Having said that, he personally rose from his seat and carefully unfurled the scroll.
The four powerful characters ” May you live long and prosper like a pine and crane” came into view, accompanied by inscriptions on either side, the ink tones perfectly balanced, the composition flowing smoothly.
The guests present nodded in praise, congratulating Old Master Fu on acquiring such a fine piece of calligraphy.
Amidst the cheers, a sarcastic voice suddenly broke the harmonious atmosphere:
“Old Master Fu, forgive my bluntness, but while the calligraphy looks good, it might not be an authentic work, right?”
The speaker was Zhou Ming, a distant relative of the Fu family. This man had always loved to appear cultured, relying on his family’s modest wealth to collect a few second-rate antiques, always eager to show off.
He somehow knew that the scroll was a gift from Jiang Wenxi, and seeing her young age, he felt he had seized the opportunity, his tone full of smug nitpicking.
“Look at the ink’s sheen, it’s too even, like a modern fake being artificially aged. Where’s the patina of a century-old ink?” Zhou Ming said, shaking his head, his eyes glancing at Jiang Wenxi with a hint of provocation.
His words caused an immediate silence in the room. Many guests looked surprised and then began to whisper among themselves.
Old Master Fu’s smile faded slightly, but he still held the scroll, his brow furrowed as he carefully examined it, seemingly pondering its authenticity.
Jiang Wenxi’s expression remained unchanged, still calm and composed. She stepped forward slowly to the painting, her voice clear yet undeniably firm: “Sir, your words are perhaps too arbitrary.”
She raised her hand, her slender fingers pointing to a very hidden spot in the corner of the painting, where a small vermilion seal was affixed: “Please look, everyone. This ‘Yun Gu Cang Zhen’ seal is the private seal used by that great master of the Qing Dynasty in his later years. Its ink paste is mixed with top-quality cinnabar and pearl powder. Upon close inspection, one can see the subtle shimmering pearlescent light within the seal’s characters. Such craftsmanship is impossible for modern imitations to replicate.”
The guests crowded around and indeed saw the subtle luster hidden within the small seal, secretly marveling at it.
Jiang Wenxi pointed to the turning point of the strokes, her tone becoming increasingly certain:
“Furthermore, the dry brushstrokes of this character conceal the ‘flying white’ technique, a unique brushwork created by that master in his later years. The ink appears even, but in reality, there are subtle variations in the density and dryness of the strokes. It can only be written with his specially made wolf-hair brush, on Xuan paper from southern Anhui, under specific air humidity conditions. It cannot be imitated by simply aging it.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Old Master Fu slapped his thigh, all the doubts on his face vanishing, replaced by overwhelming joy: “Well said! Absolutely right! I didn’t even notice this small seal, and this flying white technique—it’s the essence of his later years! Girl, you have a good eye!”
Zhou Ming’s face flushed red and then turned pale, as if he had been slapped twice in public. His lips moved several times, but he couldn’t utter a single word. His embarrassed appearance caused the surrounding guests to lower their heads and cover their mouths.
The whispers grew louder and louder. Those who had previously joined Zhou Mingxuan in questioning Jiang Wenxi now looked rather embarrassed.
Someone leaned closer to their companion and whispered, “You still call her ‘little girl’? Open your eyes and look! This is the owner of Villa No. 1, Miss Jiang Wenxi!”
Upon hearing this, the person next to them gasped, their eyes widening, and they instinctively looked towards Jiang Wenxi.
What kind of place was Villa No. 1? It was a top-tier luxury residence coveted by the entire elite circle of Shanghai. Not only was it worth billions, but its location and social standing alone made it inaccessible to ordinary wealthy people. They never expected that such a young-looking girl would hold it in her hands.
In the room, Old Master Fu stroked his white beard, his gaze towards Jiang Wenxi filled with undisguised admiration. He laughed loudly, “This gift must be from you, right? Not only is it thoughtful, but you also understand calligraphy and painting—truly rare!”
The old man’s words effectively sealed the deal for this minor controversy. The guests quickly recovered, their gazes towards Jiang Wenxi now devoid of any doubt, replaced by pure praise and a touch of awe.
The previous sarcastic whispers vanished, replaced by waves of agreement and flattery. Even the slight awkwardness in the air was completely dispelled by this warm atmosphere.
“I’ve only learned a little bit,” Jiang Wenxi said with a faint smile, her tone calm, without a trace of arrogance or deliberate modesty.
As soon as she finished speaking, Fu Siya, the daughter of the Fu family, walked over with a smile. She wore a light pink dress that accentuated her fair skin, and her eyes were full of friendliness:
“Miss Jiang, you’re too modest. My grandfather’s greatest love in life is calligraphy and painting. He must be overjoyed to receive this gift from you today.” She looked Jiang Wenxi up and down, her eyes filled with curiosity.
“By the way, I wonder if Miss Jiang has returned to the country to study? Judging from your age, you must still be studying, right?”
“Yes, Magic University.” Jiang Wenxi nodded in response.
“Really?” Fu Siya’s eyes lit up, her tone full of surprise, “That’s such a coincidence! I’m still in school too, I didn’t expect we’d be in the same school!”
“Is that so? That is quite a coincidence.” Jiang Wenxi’s lips curled into a faint smile, still maintaining her calm and composed demeanor.
Fu Siya found Jiang Wenxi increasingly pleasing to the eye and couldn’t help but lean closer, her tone filled with anticipation: “Speaking of which, it seems the freshman dorm assignments are coming up soon. I really hope we can be in the same dorm!”
Afraid that Jiang Wenxi would feel awkward in the elders’ circle, she quickly took her wrist and suggested with a smile:
“Miss Jiang, this place is full of elders’ social engagements; it’s so boring. Let me take you to that group of young people over there. They’re all peers; it’ll be much more comfortable chatting with them.” ”
Okay,” Jiang Wenxi didn’t refuse. She had the same idea in mind—compared to the insincerity with a bunch of old foxes, the circle of young people was the shortcut for her to quickly integrate into Shanghai’s top social circles.
Just as Fu Siya was about to lead Jiang Wenxi away, her father’s voice rang out. He looked at his daughter and instructed, “Siya, you must take good care of Miss Jiang. Don’t neglect her.”
“I know, Dad, don’t worry!” Fu Siya replied crisply, then winked at Jiang Wenxi and pulled her towards the lawn on the other side of the garden.
On the way, Fu Siya linked arms with Jiang Wenxi, her steps light as a hopping bird, and she kept complaining:
“Miss Jiang, you have no idea how incredibly boring these banquets are! A bunch of elders are gathered together, talking about the stock market or family marriages. All those roundabout things give me a headache, and I can’t get a word in edgewise.”