Chapter 698: Traveling Together 4
"Brother, if you copy the first couplet, what does it mean?" asked a talented man.
Bi Yuntao chuckled, "What is copying? I'm afraid this brother doesn't understand the meaning."
The other officials said impatiently: "Go on, go on, don't waste time here. Are you worthy of this couple?"
Bi Yuntao was too lazy to pay attention to them, looked at the old man and said, "Old sir, what do you say?"
The old man laughed and said, "Brother, have you really copied this first couplet?"
I used to play these crossword puzzles too much in Chinese class when I was a kid. If you pretend to understand them and make them up, you are such a shady old man.
Bi Yuntao smiled shamelessly and said: "If the old man thinks it is plagiarism, then it is plagiarism. There are only a lot of articles in the world, so it doesn't matter if I copy them."
The old man stroked his beard and smiled and said: "This little brother really has some skills. In this case, I will ask you to recite this couplet. As long as it is correct, I will definitely give this "West Lake Misty Rain Picture" to my little brother."
"What's so difficult about this!" Bi Yuntao said with a smile: "The first line is: long rise, long rise, long rise; the second line is: rise long, long rise, long rise, long. The horizontal interpretation is: long rise, long rise. Dare to ask the old gentleman, I Can you read it correctly?"
"It's wonderful! It's wonderful!" The old man thought about it again and laughed loudly, "It's so big and long. It's even wonderful!"
After sighing, he said to Bi Yuntao: "I have traveled all over the provinces of China and this couplet has been published more than a dozen times, but no one has been able to correct it. I didn't expect that you, little brother, would correct me today. Little brother, it's really extraordinary. It’s extraordinary!”
After everyone listened to Bi Yuntao reading this couplet, they suddenly realized that it was a couplet with the same word, long and long. It is a metaphor for the tide of the Qiantang River, which is very appropriate for the scene and title of the "West Lake Misty Rain Picture".
This pair is hard to say, but worthless to put it bluntly. The officials all became upset, why didn't I think of such a simple thing, and let this person get "The Picture of Misty Rain on the West Lake" in vain.
Xue Ruyue also suddenly understood. Looking at Bi Yuntao, she couldn't help but smile. This person must have heard of this riddle a long time ago. No wonder he was so sure.
"Haha, old sir, you are being too modest." Bi Yuntao said modestly, but the expression on his face did not show any humility at all. "Old sir, does your "West Lake Misty Rain Picture" belong to me?"
The old man laughed and said: "Old man always keeps his word. With my little brother's talent and knowledge, I can guess that this couplet, "Mist and Rain at West Lake", naturally belongs to little brother. Please accept it now, little brother."
This old man is really quite capable. This painting of mist and rain is purely about scenery and is very natural. It is the kind of good painting that can calm the mind and calm down. It should be able to sell for a big price.
Bi Yuntao smiled and was about to take it when he heard several officials say: "Old sir, we are not convinced."
"Why are you dissatisfied?" the old man asked doubtfully.
The official who first accused Bi Yuntao of plagiarism stood up immediately and said: "Although these two people are gifted with witty words, the people who deal with them use clever techniques, so we are very dissatisfied. The old gentleman's "Mist and Rain in the West Lake" "Picture" is not a vulgar thing, we are interested in admiring it. Please ask the old gentleman to ask another question, and we will compare it again."
Hearing this, the old man shook his head and laughed and said: "If you don't keep your word, how can you stand? The old man just said that as long as he matches this couplet, the "West Lake Misty Rain Picture" will be given to him. Now this little brother If we are right, how can I go back on my word? How is being dishonest different from a villain? Little brother, you are going to make this old man lose his life!"
Bi Yuntao thought to himself, he didn't expect this old man to be quite loyal. For this reason, I must sell this "West Lake Misty Rain Picture" at a good price, so as not to lose out on your generosity.
The old man glanced at Bi Yuntao, and then said: "But since all the talented scholars have such a taste, I am also very happy. Let's do this. I will ask the young man who took the painting to create another couplet, as long as any of you are worthy of it." , I will make another "West Lake Misty Rain Picture" on this Su Di, I can guarantee that the artistic conception and charm of these two pictures are completely different, you can rest assured."
There was a hint of pride on the old man's face, as if he was confident in his painting skills. At the same time and in the same place, two "West Lake Misty Rain Pictures" were painted, and the artistic conception and charm were different. Everyone present knew what this meant, but no one doubted the old man's ability, but look at him The ease with which he finished the painting showed that he must still have reservations.
Having said that, even if the two "West Lake Misty Rain Pictures" are exactly the same, with the old man's skillful brushwork, that is still a big selling point, and it is also a treasure that people who love painting flock to.
All the scholars happily agreed. The old man looked at Bi Yuntao and said with a smile: "Little brother, this is my presumptuous request. Can you please give me some thin noodles?"
He stretched out his hand to avoid hitting the smiling man. Besides, the old man's attitude was very friendly. Bi Yuntao had a good impression of him, so he smiled and said: "Since it is an elder who speaks, how can I not obey him? But this old gentleman, if I say something No one can answer the couplet, so this second painting of yours will be given to me as well."
Xue Ruyue smiled sweetly when she heard this. Bi Yuntao was really a guy who didn't want to suffer losses. This sentence made him invincible. If someone confronts him, he won't lose anything. If he fails to confront him, then he can get the second "Mist and Rain Picture". With this man's cunning, he will definitely not be able to make any simple connections. This group of officials is too miserable. How could they meet this extremely bad person?
The old man laughed and said boldly: "Brother, just go ahead. If no one can draw it right, let alone one painting, even ten paintings. Even this old man can draw it." His words revealed incomparable confidence. There are only a handful of people in the world who can compare with him.
The toad yawned loudly. Of the three couplets I hung on Food for the Immortal, except for the first one, which was a little more casual, I haven't seen anyone able to match the remaining two. But today, you old man is very interesting, so I will give you some face and make a simple one.
Bi Yuntao walked slowly for a few steps and said with a smile: "Since the old gentleman wants me to give the question, then of course I have to be respectful and obey. But..."
After a slight pause, Bi Yuntao said with a bad smile: "The pairing is too common to show talent. Everyone here is talented. Why don't you let me change the rules?"
"Oh?" When the old man heard this, he became interested and said: "I wonder what rules the little brother wants to change? Could it be that the little brother is planning to take advantage of the poetry competition to come and let everyone present make a poem on the spot? ?”
"No!" Bi Yuntao shook his head and said with a smile: "Old sir, the couplet you wrote has the same character. I just happened to write an article with the same sound a few days ago, and I once read it to my wife. My wife is also very talented and learned, but After hearing about it, there was still no further action.”
"If everyone present, including the old gentleman, could write a homonymous essay, don't say that I don't want the old gentleman's second "Smoke and Rain Picture". Even the first one, I will do my job without saying a word. Give the land to that person!"
