It was already midnight when I got home, and my parents had already fallen asleep.
When I went to take a shower and prepare to rest, I discovered that Zhou Yanli sent me a WeChat message: Has Jin Han gone to find you?
I replied: Tsk tsk, Dr. Zhou, have you considered changing your profession to go to Tianqiao to tell fortunes?
Zhou Yanli responded quickly: I won’t consider it, thank you.
Me: What a pity. If you want to be a fortune teller, I will be the first to support you and give you the first shot of Zhou Banxian!
Zhou Yanli: Haha, go to bed.
Of course I washed up and got ready to sleep. Under the influence of alcohol, my eyelids were fighting, and I finally fell asleep without even closing the chat page.
The next day, I was woken up by my dad early in the morning. He reminded me that I had to go to Zhang Xiuqian’s studio to study.
He was right at the door of my bedroom, happily recalling his youth, "I remember that your father and I were very fond of art back then. We originally planned to pursue our dreams with Lao Zhang, but it's a pity that my family didn't agree. I mean, you know at the time Why don't I force you to learn how to do business? If you want to learn music, then learn music. If you don't want to join a company, then don't want to join a company. If you don't want to be in politics, then don't want to be in politics. It's because I don't want you to follow my old path..."
I listened in a daze, and in the end I felt a little moved, and I woke up from my sleep.
I sat up and stretched, "Dad, I'll go there after I get up and have breakfast. Give me my master's contact information."
"Okay, I'll send it to you. Get up quickly, I'm going to work." My dad responded and then went downstairs.
After receiving the contact information from my dad, I washed up and put on an Armani custom-made Chinese dress. It had a large splash-ink painting on it, which was very charming, because Zhang Xiuqian was a master of landscape painting. I should like this kind of splash-ink style skirt.
I still put some thought into it, after all, it was my first time to formally go to the master’s studio to study.
Xiao Li was already waiting for me in the car. Ever since I returned to China, my father had asked him to continue to be my driver while he hired a secretary to drive.
After I reported my address, Xiao Li drove towards the destination. I thought about various situations when I went to the studio for the first time, but I didn't expect that Jin's father and Jin's mother would have tea there.
After I opened the door, the atmosphere became anxious for a moment.
"Late?" Mother Jin had a look of joy on her face when she saw me.
"Mrs. Jin, do you know my apprentice?" Zhang Xiuqian looked shocked. He must have been abroad all year round and didn't know the relationship between my family and the Jin family. My father doesn't like to take the initiative to discuss family affairs with his friends, especially my marriage. , because he was not optimistic about it from the beginning and was afraid that it would not sound good if he said it.
Father Jin looked at me, then at Zhang Xiuqian, and replied with some embarrassment, "Yes, we know each other. Our two families... have business cooperation."
Zhang Xiuqian nodded, "I see. We all know each other, so there is no need to be restrained. I would like you to come sit here, master, and have some tea and chat first."
Mother Jin stretched out her hand to hold me, but I avoided it calmly and just smiled sheepishly at her.
Mother Jin sighed slightly, but she was not angry.
After we each sat down, Zhang Xiuqian poured me a cup of tea. After the fine Longjing tea was brewed with hot water, the tea was fragrant and refreshing.
"Uncle, aunt, why are you here?" In order to make the atmosphere less awkward, I asked proactively.
Jin's mother replied, "We are here to get the painting."
It turns out that Jin's father and Jin's mother heard that Zhang Xiuqian, a master of landscape painting, had returned to China, so they ordered a painting at a high price in advance and came here to pick it up today.
I nodded, and Mother Jin added, "The two of us have been in Haicheng these days. We plan to go back to Lincheng today. We passed by here and stopped by to pick it up."
"So that's it, what a coincidence." My answer was neither cold nor enthusiastic.
Jin's father and Jin's mother looked at each other with helplessness in their eyes.
Originally, everyone knew each other, so the chat should be more lively and relaxed, but since I came, the atmosphere has become more and more silent. Zhang Xiuqian pays attention to the reactions between Jin's father and Jin's mother and me from time to time. From time to time, he lowers his head and looks at his phone. Know what to think.
At this time, the door of the studio was pushed open again. My position was right opposite the door. When I saw it was Jin Han, I immediately frowned.
"Jin Han, you're here." Mother Jin waved to Jin Han.
"Yes." Jin Han closed the door and walked towards us. When he saw Zhang Xiu, he greeted him politely and sat down next to Jin's father.
I was wondering, does it take a whole family to get a painting? Does it have to be escorted?
But as the conversation between Jin Han and Zhang Xiuqian deepened, I realized that they were talking about business.
The Jin family had an antique exhibition project that was almost completed. They wanted to hire a traditional Chinese painting master to paint a wall of the exhibition hall, so they found Zhang Xiuqian, and the customized painting was just a sign of sincerity before cooperation.
I drank several cups of tea and listened silently. If it weren't for the first time I came to Zhang Xiuqian's studio, I would have really wanted to leave in advance, because I could feel Jin Han's gaze. It falls on me from time to time.
"Okay, let's leave it like this for the time being. How about I give you an accurate answer within three days?" Finally the negotiation was settled. Zhang Xiuqian didn't know what he was thinking about, but he still asked for three days to think about it.
"Okay." Jin Han didn't force it. The price he gave was enough to make any traditional Chinese painting master tempted, so he didn't worry about Zhang Xiuqian not agreeing. Even if he didn't agree, someone else would come up with the offer.
Before leaving, he suddenly turned back and asked Zhang Xiuqian, "Teacher Zhang, I would like to ask one more question, what is your relationship with Shu Wanyi?"
Zhang Xiuqian replied cheerfully, "I see that this child Yiyi has talent and is the daughter of an old friend of mine, so I will accept her as a close disciple."
I rolled my eyes at Jin Han and asked why so many questions? Is it possible that you want me to participate in this business together?
Unexpectedly, he actually dared to speak, "So that's it. If possible, you master and apprentice can complete the mural together."
Zhang Xiuqian was surprised. He couldn't help but look back and forth between me and Jin Han. I was a little scumbag who wasn't even a fledgling, but Jin Han actually offered to let me participate in the creation of the mural. It was worth it. Who dares to try a huge mural?
This is as bizarre as asking an intern to perform a major surgery just after arriving at the hospital.
After Jin Han's family left, Zhang Xiuqian couldn't help it anymore, "Yiyi, tell the master honestly, what is your relationship with the Jin family?"
"Master, weren't you at Baidu just now?" I asked curiously.
"Ahem, cough..." Zhang Xiuqian immediately coughed dryly, and he replied awkwardly, "Gossip is human nature. Besides, there are all kinds of monsters and ghosts on the Internet. It's not true. I will definitely believe what you say in person."
I smiled and said, "Jin Han is my ex-husband, and I am his ex-wife."
