{Chapter: 278 Old Man?}
Chi Qian turned to Lin Yuan with a playful glint in her eye and asked once more, "Brother Lin Yuan, I'll give you one final challenge. Tell me—do you know anything about this piece of calligraphy?"
Lin Yuan followed the direction of her finger and gazed at the artwork she pointed to.
The flowing strokes were wild yet refined, resembling dragons and serpents dancing across the page. The brushwork was chaotic yet harmonious, imbued with a deeper rhythm only understood by those with knowledge and appreciation of the art.
Lin Yuan's lips curled into a calm smile as he answered confidently, "This is Huai Su's famous work, "Fish-Eating Posts." Like Zhang Xu, Huai Su was renowned for his unrestrained and spirited style. Both of them are legendary figures from the Tang Dynasty and are often mentioned together as the greatest masters of cursive script. They're affectionately known as 'Crazy Zhang and Drunken Su.'"
Lin Yuan continued without missing a beat, "Huai Su lived during the golden era of the Tang Dynasty. Although he was a Buddhist monk, he did not strictly follow the ascetic path typical of monastic life. Known as the 'Lingling monk,' he rejected many of the conventional restraints of the Buddhist world. It's said that he composed Fish-Eating Posts while living in Chang'an, often indulging in alcohol and lively women company."
He then chuckled lightly and added, "There's a particularly interesting anecdote about him. When another monk once asked whether it was permissible to eat meat and drink wine, Huai Su responded, 'If you want to eat, then it's your reward; if you don't, then it's your blessing.' After saying that, he calmly poured himself another drink and helped himself to a plate of meat."
Yu Shanshan stood beside them, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. She looked at Lin Yuan as if seeing him for the first time. In her memory, Lin Yuan had always been the guy who doodled weird symbols with her in class—what she jokingly referred to as "ghost writing." When did he become so knowledgeable in ancient art and culture?
Chi Qian, who always maintained a composed and graceful demeanor, found herself stunned as well. Her elegant eyebrows twitched slightly in surprise, and she couldn't help but look at Lin Yuan more intently.
She was no stranger to these facts—most of what Lin Yuan said, she already knew. But what amazed her was how smoothly and effortlessly he recited everything, with clarity and passion, as though he had memorized Huai Su's life and works by heart. He didn't even pause to think.
This level of cultural depth and intelligence was not something easily found in someone his age.
Back when Yu Shanshan first introduced her to Lin Yuan, she had playfully compared Chi Qian to a treasure—someone who always seemed to know everything, talented in every field. But now, Chi Qian finally understood how Yu Shanshan must have felt. Lin Yuan was not just a treasure—he was a treasure trove, a deep and mysterious mine of knowledge and talent that only grew more fascinating the deeper you dug.
The more Chi Qian learned about him, the more her heart stirred.
It was a dangerous kind of allure—one that threatened to shake her normally composed personality. Her feelings were becoming harder to control, like a current pulling her deeper. It was as if she were a fish, naturally drawn to the water; or like two opposite magnetic poles, fated to attract each other.
Just as she was about to speak, another voice, old and dignified, echoed from behind them.
"Very well said. I must admit, young man, I didn't expect to hear such a comprehensive and insightful take on Huai Su's legacy—especially from someone so young."
Startled by the sudden interruption, Lin Yuan, Chi Qian, and Yu Shanshan all turned around in unison.
Behind them stood an elderly man with long, flowing white hair and a matching beard. His eyes were bright with wisdom, and despite his age, he carried himself with poise and elegance. His traditional long robes added to his dignified presence.
The gray in his hair only seemed to enhance his scholarly appearance rather than diminish it.
Lin Yuan immediately recognized the man before him.
It was none other than Ge Yuanshan—the highly respected host of the Nancheng Calligraphy Exhibition. Almost every ancient scripture and artwork in the venue came from his private collection. He was not only a passionate connoisseur of calligraphy but also a wealthy patron of the arts.
This encounter with Ge Yuanshan was never supposed to happen—at least, not to Lin Yuan. In the original trajectory of events, it should have been Ye Feng who met the old man. But fate, or rather Lin Yuan's deliberate meddling with fate, had altered the script.
The Ge family, to which Ge Yuanshan belonged, held a certain level of influence in Jiangbei. They weren't exactly obscure, but when compared to some of the truly dominant powerhouses—such as the Lin family, the Mei family, or the Chen family—they lagged a step behind. In terms of local prestige, they stood out, but not enough to sit at the same table as the top-tier elites.
In truth, the Ge family's presence in Jiangbei was just a regional extension, a branch of a much more powerful main family that resided in Yanjing. That central family, based in the political and cultural heart of the country, wielded considerably more influence and resources.
Lin Yuan, of course, wasn't particularly interested in what would have been Ye Feng's original opportunity. He didn't need the influence of the Ge family in Jiangbei, especially since it was relatively minor compared to what he already had access to. And Ge Yuanshan, though respected, was far less significant in status compared to someone like Cui Yunrong, the renowned and formidable former military commander.
However, there was still one compelling reason that piqued Lin Yuan's interest—Yun Yaxuan.
Ge Yuanshan was the grandfather of Ye Feng's fiancée, Yun Yaxuan. If Lin Yuan wanted to approach her and explore the potential connections or future interactions, establishing a favorable relationship with her grandfather would be a wise move. It was a necessary stepping stone.
As always, Lin Yuan's mind processed all this in a flash—mere seconds to assess the situation and devise a strategy.
By the time he turned his head to face the old man behind him, his expression had already shifted. It was now tinged with a carefully constructed blend of surprise and mild confusion, as though he hadn't expected to be addressed by a stranger of such bearing.
In a tone that carried just the right hint of respectful curiosity, Lin Yuan asked, "Sir, may I ask who you are?"
The elderly voice chuckled warmly at Lin Yuan's polite demeanor. "Sir? Hah! You youngsters are so formal these days. My surname is Ge, and my given name is Yuanshan. I'm the organizer and main sponsor of this calligraphy exhibition. The scroll you were admiring earlier is actually one of the prized pieces from my personal collection."
Lin Yuan's eyes widened slightly, playing along with the moment. "Ah, so you're the master behind this exhibition. That's incredible. I must say, I've learned a lot just by being here."
He paused, then added modestly, "I only know a bit about calligraphy, just enough to appreciate the classics. Compared to you, Mr. Ge, I still have a long way to go."
Ge Yuanshan looked at him with deepened interest. The humility in Lin Yuan's tone, coupled with his earlier insight into the scriptures, left a strong impression on the elder.
"Hmm… You're not only knowledgeable, but also humble about it. That's becoming increasingly rare these days," Ge Yuanshan said with approval, gently patting Lin Yuan on the shoulder. "I've been following you from a short distance and overheard your explanation. It's rare to meet a young man like you—so articulate, yet so respectful of tradition. Young people these days, they're more concerned with chasing trends than studying the arts."
The old man sighed wistfully before continuing. "Over the past few years, it's only been my granddaughter who's taken a genuine interest in calligraphy and culture. Most others couldn't be bothered."
He eyed Lin Yuan up and down with a satisfied nod. "You're a handsome young man, smart, and grounded. That's quite a rare combination. Tell me, what's your name, boy?"
Lin Yuan's lips curled into a calm, composed smile. He had been waiting for this moment. "My surname is Lin, and my name is Yuan. Lin Yuan."
"Lin Yuan… Lin Yuan…" Ge Yuanshan repeated the name to himself thoughtfully, trying to place it. The surname sounded oddly familiar, like something he'd come across before in the upper circles of influence, but he couldn't quite recall the details. His aging memory was no longer as sharp as it once was.
Still, the name stirred a faint recognition somewhere in his mind.
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