HLnovel Chapter 106: Initial Success
Chapter 106: Initial Success
"Boss Tang, we...we have completed the first draft." Zheng Shizu spoke a little nervously, his eyes drifting towards Wu Huazi who was standing beside him with a serious expression.
Wu Huazi held a scroll of painting in his hand, his knuckles slightly white.
Hearing this, Tang Youyou's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked up to the two of them, her tone full of anticipation: "Really? Let me see!"
Wu Huazi took a deep breath and slowly unfolded the scroll in his hand.
The painting depicts a woman leaning against the window and looking out, with flowing clothes and a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Different from the soft and dignified paintings of ladies in the past, this painting focuses more on showing the inner emotions of women, with bold brushstrokes and strong colors.
Zheng Shizu handed his own poem to Tang Youyou. The artistic conception of the poem echoed the woman in the painting, full of desire for freedom.
Tang Youyou carefully admired the paintings and poems, her eyes full of admiration.
However, some painters and literati around them who were already dissatisfied with Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu shook their heads.
"This... this is outrageous! How can a woman be so sad? This painting style is too... too unrestrained." An old painter stroked his beard, his tone full of disdain.
"Yes, this poem is too straightforward and has no implicit beauty. It is simply heretical!" echoed a scholar.
"Standing out to attract attention! It's nothing but a bunch of trifles!" another voice sounded sharply.
Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu's faces gradually turned pale, and the light in their eyes gradually dimmed.
They originally thought that their work would be recognized, but they did not expect to be criticized so much.
Just when the two were about to lose confidence, Tang Youyou's clear voice rang out, "I think both this painting and the poem are excellent! Mr. Wu's brushwork is bold and innovative, vividly displaying the woman's inner emotions. Mr. Zheng's poem also perfectly expresses the artistic conception of the painting. The two complement each other and are refreshing." She paused, glanced at the critics, and said firmly, "This is exactly the new direction of artistic development, not some heresy!"
Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu looked up in surprise, and seeing the determined light flashing in Tang Youyou's eyes, hope was rekindled in their hearts.
"Boss Tang..." Wu Huazi was about to speak, but was interrupted by the noise coming from outside the studio.
"Boss Tang! Something bad has happened..." A waiter ran in in a panic, his face pale.
"What happened?" Tang Youyou frowned slightly, speaking in a steady tone.
The clerk gasped, "There's a big shot in town... a big shot has come to town, and he wants to see you... He says he wants to buy our studio!"
Tang Youyou's heart shuddered, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Acquiring a painting studio? She didn't remember offending any important figures.
"Which important person is it?"
"It's...it's the son of Jingzhao Yin, Master Li!" The waiter's voice was almost trembling.
Li Wenxuan, the son of Jingzhao Yin, was a notorious playboy. He relied on his father's power to act tyrannically in Chang'an City, bullying men and women and doing all kinds of evil.
Rumor has it that there is nothing he cannot get if he sets his eyes on it, and his methods are ruthless and terrifying.
The surrounding painters and writers were suddenly in an uproar and whispered to each other.
"This is bad. Master Li is not someone you can easily mess with."
"I heard he fell in love with a girl, but she refused to give in. The result... well, it was horrible."
"Boss Tang is in great danger this time."
Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu's faces also became paler. They knew that the appearance of Li Wenxuan would not only put the painting studio into crisis, but also shatter the hope that they had ignited with great difficulty.
Tang Youyou was not panicked at all. She took a deep breath, and a gleam of light flashed in her eyes. "Go, invite Master Li in."
Everyone was stunned. Was Boss Tang crazy? How dare he invite Master Li in?
Tang Youyou ignored everyone's reactions and turned to Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu and said, "Don't worry, I have my own way." The corners of her mouth rose slightly, revealing a confident smile.
"Instead of passively waiting, I'd rather take the initiative. I've decided to hold a small exhibition and invite more people to judge these works." She paused, her eyes firm, "I want everyone to know what true art is!"
Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu looked at Tang Youyou's confident look and felt a glimmer of hope in their hearts.
Soon, Li Wenxuan, surrounded by a group of lackeys, swaggered into the painting studio.
He glanced at everyone in the studio, and finally landed on Tang Youyou, with a frivolous smile on his lips.
"Are you Boss Tang? I heard you have a lot of good stuff here, and I'm interested in them all."
Tang Youyou stepped forward and bowed without arrogance or servility, "Mr. Li, your presence is truly a great honor to my humble home. I wonder what you have taken a fancy to?"
Li Wenxuan's eyes fell on the scroll in Wu Huazi's hand, a trace of greed flashed in his eyes, "This young master heard that you have a..." Li Wenxuan's eyes fell on the scroll in Wu Huazi's hand, a trace of greed flashed in his eyes, "This young master heard that you have a painting depicting the daily life of a farmer. The brushwork is novel and the composition is unique. I like it very much. This is it!" His tone was arrogant, as if the painting was already in his pocket.
Tang Youyou smiled slightly, "Mr. Li has a good eye. This painting is indeed a treasure of our store. However, it is not for sale."
Li Wenxuan's face darkened. "What did you say? There's nothing I can't get if I set my sights on it! Name your price!"
"Mr. Li, this painting, as well as other works, will be exhibited at the exhibition tomorrow. You are welcome to come and see them then." Tang Youyou's tone was firm, with no intention of backing down.
Li Wenxuan snorted coldly, "Exhibition? Just a trick! I will definitely come tomorrow. I hope that Boss Tang will not regret his decision today!" He turned away, and a group of lackeys also left arrogantly, leaving a depressing atmosphere in the studio.
The next day, the exhibition that Tang Youyou had carefully arranged was crowded with guests. Many scholars and intellectuals in Chang'an City came to visit. They were curious about this novel exhibition and were eagerly awaiting the paintings and poems that were rumored to depict the daily lives of farmers.
The works of Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu are hung in the most conspicuous position. In the paintings, peasant women are hoeing the fields and children are playing, presenting a peaceful pastoral scene; the poems describe the hardships and beauty of farmers' life and are full of humanistic care.
However, there were still some traditionalists in the crowd who scoffed at the works.
"Such a vulgar subject matter is worthy of being called art?" said an old man in fancy clothes with disdain.
"How can the work of farming be depicted with painting? Poetry and songs should sing the praises of emperors and generals, and sing the praises of love and romance!"
"You're wrong, old man!" a young scholar retorted. "Art comes from life. These works truly reflect the lives of ordinary people and are filled with genuine emotion. This is true art!"
The two sides argued and the atmosphere on the scene gradually became tense.
Tang Youyou stood aside, listening quietly to everyone's discussion, with a barely perceptible smile on the corner of her mouth.
"Everyone..." She spoke slowly, her voice clear and powerful.
"Everyone," Tang Youyou's voice was clear and powerful, drowning out the noise at the scene, "The true meaning of art lies in expression and in the resonance of emotions. Are only emperors, generals, and romantic figures worthy of being praised? Aren't the joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness of ordinary people worthy of being recorded and sung?"
She pointed at the peasant woman painted by Wu Huazi and said, "Although her face is dark, she is tough; her clothes are simple, but they cannot hide her hardworking nature. She uses her own hands to raise her family and support the foundation of this country." Tang Youyou's tone was full of power, which made the old man, who was originally dismissive, slightly stunned.
She then turned to Zheng Shizu's poem and sang softly, "'At noon, I hoe the fields, my sweat dripping to the soil. Who knows that every grain of rice on the plate is the product of hard work?' Though plain and simple, this poem captures the hardships of farming and reminds us to cherish food. Isn't this sentiment more moving than those empty verses piled high with flowery rhetoric?"
Some people in the crowd began to nod, and the young scholar excitedly echoed, "Boss Tang is absolutely right! Art shouldn't be constrained, nor should it be high and mighty. It should be derived from life and serve life!"
The old man in fancy clothes wanted to refute, but was interrupted by Tang Youyou, "Old sir, you said that farming is not worthy of being presented in a refined forum, but you know that eight out of ten people in this world make a living by farming. Don't their lives deserve to be respected and praised?"
The old man was speechless for a moment. He looked around and found that more and more people began to agree with Tang Youyou's point of view. He opened his mouth, but in the end, nothing came out.
Tang Youyou smiled slightly and continued, "The value of art does not lie in the high or low status of the subject matter, but in the appeal of the work itself. Painter Wu's paintings and Mr. Zheng's poems are both full of true feelings, which is their most valuable aspect." She paused and swept her eyes across the audience, "I believe that true art will eventually be recognized by the world."
She gestured for Wu Huazi and Zheng Shizu to step forward, nodding slightly to the crowd. Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd...