world class art fanatic

The chime bells of Yiyin Yashe originally had no name.

It is a set of bronze sacrificial musical instruments made in the Tang Dynasty, a 9-piece set consisting of 27 button bells and 36 Yong bells.

When Feng Yuanqing saw this set of large chime bells at a collector's home, he was shocked by its clear and rich tone, and the bell body was as complete as new after more than 1000 years of dynasties.

So, he gave everything he had, bought it from a collector, and temporarily stored it in Qingling Lake College where he taught, and used it for teaching chime rhythm.

When Shen Ling proposed to study the composition of Han Yuefu together, Feng Yuanqing was the first to respond, and moved the set of chime bells to Yiyin Yashe.

In 1942, Shen Ling was arrested.

Feng Yuanqing received the news that the Japanese army and the puppet army were going to search, immediately dismantled the chime bell, put it in a wooden box, and sent it to the concession overnight with his friends and musical instruments in order to avoid disaster.

But like Chu Shuming and Zheng Wanqing's Mulan Pipa, they were taken away from China by American businessmen.

A complete set of chime bells has been lost overseas and cannot be completed.

Zhong Ying sat by the flower platform downstairs in the teachers' dormitory, watched the students coming and going, and whispered about the past of Chime Bell.

He said: "When Mr. Feng and the others chased after them to the United States, there were only 6 large lower-level Yong bells left in the house of businessman James Vinlon, and most of the remaining 21 middle-level Yong bells and 9 upper-level button bells were lost because..."

Zhong Ying smiled helplessly, "Weilon took it as a gift from China and gave it to a friend."

In the era of wars and precarious times, American businessman James Vinlon left with a large box of belongings, never thinking that the original owner would come to the door.

He wasn't the only one to do it, nor would he be the last.

The cruise ship from China to the United States has a bumpy and long journey, which lasts for half a month to a month.

Velen made friends with many aristocratic merchants on the cruise ship, all thanks to his enthusiasm and generosity.

Today, you can take out a small and exquisite bronze button clock as a meeting gift for the upstart.

Tomorrow, you can choose a crystal clear jade bracelet teacup to show off your rich harvest in China.

The scattered chime bells are more like piles of decorative ornaments.

Makes a great gift for him to please old and new friends.

It wasn't until Feng Yuanqing rushed to the United States and found this friendly "friend" that he suddenly realized: "Oh, I'm so sorry."

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Americans gave Niu Zhongyong Zhong to friends.

Then the friend gave it to the friend of the friend.

Of the 36-piece set of chimes, only six remain.

How difficult it is to find the thirty bronze musical instruments left behind.

Mr. Feng is deeply aware that it is absolutely impossible to rely entirely on the goodwill of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association to find Chime Bells.

Therefore, he sent away Chu Shuming and Zheng Wanqing who took back Mulan Pipa, and decided to stay.

One by one, go find the friends Velen mentioned in person.

Sometimes, when he meets a well-meaning American, he can get back the bronze ware he has been thinking about with a little explanation.

Sometimes I have to hold back my anger and listen to the complaints and accusations of the other party, accusing myself of being robbed or stolen, and I just stole the chime.

More often, he can only encounter indifference.

Li Jinqiu listened quietly.

Every time Zhong Ying told about what happened to the instruments of Yiyin Yashe, it always made his breathing low and his heart slow.

Because what Zhong Ying was talking about was an old man's experience in a foreign country, but what he felt was the discrimination and arrogance suffered by ordinary people in weak China under the cloud of war.

Whether you can take back what belongs to you depends on the mood of others.

"Mr. Feng stayed in the United States for more than ten years and returned to China in 1956. He recovered 7 Yong bells and 6 button bells, plus the original 6 pieces, a total of 19 chime bells."

Of the 36 complete sets of chime bells, only half of them have survived in the past ten years, which is embarrassing.

Zhong Ying remembered everything his master told him clearly, "Mr. Feng decided to name Chime Bell Xisheng before he returned to China."

The big sound is loud, the elephant is invisible.

In Feng Yuanqing's heart, Lao Tzu's praise of the sound of silence is not only his regret for the silence after the chime bell was lost, but also his sincere wish for the chime bell to return.

With a name, the chime is different, and it is a professional musical instrument with a master and a reputation.

In order to ask the American Chinese Mutual Aid Association to continue to help them find it, so that they can compare the chimes, Feng Yuanqing left Xisheng in Washington, and only took his own erhu with him.

Xisheng was Feng Yuanqing's concern, and naturally his apprentice, his apprentice's apprentice Bai Huisheng's concern.

Zhong Ying once studied Erhu with Bai Huisheng.

That gentle teacher would ask Master for news from time to time.

"Your master went to the United States, did you see Uncle He?"

"Master He said that the Mutual Aid Association bought back a few more pieces of porcelain, which seem to be from the Song Dynasty, and asked your master to bring them back."

"Does Xiaoying want to go to America? If you go, you can meet Uncle He."

The Mr. He mentioned by Master and the Uncle He mentioned by Bai Huisheng are the honorary presidents of the American Chinese Mutual Aid Association.

Zhong Ying has never met him, but grew up hearing his name.

Over the past 80 years, Chinese Mutual Aid has continued to search for lost Chinese cultural relics.

The porcelain, paintings, and bronzes they sent back have all entered the Qingling Lake Museum.

They also bought back a lot of pipas carved with flowers, which hung all over the musical instrument room of the Conservatory of Music.

All this is because of that lovely and respectable Mr. He.

He is a Chinese-American and an apprentice Feng Yuanqing accepted in the United States.

Zhong Ying doesn't know how well he plays the erhu, but his respect for his teachers and his concern for his masters and nephews can be clearly seen from the musical instruments and antiques sent back to China.

In his heart, Mr. He is a kind old man with a heart for China, and an elder worthy of his respect throughout his life.

Unfortunately……

Zhong Ying looked at the wreaths and bouquets in the teacher's dormitory, and sighed: "Mr. He will be very sad when he knows that Teacher Bai passed away."

A piece of the past, spanning nearly 80 years, and three generations of people.

Unexpectedly, the fate that started with Xisheng's absence ended when Xisheng reunited.

Li Jinqiu looked at the sad students, thinking of the cries in the simple teacher's dormitory upstairs, wanted to comfort but felt that the words were really weak.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "It's all sad. Mr. He should be happy to find the chime bell that Mr. Qi Feng has been thinking about all his life."

He sighed faintly: "Besides, the chime bells have been found and returned to China. Teacher Bai will be happy if he has a spirit in heaven."

His ideas are simple and straightforward.

After hearing this, Zhong Ying felt that there was some truth, and wanted to refute a few more words.

But he opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment and finally remained silent.

After all, he has never been to the United States, and he has never met Mr. He who is concerned about China.

Any judgment or guesswork seems too disrespectful.

They sat on the flower bed and waited for a while, and finally saw Fan Chengyun who was walking solemnly.

"Little Ying."

He said the arrangement solemnly, "Let's go to the United States."

In Washington, USA, when the plane landed, it was blown head-on by dry and severe winds.

Zhong Ying has heard of the American Chinese Mutual Aid Association countless times since he was a child, but this is the first time he has set foot in this strange country.

It was the first time to drive to the Mutual Aid Association, which has temporarily stored countless cultural relics.

The office of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association is located in an old building with convenient transportation.

The glass door seems to be an apartment, which is waiting to be pushed open by wanderers who are eager to go home.

Fan Chengyun led them in.

The interior is quiet and quiet, and you can see the clean and simple corridor leading to the bright and spacious lobby in front.

"I asked President Xie, the uncle is in the office today, we..."

Fang Lan, who was traveling with her, hesitated to speak, her voice was exhausted from the long journey, and her face was very pale.

This is not only the unhealed grief of losing her husband, but also the fear and pressure of facing the uncle.

After all, what they brought was the news of Bai Huisheng's death.

Mr. He is so concerned about his nephew, he will definitely not be unresponsive.

Fan Chengyun's tone was equally heavy, and he said, "I'll be more tactful, at least take Mr. He's physical condition into consideration. You..."

He hesitated for a moment, and said in relief, "You also need to take care of your health."

Zhong Ying quietly followed behind, not daring to make any suggestions on the words and actions of the elders.

Because Mr. He and Bai Huisheng are affectionate uncles and nephews. The master once said that they are like their own father and son.

Therefore, Fang Lan didn't dare to come alone, let alone say to the majestic and kind old man like a father:

Bai Huisheng passed away.

Zhong Ying imagined that scene for a while, and felt that they were about to face a big battle.

They walked into the lobby with heavy steps, and the secretary at the front desk smiled politely.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"We have an appointment with the honorary president, He Yuansheng."

Fan Chengyun has been here many times, so he naturally knows their procedures, "Please tell Mr. He that we are Fan Chengyun and Fang Lan."

The secretary was professional and quick, and dialed the office phone.

Fan Chengyun looked at the restless Fang Lan, turned around and told Zhong Ying.

"Xiao Ying, you wait for us here. Don't go too far."

This meeting was so solemn, Zhong Ying obediently obeyed.

He stood in the lobby, watching Master and Fang Lan go to the office at the end,

In the office of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, countless photos and certificates of honor are hung.

Zhong Ying couldn't sit and wait in peace. He stood in the lobby, looking up at the commendations in Chinese and English, and also looking up at a group of Chinese Americans who cared about Chinese cultural relics.

Next to the lobby, there is a spacious and open showroom.

Zhong Ying walked in curiously, marked the time and year along the wall, and found the chronicle of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association during the Republic of China.

It was the era when black-and-white photos and color photos were interlaced, displaying everything that the Chinese Mutual Aid Association did at that time.

They were originally an association to help Chinese Americans solve life and work problems, and they have been enthusiastically running on the road of helping compatriots.

Zhong Ying met a president, Sun, who helped solve the problem of the Chinese workers, and was thanked by the Chinese workers.

I also saw a president Xu who organized patriotic Chinese and overseas Chinese to raise donations for the War of Resistance Against Japan and gave a generous speech.

Even though they are on the other side of the ocean, they still pay close attention to the tragic war on the front line all the time, and still do not want their motherland to be bullied by imperialism.

Zhong Ying was filled with emotions, moved his footsteps a little, and saw the friendly group photo of He Cheng, who was the president at the time, with the musicians of the Yiyin Yashe in 1943.

This is the photo that Master told about, and it is also the evidence that Chu Shuming, Zheng Wanqing, and Chu Zhiya left safely with their instruments.

The Xian couple in the photo have recovered their cherished Mulan Pipa.

And next to them stood a young man in his 20s.

That is Mr. Feng Yuanqing, who does as the Romans do.

He was wearing a smart suit and tie, with a big smile and a good look.

What Feng Yuanqing changed was his attire, but Zhong Ying felt that his smile was exactly the same as the black and white photo of Yiyin Yashe.

Inherent elegance, full of confidence to find the chime.

After so many years, Zhong Ying looked at him carefully, and he was deeply moved.

Mr. Feng passed away in 2005 at the age of 88. He was a rare long-lived old man, but he still couldn't see the complete Xi Sheng.

Now, Xisheng is complete, and his disciples and grandchildren have not been able to inherit the will, and personally took Xisheng back to the country.

Zhong Ying sighed, suppressed his melancholy, and forced himself to look away.

But as soon as he moved his gaze, he froze in place, unable to believe his eyes——

He saw the records belonging to Xisheng, row by row, with photos, covering the walls of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, recording every reunion in search of Xisheng's lost chimes!

In 1942, Xisheng was brought to the United States by James Vinlon, and there are only six lower-level Yongzhong bells left.

In 1956, Feng Yuanqing recovered [-] pieces of chime bells and returned to China with his hopeful sound.

In 1965, the Hayes Chamber of Commerce paid for the auction of two Xisheng button clocks sold by Maxell Auction House.

In 1970, collector Richard Weir donated a Xishengyong bell.

In 1977, two Xishengyong bells were dismantled in the apartment at No. 11, 5th Street, New York City.

In 1982, the art gallery donated one Xisheng button bell and three Xishengyong bells.

In 1999, three Xishengyong bells were excavated at McCartson Farm, with slightly damaged edges.

In 2005, He's Chamber of Commerce funded the auction of two Xishengyong bells sold by a New York auction house.

……

Since 1942, Xi Sheng, who accidentally flowed into the United States, seems to carry everyone's expectations every time they reunite.

And for those reunion photos full of expectations, there will always be a familiar name in the comments——

He Yuansheng.

He was the second son of He Cheng, then president of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, Feng Yuanqing's apprentice, and Bai Huisheng's uncle.

In 1942, there was only the solitary voice of Xi in the photo.

In 1956, a 15-year-old boy in his prime, tall and tall, stood on the left side of Feng Yuanqing and took a group photo with 19 pieces of Xi Sheng.

From then on, whenever Xisheng found Niu Zhong or Yong Zhong, He Yuansheng would always appear.

In 1970, he shed his youthfulness, put on a suit, looked gentle, and shook hands with Richard Will, who donated the Yongzhong.

In 1982, his eyes were deep, his face was mature, and he had the unique poise of a middle-aged man. Standing with the huge Xisheng, he unexpectedly had the calmness accumulated in history.

Zhong Ying looked at the long list of records, as if he saw the efforts made by the Chinese Mutual Aid Association in finding Xisheng in the past 80 years.

There is also a young man who is deeply attached to Xisheng, who is getting old gradually, and the years cannot be turned back.

He couldn't help but smile.

Zhong Ying felt that if this record was added with a line: "In 2021, find Xisheng's last Yongzhong, 36 complete sets, and send them back to China."

Perhaps, it is the most beautiful period about Xisheng.

And Mr. He, who changed from "the second son of the president" to "the then president" and then became the "honorary president", at this time, will definitely have a kind photo in his old age, which perfectly records his relationship with Xisheng lifetime.

Suddenly, a faint roar shattered Zhong Ying's imagination.

"You are not welcome here!"

He turned his head in surprise, and before he could carefully search for the source of the sound, he heard the door open.

Immediately afterwards, there was a clearer rebuke.

"Go, let me go!"

Zhong Ji hurriedly left the showroom and looked in the direction of Mr. He's office. He saw Master and Fang Lan nervously confronting a white-haired old man as if they had been kicked out.

The old man was wearing a simple shirt, with a hunched back and a cane, holding on to the door with an angry expression.

Look at them like you're looking at enemies.

"Mr. He, don't be so excited."

Fan Chengyun patiently persuaded him, "Before his death, Huisheng always thought of you, saying that you were not in good health. He didn't want you to be sad about his affairs, so he kept it from you."

Fang Lan was even more anxious, "Master, Huisheng respects you the most, he hopes—"

Her words were interrupted by the piercing sound of the cane hitting the ground, and her face turned even paler.

"You still have the face to call me uncle!"

The white-haired old man with a painful expression had a distorted expression at this moment, holding a cane in his hand, trembling with anger.

"My nephew only has Hui Sheng, you killed him!"