Chapter 83

(Listen, listen, listen (Thank you to the book friends Yan Chou zhi Linghun, Fish and Qianwan, 131230010200386, 120404073106044, and Huomai for their donations.))

Sitting in his study for half a day, Wang Rong finally made up his mind to kill two birds with one stone: to force Lu Li to submit and to take the opportunity to crush Xiao Yuchuan.

Having made his decision, he couldn't even wait a night and immediately called a friend in the calligraphy and painting circle.

Of course, as a successful person with status and position, the reason for blacklisting a promising young calligrapher and painter must be sufficient and must stand on a moral high ground.

This, of course, was no problem for Wang Rong. Without even blinking, he slapped several labels on Lu Li: arrogant, conceited, and so on. These were just appetizers; the last one was truly malicious.

He directly told his friend that he had previously auctioned off Lu Li's consigned artifacts, which were later found to be fakes, and this happened more than once, even damaging the reputation of the Universal Auction Company.

When everything was attributed to personal conflicts, others really couldn't say much.

By the time he finished the call, it was already around ten o'clock at night. Wang Rong walked out of his study to rest but saw his son, reeking of alcohol, staggering upstairs.

He glared at his son, extremely dissatisfied: "All you do is drink and chase women. Can't you do something productive? Look at your cousin, who is only three years older than you, but is already capable of handling things on his own."

Wang Cheng, who didn't seem to fear him at all, burped and laughed: "Who says I'm not doing anything productive? I'm planning to teach that bastard from the Zhao family a lesson. His father is your mortal enemy."

"Stop that nonsense. You think you can teach Zhao Zihan a lesson? Every time, you're the one who gets taught a lesson."

Wang Rong, of course, knew what his son was like. To teach Zhao Zihan a lesson, an elder couldn't stoop to the level of a junior. It was clear that his son had been thoroughly beaten and was planning to get back at him.

"Haha, that's all old news."

Wang Cheng laughed, stepped forward, and put his arm around Wang Rong's shoulder, a fierce look in his eyes: "I met a master a few days ago, and he agreed to help me teach Zhao Zihan a lesson."

"Which of your friends do I not know? How can any of them be a master?" Wang Rong glanced at his son disdainfully and pulled his arm away: "A little roughhousing is fine, but don't go too far. The Zhao family is as strong as ours."

Wang Cheng rolled his eyes impatiently, "I know, I know. I have a sense of proportion." Seeing Wang Rong enter the bedroom, his expression changed, and he said coldly: "This time, I won't go too far. At most, I'll scare him so much he wets his pants and spends a year or two in bed. Haha."

***

The next day, just after finishing breakfast, Lu Li received a call from Fang Gaizhi, inviting him to his home.

From the tone of his voice, it was clear that Fang Gaizhi was very angry, and also somewhat helpless.

After hanging up, Lu Li got ready and went downstairs. Fang Zhen Ting had already arrived in his car.

After a few pleasantries, as soon as Lu Li got in the car, he asked, "Old Fang seems upset. What happened?"

"I'm not sure. Father received a notice from the Calligraphy Association this morning, then flew into a rage and sent me to pick you up," Fang Zhen Ting replied while driving.

"Notice from the Calligraphy Association, and he flew into a rage?"

Lu Li repeated it softly, suddenly understanding. It seemed Wang Rong had already made his move. The speed was impressive, but it was a bit presumptuous.

He didn't rely on calligraphy and painting for money or fame. Even if he was completely blacklisted, what difference would it make? It seemed to have no impact on his life at all.

The Fang family didn't live in a villa but in an apartment building, though its location was extremely advantageous, within the second ring road.

After parking the car, the two quickly reached the door under Fang Zhen Ting's lead.

Before they even entered, they heard Fang Gaizhi roaring: "How can this be? How can this be! To blacklist a promising young man because of personal conflicts is simply unforgivable, it's a crime."

"What's the point of staying in such a Calligraphy Association!"

"Ah, I regret not retiring and returning to my hometown years ago!"

"..."

Lu Li didn't expect Fang Gaizhi to be so angry. When Fang Zhen Ting opened the door, he walked in first and said, "Old Fang, you're such a grown-up, is it really necessary to be so angry?"

"Clatter."

Fang Zhen Ting quickly bent down to pick up the keys, looking embarrassed: "Sorry, sorry."

Although he knew that Lu Li and his father were very close, Lu Li's words sounded like he was scolding a child, and that child was his father. It was a bit awkward. Even more awkward was that Fang Gaizhi seemed to have no objections, his face lighting up with joy as he saw Lu Li and quickly came forward to greet him.

"Lu Li, you're here. Come, sit down." Pulling Lu Li to sit, Fang Gaizhi turned to his son and ordered, "Zhen Ting, go make some tea, use my best Da Hong Pao."

"Okay, okay."

Although he had already guessed, Lu Li still asked, "Old Fang, what made you so angry?"

"Ah."

Fang Gaizhi sighed deeply and said angrily, "I submitted your materials to the Calligraphy Association a while ago, hoping you would join. But this morning, Secretary Li from the Calligraphy Association called me, refusing to accept you as a member. That's not all; the Calligraphy Association has decided that you will not be invited to any future calligraphy and painting exhibitions. You are also banned from any activities related to the calligraphy and painting circle."

"Is that all?" Lu Li asked calmly.

Fang Gaizhi said angrily, "Isn't that enough? What is the Calligraphy Association? As long as one's calligraphy and painting skills are excellent and their character is good, they have the right to join. On what grounds do they refuse you? They even made the decision without notifying me. Do they still respect me as the honorary chairman?"

Lu Li looked at Fang Gaizhi strangely and asked slowly, "Old Fang, are you angry because I was refused, or because they made the decision without consulting you?"

"Of course, it's for you."

Fang Gaizhi blurted out, but seeing Lu Li's half-smiling, half-serious expression, he felt a bit guilty and quickly added, "Of course, it's also because they disrespected me."

Lu Li laughed heartily and, after the laughter subsided, said seriously, "If it's for me, you don't need to be angry. I have no interest in joining the Calligraphy Association. If it's because they disrespected you, what do you plan to do?"

"What to do? I plan to resign and return to my hometown."

Fang Gaizhi looked unhappy, "I used to think they were cultured people, with a bit of the pride of a cultured person. Now it seems I was blind."

"To be precise, there are no more literati in this era. Even you can only be considered half a literatus."

Lu Li looked disdainful, then changed his tone: "Resigning is fine, but are you just going to leave without settling the score?"

Fang Gaizhi fell silent for a moment and finally said helplessly, "I want to settle the score, but an old friend specifically warned me that the Wang family is behind this. The Wang family, even if I were still in power, I couldn't stand up to them."

Mentioning the Wang family, Fang Gaizhi suddenly looked at Lu Li, full of doubt: "Lu Li, I absolutely believe in your character, so I didn't ask you earlier. How did you get into a conflict with the Wang family? According to my old friend, it seems you sold fake artifacts to the Universal Company, damaging its reputation. Is that true?"

"What?"

The smile on Lu Li's face gradually faded, "The Wang family really said that?"

"That old friend shouldn't have any reason to lie to me!" Fang Gaizhi said uncertainly.

"Hey, Wang Rong, Wang Rong, since you like fake artifacts so much, if I don't sell you some, wouldn't I be too unfair to you?"

Being blacklisted by the calligraphy and painting circle was no big deal, but being slandered made Lu Li finally feel some anger.

***

I'm sorry for the late update!

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