"Really? You're really going to give me all these seal stones?"
Jones' eyes widened in surprise, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up within him.
He suddenly realized that the family background of the apprentice he had taken on must be extraordinary.
Otherwise, why would she be so generous as to give away all of these precious seal stones?!
He clearly saw that when she said those words, her husband, Lin Chengyu, smiled and nodded in agreement, while her parents, Song Jingwei and Zhang Lihua, did not show the slightest surprise or reluctance. It was obvious that they had already tacitly approved of her decision.
Lin Chengyu nodded directly and enthusiastically agreed, "Really, really. Our family had already discussed it. These seal stones were carefully selected by us as a gift for your apprenticeship."
You can select one or several pieces later, and we will have someone carve them for you.
However, before that, you need to think of a name for the seal in advance, and it's best to choose a Chinese name that has a nice feel to it.
After all, seals are a part of traditional Chinese culture, and engraving English on them just feels like something's missing.
Jones felt their sincerity and enthusiasm, and his heart was filled with gratitude.
He knew that these seal stones were not just a gift, but also their respect and recognition of him.
He secretly resolved to cherish this bond between teacher and student and not let them down.
He said excitedly, "Thank you. I will carefully consider the name of the seal and will definitely choose a name that reflects my personality and carries on the charm of Chinese culture."
At this moment, his eyes shone with determination and joy, as if he could already see his seal becoming the envy and jealousy of his former friends who painted and wrote, thanks to his future oil paintings.
Regardless of the country or social class, there will always be some friction and competition among peers.
In the oil painting industry, even close friends can't distinguish between good and bad works, since there's no single answer when it comes to cultural aspects.
But the seal stones were different; he felt that with them, his oil paintings had a unique quality compared to his peers.
Over the next few days, Jones immersed himself in thinking about a name for the seal. He consulted a great deal of information, learning about allusions and meanings in Chinese culture, hoping to find the most suitable name.
Finally, one morning, Jones excitedly ran up to Lin Chengyu and said, "I've come up with a name! It's called 'Yunshuijian' (Clouds and Water). This name has both the gentleness of water and the elegance of clouds, which perfectly matches my pursuit of art."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chengyu repeatedly praised, "'Yunshuijian' is a wonderful name! It is not only poetic but also contains profound artistic conception. I believe that a seal engraved with this name will definitely add a unique charm to your oil paintings."
Soon after, the seal was carved.
Jones carefully stamped his seal on one of his oil paintings and inscribed the three large characters "Yun Shui Jian" (meaning "Between Clouds and Water") next to it.
The entire painting suddenly became more vivid, as if it had a soul.
In the following period, Lin Chengyu continued to go to Guangzhou every day to attend the Canton Fair. At the fair, he reached numerous cooperation agreements with major cities and factories in mainland China, becoming the most welcomed Hong Kong businessman by the mainland government.
Because he discovered that Jones had a great fondness for various seal stones, he reached cooperation agreements with Fujian, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia, ordering a large quantity of Changhua stone, Shoushan stone, Qingtian stone, and Balin stone from them.
He only selects high-quality and top-grade seal stones; he completely disdains mid- to low-grade ones.
After all, he intended to use the seal stone as a tool for communication with some cultural celebrities abroad, and it would be embarrassing to present it if the quality was too poor.
As the days went by, Jones held an art exhibition in Hong Kong. For a week, through the promotion by teachers and students from various universities in Hong Kong, his fame in Hong Kong grew, and his paintings received more and more attention and love.
His seal "Between Clouds and Water" has become one of his trademarks, and whenever someone sees this seal, they will think of this talented British painter.
By chance, Jones met a famous sculptor from France.
The sculptor was well-versed in Chinese culture, and when he saw Jones's seal, he couldn't help but admire it.
“This seal is absolutely beautiful! And its name is also very evocative,” the French sculptor remarked.
Jones smiled and explained the origin of the seal's name, telling him it was a gift from his Hong Kong apprentices.
"Your apprentice has such a great eye!" the French sculptor exclaimed. "I have always been fascinated by Chinese culture, and my trip to Hong Kong was to gain a deeper understanding of its art and culture. If I have the opportunity, I would also like to own a seal like this."
Upon hearing this, Jones's heart stirred, and his thoughts were drawn back to the past. He remembered what Lin Chengyu had once told him: Lin Chengyu still had many precious seal stones, and he could contact him anytime if he needed them.
Jones readily offered to give the French sculptor a seal stone, hoping it would serve as a testament to their friendship.
Upon hearing this, the French sculptor's eyes flashed with undisguised delight. He was deeply moved by Jones's generosity and friendliness, and his heart was filled with heartfelt gratitude.
From that moment on, their friendship deepened, and they often gathered together to discuss the true meaning of art and share their insights and feelings about the creative process.
This seal stone became a symbol of their unbreakable friendship.
The French sculptor developed a strong interest in Chinese seal art and longed to learn this exquisite craft.
So he approached Lin Chengyu and expressed his desire to become an apprentice of a seal carving master.
However, Lin Chengyu told him helplessly that in Hong Kong, this was a craft that people relied on to make a living, and ordinary sculptors would not easily take on apprentices.
A hint of disappointment flickered in the French sculptor's eyes, but he did not give up. He knew the value and charm of this art form and was determined to strive for his dream.
The seal stone craftsman was deeply moved by his dedication and enthusiasm. Although he did not take him on as an apprentice, when he learned that he was a Western sculptor, he felt a strong desire to exchange and learn from him.
When Lin Chengyu came to the seal carving master again to ask for help carving a seal stone, he was surprised to find that his carving skills had improved even further and were developing in the direction of the general public.
Lin Chengyu was a person who cherished talent. Seeing that the other party's skills were becoming more and more exquisite, he did not hesitate to raise his wages, which made him very excited.
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