Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 684 The Donkey of the Production Team

When the car passed the alley entrance, Zhang Xuansong got out and made a phone call, asking someone to bring the materials over.

Then they went straight to Chaoyang Temple, which had not yet been officially opened.

Upon entering the Taoist temple, Mr. Huo still felt somewhat incredulous, looking left and right with his eyes, muttering to himself, "There really is a newly built Taoist temple?"

Although the Taoist temple doesn't have a plaque yet, the archway outside the gate and the layout of the buildings are unmistakable. The courtyard is also clearly newly built, so what Chen Fan said earlier was entirely true.

But how could there be newly built Taoist temples these days?

It's unreasonable.

Although his muttering was very soft, Chen Fan heard it clearly, so he turned around and smiled, "When this courtyard was built, although everyone knew it was a Taoist temple, it was nominally a three-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house). As long as the plaque wasn't hung up openly and the words weren't carved on the outer archway, no one would say anything."

Mr. Huo nodded in realization, "I see."

Just now in the courtyard, when Chen Fan said he wanted to paint murals for the Taoist temple, he was a little surprised. Could it be that the wind has now blown to the religious community?
Little did they expect that it was a ruse to deceive everyone.

But the next second, he heard Zhang Xuansong say, “Actually, it’s fine to build a Taoist temple directly. Someone said that if we’re going to do united front work, we can’t discriminate. The religious community is also a target of united front work, and we must treat them all equally.”

However, Xiao Fan said that since other temples and monasteries hadn't reopened yet, we shouldn't act too ostentatiously, otherwise we'd become easy targets, so we covered up our actions like that.

Mr. Huo's eyes widened instantly; at that moment, he understood everything.

Why is Chen Fan, who can paint immortal lotus paintings and has the title of Qinglian Daoist, unharmed? Why are the accompanying personnel so at ease, saying that there will be no problems if I go with him? Why is there a newly built Taoist temple here, and why aren't they afraid of people finding out?

That's it!

Yes, that's a very reasonable reason.

Unexpectedly, Chen Fan continued, "Actually, many former leaders know that my master used to be a Taoist priest and always wanted to rebuild the Taoist temple. It's just that the public's attitude hasn't changed yet, so to avoid trouble, it's okay for the temple to be officially opened later."

He thought to himself that since special abilities had already begun to emerge, the Taoist Association could legitimately re-emerge in a year or two at the latest.

As for the burning of incense by the public, it should resume once the newspapers publish related news.

At that time, the completion and consecration of Chaoyang Temple would not only not bring trouble, but would most likely make it an instant success.

Hmm? It seems there's a missing incense burner in the square in front of the main hall. Where can we find an old one? That would give it a sense of historical depth.

When I go back to Taobao, I'll look for it while I'm at it; maybe they can find it in antique shops.

As they walked and chatted inside the Taoist temple, Zhang Xuansong enthusiastically introduced the place to Mr. Huo.

The first courtyard contains the Sanqing Hall, the second courtyard contains the Jade Emperor Hall, the Patriarch Hall, and the Laozi Hall, and the third courtyard contains the Sutra Repository, buildings, and so on.

Zhang Xuansong only stopped when four experienced workers in blue work clothes and aprons arrived with a truckload of raw materials, and then urged Chen Fan to start working.

Chen Fan first greeted the experienced masters politely and chatted briefly.

As expected, they were all palace restoration experts from the Palace Museum, mainly responsible for the restoration of painted decorations in areas such as eaves and corridors. More than a decade ago, they had also done a lot of restoration work on murals in palaces and temples, so they were definitely professionals in their field.

He had confidence in these experienced masters, but they were still skeptical of him.

These ancient building restorers are not in the same circle as the calligraphy and painting circles, and Chen Fan's name has not reached their ears. They only heard about the work unit's arrangement to come and assist someone in painting a mural. When they arrived, they found that he was a young man in his twenties.

Isn't this just ridiculous?!
Even if someone is talented, how good can they be at this age?
They've spent half their lives drawing and are the most patient, and besides, this isn't some kind of historical site or ancient building, so let them do as they please.

Faced with these questioning looks, Chen Fan didn't offer much explanation, but simply asked them to help mix the paint.

Packets of mineral pigments were poured into the paint jars, specifying the dosage and amount of water to be added. Chen Fan didn't need to worry about any of that; he only needed to tell the experienced craftsmen the color he wanted, and they would quickly mix it.

Once the paint was mixed, Chen Fan didn't delay.

He didn't even need to draw the outlines; he just picked up a paintbrush and splashed ink on the wall.

Taoist murals also have intricacies, the most complex being the depictions of celestial deities. The Jade Emperor sits in the center, surrounded by hundreds of various deities, large and small, along with palace maids holding fans, celestial maidens carrying cups, and celestial soldiers and generals wielding spears and halberds…

Even if Chen Fan were quick-witted and fast-handed, and didn't need to make drafts or make revisions, he definitely wouldn't be able to finish a painting of celestial beings in less than three days.

Besides, this Taoist temple is only a temporary measure. After the city is fully opened up in the 90s, we will find another place outside Beijing to build a palace complex similar to Chongyang Palace. Of course, it will not be as big as Chongyang Palace, which is unrealistic, but it will at least occupy several hundred acres, so as to live up to the title of the ancestral temple of the Yushan School of Quanzhen Taoism.

We can make a big fuss about it then.

Now, let's keep it a little simple. I believe our ancestors won't mind.

In less than half an hour, a picture of Lao Tzu appeared on the wall.

Mr. Huo watched from beginning to end, and even after Chen Fan put down his paintbrush, he was still staring intently.

On the pristine white wall, Laozi, with white hair and beard, dressed in a white Taoist robe, held a whisk in his right hand and a jade ruyi scepter in his left, astride a large blue ox. He was accompanied by white clouds and rosy clouds, and clouds rose from beneath the ox's hooves, as if he were about to emerge from the horizon.

After a long silence, he suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed, "What a wonderful painting!"

This shout of approval immediately woke up everyone else in the courtyard.

When they came to their senses, they saw Mr. Huo holding Chen Fan's arm and saying, "The Immortal Lotus Painting opened my eyes, and Loushan Pass was even more breathtaking, but this painting has shocked me even more!"

Chen Fan chuckled and said, "That's because you only saw the paintings in the first two paintings, but not how I painted them. Now that you've seen the whole thing from beginning to end, the feeling will definitely be different."

At this moment, an experienced craftsman who was mixing the paints couldn't help but step forward and ask, "Was the 'Immortal Lotus' painting at Rongbaozhai your work?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan turned around, smiled at him, and said, "Exactly."

He didn't say anything modest. In other words, excessive modesty is hypocrisy. How could the lotus painting, which has been praised by countless people, not deserve praise?

Upon seeing Chen Fan readily admit it, the old master gasped and quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "So it was Mr. Qinglian in person. I apologize for any offense I may have caused earlier."

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that his action seemed a bit inappropriate, so he was about to change his posture to apologize, but Chen Fan stopped him. Chen Fan held his arm, looked at the people next to him, and smiled, "None of you have offended me, so why should I apologize? If you have to apologize just because you have some doubts in your hearts, that would be too harsh."

The experienced craftsmen ultimately didn't apologize again. They were already captivated by Chen Fan's painting skills, and not only did they work even harder, but they also humbly sought his advice whenever he had free time.

Chen Fan was also very open-minded; no matter what they asked, he could offer some pointers.

However, these master craftsmen were more inclined to be "craftsmen." When they restored the murals, they were meticulous in every detail. Therefore, Chen Fan could only teach them how to work on the details. His specialty, "spirit infusion," was not put to use.

This "spiritual empowerment" is not the supernatural bestowal found in fantasy, but rather something akin to "adding the finishing touch" to a painting—how to make the painting more spiritual.

If one can learn even a fraction of it, one can transcend being a mere painter and become a master of the art world.

After finishing the painting of Laozi, Chen Fan painted the paintings of Donghua Dijun, Wang Chongyang Dijun (the founder of Taoism), Qiu Chuji Zhenjun (the founder of Taoism), and Wang Changyue Zhenren (the founder of Taoism).

These are the Five Patriarchs of Quanzhen.

The portrait of Wang Chuyi of the Yushan School is not here, but in the Ancestral Master Hall, where it is enshrined exclusively.

After finishing the Five Patriarchs painting, it was already 1 p.m., and everyone was starving even though they had eaten breakfast.

Without further ado, the nine of us squeezed into one car and were taken to Donglaishun.

Just as the peak tourist season was passing, we were able to find a seat. After a big meal, we returned to the temple to continue our visit.

……

For two consecutive days, with the help of several experienced craftsmen, Chen Fan finally finished painting all the murals needed for the temple.

Apart from the Jade Emperor statue which is attended by celestial maidens and attendants, and the Three Pure Ones who are depicted as a single entity, all the others are painted individually.

After finishing the painting, even with Chen Fan's physical condition, he couldn't help but feel a little tired.

After seeing off the four experienced masters who had assisted him, and giving each of them a piece of calligraphy he had written as a token of his gratitude, Chen Fan returned to the temple.

Zhang Xuansong looked at the painting again from beginning to end and was very satisfied with his apprentice's work. He patted Chen Fan on the shoulder and laughed, "Great job! The painting is finished. Only the statues in the four halls are missing."

Chen Fan turned his head weakly to look at him, "Third Master, even the donkeys in the production team wouldn't dare whip you like this! Four halls, three Sanqing Halls, three Jade Emperor Halls, one Patriarch Hall, and one Laozi Hall, that's eight statues in total. You don't expect me to finish them all at once, do you?!"

Zhang Xuansong smiled sheepishly, "No, of course not. Uh..."

He turned to look at the murals on the main wall of the Jade Emperor Hall, pondered for two seconds, and said, "But we can't drag this out for too long, can we?"

Chen Fan was speechless. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I was originally planning to carve it from wood, but since you're in such a hurry, I'll just use mud."

Zhang Xuansong was shocked. "Aren't they all clay sculptures of gods? Why use wood?"

Chen Fan's lips twitched slightly. Wasn't this Taoist temple your wish? You have no requirements at all?
However, he understood and immediately nodded, "If that's what you mean, then whenever you gather the right soil, I'll make it for you in one day."

As I said before, it's not uncommon for an ordinary person to make a clay sculpture in a few months. Only Chen Fan was so confident that he didn't even need a draft, and his exquisite knife skills allowed him to achieve the desired effect with almost no modifications.

Only he could complete eight sculptures in one day.

However, this is different from murals. Painting one mural in one go is normal, but completing eight clay sculptures in one day would be a supernatural event. Who knows, when the winds of supernatural abilities blow up, some people will come to burn incense but not to worship gods but to worship Chen Fan. That would really be the end of the world.

Mr. Huo had been watching from the sidelines for the past two days. Hearing their conversation, he stepped forward and said with a smile, "Brother Zhang, I would like to do my part for your Taoist temple. How about I donate these clay statues?"

Zhang Xuansong glanced at him, then at Chen Fan, and chuckled awkwardly, "Brother, I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to ask, when you say you're donating, are you planning to buy it from outside?"

Seeing Mr. Huo nod, he asked softly, "How does it compare to Xiao Fan's?"

Before Mr. Huo could speak, Chen Fan's face fell. "Third Master, this is going too far!"

Seeing his apprentice about to lose his temper, Zhang Xuansong couldn't help but smile sheepishly. "Look at you, I didn't rush you or tell you to finish it quickly. Just finish it little by little before the Taoist temple's consecration ceremony, right?"

Chen Fan's face fell, indicating that he didn't want to talk.

Mr. Huo laughed heartily but didn't mention donating the statue again.

Even setting aside the visceral feeling of the void creatures, Chen Fan's paintings possess a spiritual quality, a depth that only a master painter could have. No matter how confident he was, he wouldn't dare say that the clay sculptures he bought could compare to those made by Chen Fan himself, so naturally he couldn't bring himself to say it again.

At this moment, Zhang Xuansong said again, "You child, you're still not happy. Although this Taoist temple is called Chaoyang Temple, the land and the buildings, including this Chaoyang Temple itself, are all yours."

Don't forget, you are the abbot of Chaoyang Temple...

Mr. Huo, who was standing next to him, could no longer hide his surprise and asked with his mouth agape, "Xiao Fan is going to be the abbot?"

Zhang Xuansong turned to look at him. "Ah, didn't I say that?"

Lin Yuanxiang, who had been standing by his side, explained with a smile, "Old Zhang is an old cadre and is not suitable to be the abbot. Besides, he can't even recite the Taoist scriptures. How can he communicate with fellow Taoists?"
Moreover, he only has Xiaofan as his disciple, and this Taoist temple is registered under Xiaofan's name; it will definitely be passed down to him in the future. Therefore, Xiaofan is the most suitable person to be the abbot.

Li Shangde nodded in agreement. “Yes. Xiao Fan can take over for a while, and then he can step down and return to secular life once a suitable candidate is found.”

Mr. Huo stared wide-eyed at Chen Fan.

No wonder he looks so otherworldly; it turns out he really is a Taoist priest by imperial decree!
After much persuasion, Chen Fan finally agreed to make the sculpture as soon as possible.

Hmm, it seems he has no room to resist in front of his three masters.

As Zhang Xuansong left the Taoist temple, he locked the door, muttering to himself, "Don't rush the soil matter. It's freezing cold now, and I don't want you to go and get that stuff. I'll find someone to bring some high-quality soil from the south when spring comes, and then you can come and get it done when you have time."

Chen Fan nodded and was about to speak when a person ran over from not far away, waving and shouting, "Writer Chen, Writer Chen!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, I recognized him as Deputy Director Li of the Municipal Construction Commission.

Deputy Director Li ran up, panting, and said, "The house is vacated. When are you going to take a look?"

(End of this chapter)