get back and forth. They didn't have to gather at the city gate to endure the cold.
For a time, the canteen in Jingxing District became crowded. To address this, several sheds for storing miscellaneous items near the canteen were tidied up and converted into private rooms. Generous stewards who did not want to stay in the main canteen would book a private room, which was equipped with a coal stove and a heat-conducting exhaust pipe. The canteen hired five more temporary workers to clean bowls and dishes and sweep the floor.
Cheng Zhi and Little Brother He grinned with joy while reviewing the accounts. The canteen spent a lot of money, but it also earned a lot! The foreman said that the canteen was not enough, and after the weather warmed up, another "second canteen" would be built, and more people would be hired then. Now, some residents who had nothing to do would actively go to the canteen to help, show their presence, and perform well, hoping for preferential employment.
Wen Gu drew a picture of the bustling scene at the canteen and had Chang Shun deliver it to the Mr. Calligraphy and Painting he had chosen. It was still a period of observation, and he had not yet formally begun to learn from him. This was a process of mutual selection. Wen Gu had chosen this person as his Mr. Calligraphy and Painting, but he also needed that person to accept him as a student. The three candidates his cousin had recommended all came from extraordinary families. Although these three were old and stayed at home, their relatives held important positions. One of them had a relative who was a former Hanlin scholar, a confidential secretary to the emperor, who was now assisting Old Zhao. Another had a cousin who was a former Crown Prince's tutor and was now also valued by Old Zhao. And then there was the one Wen Gu had chosen. Old Master Hong's family had two sons who had held important positions in the court and were now helping Old Zhao govern the towns.
In this epidemic of evil and chaotic times, even a small town could not be governed by ordinary people. Just like what Wen Gu and his companions had seen on their journey north, the county towns had different outcomes. Some were completely wiped out and became monster dens, while others managed to preserve more of their population and became like fireflies in the chaotic times. In short, these three currently had no real power, but their family members did. Noble families were like this; one could not look at just an individual. They were a collective, and a move in one part affected the whole. One really couldn't be aggressive. "Treat others with sincerity! Build friendships with heart!" He had to make Old Mr. Hong feel his dedication to seeking knowledge and learning!
From the day he finalized his choice, Wen Gu sent a painting to the old gentleman every few days, asking for his guidance. The post accompanying the painting clearly stated that he was painting the canteen and that when he had a satisfactory one, it would be used for printing food ration tickets. Of course, it would not be printed in such fine detail, but it would reference the composition's angle, main and secondary subjects, solid and void areas, density, placement of blank space, and the position of the seal, etc. The layout and composition could affect the overall spirit of the painting. Anyway, he was learning to paint, and the finished paintings also had their uses. Thus, a fresh depiction of the Jingxing District canteen was sent to a district within the core area.
On Old Master Hong's desk. The unfurled scroll carried a vibrant and lively feel, as if one could hear the past bustling sounds of the marketplace. Although Old Master Hong had never personally been to Jingxing District, he had seen the Treasure Bridge when passing by. What was Jingxing District like? He had only heard others talk about it.
However, the canteen of Jingxing District was now clearly imprinted in his mind. The changes in the canteen during this period were like a serialized story, making the viewer's mood brighten along with it. It evoked a sense of nostalgic, earthly fireworks.
In terms of painting technique alone, Wen Gu's paintings were indeed not very good in Old Master Hong's eyes. But he could feel the hope and vitality in every detail of the people in the paintings, rather than a struggle in the mud or numb despair. From the laborers working hard at the construction site, to the loafers running errands, to the stewards and followers of the wealthy families, they all appeared more vibrant.
Facing Wen Gu's paintings, Old Master Hong's attitude also changed. From casually adding a few strokes to the paintings at first, he later seriously pointed out the shortcomings and made additions and revisions.
...And now. The old servant beside him had followed him for many years and usually interacted with him casually and intimately. The old servant had also seen the first painting Wen Gu sent and the current one. In the earlier paintings, the canteen was quite deserted, and his mood also became desolate. The weather was cold and freezing, the construction site was not operating, and the laborers were gone, leaving only idle loafers bragging. Today, Jingxing District actually had a lot of people, and it looked very lively. He seemed to feel the warmth of the winter stove, and a smile couldn't help but appear on his face.
The old servant had already ground the ink and laid out various pigments, waiting for his master to revise the painting. However, the person at the desk picked up the brush several times and then put it down. Old Master Hong stared silently at the painting before him. It was not that the painting's composition and technique were perfect enough. After much deliberation, he took out his seal and pressed it down heavily. The old servant beside him asked doubtfully, "...Master? Aren't you going to paint anymore?"
"No more painting!" Old Master Hong finished stamping with a bang, showing no intention of picking up the brush. "It always gives me the illusion that I'm helping him draw food ration tickets, working for him! Or is it not an illusion?"
"Ah, this..." The old servant was stunned. It couldn't be, it really couldn't be. He rolled up the painting according to his master's instructions and sent it to Jingxing District. He was still thinking: Although scholars who survive in chaotic times are cunning with a hundred tricks, what if that Foreman Wen is really an honest child?
Qingyun District. Wen Gu looked at the several craftsmen before him with clear and sincere eyes: "Your craftsmanship is becoming more and more exquisite and skilled!" He had just received the custom-made learning gifts, and he was very satisfied with the finished products. After being whipped, the dog Taoist priest indeed gained momentum and quickly finished the items with the craftsmen. These craftsmen were mainly responsible for the carving and polishing processes. Wen Gu expressed his praise for every detail of the carving, the overall effect, and the craftsmanship of the artisans, with no repetition. The artisans before him blushed with praise, so excited they didn't know what to do. They were artisans kept by various wealthy families, usually working for their employers. If the employer was happy, they would receive rewards; if not, there would be punishments. Only with Foreman Wen could they hear such sincere praise, and the rewards this person gave were also very generous! They were overjoyed! Wen Gu then left a few more difficult polishing tasks, and the craftsmen repeatedly assured him that they would complete the items for the foreman before the Chinese New Year!
Wen Gu walked back with the learning gifts. The Hai Uncle's Feng family, a new resident of Sihai District, had joined the benefactor group, giving the kilns more confidence to purchase raw and auxiliary materials with sufficient money and grain. Anyway, any failed products that were fired would become decorative materials for Wanfu Garden next year. The efforts of the craftsmen resulted in materials that finally met Wen Gu's requirements! If he could make something before the Chinese New Year, the year-end gifts he gave to his uncle and aunt and cousin would be very substantial. Well, his uncle's warehouse had recently been replenished. The amount of money certificates held by the families in Sihai District indicated how much goods they had supplied to the Zhao family.
Musing about the Chinese New Year, Wen Gu returned to Jingxing District and soon received the painting sent back by Old Master Hong's servant. "The revised painting is this fast this time?" Previously, they were sent back every day or two. He knew his own painting skills and that his level was far from sufficient. Wen Gu opened the scroll with doubt. There was not an extra stroke on the painting, but there was an added seal. This was the key! Wen Gu's face lit up with joy. This was Old Master Hong's first use of his seal, which meant he had approved! This meant he could formally visit him to learn! Wen Gu looked at the painting again, rolled it up, and put it away. He wrote a post to arrange a time. He also packed the learning gift - a set of glass ink dishes and brush washers that could be stacked, which could be used as decorative items or taken out for use. The overall design was rectangular on the outside and circular on the inside. The outer frame was square, symbolizing firmness and stability. The inner circle represented harmony and completeness. The surface was carved with auspicious patterns, suitable for placing on a desk, both practical and elegant. Old Master Hong did not formally accept disciples, so he did not accept formal disciple-receiving gifts; this was just a learning gift prepared by Wen Gu.
The next day, he brought Tietou and Cheng Zhi to a district close to the core area of the city. Here, or rather, in several adjacent districts, lived many officials. Old Master Hong was sixty years old, with gray hair and beard. He had also served as an official but had resigned early to run an academy and teach. Although he could not claim to have disciples all over the world, he had taught many talented individuals. It was only during the chaotic times that he and his family came to the northern region of Xin Prefecture. The old gentleman had a sense of concern for the country and the people, as well as a vigorous martial spirit. Wen Gu recalled the information he had gathered. This day was unfortunate, as a new round of snowfall had begun, but thankfully the wind was not strong. If the times were peaceful, many scholars would certainly be reciting poetry and appreciating the snow.
However, now, it only appeared cold and desolate. Even in this district where wealthy households and dignitaries were numerous, if one paused to listen, one could hear faint or sharp cries. Upon arriving at Old Master Hong's residence, a servant led them into the courtyard. A blue-robed old man was practicing sword dancing in the snow. His posture was emaciated yet vigorous, awe-inspiring like an armored soldier breaking through a formation. The north wind suddenly gusted, and cold light chased the snow. His sword technique was sharp and carried a righteous spirit, possessing the demeanor of ancient sages. Wen Gu stood by the side, quietly watching. The old gentleman's physique was truly robust! He could at least dance sword for another twenty years!
(End of this chapter)