Chapter 11#
Appreciating Paintings: “Cursive Thoughts Abound.”#
Pei Jintang truly craved those few fish. After asking Pei Xiting’s opinion, he had someone deliver a visiting card to Zhao Yi’s residence the next day. Zhao Yi was apparently at home, as the reply card arrived shortly after.
That afternoon, the two paid a visit.
The carriage stopped at the Wen State Duke’s mansion on Xigeng Avenue. Pei Xiting alighted and saw a young man in a light robe standing by the east corner gate, followed by six attendants.
The three exchanged greetings. Zhao Yi invited the Pei brothers into the mansion, saying on the way, “I survived a great calamity. This morning, my father and mother went to Baohui Zen Temple to burn incense and will be on a vegetarian retreat for half a month. Otherwise, they would have thanked you both in person.”
Pei Jintang replied, “Then we brothers truly don’t deserve such courtesy. Since this is our first visit, we’ve prepared a modest gift for the Duke and his wife. Please present it on our behalf.”
On a first visit, presenting a gift was proper etiquette. Zhao Yi did not refuse, merely offering thanks.
Chatting and laughing, they wound through twisting corridors, pavilions, and rockeries. Zhao Yi led them into his courtyard, gesturing for tea to be served under the eaves.
By the left wall, beneath a papaya tree, stood a large fish tank as wide as a man’s arms. Colorful fish swam leisurely, each perfectly proportioned. Pei Jintang leaned over to admire them and exclaimed, “They’re all beautiful!”
“In recent years, vermilion fish have become popular in Yejing. Sellers are many, prices inflated, and counterfeit goods are easy to confuse,” Zhao Yi said. “These are all carefully selected from major dealers.”
Pei Jintang hesitated. “Then wouldn’t I be taking something you treasure?”
“Not at all,” Zhao Yi replied. “Since Second Brother Pei likes them, I’ll pick a few for you to keep. What’s the harm? You’re not going to eat them, after all.”
“I definitely don’t have that appetite!” Pei Jintang laughed. “In that case, I won’t be polite.”
Zhao Yi called over two servants. Pointing at the white bowl one held, he said, “If the young master fancies any fish, you can first place it in this bowl. Only when both the water and the bowl turn red is it genuine vermilion.”
“Noted,” Pei Jintang said. “I might take a while to choose. The weather isn’t cool, so don’t waste your time here with me.”
“Fine. These two are in charge of feeding them. Ask them anything—they can answer.” Zhao Yi instructed the servants, then turned with a gesture. “Third Brother Pei, please follow me.”
The study was refreshingly simple, with nothing overly ornate. A servant placed tea on a pearwood low table by the window and quietly withdrew.
“When I heard you two were coming this morning, I prepared a set of pigments, including gold and silver powder, to give to you. I’ll have someone carry them to your carriage later,” Zhao Yi said, opening a small wooden box on the long table. “These are finished products, no further processing needed.”
Pei Xiting stepped forward and closed the lid. “If I take this box, you owe me nothing.”
“Wait,” Zhao Yi said hastily. “I’ve prepared something else.”
Pei Xiting said, “Enough.”
He didn’t seem to be merely being polite, so Zhao Yi had to ask, “Is my life only worth a box of pigments?”
“Logically, the two can’t be equated. But if we try to equate them, it becomes too difficult to calculate,” Pei Xiting teased deliberately. “How about you give me this mansion instead?”
“This… if it were my own mansion, I could give it. But the Duke’s mansion is an imperial grant; I have no right to dispose of it. How about this,” Zhao Yi had an idea, “I’ll buy a fine mansion in Yejing and give it to you?”
When will I ever get back to the point where I can casually offer a house like this… Pei Xiting thought, then said, “You’re too generous, but forget it. I can’t move out of my current residence for now, and an empty house would just be a hassle to maintain.”
“Since you’re adamant, let’s leave it at that today. If you need anything else, feel free to ask me anytime.” Afraid Pei Xiting would refuse, Zhao Yi quickly added, “I’ve seen your paintings at Qu Lianhai’s place. I genuinely admire them and would like to befriend you. What do you think?”
“Thank you for the compliment, but,” Pei Xiting said with a playful tone, “I haven’t seen your paintings yet.”
With that expression, exuding arrogance and youthful vigor, it was as if a bold brushstroke had been added to an already exquisite painting, making his entire face radiance.
Zhao Yi found it dazzling. He stared blankly for a moment before laughing heartily. “I do have a humble piece. Please, take a look!”
He turned and took out a firwood painting case from the bookshelf, had someone bring water, washed his hands, opened the case, removed the scroll from its silk cushion, undid the cloth cover, and gently unrolled it. It was a landscape painting.
“Third Brother Pei,” Zhao Yi gestured with his palm, “please.”
“At first glance, clouds and mists spread, mountains rise majestically, waterfalls plunge steeply, mountain paths wind sinuously, and pines and bamboos stand tall. The composition is grand and fluid, with clear depth. Hmm… on closer inspection, the pines twist, birds nest in the treetops, the stone bridge is smooth, and water flows at the mountain’s base. The details are fresh and layered, with balanced shading.” Pei Xiting stood and bent over for about a quarter of an hour before offering his evaluation.
Zhao Yi stood to the side, expectantly asking, “Are there any shortcomings?”
Pei Xiting replied honestly, “In my opinion, yes.”
He pointed a pale finger at a rock formation on the right side, hovering in the air. “The texturing here isn’t smooth enough. The layers are blurred and lack texture, making it appear rigid.”
Zhao Yi looked at that spot and, to his surprise, beamed with joy. “To be honest, I’ve been working on this painting for nearly three months. I always felt something was off, but I asked several former classmates skilled in painting, and they all praised it. So I anonymously took it to a gallery for public appraisal, but no one pointed out anything specific. I never expected that your single remark today would clear my confusion.”
He suddenly stepped back two paces and made a solemn bow. “Thank you for your guidance, brother.”
Pei Xiting disliked excessive formalities but understood the joy of having a creative block resolved and the feeling of having one’s work flaws pointed out. Returning the bow, he said, “I won’t comment on your former classmates, but even though you submitted it anonymously, experts could easily guess from the paper and colors that the painter was from an extraordinary background. So even if someone at the gallery noticed something, they wouldn’t dare speak up.”
“Ah!” Zhao Yi tapped his forehead, enlightened. “That’s the logic. I overlooked it. You truly have a keen eye and a deft hand. Would you be willing to discuss painting with me more often in the future?”
They say one’s writing reflects their character. Pei Xiting somewhat believed that paintings also reflected the painter. Zhao Yi’s painting was clean and gentle, without a trace of stiffness or malice. If his initial intent had been to broaden his social circle and make a casual acquaintance, now he offered a bit of sincerity. He nodded. “I am willing to befriend you.”
“Wonderful!” Zhao Yi said, slightly excited. “Then, it’s a pleasure to meet you… Ah, may I ask your age and courtesy name?”
“I’m eighteen, born on the first day of the eleventh month,” Pei Xiting said. “I don’t have a courtesy name yet.”
Zhao Yi said, “My courtesy name is ‘Sifan.’ I came of age on the sixth day of the ninth month last year. So I’m older. Would it be presumptuous of me to call you ‘Xiting’?”
Pei Xiting had no objection. Zhao Yi then excitedly brought out an ancient painting for his appraisal, saying, “I just acquired this. I haven’t shown it to anyone yet.”
Seeing the yellowed color and the clean cracks at the edges of the silk, Pei Xiting examined the details carefully. Finally, he said, “You’ve most likely been deceived. This painting is likely a forgery.”
Zhao Yi’s expectant expression shattered. “What? Fake, it’s fake!”
Pei Xiting asked, “Don’t you know how to authenticate?”
“I’m barely even a novice,” Zhao Yi said dejectedly. “I bought this at Baiyou Mountain for five hundred taels. And it’s fake…”
“Although forgeries come in different qualities, this painting—its content, brushwork, and artistic conception—is only mediocre. Five hundred taels, you got ripped off.” Pei Xiting crossed his arms. “Go find the seller and get your money back.”
“Hard to find them,” Zhao Yi stared at the painting in distress. “Baiyou Mountain is different from ordinary markets. It’s a mix of all sorts of people. Apart from a few shops, many vendors are itinerant… The seller of this painting was one of them.”
Pei Xiting recalled the masked young man mentioning that same place earlier and couldn’t help asking, “Where is this place? Isn’t it regulated?”
“It’s in the eastern outskirts, under the jurisdiction of the Right Commissioner of the Longhe Department. But because Baiyou Mountain is a unique melting pot, they only step in when someone dies or something major happens.” Zhao Yi sighed. “Oh well, I’ll take it as a lesson.”
When they went out, Pei Jintang had already selected one fish and was struggling to choose between two others, his brows furrowed like two lively caterpillars.
Seeing this, Zhao Yi scooped both into the white bowl. Before Pei Jintang could refuse, Zhao Yi said quickly, “I’ll have someone find a suitable fish tank. Later, I’ll write down some tips on keeping fish and have it sent to the Tan residence along with the tank.”
“Then thank you very much.” Pei Jintang no longer declined and cupped his hands in thanks.
“It’s almost time for dinner. If you don’t mind, I’ll treat you to a meal at a restaurant. You can pick whatever you like,” Zhao Yi offered.
“Let’s go to Baiyou Mountain,” Pei Jintang said. “I want to eat roast rabbit!”
Pei Xiting asked, “Is there only one place in all of Yejing that serves roast rabbit?”
“Ignorant,” Pei Jintang wagged his finger like a “shaking head.” “There are dozens of roast rabbit places in Yejing, but the best is definitely the ‘Roast Rabbit Champion’ at Baiyou Mountain! I swear, once you try it, you won’t be able to stomach any other. Plus, their liquor is excellent!”
Pei Xiting became somewhat interested. “What kinds of liquor do they have?”
“The most famous is ‘Drink to Death.’” Pei Jintang asked Zhao Yi, “Fourth Brother Zhao, have you heard of it?”
“Second Brother Pei, just call me ‘Sifan’… This ‘Drink to Death’ liquor indeed has a reputation—it has actually killed someone,” Zhao Yi explained. “They say when the owner first started selling it, he claimed it was the most intoxicating liquor in the world. A man didn’t believe him and shouted that the owner was a liar. He bet the owner that if he could drink a whole jar without collapsing, the owner would never charge him for liquor again. The owner agreed. The man downed the jar and collapsed for good. That’s how the liquor earned its fame across the Great Ye.”
Pei Xiting raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Could it be a marketing gimmick?”
Both of them gave him looks of incomprehension.
“Could it be that the owner and the customer staged it to build the brand? After all, the world is full of stubborn fools who refuse to believe,” Pei Xiting said.
Zhao Yi mused, “Actually… it’s possible.”
“Who cares,” Pei Jintang said, his mind only on roast rabbit. “So, how about we go try it?”
Zhao Yi had no objection, and Pei Xiting was also curious to take a look around. “Let’s go.”
“Baiyou Mountain,” the Crown Prince inspected the purple peonies under the eaves, saying in a calm voice, “is a lively place.”
Yu Shaoyun stood to the side holding a tray, saying, “A piece of fat watched by several dogs—it’s bound to be torn apart and devoured.”
The peonies were in full bloom, as large as the mouth of a bowl. The Crown Prince touched a soft overlapping petal and said, “They reap what they sow. No need to interfere.”
Yu Shaoyun offered a pair of shears and added, “Pei San also went to Baiyou Mountain today. He was accompanied by Pei Er and Zhao Si. I wonder if it’s a coincidence.”
The Crown Prince examined the white jade pot, then set down the shears with satisfaction. “There will be something there that he likes.”