klisemfg Chapter 137 Selling Calligraphy and Paintings for Others
Chapter 137 Selling Calligraphy and Paintings for Others
"My son works outside and sends us some money back home."
"Young master, tell him we're both doing well, and that he doesn't need to send us money anymore. We can support ourselves by selling sweet potatoes. Tell him to take good care of himself, that's all."
“Okay!” Ye Lian quickly wrote a letter.
"Old man, here you go!" Ye Li'an sealed the letter and handed it over.
"Thank you, young master. Your handwriting is excellent. How many copper coins will it cost?"
The old man glanced at his son's name and thought it was the best he had ever seen written. He then took out three copper coins from his pocket.
Ye Li'an took one look and said, "No need, I'm not the stall owner."
“You’re not the stall owner, so this money…”
Ye Lian smiled gently and pushed his hand back.
"Grandpa, please keep this money. It's fate that you were able to help write the letter."
The old man was filled with gratitude and still tried to give him the copper coins. "I can't accept this, young master, you are such a kind person!"
Ye Li'an waved his hand, "Really, there's no need. You should all go home now, don't be late."
“My dear, look at this young man, dressed in fine clothes, he seems to be someone who doesn’t lack money. We’ve met a good person.”
After thanking him again, the old man carefully tucked the letter into his pocket and slowly left.
A passing girl saw that Ye Li'an was handsome and mistook him for a stall owner to buy his paintings.
In no time, the stall was surrounded by people, mostly girls.
"Young master, did you draw all of these? They are so well done."
"Yes! The painting is beautiful, and the person is also good-looking. I'll take this one."
"Twelve copper coins isn't expensive, I'll take it."
Xin Chuli came over with the pastries she had just bought. She was curious when she saw Ye Li'an taking the money.
"How did you become a stall owner?"
"I was mistaken for a stall owner."
"Young master, you're not the stall owner!"
"No! The stall owner is a good person. He took an elderly person who had fallen to the clinic. He's a bit strapped for cash. These paintings are nice. If you like calligraphy and paintings, please buy one!"
"Young master, you haven't even met that scholar, so how do you know he's living in poverty?"
The old man selling noodles cooked the noodles and chatted for a few minutes.
"I can tell from the painting."
"Young master, what does this painting depict?" the woman asked Ye Lian, holding up a painting of a thatched cottage.
"The dilapidated thatched cottage is surrounded by lush greenery, and the painter's use of ink and color is perfectly harmonious."
Although old, it possesses a unique tranquility and warmth, and this house carries the softest emotions deep within the artist's heart.
Having seen so many plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, realistic paintings are even more precious.
"Yes! Indeed, it perfectly captures the essence of rural life."
"I'll take it, young master. Will you collect the money on my behalf?"
"Yes, I'm waiting for the painter to return."
Soon all the paintings were taken.
"Are there any more? I really like this style of painting." Some people arrived late and didn't manage to buy any.
"These should also be for sale, right?" Xin Chuli picked up the scroll next to the table and opened it; it was a picture of a market day.
"Since it was brought out with you, it should be!"
"This one is also good. It looks so vibrant. I'll take it."
Ye Lian casually picked up a scroll and opened it. The smoke in the picture was billowing and rising, blurring the view. It was the scene after the forest had been burned.
A vast expanse of scorched earth. The trees, which should have stood tall and straight, now stood charred and twisted, their leaves long since turned to ash, leaving only a few scattered black fragments trembling in the breeze.
"Poetry! There is poetry! Brother Ye, this is Ye You Teng who was burned, the person you are looking for."
Xin Chuli stood beside him and exclaimed excitedly.
Ye Li'an also noticed the poem on the side:
The old vines in the night are deep and graceful.
Years of glory have faded with time.
The raging fire mercilessly consumed the lush vines.
All that remains is a deep sigh, an emotion that cannot be suppressed.
"Sir, do you know the stall owner's name?"
"All I know is that his surname is Liu, and he said he came to take the imperial examination. Today is his first day setting up a stall."
"Where did he go? I'll go find him!" Xin Chuli said.
"Old man, which clinic did Young Master Liu take the person to?"
"I told him about Yong'an Medical Clinic," Ye Li'an told the old man, and then went to Yong'an Medical Clinic with Xin Chuli, but they missed it.
"The old woman sprained her ankle. After the doctor treated her, the scholar carried her home."
"Carry him home! He's such a kind person. Brother Ye, should we go back and wait?"
"That's all."
Ye Li'an went back to the stall; the things the stall owner had brought were still there, but the owner hadn't returned yet.
"Young Master." A servant came running up, panting.
"Young Master, the Master wants you to go back."
"what's up?"
"It seems to be about the old lady. I don't know much about it, but the master wants you to go back immediately."
Ye Li'an frowned; Xin Chuli knew he didn't want to miss out on the scholar.
"Brother Ye, I'll wait here. You go back first!"
"Ah Li, thank you."
"It's nothing, no need to thank me."
"Then I'll go back first, I'll treat you to hot pot next time."
Ye Li'an left with the servant, while Xin Chuli stayed in front of the calligraphy and painting stall to wait for the stall owner to return.
"Miss Xin, what are you doing here?"
"It's you!" The person in front of Xin Chuli was Ye Chengzhu.
"Miss Xin, it's truly fate that we've met again."
"It was just a coincidence." Xin Chuli didn't have a good impression of Xue Ruoxue and her daughter, and she had no interest in talking to this person.
"Miss Xin, are you sitting here writing a letter for someone?"
Ye Chengzhu looked at the writing implements on the table. He never expected that a daughter of an official would be writing a letter here. Every time they met, it always brought him a sense of novelty.
Xin Chuli felt his gaze burning, and thought to herself that he should leave as soon as possible.
"Miss Xin, would you like to write letters with me..."
"Chengzhu, why haven't you gone home yet? Something happened at your shop," an elderly woman said as she passed by.
"Something happened?"
"Yes! We have to pay them over five thousand taels in compensation!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Chengzhu frowned. He had never managed the shop; his mother had always kept it in good order, and nothing had ever gone wrong. Five thousand was no small sum.
"Young Master Ye, you should hurry home and take a look!"
"Then I'll go back first, and we can talk again when we have time."
Regardless of whether the matter was true or false, Ye Chengzhu disliked the gossipy old woman for bringing it up in front of Xin Chuli.
Xin Chuli watched the person leave, then got up and strolled around the neighborhood before returning to the stall.
The old man selling noodles next door is about to close up shop, but he still hasn't gotten this person back.
"What kind of enthusiastic scholar would stay behind to cook for others?"
Xin Chuli had no idea that what she said was actually true.
After taking the old woman to see the doctor, Liu Tiansheng carried her back home. He learned that the old woman's son had joined the army and died in battle a few years ago. Now her daughter-in-law had remarried and she was all alone. Seeing that she had difficulty moving around due to her leg injury, he stayed and cooked her a stew for dinner.
"Young Master Liu, you should go back now! I can manage."
"Don't worry, Mother-in-law. I won't get much money from those things anyway. I was raised by kind people since I was a child. It's fate that we met. A meal will be quick."
"Young man, you are good, you will definitely make a name for yourself and become the top scholar."
"Thank you for your kind words, Mother-in-law."
Time passed by, the sun gradually set, the market closed, and Xin Chuli felt hungry, so she had to leave.