Although Shanghai was captured by the Northern Expeditionary Army, the war was still going on in Nanjing. The entire Shanghai-Nanjing Railway was interrupted, and trains were requisitioned to transport military supplies and soldiers. Ordinary passengers could only stare and worry.
Zhou Hexuan continued to stay in Shanghai, attending the Crescent School Poetry Club with Xu Zhimo on Saturdays, and visiting Xu Beihong on weekends.
Xu Beihong now has no legitimate job, and spends all day in the studio creating. In a few days, he will leave again. First he will go to France, and then travel to Western Europe, observing and studying the works of foreign famous artists along the way.
"Mr. Zhou, please sit down!"
The person who received Zhou Hexuan was Xu Beihong's wife Jiang Biwei. She had short hair, was tall, and acted vigorously and resolutely.
Zhou Hexuan held the tea cup and asked: "Is Mr. Xu here?"
Jiang Biwei pointed inside: "In the studio, he doesn't like others to disturb him 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 has been sitting in the living room, chatting with Zhou Hexuan about European customs, and she did not neglect the guests.
Zhou Hexuan's first impression of Jiang Biwei was good, but when he thought of the emotional twists and turns between Xu and Jiang, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
Jiang Biwei was already engaged at that time, and she and Xu Beihong eloped before they got together. However, a few years later, scandals spread between Xu Beihong and female student Sun Duoci, and Jiang Biwei was also pursued by a third party. In addition, the relationship between them was not good.
And, a loving couple parted ways.
Jiang Biwei's final choice was to be a 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. He was stunned when he saw Zhou Hexuan, and then smiled: "Sorry, sorry, Mr. Zhou has been waiting for a long time, right?"
"I just arrived," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "I'm here to appreciate Brother Xu's masterpiece."
Xu Beihong said quickly: "I don't think it's a masterpiece, so I'd like to ask Mr. Zhou to review it."
The two of them chatted and laughed and headed to the studio. There were paintings hanging on the walls and leaning in the corners, as well as various unfinished works. There were a dazzling array of paintings, at least hundreds of them.
Zhou Hexuan paid attention to the oil painting in the corner at a glance. It was a woman playing the long flute, and he immediately said with joy: "Brother Xu, your painting is very interesting."
Xu Beihong said: "This is an exploratory work that I painted last year. I wanted to add Chinese elements to the oil painting, and I also put some thought into the composition, cutting the characters and scenery so that the center of gravity of the characters deviated from the center of the picture.
"
"The sound of the flute"!
It is a national first-level 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 a painter with a low reputation, buying paintings is not only unobtrusive, but also a sign of recognition and appreciation for the painter. Although Xu Beihong has spent most of his time in Europe in recent years, he also often goes to Nanyang for the purpose of selling paintings.
Traveling abroad all year round is very expensive.
"Thank you Mr. Zhou for your support," Xu Beihong said, "but this painting cannot be sold for the time being. I promised a friend that I would take "The Sound of the Flute" to France for him to appreciate it."
Zhou Hexuan pointed to another sketch: "Where is this one?"
Xu Beihong said awkwardly: "I can't sell this one either. I painted it for my beloved wife."
Zhou Hexuan also felt that it was inappropriate. The sketch was called "Sleep" and it showed Jiang Biwei sleeping. It was awkward to buy a painting of his wife sleeping and keep it as a collection.
It is a pity that Xu Beihong's masterpieces such as "Tian Heng's Five Hundred Soldiers", "Eight Horses", "Nine Directions", "The Rooster Sings and the World is White" have not been published at this time, otherwise Zhou Hexuan would have bought them no matter what.
After picking and choosing, Zhou Hexuan selected a sketch "Groomman and Horse", an oil painting "Far Hearing", and Xu Beihong's copy of the master's work "Plenty". These are Xu Beihong's famous paintings handed down from generation to generation. He also bought "Autumn"
There are more than ten unknown works such as "Idea" and "Running Horse". These paintings are also of high artistic level. The reason why they are not famous is probably because they were lost in the war and travel.
Zhou Hexuan took a pen and wrote an IOU of 5,000 yuan, and said sheepishly: "Brother Xu, I didn't bring enough money, so I can only owe it now. I'll go to a foreign bank 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 that the value of Brother Xu's works will double in a few years. I am getting a bargain."
After 2010, any one of these paintings purchased by Zhou Hexuan would be worth tens of millions. Unfortunately, "Ba People Drawing Water" has not yet been painted, and that painting even sold for a sky-high price of 171 million yuan.
Zhou Hexuan felt that he had taken advantage of him, but Xu Beihong felt quite ashamed. He thought that Zhou Hexuan was helping generously and refused to accept the 5,000 silver dollars.
Zhou Hexuan took the opportunity and said: "Brother Xu, why don't you give me a pair of calligraphy treasures and use your brush to write on it."
Xu Beihong was a little confused. He had only seen people asking for paintings, but he had never met anyone asking him for calligraphy. He said with shame: "My handwriting is not worth mentioning."
"Brother Xu, there is no need to be too modest." Zhou Hexuan knew that Xu Beihong's calligraphy was also outstanding.
Xu Beihong no longer shied away, and in accordance with Zhou Hexuan's request, he used a brush to write two poems on the drawing paper: "There are close friends in the sea, and we are neighbors as far as the end of the world." There was also a line of small characters written in front, "Brother Zhou Hexuan Huijian", and the signature
It was specially stamped with the seal "Ding Maoyang Spring Beihong".
"Good words!" Zhou Hexuan praised.
Xu Beihong studied Zhao Mengfu in his early years, and later copied Wei stele. Under Kang Youwei's careful guidance, Xu Beihong had already developed his own style.
The calligraphy Zhou Hexuan got has both the elegance and roundness of Zhao Mengfu and the simplicity and thickness of Wei Stele. It seems to be free and casual, but in fact it is rigorous and implicit. Even if Xu Beihong is not a painter, this calligraphy alone is enough to make him famous in the world.
During lunch, Xu Beihong talked about his calligraphy and said with emotion: "Mr. Nanhai taught me a lot. I always admired Zhao Mengfu when I was young. It was Master Kang who took me to visit famous masters, and I had the opportunity to copy a large number of Wei stele rubbings."
."
Mentioning Kang Youwei, Zhou Hexuan couldn't help but laugh and said: "Kang Nanhai has been living a very happy life in the past few years. I met him at Puyi's house last year."
Xu Beihong shook his head helplessly: "Everything is fine with Master Kang, but he is too utilitarian. Alas, I shouldn't expose Master's shortcomings."
"Just telling the truth, Mr. Nanhai also gave me a nickname, Ruoyu. Haha." Zhou Hexuan laughed.
The Kang Youwei they mentioned was that, if nothing unexpected happened, he would die in Qingdao in a few days, and his death would be unknown.
Zhou Hexuan returned to Xu Zhimo's house happily with more than ten paintings and a pair of calligraphy treasures.
Halfway through, he heard the newsboy shouting: "Excuse me, the Northern Expeditionary Army has captured Nanjing!"
