The Cultural and Creative Hall in Beihai Park, Beijing, was a gathering place for modern literati and artists. The ancient architectural complex formed a contiguous area, with varying heights and overlapping structures. Facing Beihai Lake and backed by Yong'an Temple, the Cultural and Creative Hall was deeply favored by contemporary literary talents.
In one of the pavilions, a group of young talents from Beijing's literary circles, all dressed in Hanfu, were gathered. Among them, a young man in a light blue ancient-style robe stood out. He had sharp features, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes, exuding an extraordinary demeanor.
He held a folding fan, and his demeanor and conversation showcased the elegance of a scholar. He was the renowned Shangguan Wenshan in Beijing's literary circles.
Beside Shangguan Wenshan was a woman dressed in a matching light blue ancient-style long skirt. Her naturally beautiful face, with skin as fair as congealed fat...
Her large eyes were adorned with long lashes, and her pair of eyes were as clear and delicate as black jade. Her nose was aquiline, and her crimson lips were as captivating as cherries. Her elegant and refined temperament gave the impression of a lady from a prominent family. It was Gu Sinuo, whom they hadn't seen in a long time!
Gu Sinuo and Shangguan Wenshan were widely recognized in literary circles as a perfect match, a couple envied by many.
"Why isn't Yuan Yuan here yet?"
Zhu Rong, a scholar also dressed in ancient style, slowly fanned himself with a folding fan, but had not yet seen Fan Lao's granddaughter, Fan Yuanyuan.
"Yes, we are already eager to admire Mr. Wu Lao's Wisteria painting!"
Another talented woman named Qu Xia, dressed in a Hanfu long skirt, was Zhu Rong's companion.
The other young talents and ladies gathered in the hall echoed their sentiments, clamoring to see the original work of the last-century national art master, Mr. Wu Lao, the Wisteria painting.
This was because the only existing original Wisteria painting by Mr. Wu Lao had always been collected by Fan Liren. This time, Fan Yuanyuan had pestered her grandfather and brought the Wisteria painting to the Cultural and Creative Hall for everyone to admire and learn from.
Therefore, seeing that Fan Yuanyuan had not yet arrived, everyone was impatiently urging for a glimpse of the authentic Wisteria painting.
Gu Sinuo sent a message to Fan Yuanyuan on her phone. Learning that she had arrived outside the Cultural and Creative Hall and was looking for a parking space, she said, "Everyone, don't be anxious. Yuan Yuan has arrived and will be here shortly."
"Xiao Lin, go out and meet Yuan Yuan," Shangguan Wenshan said to the young men and women who followed him.
"Understood."
Those young men and women went downstairs to meet Fan Yuanyuan. Gu Sinuo, by his side, turned her head and exchanged a glance with Shangguan Wenshan. A look of deeper meaning flashed in their eyes, imperceptible to others!
"Our literary circle's reputation hasn't been good recently!" Zhu Rong sat down, pouring tea and sighing.
"Indeed."
Qu Xia also gracefully sat down, lifting her skirt, and said, "The issue with the poisoned textbooks last time really smeared the reputation of us literati. Now, many netizens are calling us walking fifty-cent agents."
"Alas, the harm of poisoned textbooks is too great. We dare not show ourselves easily," said Lei Letong, another young scholar, helplessly.
The exposure of the poisoned textbook incident last time had a significant impact on the literary circles, directly affecting young talents like Shangguan Wenshan and Zhu Rong. It led them to hesitate about appearing or livestreaming on Douyin or other platforms to promote Chinese culture.
This was because they had been so intimidated by the netizens' accusations, who believed that hidden enemies had infiltrated among them, leading to the emergence of poisoned textbooks that harmed the next generation.
This was a war of cultural invasion. Although the public might not be aware of it, for literati like Zhu Rong and Qu Xia, it was undoubtedly a huge earthquake that shook the entire Beijing literary circle.
If not for the intervention of the literary titan Fan Liren during the poisoned textbook incident, those textbooks might still have remained hidden in students' books.
"The traditional Chinese medicine circle hasn't been peaceful lately either!" Lei Letong suddenly said.
Zhu Rong, Qu Xia, and others all turned their gazes to Gu Sinuo, who was sitting opposite them with Shangguan Wenshan, and said, "Talented Ms. Gu, your family is in medicine. You should know more clearly what's happening with traditional Chinese medicine recently?"
Gu Sinuo shook her head and sighed, "Just like the poisoned textbooks, several prominent traditional Chinese medicine families in Beijing made mistakes privately, and many people have been arrested. My grandfather has also been worried about this matter lately."
Shangguan Wenshan asked with concern, "Is your family alright?"
Gu Sinuo shook her head slightly, "Although our family has dealings with those people, we have always abided by our ancestral teachings. How could we do anything against our conscience?"
"That's good then."
Zhu Rong, Qu Xia, and other talented scholars and ladies said, "Perhaps there really are walking fifty-cent agents hidden within our literary and traditional Chinese medicine circles!"
As soon as these words were spoken, these young talents and ladies looked at each other. Lei Letong jokingly said to Zhu Rong, "Old Zhu, you look like a walking fifty-cent agent!"
"Pah."
Zhu Rong immediately glared at him, saying, "Don't you think about what our Zhu family does."
"Exactly."
Qu Xia also shot Lei Letong a look. Shangguan Wenshan waved his hand and said with a smile, "Such jokes are not to be taken lightly, but Old Zhu is right. There might indeed be walking fifty-cent agents hidden among us, otherwise, things like poisoned textbooks wouldn't have happened."
Gu Sinuo also nodded and said, "Therefore, we must be more vigilant and not let the enemy seize any loopholes."
"Yes, Sinuo is right," Qu Xia and the others nodded in agreement.
"What enemies?"
At this moment, Fan Yuanyuan's voice came from the staircase. She was holding a long box, dressed in an ancient-style Hanfu long skirt, with her hair tied into two buns, looking very cute and beautiful. Her natural beauty made her as lively and pretty as a butterfly.
"Yuan Yuan, you're finally here..."
Seeing her, everyone got up to greet her. Seeing the box in Fan Yuanyuan's arms, Zhu Rong eagerly asked, "Yuan Yuan, is that the original Wisteria painting by Mr. Wu Lao?"
"What else?"
Fan Yuanyuan gave him a look with her spirit-filled big eyes, then walked over with the box and placed it on the table. Shangguan Wenshan, Gu Sinuo, Lei Letong, and the other young talents and ladies gathered around...
Fan Yuanyuan spoke no further. She directly opened the box, and a scroll with an ancient aura lay quietly within. Gu Sinuo, standing beside Fan Yuanyuan, couldn't help but reveal a sharp glint in her eyes!
"Everyone, take a good look..."
As she spoke, Fan Yuanyuan took out the painting scroll from the box. Gu Sinuo immediately stepped forward to help, "Yuan Yuan, let me help you..."
"Mmm, mmm..."
The two then hung the painting on the wooden frame specifically used for displaying calligraphy and paintings. The scroll slowly unfurled downwards, revealing the Wisteria painting that Mr. Wu Lao had painted back then...
"Tsk tsk, truly worthy of Mr. Wu Lao's masterpiece."
Zhu Rong, Qu Xia, Lei Letong, and other young talents and ladies gathered around, admiring the Wisteria painting...
Shangguan Wenshan's eyes were full of light as he exclaimed, "The Wisteria intertwined with rocks, the writhing vines, exaggerated to the point of not seeking form, the consistent vibrant colors of Mr. Wu Lao, the flowing ink, the unrestrained momentum, truly astonishing."
"Indeed."
Zhu Rong also couldn't help but say excitedly, "Beneath the thick strokes, there are slender rocks rendered with light ink, yet they cannot hide a hint of romantic temperament, as a branch of wisteria lightly wraps around the rocks, flying upwards..."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, the spirit of the entire work is the vivid expression of Mr. Wu Lao's calligraphy integrated into the painting, flying like wild cursive script, the solid and heavy nature of bronze inscriptions makes this painting win by its momentum, truly unparalleled."
For them, literati and artists, it was well known that Mr. Wu Lao was skilled in wild cursive calligraphy. Therefore, this Wisteria painting depicted spirit rather than form, pursuing the aesthetic appeal of conveying the divine through calligraphy.
Just as Mr. Wu Lao himself said, "Writing grapes with cursive script, the brush moves like a dragon. Following the strokes of Shi Gu and Lang Ya, I playfully render a true orchid."
This style of integrating calligraphy into painting was innovative and had a profound influence on the creation of modern and contemporary Chinese paintings. Therefore, in addition to admiration, Zhu Rong, Qu Xia, and Lei Letong were more focused on learning this painting style.
"How is it, has it opened your eyes?" Fan Yuanyuan said with a proud smile.
Gu Sinuo, Shangguan Wenshan, and the others nodded with smiles. Being able to admire Mr. Wu Lao's masterpiece so closely was worth dying for.
"Then stop the nonsense and pay up."
Fan Yuanyuan raised her fair and tender little hand and grinned mischievously at Zhu Rong and Qu Xia, saying, "One hundred yuan entrance fee per person. If you don't have cash, you can scan the code."
As she said this, she actually took out her phone and opened the payment code towards everyone, causing Qu Xia to roll her eyes, "Yuan Yuan, you're really going to charge money?"
"Nonsense, we agreed earlier, hurry up and scan," Fan Yuanyuan said coquettishly with a smile.
"Alright, alright, let alone a hundred yuan, even a thousand yuan is worth it."
Zhu Rong took out his phone and directly scanned the code to transfer a thousand yuan. Shangguan Wenshan, Gu Sinuo, and the others also smiled and scanned their codes to pay.
This was because Fan Yuanyuan had previously stated that anyone who wanted to see the original Wisteria painting by Mr. Wu Lao had to pay a hundred yuan entrance fee.
Of course, this was a joke. If it weren't for her good friends in the same circle, Fan Yuanyuan wouldn't have sneaked this Wisteria painting out behind her grandfather's back.
"Sinuo sister, you don't need to pay." Fan Yuanyuan stopped Gu Sinuo and said with a smile, "When you visited my house before, didn't you also see this painting?"
"Yes."
Gu Sinuo nodded with a smile. When she visited the Fan family before, she happened to see Fan Lao and the others admiring this Wisteria painting, so she had seen it at that time.
"Everyone, make way. I need to take some good photos to imitate..."
Zhu Rong took out his phone and began to frantically take pictures of the painting. Lei Letong and other talented scholars and ladies also took out their phones and started taking pictures...
Fan Yuanyuan sat on the side, looking at the money being transferred by everyone on her phone, mostly five hundred or a thousand yuan. It could be seen that these literati and artists were not short of money.
"Oh, my stomach hurts a little..."
Suddenly, Fan Yuanyuan clutched her stomach and cried out. Gu Sinuo, who was beside her, quickly asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did you eat something bad?"
"I think so. No, I have to go to the restroom..."
Saying that, Fan Yuanyuan clutched her stomach, got up, and ran towards the restroom inside, saying to Gu Sinuo as she left, "Sinuo sister, please keep an eye on the painting..."
"Hurry and go, I'm watching it."
Gu Sinuo also got up and replied. After seeing Fan Yuanyuan enter the restroom, she turned her head and exchanged a look with Shangguan Wenshan beside her...