Back to the Republic of China as a director

You can't blame the book for talking stupidly. Even if he is a novelist, even if he knows that Zhou Siyin often burns incense... he still can't guess Zhou Siyin's nature, but he thinks that Ji Shuangyu and Zhou Siyin talk strangely.

What's the matter, could it be that these two hit it off?

Before Zhou Siyin left Xiaogu Hutong, he gave Ji Shuangyu a sum of money for wasted ink and an advance for embellishing pens. Calligraphers don’t just come here when they pick up their pens. buy.

This kind of waste ink cost has always been an additional expense, and it is not included in the 50 yuan.

"Where is there a good fountain pen for sale, can you introduce it to me?" Ji Shuangyu took the money and said it was an effort, "Boss, why don't you take me to buy it, and you can definitely get a discount by brushing your face, right?"

Zhou Siyin: "..."

Of course Ji Shuangyu was right. Zhou Siyin is engaged in cultural publishing, and the merchants who do business in this field will definitely give him a discount when they see him, whether they recognize him or not.

This is also for calligraphy works.

As a result, director Ji was frantically discussed in the theater world, wondering whether this person was educated, whether he was qualified enough, he had already gone to the business district to buy a pen——

Day two.

Ji Shuangyu and Zhou Siyin sat side by side in the back. He was wearing his best new clothes and hat, although they were still the cheapest cotton coat and felt hat.

Ji Shuangyu asked Zhou Siyin, "Why did you think of asking me to write the masthead?"

Thinking about it afterwards, he always felt a little strange.At that time, I only thought that 50 yuan was high. Later, I flipped through the newspaper and checked the calligrapher's profits at that time, so I had a specific understanding of the market price.

The works of contemporary calligraphers that can be hung in shops for consignment can sell for three or forty yuan for a plaque, and couplets can be sold for more than six feet according to the size.That's pretty cool.

50 yuan is about an unknown person's masthead, which is definitely an exaggeration.And he only found out later that Zhou Siyin's new journal was called "Calligraphy Education". As the name suggests, he should also know its professional nature.

Is it possible that Mr. Zhou is still shaking M this time, he has molested him several times, and he even gave him money?Could it be that you want to seal it with money?

Doesn't look like such a casual guy who can easily compromise...

Zhou Siyin said in a very flat tone: "I think your calligraphy is good and very innovative. I have never seen pen characters like this before, so I invite you to write."

Ji Shuangyu finally came to her senses, oh, yes, I wrote with a pen!At this time, hard pen calligraphy probably hasn't developed yet, right?

Ji Shuangyu suddenly felt relieved, and looked at Zhou Siyin with adoring eyes.

Zhou Siyin actually had an unnatural feeling, which was rare in his life, probably because Ji Shuangyu was too... ordinary to him before.He looked at Ji Shuangyu calmly, put his hands on the backrest, raised his chin slightly, and assumed a calm posture.

Ji Shuangyu said emotionally: "Mr. Zhou, your vision is too good!"

Zhou Siyin: "..."

Who is this praising? ?

Ji Shuangyu laughed and said, "Don't worry, you will definitely not lose money. Although I have to give me a high 50 yuan as a finishing fee, but in the future, my director's box office will increase and become famous. The 50 yuan will become more and more worth it!"

Although I really value the value in it... But this person is really rude.Zhou Siyin glanced at him.

50 yuan is enough for a family's whole month's expenses, and it is relatively well off.Therefore, high-level intellectuals, such as professors, earn two to three hundred, three to four hundred a month, which is considered a lot at the moment.

With this money, he can finally buy more furniture. The family is so poor that they basically only have beds and pots... All the decent furniture was pawned when his parents were sick.

The car stopped outside the foreign firm, and Ji Shuangyu got out of the car, feeling a little dazed.

The business district where the two arrived was next to the embassy district. There were many foreign goods from various countries, and most of them had Western-style facades.There are clerks handing out leaflets standing at the door of some, and there are big characters of clearance and price reduction written on the door of some, and there are even a group of clerks shouting slogans and dancing at the door of some stores...

Ji Shuangyu:? ? ?It feels so familiar.

Foreign firms are equipped with large glass doors and glass cabinets, so that citizens with average family conditions dare not pull them and stop outside the doors.

Ji Shuangyu opened the door and went in very calmly, nodded to the clerk who came up, and asked directly, "Do you have a Thor fountain pen? Show me the thickest and sharpest one."

"Mr. You, please wait a moment." The clerk said politely. Although Ji Shuangyu himself was wearing a felt hat, Zhou Siyin next to him was wearing a well-tailored suit, and his face had even been featured in newspapers.

Moreover, the gentleman's attitude was really relaxed, leaning his elbows on the glass cabinet, looking at the goods in the store boredly.Even so, it doesn't make people feel that the manners are annoying.

With this posture, the clerk felt that he might be a super rich man, and it was a bit eccentric, so he just dressed like this on purpose.

Thinking of this, the clerk's movements became more agile.

Zhou Siyin was also watching Ji Shuangyu secretly. According to some newspapers, Ji Shuangyu's parents were from poor families, and his family conditions were good before he was three years old. Later, he moved to Xiaogu Hutong.

But judging from Ji Shuangyu's words and deeds, and even his hands that were only callused from writing, he doubted this.

Maybe Ji Shuangyu was brought up by her parents to be flattered, but how can a person who has worked as a coolie on the street have such delicate fingers and skin, and white and neat teeth?

Or, what was written in the newspaper was not accurate, and he had other experiences? ... Make another note.

At this time, the clerk had already taken out the pens, not only the Raytheon pens that Ji Shuangyu wanted, but also many other brands, "Sir, you can take a look at our latest imported Levi's pens, which are new this year, 12K gold... ..."

The two brands of Levy and Raytheon have existed until modern times. The former is imported, while the latter is a local brand in Shanghai.Now the price difference between the two is a bit big, and imported pens can be exchanged for houses, although the current housing prices are not so exaggerated.

Ji Shuangyu has always used Thor for his handwriting practice. He has a good family background and has nothing missing, but he is not extravagant.

"No, I like to use Thor." Ji Shuangyu interrupted him, "And this Levi is too expensive now, I can't afford it!"

The clerk was stunned for a moment, and said aggrievedly: "Sir, Levi just lowered the price because of the tariff." Actually, it was not because of the tariff, but the impact of China's domestic pens.But this is the lowest point in history, why do you still say that it is expensive now.

Ji Shuangyu comforted: "It's okay, it will be lower."

Shop clerk: "..."

Ji Shuangyu turned on a Thor and looked at it, "This is M nib, is there a thicker one?"

M is only medium thick. The clerk saw that he was quite familiar with fountain pens, so he suppressed the speechlessness just now. He couldn’t sell Levi, and it was not bad to sell a Thor. of.

Ji Shuangyu bought a Raytheon, and had the cheek to ask Zhou Siyin to advance his manuscript fee to buy some furniture, and take Zhou Siyin's car back to Xiaogu Alley—or else he would have to spend money to hire someone to move the furniture , how could he be willing to do it all at once, of course.

……

After staying for a few days, Zhou Siyin went to Xiaogu Hutong, Ji Shuangyu's house again, and saw that his residence was completely different.

There is a small pane of glass in the window.Nowadays, people with average conditions want to show light or show off, so they just put a piece in the middle, just enough for people to see out, and the other parts are still translucent window paper. The light transmission is not as good as glass, but it can also keep warm.

Ji Shuangyu just inlaid a piece, the sun shone into the room to dispel the darkness, a small table was placed on the kang, and a few flowers were inserted, but a closer look showed that it was not flowers, but dried flowers and hay, not a display. In a serious vase, but in an old pen holder, it is actually quite interesting.There is also a thick porcelain plate next to it, holding some snacks, it can be seen that he does not want to be wronged at all when eating.

The floor has been trimmed, and there is a dark hand-padded velvet booth with clusters of flowers.The locals are not used to laying carpets. They only have Kang blankets and table blankets. Carpets are only laid for weddings and funerals. The habit of laying carpets is a bit Western.

The handmade blankets are not as smooth as machine-woven ones, but they are thick and fluffy. Ji Shuangyu's younger brother and sister sit on the blankets and play, with a relaxed expression, which can only be released when they are full.A new porcelain stove next to it was burning vigorously, and it warmed up as soon as people came in, which also indicated that the owner had no shortage of coal to burn.

That day Ji Shuangyu bought some tall furniture, wardrobes, chests of drawers, etc. Zhou Siyin thought it would be too few, and the shape was simple. Looking at it now, he had a comprehensive idea to change it, and the combination was very suitable.

With the new furniture and sundries, Ji Shuangyu spent about the same amount of the prepaid manuscript fee, but the effect presented was more than several times.With the previous wallpaper, the whole house is completely different from the first sight.

Zhou Siyin was relieved very quickly, thinking about Ji Shuangyu's ability to control complexity with simplicity on stage, no wonder he was able to decorate the room comfortably and elegantly with few items.

The light is much better, even his third sister Ji Feifei is not as scary as before...

"Mr. Zhou, sit down." Ji Shuangyu also made some straw mats and put them on the kang.He had already laid out the paper himself, he had contemplated it long ago, and tried writing it several times.

Now, in front of Zhou Siyin, Ji Shuangyu picked up the pen again and wrote down the four characters "Calligraphy Education".

When he finished writing, Zhou Siyin immediately praised from the bottom of his heart: "Good! The cursive characters are scattered and natural, and the ancient way is true." Although he has never seen Ji Shuangyu's brush works with his own eyes, he can tell from the words alone. Ji Shuangyu's writing skills.

Ji Shuangyu laughed twice, and took out the seal he had engraved. Since he was a rookie, he liked to use seals, and it seemed that his handwriting was tall.Now to write, he also went to engrave it.

Zhou Siyin said that the inaugural issue will feature a single page with enlarged header characters and present them as calligraphy works.

Ji Shuangyu dipped the ink pad, and four red letters were printed on the paper: Old Man Gourd.

"Old Man Gourd? What kind of name is this?" Zhou Siyin just felt strange. Could it be because of Ji Shuangyu's white hair that is different from ordinary people, so he called himself an old man?Is there a kind of gourd in the yard? I really can’t see it in winter.

"Yes, this is my new pen name." Ji Shuangyu didn't explain, just glanced at her four younger siblings, oh, he is the one who raises the gourd baby.

But Zhou Siyin's attention quickly shifted to Ji Shuangyu's words, and the Thunder God pen beside him, "Why do I think your pen is very useful..."

He had never used a Thor fountain pen before, and seeing Ji Shuangyu's writing just now, he always felt that his pen was very easy to use.

Ji Shuangyu: "This is one of the three major illusions in life: other people's tools are easier to use. No, it's my hands that are easier to use."

Zhou Siyin: "..."

Zhou Siyin: "...you showed me a lot of respect two days ago." Praise him as the bravest person, so respect will disappear, right?

Ji Shuangyu: "So I remind you now that it's time to renew."

Zhou Siyin: "..."? ?So fast!

No, no, impossible.

Zhou Siyin picked up Ji Shuangyu's pen, wrote a few strokes on the nearby paper, and then murmured: "It's not an illusion, I just think this one is easier to use..."

"Haha, I can't fool you, because I have polished this one myself." Ji Shuangyu said.He has the habit of sharpening the nib himself.

The fountain pen is originally an imported product, which was invented to be more suitable for writing in Western characters.But in later generations, some fountain pen brands have begun to develop and develop Chinese character writing. By polishing the shape of the nib, it is more suitable for writing Chinese characters.

Including some art pens with curved nibs, it is very easy to write strokes and changes in thickness, which are closer to brushes.

If a craftsman wants to be good at his work, he must first sharpen his tools. Although a good calligrapher can write well with any tool, which can reflect the beauty of structure and style of writing, Ji Shuangyu has always been used to polishing the nib of the pen when he is formally creating, which is in line with his style. Habit.

Just like some calligraphers love to use bald pens, it is their own preference.

The Raytheon fountain pen is also modeled after Western fountain pens, which means that it was originally more suitable for writing Western characters.

But after this pen is sharpened, it is more suitable for Ji Shuangyu's writing, and it is also more suitable for writing Chinese characters.Although the price is not as high as imported pens, but when it comes to writing Chinese characters, it is even better!

Zhou Siyin held this Thor fountain pen and couldn't put it down. With the intuition of a businessman, he even immediately began to think about the possibility of mass production.

"Can you return it to me?" Ji Shuangyu looked at him as if unwilling to let go. Under the current conditions, it was not easy for him to polish.

Zhou Siyin: "Can you polish one for me too?...I'll renew the fee."

……

Zhou's old house.

Zhou Siyin said to the housekeeper, "Get me a Thor brand fountain pen with the thickest nib."

The butler was suspicious for a moment, "Thor card?"

Isn't this a fountain pen brand established in Shanghai two years ago?Chinese businessmen have a keen sense of smell, and seeing that the pen business is about to pick up, they opened local factories to seize the market.However, it has not been established for a long time at present, and the brand is not as strong as the foreign brand.

The butler was very surprised why the young master specially ordered to buy a Thor fountain pen.

Zhou Siyin nodded: "It's the Thor card."

Ji Shuangyu had already agreed to sharpen a pen for him, so he had to prepare it.

While saying this, Zhou Siyin's second uncle also returned to the old house.

Zhou Siyin's second uncle is Zhou Ruojuan. When he saw Zhou Siyin, he couldn't help laughing, very happy.

They all have their own houses outside the old house, and they just want to come back. Today, they just met Zhou Siyin, which really made him happy. It is said that Minister Zou will return to Beijing a few years ago."

Zhou Siyin glanced at him, but said nothing.

This is the second-bedroom uncle whom he scolded in the newspaper for three days in a row. Recently, he often travels to Shanghai. It is said that he wants to get involved in the movie business and invest in making movies so as to earn back face with Zhou Siyin.

Ji Shuangyu didn't know that before him, Zhou Siyin, the masthead of "Calligraphy Education", originally made an appointment with Mr. Tan Youan, a great scholar of calligraphy in the south of the Yangtze River.That's all for other publications. This calligraphy publication invites famous scholars all over the world, but Mr. Tan is the only one who can calm down the masthead.

Mr. Tan Youan has not accepted the draft for a long time, but Zhou Siyin's deceased mother had a friendship with Tan Youan, so he agreed.He didn't want to come to an end, but he said he was sick and missed the appointment, which made him very distressed for a few days. Who should he find to replace him?

Zhou Siyin had always suspected that someone was playing tricks on this matter.It’s not that he’s suspicious, it’s that he’s pretending to be sick and pretending to be dead has cast a shadow on the Kunlun people…

At first, he was only suspicious, but now seeing Zhou Ruojuan's eagerness, he felt that he was the old thief.Even if it wasn't, it would definitely not be unfair to call him an old thief!

Seeing that he ignored her, Zhou Ruojuan set up a stage to sing, and said earnestly: "Mr. Zou only admires Mr. You'an's writing style. If you knew you couldn't get an appointment, you shouldn't announce the good news first. Director Zou valued you and allowed the bookstore to publish it. Textbooks, but you are still too young and too impatient, wouldn’t it be better to print the textbooks first, then make an appointment, and finally talk about the new issue? Do you have to be so early?”

"Calligraphy Education" was initiated by the Shuhui to promote Chinese calligraphy and education.Minister Zou of the Ministry of Education admires calligraphy and pays special attention to it, requiring every school to order it.

Zhou Siyin: "Are you teaching me how to do things?"

Zhou Ruojuan: "..."

Zhou Ruojuan was so angry that her face turned red, "I am your elder, what's wrong with you?"

Zhou Siyin: "If you want to know what's wrong, go buy the 120th, 120th, and 120th issues of "Beijing Daily" last year. They are very detailed."

Zhou Ruojuan: "..."

It was the three issues of the newspaper that Zhou Siyin scolded him repeatedly.

Zhou Siyin said slowly, "And don't worry about it, we've already made an appointment."

Ji Shuangyu's manuscript was in his hand.

Zhou Ruojuan raised his heart, this brat was very neat in his work, like the third sister, he stared at Zhou Siyin's manuscript.

Tsk, it wouldn't really make him find a good candidate.Tan Youan is good at regular script, but there are other masters such as running script and cursive script, or he directly invites literati and celebrities, could it be... he didn't feel the probe.

Zhou Siyin hid the manuscript behind her back.

Zhou Ruojuan walked behind him to look.

Zhou Siyin turned half a circle, and he followed suit.

Zhou Siyin: "..."

"Ahem." Zhou Ruojuan saw that his eyes seemed to be looking at the mentally handicapped, and she was a little embarrassed to turn around again, and straightened up.

He glanced at it so hastily for a few times, vaguely saw that the thickness of the character changed obviously, thought it was a brush character, and focused more on seeing the inscription clearly—the old man of calabash, he went through it in his mind, there was no famous regular script master or any society at all. The celebrity's name is related to this information, so relax and smile again.

"Hahaha, Baoduo, Second Uncle advises you, don't go to the doctor in a hurry. I heard that you prepared [-] ocean words, how much did you spend on this?" Zhou Ruojuan asked.

- Top markets are always different.Mr. Tan Youan has already declined all book contracts, and if he has to start writing, he will follow an extremely high profit.Top calligraphers who have too many manuscripts and don't want to spend more, raise the manuscript fee very high.

Just like some good calligraphers who didn’t originally sell calligraphy, because there are too many people who come to ask for their works, they have to set a fee schedule. The intention is the same, so as to avoid some troubles.

Zhou Siyin: "Fifty."

Zhou Ruojuan laughed out loud. At this price, he can get an appointment with a good work, but it is conceivable that it is impossible to get an appointment with a famous artist who can replace Tan Youan.

The author has something to say:

Ji Shuangyu: Boss, renewal, boast, understand?

Zhou Siyin (picks out money): Still like this?Don't call me boss, call me husband