After hanging up the phone, Chen Yang carefully placed the Shoushan stone back into its wooden box. He sat on the bed, deep in thought. He considered that this was his first visit to Professor Yan's home, and he needed a favor. Arriving empty-handed would be impolite. However, Professor Yan was a highly respected academic figure, usually with a strong sense of moral purity. Bringing gifts like cigarettes, alcohol, or tea might displease him.
Chen Yang suddenly remembered Professor Yan's request for calligraphy from Master Baiyan the previous night. He immediately made up his mind, stood up, and went out.
Chen Yang carried the wooden box containing the Shoushan stone with him. This stone was too important for him at this stage; it couldn't be lost in the slightest.
Chen Yang first found a small noodle shop, ordered a large bowl of beef knife-cut noodles to fill his stomach, and then walked towards the "Rongyi Cultural Supplies City" west of the train station. After browsing the stationery market for a while, Chen Yang carefully selected and bought all the necessary supplies, including writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, before returning to the small hotel.
...
7:50 PM.
Chen Yang appeared in the Rongda faculty and staff residential area—Yiyuan—carrying a black plastic bag. Professor Yan's expert building was located in the center of Yiyuan, directly facing the central garden.
After ringing the doorbell, the door quickly opened, and a kind-looking elderly woman with gray hair opened the door. She looked at Chen Yang with a puzzled expression.
Chen Yang quickly said:
"Hello, Professor Yan's wife! I'm Professor Yan's student, and I arranged to visit him tonight!"
In his previous life, Professor Yan was also one of Chen Yang's private tutors, so his wife was very familiar with him. However, in this world, this was their first meeting.
"Is that Chen Yang? Come in!" Professor Yan's cheerful voice came from the living room. Professor Yan's wife smiled kindly upon hearing this and personally brought Chen Yang a pair of slippers. Chen Yang repeatedly said he didn't deserve it, and after changing his shoes, he carried the plastic bag into the living room.
Professor Yan's living room was about sixty or seventy square meters. In front of the corner sofa was a huge solid wood root-carved coffee table. Professor Yan sat in the center, personally brewing Kung Fu tea, with three others sitting on either side, chatting happily.
Seeing Chen Yang enter, Professor Yan warmly greeted him:
"Come, come, Chen Yang, sit here!"
"Thank you, Professor!" Chen Yang politely thanked him, then nodded to the other three people present before sitting down on the sofa.
Professor Yan smiled and said, "Let me introduce you all! This is my student, Chen Yang! He has a deep understanding of international law and some unique insights! Of course, he also has another identity that you'll all understand when I mention it: Chen Yang won the gold medal at yesterday's Rongcheng College and University Calligraphy and Painting Competition!"
A sprightly old man sitting to Professor Yan's left looked quite surprised upon hearing this. He gave Chen Yang a deep look and said,
"Oh? Young man! So you're Bai Lao's newly accepted last disciple! No wonder your name sounded familiar!"
Professor Yan pointed to the old man and said to Chen Yang,
"Chen Yang, this is the honorary president of the Rongcheng Shoushan Stone Research Association, the famous master sculptor Liu Quanshu!"
Chen Yang quickly stood up to greet him. That afternoon, the merchant from Qishiju had been using Liu Quanshu's name to promote his inferior Shoushan stone carvings; he hadn't expected to meet the real Liu Quanshu that evening. Liu Quanshu smiled and nodded to Chen Yang.
"This is Cui Jianguo, chairman of Huanyu Group. We've been collectors for many years!" Professor Yan said, pointing to another middle-aged man in a suit and tie, with slicked-back hair and a natural smile line on his face.
Chen Yang also stood up and nodded to Cui Jianguo. Chen Yang knew Huanyu Group; in his previous life, it was one of the top private enterprises in Rongcheng City, and a major taxpayer in Rongcheng and even Southeast Province. Fang Hongda had taken him to some banquets, and Chen Yang had met Cui Jianguo a few times in his previous life. No wonder he looked familiar when he entered.
Cui Jianguo said with a grin:
"Young brother, I've long admired Master Baiyan! It's a pity he was only here briefly this time. Next time you have the chance, you must introduce me!"
Chen Yang smiled noncommittally, neither being impolite nor making a promise lightly.
Cui Jianguo had always wanted to acquire a piece of calligraphy or painting by Master Baiyan, but he had no connections in Beijing. So, upon meeting Chen Yang, he couldn't help but half-jokingly mention it. Of course, Cui Jianguo was just saying it casually; he didn't expect Chen Yang to give him any guarantees on their first meeting.
"This is Old Liu's top student, Zhao Xingmin, the owner of Wenshan Pavilion. His business is quite large; now, Wenshan Pavilion even has a branch in Panjiayuan, Beijing!" Professor Yan, of course, knew Chen Yang's intentions. To avoid awkwardness between Chen Yang and Cui Jianguo, he quickly introduced the last customer to Chen Yang.
Zhao Xingmin, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, was tall and thin, and looked very shrewd and capable. Hearing Professor Yan's words, Zhao Xingmin quickly replied with a smile:
"Professor Yan, you flatter me!"
Professor Yan smiled and waved his hand, then turned to Chen Yang and said:
"Chen Yang! You said on the phone that you had a piece of Shoushan stone that needed to be appraised. You're in luck tonight. Old Liu is a leading expert in this field, and Jianguo is also very knowledgeable about Shoushan stone! Bring it out and let these experts take a look!"
Cui Jianguo quickly replied modestly:
"In front of Professor Yan, I am just a primary school student, how could I possibly..." "You dare call yourself an expert!"
Chen Yang smiled and stood up, but first took out a long, rectangular cardboard box from the plastic bag and said to Professor Yan:
"Teacher, this is my first visit, and this calligraphy is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it!"
"Oh?" Professor Yan showed a hint of surprise again, exchanged a glance with Liu Quanshu, and said half-jokingly, "Then open it and take a look! I won't accept it if the calligraphy isn't good!"
Chen Yang nodded and respectfully presented the box with both hands. Professor Yan opened the box; inside was a rolled-up sheet of Xuan paper, tied with a red ribbon. Professor Yan untied the ribbon and slowly unfolded the paper on the coffee table. Liu Quanshu and Cui Jianguo also curiously gathered around.
When Professor Yan's gaze fell on the paper, his eyes suddenly narrowed, revealing an expression of utter shock. Liu Quanshu and Cui Jianguo were no better off, especially Liu Quanshu, whose face was full of excitement, and whose fingers were constantly gesturing wildly. Standing a little further away, Zhao Xingmin's curiosity was piqued by the three's reaction. He stepped forward to take a look. The Xuan paper was about a foot square, with four large characters written on it: "Peach and Plum Blossoms Fragrant." At first glance, Zhao Xingmin felt a profound and weighty aura emanating from the characters. They seemed to possess a life of their own, like four dancing musical notes, radiating a strong spirituality.
After a long while, Professor Yan reluctantly looked away from the Xuan paper, sighed, and said:
"Chen Yang, this gift is too precious! I cannot accept it!"
Professor Yan had only obtained a calligraphy piece from Master Bai Yan last night. He had spent almost the entire day in his study, admiring the precious calligraphy. Therefore, upon seeing the calligraphy Chen Yang brought, Professor Yan immediately recognized it as identical to Master Bai's piece from the previous night, both in form and spirit.
Liu Quanshu nodded and said,
"Yes! Master Baiyan's original works are becoming increasingly rare in recent years. Young man, this calligraphy is priceless!"
Cui Jianguo gazed at the calligraphy, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. He hesitated several times, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He wanted to ask Chen Yang to buy the calligraphy, but since Chen Yang had already said it was a gift for Professor Yan, he naturally couldn't bring himself to ask, though his heart was itching with desire.
Seeing this, Chen Yang smiled and said,
"Teacher, Master Liu, Mr. Cui, you've all misunderstood. This calligraphy isn't your original work, but rather a student's copy."
These words stirred up a storm. Upon hearing Chen Yang's words, Professor Yan and the others all showed disbelief. They had already carefully studied the calligraphy; the structure and brushwork style were absolutely consistent with Master Bai Yan's. Most importantly, the overall weight and rich spirituality emanating from the calligraphy were practically Master Bai Yan's trademark; no one had ever heard of anyone being able to imitate that spirituality.
Even many renowned masters couldn't achieve this, let alone Chen Yang, a university student in his early twenties. Although he was Master Bai Yan's direct disciple, he had only become a student yesterday! How could he possibly imitate Master Bai Yan's calligraphy so perfectly overnight?
What they didn't know was that Chen Yang's aptitude for calligraphy was truly genius-level. Even Master Bai Yan himself had praised him highly in his previous life, saying that Chen Yang was the one among his many disciples who understood the essence of his calligraphy most thoroughly, without exception.
However, Professor Yan and the others believed that Chen Yang must have obtained the calligraphy from Master Baiyan and intended to give it to Professor Yan, but fearing the professor wouldn't accept it, he lied and said it was a copy.
Professor Yan, however, was puzzled. Chen Yang clearly knew he had already obtained an authentic work by Baiyan the previous night. While Professor Yan wouldn't mind having many such treasures, it was unusual for Chen Yang to present another one under these circumstances.
Liu Quanshu put it more tactfully, saying:
"Xiao Fang! Respecting your teacher is a very good quality, and we understand your feelings, but this calligraphy is far too precious. Knowing Professor Yan as I do, he will absolutely not accept it!"
Professor Yan nodded in agreement. Although neither of them mentioned the copying, their words clearly indicated they didn't believe Chen Yang.
Chen Yang had anticipated this reaction, so he smiled and said to Professor Yan,
"Professor, I would like to borrow your study for a moment!"
Although Professor Yan didn't know what Chen Yang was up to, he nodded in agreement and led the way into the study.
Professor Yan's study was very large, larger than most people's bedrooms. His collection of books was extremely extensive; except for the wall near the window, the other three walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, neatly arranged with various kinds of books. On the professor's desk sat a copy of "The Law of Armed Conflict," covered with dense notes.
The professor's study was fully equipped with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Ignoring the inquiring looks from the group, Chen Yang smiled and went straight to grind the ink.
In a short while, Professor Yan's antique Duan inkstone was filled with freshly ground ink. Chen Yang placed the calligraphy on the table, flattened it with a paperweight, then chose a wolf-hair brush, soaked it in ink, and without a word, began to write on the calligraphy…
"Chen Yang!" everyone exclaimed in unison, but it was too late to stop him. They could only watch helplessly as Chen Yang's brush touched the paper! Cui Jianguo's face showed extreme heartache, thinking that this child had been reckless and ruined a priceless calligraphy masterpiece!
The Xuan paper only had four large characters, "桃李飘香" (Peach and Plum Fragrance), without a signature or seal. However, the style of Master Bai Yan's work was so distinctive that even so, Professor Yan and the others were still convinced that it was an authentic work by Master Bai Yan. At this moment, Chen Yang was writing the signature.
Chen Yang wrote three lines of small characters in a flowing, elegant style: "Respectfully presented by student Chen Yang, for the correction of Professor Yan Jun, April 21st, Gengyin Year," then tossed the pen aside and smiled at everyone.
Professor Yan and the others looked at the table with pained expressions. Upon seeing these lines, they were immediately stunned…