Chapter 739 - 337: Rules (Part 3)

Only you, Cao Xuan, said my work is unbearably vulgar, why is that?

Back then, when Elder Cao was not yet old, he replied, do you trust them or me?

King Liu thought for a while, nodded, and said, I trust you.

So Elder Cao answered, with your gift for painting, it’s not impossible for you not to starve, but it depends on luck.

But these paintings are unremarkable; only the inscription on the "Dusk Sea Wind Painting" is a bit immature in brushwork, yet if taken alone, it has spirit, isn’t vulgar, and is unique.

It doesn’t look like it was written by you, right?

Old Ship King heard this, was silent for a few seconds, and suddenly burst into laughter, leaving the guests behind, stood up and walked out of the banquet hall.

A moment later, he returned leading a boy under ten years old, bowed to Elder Cao, and then made the boy kneel and kowtow to Cao Xuan.

This matter is still one that Liu Ziming considers one of the most proud moments of his life.

Over the years, accumulating day by day.

In the high-end artistic circles, they have become accustomed to Elder Cao’s "rules." Those who are not confident rarely dare to submit their own work to Master Cao.

Similarly.

If a work is hung on the walls of Cao Xuan’s home, even if it’s by one of the top thirty great painters on the Hurun Art Rich List, it’s definitely worth showing off on social media.

"Gu Weijing, I bet he doesn’t know this."

Old Yang shook his head.

Cao Xuan’s three not buys, five not accepts, are not a big secret.

But it is only circulated in the upper circles having regular contact with Elder Cao.

After all, whoever wants to send a painting to Cao Xuan must first have the chance to find him.

Gu Weijing and his grandson certainly don’t have the connections to such high-level gossip and secret tales.

"Do you mean I should directly refuse him?"

Old Yang thought to himself that Elder Cao indeed hasn’t regarded Gu Weijing as his close disciple.

Elder Cao’s principles apply to the outsiders he deals with socially.

Disciples like Lin Tao and Tang Ning are family, naturally not included in this rule.

If the disciples’ paintings are poor, they blame the teacher for not teaching well; how could they be pushed away?

Old Yang originally just wanted to see Elder Cao’s attitude, whether or not to accept.

Of course, if Gu Weijing’s work could transcend those twelve words, open up a new world, this problem would not exist.

Even if it were painted by a street beggar, Elder Cao would definitely regard it as a treasure.

If a truly outstanding painter produces an outstanding work, even if their aim is to gain fame through him, Elder Cao would willingly accept it as a proper thing to do.

However, this possibility is almost zero.

Old Yang thought with his heels, and figured even if Gu Weijing managed to avoid "pretentious," "vulgar brushwork" couldn’t be escaped.

Elder Cao lowered his head, pondering without speaking.

Whether Gu Weijing counts as an outsider; facing this question, Elder Cao was unusually uncertain.

The elevator door slid open.

Old Yang read his employer’s hesitation and wisely stayed silent, glanced at his phone, and took the initiative to change the subject.

"Elder Cao, please wait a few minutes, I just asked the administrative office about the matter outside, they replied saying, it should be last week that some photography department students hoped to film using the university as a campus background theme, intending to include you as part of the campus cultural environment in their shots, their application had been denied by the school, it should be an unauthorized act outside."

The HFBK’s painting department only squeezed into various top ten lists in the last ten years; previously, the photography department was the school’s signature strong department, producing many acclaimed directors of art films winning awards at Berlin and Venice Film Festivals.

Students on campus filming movies are quite formal, very decent.

"Please wait here a few minutes. I’ll call the security office to disperse them, or I’ll directly have the driver take the car to the back door."

Old Yang was annoyed by such extraneous affairs, suggesting.

Making Elder Cao participate in student movies and become a tool for free promotion, the idea’s not bad, but have these people paid a portrait fee!

"Why disperse these kids, my old face is unsightly? Too bad they didn’t let me know beforehand; had I known, I should have worn a livelier wig."

Master Cao shook his head, touched the top of his head, and lightly styled his thin and soft hair into a nice shape.

"You indulge these kids too much." Ol Yang helplessly shook his head.

Cao Xuan walked two steps forward and stopped, looking at his assistant: "By the way, use the back door, I’ll walk these steps myself."

"Why?" Old Yang was confused.

"That doesn’t look good."

Master Cao held his head high: "I won’t, in the camera, look like a doddering old man needing support to walk, I’m not that old yet."

"Sure thing, take care then."

Old Yang helplessly stopped, of course not immediately using the back door but stayed put, watching Elder Cao step by step walk into the sunshine outside.

"By the way, that child’s painting."

Elder just stopped when his footsteps were in the dividing line between light and darkness, turned his head.

"Please speak."

"Let him, like before, send the photo first, if it’s bad, don’t blame me for a poor attitude."

"Understood."

Old Yang nodded.

If it’s from an outsider, the painting wouldn’t be accepted.

If from a disciple, the painting should be accepted.

Having Gu Weijing send the painting’s photo over, is both Elder Cao wanting to see if his distressed work is unviewable and a possibility of leniency.

"Youngster, it’s in your hands. Since you dare send a painting to Elder Cao, you must have some skill, otherwise, if you’re brainless, you’re to blame, not others. Good painting is an opportunity; too bad, no one can save you."

Old Yang pondered, took out his phone and began typing.

An hour later.

When Elder Cao finished lunch at home and was having tea, Old Yang already came over with a print still carrying the printer’s warmth, placing it in front of him.

Elder Cao casually put on reading glasses and looked up.