The growth system comes at the age of 30

Chapter 299: This Will Prove to Go Down in History (4.6K)

"Provincial exhibition?" Chen Jingle was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Xie Nanyan chuckled and said, "That's right. Every year, the province holds various calligraphy-related exhibitions, both large and small, in order to discover more new talents with calligraphy and painting skills. However, people who are not involved in calligraphy may not pay attention to these events."

There's a provincial "Lingnan Cup" Youth Calligraphy and Seal Carving Competition exhibition coming up soon, with a little over a week left until the deadline. All participants are under 40. With your talent, as long as you participate and the judging panel isn't blind, winning an award is definitely not a problem.

Although this is not a very prestigious title, Chen Jingle's most important task right now is to obtain a ticket to the National Exhibition, which means becoming a member of the China Calligraphers Association. Otherwise, he will not be able to participate in the National Exhibition.

However, membership in the China Calligraphers Association requires a certain level of creative ability, so one needs to win certain awards in provincial exhibitions first, so that there will be no problem when recommending one to the China Calligraphers Association.

To participate in the exhibition...

Chen Jingle turned to look at Li Beixing, only to see her looking at him expectantly.

Uh-huh.

That expression clearly indicated that they hoped he would attend.

Chen Jingle pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "In that case, I'll participate."

Professor Xie has gone to such lengths to help us; it would be ungrateful to refuse.

Just show some respect to your elders.

Xie Nanyan was delighted to hear this: "So, are you going back to create, or are you staying here with me?"

Although calligraphers need inspiration, she believes that with Chen Jingle's skill level, he can easily handle a provincial calligraphy exhibition without having to put on his best performance.

If she hadn't been so reluctant to part with the calligraphy work those two men had given her, she could have easily submitted it to a competition.

Chen Jingle smiled and said, "Your place has a strong scholarly atmosphere, and your creative conditions are undoubtedly much better than where we live. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you with this matter again."

Although Xie Nanyan's house is old, it is very clean inside and out. Rows of books are neatly arranged on the large bookshelf inside, with obvious signs of being read. Sunlight shines into the house through the green leaves outside the window, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere while giving people a sense of the passage of time.

It is evident that the elderly lady maintained a good reading habit even after retirement.

People with high cognitive abilities are different; they truly learn until they die.

“This is no trouble at all. You’re doing her a favor by writing here with the old lady. Come on, feel free to use the tools here.”

Xie Nanyan smiled and waved her hand.

……

The two followed her to the study.

The study is not big, you could even say it's very small, after all, the staff housing itself is not big, just an old set of desk and chairs and a bookshelf.

However, the old lady has persisted in her hobby of calligraphy for decades, and her collection of calligraphy supplies such as brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones is undoubtedly much larger than that of Chen Jingle, a purely commercial guy.

She has almost everything you could possibly need.

Chen Jingle, on the other hand, only plays what he is good at and interested in, and his interests are not that broad.

Seeing that the old lady had all the necessary writing implements, I couldn't help but feel the urge to try my hand at it.

"Since you've never submitted your work to an exhibition before, you might not be familiar with some of the rules. Let me explain them to you briefly."

Xie Nanyan looked at Chen Jingle and said seriously, "Submitting works for exhibition is very different from creating ordinary works. First of all, there are strict requirements in terms of paper type and paper specifications. Regarding paper type requirements, you need to understand what kind of paper you absolutely cannot use, and then what kind of paper is best."

Paper that is easily broken or damaged is definitely not allowed, because every exhibition has sponsors and collectors behind it, and you have to ensure that your work is suitable for long-term collection.

Secondly, among the available papers, you must choose the ones that best showcase your strengths and style. For example, long-haired sheep's hair brushes with raw Xuan paper, small grass brushes with inkjet paper, and clerical script with paper mulberry paper are all good combinations of tools and calligraphy styles.

Generally, it's best to choose dark-colored paper so the contrast with the handwriting isn't too strong, thus preventing imperfections in the font from being magnified. Of course, if you're confident enough, you can use white paper as well.

At this point, the old lady chuckled.

After all, the calligraphy work that Chen Jingle gave her was written on light-colored paper, so there were no flaws to be seen. He would probably find it easy to use white paper as well.

Chen Jingle smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He felt it was better to listen to the older generation and not be too arrogant; just get a membership in the China Calligraphers Association.

"The next thing is the specifications. You must read the exhibition requirements carefully. Every exhibition, big or small, has many talented people who are rejected because their works do not meet the specifications. This is the most regrettable thing, but also not a regrettable thing. If you submit your work without even reading the rules, it will be difficult for the judges to help you out. It's like not filling in the answer sheet during an exam. What's the use of filling the paper full of answers if you have the right answers?"

"In addition, it is not recommended to write poems by great figures or speeches by leaders. Buddhist and Taoist content is also not allowed. Works that combine characters from the Lanting Preface, the Eulogy for My Nephew, the Duobao Pagoda Stele, and the Qinli Stele are all prohibited. Try not to write common content to avoid clashing with others. Of course, if you are confident in yourself, you can write whatever you want."

"Apart from that, I don't have many other requirements."

The old lady finished explaining all the precautions in one go.

Well, that's already a lot of demands, okay?

Chen Jingle secretly wiped away his sweat, not expecting there to be so many rules for submitting to a provincial exhibition.

Fortunately, these are not difficult things for him; he just needs to pay a little attention, and they won't affect his creative performance.

"Have you decided what font style you want to use for the competition?" Xie Nanyan asked him with a smile.

Chen Jingle hesitated for a moment: "Would running script be acceptable?"

He started by studying the styles of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, then explored the styles of Mi Fu, Huang Tingjian, Yan Zhenqing, and Liu Gongquan, and finally studied the styles of Zhao Mengfu and Wen Zhengming.

Ultimately, his forte is running script.

Don't underestimate this provincial exhibition. Since you've chosen to participate, you should at least take it seriously. Otherwise, you'll lose face big time if you can't even get selected for the exhibition.

Xie Nanyan nodded: "Of course. As long as it's not the 'Slender Gold' style. Well, it's not that the 'Slender Gold' style is bad, it's just that it's not very popular with the older generation of calligraphy exhibition judges. However, in recent years, provincial and national exhibitions have basically relaxed the restrictions and allowed participation, but it's easy to get low scores and the chances of winning are not high. I can only say to choose carefully."

The Slender Gold style of calligraphy is not Chen Jingle's forte, so naturally he wouldn't choose that.

Not daring to trouble the old lady to help him, he began preparations after quickly familiarizing himself with the tools in the study.

"Lingnan Cup..."

Chen Jingle seemed to be deep in thought, and an idea came to him.

Take a deep breath, dip the brush in it, and write in one go.

"At the foot of Mount Luofu, spring lasts all year round, and the loquats and bayberries ripen in succession."

"I'd eat three hundred lychees a day, and gladly remain a southerner forever."

It's lychee season right now, and since this is a competition held in Lingnan, Su Dongpo's poem "Eating Lychees" is undoubtedly a perfect fit.

Overall, it should meet the competition standards.

Xie Nanyan watched from the side, amazed that he had completed the work in the blink of an eye, and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Great! Excellent!"

It was a huge surprise for her.

This painting, "Eating Lychees," combines the characteristics of Su Shi's brushwork, rich ink, spirit, unrestrained and vigorous style with its own unique flair.

Chen Jingle's own calligraphy reveals a strength and sharpness, as well as attention to detail, which is something Su Zizhan lacked. It can be said that he has made up for some of the deficiencies in Su Zizhan's calligraphy.

Many people now say that Su Shi's calligraphy skills have been seriously overestimated. When people evaluate his calligraphy, they often link it with his literary skills, making it impossible to have an objective assessment of his true calligraphy level.

However, Xie Nanyan believes that Su Dongpo's masterpiece, "Cold Food Festival Scroll," is ranked as the third best running script in the world for a reason. Anything that can endure for a thousand years without fading is undoubtedly a testament to the power of time.

Meanwhile, in the same period or in later dynasties, there were many works that were praised and promoted. But where are those works and those people now?
In fact, Su Shi's calligraphy did have shortcomings in terms of technique.

The question is, who is without flaws?

Technique is never the only standard for measuring the level of calligraphy!

To put it another way, at least Su Shi deserves to be ranked in the pyramid of Chinese calligraphy culture. Who can squeeze into it now?

Those who think Su Shi's calligraphy is not good are simply comparing him to the top few calligraphers.

This kind of comparison is meaningless!
While I wouldn't dare say that Chen Jingle's work surpasses those masterpieces in history, it is certainly a fine and excellent piece.

Participating in a small provincial exhibition is a piece of cake!
Xie Nanyan was impressed that the boy could create works of this caliber so effortlessly; it was clear what level his skills had reached. She was right about him!
The key point is that Chen Jingle is still young, having only been learning calligraphy for less than a year!
If I told you, probably no one would believe it.

I dare not imagine how much he could grow if given another three to five years.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he'll be remembered in history!

It is said that calligraphy is dead in this era, and there are no true calligraphy masters. However, Xie Nanyan believes that he may witness the birth of a new calligraphy master in his lifetime.

The premise is that I can live a few more years.

Generally speaking, calligraphers reach their creative peak between the ages of 35 and 55.

At this stage, people often have enough life experience and calligraphy experience, and their physical functions have not deteriorated. Their thinking, coordination with their limbs, and strength are all at their peak level, so even if they decline slightly, it will not have a significant impact.

Once you pass 60 and enter old age, your way of thinking and creative techniques gradually become solidified. Coupled with a severe decline in physical fitness, it becomes difficult to create works that surpass the peak of your youth.

Most famous calligraphers, by this age, can only rely on their reputation and their skill level is far from what it used to be.

Many people even experience a gradual loss of spirituality after the age of 50, which is then replaced by a craftsman-like mentality; this is all normal.

Of course, there are exceptions.

People like Yan Zhenqing and Wen Zhengming could still write even in their seventies or eighties; they were all giants of their time.

However, individual cases often lack reference value.

……

After calming down, Xie Nanyan carefully put away Chen Jingle's work, which had been signed and stamped with his seal, with a sense of satisfaction.

Works of this caliber deserve such serious attention.

Suddenly I feel a little reluctant to submit such a good piece to an exhibition.

But it's someone else's work, so they get to decide.

Xie Nanyan had no choice but to suppress her inner thoughts and silently comfort herself, telling herself that the gift she received was not bad either, and there was no need to feel sorry.

He smiled and said, "I'll send it to the provincial exhibition's judging committee for you later, and then write a recommendation letter to the calligraphy association. You just need to fill out a form and register your information."

"Thank you so much, teacher."

Chen Jingle asked curiously, "Is it enough for one person to recommend someone for the provincial calligraphy association?"

Xie Nanyan shook her head: "Two."

"Wouldn't that mean I'd have to trouble you to find someone to help me?" Chen Jingle said, a little embarrassed.

Unexpectedly, Xie Nanyan glanced at him upon hearing this, then smiled and looked at Li Beixing.

"Ok?"

Chen Jingle followed her gaze and looked at Li Beixing.

What do you mean?
Li Beixing smiled and said, "Actually, I'm also a member of the Provincial Calligraphers Association."

ha? !

Chen Jingle was slightly taken aback and blinked: "When did you join the Provincial Calligraphers Association?"

Li Beixing said with a hint of pride, "I joined as soon as I turned 18. I won a third prize in the provincial competition for primary and secondary school students' calligraphy and painting, which met the membership requirements."

Chen Jingle: "..."

Ok.

It seems I need to work harder.

Just then, a creaking sound came from outside, as if the door had been opened from the outside.

……

Lin Demin, with his gray hair but still full of energy, wearing only a white undershirt, walked into the house and was immediately curious about the things in the living room.

He called out, "Are there guests at home?"

The three people in the study looked at each other in bewilderment.

Xie Nanyan said helplessly, "My husband is back. Let's go out first."

"Ok."

However, before they could even leave the study, Lin Demin poked his head in first, and they immediately stared at each other in disbelief.

"Hello, Teacher Lin!" Li Beixing greeted him with a smile.

Lin Demin was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized: "Ah, it's Beixing. I haven't seen you for a while."

"There's no way around it, I'm a teacher now, but I teach middle school students, which is much busier than university professors. I only have a little free time on holidays. This time I took advantage of the holiday to come to the provincial capital to visit you and Teacher Xie."

Li Beixing said with a grin.

"This little girl knows how to talk," Lin Demin laughed, looking at Chen Jingle.

Hmm, who is this kid? With such a handsome face, he must have attracted quite a few women.

"Professor Lin, this is my husband, Chen Jingle." Li Beixing introduced him to Lin Demin with a smile, and then said to Chen Jingle, "This is Professor Xie's wife, Professor Lin Demin from the School of Marxism at East China Normal University."

What shocked Chen Jingle the most was not the professor's identity, but the muscles under the other man's shirt. Goodness, they were even more exaggerated than his own, who exercised regularly.

Professor Xie is over 70 years old, and Professor Lin, at his age, is certainly not young either, yet he seems healthier and stronger than most college students.

Could the old gentleman be one of those performers of "The Dawn of the Gods" in the park?

Xie Nanyan wrinkled her nose and said irritably, "You're all sweaty again. Go take a shower. It's rare for Beixing and the other two to come over today. We're going out to eat later."

Lin Demin wasn't annoyed. He greeted Chen Jingle and the others with a smile and went into his room to get his clothes to take a shower.

"Ignore him." Xie Nanyan waved her hand dismissively.

Chen Jingle and Li Beixing exchanged a glance and both saw the smile in each other's eyes.

These two old folks are really interesting.

After Lin Demin finished washing up, the group went out to have lunch.

Xie Nanyan said that it was a rare occasion for the two of them to come here, and he insisted on treating them. The problem was that he couldn't let her treat them, but the old lady insisted. So Chen Jingle said...

"How about we eat at the cafeteria? I'd like to experience the food at Nanjing Normal University; I've heard it's delicious."

Finally, lunch was eaten in the cafeteria.

To Lin Demin's surprise, Chen Jingle was actually interested in Marxist philosophy, and judging from their conversations, his level was quite high, probably no worse than those graduate students at the university.

I was even more surprised when I learned that he was self-taught and had even read several core and C extension papers.

This was somewhat unexpected.

Xie Nanyan was even more surprised. How could this little guy know a little bit about everything?
Finally, Chen Jingle shamelessly used the pretext of seeking academic advice to obtain Lin Demin's contact information. After all, most people don't have the opportunity to contact a professor of this caliber.

If I encounter anything I don't understand academically in the future, I can ask the other person for help, which is much better than trying to figure it out on my own.

Chen Jingle should learn from the experience and level of expertise of such academic experts in publishing papers.

Although he doesn't expect to get any professional title through academic papers, he does hope to use them to test his self-study results.

After finishing the meal, I said goodbye to the two professors.

On the way back, walking on campus, Chen Jingle suddenly blurted out:
"Actually, this was all planned by you long ago, wasn't it?"

(End of this chapter)