The Art of Teasing - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
In the blink of an eye, it was already August, the hottest season of the year.
The mansion bordered a lake, commanding a view of the rippling emerald waves. The lake breeze blowing in dispelled the intense summer heat, and pushing open a window revealed the lake scenery. Weeping willows along the shore and lotus leaves and blossoms in the lake shimmered with sparkling light—a delightful view.
Old Master Wen suffered in the bitter heat, but neither the summer swelter nor his advanced age of seventy-five could dampen the old gentleman's entrepreneurial spirit.
Calling it entrepreneurial wasn't quite accurate. Old Master Wen's standing in the calligraphy and painting world was quite secure. His act of dispersing his family's wealth to repay his son's debts had even earned him praise for his noble integrity, and the old gentleman carried himself with the graceful poise of one confident that scattered gold would return again.
However, even though the grandfather and granddaughter now lived in a mansion worth tens of millions, and the old gentleman still traveled in luxury cars with bodyguards in tow, this could not obscure the fact that the two of them now had empty pockets, and Wen Zhengyu still seemed somewhat detached from worldly matters. This made the old gentleman deeply uneasy. He felt he could still accomplish something, wanted to make another business venture to save up some money for his granddaughter.
If Old Master Wen had been twenty years younger, Wen Zhengyu would have had no objection at all. But at the old gentleman's age, still wanting to hustle and earn money to support her—this made Wen Zhengyu's heart deeply uncomfortable.
She could continue to paint, but finding a job that could support the two of them was an urgent matter. She at least needed to show Old Master Wen that she had the ability to support herself, so he would no longer need to worry about her future.
Old Master Wen's old friend, Mr. Mu Yao, advised Old Master Wen: The child has grown up. You have to let her learn to walk on her own. At your age, how many more years can you look after her? It would be better to take advantage of the fact that you can still move about to watch over her more and help her find her footing.
Mr. Mu Yao said: "That location—using it to open a tea house would be good, but using it to open an art studio would also be very good. It's near the lake, the scenery is beautiful, the environment is refined and elegant, and it's not too far from the tourist district, so there's a large flow of people, which is suitable for promotion. Xiao Yu is a good-looking child, and quite a few people have their eyes on her. If she has her own career, and with her cousins helping her out, she won't be easily bullied in the future. Tell me, does what I'm saying make sense?"
Wen Zhengyu, sitting beside Mr. Mu Yao brewing tea, had a strong urge to press her hand to her forehead.
Old Master Wen thoughtfully toyed with the walnuts in his hand, lifted his eyelids to glance at Old Master Mu. He said: "If you have a proposal, be clear about it. What can be accomplished by only speaking in half-measures?"
Old Master Mu said: "She has the talent, and she's diligent—she's someone born for this path. You, me, and Lao Qi can guide her, and in a few years she'll rise. So here's what I'm thinking: I'll provide the capital, let Yu'er manage the studio. You and Lao Qi can provide more assistance. We'll split it seventy-thirty. What do you think?"
Old Master Wen thought for a moment and said: "Yu'er will hold shares in the studio, with a separate salary. The paintings she produces will belong to her alone. The studio will have priority consignment rights, but no ownership rights. Trying to buy Yu'er's paintings with shares—that won't fly."
Mu Yao said: "Then it'll have to be eighty-twenty."
Old Master Wen said: "That won't work. Sixty-forty."
Mu Yao said: "You? Why are you driving up the price instead?"
Old Master Wen said: "Never mind how Yu'er's current valuation has risen lately. The fact is, her valuation has risen. Sixty-forty. Take it or leave it?"
Old Master Mu was so incensed his eyes bulged. He said: "You!"
Old Master Wen refused to yield an inch.
Wen Zhengyu silently poured tea for the two old gentlemen, not daring to utter a single extra word.
The two old gentlemen engaged in a round of tai chi jousting, unable to determine a victor. Old Master Mu's parting words: "Allow me to go back and consider it further," brought the matter to a temporary close.
Old Master Wen led Wen Zhengyu in seeing Old Master Mu off. He ambled slowly back to the living room, picked up his tea, and said to Wen Zhengyu: "Old Man Mu has never been one to rise early without profit. You must be careful and remain on guard."
Wen Zhengyu sat down beside Old Master Wen and nodded in acknowledgment. She didn't know if she could manage a studio well, but in her family's current situation, she had no room to retreat. She couldn't live her whole life under the wings of her family. This step, she ultimately had to take. She needed to seize this opportunity to learn to stand on her own. She asked: "Do you think Elder Mu will agree?"
Wen Ru glanced sideways at Wen Zhengyu and said: "With me and Lao Qi backing you from behind, and your martial brothers and sisters giving you another hand, and then having Lili and the others help promote you, this venture of yours won't be difficult to set up, and the risk of net losses is basically low. You think Old Mu truly has his eye on your talent? A little girl barely past twenty, her foundation is still shallow—how much talent can she really possess?" His tone paused, and he added: "Trying to survive on selling paintings alone could starve you to death, wear you to death. And what you studied is meticulous brushwork—painting it is troublesome, draining of energy and spirit, and time-consuming…"
Wen Zhengyu, hearing her grandfather start disparaging her study of meticulous brushwork again, hurriedly cut him off, saying: "Don't go criticizing my gongbi painting just because you yourself took the freehand brushwork path."
Old Master Wen discontentedly tapped his fingers on the table, saying: "We're discussing the matter of opening the studio."
Wen Zhengyu thought to herself: "You're the one who first veered off-topic." She reined in her thoughts and listened attentively to her grandfather's lecture.
Old Master Wen told her that even if you open a studio to sell paintings, once you open the doors and begin trading, it becomes a business. "If you open a studio, your strength lies in your own connoisseurship—the ability to distinguish good from bad. That is your sole strength. Your own paintings come slowly. Relying on selling only your own work will starve you, so you must recruit painters and art artisans, and walk your own path with other young people. We are old. The future is the world of you young people. You young people see things differently than we do. Just like you—you thought meticulous brushwork was too rigid and precise, felt it lacked spirit and vitality, so you added the freehand style into your paintings. Though it's somewhat unconventional, it still counts as innovation. You've found your own path. Or like Xiao Fan—never mind the quality of his painting skill. He knows how to market and promote himself. His paintings are among the best-selling of your generation, and his market value ranks among the top of your cohort. That is also a kind of success."
Wen Zhengyu's vermilion lips parted slightly. She stared at her grandfather in astonishment, not quite grasping what this speech was really trying to convey.
Old Master Wen sighed deeply and spoke with meaningful earnestness: "You have your own style in painting. In doing business, you must also have your own style and path. Only by defining your style, path, and customer base can you sell paintings, earn money, and avoid starving yourself. These principles—understanding one opens the door to understanding a hundred. Go ponder them yourself."
Wen Zhengyu murmured an "mm" and said thoughtfully: "What if Elder Mu thinks my taking forty percent is too high and refuses, or if the collaboration doesn't get…"
Old Master Wen, feeling a pang of exasperation, sighed inwardly and said: "Ask an exorbitant price, then bargain from there. If the price is too high, negotiate further. If negotiations fall through, that's fine too—I've already rented that lakeside building. If he doesn't invest, you can draft a business proposal and find other investors just the same. What he sees value in, others will see value in too. It all depends on who moves first, who seizes the opportunity first. As for those martial brothers and sisters of yours eyeing you—haven't their eyes already turned green with covetousness?"
Wen Zhengyu muttered: "I'm not worth much right now."
Old Master Wen widened his eyes and boomed: "You're not worth much? Your paintings have already sold for a significant price. Then get your uncles, cousins, and siblings to give you a push, and they can build a valuable platform for you. That is money. That is your value. Don't say you don't want to trouble Lili and the others for help. Whether it's family or business, interpersonal relationships are built through reciprocal dealings. Mutual assistance is also a form of dealing. You help me, I help you. Today they help you, another day you help them. That's how things get accomplished. Understand?"
Wen Zhengyu understood all these principles, but with her circumstances having changed, she hadn't quite been able to make this mental pivot yet. She said to Old Master Wen: "Grandfather, let me think it over carefully, sort it out properly."
Wen Zhengyu was completely ignorant of business matters. Regarding the matter of opening the studio, she also lacked any clear direction and even felt a sense of being pushed into something before she was ready. But given her family's current predicament, whether for her grandfather or herself, she could only brace herself and forge ahead. Moreover, her grandfather was well aware of her situation and had already clearly pointed the way for her.
After careful deliberation, she called Wen Li and relayed the matter of Mu Yao approaching her about partnering to open a studio. She said: "Sister Lili, I'm not confident in this. I feel unsure. I wanted to ask you to help me vet this."
Wen Li asked: "In what way do you want me to help vet it?"
Wen Zhengyu said: "When are you free? Shall I come find you?"
Wen Li said: "It's nearly time to get off work right now. If you're in a hurry, come keep me company for dinner, and we can talk while we eat. If it's not urgent, I can come to your place tomorrow."
Wen Zhengyu said: "It doesn't seem… too urgent."
Wen Li said: "Alright then. First, outline a rough idea. Whatever comes to mind, jot it down. Later, I'll help you analyze, organize, and fill in any gaps."
Wen Zhengyu thought for a moment and asked: "Does this need a formal business proposal?"
Wen Li said: "First write a project plan." A soft laugh came over the phone as she finished, asking: "Can you handle it?"
Wen Zhengyu propped her forehead and said: "If I can't handle it, don't I still have you? Anyway, I've made up my mind to drag you onto this pirate ship. Otherwise, I'll be scared."
Wen Li spat out a laugh, scolding: "Such backbone. Alright then. I'll come find you tomorrow morning."
Wen Zhengyu was still somewhat excited and expectant about being able to run her own studio. She was already constructing in her mind's eye the studio's décor style and operational style, as well as where to find painters and art artisans. She was young and lacked seniority. Trying to walk the traditional old-school path certainly wouldn't work. Her grandfather had already thought it through for her: walk the path of the younger generation.
She pondered chaotically at home for a while, jotting down everything she thought of, and even sketching some parts down in quick drawings.
When it was time for dinner, she then asked her grandfather where exactly the small building he had rented for her to open the studio was located.
Upon learning it was right by the lake, not far from her home, during their post-dinner stroll, she had her grandfather take her to conveniently wander over and take a look.
She and Old Master Wen strolled along the lakeside, walking for about forty minutes before reaching the small building.
It was an old-style building of grey brick, just over a hundred meters from the pedestrian street. To its left was a shop selling crafts, and to its right was an antique shop. The building her grandfather had rented was previously a café. There was also a fairly spacious open area in front, and behind the building was the lake. Between the lake and the building was a small scenic terrace, which still bore traces of previously arranged tea seating. Calling it a small building was perhaps an understatement—it was a three-story duplex structure with a total area nearing five hundred square meters.
The moment she saw this place, she understood why her grandfather had wanted to rent it to open a tea house. This location, this spot—it was truly suitable for a tea house. However, using it for an art studio was also quite good; at the very least, the refined elegance requirement was met.
Old Master Wen led Wen Zhengyu on an inspection of the property, his tone quite worried as he said: "Giving this place to you to open a studio—will you be able to earn back the rent?"
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