Siheyuan: My wife is Xu Huizhen

Chapter 156 Different Masters

"It's good if you have paintings. You didn't give me any money, you just made a meal in exchange. I don't have to write my name on my students' exercises, so I think highly of you."

He Yuzhu was stunned. How could such an operation be possible?

Qi Baishi was more unruly and willful than he thought. Although this painting was Qi Baishi's work, it would never fetch a high price when it was put out in the market. This was contrary to his original intention.

It seems that my thoughts are very beautiful, and Qi Baishi's paintings are not easy to find.

The first one is so obviously perfunctory, so the second one is definitely not a good painting. Forget it, if you have two such poor paintings overdue, it is better to just have one good one.

He Yuzhu said: "How about this? I don't want the second painting. You can make this one better for me to satisfy me."

Only then did Qi Baishi smile: "Are you saying that a table of food is exchanged for a foot of painting?"

If you calculate it this way, the salary for a table is 6 yuan, which is enough to satisfy Qi Baishi.

He Yuzhu said: "Instead of you painting two works of this kind, why not give me a masterpiece that satisfies me."

"Okay, wouldn't it be over if I said that earlier?"

Qi Baishi then picked up the pen and added a few more plum blossoms to the painting. It was indeed the master's handiwork. After a few more plum blossoms were added to the whole painting, the incongruity disappeared in the blink of an eye and turned into a masterpiece.

He Yuzhu nodded with satisfaction: "It's so beautiful."

Qi Baishi straightened his back, turned his pen and began to count plum blossoms on the painting.

".Six, seven, eighty-nine, a total of 9 plum blossoms. Give me another nine dollars."

"What money?" He Yuzhu was stunned.

"The money for coloring plum blossoms, as we just agreed, you have to add one dollar for each flower."

"What? When did we agree? I just said I would add two yuan to you to color the plum blossoms."

"Didn't I say that?" Qi Baishi asked back.

"No!"

Qi Baishi turned to ask his apprentice Li Keran. After receiving a negative answer, he immediately patted his head with his hand. He was very annoyed. He was old and had poor memory, so he forgot to explain.

"Next time I want to color it, it will cost one dollar a flower."

He Yuzhu was shocked enough times today, but he was still defeated by Qi Baishi's tricks. He didn't expect him to be so willful.

He sighed again, who could ask for help from others? After all, in order for his future children and grandchildren to live a better life, he asked Qi Baishi to paint now.

In fact, at this time, let alone 6 yuan per foot, even if it was 60 yuan per foot, He Yuzhu would have as much as he wanted. After all, this was a painting by Qi Baishi.

There is no such shop after passing this village. He has not had a few good years. Besides, he is 90 years old and his energy is not as good as before, and he paints less.

He Yuzhu happily took out two dollars and put them on the table and said, "I'll come over again on New Year's Day."

Qi Baishi rolled his eyes and said, "I will prepare the painting for you in advance."

He Yuzhu shook his head: "No, I think it's better for you to paint on the spot, so as not to pass off your apprentice's paintings as your own."

Qi Baishi glanced at it and realized that he had indeed had this plan just now. If he had known that he would not have said that, he would have to pay for it by painting himself.

"Let's talk about it first. A table of food is a foot. You can't fool me when the time comes."

Qi Baishi was still a little worried that if he fooled the chef today, if He Yuzhu didn't cook seriously, it wouldn't be as delicious as today.

He Yuzhu said: "I can't do such a shameless thing."

What he said made Qi Baishi blush. Just now he was thinking of passing off his apprentice's words as his own.

"see a visitor out."

"Mr. He please."

Li Keran rolled up the fan and asked He Yuzhu to leave the yard.

"Please stay."

Li Keran gave some instructions, and He Yuzhu promised to spend 12% of his energy to buy a banquet on New Year's Day, which satisfied Li Keran.

After carrying the painting back to the front yard, He Yuyu was sitting on the bedside with his sister-in-law, chatting. When he walked into the house, he asked, "Brother, what did you get?"

"The painting was painted by Qi Baishi himself."

"Let me see." He Yuyu said with some joy.

He Yuzhu opened the scroll, and a picture of winter plum blossoms appeared on the paper.

"It's so beautiful. It's much better than what our art teacher painted."

"This is Qi Baishi's painting. Do you like it?"

"I like it." He Yuyu said happily.

He Yuzhu smiled and said: "Since you like it, when you get married, I will keep this painting as your dowry."

"Bah, bad brother."

He Yuyu's face was slightly red. He couldn't stand the joke. He raised his foot and kicked it lightly, and then went out angrily.

Xu Huizhen said speechlessly: "You are already married, and you still like to tease the rain."

He Yuzhu stepped forward and hugged his daughter-in-law and kissed her: "Who makes Yu Yu lose his eyesight? I'm already back, and you don't want to go back to make room for me."

Xu Huizhen pushed shyly and said, "Bad guy, why don't you brush your teeth yet."

He Yuzhu then got out of bed to wash up, then lay on the bed, touched his bulging belly, then continued down, and asked with a smile: "Daughter-in-law, do you miss me?"

"No, I don't want to." Xu Huizhen said with a blushing face.

"Really? I don't believe it. I want to check."

"Bah, you gangster, you're already pregnant."

"It's okay, I just need to be gentler and slower."

Although Xu Huizhen said she didn't want it, her body was still very honest. He Yuzhu served her happily and was busy until midnight, and only washed up and fell asleep again after 12 o'clock.

When New Year's Day arrived, He Yuzhu still had some emotions. Time passed by and it was already five or five years ago. There were not many days left for him to do business.

After breakfast, He Yuzhu brought his senior brother Ye Xuequn to Qi Baishi's home. After all, there were five tables of food today, and he couldn't handle it alone.

The two of them worked hard and prepared all the meals before noon. When the guests arrived, they started to stir-fry hot dishes.

Qi Baishi is 90 years old this year, and it happens to be his birthday, so the event was very lively. In addition to his family, there were also many friends from the literary and art circles.

Lao Shu, Lao Mao, and Lao Guo all came to support us. It can be said that this was a grand event in the literary and art circles, especially some well-known painters in the art world, and some calligraphers, gathered together, and it was extremely lively.

He Yuzhu was still a little surprised. He didn't expect that the stingy Qi Baishi's circle of friends was so wide. He thought that these people would not be ashamed of his character and would not come to congratulate him. It's just that these people have no intersection with He Yuzhu, so they can only cook honestly in the kitchen.

Thinking of Qi Baishi's stinginess, He Yuzhu opened a lot more menus before, and put the excess into the space, and also made up for the extra two dollars last time.

After all the guests were sent away, He Yuzhu was invited into the study by Li Keran.

Qi Baishi is very happy today. After all, seventy years is rare in life. He has lived to be ninety years old, which is a rare longevity.

"Since I promised to talk to you today, I am happy. What painting do you want?"

"Landscape has 12 screens." He Yuzhu blurted out.

Qi Baishi couldn't help but rolled his eyes and said, "This requirement is too high, no."

Qi Baishi created four to five thousand paintings in his life. One of his masterpieces is the 12-strip landscape painting. The auction price was also very expensive. It was sold for a high price of 8.1 million yuan. Including handling fees, the total was 9 million yuan. 3 million.

So He Yuzhu opened his mouth and said the names of the 12 screens of landscape.

Qi Baishi painted a total of two sets of 12 landscape screens in his life. One set was painted as early as 1925 to celebrate the birthday of Chen Zilin, a famous doctor during the Republic of China. This set was collected by him for more than 20 years. By 1958, Collected by Guo Xiuyi.

The 12 landscape screens in the auction are the ones collected by Guo Xiuyi.

It should still be in the hands of Chen Zilin's descendants. He Yuzhu wants to cut off his beard, but he doesn't know where Chen Zilin's descendants are now.

There is also a set of 12 landscape screens painted in 1936 for Wang Zanxu, then a senior official of SC Province.

At that time, Wang Zhanxu invited Qi Baishi to paint, promising 3000 yuan before Qi Baishi agreed, and then invited Qi Baishi to his home to create.

Unexpectedly, while he was living there, the charming old Mr. Qi Baishi was so lustful that he hooked up with the concubine of a high-ranking official.

Unfortunately, the matter was not kept secret. When Wang Zanxu found out, Pang Ran was furious and sent Qi Baishi away with only 400 yuan.

Later, the set of 12 landscape screens in the chaos of war disappeared.

There are 12 paintings in total with 12 panels of landscapes, 180 centimeters long and 47 centimeters wide. Painting such paintings takes too much energy. He is now 90 and cannot afford it.

Besides, those two paintings were for important people. He Yuzhu was just a chef that he looked down upon. Even if he had the energy, he would not paint for him.

It would be better to use this energy on Chunfang, which would be a waste of time.

He Yuzhu said: "Then draw a picture of tall pines and cypresses."

As early as 1946, Qi Baishi created "Picture of High Standing Pines and Cypresses", which was the largest painting and calligraphy work he had ever done. The painting was 266 cm long and 100 cm wide. It matched the seal script "Longevity in life, peace in the world". "Couplet, single length 264.5 cm, width 65.8 cm.

The picture is majestic and majestic, with the metaphor of pines and cypresses surrounding the heroes. The matching four-character couplets in seal script are rich, natural and dignified, expressing good wishes for the peaceful development of the country and the nation, as well as good wishes for happiness on earth and peace in the world.

On May 2011, 5, China Guardian launched for the first time the ancient and modern calligraphy and painting joint night show "Grand View - Night of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Treasures". The most eye-catching auction item in this special event was Qi Baishi's largest work "Pine and Cypress High Standing". The auction for "Four-Character Couplet in Seal Script" started at 22 million, and after more than half an hour of fierce bidding, a collector at the auction finally won it for 8800 million.

Qi Baishi couldn't help but roll his eyes. It had been more than 10 years, and he didn't have so much energy to paint such a huge creation.

“If you don’t paint, you won’t paint no matter how much money you have.”

Although the food cooked by He Yuzhu was very delicious and made all his relatives and friends very satisfied, Qi Baishi was now confident and felt that he had an advantage.

He Yuzhu said: "I can add money."

"I won't paint even if I pay more." Qi Baishi said firmly.

Qi Baishi's prices are very transparent. The general price is 6 yuan per square foot. Paintings cannot be specified. If you encounter some paintings that require a lot of effort, you will need to pay extra.

There are also clearly marked prices on the wall, and a self-written advertisement is posted in the middle of the study, with a clear price on it:

"Flowers plus insects and birds, each adds ten yuan. Wisteria plus bees, each adds twenty yuan. Those who cut prices are hurting others and benefiting themselves, and I don't like it."

"Commonly used name seals, each word is three gold, Shi Guang uses a Han ruler as a measure, and Shi Dazhao adds it. The stone is two points small, the word is like a grain of millet, each word is ten gold..."

He Yuzhu also knew that the requirements for these two paintings were relatively high, so he tentatively said: "How about you draw me a cicada?"

"Neither."

Qi Baishi later had a painting of cicada, which was auctioned for 8 million yuan.

"Painting shrimp!"

He Yuzhu knew that Qi Baishi was very good at drawing shrimps.

Qi Baishi shook his head: "I can't see clearly, so I can't draw."

He Yuzhu suddenly lost his temper. Only a few of Qi Baishi's paintings exceeded 1 million, and they were all rare masterpieces.

It seems that my weight is not enough. Besides, after all, I am older and do not have the energy to create wholeheartedly.

I had no choice but to say: "Then draw me a landscape."

He Yuzhu was so angry. He had been doing this for a long time and couldn't satisfy any of his demands. Then why did you ask just now?

After all, he is an old man who is on the verge of death and has a wealth of life experience. I originally thought that using his paintings to pay off the debt would be a good deal, but I never thought that he would not be able to meet any of his requirements.

"it is good."

Qi Baishi happily agreed and then began to create.

I soon drew a landscape painting, which showed a thatched house halfway up the mountain, a few small trees around, a few swallows flying in the air, and mountains with white clouds and flowing water in the distance.

It’s a masterpiece, but the paper is too big. It’s 1 meters long and 5cm wide. The painting actually covers an area of ​​nine feet.

It's a pity that most of them are blank. Qi Baishi has a new understanding of his shrewdness. This is really a calculation and he really knows how to cut corners.

He Yuzhu was so angry that he gritted his teeth secretly. This was different from what he had imagined.

It seems that in the future, I can only collect slowly in the market, and cannot buy paintings from Qi Baishi.

Soon the painting was completed, some small words were written in the blank space, and then a large seal was stamped.

Qi Baishi pressed the painting paper with one hand and said solemnly: "Today, five tables of food are worth five feet. This painting is nine feet. You have to pay another four feet."

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that there was such a plan. He thought that the extra area would be free of charge. It seemed that he was overthinking it.

"Okay, I'll give you the money."

Looking at Qi Baishi's posture, if He Yuzhu didn't pay the money, it would be impossible to take away the painting today, so he had to pay it honestly.

He Yuzhu took out the money and said: "This is 25 yuan, no need to change."

Four feet should be 24, but He Yuzhu didn't bother to care.

"Okay, majestic. If you want to ask for paintings in the future, I allow you to visit me."

An ordinary person would not even be qualified to visit the Qi family. Seeing that He Yuzhu was a good cook, Qi Baishi made an exception and allowed He Yuzhu to come to ask for paintings in the future.

He Yuzhu couldn't help but rolled his eyes. Qi Baishi's door

(End of this chapter)