Chapter 102: A Kindred Spirit and a Discerning Patron

The front courtyard of Zhang Xu’s residence was enclosed by an outer wall of rammed earth, but the interior was lined with cyan bricks, smoothed over with plaster. The sprawling courtyard measured a good twenty paces across. Pasting rolls of silk paper onto these walls, and doing so with precision, was a task that required no small amount of physical labor. While the young boy serving Wang Wei could offer some assistance, Tian Mo, who was only adept at vegetable gardening, was completely useless for such delicate work, leaving Du Shiyi to toil away by himself. By the time he had broken into a heavy sweat and, along with Wang Wei and his servant, finally finished covering the three walls with silk, Du Shiyi was left with aching muscles. He finally understood why the Zhang family members would vanish the moment Zhang Xu started drinking.

It was not just to avoid the antics of a drunkard, but also to escape being conscripted into manual labor!

Wang Wei, who had stumbled into this situation out of sheer ignorance, found it equally frustrating and amusing. However, seeing Zhang Xu emerge with a wine jar, stumbling about as he inspected the walls with a look of immense satisfaction—clearly without any intent to go on a drunken rampage—Wang Wei finally let out a sigh of relief. Yet, to his surprise, Du Shiyi seemed to have not suffered enough, as he stepped forward to approach Zhang Xu once more.

"Master Zhang, are you pasting silk on these walls in preparation for some wild cursive calligraphy?"

"Hmm? That is precisely what they are for!" Zhang Xu raised his wine jar, took a hearty gulp, and chuckled. "However, once this silk is pasted on, it will take until tomorrow for it to be ready for writing. If you wish to observe the creation, come back tomorrow! But, since you have brought a pipa, why not play a tune right now to stir my spirits?"

Before Wang Wei could agree or decline, Du Shiyi said with a smile, "Master Zhang’s wild cursive is peerless under heaven. Especially when it comes to expressing joy, anger, distress, poverty, sorrow, happiness, resentment, longing, drunkenness, or weariness—when there is unrest in the heart, it is all poured out into the cursive script; this is something no one else can match. When you observe the world—the mountains, waters, cliffs, and valleys; birds, beasts, insects, and fish; the flowers and fruits of plants; the sun, moon, and stars; wind, rain, water, and fire; thunder and lightning; songs, dances, and battles—all the transformations of heaven, earth, and all things, whether delightful or startling, are captured in the dance of your brush. Truly, Master Zhang’s calligraphy shifts like the work of gods and spirits, beyond the reach of human conjecture!"

Upon hearing this assessment, Wang Wei, standing behind Du Shiyi, chewed over the words carefully and could not help but marvel at how every single sentence struck at the heart of the matter, pinpointing all the exquisite subtleties of Zhang Xu’s wild cursive. Even the drunken Zhang Xu could not help but lower his wine jar, staring at Du Shiyi pensively for a long moment before breaking into a hearty laugh. Once he finished laughing, he bent down and set the wine jar on the ground.

"Good, good! That is excellently said! I originally thought you were merely talented at playing the pipa and writing decent poetry, but now it seems that even at such a young age, your heart is as clear as a mirror and your eyes as sharp as a falcon’s! Very well, tell me plainly: why have you and this Young Master Wang come here today? Based on what you just said about my work shifting like gods and spirits, beyond conjecture, whatever calligraphy you seek, I grant it!"

Seeing that Zhang Xu had suddenly become easy to deal with, Du Shiyi smiled. He gestured for Tian Mo, who was holding their goods, to step forward, and said with sincere earnestness, "To be honest with you, Master Zhang, Young Master Wang and I came today first to admire your reputation for wild cursive, and second, to ask you to test two things. Although my teacher, Master Lu of the Hanging Practice Peak on Mount Song, praised these two items endlessly, when it comes to painting, Master Lu is truly peerless, but when it comes to calligraphy—especially wild cursive—no one in the world can surpass you."

At these words, Zhang Xu’s curiosity was piqued, and even Wang Wei could not help but step forward. When Tian Mo untied the bundle and Du Shiyi personally lifted the box, the two men watched as the lid was opened. Inside lay an inkstone carved with cranes and aged pines, and a rectangular ink stick embossed with famous landscapes. Wang Wei, who had heard Du Shiyi mention this before, immediately realized what it was, while Zhang Xu’s eyes darted between the inkstone and the ink stick. Finally, without a word, he reached out, picked up the ink stick, and weighed it in his hand. Noticing it seemed to have been ground and used before, he carelessly rubbed his finger against the ground edge.

"Master Zhang, be careful!"

Du Shiyi’s warning came a moment too late; the tip of Zhang Xu’s left index finger had already been cut, drawing blood. Zhang Xu, however, paid it no mind, popping his finger into his mouth to suck it, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "Bring these things to my study, quickly!"

The urgency in that one word, "quickly," revealed Zhang Xu’s impatience. Once they were inside the study and the inkstone and ink were placed on a high table, he brushed aside Du Shiyi, who had intended to grind the ink, and rolled up his sleeves. Adding a small amount of warm water to the inkstone, he held the ink in one hand and steadied the stone with the other, grinding with gentle, deliberate motions. As he watched the ink disperse in the pool, his eyes remained fixed on it, never wavering, and he applied even more force than before. After shifting his posture several times, and once the ink pool was two-thirds full, he solemnly selected a brush from the rack and, without looking up, commanded, "Stretch the paper for me!"

Du Shiyi and Wang Wei exchanged a glance and quickly took a sheet of paper from a long desk, unfolding and smoothing it out before Zhang Xu. The master of wild cursive flipped his wrist and set his brush to the paper without a moment's hesitation. Before Du Shiyi could even identify the first few characters, Zhang Xu had already finished a dozen more, each stroke connected to the next, wild and unrestrained. Even with his best efforts, Du Shiyi could barely recognize half of them. In the blink of an eye, the long scroll was filled, but Zhang Xu continued, "Bring more paper!"

Since Zhang Xu was in his element, Du Shiyi did not complain. Wang Wei, staring at the free-spirited calligraphy, had long forgotten the anxiety he felt before entering the Zhang residence. They stretched countless sheets of paper until their wrists were sore, only stopping when Zhang Xu tossed his brush onto the side table, sat down unceremoniously, and then sprawled out flat on his back. After a long while, he let out a long, deep breath toward the ceiling.

"Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!"

From the tone of Zhang Xu’s voice, Du Shiyi knew that the Duan inkstone and the pine soot ink—carefully crafted with deer glue and special secret ingredients—were indeed exceptionally effective. As he felt a surge of excitement, Wang Wei carefully moved the sheets of paper to a long desk to dry, then turned back to Du Shiyi. Nudging him with his elbow, he whispered, "Where did this ink come from? It has a faint, lingering fragrance. It is certainly not those vulgar, cloying perfumes, nor is it musk or borneol; it is elegant yet not ostentatious, subtle as if scentless, yet it truly refreshes the spirit!"

"Master Wang recommended two ink-makers to me. In my hut beneath the Junji Peak of Mount Song, we researched together for several months. After several failures, we finally achieved this successful product," Du Shiyi said with a faint smile. Seeing Wang Wei’s keen interest, he continued at a measured pace, "This ink stick is just one of them. The full set consists of ten, depicting the 'Ten Aspirations of the Thatched Cottage' painted by Master Lu."

Before he could finish, Zhang Xu leaped up as if performing a carp-jump, his eyes wide. "There are others?"

"Yes, two sets were made. One was gifted to Master Lu, and the other I just had brought to Luoyang."

Zhang Xu stared at Du Shiyi for a long time, then suddenly picked up the ink stick from the small table, examining it over and over, especially the sharp, ground edge and the landscape carvings upon it. After a long while, he let out a long sigh, looked up at Du Shiyi, and asked, "Truly fine ink. However, this inkstone is also a marvelous object; otherwise, given the hardness of this ink, ordinary ceramic or pottery stones would likely not withstand it... Let me put it this way: if I were to ask you to part with all ten ink sticks, you would surely refuse, but you could at least let me see them, right? Furthermore, if you let me have this ink stick and this inkstone, I will write as many scrolls for you as you wish!"

Seeing Du Shiyi remain silent, Zhang Xu became a bit anxious. "Will you agree or not? Give me an answer, or I will find out where you live and come knocking every day!"

This was, without a doubt, acting like a scoundrel. However, while Wang Wei smiled, he also wondered if he should follow Zhang Xu’s lead and pester Du Shiyi into letting him have a set for himself. Just as he was rubbing his chin, he heard Du Shiyi laugh and say, "Master Zhang, it is easy enough to see the set of ink; just come back to the Cui residence with me. As for the inkstone, I will be honest with you—Young Master Wang knows this too—it actually comes from Duanxi in Guangdong. The stonemason traveled thousands of miles to the Eastern Capital, hoping to find a connoisseur for his Duan stones, only to find no one interested. If he hadn't met me while he was in despair, he would have sold his work for a pittance and returned home in gloom. I told him that a fine stone needs fine ink to truly shine, and it seems you feel the same way, Master Zhang."

"So that is how it is. 'A steed that can gallop a thousand miles is common, but a connoisseur who recognizes it is not!'" Zhang Xu nodded slightly, then immediately interjected, "Very well, very well, enough talk. I will return to the Cui residence with you to see that set of ink. Just wait for me!"

Watching Zhang Xu rush out of the study in a whirlwind, Wang Wei gave a light cough and said to Du Shiyi with a playful look, "Du Nineteen, your 'luring the guest into the urn' tactic was truly superb; I am absolutely filled with admiration! I won't say any insincere words—you sell me a set of ink and stone at the market price, and I will help you spread your name!"

"Since you, Young Master Wang, want one, why talk of buying? You were the one who recommended the ink-makers to me, so giving you a set is only right!" Du Shiyi said with a smile, raising an eyebrow. "Besides, you worked hard today pasting and stretching paper!"

Wang Wei laughed heartily, not standing on ceremony. They waited only a short while before Zhang Xu returned, his hair and face still damp, wearing a robe in a most disheveled manner, carrying a large leather case in his hands. He thrust the case into Du Shiyi’s hands without a word and grumbled, "This is a pipa that someone from the Western Regions gave me long ago when they came seeking calligraphy, claiming it was made of 'Luosha sandalwood.' I only know how to listen to music, not how to play it. Today, I might as well trade it to you so it doesn't just gather dust in my house!"

"Luosha sandalwood? How could it be Luosha sandalwood!"

This time, it was Wang Wei who snatched the case from Du Shiyi’s hands. After unwrapping it and taking out the pipa, he held it with the care of one possessing a priceless treasure, examining it for a long time, his brow furrowed one moment and muttering to himself the next. Finally, he shoved it back into Du Shiyi’s hands. "Du Nineteen, take good care of this when you get back, otherwise such a treasure will truly be ruined!"

"Who told them to cast pearls before swine by giving it to me? I can only listen, I cannot play for others! You understand music, so take it and use it well!" Zhang Xu shrugged, not caring in the least, and then urged them impatiently, "Well, can we go now? If we don't leave soon, it will be dark!"