Chapter 156 A different master (page 1)
"It's good if you have paintings. You didn't give me any money, you just made a meal in exchange. I don't have to write my name on my students' exercises, so I think highly of you."
He Yuzhu was stunned. How could such an operation be possible?
Qi Baishi was more unruly and willful than he thought. Although this painting was Qi Baishi's work, it would never fetch a high price when it was put out in the market. This was contrary to his original intention.
It seems that my thoughts are very beautiful, and Qi Baishi's paintings are not easy to find.
The first one is so obviously perfunctory, so the second one is definitely not a good painting. Forget it, if you have two such poor paintings overdue, it is better to just have one good one.
He Yuzhu said: "How about this? I don't want the second painting. You can make this one better for me to satisfy me."
Only then did Qi Baishi smile: "Are you saying that a table of food is exchanged for a foot of painting?"
If you calculate it this way, the salary for a table is 6 yuan, which is enough to satisfy Qi Baishi.
He Yuzhu said: "Instead of you painting two works of this kind, why not give me a masterpiece that satisfies me."
"Okay, wouldn't it be over if I said that earlier?"
Qi Baishi then picked up the pen and added a few more plum blossoms to the painting. It was indeed the master's handiwork. After a few more plum blossoms were added to the whole painting, the incongruity disappeared in the blink of an eye and turned into a masterpiece.
He Yuzhu nodded with satisfaction: "It's so beautiful."
Qi Baishi straightened his back, turned his pen and began to count plum blossoms on the painting.
".Six, seven, eighty-nine, a total of 9 plum blossoms. Give me another nine dollars."
"What money?" He Yuzhu was stunned.
"The money for coloring plum blossoms, as we just agreed, you have to add one dollar for each flower."
"What? When did we agree? I just said I would add two yuan to you to color the plum blossoms."
"Didn't I say that?" Qi Baishi asked back.
"No!"
Qi Baishi turned to ask his apprentice Li Keran. After receiving a negative answer, he immediately patted his head with his hand. He was very annoyed. He was old and had poor memory, so he forgot to explain.
"Next time I want to color it, it will cost one dollar a flower."
He Yuzhu was shocked enough times today, but he was still defeated by Qi Baishi's tricks. He didn't expect him to be so willful.
He sighed again, who could ask for help from others? After all, in order for his future children and grandchildren to live a better life, he asked Qi Baishi to paint now.
In fact, at this time, let alone 6 yuan per foot, even if it was 60 yuan per foot, He Yuzhu would have as much as he wanted. After all, this was a painting by Qi Baishi.
There is no such shop after passing this village. He has not had a few good years. Besides, he is 90 years old and his energy is not as good as before, and he paints less.
He Yuzhu happily took out two dollars and put them on the table and said, "I'll come over again on New Year's Day."
Qi Baishi rolled his eyes and said, "I will prepare the painting for you in advance."
He Yuzhu shook his head: "No, I think it's better for you to paint on the spot, so as not to pass off your apprentice's paintings as your own."
Qi Baishi glanced at it and realized that he had indeed had this plan just now. If he had known that he would not have said that, he would have to pay for it by painting himself.
"Let's talk about it first. A table of food is a foot. You can't fool me when the time comes."
Qi Baishi was still a little worried that if he fooled the chef today, if He Yuzhu didn't cook seriously, it wouldn't be as delicious as today.
He Yuzhu said: "I can't do such a shameless thing."
What he said made Qi Baishi blush. Just now he was thinking of passing off his apprentice's words as his own.
"see a visitor out."
"Mr. He please."
Li Keran rolled up the fan and asked He Yuzhu to leave the yard.
"Please stay."
Li Keran gave some instructions, and He Yuzhu promised to spend 12% of his energy to buy a banquet on New Year's Day, which satisfied Li Keran.
After carrying the painting back to the front yard, He Yuyu was sitting on the bedside with his sister-in-law, chatting. When he walked into the house, he asked, "Brother, what did you get?"
"The painting was painted by Qi Baishi himself."
"Let me see." He Yuyu said with some joy.
He Yuzhu opened the scroll, and a picture of winter plum blossoms appeared on the paper.
"It's so beautiful. It's much better than what our art teacher painted."
"This is Qi Baishi's painting. Do you like it?"
"I like it." He Yuyu said happily.
He Yuzhu smiled and said: "Since you like it, when you get married, I will keep this painting as your dowry."
"Bah, bad brother."
He Yuyu's face was slightly red. He couldn't stand the joke. He raised his foot and kicked it lightly, and then went out angrily.
Xu Huizhen said speechlessly: "You are already married, and you still like to tease the rain."
He Yuzhu stepped forward and hugged his daughter-in-law and kissed her: "Who makes Yu Yu lose his eyesight? I'm already back, and you don't want to go back to make room for me."
Xu Huizhen pushed shyly and said, "Bad guy, why don't you brush your teeth yet."
He Yuzhu then got out of bed to wash up, then lay on the bed, touched his bulging belly, then continued down, and asked with a smile: "Daughter-in-law, do you miss me?"
"No, I don't want to." Xu Huizhen said with a blushing face.
"Really? I don't believe it. I want to check."
"Bah, you gangster, you're already pregnant."
"It's okay, I just need to be gentler and slower."
Although Xu Huizhen said she didn't want it, her body was still very honest. He Yuzhu served her happily and was busy until midnight, and only washed up and fell asleep again after 12 o'clock.
When New Year's Day arrived, He Yuzhu still had some emotions. Time passed by and it was already five or five years ago. There were not many days left for him to do business.
After breakfast, He Yuzhu brought his senior brother Ye Xuequn to Qi Baishi's home. After all, there were five tables of food today, and he couldn't handle it alone.
The two of them worked hard and prepared all the meals before noon. When the guests arrived, they started to stir-fry hot dishes.
Qi Baishi is 90 years old this year, and it happens to be his birthday, so the event was very lively. In addition to his family, there were also many friends from the literary and art circles.
Lao Shu, Lao Mao, and Lao Guo all came to support us. It can be said that this was a grand event in the literary and art circles, especially some well-known painters in the art world, and some calligraphers, gathered together, and it was extremely lively.
He Yuzhu was still a little surprised. He didn't expect that the stingy Qi Baishi's circle of friends was so wide. He thought that these people would not be ashamed of his character and would not come to congratulate him.
It's just that these people have no intersection with He Yuzhu, so they can only cook honestly in the kitchen.
Thinking of Qi Baishi's stinginess, He Yuzhu opened a lot more menus before, and put the excess into the space, and also made up for the extra two dollars last time.
After all the guests were sent away, He Yuzhu was invited into the study by Li Keran.
Qi Baishi is very happy today. After all, seventy years is rare in life. He has lived to be ninety years old, which is a rare longevity.