Chapter 2: An Urgent Crisis

I have practiced calligraphy for more than eight years without ever becoming complacent. Although I am still not on par with those few esteemed scholars, I should surpass most people here. As long as I put in a little more effort, it is not impossible to earn enough money before the end of the year

Yang Ji's heart was filled with mixed emotions; gritting his teeth, he finally made up his mind

Yang Ji shook his head, quickly dismissing his own thoughts

Why?

With his eyes wide open until dawn, Yang Ji's eyes lit up; he finally had an idea

Shopkeeper, I apologize for the trouble, this is the money for the paper

... ...

Cloud spray pen, flowers soaring like tigers and leopards

... only scholars sell their writings, which is a disgrace to culture. I have also studied for eight years; how could I engage in such actions

I still underestimated them; they couldn't wait this long. Twenty copper coins... this is intended to drive me and Liang Bo to our doom

The old shopkeeper chuckled, his face full of wrinkles crinkling up. He extended a finger, thick with calluses, and tapped twice on the counter with a clanging sound, surprisingly pushing three copper coins back towards me

... ...

Yang Ji's heart sank further, growing increasingly anxious

... ...

The old shopkeeper slightly leaned back, chuckling softly and said

The cold wind swept through the streets, bringing a chill from the north, growing ever more intense.

Liang Bo has been with my family for over twenty years, loyal and devoted. As a young person, it does not matter much to me, but how can I allow him, an elder, to suffer hunger and cold alongside me

"Cloud spray pen, flower soaring tiger and leopard, rain overturning ink waves, dragon swimming" vividly reflects these calligraphers.

Early in the morning, Yang Ji took five copper coins from the old steward, carried a pen holder and a pen case, and directly exited the Yang residence through the side door

Therefore, heed my advice: consider carefully before making a decision

The market is located in the northwest direction of the town, and as the year-end approaches, it is also the time when the flow of people is at its peak

Yang Ji fixed his mind, unfastened the back pouch, spread out a sheet of rice paper, finely ground the ink, and prepared to write the first couplet. This is called "door lintel," which serves to showcase one's calligraphy skills to those around. There are not many strict rules, allowing for a wide range of choices.

The rain turns the ink waves, and the dragon swims.

At this time, the dead branches on the mountain had long been picked clean by m.hetushu.com, and families in need of firewood had already prepared enough for the winter. It is certainly not feasible to go into the mountains to cut trees for firewood. Selling goods?

In the midst of the crowd, a fifteen-year-old boy was preparing to write couplets, drawing murmurs of admiration from those around him, and soon attracting a considerable amount of attention.

Shopkeeper, thank you. However, I would still trouble you to help me pack these items

The old shopkeeper squinted his eyes, glanced at the trunk behind Yang Ji, and said with a smile

Yang Ji was taken aback; although he usually did not purchase rice paper, he was still aware of this price

Once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back; regardless of the circumstances, I must raise enough funds

Yang Ji raised his head and carefully surveyed the surroundings

Yang Ji pondered quietly, as one idea after another surged through his mind, yet each was dismissed one by one.

Thoughts surged and ebbed in Yang Ji's mind, as numerous ideas flickered through his heart

This has become a bit troublesome

Yang Ji hesitated again, but upon recalling the image of Liang Bo toiling away, his heart ached once more

This shop has been in the town for several years, decorated in an antique style. The surrounding walls and desks are filled with items of various grades, not only rice paper but also other writing instruments, ink, inkstones, and calligraphy and painting supplies.

This young man has a bright future, much better than my family!

Yang Ji was immediately reassured.

This piece of calligraphy has some depth to it

Yang Ji considers his calligraphy to be quite good, and among his peers, few can match him. However, comparing himself to these esteemed elders is a different matter altogether. Nevertheless, Yang Ji is by no means one to easily give up; rather, the current situation has ignited the pride of youth within him.

Good handwriting; this skill is comparable to that of several esteemed gentlemen, impressive!

I have never heard this couplet before! It must have been created by him, right? Impressive, impressive!

Yang Ji felt the emptiness in his pocket, which was quite shriveled, and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh

Yang Ji began to ponder deeply

Two or three scholars are selecting items inside, near the entrance of the room. The old shopkeeper, dressed in a blue robe, stands with his hands clasped, leaning against the counter with a smile.

Yang Ji felt a quiet regret in his heart as he looked at the painting and the book; this door plaque would not sell. Yang Ji was currently very poor, and having wasted two sheets of rice paper at once, he naturally felt a bit pained.

Yang Ji was not impatient; after ensuring the ink was evenly distributed, he then picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, and immediately felt confident and prepared.

As the weather grew colder, there were still not many pedestrians on the road. After passing three intersections, Yang Ji entered a "literary supplies store" that sold rice paper.

During the New Year period, every household must hang couplets. If I were to write couplets for others, given my calligraphy skills, I might very well earn some money

For the first time selling calligraphy on the street, Yang Ji felt a sense of nervousness in his heart

This time, I am truly destitute

Yang Ji was surprised and raised his head, as this was not within his expectations

Yang Ji does not have much money, so he does not dare to buy too much at once

After finishing the couplet, Yang Ji blew on the ink marks and quickly hung it on the banner behind him. As soon as the characters appeared, they immediately sparked a round of applause from the surrounding crowd

However, the subsequent events left Yang Jishi unprepared.

Although he had anticipated that this journey would not be easy, when Yang Ji arrived there, he could not help but feel a heaviness in his heart.

No way! They see me as young and will definitely look down on me. Moreover, with just over ten days, I can only find temporary work. Even if I work myself to the bone, I won't earn enough for both Liang Bo and me to get through the winter

The old shopkeeper gazed at Yang Ji's silhouette, his eyes sparkling with astonishment

In recent days, many people have come to my store to buy Xuan paper, all with the intention of writing couplets for others to earn some money. The sales of Xuan paper in the store have been quite good, and naturally, the prices have risen. If you had come a few days earlier, taking advantage of the number of people selling couplets, you might have been able to share in the profits. However, now it is not so easy.

Dear guest, feel free to choose whatever you like. We have items of all grades available here, and we guarantee your satisfaction

... ...

Subsequently, Yang Ji negotiated and rented a stall in front of a bow shop for the price of ten copper coins for ten days. Even tables, chairs, and banners were included as complimentary items

I am young and cannot compare to those seasoned gentlemen who are composed and steady. However, among so many elderly gentlemen, I am the only young person, which has become my advantage. Moreover, with so many people cheering just now, why is there not a single person coming? There must be something I have overlooked in this matter

In other respects, Yang Ji felt he did not have significant advantages, but in the realm of calligraphy, he believed he would not be outdone by anyone

Collecting firewood to sell for money

Yang Ji nodded slightly, remaining silent.

Yang Ji's brush danced like a dragon or a snake, sometimes outlining, sometimes shading, and soon he wrote the first line. After a brief pause, the second line also quickly emerged

What is going on? Why is there not a single buyer?

The items in the stationery shop were dazzling, but Yang Ji had little money on him. After browsing for a while, he directly chose a small stack of Xuan paper, then took out three copper coins and laid them flat on the counter

Writing couplets for others is not simply a matter of reading and writing casually; it requires selecting the best from the best among those who are skilled in calligraphy. Only then can one earn money from it. Many elderly scholars who have studied poetry and literature for decades find it difficult to make a living this way, let alone a young child like you. If this kind of money were so easy to earn, the streets would already be crowded with people.

This old shopkeeper has a kind heart

In the crowd, he even saw several esteemed scholars from prominent families. These individuals have immersed themselves in scriptures and calligraphy for decades, achieving remarkable expertise and reputation

A few elderly gentlemen selling calligraphy could not help but take a closer look. Unlike the rough men, they observed with greater depth. Yang Ji's calligraphy was indeed outstanding, but only in comparison to his peers. What truly caught their attention was that couplet.

The old shopkeeper said kindly

Moreover, looking at your attire, you must have bought this rice paper to sell couplets at the market, right? However, I advise you to abandon this idea.

Although many praised it, no one actually approached Yang Ji's stall to inquire or make a purchase, and the crowd that had originally gathered around Yang Ji quickly dispersed one by one

Fortunately, the response has been quite positive

Mr. Liang is getting old and can only find ways to solve problems on his own. In order to overcome this difficult period of the year, he must find a way to earn enough money before the end of the year, which is an issue that cannot be avoided

Hehe, young man, this is not enough

It is a pity about the two sheets of rice paper

Selling characters also has its thresholds; if the writing is poor, no one will buy it, and they won't even take a glance. At the very least, Yang Ji has passed this first hurdle

These individuals possess exceptional calligraphy skills, akin to waterfalls, like smoke and clouds, resembling magnificent peaks and perilous rivers. Even through the eyes of Yang Ji, one must acknowledge that these individuals have immersed themselves in calligraphy for an extended period, far surpassing what an ordinary teenager of merely a few years could achieve

Carrying a pencil case, Yang Ji turned around in the crowd, surveying his surroundings and making comparisons.

Unfortunately, I have no other choice. With winter approaching, if I cannot earn enough money in these ten days, when the heavy snow blocks the mountains and the weather turns frigid, the old steward and I will be left with no way out. Although this line of work is difficult, I consider my calligraphy skills to be quite good, and I must give it a try no matter what.

Yang Ji shook his head again, "I have no money, nor any connections. I simply do not have the capital to engage in livestock trading, and while it may sound easy, it is indeed difficult to execute. I may not be able to manage it either."

Hehe, don't think that I am bullying you. Everything is on the rise in the days leading up to the end of the year.

That night, he could not sleep

Although the old shopkeeper of the stationery store had given him some advice, the number of gentlemen at the market was still far greater than he had anticipated. Amidst the surging crowd, a dozen or so elderly gentlemen, exuding a strong scholarly aura, set up their stalls, scattered like stars along both sides of the street, diligently wielding their brushes and writing New Year couplets for others

This young man is indeed quite remarkable

Yang Ji maintained a calm demeanor, yet inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief, "As long as everyone can acknowledge my abilities, it will be much easier to discuss matters moving forward"

If this continues, not only will I be unable to make any money, but even the five copper coins that Uncle Liang gave me will be wasted.

Surrounded by applause, although they are outsiders, they can still see that Yang Ji's calligraphy possesses a strong and vigorous style, full of character and beauty

After the initial surprise, Yang Ji gradually calmed down, and a look of gratitude appeared in his eyes. With * illustrations * books

Yang Ji initially thought it was a coincidence, but one hour passed, then two hours... Until the sun was high in the sky, Yang Ji stood there with his waist and legs numb, yet the stall remained deserted, with not even a single couplet sold.

Originally, in business, there is no principle of pushing the business outward. However, I have always conducted my business with a clear conscience. At your young age, being able to come up with this idea is indeed a sign of intelligence and quick wit. However, to be honest with you, this line of work is not as easy as it seems

The matriarch of the family is in control, and it is certain that I will no longer receive any silver from her, nor will she provide me with any assistance. In fact, she may even claim to outsiders that she has given me more silver than she actually has. Without sufficient silver, Liang Bo and I will either freeze to death or starve. In Pingchuan County, every winter, there are many people who do not survive.

The night was deep and dark, yet Yang Ji lay in bed unable to fall asleep

Go do hard labor for others

Three copper coins were the price from a few days ago. The current price of Xuan paper is much higher than this

It is unreasonable... Even if my calligraphy is not the best, it certainly cannot be too poor. On the first day, it is normal for not many people to visit, but it is absolutely unreasonable that after such a long time, not a single piece of calligraphy has been sold

In such a short period, how easy is it to earn enough money to last for two months? Moreover, Yang Ji has no experience at all

For the first time in his life, Yang Ji felt the pressure of living, experiencing a sense of difficulty. There were only a few days left until the New Year, and afterward, a long period of heavy snowfall would follow

What?

Yang Ji, with a resolute expression, after handing over an additional copper coin, tucked the stack of Xuan paper under his arm and walked out amidst the astonished gaze of the shopkeeper

Yang Ji often felt that while understanding was easy, action was difficult, and making a living was by no means an easy task

Ginger is spicy when it is old; the old shopkeeper's knowledge cannot be said to be lacking, and Yang Ji had to admit that what he said was indeed reasonable

I came into this situation rather late, and now there are so many elderly gentlemen and teachers. With too many monks and too little porridge, the idea of making money through writing seems somewhat challenging at this point

Yang Ji contemplated in this manner and soon made up his mind

Yang Ji furrowed his brows twice, feeling a bit of a headache