A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

Not long after the photo was posted, Mr. Lin's phone rang.

The caller was none other than Yang Chunsheng, the president of the calligraphy association.

As soon as the call connected, Yang Chunsheng's voice came through urgently: "Old Chairman! Who wrote this calligraphy you sent me? Is it a new style you've recently discovered?"

"My handwriting was already set decades ago. I'll never be able to break out of that mold in my lifetime. How could this handwriting be mine?"

"President, to be honest, these characters are slender and strong, with a graceful yet robust style. They clearly belong to a unique school of calligraphy. I've gone through all the famous calligraphers I can think of, from ancient times to the present, but I just can't match them up. Who is this master who wrote this?"

"It was done by a young friend."

"Young friend?" Yang Chunsheng was taken aback, then asked, "How old are you, young friend?"

"Much younger than you and me, probably only in their early twenties."

Yang Chunsheng said anxiously, "Old Chairman, don't try to fool me. The skill in this calligraphy is something that can't be achieved without decades of immersion. You're telling me it's the work of a young person? I... I don't believe it."

"Believe it or not, it's up to you. Anyway, these words were written by someone right in front of me, stroke by stroke. And let me tell you, they just wrote them casually because they were tired. They don't even qualify as a proper work."

"Written off the cuff?!" Yang Chunsheng gasped. "This level of skill, and it was written off the cuff? Old Chairman, who exactly is this young friend? Please, tell me all about him."

"Why reveal anything? That kid is incredibly lazy. All you need to know is that he's just a friend of mine."

Upon hearing this, Yang Chunsheng became even more anxious: "Oh, my old chairman, aren't you just keeping me in suspense? Such a calligraphy prodigy, once he emerges, will be enough to establish a new school of calligraphy. Can you really bear to let me wait like this?"

Grandpa Lin said slowly, "What's the rush? The sky isn't going to fall."

"How can I not be anxious? Alright, alright, old chairman, I don't care, and don't keep me in suspense. This is a big matter, and it can't be explained over the phone. Don't go anywhere, wait for me. I'm coming to you right now, immediately, right away, so we can talk in person."

"Oh, your short temper..."

Before Grandpa Lin could finish speaking, Yang Chunsheng slammed the phone down.

Grandpa Lin held his phone, listening to the busy tone, and shook his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation: "He's so old, yet he's still so impatient and impatient."

Despite this, he wasn't really angry. Instead, he slowly got up and carefully arranged Su Fan's two calligraphy pieces.

Sure enough, just over half an hour later, there was a rapid knocking at the door.

When Grandpa Lin opened the door, it was indeed Yang Chunsheng.

The current president of the calligraphy association, who is usually known for his elegant demeanor, had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, indicating that he had rushed over.

"Old Chairman, where's the calligraphy?" Yang Chunsheng went straight to the point as soon as he entered the room.

"What's the rush? What's with all the panic? What kind of mess are you making?"

As he spoke, Grandpa Lin led him into the study and pointed to the calligraphy on the desk: "There it is."

Yang Chunsheng rushed forward, bent down, held his breath, and examined the area inch by inch.

He was so engrossed in looking at it that he became completely absorbed.

He would sometimes frown, sometimes nod, and sometimes extend his finger to vaguely trace the strokes of a brush while muttering to himself.

After a long silence, Yang Chunsheng spoke up: "Old Chairman, you're an expert too. What do you think? To me, these characters seem to resemble several different schools, yet none of them are quite right."

"Tell me first, which ones did you spot?" Grandpa Lin asked instead of answering, testing him.

Yang Chunsheng stared intently for a moment, then said, "Look at this stroke. It's lean, firm, and upright, with a clear and vigorous structure. This leanness and firmness are clearly derived from the bold and vigorous style of Ouyang Xun and the strength of Liu Gongquan. It is the foundation of the Tang Dynasty style of calligraphy."

"Hmm, not bad," Grandpa Lin nodded, "Go on."

"However, Tang calligraphy, especially the styles of Ouyang Xun and Liu Gongquan, emphasizes strict rules and upright structure, exuding a dignified and firm air. But this character adds a touch of roundness and warmth to this slender and firm framework. You see, the turns are not just square and hard, but round within the square, containing a kind of elegant air like that of Zhao Mengfu. This warms up the coldness of Tang calligraphy."

Grandpa Lin nodded again, signaling him to continue.

Yang Chunsheng became more and more excited as he spoke: "Look at the flow of the entire piece. Although each character is independent, the energy between them is interconnected. The strokes are broken but the meaning is connected, subtly carrying a sense of the fluidity of running script. This makes the whole piece neat but not rigid, elegant but full of vitality."

Grandpa Lin said, "The beauty of this calligraphy lies in its fusion. It takes the lean and firm style of Ouyang Xun and Liu Gongquan as its bones, the roundness of Zhao Mengfu's style as its flesh, the agility of running script as its spirit, and the spaciousness of the Slender Gold style. It breaks down the strengths of these masters, then remelts them, creating its own unique style. It has all three elements: bone, flesh, and spirit. In the end, it grows into a completely new style of calligraphy that is unprecedented yet full of traditional roots. This is called 'entering the ancient and creating the new.' It learns the methods of the ancients, but writes its own characters."

"That's exactly right!" Yang Chunsheng slapped his thigh. "Old Chairman, as you know, the hardest part is innovation. So many people spend their whole lives copying calligraphy, but in the end, they still live in the shadow of the ancients, unable to break free from that framework. They can only be considered calligraphers. But the person who writes these characters has thoroughly understood the rules of the ancients, yet is not bound by them. With a flick of his wrist, he creates his own world. This one step is the difference between a craftsman and a master."

Grandpa Lin also said, "Moreover, what is most remarkable is that this style of calligraphy is appreciated by both the refined and the common people. To laymen, it looks refreshing, beautiful, and pleasing to the eye, and they can't find any fault with it. But for us experts, the more we examine it closely, the more astonished we become. The skill and ingenuity behind it are simply unfathomable. Such calligraphy can stand the test of time, be passed down, and even establish its own school."

At this moment, Yang Chunsheng said excitedly, "Old Chairman, the person who created this style of calligraphy is going to make a mark on the history of calligraphy! You must let me meet this master, no matter what."

"Don't rush," Grandpa Lin said, taking out another picture from the table. "Take a look at this one too."

Yang Chunsheng took a look, and his breath hitched again.

This piece is a powerful and vigorous Yan style regular script, and it contains a sentence from "The Record of the Immortal Altar of Magu".

At first glance, you can tell that the person who wrote this calligraphy has exceptional skill.

Yang Chunsheng bent down and looked intently.