Chapter 2096: Being disrespectful

He looked at Qian Xilin and said, "Old Qian, is this the friend you want to introduce to me? I don't have much time, so if you have anything to say, tell me now."

From what others were listening, it seemed that Tang Shaoying had no idea that Wang Kecheng came here to have dinner with him. He even made it clear that he was very disgusted with Qian Xilin's introduction of Wang Kecheng to him and was unwilling to have too much communication with Wang Kecheng.

But Wang Kecheng started from scratch and was naturally a shrewd man. He knew very well that Tang Shaoying was just pretending to act and co-operating with Qian Xilin.

What kind of person is Tang Shaoying?

If Qian Xilin wanted to introduce him to a friend but didn't tell him the truth, how could he accept the appointment? Qian Xilin didn't dare to do that.

The reason why he acted like someone who was not easy to mess with was to give Wang Kecheng a warning.

Wang Kecheng knew that now it depended on his sincerity. If he was not sincere enough, Tang Shaoying would really leave.

Qian Xilin said with a big smile on his face: "Secretary Tang, I know you are busy with work, but there must be time for a meal, right?"

As he spoke, he winked at Wang Kecheng: "Boss Wang, don't just stand there. Secretary Tang is busy with official business. Please say a few words quickly."

Wang Kecheng immediately smiled and said, "Secretary Tang, please don't misunderstand me. I asked Director Qian to treat you to a meal, not because I wanted to ask you to do something for me... As a calligraphy enthusiast, I like to collect some calligraphy works with artistic value. Unfortunately, my level is limited and my vision is too poor. Some time ago, I received a piece of calligraphy, but I was not sure whether it was authentic, so I found Director Qian of the Provincial Calligraphers Association to help me appreciate it."

"After Director Qian saw it, he was a little unsure, so he recommended you, Secretary Tang, to me. You are a master of calligraphy, and you are one of the best in the country. Your own works are well-known at home and abroad, and your eyes are extremely good. I dare to ask Secretary Tang to help me take a look at this calligraphy!"

As Wang Kecheng spoke, he took out an exquisite wooden box.

Qian Xilin walked over, helped him place the long wooden box on the table, and then slowly opened it.

Tang Shaoying frowned and said nothing about leaving. He turned to look at the wooden box. Unexpectedly, after taking a look at it, his eyes were immediately attracted.

"In the ninth year of the Yonghe reign, at the beginning of late spring in the year of Guichou, we met at the Lanting Pavilion... Is this the Lanting Preface?"

Tang Shaoying took two steps forward, came to the copybook, and looked at it carefully.

This copy of calligraphy is quite old. Even after being carefully framed, you can still see traces of history, and it is obviously very old.

The words on the font are lifelike, as if they were created by gods, and the charm can be said to be the work of a master.

Tang Shaoying frowned and said, "Could it be an authentic work?"

Wang Kecheng shook his head and said, "Lanting Preface is a national treasure. Even if I have supernatural powers, I can't get the original. This is a copy."

Copy it?

Qian Xilin frowned and said, "Boss Wang, Secretary Tang is a great calligrapher. He has seen countless works. How dare you use a copy of your work to perfunctorily appease him?"

Wang Kecheng said: "Director Qian misunderstood. I just think that this copy has great artistic value, so I asked Secretary Tang to take a look at it!"

No matter how much artistic value it has, it is still a copy.

Qian Xilin was about to speak, but Tang Shaoying waved his hand and said, "Mr. Wang is right. This is indeed a copy. This person copied the Lanting Preface by the calligrapher, but it also has his own unique style and charm. It can also be called a masterpiece of a master."

Qian Xilin was about to unfold the signature at the end of the scroll but was stopped by Tang Shaoying.

He looked at Wang Kecheng and said, "If I'm not mistaken, this Lanting Preface should be copied by Xue Ji, right?"

Wang Kecheng immediately gave a thumbs up and praised: "Secretary Tang is indeed a master of calligraphy. Yes, the people who copied this Lanting Preface are Xue Ji and Xue Sitong."

Qian Xilin looked confused. Wang Kecheng had said before that he had prepared a generous gift for Tang Shaoying, but he did not say what it was.

Qian Xilin's attainments in calligraphy were only at the entry level, and his knowledge of calligraphy was even more lacking. As for famous calligraphers from ancient times to the present, he knew Wang Xizhi, Zhang Xu, Huaisu, Yan Zhenqing, etc., which was already quite good.

He had no idea who Xue Ji and Xue Sitong were.

Qian Xilin frowned, thinking that Wang Kecheng seemed generous but was actually stingy. Xue Ji's imitation was good, but how much was it worth? Tang Shaoying had seen a lot of the world, and he had a collection of many original works of calligraphers from ancient times to the present. How could he be interested in your imitation?

While Qian Xilin was still thinking about how to save the situation, Tang Shaoying burst into laughter: "Mr. Wang was able to find the original copy of Lanting Preface by Xue Sitong. This is really admirable!"

Qian Xilin asked in confusion: "The secretary also knows this person?"

Tang Shaoying smiled and said, "Director Qian must have heard the saying, 'Buy Chu and get Xue, but you won't lose your integrity, right?'"

Qian Xilin was at a loss and said nothing. He had no idea what this sentence meant at all.

Tang Shaoying sighed, "Chu Suiliang must know, right?"

Qian Xilin said: "I know this, he is a great calligrapher!"

Tang Shaoying said: "Xue Ji is a disciple of Chu Suiliang. What that means is that if you want to buy an authentic work of Chu Suiliang, but get a work by Xue Ji, it is also a good deal and not a loss at all."

"Xue Ji was a student of Chu Suiliang, but he was even better than his teacher. He was later listed as one of the four great calligraphers of the early Tang Dynasty along with Yu Shinan, Ouyang Xun, and Chu Suiliang. Director Qian, you know how precious this copy is, right?"

Qian Xilin suddenly realized that the person he copied was as famous as Ouyang Xiu, Yu Shinan and others. So this work would be valuable.

Tang Shaoying knew Qian Xilin's depth and ignored him. Instead, he said to Wang Kecheng: "You have found a treasure. This calligraphy is priceless."

Wang Kecheng shook his head and said, "Secretary Tang has misunderstood. When I bought it, the seller said that it was a fake of Xue Sitong's and it was just a bit similar to the original. It is not worth anything at all. I think this work is very charming, so I dared to ask Secretary Tang and Director Qian to help me appreciate it."

Fake?

Upon hearing this, Tang Shaoying took another careful look at it. This copy of Lanting Preface by Xue Ji looked like an authentic work no matter how you looked at it.

Afterwards, Tang Shaoying understood what Wang Kecheng was thinking.

Sure enough, Wang Kecheng said with a smile: "I can see that Secretary Tang is somewhat interested in this calligraphy. I dare to give this calligraphy to Secretary Tang as a gift... Anyway, it's just a worthless fake, Secretary Tang doesn't need to have any concerns."

Tang Shaoying waved his hand and said, "A gentleman does not take away what others like. How can this be done?"

Wang Kecheng smiled and said, "I have many such calligraphy works at home. It's not like I'm stealing someone's favorite. I just don't know if Secretary Tang is willing to befriend a low-class person like me."

Tang Shaoying nodded happily and said, "Mr. Wang, you are thoughtful. This fake painting is indeed well-written. It would be appropriate for me to hang it at home as a decoration... Then I would be disrespectful to refuse it."