Mao Kangshan wasn’t asking Ning Yanfan to critique Xia Xiaolan’s design!
He purely wanted to show off his disciple.
As the saying goes about returning home to flaunt one’s success, Mao Kangshan was straightforward. Showing off to others wasn’t interesting – he wanted his old rival to acknowledge his success.
Ning Yanfan saw through Mao Kangshan’s intentions and flatly refused: “If you can’t find any flaws, neither can I. When Xiao Xia’s work is published, there will naturally be a chance to see it in full. I can wait.”
Hmph, as if there was any risk of missing it!
With Ning Yanfan not taking the bait, Mao Kangshan felt unsatisfied.
Since no one could find fault and the clients were satisfied, Xia Xiaolan decisively finalized the design.
The reporters from “Domus” and “A+U” magazines who had been waiting in China for so long finally had something to report, and quickly organized their materials for publication.
Getting featured in two top journals at once, Xia Xiaolan was quite impressive, showing the momentum of a latecomer surpassing her seniors.
In fact, over the past two years, those disciples whom Mao Kangshan had previously distanced himself from had gradually returned, like Zhou Maotong and Kong Yongquan, who frequently worked with Xia Xiaolan.
Between fighting lawsuits in America, having foreign journalists covering her museum design, and numerous architects in Shangdu coming to observe her work, while she might not have conquered the international architectural circle yet, she had certainly become famous throughout China’s architectural community!
Her starting point was too high, too enviable.
Undeniably, Mao Kangshan’s earlier disciples felt a reflected glory.
Xia Xiaolan’s name was constantly mentioned, and any discussion of her inevitably involved Mao Kangshan. Previously, people used to say “North Ning, South Mao,” but recently there was a subtle trend to reverse the order, putting ‘South Mao’ before ‘North Ning’ – society was just that realistic. Both elderly gentlemen had aged and weren’t as productive as in their youth, nor could they work as intensively anymore. At this point, comparing their achievements and status meant looking at the students they had trained.
Both Mao Kangshan and Ning Yanfan had taught many students.
Some of those students might no longer be in architectural design, having become management like Zhou Maotong, or officials of some sort, holding positions higher than Xia Xiaolan.
Firstly, they were all much older than Xia Xiaolan, so competing with her would be bullying a junior.
Secondly, they truly weren’t as famous as Xia Xiaolan.
Regardless of how Xia Xiaolan’s fame came about, she was famous!
Her reputation was spreading internationally – anyone who disagreed could try to compete.
So recently, many people tried to build connections with Xia Xiaolan, saying she had brought honor to Teacher Mao. Her fame in China’s architectural circle couldn’t be hidden from those in the field.
In mid-June, the museum design was first published in “Domus.”
Xia Xiaolan received the sample copy and personally ordered 100 more, sending them all to Mao Kangshan for him to show off as he pleased.
Mao Kangshan didn’t disappoint Xia Xiaolan’s expectations, making thorough arrangements with the “Domus” issue featuring her work.
He had ten copies sent to Ning Yanfan at once!
After sending the magazines, he even called Ning Yanfan, saying, “Don’t worry about not having enough, if you need more, just ask. I have plenty here.”
Ning Yanfan wasn’t angry, but his disciple Xu Yuejin, who managed his studio, was furious.
“Teacher, Old Mao is bullying us—”
Ning Yanfan laughed, “You feel it’s unfair for me, is it because you’ve heard the recent talk, about how ‘North Ning, South Mao’ has become ‘South Mao, North Ning’?”
Xu Yuejin nodded.
“Those people are too superficial. This is just the beginning! Xia Xiaolan happened to be at the right place at the right time. Her success is unique. If Sister Ning had her conditions, she would do even better!”
Xia Xiaolan’s path had been paved with money.
Without financial support, how could she have had so many opportunities to practice?
People only saw Xia Xiaolan’s talent but ignored her economic strength.
Xu Yuejin felt aggrieved for his junior sister Ning Xue.
While pure-hearted Ning Xue wasn’t getting recognition, Xia Xiaolan was gaining fame, and even Mao Kangshan—
Ning Yanfan opened the magazine to the pages featuring Xia Xiaolan’s work.
“Yuejin, look carefully. Can you honestly say she’s inferior to Xue? You’ve all lost your objectivity, caring about temporary gains and losses while refusing to acknowledge facts. Old Mao deserves to be proud. He had become discouraged and was just getting by when he took on this final disciple, and now his disciple brings him glory – he deserves this!”
Ning Yanfan was truly a bit envious.
In China, they still called Xia Xiaolan Mao Kangshan’s disciple.
Internationally, it would soon be reversed, with Mao Kangshan being known as Xia Xiaolan’s teacher.
Don’t underestimate this change in order – it carries deep significance.
Xu Yuejin lowered his head. Ning Yanfan liked this disciple very much, even though Xu Yuejin wasn’t particularly gifted.
“The fact is, Xia Xiaolan has surpassed Ning Xue. You think she took shortcuts, but haven’t you considered that even without dedicating herself fully to architecture, she’s already achieved this level? Isn’t that another manifestation of her talent? Speaking of fairness, there’s no such thing in this world. Xia Xiaolan only started architecture at eighteen or nineteen, while Ning Xue has been under my guidance since childhood. Until Ning Xue shows better results than Xia Xiaolan, others aren’t wrong to favor Old Mao – after all, Old Mao only taught Xia Xiaolan for two or three years before she reached such heights. You can’t stand people saying ‘South Mao’ before ‘North Ning,’ but haven’t Old Mao’s disciples endured many years of ‘North Ning, South Mao’?”
Xu Yuejin obediently accepted the lecture.
He had to admit, the design in the magazine was truly a masterpiece.
Sigh, it was their fault as disciples for not being outstanding enough; he shouldn’t have directed his anger at a young woman.
Xu Yuejin had interacted with Xia Xiaolan before; she was clever and generous. He actually couldn’t bring himself to dislike her.
He was just worried about Junior Sister Ning Xue.
Ning Xue had been expected to achieve great things since childhood. Now, seeing her peer Xia Xiaolan in the spotlight, could she maintain a good mindset?
Ning Xue’s thoughts were unknown.
But her mother, Zhen Wenxiu, couldn’t stand it.
Hearing that Xia Xiaolan was being featured in top journals first, Zhen Wenxiu was furious and lashed out at her husband Ning Haodong:
“What right does that Xia girl have? Our Xue has put in so much effort since childhood, and now some country girl has stolen all the glory!”
Ning Haodong responded impatiently: “What’s the point of saying all this? Heroes are made by their times. If you want Xue to have her glory, then Xue must first bear everything that comes with it – to wear the crown, one must first bear its weight… Could you have helped if Xue had faced what Xia Xiaolan faced before?”
Zhen Wenxiu was speechless.
Could she have helped?
If her daughter had been framed by that Mond person, could she have won the lawsuit?
Zhen Wenxiu’s face burned as she remembered telling Xia Xiaolan to stay away from her daughter Ning Xue, saying that even friendships should be between social equals.