Back to 80: My Literary Life

Lin Baili?

A secretary-looking man next to him handed Fang Minghua a business card.

Fang Minghua took it and took a look and saw it read: Chairman of Taiwan Quanta Computer.

Selling computers?

What do you mean by looking for me?

Fang Minghua didn't know what this Quanta computer was like. He really couldn't figure it out, but he still politely invited the other party in.

After the two parties sat down, Lin Baili got straight to the point: "Mr. Fang, do you have Mr. Zhang Daqian's "The Picture of a Jia Couple" in your hand?"

Fang Minghua was surprised when he heard this. How would you, a businessman who sells computers, know?

But what Lin Baili said later made him understand: "At the end of last year, the Xijing Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Academy in the Mainland held a calligraphy and painting exhibition in Xiangjiang. Among them was a painting of "The Beautiful Couple" by Mr. Zhang Daqian. According to the organizer, President Wang Xijing He said it was your treasure and that you had many works by Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi."

day!

Wang Xijing, you are a big mouth!

Fang Minghua cursed secretly in his heart, but since the other party knew it, he didn't hide it and said openly: "Yes, I have collected a batch of works by Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi. Mr. Lin, do you like them too?"

After hearing this, Lin Baili's originally calm eyes suddenly became hot, and he couldn't help but lean forward.

"Mr. Fang, in addition to this "Picture of a Beautiful Couple" in your hand, I heard from Mr. Wang that you also have a picture of a lady painted by Zhang Daqian?"

"Yes."

Fang Minghua didn't lie.

Zhang Daqian is not only good at painting landscapes, flowers and birds, he is also good at painting figures, especially ladies.

The famous painter Yu Fei'an once said: "Of all the figures, ladies are the most admired by Taoists for their bold and original ideas."

Mr. Zhang Daqian once said to himself in a poem about painting: "I hate young men in my eyes, but I prefer beautiful women at the bottom of my wrist."

Among Fang Minghua's collections of calligraphy and paintings, there are "Ladies with Plantains", "Jade Blowing Flute", "Parrots", etc., but Fang Minghua still prefers his landscapes, flowers and birds, such as this "Joyful Couple".

Seeing Fang Minghua's outspokenness, Lin Baili immediately said: "Mr. Fang, I really like the pictures of ladies painted by Mr. Zhang, and I want to buy them."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lin, my paintings are for myself and my friends to appreciate, not for sale." Fang Minghua refused.

"Mr. Fang, don't worry, just listen to me." Lin Baili continued: "As long as the picture of the lady you have hidden in Zhang Daqian's hand is genuine, no matter what size it is, I am willing to buy it at this price."

After speaking, he held out a finger.

"One hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars?"

"No, 1 million Hong Kong dollars!"

Damn it!

1 million Hong Kong dollars!

According to the current official price of converting RMB into Hong Kong dollars, it is nearly 700,000 RMB!

Fang Minghua vaguely remembered that the price of the pictures of ladies he bought from the National Museum was relatively low, probably less than thirty yuan.

In ten years it has increased 20,000 times!

Damn it, it is indeed paper gold.

It seems that the middle-aged man in front of him is also a rich man.

But that's it.

Fang Minghua was shocked and quickly calmed down. He smiled slightly: "I'm sorry, Mr. Lin, I said this is not for sale."

It was Lin Baili's turn to be shocked.

Although there has been a boom in collecting in Hong Kong in recent years, and the prices of celebrity calligraphy and paintings have increased year by year, the paintings by the Republic of China painters such as Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi generally cost HKD 600,000 to 700,000. The price he offered for HKD 1 million is definitely a high price. !

Because what he likes most are the pictures of ladies painted by Zhang Daqian.

One million pictures, and the person in front of me refused!

"Mr. Fang, maybe you don't know much about the trading situation of celebrity calligraphy and paintings. You can go to Christie's auction house and ask about the transaction prices of Zhang Daqian's calligraphy and paintings in the past two years. I will definitely give you a premium!"

"Maybe you are right, but I also said that I am not interested in this because my paintings are not for sale." Fang Minghua said with a relaxed expression.

Banana, you bastard!

Lin Baili cursed secretly in his mind.

I don’t know if you are really smart or stupid!

He adjusted his thoughts, calmed his tone, and suddenly changed the topic: "Mr. Fang, I heard that you created a World Chinese Literature Award in the Mainland? Did you personally donate three million yuan?"

"Yes." Fang Minghua did not deny it.

This is already an open secret.

"But as far as I know, for a world-wide literary award to be held every two years, this amount of funds is far from enough. I wonder, Mr. Fang, have you ever considered this issue?"

"You are right." Fang Minghua nodded and said: "Three million is indeed a lot for an ordinary person, but creating a national award is a bit small. I also understand this deeply. I estimate that more will be needed later."

"So, Mr. Fang, I admire your generosity very much, but I think you are just a writer, not a businessman like Mr. Zhuang Zhongwen, who has a rich background. Can't you spend all your savings? This is all your remuneration and Royalty income is not easy. Selling part of the calligraphy and painting to supplement the required funds is not a good way? "

Lin Baili looked like I'm thinking about you.

Fang Minghua was slightly surprised after hearing this:

"Who said I have to spend all my savings to win this literary award? Then I'm going to drink the northwest wind? I'm not a fool, and I haven't been reduced to selling calligraphy and painting to make a living, right?"

this?

Lin Baili was speechless.

However, he still didn't give up and asked for Fang Minghua's contact information. He also said that if Fang Minghua wanted to sell Zhang Daqian's pictures of ladies in the future, he must notify him as soon as possible and he would be willing to buy them at a high price.

Fang Minghua was so entangled that he had no choice but to agree.

After Lin Baili left, Fang Minghua couldn't help but shake his head.

Why is this guy so interested in Zhang Daqian's pictures of ladies?

In the evening, Shen Xicheng came to the hotel and explained to Fang Minghua about tomorrow's lecture. Fang Minghua thought about it and asked, "Brother Shen, do you know there is a Quanta Computer Company in Taiwan?"

"Of course, I know. That's a very famous laptop company. It successfully developed Taiwan's first laptop. Their chairman, Lin Baili, is a wealthy businessman. Why do you know this? Do you want to buy a laptop? "

"Oh, no, Lin Baili came to me today. I don't know where he heard that I had two pictures of ladies painted by Zhang Daqian. He insisted on buying them at a high price, but I didn't agree." Fang Minghua briefly explained the situation.

"I don't know why he is so interested in pictures of ladies."

Shen Xicheng laughed after hearing this.

"I also heard from people that Lin Baili particularly likes the paintings of Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi, especially Zhang Daqian's paintings of ladies. As long as others have them, he will spare no effort to acquire them."

Oh I got it.

Fang Minghua nodded.

He just asked casually, but he didn't expect Shen Xicheng to be interested: "Brother Fang, are you still a collector of calligraphy and painting?"

"No, not really." Fang Minghua was very modest.

"In the past few years, paintings by people like Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi were relatively cheap in the Mainland, so I collected some and enjoyed them by myself."

"Oh, Brother Fang, you have to be optimistic. These celebrity calligraphy and paintings are very popular in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. Many collectors and rich people are collecting them. Do you know that there are three top collection groups in Hong Kong and Taiwan?" Shen Xicheng had a slightly mysterious tone.