Chapter 17: Tang Huaimin Meets His Benefactor: Hall

95

In a corner of the park, several groups of street performers had set up booths in the designated street performance area. Some offered lively entertainment, including small bands, energetic street dancing, acrobatics and juggling, magic shows, and stage plays. Others offered quieter performances, such as portrait drawing and solo mime acts.

A crowd had gathered in front of Tang Huaimin’s caricature portrait stall. Spectators pointed at the portraits of public figures displayed on the wall and discussed them among themselves: Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Madonna, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and others. A white couple sat on chairs while Huaimin drew their portraits.

At the side of the crowd stood an elderly man with white hair and a white beard. He leaned on a cane and wore a light blue suit with a small bow tie. He looked rather like the old man in the McDonald’s advertisements. His eyes were bright and alert as he watched Huaimin drawing from the side.

Huaimin finished the couple’s portraits, handed them over, and bowed as he accepted the payment. The old man stepped forward and approached him. In elegant American English with an English accent, he said, “Young man, I’d like you to draw a series of sequential sketches showing my various expressions and movements.”

Faced with such an unusual request, Huaimin thought to himself, “Is this old gentleman deliberately trying to make a fool of me?”

Then he reconsidered. “I don’t even know him. Why would he deliberately make fun of me? If his real intention is simply to tease me for his own amusement, why not do my best to humor him?”

“Certainly, sir. Please have a seat.” Huaimin smiled and asked, “You mean a series of changing expressions and movements?”

The old gentleman sat down and said, “Exactly! I’ll give you one minute to sketch each expression or movement. Once I’ve completed the pose, I’ll get up and leave. I’ll come back at this time tomorrow to collect the work.”

The spectators began to stir. Some thought the old gentleman had deliberately come to cause trouble. A middle-aged man said, “Young man, dont pay any attention to him!” Others were eager to see what would happen and said, “Why not show off your caricature skills and give it a try?”

Huaimin composed himself and said, “All right, sir. We can begin!”

The old gentleman pulled over a table and struck his first pose: his right hand supporting his chin, his eyes gazing into the distance as though lost in thought. Huaimin studied him intently for a few seconds. Once he had captured the old mans expression and bearing, both his hands began moving rapidly at the same time. In less than a minute, he had completed the preliminary sketch. The spectators stared wide-eyed as they watched him draw with both hands simultaneously.

Huaimin smiled and said, “Next!”

The old gentleman clenched both fists and slammed them down on the table, holding them firmly in place. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes glared with apparent anger.

Huaimin changed to a fresh sheet of paper. He studied the old gentleman for a few seconds again, then quickly completed another preliminary sketch.

The process continued. The old man sat or stood, sometimes getting up and pacing with his hands clasped behind his back. His facial expressions successively conveyed indifference, contempt, disgust, suspicion, sympathy, exhaustion, fear, sadness, surprise, happiness, and serenity. Huaimin completed each preliminary sketch in turn, and by then he had fully understood the old gentleman’s purpose.

The old man stood up and adjusted his glasses. “Young man, I’ll see you tomorrow to collect the work! My name is Anderson Hall.” He waved casually and turned away with an air of effortless confidence.

The spectators watched him walk away and began discussing what had just happened.

An elderly woman with gray hair took out a photograph and said, “This is my granddaughter. After my son died, my daughter-in-law took her to France. I miss her very much. Young man, could you draw what she might look like ten years from now and include it in a picture with her as she is today?”

Huaimin took the photograph and replied, “I’ll do my best!”

He replaced the sheet of drawing paper, studied the photograph, imagined what the little girl might look like when she grew up, and began to draw...

96

Toward evening, the car returned to the house. Huaimin got out, opened the trunk, lifted out his easel and a bag of art supplies, and walked through the garden. He noticed that the highland barley and millet in the corner had already sprouted green heads of grain. The sight lifted his spirits considerably.

Annie came to open the door. Huaimin walked through the living room, set the easel and art supplies on the long table in his studio, and then returned to the living room.

“Would you like some coffee, darling?”

“Make me a cup of strong tea, Annie.” Huaimin stretched, looking exhausted. He sank into the armchair and stared blankly at Annie.

Annie came over, crouched beside him, and asked with concern, “Are you tired?”

Huaimin replied casually, “Im all right! I ran into a strange old gentleman today.”

Annie asked, “What was strange about him?”

Huaimin briefly told her what had happened.

Annie commented, “From what youre telling me, that old gentleman named Anderson Hall sounds as if he was deliberately making fun of you!”

“That was what I thought at first, too, because no customer had ever made such an unusual request before.”

“Ill go make you a cup of tea.” Annie stood up and walked into the kitchen.

Huaimin rubbed his temples with both hands. Annie returned carrying a thermos.

“Your Alishan tea!” Annie handed him the thermos and then asked, “What happened after that?”

“After thinking it over, I realized that the old gentleman and I were complete strangers. He had no reason to make fun of me. So I drew thirteen preliminary sketches in all. I discovered that each of his poses and expressions actually had a theme. I got the impression that he was testing my abilities.”

Annie speculated, “That old gentleman may be someone quite important.”

Huaimin smiled. “I hadnt thought that far ahead. At the time, all I could think about was that I couldnt let his challenge defeat me!”

“Get some rest first. Dinner will be ready soon,” Annie said. “Ill get back to work in the kitchen.”

In the kitchen, Annie placed the wrapped hunter’s rice parcels in the steamer and then began frying salmon fillets. Suddenly, stomach acid surged up her throat. She leaned over the sink and retched up several mouthfuls of sour liquid. Instinctively, she wondered whether she might be pregnant. Annie turned off the stove, went to the bedroom to find some antacid tablets, took two, and then returned to the kitchen.

In the dining room, the young couple were eating dinner. Huaimin picked up a stemmed glass and was about to pour red wine for Annie.

“You drink it. Ive been having a lot of acid reflux lately, and I just threw up.”

Huaimin asked with concern, “Are you all right, darling?”

Annie smiled. “I might be pregnant. Ill go to the obstetrician and get checked tomorrow.”

Huaimin was overjoyed. “Really? Ill go with you tomorrow.”

“Theres no need. You go take care of your work. Ill tell you the test results when I get back.”

97

The next morning, Anderson Hall appeared in front of Tang Huaimin’s portrait stall. His kindly face was wreathed in smiles.

“Young man, Im here to collect my work!”

Tang Huaimin, who was drawing a portrait for a customer, stood up and picked up a brown paper bag.

“Sir, heres your sequential caricature series.” Huaimin handed him the paper bag.

“Let me have a look.” Hall sat down on a nearby planter ledge, took out the sketchbook, and examined the drawings one by one, nodding repeatedly.

After looking through the entire caricature portrait series, Anderson walked up to Tang Huaimin and said, “Young man, you have real talent. You can capture every emotion with remarkable precision. Youre exactly the person Ive been looking for.”

Hall immediately took out a checkbook, wrote a check, and handed it to Huaimin along with his business card.

“This modest check is your payment for the caricatures. I am Anderson Hall Ward, CEO of Walt Disney. I welcome you to join the Disney Animation Group.”

Tang Huaimin accepted the check and apologized. “Mr. Hall, I still want to continue my education at the university. Im afraid I cant accept your invitation just yet.”

Faced with Huaimin’s polite refusal, Hall showed no sign of displeasure. Instead, he took the initiative to shake Huaimin’s hand and said, “Its quite commendable that you have plans to continue your education. You could consider coming to my company for an internship during your free time between classes. Ill look forward to hearing from you.”

The spectators who had witnessed the exchange congratulated Tang Huaimin one after another. Some asked to have their pictures taken with Hall Ward and Huaimin. Hall readily agreed to every request and was remarkably approachable. Huaimin found it difficult to refuse as well.

At the same time, Annie arrived at Li Jianhua’s office at the School of Arts, carrying a bound copy of her revised doctoral dissertation proposal.

“Uncle, Ive decided to change the topic of my doctoral dissertation.” Annie handed him the proposal with both hands.

“Let me see.” Li Jianhua took the proposal and glanced at the title.

“The Rhetorical Beauty of the Love Poems of Tsangyang Gyatso, the Monk of Love. This topic gives you more room to develop your research.” Jianhua flipped through the pages and skimmed them quickly. “The overall structure of the dissertation is basically fine. Ill find time over the next couple of days to read it carefully and give you my comments. Then you can formally resubmit this proposal.”

Annie smiled. “Thank you, Uncle!”

Li Jianhua turned to a page containing an illustration and asked curiously, “Did you take this photograph yourself?”

“Yes! I photographed the original with a digital camera at home.”

“Is this manuscript of Tsangyang Gyatso’s love poems authentic?”

“Yes, its authentic. My husbands family is keeping it safe now.”

Li Jianhua said with satisfaction, “My teacher, Drolma, mentioned this manuscript to me before she passed away. She said she deeply regretted leaving China without having the chance to bring it out of her home in Lhasa. Well done, Annie. Youve fulfilled Drolmas final wish.”

“During my recent trip back to China, I spent several months helping my father, Zashi, search for it. We discovered the manuscript by chance. It had been kept all along in my husbands family home in Alishan, Taiwan.”

Li Jianhua asked curiously, “Really? Thats remarkable! Theres something Ive been meaning to ask you. Your husbands appearance seems to show some Tibetan features, too. Is he Tibetan?”

Annie smiled. “Like me, my husband has half Tibetan ancestry.”

“But your husband comes from Taiwan, doesnt he?”

“His grandfather went to Taiwan with the Nationalist government in 1949. He went through the same experience as my grandparents.”

Li Jianhua clicked his tongue in amazement. “Ha! The ancients used to say that marriages are predestined by Heaven. It seems there really is something to that!”

98

Annie walked out of the hospitals obstetrics and gynecology department. The sunlight was warm and gentle. She walked over to the bus stop shelter to wait for a bus.

A young woman with a Chinese face, her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a dress and a short skirt, approached her.

“Hi, Annie! Its me, Xu Junwei!”

Annie immediately recognized her. “Junwei! Its been years since we last saw each other. I havent heard from you since graduation.”

“I went to Shanghai to develop my career! I heard from our classmates that youve continued your studies all the way through and are now working on your doctorate, right?”

“Yes, Im writing my doctoral dissertation. Are you married?”

“Im still dating! My boyfriend is white. His job was transferred back to Disneys headquarters in California, so I came back with him!”

Annie remembered the old gentleman and asked curiously, “Your boyfriend works at Disney headquarters?”

Junwei smiled. “Yes! Hes a senior-level 3D animation engineer.”

Annie asked, “What a coincidence! Have you heard of Hall Ward?”

Junwei asked curiously, “Hall Ward? Hes my boyfriends boss! Why? Do you know him?”

“A few days ago, my husband was drawing portraits in the park when Hall Ward approached him.”

Junwei asked in surprise, “Your husband? When did you get married? Why didnt I hear anything about it beforehand?”

“We registered our marriage just two months ago. We didnt tell any of our classmates.”

“I see! How did Hall Ward get in touch with your husband?”

Annie explained in detail. “My husband had set up a portrait stall in the parks designated street performance area. Hall happened to walk past and asked him to draw a series of sequential caricatures. Then Hall became very interested in my husbands caricature portraits. When he came back the next day to collect them, he personally invited my husband to join the Disney Group.”

Junwei exclaimed in admiration, “Your husband must be something special! For old Hall to take an interest in him is like a comet colliding with the Earth!”

“But my husband wanted to continue his studies at Berkeleys graduate art program, so he didnt accept the offer at the time.”

Junwei cried out in disbelief, “What a fool! He has a chance to join Disney and become a professional animator, and hes still hesitating? My boyfriend had to take the entrance exam three times before he finally got into Disney! Three times!”

“Oh! Ill have a serious discussion with him about it when I get home,” Annie said. “You still remember where I live and my phone number, dont you?”

“Of course! Your place is easy to find.”

Annie smiled. “You should bring your boyfriend over sometime. If necessary, Ill ask the two of you to help persuade my husband!”

Junwei said, “No problem! Lets keep in touch.”

A bus pulled up. Annie waved goodbye to Junwei and boarded it.