The Calligraphy World's Shock!

Jiang Xuesong asked, "What signature?"

Chen Xinhan said, "The signature in this book. Please take a look at it for me. I've seen quite a few calligraphy works, but this signature feels rather special to me."

"How is it special?"

Jiang Xuesong put on his reading glasses.

Chen Xinhan gave a light cough. "Elder Jiang, my skills aren't good enough to explain it. But it just feels very pleasing to look at. I can get completely absorbed just staring at a signature."

Jiang Xuesong smiled. "That means your level isn't bad. Ordinary people see a mountain as a mountain and water as water."

"You should have reached the second realm: seeing a mountain as not a mountain, and water as not water."

"Bring it over and let me see."

Chen Xinhan hurriedly opened the book.

"Elder Jiang, it's this signature."

Jiang Xuesong smiled. "It's Lin Yu. Someone showed it to me before. His calligraphy is quite accomplished."

"Eh—"

Jiang Xuesong froze for a moment.

He leaned closer and examined it carefully.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Chen Xinhan said nothing and waited quietly. Five minutes passed before Jiang Xuesong let out a sigh. "Impressive. Lin Yu's calligraphy surpasses mine."

"I originally thought I was a little better than him. Now it seems he has already broken through to a higher realm."

Chen Xinhan asked, "Elder Jiang, the realm you mentioned is—"

Jiang Xuesong took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "My calligraphy is decent. I've gained a little fame these days, but in the long river of history, I'm nothing."

"Lin Yu's calligraphy is enough to stand alongside the Yan-Liu Style."

Chen Xinhan said in shock, "Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan? Elder Jiang, aren't you praising him a little too highly?"

Even in the long river of history, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan were Top Calligraphy Masters. Above them, there was only Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy.

"Not at all."

"Lin Yu truly is at that level. But it's strange. Why haven't I heard of anyone this formidable in the Calligraphy World?"

Jiang Xuesong said doubtfully.

Chen Xinhan said, "Elder Jiang, perhaps he's only good at signatures. His other writing might be rather ordinary."

Jiang Xuesong shook his head. "Little Chen, impossible. Do you think someone can reach such a realm simply by writing more without having attained that level?"

"Without that level of skill, you wouldn't even be able to understand it by looking."

Chen Xinhan smiled awkwardly.

He was one of those people who could not understand it.

Jiang Xuesong said, "Little Chen, I wasn't talking about you. The fact that you can tell it's extraordinary means your level is quite good already."

"Where is Master Lin Yu? I'd like to pay him a visit."

Chen Xinhan hurriedly said, "Elder Jiang, you're already over eighty. How can you travel such a long way? Lin Yu is a Fairy Tale author on our website."

"Huh?"

Jiang Xuesong was stunned.

"Someone at his level writes Fairy Tales for you?"

Chen Xinhan nodded. "His Fairy Tale Creation is exceptionally good. This is a book he published. It sold over a million copies in just a few days."

"Alas!"

Jiang Xuesong sighed.

"Calligraphy doesn't make money. This kind of work does. Not many people in the entire country can understand calligraphy at his level."

Chen Xinhan said respectfully, "Elder Jiang, while calligraphy may not make money, Top Calligraphy Masters hold high status and may even leave behind a lasting legacy."

Jiang Xuesong said, "It's entirely possible for Master Lin Yu to leave behind a lasting legacy."

"Someone half-baked like me should forget about it."

"Little Chen, Master Lin Yu must be in his sixties or seventies, right?"

Chen Xinhan froze.

Lin Chen was in his sixties or seventies?

"Elder Jiang, he isn't."

Jiang Xuesong said in shock, "He's only in his fifties? At that age, reaching such a realm is remarkable."

Chen Xinhan coughed lightly. "Elder Jiang, calm down first. Lin Yu is only in his twenties."

Jiang Xuesong was dumbfounded.

Half a minute later, he shook his head. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. How could someone in his twenties reach such a realm?"

Chen Xinhan said, "Elder Jiang, I've met him. He really is only in his twenties right now."

Jiang Xuesong put his reading glasses back on.

He looked at the signature for a while longer.

"Impossible."

"Could someone else have signed it for him?"

Jiang Xuesong asked, finding it difficult to believe.

Chen Xinhan said, "Probably not? His Fairy Tale Creation is incredibly strong. There's no need for him to fake something like this. If anyone found out, it would be a massive stain on his reputation."

Jiang Xuesong said, "Little Chen, you can contact him, right? Could you ask him to write a piece for me? I'll pay three hundred thousand."

"Should I ask him now?"

Chen Xinhan asked.

Jiang Xuesong nodded. "Yes. Have him write the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection."

Chen Xinhan called Lin Chen. "Lin Yu, are you free right now? I have something to discuss with you."

Lin Chen's voice came through. "I'm free. What is it?"

Chen Xinhan said, "Lin Yu, I know a calligraphy enthusiast. He thinks your signature is excellent and wants to commission a work from you for three hundred thousand."

"Is that alright?"

Lin Chen was surprised. "Three hundred thousand?"

He had originally thought calligraphy could make him a fortune. But after reaching this level and looking into it, he realized he had been a little naive.

Far too few people understood calligraphy these days.

With computers and phones becoming widespread, more and more people's handwriting was getting worse.

Calligraphy works in live stream rooms: 199, framed and delivered to your home with free shipping!

You say your writing is better than theirs?

How would ordinary people even be able to tell?

"Yes, he wants a Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection. Is that alright?"

Chen Xinhan asked.

Lin Chen smiled. Three hundred thousand.

How could he pass up that money?

He used to earn only a few thousand a month. It would take him years to make three hundred thousand!

"No problem. Once I've finished it, I'll send it to you by courier."

"Alright, alright."

After hanging up, Chen Xinhan said, "Elder Jiang, as soon as I receive it, I'll deliver it to you right away."

"Mm."

Jiang Xuesong nodded. "I'll transfer the money to you. Pay him first. When commissioning a work, payment should be made in advance."

Very soon, Jiang Xuesong transferred three hundred thousand to Chen Xinhan.

He lived in a villa worth tens of millions, with tens of millions sitting in the bank. Three hundred thousand was not much to him.

It's not bad if calligraphy can make money while I'm alive.

Lin Chen muttered to himself.

Taking Lin Xiaoqian with him, Lin Chen went to a specialty store for the Four Treasures of the Study and bought everything he needed. The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all the finest available.

The man was paying three hundred thousand for a piece. He could not just fob him off.

Perhaps the man would commission another one someday?

Fairy Tales earned him quite a bit, but the money did not come in quickly enough.

"Daddy, what are you doing?"

When they returned home, Lin Xiaoqian asked curiously.

Lin Chen smiled. "Daddy is going to write. Xiaoqian, you haven't seen Daddy write much before. Daddy will write now, so watch carefully from the side."

"Mm-hmm."

"Daddy, I'll be very good."

Lin Xiaoqian said as she sat on a dining chair.

Lin Chen spread out the paper and recalled the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection in his mind.

His calligraphy had now reached the Grandmaster level. Every style was at the Grandmaster level, and naturally, he knew Wang Xizhi's Running Script.

His understanding of the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection was also extremely profound.

"In the ninth year of Yonghe, the year of Gui Chou, at the beginning of late spring—"

Dipping his brush in ink, Lin Chen began writing with smooth, flowing strokes.

Lin Xiaoqian quietly watched Lin Chen.

Lin Chen was fully focused now, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit gathered into one. His bearing was anything but ordinary.

When signing books, Lin Chen had written casually with an ordinary signature pen and had not fully displayed his skill.

Now that someone had made a sincere commission, he could not be careless.

"Whew!"

After finishing all three hundred-plus characters, Lin Chen let out a breath.

After checking it once, a smile appeared on Lin Chen's face.

Though it was his first time writing it, the system made it feel as though he had written it hundreds or thousands of times. There was not a single flaw in the work.

"Lin Chen!"

Lin Chen signed his name.

"Daddy, you look so cool."

Lin Xiaoqian said with a face full of admiration as she looked at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen lightly scraped her little nose and smiled. "Xiaoqian, you're so young. What do you know about being cool?"

"Hehe, anyway, Daddy is the coolest."

Lin Xiaoqian said with a sweet smile.