I love you, China seal cutting photo contest.

Every evening, in a humble rental house in the suburb of pinghu city, Zhejiang Province, there is a picture of a middle-aged man with the appearance of a migrant worker, lying on a long bench at the door, absorbed in carving stones in his hand by the soft light of the sunset, while his daughter, who is in primary school, is rationally busy by the stove, choosing vegetables and cooking.

In fact, this man obsessed with seal cutting is not only a single father, but also an out-and-out migrant worker.

In today's era when "cross-border" is so prevalent, this simple 54-year-old middle-aged man is still persistently pursuing his unchanging artistic dream: he is a skilled steel worker on the construction site, but on weekdays, he is a devout "pilgrim" in seal cutting, although he has long been widely recognized as a seal cutter in the industry.

Huang Jiuxi —— An "Alternative" Worker on the Construction Site

1966 In February, a boy was born in an ordinary rural family in Wuhe County, Bengbu City, Anhui Province. His parents named him Huang Jiuxi. From an early age, Huang Jiuxi was a taciturn child with an introverted personality.

After school, Huang Jiuxi found that he was most interested in writing and drawing. Huang Jiuxi was happier when the school opened a calligraphy class, because he enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and feeling when writing.

Because of the embarrassment at home, Huang Jiuxi dropped out of junior high school and went home. Huang Jiuxi, who stays at home, helps his parents with farm work during the day. In the evening, when he is free, he will practice hard pen calligraphy in front of an old copybook.

It can be said that quiet writing time is Huang Jiuxi's exclusive "spiritual grazing" time, which can not only forget the exhaustion of the body, but also let the heart find a full sense of belonging.

1993, Huang Jiuxi, who had just celebrated his 27th birthday, went to work in the city with his companions in his hometown. They came to pinghu city, Zhejiang Province. After becoming a steel worker on a construction site, Huang Jiuxi still didn't give up his beloved calligraphy.

After a long time, Huang Jiuxi's fine print is getting better and better. Every time I go back to my hometown for the New Year, there are always neighbors from my hometown who come to Huang Jiuxi to ask for couplets.

Huang Jiuxi thinks that couplets must be written with a brush, so he began to practice calligraphy in all his spare time.

Because of the limited conditions, Huang Jiuxi collects waste newspapers everywhere for practice paper. Even so, Huang Jiuxi doesn't want to waste a newspaper at will. He will reuse a newspaper three times until there is no place to write on it.

The running script was gradually written, and Huang Jiuxi, who was eager to learn and make progress, began to practice cursive again. During his years of practicing calligraphy, he experienced marriage and gave birth to a daughter, but because of his love for calligraphy, he and his wife became estranged. Huang Jiuxi and his wife don't have the same interests. Therefore, they finally divorced and their young daughter was raised by Huang Jiuxi.

In order to take good care of her daughter, Huang Jiuxi didn't leave her with her parents living in the countryside. No matter how hard and tired she is, she also takes her daughter with her to raise her education.

My daughter studies in a primary school in the city. Every morning, Huang Jiuxi sent her to school early, and then rushed to the construction site to start a day's work.

After school in the evening, Huang Jiuxi's daughter will finish her homework in the school security room, and then read a book while waiting for her father to pick her up. Father and daughter are very satisfied with each other.

By chance, Huang Jiuxi came into contact with Yin Shi's seal cutting, and he immediately became interested in seal cutting and loved calligraphy.

In fact, calligraphy art and seal cutting are interlinked. Huang Jiuxi went to the bookstore and bought some books on seal cutting techniques. He bought a set of seal cutting tools and a batch of Qingtian stones according to the contents of the book, and embarked on the road of seal cutting without the knowledge of a teacher.

At first, Huang Jiuxi pondered while reading a book. He first learned to write on square-inch bluestone, and then carved Qingtian stone in his hand against the patterns in the book. When he was a beginner, he was difficult to chisel and very clumsy.

But Huang Jiuxi's sincere love is enough to overcome all difficulties. He has a good understanding and will be able to carve easily soon.

During the day, when the construction site is resting, other workers either sleep or play cards. Only Huang Jiu wandered outside the group, quietly retreated to a quiet corner, took out a meat cleaver and a piece of bluestone, and carved and painted silently.

The workmates came to play cards with Huang Jiuxi, who always refused with a smile and a wave. Day after day, the workers were puzzled by Huang Jiuxi's "possessed behavior". Huang Jiuxi always explained frankly to the workers: This is nothing unusual, because I prefer it.

Insisting on one's hobby to please oneself is a great blessing in life.

People are often willing to make efforts, money and time for their hobbies, and so is Huang Jiuxi.

Huang Jiuxi earns about 50,000 yuan a year, but the tools, inkpad and stones needed for seal cutting are not cheap. For his heart, Huang Jiuxi spends nearly 20,000 yuan on seal cutting every year, even exceeding the annual living expenses of Huang Jiuxi and his daughter.

Huang Jiuxi was deeply intoxicated by the charm of seal cutting. For this hobby that makes him happy, Huang Jiuxi would rather scrimp and save than stick to it.

After work, Huang Jiuxi took her daughter home from school, then took care of the family and prepared dinner. After dinner, Huang Jiuxi started seal cutting on the bench, and her daughter sat next to her to do her homework.

The clever and sensible daughter never bothers Huang Jiuxi in the knife carving, and often surrounds her father to see how his father can carve a beautiful mark at once.

Influenced by Huang Jiuxi, his daughter not only has excellent academic performance, but also writes good handwriting, which is often praised by teachers.

Despite his simple life and humble residence, Huang Jiuxi never regretted falling in love with seal cutting. In Huang Jiuxi's view, it is also a great blessing for people to stick to their legitimate hobbies and nourish their spirit and soul.

As a construction worker, Huang Jiuxi deals with cement, steel bars and sand all day, often covered in dust and sweat, but he is determined to live up to his life with a passion and successfully has the new skill of "seal cutting".

Guided by a famous teacher, I entered a professional university and started a new life course.

In 2005, Huang Jiuxi ushered in a new opportunity in life. By chance, Huang Jiuxi met Zhang Hong, a famous calligrapher and seal engraver in Pinghu. Huang Jiuxi sincerely worshipped Zhang Hong as his teacher. From then on, his seal cutting technology began to move from amateur to professional.

Zhang Hong highly affirmed Huang Jiuxi's enlightenment and his efforts, and thought that he was the most serious and diligent among all the students.

Huang Jiuxi discussed with Mr. Zhang Hong as soon as he was free, and humbly asked for advice. Mr Zhang Hong always gives advice and careful instruction. Teacher Zhang Hong once said that Huang Jiuxi shines with a dedicated craftsman spirit, which is very rare.

Huang Jiuxi is best at Chinese printing. Although the seal is made of the most common Qingtian stone or Shoushan stone, it has mature skills and meticulous carving.

In 200 1 year, Huang Jiuxi participated in the "Guo Xin Cup" national calligraphy and seal cutting competition, and his works were selected in one fell swoop.

Later, under the guidance of Master Zhang Hong, Huang Jiuxi's seal cutting technique became more and more exquisite. In 20 12, his seal cutting work The Battle of Zhangshu Temple was included in the book The Red Seal of Cixi published by Zhejiang People's Publishing House. On 20 15, Huang Jiuxi received the admission notice from China People's Congress Painting Academy.

Huang Jiuxi, who entered the China National People's Congress Painting Academy to study seal cutting, still maintains the true nature of modesty and eagerness to learn. After two years of study and accumulation, he has successfully transformed from a migrant worker to a famous professional seal engraver. His seal cutting works are not only recognized by the industry, but also shine in many seal cutting competitions held all over the country.

Once upon a time, driven by his pure and persistent love, Huang Jiuxi began to teach himself from enlightenment and eventually became a professional seal engraver, and completely embarked on the road of successful life.

But in fact, Huang Jiuxi, who is diligent and practical, got a more precious and rare gift than success-inner joy and spiritual abundance.