Back to 80: My Literary Life

"Go get it, don't make a mistake this time!" Cai Jinpeng warned.

When the waiter came to the front desk with two paintings, Cai Jinpeng followed him out.

Fang Minghua didn't know Cai Jinpeng. Looking at this man in his fifties, Fang Minghua didn't pay attention and picked up the magnifying glass to look at the painting again.

It's still "Shrimp" painted by Qi Baishi, but this time it's the real thing.

It's a pity that they don't sell them. If the price is right, Fang Minghua would like to buy a few pieces back.

Since the paintings of dozens of painters in the Republic of China were not for sale, Fang Minghua felt that there was no point in staying around. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a man in a Chinese tunic suit say.

"Comrade, please stay."

Fang Minghua looked at him.

"Comrade, our staff just picked up the wrong painting, and I would like to apologize." Cai Jinpeng spoke very politely.

"Who are you?" Fang Minghua asked.

"I am Cai Jinpeng, the manager of Rongbaozhai."

"Manager Cai, it doesn't matter. I just took a look. You don't want to sell it anyway." Fang Minghua said with a smile.

"Excuse me, how did you tell that the painting just now was a copy? With all due respect, it was our Rongbaozhai's woodblock watermarking technique. It can almost be fake." Cai Jinpeng expressed his doubts.

Fang Minghua laughed and said: "Although it can be confused with the real thing, it is still fake after all. First of all, the shrimp in the painting just now, although it is lifelike, lacks flexibility and is not delicate enough if you look closely."

"Thirdly, the ink used in your watermarks is relatively high-end, but the color and texture are not the inks commonly used by Qi Baishi, and the ink color is not uniform."

Fang Minghua said two points in one breath, and Cai Jinpeng nodded frequently.

Met an expert!

But in the calligraphy and painting circles in Beijing, I have never heard of such a young collector?

"Excuse me, what's your last name?" Cai Jinpeng used your name unknowingly.

"My surname is Fang, Fang Minghua."

"Are you Fang Minghua?! Fang Minghua, editor-in-chief of Yanhe magazine in Xijing?!" Cai Jinpeng cried out.

"What? Do you know me?"

"In the world of calligraphy and painting collection in Yanjing, your name is well known."

Damn it!

Fang Minghua was stunned when he heard this.

When did my name become so popular?

I do not know how?

"Editor Fang, if there's nothing urgent, how about we chat inside?" Cai Jinpeng extended the invitation.

"also."

Fang Minghua also wants to know why the paintings by the painters of the Republic of China in Rongbaozhai are now not for sale?

I followed Cai Jinpeng to the back of the counter. It was very big inside and turned out to be a courtyard with three entrances and three exits. Finally, I came to the room labeled as the general manager.

It was antique inside, and when Fang Minghua sat down on the sofa, Cai Jinpeng poured him a cup of tea.

"Editor Fang, you are now a celebrity in the world of Yanjing calligraphy and painting collection." Cai Jinpeng said with a smile.

Now, Fang Minghua vaguely understands the reason. It must be related to the nearly 10,000 paintings by the painters of the Republic of China that he bought in the National Museum two years ago!

However, his face pretended to be blank: "Manager Cai, are you kidding? How did I become a celebrity in the collecting world? I can still know a few writers in Yanjing, but I really don't know many people in the collecting world."

"You just bought nearly 10,000 paintings by painters from the Republic of China period from the National Museum in one go!" Sure enough, Cai Jinpeng mentioned this matter: "Last year, Director Wang of the museum accidentally revealed this matter. The entire collection of calligraphy and painting in Yanjing The world is shocked! Editor Fang, you are so generous.”

"Not really." Fang Minghua was very modest: "I visited the museum by chance. I heard that the museum wanted to sell a large number of calligraphy and paintings by the painters of the Republic of China to relieve financial pressure. I happened to earn some royalties from writing books at that time, so I bought them. "The purpose is to help the museum and reduce their financial pressure. It can also be considered as a contribution to the country. I heard that a Chinese American wants to buy it, so we might as well buy it and keep it in the country."

Fang Minghua said it very easily.

Cai Jinpeng was filled with emotion after hearing this.

You, Cheng Yaojin, who came to kill you halfway, can make people so angry that they want to vomit blood!

The Chinese-American named Weng Wange returned to China specifically to collect various calligraphy and paintings!

Of course, Cai Jinpeng would not say this.

"Editor Fang, you have collected so many calligraphy and paintings. It's not surprising that you can tell whether Qi Baishi's paintings are genuine or fake. I heard that you have a lot of contacts with Yan Bingchu from Xijing?"

Has this matter reached Yanjing?

However, Yan Bingchu is also a big boss in the domestic collecting industry and is very well-known. It is not surprising that Cai Jinpeng knows some of his things.

Fang Minghua did not deny it: "I have been friends with Mr. Yan for many years. To be honest, I learned a lot of knowledge about appreciating calligraphy and painting from him."

"Well, Yan Bingchu and his father Yan Ganyuan are both well-known figures in the domestic collecting community. Unfortunately, Yan Bingchu lives in Xijing all year round and rarely shows up. It is not easy to meet him.

not easy?

Can I meet every day if I want?

Apart from admiring calligraphy and painting, the old man felt lonely all day long and wished there was someone who liked calligraphy and painting to talk to him.

Otherwise, Jia Pingwa, who lived very close to him, not only collected calligraphy and paintings, but also began to practice calligraphy, and finally started selling her own calligraphy!

After chatting with Cai Jinpeng for a while, Fang Minghua was about to ask why the calligraphy and paintings of the Republic of China were not for sale when they arrived at Rongbaozhai. Unexpectedly, Cai Jinpeng said again:

"Editor Fang, I have a heartfelt request."

"Oh, you said?"

"You have collected so many calligraphy and paintings, can you sell some of them? We Rongbaozhai bought them at a high price!"

Damn it!

Fang Minghua finally understood.

Why doesn’t Rongbaozhai sell calligraphy and paintings by these painters of the Republic of China?

It turns out they also want to hoard.

However, his face remained calm and he asked with a smile: "Manager Cai, how much money are you prepared to pay for it?"

"I know that the price of the calligraphy and paintings you bought from the museum ranged from 30 yuan to 50 yuan. Well, depending on the specific size of the calligraphy and painting, I will pay 100-150 yuan. How much do you want to sell? How much do I want? Sample?"

Oops

It has only been more than two years and the price has tripled?

not bad.

but

It’s only tripled, and you want to buy these paintings from me?

Dream on.

Fang Minghua didn't want to say more: "I'm sorry, Manager Cai, these paintings and calligraphy of mine are not for sale."

oh.

Cai Jinpeng also understood.

As I said just now, the main purpose is to help museums, reduce their financial pressure, and contribute to the country.

That's all fart!

You kid also wants to hoard it and wait for it to appreciate in value in the future!

Although the other party is a little fox.

But a very cunning little fox.

So Cai Jinpeng didn't want to mention this matter, and talked about some interesting things about calligraphy and painting collection, and said that they would communicate more with each other in the future.

Fang Minghua agreed politely.

As long as you don't think about my calligraphy and painting, I am still willing to communicate with you.

After sitting in Rongbaozhai for a while, Fang Minghua said goodbye and left.

It was now past three o'clock in the afternoon, the hottest time of the day. Fang Minghua had no intention of visiting the antique street anymore and tried to find a way to take a taxi back to Luyuan.

Forget about the yellow ones, that thing without air conditioning is like a big steamer when you sit on it.

It's better to have a taxi like Crown.

But this thing is hard to wait for.

Fang Minghua stood under the shade of a tree and looked at the few people on the street. Even Jingha diagonally across the street stuck out his tongue and looked weak.

Otherwise, just face it.

It's really uncomfortable on a hot day.

Fang Minghua was just about to stop him when he suddenly heard someone calling him.

"Are you Comrade Fang Minghua, the chief editor of Yanhe magazine in Xijing?"

Fang Minghua turned around and saw a man in his early thirties wearing a T-shirt, carrying an imperial chair with a rolled painting tucked in the creaking nest, looking at him with a pair of bright little eyes.

"I am Fang Minghua, who are you?"

"It seems that I got the right person." The other party immediately became enthusiastic: "Hello Editor Fang, I am Ma Weidu, the editor of "Youth Literature"."