Chapter 403: Daydreaming
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Words that have been spoken are like spilled water, they cannot be taken back. Lin Fan wanted to draw but the other party wouldn’t accept it. This put Lin Fan in an awkward spot.
“You really don’t want it?” asked Lin Fan.
Tao s.h.i.+ Gang shook his head. “I don’t want it. This painting must be produced in a specialized environment. Such a great masterpiece cannot be made in such a place.”
Lin Fan had nothing to say. Then, he smiled and replied, “Alright then. I’ll owe you for now and when I have the chance, I’ll repay you.”
Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+ was still completely immersed in the artwork. Even just a small bird in the painting encompa.s.sed great character. At that moment, he looked up and said, “Master Lin, initially, Brother Tao and I were prepared to stay here for a few days but with such a masterpiece in my hands, I wouldn’t be at peace without giving it proper protection. During the exhibition, I’ll definitely display this artwork to the public. After the exhibition, Brother Tao and I will come back for a visit.”
When he was saying this, Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+ was clearly a little embarra.s.sed but he had no choice. He valued this painting of a hundred birds facing a Phoenix greatly. If it was even a little bit damaged, he would be very upset. He could only hurry back to Beijing and hang it up. Also, he had to get a very expensive insurance for it. It was the most important piece of work in his life.
“There isn’t such a need, is there?” said Lin Fan. If these two masters stayed here and taught the children how to draw, that would be pretty good. They would be able to give the children a sense of a master’s aura. If they really had to leave, then Lin Fan would have nothing to say. He had never thought that his own artwork would be so important to some people.
“There is such a need. There is.” Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+ nodded hastily. He turned his gaze over to the masterpiece which was laid across the drawing table. If he didn’t make sure it was properly protected, he wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep in peace.
Seeing how the situation was, Lin Fan decided not to impede. “Since it’s like this, let’s meet again next time.”
Tao s.h.i.+ Gang said, “Master Lin, are you part of any a.s.sociation right now?”
After meeting a master like Master Lin, he wanted to pull him into the a.s.sociation. For such a great master not to be in the a.s.sociation was a shame. Moreover, they wanted to interact with Master Lin often in order to raise their own art skills. After all, there are no limits to learning. One should keep learning as long as one is alive.
Lin Fan waved his hand. “That will have to wait for now. If I want to join the a.s.sociation, I will contact you.”
Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+ said, “Master Lin, before the Chinese traditional art exhibition, will you be free to come to have a look?”
Lin Fan nodded. “Sure, just let me know.”
Going to see the larger scene, expanding his horizons.
Everyone interacted for a while more, then Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+ carefully and cautiously packaged the painting. He kept it close to his body as if he was taking care of a precious child. When Lin Fan saw this, he couldn’t help but shake his head. However, in his heart, he did feel quite good. For his own artwork to be so well-received, it was only natural for him to feel happy.
Outside Nanshan Children’s Welfare Inst.i.tute.
Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+ said ecstatically, “Brother Tao, book the first-cla.s.s cabin.”
Tao s.h.i.+ Gang laughed. “I thought you liked the economy cabins.”
“This time is different. Even my life isn’t as important as this painting. Of course, I have to be safe. I’ll contact someone to come fetch us from the airport later on,” said Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+.
Tao s.h.i.+ Gang laughed as he said, “There isn’t such a need, is there? No one else knows about this.”
“No, even if they don’t know, I have to be safe. If I lose this, I won’t be at peace for the rest of my life,” said Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+.
This trip to Shanghai had really been worth it. It had been so worth it that he didn’t know what to say. He had never thought that he would be able to witness the birth of such a wonderful masterpiece. Although Master Lin wasn’t famous, Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+ wasn’t someone who cared about fame.
Only those filthy upstarts with a bit of money cared about the fame of an artist. Someone who really understood art wouldn’t care about fame. What they cared about was the true value of an artwork. This value wouldn’t change even after hundreds or even thousands of years.
Even in their a.s.sociation, there were guys that he looked at with disdain, mainly because they only knew how to hype themselves up and raise the value of their artworks. In the eyes of outsiders, they seemed impressive but to Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+, they were worthless. Even if they gave him their artworks for free, he wouldn’t want them.
…
Nanshan Children’s Welfare Inst.i.tute.
Lin Fan took a deep breath. His heart ached a little because ten Encyclopedic Points had gone just like that. However, he knew that a price had to be paid for him to show off. Those ten Encyclopedic Points were the price he paid. Without a single Encyclopedic Point left, he felt quite miserable and could only slowly earn the points back.
Before this temporary knowledge disappeared, Lin Fan bellowed, “Leave the brush and ink.”
Zhao Ming Qing was startled. He was scared stiff by that voice. Then, he saw his teacher stride over to the drawing table and spread open the writing paper. The brush in his hand pranced about freely like a dragon flying, like a phoenix dancing.
Exceptional and incomparable.
A highly-skilled pract.i.tioner.
…
“The temporary calligraphy skill has finished.”
Upon hearing this sound, Lin Fan’s hand stopped. “How many sheets have I written?”
Zhao Ming Qing counted, then said, “Ten, teacher.”
Lin Fan nodded contentedly. Not bad. Ten pieces were not bad. With this calligraphy of his, if he claimed to be second in the world, no one would claim to be first. When Zhao Ming Qing saw this handwriting, he couldn’t help but gasp in shock. But because he wasn’t a professional, he wasn’t too shocked. Still, he didn’t say anything as he felt that it was very imposing.
“This is for you. ‘老当益壮’. Old but vigorous. It’s not bad. Remember to mount it and place it in your study room when you go back,” said Lin Fan.
Zhao Ming Qing looked at these four words, then at Lin Fan. “Teacher, this…”
“What is it? Is there something wrong?” asked Lin Fan.
In front of his teacher, even if there was something wrong, he wouldn’t have said it. Then, he shook his head. “It’s nothing. It’s just that these four words are exceptionally imposing. They don’t seem normal at all.”
Lin Fan laughed. What a joke. If he was more well-known, these four words would’ve been worth a thousand pounds of gold. Even calligraphy professionals wouldn’t dare to challenge him after seeing these four words.
Initially, when doing the painting for Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+, he hadn’t thought much of it. After painting it, he realized that a piece of Chinese art without a few words written on it wouldn’t be impressive enough.
However, he didn’t know calligraphy, so what could he do? He could only exchange his Encyclopedic Points for it. But fortunately, the Encyclopedia was quite reasonable. The temporary skill only required ten points. He had no choice but to do it. It was his own fault for not thinking things through beforehand.
That painting was definitely an exceptional masterpiece but if it were in his hands, it would be worthless. However, by giving it to Yue Qiu Ju s.h.i.+, it not only made him wors.h.i.+p Lin Fan but he also helped to advertise Lin Fan.
Unknowingly, Lin Fan started fantasizing.
In his fantasy, the bank came to collect his debts, $1 billion. He had no money and couldn’t pay the debts. Then, the bank told him that he could just draw ten paintings for them. When he thought about this, Lin Fan couldn’t help but start laughing.
Zhao Ming Qing stood at the side, looking at his teacher. He saw his teacher start laughing for no reason and was a little frightened. “Teacher…teacher…”
Lin Fan came back to his senses, “What is it?”
Zhao Ming Qing shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
“Oh, right. I should explain the parts of ‘Various Types of Typhoid’ that you don’t understand. Listen carefully and think about it when you go back,” said Lin Fan.
Zhao Ming Qing nodded. “Yes, teacher. I will engrave it into my memory.”