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At six o'clock in the evening, with the evening breeze blowing and the warmth turning cold, a silver-gray Phaeton parked at the entrance of the Beijing Literary Association.
An old woman in her seventies got out of the car. She was adorned with jewels. She was leaning on a cane in one hand and twisting a string of Buddhist beads with the other.
The jade bracelet on her hand was moist and translucent, and there was a personal servant holding it next to her.
This person is Shen Cunyi's mother, the old lady with the most say in the Shen family - Cao Yuzhu!
The Literati Association plays an important role in Beijing. When it was first established, its purpose was to promote traditional Chinese art projects such as calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, and folk music.
But there are two types of people who come here now. One is the real literati, and the other is the upper class who come to gild themselves...
The venue of the Literary Society is very large.
Check in from the lobby, which is divided into several sections.
There were parents with their children in the corridor, and there were also decent people who looked like they were either rich or noble.
More than ten minutes later, Cao Yuzhu arrived at the 'Fengya Poetry Club' under the leadership of full-time staff.
She heard that a very prestigious old gentleman would come to the society today, so the first thing she did after returning to Beijing was not to go back to Shen's house, but to arrive early.
Cao Yuzhu was a well-known socialite in Beijing when she was young. She prided herself on having a keen eye and being able to spot people very accurately. In the early years, Shen Cunyi had a lot of business, all thanks to the connections Cao Yuzhu gave her.
This time she returned to the capital after many years, just to help her Shen family again!
When Cao Yuzhu entered the poetry club, an old lady Liu who was well-dressed and well-maintained quickly greeted her warmly, "Yuzhu, are you really back from Mount Putuo? Come sit next to me!"
Old Mrs. Liu is about the same age as Cao Yuzhu. She has promising children, and she is also very fond of gossip. In the poetry club, she is the closest to Cao Yuzhu.
She was also the one who told Cao Yuzhu that a very prestigious old gentleman would be coming today, but she had just kept it secret and not told Cao Yuzhu who it was.
The servant opened the chair next to Mrs. Liu for Cao Yuzhu, and Cao Yuzhu sat down elegantly.
There were several hardcover poetry anthologies placed on the long table in front of him, and there were several dignified old gentlemen sitting across from him.
Among the familiar faces, Cao Yuzhu spotted an unfamiliar face.
The old gentleman looked to be in his seventies. He was very handsome and elegant. He had a book between his fingers and didn't talk to anyone else.
I only heard others call him 'Mr. Chang'.
Cao Yuzhu opened an anthology of poetry and read a poem softly, "Silence lowers its head in the hustle and bustle, and silence makes friends with eyes in the dark night. So, we see the world wrong, but say the world has deceived us... "
The old man sitting next to Chang Lao looked at her and said with a smile, "Mrs. Shen, this poem is so elegant. I wonder which poet it is?"
When the word 'Shen' was mentioned, Mr. Chang, who was concentrating on reading, quietly raised his eyelids and glanced at Cao Yuzhu.
Cao Yuzhu met the gaze from the opposite side and replied with an arrogant smile, "It's just a random sight."
At this moment, Mr. Chang, who had said nothing, looked back at the book in his hand, and said in a quiet voice, "Selected from Rabindranath Tagore's "The Flying Birds"."
Mrs. Liu winked at Cao Yuzhu and whispered in surprise, "Yuzhu, this Mr. Chang has never taken the initiative to talk to anyone until now. You are the first one."
Cao Yuzhu pursed her lips and sneered, "You are still the same. You are already old and you don't speak properly. What do you look like?"
After saying that, he turned to Mr. Chang again and said, "It turns out to be Tagore's poem. I have learned a lesson."
Cao Yuzhu has rarely returned to Beijing in recent years, and she does not fully understand some of the new wealthy families in the capital today. Especially when she heard that Mr. Chang had a deep and deep voice, and his knowledge seemed to be extraordinary.
But just as Cao Yuzhu became more and more interested in Mr. Chang, she was disappointed by Mr. Chang's neither humble nor overbearing answers to the next few questions.
She asked him insinuatingly what their children did for a living.
The answer obtained: ordinary state-owned enterprise employees.
Cao Yuzhu asked where he lived.
The answer I got: It is an ordinary residential building that can only be called high-end.
Cao Yuzhu frowned and asked Mrs. Liu in a low voice, "Isn't he the very prestigious person who is coming today?"
Old Mrs. Liu was stunned, "Ah, no, no, the old gentleman I mentioned has not arrived yet. You will be pleasantly surprised when he does! But Yuzhu, you always stay in Putuo Mountain eating fast and chanting Buddha, so you don't know. In fact, this Mr. Chang is also..."
Cao Yuzhu curled her lips and stopped listening.
I feel like I really misjudged the wrong person this time and wasted my time.
I don’t know who invited a person with such an ordinary family background to be so ignorant of the rules. Can anyone be invited in such a high-end poetry club casually?
Cao Yuzhu felt that her own initiative to chat with him just now was too detrimental to her identity.
In the ensuing chat, she intentionally or unintentionally highlighted her family background and the world she had seen in order to distance herself from him.
To prevent others from mistakenly thinking that they are familiar with each other.
Cao Yuzhu's performance was very obvious, and everyone around her could see what she meant, but for the sake of face, they didn't say anything, and just agreed with a little embarrassment.
After all, a daughter of the Shen family has recently risen through the ranks and become a very powerful man.
It's better not to offend him.
And Mr. Chang's side is even more...
However, no matter how obvious Cao Yuzhu's snobbishness was, Mr. Chang always had a calm face and his mood was not affected at all. You could even see a slight sarcasm on his lips.
…
About an hour later, the door of the poetry club opened again, and a group of people stood up to greet her. Old Mrs. Liu patted Cao Yuzhu happily, "Here, the person I mentioned has arrived. Let's see who it is. It's definitely worth your trouble." !”
Cao Yuzhu smiled and scolded her, looked at the door, and found that the person with high prestige that Mrs. Liu mentioned was the president of Peking University, Zhang Zezhou! !
Zhang Zezhou is a great figure in Chinese literature, talented and famous, and his prose poems are universally loved.
Zhang Zezhou doesn't like liveliness on weekdays. He originally didn't agree to the poetry club's invitation, but today too many things happened during the English lecture in No. 1 Middle School, which aroused his interest, so he temporarily agreed to come over.
It is understandable that everyone would be so excited when a great writer parachuted into the poetry club.
Old Mrs. Liu stared straight at Zhang Zezhou with an expression of admiration that she couldn't hide. She must be an old fan.
Zhang Zezhou is a dream lover for Director Hao's generation, but for Mrs. Liu's generation, he is a standard little puppy.
Cao Yuzhu's reaction was mediocre, and there was no surprise as Mrs. Liu imagined.
Cao Yuzhu rolled her eyes at Mrs. Liu's unseen look and sneered, "Two of my three grandsons are graduates of Peking University. My granddaughter is also going to take the entrance examination of Peking University this year. She is still worried about not being able to meet the president of Peking University. It's early." I wouldn't have come if I knew it was him, and I would have already arrived home to see my grandchildren at this time!"
"Ah? Your granddaughter is also going to be admitted to Beijing University? You are so lucky, Yuzhu! Which granddaughter is she? The eldest granddaughter or the younger granddaughter?" Mrs. Liu was extremely envious.
Cao Yuzhu raised her eyebrows disdainfully, "I remember I told you, I only have one granddaughter!"
Old Mrs. Liu, "Huh? This..."
Mrs. Liu sighed, thinking that Mrs. Shen was so blessed that she didn’t know how to be blessed!
Although the eldest granddaughter caused a lot of scandals in the early days, she has now become half the daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. But for some reason, Mrs. Shen just doesn't like her eldest granddaughter!
If this was given to Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Liu would hold it in her hand like a treasure!
Zhang Zezhou glanced around the room and looked directly past Cao Yuzhu.
When he saw Chang Lao again, his serious expression suddenly cleared up.
It's full of the kind of sympathy among literati.
Here, Old Mrs. Liu asked doubtfully, "Yuzhu, there are so many top students from Peking University in your family, but why does it seem like Principal Zhang doesn't know you? Didn't he see you?"
Cao Yuzhu's expression became slightly stiff when she heard this. She coughed and said, "Principal Zhang is low-key and serious. He has always been like this. He is never enthusiastic about anyone. Look at who he has taken the initiative to talk to since he entered the room until now. Have you talked?"
But as soon as she finished speaking, she saw Zhang Zezhou crossing the crowd in front of her, striding towards Mr. Chang opposite, holding his hand excitedly, and saying in a trembling voice, "Mr. Chang He! Sorry, sorry, obviously it is. I asked you to come with me, but you have been kept waiting for so long. I wasted some time there and couldn't get away. I hurried over as soon as it was over. I was really afraid that you would leave!"
After saying that, Zhang Zezhou looked at the people around him and said in a relaxed tone, "I'm bringing my best friends to visit your poetry club today. Do you guys mind?"
Cao Yuzhu was startled.
Everyone quickly replied politely, "No, no! Of course not! The poetry club is a place for friends to chat and communicate. The more friends we have, the more welcome we are. What's more, your friend is none other than the great painter Chang Lao!"
Mrs. Liu also greeted her happily, "It is a great honor for us that the Poetry Club can invite Principal Zhang and Mr. Chang as guests at the same time today!"
Cao Yuzhu felt dizzy and was speechless for a moment.
That Mr. Chang, an ordinary and unknown man from a well-known family, was actually the distinguished guest invited by Zhang Zezhou? !
But looking at everyone's demeanor and tone, they all really knew Mr. Chang.
Being so praised by many stars, it is self-evident how famous this person is in the literary world of Beijing today.
Cao Yuzhu thought about what she had just said to push people away, but she felt so regretful that her intestines turned blue.
Originally, he wanted to help the Shen family establish new connections, but he didn't expect that he would get off to a bad start. When he came back, he would offend a great painter!
She actually had the idea of wanting to rewind time to an hour ago and start everything over again! !
After a pause of more than half a minute, Cao Yuzhu realized what she was doing. She hurriedly pulled Mrs. Liu back and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Chang is a famous painter. Why didn't you tell me just now?"
Mrs. Liu looked embarrassed, "I wanted to say something, but you didn't listen and just interrupted me..."
Cao Yuzhu asked again, "When such a guest comes, why didn't anyone talk to him just now?"
If not, she wouldn't have made such a mistake!
Old Mrs. Liu replied, "Chang Lao has always been aloof, how about becoming friends with Principal Zhang? Besides, he is a painter, and he comes to our poetry club just for a visit..."
Cao Yuzhu was speechless, her expression extremely embarrassed. When everyone dispersed a little, she looked at Mr. Chang He who was opposite her again, and said in a cryptic tone, "Mr. Chang, I just said something imprecise. I hope you won't stop it." Mind you, I actually like Chinese painting the most. I must ask Mr. Chang for a painting if I have the chance..."
Chang Hejun, who has always cherished ink as much as gold, nodded slightly and said in a calm tone, "Don't worry about what happened before. As for asking for paintings... I am currently in retreat, so it may not be convenient for the time being!"
Chang Hejun thought to himself that more than a dozen of his paintings had been mailed to their Shen family, and he wanted to invite the little girl to appreciate them, but he still had no reply.
Now you want to ask him to paint again?
I really don’t know what to say!
Although Chang Hejun politely refused, his attitude was decisive.
Zhang Zezhou looked at Chang Hejun's old-fashioned appearance as before, smiled and shook his head, and half-jokingly said to the crowd, "There are too many people queuing up to ask Mr. He to paint. Don't talk about you, listen. He said that even Mr. Jiang was rejected a few days ago!"
Hearing this, everyone was shocked beyond measure.
He even refused Mr. Jiang’s invitation?
You must know that in Beijing today, absolutely no one dares to refuse the request of the Jiang family!
In fact, when he first heard the news, even Zhang Zezhou was a little surprised, but he had no choice but that his best friend had such a bad temper, was unruly and extremely difficult to get along with; he refused to accept soft and hard, and did not accept oil and salt!
He didn’t know who his best friend would be interested in!
Cao Yuzhu felt that she was losing face, so she stopped asking for trouble, but she felt extremely depressed.
Zhang Zezhou chatted with Chang Hejun, "Hejun, I'm afraid you are the only one who dares to reject people from the Jiang family without fear of the powerful."
"Isn't it the same for you?" Mr. Chang He brushed his clothes, lowered his eyes slightly, and said in a very calm tone, "If the Jiang family wants to send someone to Beijing University, will you agree?"
Zhang Zezhou was choked and paused for a second. He replied half-jokingly, "Not necessarily. If you can donate a scientific research building to our Beijing University, I will consider it."
Chang Hejun waved his hand and smiled without saying a word.
He and his best friend are both old-fashioned and serious people who stick to their own principles.
It is really difficult to win their favor and make them look at you differently.
But there happened to be a little girl who was born with blessings and didn't know the blessings... He was anxious waiting, but he couldn't let go and really found the Shen family in person, right?
Zhang Zezhou didn't know what he was thinking of, so he asked again, "By the way, I just heard that you were in retreat recently, but you found a speculator to discuss your paintings?"
He asked casually, but he didn't expect Mr. Chang He to directly nod and admit, "There is such a person."
Zhang Zezhou's eyes flashed, "It's not easy to make you feel speculative. I don't know who his name is? Is he registered with the Literary Writers Association?"
"A little girl," Mr. Chang He said in a neutral tone.
"Little girl?!" Zhang Zezhou was stunned.
However, Chang Hejun is older than Zhang Zezhou, so even if Chang Hejun calls her a little girl, she may not be young.
"There's nothing registered. The little girl's surname is Shen..." Chang Hejun continued, but halfway through, he caught a glimpse of Cao Yuzhu who was staring at him opposite, and he immediately didn't want to mention it, "Forget it, you won't even say it. Maybe we know each other!”
Zhang Zezhou pursed his lips regretfully, and searched in his mind whether there was any female painter named Shen in the current painting world...
There are many people who love literature in the poetry club. Today, Zhang Zezhou and Chang Hejun are also here to help, and everyone can speak freely.
To the south and to the north, time flies by like a white horse.
Chang Hejun was upset thinking about the little girl, and finally left the poetry club early and went to other areas of the Literary Society.
But he didn't know that at the same time, the little girl he "had a crush on" was also upset about having died in front of a certain man. After dinner at school, he also wandered to the Literary Society...
Shen Wanwan changed out of her school uniform and wore a baseball cap, dressed in black and low-key.
She came to take a look.
She and her father had been to the Literary Society several times before and had a good impression of it. At least she preferred coming here when she was depressed compared to the noisy shopping malls and clubs outside.
After walking around the corridor, Shen Wanwan saw that the door of the largest exchange hall with the sign "Fengya Poetry Society" was closed. When Shen Wanwan was about to approach the door, two security guards politely stopped in front of her, " Sorry, little girl, this hall is reserved today, you can go to the side hall for viewing and communication."
Shen Wanwan glanced at the crack in the door and shrugged, "Okay."
The side hall door next to it was open, and it was very lively inside, half adults and half children.
Some are writing calligraphy, and some are painting Chinese paintings. Basically, there are two or three people standing around each table watching, and occasionally commenting.
Although they didn't know each other, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
At this moment, the chirping laughter of several children caught Shen Wanwan's attention.
"Hahahaha, the ink spilled!"
"It's all in vain! It's all in vain!!"
Shen Wanwan looked over and saw that the little boy surrounded by him looked about three or four years old. He was very cute, with a fair face, and was shy and timid, just like a little girl.
Shen Wanwan is always more patient with cute and cute little ones.
There was a nanny standing next to the cute little bun. The nanny had a big little schoolbag on her arm, "Go ahead, even if the ink is spilled, I can draw better than you! Don't even laugh at our young master!"
It took more than two hours to paint the picture of the cute little bun. He held a small paintbrush in his little hand and painted each stroke very carefully. He was about to finish the painting before he got excited, but when he got excited, he accidentally touched the ink brush next to him. bottle.
There was a puddle of ink in the center of the painting, which was not blurry at all, and there were a lot of splashes on the side.
Although the children who laughed at him were chased away by the nanny, the cute little bun sniffed and was obviously about to cry.
Just as Shen Wanwan was about to step forward, a tall old man walked up to the cute little bun before her.
He took the paintbrush out of Ruanmeng Xiaobaozi's hand, with a smile on his face, one hand behind his back, and the other hand holding the paintbrush, and he casually added a few strokes on Ruanmeng Xiaobaozi's destroyed painting.
I saw the cute little bun's beautiful big eyes opening wider and wider.
He watched as the pool of dirty ink slowly turned into a mountain peak.
After the man finished drawing, the cute little bun couldn't help but clapped his hands, "Grandpa is so awesome!"
Chang Hejun smiled, and for a child who was several generations younger than him, the words he used were quite modest, "Thank you."
The cute little bun opened this painting that turned decay into magic with his little hands, and held it high to admire it.
But as he looked at it, his light eyebrows wrinkled again.
He laid the painting back on the table and pointed at the dots of black ink splattered beside it, "Grandpa! Even the dots are ugly!"
Mr. Chang He frowned and seemed to have no idea how to change these points.
A second later, the brush in his hand was taken away again, this time by Shen Wanwan.
Shen Wanwan stood up with her brush, her brush strokes gentle and smooth, and she wrote a poem in the dotted spots.
Every dot is covered by exactly one word.
This time, the pool of ink turned into a mountain, and the dotted parts were added with words.
What was originally a childish painting suddenly became advanced and vivid.
The children who had made fun of the cute little buns were now biting their fingers and were all stunned.
Even the nanny next to me opened her eyes wide.
No wonder the master asked her to bring the young master here.
There are so many educated people in this place! !
The cute little bun raised his head and was about to say thank you again, but taking advantage of his short stature, he cleverly looked through the hat and saw the little sister's cute and beautiful face like milk jelly, and little peach hearts suddenly appeared in his eyes. "Little sister, beautiful!!"
He was very happy and came over to hug Shen Wanwan with his arms raised!
Chang Hejun is tall, and from this angle, only the hat on Shen Wanwan's head can be seen.
He was obviously not interested in the pretty young lady, so he turned around and left.
However, the next second, a familiar voice called him from behind.
Shen Wanwan raised the brim of his hat slightly and greeted him in a gentlemanly manner, "Mr. Chang, long time no see."
