world class art fanatic

In the Qingling Lake Museum, a brightly colored banner reads: "Welcome Home—Exhibition of Cultural Relics Donated by Harrison Bellou of Italy Returning to China".

There are huge publicity display boards everywhere, clearly telling the journey of the 113 cultural relics in this exhibition to return to China.

"Thank you."

Zhong Ying picked up the violin case that had passed the security check, held it in his hand, and Xu Bu walked into the quiet venue.

The breath of historical precipitation raises faint dust in the light.

His eyes glanced at the silk, porcelain, and bronze in the glass showcase, and he walked straight to the main exhibition hall without stopping like other visitors.

In the suddenly bright main hall, a huge glass showcase stands in the middle.

The booth is as high as the ceiling and half a person's height, and a uniquely shaped guqin is placed.

Under the quiet spotlight, it tenses ten strings of silver light and introverted.

The deep and pitch-black ebony, like a tall tree, stands tall and straight.

The body of the piano is covered with fine cracks, snake-like scales covering the wooden surface, and the broken marks on the tail of the piano are shaped like plum blossoms, mixed with the whole body of snake scales, like the scarred wrinkles of an old man, showing its more than 1000 years of age. history.

However, no matter how many cracks there are, it still does not damage its aura of indomitable and arrogant.

Zhong Ying looked up at it quietly.

The light fell on each string, emitting a soft color like moonlight, as if the glow resonated with the air, making a silent echo.

"Look at this thing, it looks so strange."

A couple walked by, and the neatly dressed woman raised her finger, "It actually has ten strings."

"Tang Dynasty, ten-stringed qin." My boyfriend read the introduction next to it. "This qin is more than 1000 years old. It must be different from the current Guqin. It looks strange and normal. Moreover, this kind of wooden antique is full of cracks. It’s just an exhibit in a museum, and you can’t play it anyway.”

"It can be played." A soft female voice interrupted their discussion.

Zhong Ying looked over curiously and found a young woman.

She has a ponytail, a tall figure, wearing museum work clothes and a work card, like an interpreter.

She smiled and raised her hand to signal the ten-stringed qin in front of her, and introduced kindly:

"The cracks on the body of the qin are called broken lines. According to the records of "Dongtian Qinglu", 'Guqin is evidenced by broken lines, and the qin does not last for five hundred years'. Therefore, the more broken lines on the body of the piano, the longer it is. Now many of our guqin masters have Tangqin and Songqin with similar broken patterns in their possession. They often play music with the famous Qin with similar broken patterns. Through the force, the music played is also better."

This man really did his homework.

Zhong Ying listened quietly, like an ordinary visitor, looking at the ten-stringed zither again following her introduction.

After talking about the sound quality of the Duanwenqin, she raised her voice and added:

"Moreover, this ten-stringed violin is not just an exhibit. It is a gift specially given to Guqin master Fan Chengyun by Mr. Harrison Bellew, who donated cultural relics this time."

The couple next to them were very curious.

"Gift? Is it true that Master Fan will come to try the piano today?"

"Why did that Bellu give the ten-stringed violin to Master Fan alone?"

"It's all given to Master Fan, why is it still hanging in the showcase?"

She smiled mildly and said, "It's true. Because Mr. Bellu knows that the value of guqin lies in playing, not in displaying. So when he heard Master Fan Chengyun's Guqin concert in Italy, he immediately So I decided to give this piano to the most suitable person."

"When this exhibition is over, it will be Master Fan's private collection of guqin. If the master has thoroughly studied the ten-stringed qin, he will definitely hold a concert unique to it, playing the legacy of the Tang Dynasty."

The existing guqin is seven strings after all.

Even a guqin master with outstanding skills cannot play the ten-stringed qin casually.

After the couple listened, their expressions were longing and slightly regretful.

They chatted in low voices about Master Fan Chengyun's quiet and elegant qin style, and slowly left the showcase where the ebony guqin was placed.

Only Zhong Ying was left standing there, holding the piano case, looking up at the quiet guqin.

"Hello, do you need an explanation?"

The other party was very enthusiastic and took the initiative to say hello to him.

Zhong Ying turned his head, lifted the piano case on his hand with a smile, and replied politely: "I'm a piano learner, so I understand it."

The young enthusiastic commentator couldn't help laughing, as if he thought his statement was funny.

After all, the ten-stringed qin in this showcase is no ordinary guqin.

Whether it is the famous qin handed down in domestic collections or the excavated cultural relics, all of them are seven-stringed and five-stringed. Like a violin, it has complete strings and is ready to play.

But she still remained friendly, nodded with a smile and said, "Well, I'll wait for someone here. If you have any questions, you can ask me anytime. I'll be happy to answer you."

Zhong Ying is also waiting for someone.

He glanced at the work card and asked casually, "Are you the museum's lecturer?"

"No, I'm a cultural relic restorer! My name is Zhou Juntong."

She proudly picked up the work card, on which her name was clearly written, and the next line was the position of "cultural relic restorer".

"No wonder you know the piano so well." Zhong Ying praised.

Zhou Juntong smiled brightly, "I don't know piano, but I have been in contact with the cultural relics in this exhibition hall for nearly five years, and I am very familiar with them. Although I just joined the Qingling Lake Museum, I can accompany them for a lifetime."

The direction of life has been decided at a young age, Zhong Yingxin admired it, and suddenly realized it.

"So, you used to work at the Harrison Bellew Museum?"

Zhou Juntong's eyes were shining brightly, "Yes, I majored in restoration of cultural relics in Italy, and I have been studying in the Bello Museum."

The restoration of cultural relics in Italy is indeed second to none in the world.

They didn't talk about guqin, but about the restoration knowledge that Italy is good at. Zhou Juntong was also full of enthusiasm.

She said that Italy has inherited the rich cultural heritage of ancient Rome. In the 15th century, the Holy See issued the first national decree to prevent the destruction and loss of artworks.

She said that the protection of cultural relics in Italy is not an unpopular profession that has been shelved, but a great cause involving the participation of the whole people. Many people promote the protection of cultural relics as a kind of morality.

She said: "Mr. Harrison Bellou is a model of Italian cultural relics protectors. Since he established the museum in 1950, he has been committed to the protection of cultural relics. Not only the cultural heritage of Italy and ancient Rome, but also lost in China. Overseas cultural relics are also carefully collected by him, and a systematic Chinese cultural relics protection system has been established through experts from the University of Florence."

Zhong Ying listened carefully, and finally left his attention from the ten-stringed harp.

"You seem to admire Harrison Bellew?"

"I'm very grateful to him."

Zhou Juntong did not deny it, and his expression was extremely admiring, "It can be said that without him, the 113 cultural relics on display today would not be as intact as they were before."

After Zhong Ying listened in silence, his heart was empty, and he only felt irony.

He glanced at the presentation boards all over the museum. Although there was no photo of Harrison Bellew, there were introductions about the Bellew Museum everywhere.

The private museum established in Florence, Italy, has a collection of more than [-] antiques, most of which are Chinese cultural relics.

This time, the 113 pieces of cultural relics donated by Belu involve porcelain, bronzes, picture scrolls, and silk. The age can be traced back from the Qing Dynasty to the Tang and Song Dynasties, and the detailed collection process is marked.

Except for the ten strings of silence.

Zhong Ying sneered, "The cultural relics are as good as they were before, and it is the credit of the cultural relic restorers, not the credit of the looters."

"...What?" Zhou Juntong looked at him in confusion.

Zhong Ying smiled sarcastically and asked, "Since you have worked in the Bellu Museum, do you know where all the Chinese cultural relics in the museum come from?"

Zhou Juntong recalled seriously, and said: "Mr. Bellou bought them from auction houses or other collectors."

"Perhaps these porcelains, bronzes, and picture scrolls, as you said, were bought by him."

Zhong Ying was very sure, "But this ten-string instrument is absolutely impossible."

Zhou Juntong opened his eyes wide and said in surprise, "I don't understand what you mean."

Zhong Ying turned his gaze back to the majestic ten-stringed qin. The mottled pattern of snake scales and plum patterns under the light showed the ancient and heavy history of this qin.

"The last user of this piano was named Shen Ling. He was a famous pianist in the Republic of China. He was good at the seven strings and mastered the five notes. Founded the Yiyin Yashe, specially used the guqin, pipa, erhu, chime bells, and Zhuqin handed down from the Tang Dynasty to study the ensemble music scores of the Han Yuefu. It was not until 1942 that Qingling Lake fell and Mr. Shen was arrested. As a result, they were lost overseas and their traces were hard to find.”

Zhou Juntong did not raise any objections, obviously she also knew about the past of this ten-stringed qin.

But she frowned and reminded: "The loss of the ten-stringed qin overseas is the wrong thing done by the Japanese invaders. What does it have to do with Mr. Bellou? He is a cultural relic protector!"

Zhong Ying could hear her disapproval.

Zhou Juntong is like every student who will protect his respected teacher, constantly reminding him: Bellu has protected this piano and Chinese cultural relics. We should be grateful and remember forever.

Being grateful to the perpetrators and remembering the thieves aroused endless sadness in Zhong Ying's heart.

He couldn't help but want to reveal the true face of the looters, even if it would anger this simple and enthusiastic cultural relic restorer.

He was silent for a moment, and finally said:

"Because, your respected Harrison Bellew took advantage of the danger and, when Mr. Shen was arrested, defrauded the ten-stringed instrument from the Yiyin Yashe and kept it away from its homeland for 79 years."

The painful history, brought up again today, also carries the smoke and anger of war.

Zhong Ying was not surprised to see Zhou Juntong's astonished expression, "Such a person is not a protector of cultural relics."

"You bullshit!"

Sure enough, Zhou Juntong became angry and resolutely defended the reputation of his respected husband.

"The Mr. Bellou I contacted is deeply concerned about Chinese culture and cherishes every Chinese cultural relic in the museum. It is impossible for him to do such a thing. He accidentally discovered the ten-stringed piano in an Italian auction house in 2007. How could it be sold? He took it away from the country?"

"Moreover, my teacher said that if Mr. Bellou hadn't spent a lot of money to invite Guqin restorers and formed an expert restoration team, this ten-stringed violin would not have been restored so quickly and so well."

"It is also because of his relentless rescue that we have the opportunity to know that there is a ten-stringed zither from the Tang Dynasty in Italy!"

"2007..." Zhong Ying didn't look at her, his eyes still fell on the strings of the Guqin Lingling.

"That is to say, Bellou hid the piano in an unknown place and trapped it for 65 years. He didn't take it out until the condition of the piano body became extremely bad, and asked professionals to restore it?"

Zhou Juntong hesitated to speak, and turned to look at the surrounding visitors.

After making sure that no one was paying attention to them, she took a half step closer to Zhong Ying and said in a low voice:

"You don't understand how much Italians attach importance to cultural relics, let alone Mr. Bellou. Even if there is no historical record of this matter, I must let you understand—"

"Mr. Bellu is the bosom friend of Mr. Shen Ling, not the robber in your fantasy at all!"

Zhou Juntong told a story of high mountains and flowing water.

Harrison Bellew came to China at the age of 16 and became friends with Mr. Shen Ling from Yiyin Yashe.

At that time, during the war, Mr. Shen, as a patriotic righteous man, refused to perform for the Japanese military officers, and unfortunately was arrested. Mr. Bellou tried his best, but it was difficult to resist the arbitrariness of the Japanese army.He failed to rescue Mr. Shen, and regrettably left China with his father and returned to Italy.

The mountains are high and the water is far away, and there is no news of Shen Ling who stayed in China. Mr. Bellou, who is far away in Italy, still does not give up asking for news about his best friend.

It was not until 1950 that Bellew finally learned of Shen Ling's early death that he set up a private museum with great grief to commemorate his former best friend throughout his life.

"He cherishes this ten-stringed violin more than anyone else. He has told me, my teacher, and my classmates countless times—"

She said, "He will be proud of getting this piano back in his life, because it is the most cherished thing in Mr. Shen Ling's life."

Zhong Ying heard Zhou Juntong's voice trembling, as if this story touched her emotional soul and strengthened her belief in protecting these cultural relics donated by Belu.

Following Zhou Juntong's words, he could imagine an old and frail Italian gentleman who often stood hunched in front of the ten-stringed qin booth.

The young Beilu met Shen Ling, and the high mountains and flowing waters met his bosom friend.

If everything Zhou Juntong said is written on the official account and news reports, it will definitely be a good story of friendship between China and foreign countries.

Unfortunately, Zhong Ying was unmoved and just looked at her quietly.

Harrison Bellow knew how much Mr. Shen valued the ten-stringed qin, and he knew even more what this qin meant to Mr. Shen.

However, Bello still cruelly took it away, separated it from Mr. Shen, and made up a touching story to tell these international students who went to the Bello Museum with respect——

Let them believe in the friendship of perpetrator and victim!

"A thief carefully kept his stolen goods in a museum for appreciation, and made up a story to deceive himself and others. Finally, he repented before he died and chose to return the property to the original owner."

Compared to Zhou Juntong's agitation, Zhong Ying seemed unusually calm, "I don't think such behavior is worthy of respect."

"You!" Zhou Juntong was exasperated.

She seemed to have something to say, to refute Zhong Ying's wrong impression.

Suddenly, there was the sound of crowds moving outside the main hall door, and a procession entered the museum.

The leading man was in his fifties, full of vigor, wearing a comfortable double-breasted gown, and looked like a master. At first glance, he knew that he was Fan Chengyun, a well-known guqin master.

On his left is Mark Stanford, the property manager of the Belou family, and on his right is the curator of Qingling Lake Museum. It can be seen that Fan Chengyun is valued.

"Master Fan is here." Zhou Juntong was overjoyed, as if he had met a savior.

She glanced at Zhong Ying's piano case, and said, "Even if you don't believe me, you should trust Mr. Beilu's good friend, Mr. Fan Chengyun. I'll ask him to tell you how the piano came back!"

Zhong Ying saw her turn around and walk towards the crowd who had just entered the museum, the soles of her shoes made the sound of angry and anxious footsteps.

Then he said to the leader: "Master Fan, hello, I am Zhou Juntong, a cultural relic restorer at Qingling Lake Museum. I used to work at the Harrison Bellew Museum. I am very happy to meet you."

"The restorer of the Beilu Museum?" Fan Chengyun seemed curious, "Are you returning to China with our cultural relics?"

The friendly question drew joyful laughter from the people around.

The inertia of people going to high places always makes domestic talents choose to work in places with better conditions overseas.

Fan Chengyun's words were not only a question, but also a compliment.

Zhou Juntong smiled shyly.

"Because I studied cultural relics restoration in Italy, I just wanted to make some contributions to the country's cultural relics protection work. It is my honor to be able to return to China with them and be recognized by the curator."

"Besides, when I was in Italy, I especially liked that ten-stringed violin. You and Mr. Bellou are friends, and you should be the person in the world who knows the ten-stringed violin best besides Mr. Bellou. I don't know if I can have a chance today. , let me hear you tell me the story of this piano."

She spoke freely and generously, but Fan Chengyun was noncommittal, with a tolerant expression.

"Teaching the piano?" He frowned and smiled kindly.

The master's eyes fell leisurely in the distance, and he raised his hand to beckon, "Xiao Ying, come quickly."

Zhong Ying regretted his impulsiveness just now, and felt like a student who had been sued.

He picked up the piano case, met Zhou Juntong's surprised gaze, and faced the curiosity of the companions around him, Shi Shiran shouted——

"Master."

Fan Chengyun didn't notice Zhou Juntong's astonished expression, nor did he notice Zhong Ying's unusual silence.

He happily said: "It just so happens that my apprentice knows this piano better than I do, so let him tell the story."