The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

Although Shanghai was captured by the Northern Expedition, Nanjing was still fighting. The entire line of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway was interrupted, and the trains were requisitioned to transport military supplies and soldiers. Ordinary passengers could only stare and worry.

Zhou Hexuan continued to stay in Shanghai, attended the New Moon Poetry Meeting with Xu Zhimo on Saturdays, and went to play with Xu Beihong on weekends.

Xu Beihong doesn't have a proper job now, he spends all day creating in his studio, and he will leave again in a few days. Go to France first, then travel to Western Europe, and observe and study the works of famous foreign masters along the way.

"Mr. Zhou, please sit down!"

It was Xu Beihong's wife Jiang Biwei who received Zhou Hexuan. She has short hair, is tall, and works vigorously.

Holding the teacup, Zhou Hexuan asked, "Is Mr. Xu there?"

Jiang Biwei pointed inside: "In the studio, he doesn't like being disturbed by others when he is creating, please forgive me, Mr. Zhou."

"It's okay, you're an artist." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.

Jiang Biwei has been studying abroad with Xu Beihong all year round, and she is also a woman with a broad vision. She had been sitting in the living room, chatting with Zhou Hexuan about European customs and knowledge, but she did not neglect the guests.

Zhou Hexuan had a good first impression of Jiang Biwei, but when he thought of Xu and Jiang's ups and downs in their relationship, he couldn't help feeling a little bit emotional.

Jiang Biwei had already been engaged back then, and she and Xu Beihong eloped to get together. But after a few years, Xu Beihong and the female student Sun Duoci were rumored to have an affair, and Jiang Biwei was also pursued by a third party. Coupled with the emotional discord between them, the loving couple parted ways.

Jiang Biwei's final choice was to be someone's mistress for more than 20 years.

At noon, Jiang Biwei got up and went to the kitchen to cook, and Xu Beihong came out of the studio. Seeing Zhou Hexuan was taken aback, he immediately smiled and said, "Sorry, sorry, Mr. Zhou has been waiting for a long time, right?"

"Just arrived for a while," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "I came to appreciate Brother Xu's masterpiece."

Xu Beihong said hastily: "I don't dare to be a masterpiece, I would like to ask Mr. Zhou for a lesson."

The two talked and laughed and headed to the studio. There were paintings hanging on the walls and leaning against the corners, as well as various unfinished works. There are so many beautiful things in eyes, at least hundreds of them.

Zhou Hexuan paid attention to the oil painting in the corner at a glance. It was a woman playing a long flute, and said happily, "Brother Xu, your painting is very interesting."

Xu Beihong said: "This is an exploratory work I painted last year. I wanted to add Chinese elements to the oil painting, and I also spent some thought on the composition. I cut the figures and scenery so that the center of gravity of the figures deviated from the center of the picture. "

"Xiao Sheng" ah!

It is a national first-level key protected cultural relic. I didn't expect to see the real thing here.

Zhou Hexuan couldn't wait to ask: "I like this painting very much, how much is it worth?"

For an unknown painter, buying a painting without opening his mouth is not only unobtrusive, but also a recognition and appreciation of the painter. Although Xu Beihong spent most of his time in Europe in recent years, he often went to Nanyang for the purpose of selling paintings. Traveling abroad all year round is very expensive.

"Thank you for your support, Mr. Zhou," Xu Beihong said apologetically, "but this painting cannot be sold for the time being. I promised a friend that I would bring "The Sound of Xiao Xiao" to France for him to appreciate."

Zhou Hexuan pointed to another sketch: "What about this one?"

Xu Beihong said embarrassingly: "This one can't be sold either. I painted it for my beloved wife."

Zhou Hexuan also felt that something was wrong, the name of this sketch was "Sleep", and it showed Jiang Biwei sleeping. It's awkward to say that it's awkward to buy a painting of someone else's wife sleeping.

It's a pity that Xu Beihong's famous works such as "Five Hundred Soldiers in Tian Heng", "The Picture of Eight Steeds", "Nine Fang Gao", "The Rooster Sings the World White" and other famous works have not yet come out, otherwise Zhou Hexuan would have bought them no matter what.

After picking and choosing, Zhou Hexuan chose a sketch "Groom and Horse", an oil painting "Yuanwen", and Xu Beihong's copy of the master work "Abundance", these are Xu Beihong's famous paintings handed down from generation to generation. In addition, I also bought more than a dozen unknown works such as "Autumn Feeling" and "Running Horse". These paintings are also of high artistic level.

Zhou Hexuan took a pen and wrote a 5,000 yuan IOU, and said embarrassingly: "Brother Xu, I don't have enough money, so I can only owe it first, and I will go to the foreign company to get it later."

"It's not worth that much." Xu Beihong waved his hands repeatedly.

"It's worth it," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "I believe Brother Xu's works will double in value in a few years, so I'm getting a bargain."

After 2010, the paintings bought by Zhou Hexuan are worth tens of millions of dollars. It's a pity that "Baren Drawing Water" has not been drawn yet, and that work even sold for a sky-high price of 171 million yuan.

Zhou Hexuan felt that he had taken advantage of it, but Xu Beihong felt rather ashamed. He believed that Zhou Hexuan was generously helping, and he was determined not to accept the 5,000 silver dollars.

Zhou Hexuan took the opportunity to say: "Brother Xu, why don't you give me a pair of ink treasures, and use your brush to write."

Xu Beihong was a little confused, he had only seen people asking for paintings, and had never met anyone asking him for calligraphy, so he said with shame: "My calligraphy is not worth mentioning."

"Brother Xu, don't be overly modest." Zhou Hexuan knew that Xu Beihong's calligraphy was also unique.

Xu Beihong no longer shied away, and according to Zhou Hexuan's request, he wrote two lines of poems on the drawing paper with a brush: "A confidant in the sea is like a neighbor at the end of the world." There is also a line of small characters written in front of it, "Brother Zhou Hexuan Huijian", signed It was specially stamped with a seal for "Ding Mao Yang Chun Bei Hong".

"Good words!" Zhou Hexuan praised.

Xu Beihong learned from Zhao Mengfu in his early years, and later copied Wei Bei, and after Kang Youwei's careful guidance, he has already formed his own style at this time.

Zhou Hexuan got this set of characters, which not only has Zhao Mengfu's handsome and round shape, but also has Wei Bei's simple and thick style. It seems to be free and casual, but in fact it is rigorous and reserved. Even if Xu Beihong is not a painter, this calligraphy alone is enough to be famous in the world.

During lunch, Xu Beihong talked about his calligraphy and said with emotion: "Mr. Nanhai has taught me a lot. When I was young, I always admired Zhao Mengfu. It was Master Kang who took me to visit famous masters, so I had the opportunity to copy a large number of Wei stele rubbings. .”

Mentioning Kang Youwei, Zhou Hexuan couldn't help laughing and said: "Kang Nanhai has lived a very happy life in the past few years. I met him in Puyi's mansion last year."

Xu Beihong shook his head helplessly: "Everything is fine with Master Kang, but he is too utilitarian. Sigh, I shouldn't expose Master's shortcomings."

"Just telling the truth, Mr. Nanhai also gave me a name, called Ruoyu. Haha." Zhou Hexuan laughed.

The Kang Youwei they mentioned, if nothing happens, will die in Qingdao in a few days, and his death is unclear.

Zhou Hexuan returned to Xu Zhimo's home happily with more than a dozen paintings and another calligraphy.

Halfway there, he heard the cries of the newsboy: "Extraordinary, the Northern Expedition has captured Nanjing!"