Chapter: 5696

At the Calligraphy Association, Xiu Changkun indeed received some unwelcoming treatment.

Most people around here were scholars and gentlemen, although some lacked genuine talent and skills, but they at least knew what it meant to be an "appendage" (someone who pretends to be someone they're not).

Without any professional level, he came here just to accompany professionals and provide them with more space to show off. That's called being an "appendage".

Without any professional level, he came here to play second fiddle, accepting leftovers, and every day insisted on putting on airs. This is no longer what it means to be an "appendage" but rather a new definition of elegance.

The former is the soil where scholars and gentlemen cannot survive, while the latter is their archenemy.

Xiu Changkun is that archenemy who redefines elegance.

In fact, he didn't know anything about antiques or calligraphy, just saw others playing, so he followed suit, but his approach was superficial with little genuine skill.

People like him, although they may not be qualified to serve as a host at the Calligraphy Association, still managed to climb up to the position of vice chairman, which naturally made many people jealous and resentful, so everyone had big opinions about him.

Xu Wei Long also knew that Xiu Changkun was a big deal, but he didn't dare to offend Xiu Changkun, after all, Xiu Changkun had a good reputation in front of Hong Wujia. Xu Wei Long understood that he couldn't provoke him and also wanted to get along with Xiu Changkun, so he finally pushed through the opposition and supported Xiu Changkun to become the vice chairman.

However, others were not like Xu Wei Long, who had an affinity for Xiu Changkun's people skills. So, while Xu Wei Long could tolerate Xiu Changkun, it didn't mean that others could as well.

When Xiu Changkun parked his car and carried a painting to the entrance of the Calligraphy Association, he overheard someone inside saying: "Hey, isn't our Xiu Vice Chairman still unable to come up with anything worthy of display?"

Another person sneered: "He? He doesn't even understand calligraphy, what can he display that's worth participating in an exhibition?"

"Just so!" another person agreed: "Last time I asked him to appraise a painting by our Jinling painter Cai Ze, and he told me it was 'not like a mountain nor like water', which didn't seem like the work of any famous artist. I didn't bother responding to him."

The previous person laughed and said: "Our Xiu Vice Chairman is just a typical waste of space, always causing trouble for us. He's bound to say something stupid every day unless Xu Wei Long steps in, or else I would have scolded him to his face. This time, if he can't come up with anything decent, I'll take the initiative to report it and demand that Xiu Vice Chairman be replaced!"

"Just so!" others agreed, eager to pressure Xu Wei Long.

Xiu Changkun's face turned iron green as he listened at the entrance, furious that he was carrying a painting case. He walked in, his face still upset: "What are you all, a bunch of old hens, gossiping about someone's tongue? Who do you think you are?"

The crowd saw him come in and didn't take him seriously, with one person making fun of him: "Hey, Xiu Vice Chairman, our calligraphy exhibition will be starting soon. You, as the vice chairman, can't even come up with a decent piece to display, is that not out of place?"

"Exactly!" someone stirred up trouble: "Xiu Vice Chairman, whether you borrow something good or take it from your own collection, at least bring out a few exquisite pieces to participate in the exhibition! As our vice chairman, don't you have a few decent pieces in your collection?"

The crowd was stirred up and began to mock Xiu Changkun. Xiu Changkun spoke coldly, "You people are really blind to a mountain's greatness, I Xiu Changkun wouldn't have no exquisite pieces? It's just that some paintings are too big-headed, not convenient to take out."

At this time, Xiu Changkun had already put himself into the role of the client mentioned by Ye Chen.

Others heard him bragging and one by one, they all looked down on him, completely ignoring his words.

Xiu Changkun didn't say much more, directly placing the painting case on the large bookshelf table used for displaying and appraising at the calligraphy association, and then said, "Come, let me show you what I've collected today, a Tang Dynasty masterpiece!"

The crowd's faces were filled with disdain. The art of Chinese painting is difficult to preserve in itself, not to mention the fact that the paper used in Chinese painting is not as durable as Western canvas, making it prone to damage over time. It was almost impossible for a true masterpiece from the Tang Dynasty to have survived to this day, and Xiu Changkun's claim to have collected such a piece was met with disbelief.

Xiu Changkun saw that no one was taking him seriously, and he grew angry, saying, "How come you don't believe me? Well, since you don't believe me, let me show you!"

He opened the painting case and pulled out the painting of Meng Changle's masterpiece. JrNovels.com