Return to Singapore 1995

"にちゃん......"

Opening the door, a wind-like woman came in and spoke a few words in Japanese to Tang Jiaming, speaking very quickly. Li Xiaofan could only understand the two words "big brother" at the beginning.

This girl is very tall, wearing a fairy-like white dress. She is over 1.68 meters tall. She has snow-white skin, an oval face, and a very beautiful appearance. She is a delicate and elegant girl. There are few such girls in Singapore. An elegant and beautiful girl.

She suddenly found that there was a guest behind her on the sofa. She felt embarrassed and said in English: "I'm sorry, when I came just now, there was no one inside..."

Tang Jiaming smiled and said to her in Chinese: "Xinyi, let me introduce you. This is Li Xiaofan, a handsome guy from China!"

Then Tang Jiaming introduced to Li Xiaofan: "Afan, this is my sister Tang Xinyi, the little girl in this family photo!"

It turned out to be Tang Jiaming's sister. No wonder Li Xiaofan felt that the look in this girl's eyes was so similar to Tang Jiaming's. The two brothers and sisters are of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent, and they have a very unique temperament.

Tang Xinyi smiled politely at Li Xiaofan and said, "Oh, you are Li Xiaofan. I have heard my father mention you several times. Hello! Then, brother, please talk slowly..."

Tang Xinyi has a beautiful smile, with the kind of charming smile that is unique to ladies.

"Xinyi, let's sit together for a while! Didn't Abba want you to go to an art academy in mainland China to continue your studies? Afan is from mainland China and is well-informed. You can learn about some things first!"

Originally, Tang Xinyi wanted to leave, but Tang Jiaming told her that she had no choice but to stay.

Then he stood there awkwardly, looking at his eldest brother and Li Xiaofan, not knowing what to do, such a cute girl.

"Sit down! What are you doing in a daze?" Tang Jiaming asked curiously.

"Oh..." Then, Tang Xinyi sat silently on the sofa next to Li Xiaofan.

Tang Jiaming continued to introduce Li Xiaofan: "My sister has been fond of art since she was a child. She has just returned from studying design at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy. My father recently asked her to apply for further studies at an art academy in your mainland to receive the influence of Chinese culture! "

"I have never been to mainland China, and my father asked me to go to such an unfamiliar place..." Tang Xinyi pouted, looking aggrieved.

"Mainland China is the homeland of our ancestors. Don't worry blindly. The mainland is developing very well now. You will adapt to it soon!"

"Brother, your tone of voice looks more and more like my dad!"

After Tang Jiaming took a sip of coffee, he pointed at the wall behind Li Xiaofan and said: "Afan, my sister is very talented in art. The four Chinese paintings of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum behind your sofa were painted by her! Look, how good is it? Sample?"

When Li Xiaofan looked up, he discovered that there were four screens of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos, and chrysanthemums on the wall behind the sofa.

A group of four Chinese paintings is called four screens. The "Four Gentlemen" of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are commonly used materials in the creation of traditional Chinese paintings. Plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum imply noble quality and noble moral character. Throughout the ages, all literati and refined scholars have liked to use the "Four Gentlemen". To show your extraordinary taste or as a moral example. Show integrity, humility, pure and upright thoughts and feelings.

These four paintings look like ink and wash paintings, and the brush strokes are vigorous and full of ink. To a layman, they have a few looks, but Li Xiaofan feels like a copy of the work, getting the shape but not the meaning.

In his last life, Li Xiaofan once made some money investing in stocks and futures, and then invested in cultural products such as traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy with his friends. After reading more, he also did some research on traditional Chinese painting.

"Well, the painting is very good, very artistic!" Li Xiaofan praised, as he always has to give face to others.

Tang Xinyi became embarrassed: "I'm ashamed! These are all copy works that my father asked a Chinese painting teacher from mainland China to teach me before I went to Milan. Look at it now, it's really ugly! Brother, just take it down!" "

"Why did you take it down? I think it looks good. All the guests who come to my office say the painting is very good! I lied to them that it was a work by a well-known mainland painter, and they all believed it, haha!"

After speaking, Tang Jiaming laughed proudly.

Tang Xinyi said angrily: "They are flattering you, but you really believe it. Brother, you are so innocent!"

Tang Jiaming laughed and said: "Haha, no matter what they think in their hearts, when I hear someone praise my sister's masterpiece, as the eldest brother, I always feel proud and happy!"

After joking for a while, Tang Jiaming asked Li Xiaofan: "Afan, do you have two top art academies in mainland China? I heard that one is called the China Academy of Art and the other is called the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Which one do you think is better? Better?"

Li Xiaofan thought for a while and said: "Brother Ming, the two art academies you mentioned are the top art academies in mainland China, they are indistinguishable! However, if I were to recommend one, I personally would prefer the one in Hangzhou. China Academy of Art!”

Li Xiaofan's words aroused Tang Xinyi's curiosity and asked: "Brother Xiaofan, why do you say that?"

"Because Hangzhou, where the China Academy of Art is located, is very close to my hometown of Mingzhou. The China Academy of Art has a long history, and next to the school is the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou. Hangzhou has a history of more than 2,000 years, and is home to China's seven famous One of the ancient capitals, it was once the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom and the Southern Song Dynasty. It has particularly beautiful scenery and is known as a paradise on earth..."

Li Xiaofan briefly introduced to Tang Xinyi some of the information he knew about the China Academy of Art and Hangzhou. Tang Xinyi listened very carefully and asked many questions in the middle. It sounded like she had done some research on Chinese history.

Li Xiaofan continued to introduce: "During the Yuan Dynasty, the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo had visited Hangzhou and was amazed that Hangzhou was the most beautiful and luxurious city in the world. He said that the solemnity and beauty of Hangzhou was the best among other cities in the world. There are so many places of interest and historical sites here that people imagine that they are living in heaven!"

Tang Xinyi opened her eyes wide and said: "Wow, Marco Polo also went to Hangzhou? When I was at the Polytechnic University of Milan, I read this book "The Travels of Marco Polo" in our school library..."

"The Travels of Marco Polo" is a long travelogue written by Marco Polo, an Italian merchant in the 13th century AD, about his journey through the Mediterranean, Eurasia and China. The second volume records the events of Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty, his palace, capital, court, government, festivals, hunting, etc.; traveling from Dadu to Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, the coast of the East, and the various seas and continents.

She continued: "I remember that he seemed to talk about the ancient Chinese Yuan Dynasty court with gardens and artificial lakes, and elephants loaded with silver harnesses and gems in that travelogue. He also talked about the various roads in the inland of mainland China at that time, which were higher than the surrounding ground and easy to drain; merchant ships flowed on the Grand Canal every year; various ports were moored with larger ships than Europeans knew, and talked about some places that produced spices, silk, ginger, sugar, cotton, salt, sandalwood and porcelain... But I really can't remember which cities we went to..."

When the two were communicating enthusiastically, Tang Jiaming's secretary knocked on the door and reported: "Mr. Tang, there are two guests named Shah Rukh and Singh outside, saying they want to see you and your friend named Li Xiaofan..."