Leading the procession was an elderly man with white hair. Despite his advanced age, he walked with a vigorous stride and appeared quite energetic. However, most of the attention in the room was focused on a distinguished middle-aged man who followed slightly behind the old man. He wore a dark blue suit, had his hair slicked back, and although his expression was amiable, he possessed an air of quiet authority, clearly someone who had long held a high position.
Those with even a slight understanding of current political events immediately recognized this middle-aged man as Fang Hongda, the Secretary of the Southeast Provincial Party Committee. No one had expected that a provincial party secretary would attend a student calligraphy and painting competition. At the same time, everyone was filled with curiosity about the old man—who was this person worthy of such respect from a provincial party secretary?
There was a small step in front of the VIP section. Fang Hongda extended a hand to help the old man. The old man turned around, smiled, waved, and steadily stepped onto the step. His smile was extremely simple and honest, with a hint of childlike innocence.
While everyone was speculating about the old man's identity, Chen Yang was inwardly in turmoil. He hadn't expected that this competition would actually invite this elderly man; the Southeast Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department didn't seem to have that kind of influence. This matter must have been orchestrated by Fang Hongda. No wonder the security level had suddenly increased, and the news media had flocked to the scene—it was all Fang Hongda's doing.
Looking at the white-haired, youthful-faced old man, Chen Yang was overwhelmed with emotion.
This was one of Chen Yang's most important teachers in his previous life, the nationally renowned master of calligraphy and painting, Master Baiyan. Chen Yang had followed the master since he was fifteen, studying calligraphy, painting, and art appreciation. This teacher-student relationship continued until Chen Yang's rebirth after the plane crash; this was the teacher Chen Yang had followed the longest. Master Baiyan also held Chen Yang in high esteem; in his previous life, Chen Yang was universally recognized as Master Baiyan's successor and last disciple. The relationship between the two had transcended that of teacher and student, somewhat resembling the bond between grandfather and grandson.
Fang Hongda, the Southeast Provincial Party Secretary who immediately became the center of attention upon his appearance, was the third son of Old Master Fang and Chen Yang's third uncle before his rebirth. Master Baiyan had a deep connection with the Fang family, having been close friends with Old Master Fang during the war years. This was why Fang Hongda, despite being a provincial governor, still treated the master with the respect due to a junior.
Now, having lived two lives, his uncle and teacher were now complete strangers. Chen Yang recalled the times he had been pampered by Master Baiyan, and his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.
"Chen Yang! Chen Yang!" Su He's voice startled Chen Yang from his reverie. Chen Yang quickly wiped his eyes and turned to look at Su He.
Su He looked at Chen Yang with a strange expression and asked:
"What's wrong? I've called you several times and you haven't responded."
"Oh, nothing, I was just lost in thought. What's wrong?" Chen Yang said, trying to cover it up. "The event is about to start! The judges have all entered, and they'll announce the preliminary results soon! I'm so nervous!" Su He unconsciously patted her chest, making Chen Yang's heart flutter with anticipation.
"Silly girl! Don't you believe in my abilities? Forget the preliminary review, if those experts dare not award you a gold medal, I'll argue with them right here and now!" Chen Yang affectionately patted Su He's head gently.
Su He blushed, nervously glancing around like a thief, afraid her classmates would see. However, everyone's attention was focused on the stage, and no one noticed Chen Yang's small movements. Su He then gave Chen Yang a slightly reproachful and shy glance, but didn't say anything, because she deeply agreed with Chen Yang's words; in her mind, Chen Yang's work was absolutely top-notch.
The stage lights dimmed, and spotlights shone on the stage. Bai Xue, the host of a provincial TV talk show, gracefully walked out and greeted the number one camera with a beaming smile:
"Good afternoon, everyone here and watching on television! Welcome to the annual Rongcheng College and University Calligraphy and Painting Competition! First, please allow me to introduce the experts and leaders present at this competition. Let us first warmly welcome Master Bai Yan, Honorary President of the China Calligraphers Association, Executive Director of the my country Collectors Association, and a renowned calligrapher and painter in our country!"
A thunderous applause erupted, and many people murmured in surprise. "So that old man was actually Master Bai Yan!"
"No wonder even Secretary Fang treated him with such respect!"
"This competition is truly grand; they even invited Master Bai Yan to the event!"
Although Master Bai Yan is extremely famous, he has always been indifferent to fame and fortune, living a secluded life, practicing calligraphy, painting, and Tai Chi, cultivating his mind and character. Therefore, while everyone present knew of Master Bai Yan's name, most were seeing him for the first time.
Master Bai Yan smiled, stood up, and bowed slightly to the audience behind him.
Bai Xue then introduced the experts and leaders, including Fang Hongda, Secretary of the Southeast Provincial Party Committee; Hao Xueqin, Minister of Publicity of the Southeast Provincial Party Committee; He Ping, President of the Southeast Calligraphers Association; and Liu Guangya, Executive Vice President of the Southeast Academy of Painting and Calligraphy.
"The expert judging panel for this competition has consistently recommended Master Bai Yan to serve as the head of the judging panel. Before the live broadcast began, the panel conducted a rigorous selection process, and now the preliminary results are in. Let us now welcome Mr. He Ping, the deputy head of the expert judging panel and president of the Southeast Calligraphers Association, to announce the results!"
Master Bai Yan is highly respected, and it was only natural that he would serve as the head of the judging panel. However, given his advanced age, the task of announcing the preliminary results was delegated to He Ping.
He Ping was about fifty years old, but still maintained a good physique. He was rather thin and possessed the air of a scholar. Holding an envelope, he walked confidently to the front of the stage.
"After the judging panel's selection, a total of fifty works have been shortlisted, namely…" He Ping didn't waste any words and began to announce the preliminary results directly.
Su He nervously grasped Chen Yang's hand. Chen Yang felt that Su He's palm was slightly sweaty, and smiled as he gently patted the back of her hand with his right hand.
Only when He Ping read out "Lady Figure Painting, by Chen Yang of Rongcheng University" did Su He finally breathe a long sigh of relief. She wasn't too concerned about whether her own piece had been selected; she was simply happy that Chen Yang's work had made it.
Equally nervous as He Ping announced the results was Lü Qiushi, the head of the Art Department at Rongcheng University, sitting in the front row. His expression was calm, but he was silently keeping track of the number of shortlisted works from Rongcheng University and Southeast Normal University. In previous calligraphy and painting competitions, it had essentially been a battle between Rongcheng University and Southeast Normal University. Both were 211 key universities, but Rongcheng University, as a comprehensive university, ranked slightly higher nationally. However, humanities and arts were Southeast Normal University's traditional strengths. Therefore, in previous competitions, the two schools had each won and lost, essentially resulting in a tie.
However, in the past two years, Southeast Normal University has surpassed Rongda University in both the number of shortlisted and winning entries. Especially in the last two years, the gold medal winner has been from Southeast Normal University, which has spurred Lü Qiushi to put in extra effort this year to turn the tide. Therefore, he is extremely concerned about the preliminary results.
He Ping leisurely read the long list for nearly ten minutes before finishing.
Su He was overjoyed because not only was Chen Yang's painting of a lady shortlisted, but the calligraphy work bearing her name, also by Chen Yang, had also passed the preliminary selection.
Seeing Su He's excited smile, Chen Yang couldn't help but gently pinch her cute nose and laughed:
"Girl, I say you're too easily satisfied! It's just being shortlisted! Our goal is the gold medal!"
Su He snorted softly, pouting and muttering:
"Don't always treat me like a child..."
Chen Yang couldn't help but burst into laughter.
In stark contrast to Su He's mood, Lü Qiushi was quite depressed. Of the results announced earlier, Rongcheng University had five works shortlisted. Besides Su He and Chen Yang's pieces, Shen Tu Fan and two other members of the calligraphy and painting club also had works shortlisted. This result was considered normal compared to previous years. However, Southeast Normal University had exceeded expectations, with six works shortlisted this year, subtly surpassing Rongcheng University. Naturally, Lü Qiushi was not happy.
Sitting next to Lü Qiushi, Hu Lizhong, Dean of the Art College of Southeast Normal University, had been closely following the shortlisted entries from both schools. As soon as the results were announced, Hu Lizhong laughed and said,
"Old Lü, it seems we've narrowly won again this year!"
Lü Qiushi snorted coldly, his face darkening, and said,
"It's just the preliminary selection; the final results are still uncertain!"
"Haha! We'll see in the final selection then!" Hu Lizhong was full of confidence this year. Several of Southeast Normal University's relatively outstanding works had successfully made it to the shortlist, especially Yan Huiming's ink landscape painting, which Hu Lizhong highly regarded, believing it had a strong chance of winning the gold medal.
"Thank you, Chairman He!" Bai Xue gracefully walked onto the stage, taking the microphone from He Ping, and said, "Now, we invite the experts from the judging panel to come up and discuss the fifty shortlisted works, selecting forty works to receive the Excellence Award!"
The expert judging panel, led by Master Bai Yan, filed onto the stage under the guidance of the hostesses. A long conference table had been set up on the stage, and the shortlisted works had been brought up by staff and neatly arranged on it. Master Bai Yan took the lead and sat down in the center, followed by the other experts according to their name tags. Several cameras were pointed at the judging panel from different angles; the entire selection process was being broadcast live on the provincial television station.
The so-called selection of works for the "Excellent Award" was merely a euphemism; in reality, it meant eliminating forty works first, leaving ten to truly compete for the gold, silver, and bronze awards. As is customary, the competition would award one gold prize, two silver prizes, and seven bronze prizes.
The experts made their selection quickly. Having already reviewed the works during the preliminary screening, and being industry leaders with discerning eyes, they already had a clear idea of who should win and who should lose. Therefore, within just over ten minutes, the expert panel reached a consensus.
"Okay, thank you to the expert judging panel for their hard work. After a tense selection process, the results of this competition's Excellence Award are in. Now, please welcome Mr. Liu Guangya, Executive Vice President of the Southeast Provincial Academy of Painting and Calligraphy, to announce the winning works!" Host Bai Xue said with a smile as she accepted the expert panel's judging results, which bore the autograph of Master Bai Yan.