Chapter 238 Are you here to take care of everything?
After talking about the manuscript, Ma Dudu was filled with admiration and worship for Lin Weimin.
If calculated by age, he is several years older than Teacher Lin. But looking at what is going on in his mind, whether it is conceiving a work or having insight into the industry trends, he feels more than one level higher than himself.
While Ma Dudu kept picking up his chopsticks, he was still thinking about the conversation just now.
At this time, Lin Weimin asked casually, "Xiao Ma, you grew up in Yanjing, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Lin, our family lives in an air force compound."
When Ma Dudu said this, there was a hint of pride in his expression.
The military compounds in Yanjing stretch from Gongzhufen to the foot of the Western Hills, and the Air Force compound is No. 1.
For people like Ma Dudu who grew up in a military compound, this is their origin as well as their belief.
"That can be considered a local resident of Yanjing."
"Not really. It's from my father's generation."
With Lin Weimin's words, the topic between the two gradually shifted from work to family and life.
Ma Dudu didn't expect that Teacher Lin would actually talk about these topics. She was flattered and told him all about her family's affairs.
When Ma Dudu heard that Teacher Lin bought a house in Shichahai, he couldn't help but flash a little envy in his eyes, "That place used to be inhabited by rich and noble families."
"Now let's not worry about that. It's just where ordinary people live." Lin Weimin waved his hand and said.
He continued, "Speaking of old Yanjing, there are really many good things, like this courtyard house, which costs 18,000 yuan each, and they are all things that can be passed down from generation to generation."
Ma Dudu smiled bitterly and said, "Teacher Lin, this is just you, taking 18,000 yuan as money. For ordinary people like us who earn wages, 18,000 yuan is already out of reach."
Nowadays, if a writer publishes a work of novella or longer, the royalties are usually over four figures, which is definitely considered middle to high income in society.
Not to mention Lin Weimin, who publishes several works a year, both publishing and adapting them, making him much richer than the average writer, not to mention that his works have also been published overseas.
The news that Farewell My Concubine was published in the United States and abroad has been circulating for such a long time and is no longer a new thing in the domestic literary world. Even many literature lovers know that Mr. Lin earns money from his royalties.
The original sour grapes remarks have automatically disappeared long ago. It was a fluke that the novel was published in the United States, but not only was it sold so well that they had to reprint it, but it was also published to such a high level that anyone who dares to question it is simply rubbing his face on the ground.
The publication of his works abroad is also one of the reasons why Lin Weimin is now very famous in China.
In the early 1980s, China lacked self-confidence in the face of developed Western countries and urgently needed something to bring glory to the country to boost its confidence. The publication of Lin Weimin's novels in the United States and abroad was just one of them.
"There's no point in making so much money. It will just grow maggots in the bank." Lin Weimin sighed.
Ma Dudu subconsciously wanted to say that a full man does not know the hunger of a hungry man, but he certainly could not say this out loud. He thought for a moment and said, "Then you can collect some things. Antiques are in prosperous times, and gold is in troubled times. The current domestic reform and opening-up situation is very good. Maybe in the future, as you said, they will all be things that can be passed down from generation to generation."
Lin Weimin waved his hands and said, "I don't understand this kind of thing anyway. Do you understand?"
Ma Dudu was stumped by Lin Weimin's question. He really understood it, but he was afraid that if he said that, Teacher Lin would think he was bragging, which would be bad.
"If you don't understand, you can learn. You can go to antique shops and trust shops. The things there are all authentic, but the prices are expensive. But I think they should be worth some money in ten or twenty years, which is definitely better than putting money in the bank."
People in later generations always have a kind of hindsight spirit, thinking that in the 1980s, there was gold everywhere, but no one collected so many antique calligraphy and paintings. How short-sighted.
But the reality is that the prices of collectibles such as antiques, calligraphy and paintings are directly related to economic development and have nothing to do with their artistic value.
A one-foot painting by Li Keran would only cost ten or eight yuan in the Yenching Art Shop in the 1950s and 1960s, but why would ordinary people buy it?
At that time, the value of this painting would not increase even after it died.
Only a time traveler like Lin Weimin and a small number of trendsetters who rode the wave of reform in the 1980s would realize that these antiques, calligraphy and paintings that were ordinary in the conservative era would become art collections sought after by certain wealthy people after the people's material life had been greatly enriched in a few years.
Moreover, the antiques that have been displayed in state-owned stores, Friendship Stores and other places since the 1950s are really unaffordable for ordinary people.
In addition to the above, there is one most crucial question: who are these antiques usually aimed at?
They are foreign guests and overseas Chinese. Why does the country need the RMB in the hands of ordinary people? People sell antiques for foreign exchange, right?
However, calligraphy and paintings are always aimed at ordinary people and can be bought with RMB.
He had no help before, but now that he has met Ma Dudu, Lin Weimin feels that it is time to get some antiques, calligraphy and paintings.
Maybe in the future we can open a museum and not charge admission, allowing ordinary people to visit exhibitions for free, if for no other reason than to let everyone be influenced by classical culture.
"You sound very convincing, it seems you are an expert!" Lin Weimin asked Ma Dudu with a smile.
Ma Dudu said modestly: "Please don't say that. I only know a little bit."
"That's what experts say." Lin Weimin complimented again.
When it comes to praising people, it depends on how you praise them and who you praise.
When you praise someone for the first time, people may think you are just being polite.
When you praise someone for the second time, people will think you really have a good eye for people.
When I praised him for the third time, hey ...
Especially when Ma Dudu was sitting opposite Lin Weimin, a famous writer and deputy editor-in-chief of Contemporary Magazine, Ma Dudu felt that all the pores on his body were opened.
I was so happy in my heart, but I had to keep a reserved look on my face.
Ma Dudu was trying so hard to hold back his laughter that it felt very uncomfortable, and just when he was about to give up.
Lin Weimin suddenly asked, "Oh, by the way, do you know anything about calligraphy and painting?"
“Not much research.”
"Do you think the paintings in the Peace Art Shop will appreciate in value in the future?"
Ma Dudu thought about it carefully and said, "I think it will definitely appreciate in value, and it should be a substantial appreciation."
"Why do you think so?" Lin Weimin asked.
Ma Dudu said: "I don't know how many foreigners you have come into contact with. I have observed that there are definitely shops selling antiques, calligraphy and paintings in the places that these foreigners must visit when they come to Yanjing. Liulichang, Rongbaozhai, Yanjing Painting Shop..."
Ma Dudu's eyes sparkled as he counted, "I think these foreigners are much smarter than ordinary people."
Through this sentence, we can understand Ma Dudu's vision and insight, and also understand why he will become a hidden rich man in the future by relying on his antique collection.
Lin Weimin nodded and praised: "Dudu is very knowledgeable!"
Ma Dudu's face showed a bit of embarrassment, "Teacher Lin, you are too kind!"
"Are you free tomorrow?"
"Teacher Lin, what's the matter?"
"Come with me to the Peace Painting Shop."
Ma Dudu asked, "Teacher Lin, do you want to buy a painting?"
Lin Weimin nodded, smiling broadly, "Yes!"
"No problem. Although I don't know much about calligraphy and painting, I can still help you a little."
Ma Dudu felt that since Teacher Lin had helped so much in compiling the manuscripts and valued him so much, it was his honor and unshirkable responsibility to be able to help Teacher Lin.
"It's settled then."
The next day, early in the morning.
Yanjing, Wangfujing, in front of the Heping Painting Shop.
A roaring motorcycle came closer and closer. Lin Weimin, wearing a leather jacket, stopped the motorcycle and kicked the bracket with his foot, and the motorcycle stopped at the door.
Ma Dudu had been waiting here for twenty minutes, and he looked envious as he saw Lin Weimin getting off the motorcycle.
When can I ride a motorcycle?
"Dudu, sorry for the wait!"
"It won't take long, Mr. Lin, let's go in."
"good."
Heping Art Store is a state-owned art store founded by Xu Linlu, the first manager of Rongbaozhai after the founding of New China. It opened in the early 1950s and was strongly supported by Qi Baishi, a great painter at the time. It specializes in selling Qi Baishi's paintings.
After a period of development, the works of Xu Beihong, Qi Baishi, Fu Baoshi, Zhang Boju, Ku Chan, Qi Gong and Huang Yongyu filled the Heping Art Shop. At that time, Huang Binhong's paintings cost one yuan each.
Now, after so many years, prices have gone up, and the prices of paintings in Heping Art Shop have naturally risen as well.
For example, Li Keran's paintings are 15 yuan per foot, and Wang Xuetao's paintings are 12 yuan per foot.
As for the paintings of the masters mentioned above, they are available for purchase, but there are really not many of them.
A few years ago, a patriotic Hong Kong businessman returned to Yanjing. He not only swept through the paintings in the Foreign Guest Service Department at Tian A Gate, but also browsed the works in all major art shops in Yanjing.
This patriotic Hong Kong businessman was none other than Xu Huachi, the son of Xu Linlu.
"Comrade, I want to buy a painting." Lin Weimin said to the salesperson standing at the counter.
"Which painter's work do you want to buy?" asked the salesperson.
"Whose are you guys here?"
"There are so many. Huang Yongyu, Huang Binhong, Li Keran, Wang Xuetao..." The salesperson knew the names of all the painters by heart.
Lin Weimin nodded. He had limited knowledge of modern domestic painters, and he called Ma Dudu here today to treat him as a consultant.
“These are all considered famous painters, right?”
“Famous!”
Lin Weimin nodded and said, "It's enough to be famous. Being famous means there will be huge room for appreciation in the future."
He said to the salesman, "Then bring out all the works of those painters you just mentioned, and I will buy them."
The salesman asked, "Comrade, which painter's painting do you want?"
Lin Weimin emphasized: "I want them all!"
The salesperson finally reacted and found it a little absurd. He was about to say something with a smile, but the smile on his face stopped.
Because he suddenly thought of the "big purchase" that took place in the Foreign Guest Service Department of TianA Gate a few years ago.
"Comrade, I want to confirm with you again, do you want to buy all the paintings of the painters I mentioned?"
Lin Weimin nodded, "That's right."
The salesperson's throat surged, and he suppressed his inner shock and said hurriedly, "I'll go call our manager for you."
After saying this, the salesperson walked quickly to the office at the back of the art shop.
Ma Dudu finally came back to his senses from the shock. He felt his throat was dry, "Lin..."
He uttered a sound, his voice was dry and hoarse, and Ma Dudu softened his throat again.
"Teacher Lin, are you here to buy a set of paintings at Heping Painting Shop?"
Today I have updated 2 pages and have written 6,000 words. My cervical spine and shoulders are in severe pain, so I am taking a day off.
(End of this chapter)
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