"The shopkeeper."
She tied her motorcycle to the door of the bookstore and trotted in. The shopkeeper was looking down at his abacus. He looked up when he heard the boy's clear voice, glanced around inconspicuously, and then looked down again, tapping his abacus. He asked calmly, "What book would you like to buy?"
Chen Tang raised his hand and pointed at the sign outside the door that was collecting drawings.
Above is a notice that says drawings are being bought at high prices.
"Shopkeeper, would you like to receive manuscripts? How much is it?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the shopkeeper's fingers, which were working on the abacus smoothly, paused. The "pa pa" sound of the beads colliding with each other stopped abruptly, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
He raised his head, paused to check her face, and then smiled meaningfully, "Sir, do you want to sell me a painting?"
Chen Tang nodded: "Yes, yes, I want to give it a try."
Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper shook his head and said, "Sir, I'm afraid you can't give me the painting we want. It's not suitable. Why don't you go to another shop and have a look?"
"I paint, and you buy. Is there anything inappropriate about this?"
The shopkeeper laughed in silence, and thought that Chen Tang was too young to understand, so he changed his words to a more tactful one: "For this kind of work, small shops usually look for older, married painters. The painting skills are not required to be high, as long as they are pleasing to the eye. Age and experience are the most important."
Chen Tang didn't understand what was going on at first, and when he heard the reminder that "age and experience are the most important", his expression turned strange.
She twitched her brows and hinted back, "Oh, so that's what you mean. Ahem, I understand what you mean, but sometimes age and experience are not that important. I think knowledge and experience are more important."
The shopkeeper choked: "Do you understand?"
Chen Tang asked back, "Why don't I understand?"
After all, he was the "dandy boy" in Qi Shan's words, "riding a horse on the stage, leaning on red and green, being romantic and unrestrained, playing with the world". If he didn't understand, wouldn't it be a disgrace to the character Qi Yuanliang added? Chen Tang felt that he should have eaten the job of Mixitu before.
As everyone knows, before she traveled through time, she was an ordinary painter and a stay-at-home girl in Hukou who supported her family with her skills.
In her meager memories, her business scope should be quite broad—from cheap private portraits to more expensive commercial portraits, drawing emoticons, and making fan art. No matter whether it is to increase knowledge or to learn new things, she has dabbled in it.
In terms of painting skills, he can't compare with those great masters who make people want to kneel down to him, but it shouldn't be difficult for him to make a living.
She has a mysterious confidence in her professional skills.
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment. Could it be that he had made a mistake
When I thought about how I had posted this notice for a few days but no one had come to recommend me, and the client was pressing me, it was rare for someone to come, so I might as well let him have a try. After all, I would submit the draft first and then get paid, so if the painting was not good or people were not satisfied, I would not lose anything.
The shopkeeper pondered for a few breaths and decided to let Chen Tang give it a try.
There are some ugly things to say in advance, such as the payment method and the content requirements of the painting. This time the client wanted a secret play painting with specific requirements. The client is the top prostitute in Yuehua Tower, and the requirement is to paint a set of secret play portraits with him as the protagonist.
Shen Tang didn't pay attention to other contents for the time being.
She only heard the three words "Yuehua Tower" - what a coincidence, Yuehua Tower is where Mr. Chu works.
"Yuehua Tower has these three words?"
He used his finger as a pen, dipped it in a little tea and wrote the three words "Yuehua Tower" on the eucalyptus wood. The characters were written in a vigorous and heroic manner, but they were wild but not chaotic. The overall look was smooth and pleasing to the eye.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up and he immediately became more expectant.
With such good handwriting, his painting skills must be quite good too.
"Yes, yes, it is this Yuehua Tower."
There is only one Yuehua Tower in the whole Xiaocheng.
Chen Tang asked again: "The portrait of a secret play is no problem, and other requests are also acceptable, but - I have never seen that prostitute."
The shopkeeper waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about that."
Generally speaking, the owner of the portrait will meet with the painter. If the owner is not very famous, he or she will humble himself or herself and dress up carefully to serve as a model for the painter, just to make the painting look good.
You have to know that not every prostitute or brothel owner can get a commission from an artist to paint secret scenes. It is usually a treatment only given to the top or quasi-top prostitutes in brothels, and it is also for the purpose of spreading their fame.
First, to consolidate popularity, and second, to attract potential patrons.
If the secret play paintings are well made and sell well, I can earn some living from them as I grow older and lose my beauty.
In summary -
It's a bit like a personal portrait.
Learning new things is not the point; the point is to highlight the beauty of the characters.
Chen Tang learned something new: "Then I'll come back later?"
The shopkeeper said, "Why later? It's just right to go now."
Chen Tang was surprised and turned to look at the scorching sun outside.
"Now? Daytime?"
Even though she didn't remember much, she knew that daytime was not suitable.
The shopkeeper laughed and said, "That waiter is a famous person. If you go there at night, he won't have time to entertain you, let alone paint. That kind of place is really messy and not suitable for you to go there at night. Now is the most suitable time."
Chen Tang had no doubts about this.
only-
"The shopkeeper is familiar with Yuehua Tower?"
The shopkeeper answered casually, "Not really. After all, there are so many brothels in Xiaocheng, and I have worked with all of them before. It's just that Yuehualou is famous and has good business, so I have more contacts with them."
Chen Tang looked thoughtful and asked, "If... I want to buy a servant in Yuehua Tower, how much would it cost?"
Seeing that she was asking seriously, the shopkeeper imagined a scene of "younger brother and sister trapped in the mud, poor painter stepped forward to buy their redemption". After all, apart from this reason, normal people would not spend money to buy menial work in such a place.
"Well, it generally depends on whether the servant is male or female, old or young. Different conditions mean different prices." The shopkeeper was very happy to have hired a painter who could be used, and he didn't mind Chen Tang asking questions. "But those prostitutes all know that except for their white skin, they are all black. They ask for a very fierce price and won't let go until they see the meat. Even for a servant, they will ask for three to five times the normal price."
Chen Tang murmured, "That's right. If you want to get out of this place where people are eaten without leaving any bones, you will really have to work hard."
She has a bold idea.
If Mr. Chu is willing, she wants to buy him.
Who knows when this "guiding NPC" Qi Yuanliang will pass away. Wouldn't it be possible for him to take over Qi Shan's job by buying out Mr. Chu
She didn't know Mr. Chu's address, but she would definitely meet him at his workplace. Even if you can escape the monk, you cannot escape the temple.
Chen Tang thought that the "many" in the bookstore owner's words "there are so many brothels and theaters in Xiaocheng" was a function word, which meant exaggeration, but he never expected that it was the truth. In the central area of Xiaocheng, there are five long streets on both sides of the street with such business portals.
But now it is daytime and the streets are deserted.
She was shocked and said, "So many?"
The shopkeeper looked as if he was used to it.
"The county government encourages construction, so how can there not be more?"
"The county government encourages... construction?"
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment.
The shopkeeper led Chen Tang to a newly decorated building and asked her to wait outside. He went in and explained his purpose. After a while, he came out and said, "It's a coincidence. The girl just woke up and can come after putting on makeup. Let's go to a teahouse on the street and get a private room to wait."