The theory that Hua Shikui wrote "Tianjin Quanyechang" while drunk is widely circulated. Sixteen years ago, the author paid a visit to Mr. Song Xujiu, who had witnessed Hua Shikui writing the "Tianjin Quanyechang" plaque in 1928. Mr. Song was 81 years old at the time. His hair was not white, his eyesight was bright, he could write well, and he even applied for a job as an accountant at Jianguo Moving Station. He told me in detail about Hua Shilong's writing of the plaque "Tianjin Quanyechang".
In 1928, Mr. Song was 17 years old and studying at a public Category A commercial school in Tianjin. The principal was Xu Keda (1890-1960), also known as Zhisheng, a famous modern vocational educator and calligrapher in Tianjin. In order to cultivate high-level accounting talents, Principal Xu personally taught calligraphy classes. He had many disciples who loved calligraphy. Mr. Song was Principal Xu's favorite disciple at that time. Xu Keda and Hua Shikui were family friends. How could Hua Shikui be invited to write the plaque for "Tianjin Quanyechang" without the ears of Xu Jiuye (Keda)?
In 1928, the Quanye Shopping Mall, a tall building that stood out from the crowd, was completed on Lizhan Street (now Heping Road) in the bustling downtown of Tianjin. This shopping mall is the crown jewel of Tianjin shopping malls and is located in the French Concession. The French Ministry of Industry and Commerce hopes that the owner Gao Xingqiao will name the mall "French Mall" to add luster to the French Concession. Industrialist Gao Xingqiao had foresight and adopted the name "Quanye Shopping Mall" in compliance with the opinions of Prince Qing Zaizhen, the second largest shareholder of the mall. There is a four-character couplet hanging high in the venue, "I urge my compatriots to be diligent in their work, develop business, and increase the market." The first word of each is "Quanye Shopping Mall." After naming the name, in the first month of spring of the Wuchen year (1928), Gao Xingqiao and Zai Zhenli invited Hua Shikui, a famous modern calligrapher in Tianjin, to write a plaque for "Tianjin Quanyechang". The capital for polishing the pen was 500 silver dollars, and each word was 100 yuan. Yuan. Based on current prices, 250 bags of high-grade flour can be purchased. The smoothness of the pen is unparalleled.
The Hua family belongs to a prominent Jinmen family and lives at the gate of the Hua family in the east gate of the city. Hua Shikui is ranked seventh, and people in Tianjin respectfully call him "Hua Qiye". Hua Shikui once went to Beijing to inscribe the inscription for the Peace Arch at the invitation of Yuan Shikai. He was one of the four major modern calligraphers in Tianjin. Hua Shikui's inscription "Tianjin Quanyechang" was written in the living room of the front door of the Hua family.
Mr. Song Xujiu recalled: "That day, Principal Xu brought more than a dozen of us students who were fond of calligraphy to Mr. Hua Qi's house. There were many relatives and friends of Mr. Hua in the living room, and the footman had already taken care of him. Mo Yan is good. Standing next to Hua Shikui are Gao Xingqiao, Hua Sigu (Hua Shikui's daughter and calligrapher), Principal Xu Keda, etc. Hua Shikui is tall, thin, bearded, and very energetic. When he was picking up the pen, Hua Qiye held his breath with wine in his mouth and wrote the five characters "Tianjin Quanyechang" in one go. "Tianjin Quanyechang" has five characters, each character is three feet long. Zongyan Zhenqing has abundant writing power, strong brushwork, majestic momentum, and meticulous explanation. It is lined with gold and red seals, which adds to the beauty of the painting. After Master Qi finished writing, the people present couldn't help but praise him. " Mr. Song finally said: "In recent years, I have listened to cross talk and watched TV dramas, and they all said that Hua Shikui wrote 'Tianjin Quanyechang' drunk. I dare not think that. Of course."
The famous plaque "Tianjin Quanyechang" has witnessed the vicissitudes of Quanyechang over the past 80 years and is the best witness to history. During the "Cultural Revolution", old workers skillfully protected this plaque from disaster. At present, the plaque "Tianjin Quanyechang" has been named "Famous Plaque of Chinese Past Dynasties" by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and has become an extremely precious historical relic.