Chapter 106 Not One Can Escape
Shan Wangshu's face lit up with joy: "Liu Haisu?"
Lin Sicheng was exceptionally certain: "Liu Haisu!"
If we were to rank modern Chinese oil painters, Liu Haisu wouldn't dare say he's in the top three, but ranking him in the top five would be quite fair.
But if we're talking about "Western learning as a foundation for Chinese application" and "borrowing from the West and integrating it into Chinese culture," then Liu Haisu stands out without a doubt.
He transformed the splashed ink technique from traditional Chinese painting into splashed color, applying it to his oil painting creations. His brushstrokes also drew heavily on techniques from traditional Chinese painting. His brushwork is unrestrained, vigorous, undulating, and rhythmic, possessing an extremely strong and unique personal creative style.
Lin Sicheng was certain that he could not have been mistaken.
Shan Wangshu pursed her lips: "Last year during the Spring Festival, I went to Shanghai with your teacher. I bought it at the Nine-Bend Bridge... At the time, I felt it looked a bit like it, but I didn't dare to be sure."
Afterwards, I rushed back to Xi'an, took two photos, and sent them to the teachers at the calligraphy and painting gallery. They also thought it looked similar, and it really was! Haha, I spent 5,200 yuan back then... Your teacher even said I didn't treat money like money..."
Her family wasn't short of money, and she didn't really grasp the concept of it. But who doesn't enjoy the surprise and joy of finding a treasure at a very low cost?
So Shan Wangshu became happier and happier as she talked, her eyes narrowing into slits.
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: Five thousand two, is that really impressive?
Liu Haisu's works are not cheap, even his oil paintings.
This piece, about four feet square, is now worth around two million.
In just over a month, I sold a total of seven or eight items, that's about it.
However, this restriction is only for the next two years. After a few more years, when the government issues a "restriction order on exhibitions," the number of exhibitions can at least triple.
But value is secondary; the key lies in Mrs. Shan's discerning eye: how many painters in modern and contemporary China are skilled in oil painting?
Among the graduates from various universities, there are at least 80,000 to 90,000, if not 100,000. Each of them paints dozens of works a year, and how many of those end up in the market?
Moreover, there was no seal, no signature, no title, and no postscript, but she could recognize Liu Haisu's creative style at a glance, which shows Mrs. Shan's connoisseurship.
Lin Sicheng exclaimed, "My teacher's wife has excellent taste!"
"Not bad... haha... after studying at the calligraphy and painting gallery for so many years..."
Shan Wangshu covered her mouth, laughing non-stop, "Actually, I've also made many mistakes and lost tens of thousands... Your teacher keeps mentioning it... Actually, he lost even more than me."
Wang Qizhi remained silent, slowly lowering his legs, his posture and poise completely gone.
More than just a lot.
Of course, overall we made a profit, a considerable one. The problem is, those three shelves with over a hundred items combined still don't cost as much as my wife's single item…
Seeing Wang Qizhi's somewhat embarrassed look, Ye Anning winked, as if to say: Uncle, you've finally met your match?
Wang Qizhi chuckled and gestured with his chin toward Lin Sicheng: Ye Anning, how dare you laugh at me?
What is this? An oil painting, and by a very famous master. But when your aunt brought it back, what did you say: "It looks alright..."
With this kind of vision, you spent five years at the China Academy of Art and grew up in the Forbidden City... Did you learn all that from dogs?
Her smile froze on her face. Ye Anning moved her lips a few times, then gritted her teeth: Who hasn't made a mistake?
Carefully putting away the oil painting, Shan Wangshu smiled warmly like a loving mother: "Sicheng, you must be exhausted. Sit down and have some tea!"
"Oh dear, it's all cold... Wang Qizhi, don't you know to brew a fresh pot?"
Muttering to herself, Shan Wangshu picked up the teapot and went to the kitchen.
Wang Qizhi was completely bewildered: I was sitting there quietly, without even uttering a sound, and I still got scolded?
Also, what was Lin Sicheng tired about? He just stood there watching for about ten minutes...
He pursed his lips, picked up the bottle, and asked, "Want some more?"
Lin Sicheng nodded: "Teacher, have less!"
"Okay, just one cup!" Wang Qizhi unscrewed the bottle cap and called out to the kitchen, "Wang Shu, make two cold dishes!"
"Uncle, I'll go!" Ye Anning stood up with a grin. "Auntie is so happy today, she'll definitely have to have a couple of drinks too!"
That's true.
Wang Qizhi picked up another cup.
They drank and chatted, and both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.
After finishing the bottle, it was just past nine o'clock when Lin Sicheng said goodbye, and his family got up to see him off.
Just as she reached the door, Shan Wangshu slapped her forehead: "Oh dear, I almost forgot..."
As she spoke, she turned around, grabbed a bag from the table, and ran back briskly: "Sicheng, you don't smoke, and you don't drink much alcohol, but you definitely drink tea. Take this back and let him try it..."
Lin Sicheng declined, but Shan Wangshu insisted on putting it in his hand: "It's not much!"
The bag was small, containing only two small jars; that wasn't much.
But Wang Qizhi's face twitched.
Lin Sicheng took a closer look: Haha, the bamboo leaf fragrance of Phoenix Dancong?
To put it simply: if just one of those cans were replaced with the fruit and soft-pack Zhonghua cigarettes he brought today, Lin Sicheng could have come at least twenty times.
The key point is: you can't buy it even if you have money; it's something you can only come across by chance. If I take it back to my grandfather, he'll be so happy that he'll at least exchange it for a late Qing dynasty famille rose porcelain piece.
He'd already stuffed them in his hand; there was no way he could return them. Lin Sicheng nodded with a smile, "Thank you, Master's wife!"
"You're already calling me 'Master's Wife,' no need to thank me. Drive carefully..."
"Okay, Master's wife, goodbye teacher, goodbye Sister Anning..."
Seeing Lin Sicheng waving at him with a grin, Wang Qizhi's lips twitched again: During the New Year, he plotted for so long to steal back four cans, and this shameless guy took half of them in one go.
In a flash, Lin Sicheng went down the stairs, and only after the door of the building downstairs made a sound did the group enter.
Dan Wangshu exhaled a soft breath of alcohol, a smile still playing at the corners of her eyes: "Shall we chat for a bit?"
Wang Qizhi nodded: "Let's chat for a while!"
A hint of unease flashed across Ye Anning's face: "I'll go wash the dishes!"
Wang Qizhi was taken aback for a moment: "Heh!"
"You're kidding me!"
Shan Wangshu patted him on the shoulder, and the two returned to the living room.
Ye Anning brewed a new cup of tea, the amber-colored tea liquor poured into the white cup, and the aroma of the tea drifted away with the steam.
One cup for the man, one cup for herself. Shan Wangshu picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then winked at the kitchen.
Wang Qizhi shook his head.
"Why are you shaking like that?" Shan Wangshu raised a slight brow, her face showing displeasure. "Are you twenty-four?"
She exhaled another puff of tea vapor, then leaned back lazily: "Is this suitable?"
Lin Si grew up to be beautiful and had a good personality: gentle and soft-spoken, yet with a sharp edge.
The key is that he is exceptionally capable: at just twenty years old, he can pick up the pieces of a leak, repair porcelain, and even enter a laboratory.
If Wang Qizhi and Ye Anning weren't just bragging, then such talent is truly one in a million; you might not encounter another like them for ten years.
Leaving aside everything else, just take appreciation, just like what happened just now: whether it's a porcelain plate, a gourd, or a lacquer box, once it's in Lin Sicheng's hands, he can give a very definite and very accurate conclusion in no more than three minutes.
Especially that oil painting. I've studied art for over ten years and can't deny my expertise, but when I saw it, I was skeptical. I was more doubtful than convinced, and bought it just in case.
Lin Sicheng watched for ten minutes.
Thinking back to the previous week, Wang Qizhi would discuss with Lin Sicheng every day how to build the laboratory and how to carry out the project.
Then, every day after returning home, Wang Qizhi would call to consult and review with the seniors and teachers at the National Museum of China and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. Just imagine the amazing praise from those teachers and seniors, and the undisguised, proud smile on Wang Qizhi's face.
He didn't design the report, so what's he so proud of?
Of course, they were proud of their excellent judgment, having found a gem.
Even someone as arrogant and conceited as Wang Qizhi had to reluctantly admit that Lin Sicheng was indeed a little bit better than him.
Is it only slightly stronger?
Thinking back to those days: in order to keep Wang Qizhi firmly under control, his father, mother, younger brother and sister went to great lengths.
His parents, in particular, treated him even better than their own son. Thankfully, their wish came true…
Anyway, just thinking about it makes Shan Wangshu happy, and she can't help but smile.
Thinking she was just being overly happy, Wang Qizhi curled his lip and said, "I advise you not to be too happy too soon!"
What a spoilsport!
Dan Wangshu leaned over and pinched him, making Wang Qizhi grimace.
"See that!" Shan Wangshu gestured towards the kitchen with her chin. "You actually know how to be shy? Have you ever seen that before, since you were a child?"
Wang Qizhi was stunned for a moment.
Hey, you know what?
In the first two years, when Ye Anning was still in college, her brother-in-law's brothers and friends, and her second sister's bosses and colleagues, began to have such thoughts.
Beautiful, gentle, intelligent, generous, and capable.
The key point is that her mother comes from a good family, and her father comes from an even better family... It couldn't be more perfect.
Unfortunately, it only went as far as having the idea.
Even without the adults saying a polite refusal, Ye Anning could often make the other parents' words stuck in their throats with just a few polite and courteous remarks.
No matter how talented you are or how good your family background is, after just a few words of banter, your true colors will be revealed, and you'll retreat in embarrassment.
It was only then that these people realized that gentleness was merely a facade: beneath that gentleness lay an iron shield, and behind that shield were rows of arrows gleaming with a chilling light…
Today, Ye Anning tried his best to conceal his rarely revealed sharpness and acted obediently, just like the sun rising in the west.
No wonder my wife is so enthusiastic?
But thinking back to that day in the lab...
Wang Qizhi sighed: "It's a bit difficult!"
"What's so difficult about it? Are you afraid your brother-in-law won't agree?"
To be honest, their family backgrounds are indeed quite different. But with Lin Sicheng's abilities, he's more than capable of bridging all three gaps...
Shan Wangshu frowned. "As long as Second Sister nods, how dare Brother-in-law disagree?"
Wang Qizhi laughed as soon as he heard that.
Whether inside or outside the home, the second sister is in charge, and her husband's word doesn't really count.
As for her older sister, she certainly wouldn't listen to her and Shan Wangshu, and Ye Anning's opinions would have to take a backseat. But to be honest, someone like Lin Sicheng is just too hard not to like. His so-called family background is basically negligible...
Therefore, whatever Shan Wangshu could think of, his uncle could also think of, and even thought of it much earlier.
Wang Qizhi rubbed his temples: "Last time, after An Ning's company had a meeting, I mentioned it in the lab. Do you know what kind of expression Lin Sicheng made?"
After a slight pause, Wang Qizhi gestured and said, "Absolutely breathtaking, astoundingly amazing!"
"I asked him for his evaluation again, and guess what he said: calm, rational, decisive..."
Ye Anning is quite decisive, but it depends on who she's dealing with.
Shan Wangshu frowned: "So you're backing out?"
"Otherwise what?" Wang Qizhi nodded. "First impressions are the most important!"
"First impression my ass, what kind of first impression is that? Their first impression was that dog bowl..."
Shan Wangshu stood up abruptly, glaring at him with a hint of threat: "Wang Qizhi, I'm warning you, if you dare to hold us back, I'll make you pay!"
"Okay, okay... I promise I won't hold you back..."
Wang Qizhi was both amused and exasperated. "But Lin Sicheng is only twenty!"
"It's precisely because he's only twenty. If he were two years later, who knows where he would have gone by now?"
Why does it take two years?
Wang Qizhi couldn't help but think of Shang Yan's student: the moment she saw Lin Sicheng, her eyes welled up with tears...
He sighed again and looked at the kitchen: "Don't be so preoccupied with your own heat. You don't know what Ye Anning is thinking."
"And you call yourself my uncle? Forget it, I wasn't planning on relying on you anyway..."
With a wave of his hand, Shan Wangshu exuded an extraordinary air of dominance: "With me here, none of you will escape!"
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