Chapter Nine, the Moon Crown Tower sells paintings

The guest invited by the military governor Sima Wei Zhen is Cui Huan, the scribe and卷判官 of the tribute examination office in Ancheng

In the dream of thirty years, after Chu Xian entered officialdom, he occasionally visited this Moon Crown Tower a few times. To be honest, with the salary of an official in Chu Xian's dream, it was only enough to drink here a few times, and as for buying anything, that was out of the question

The officials of Ancheng, like the businessman from the Moon Crown Tower, are well-acquainted with such matters. The person before me is certainly an official, but I must have seen him only a few times, hence I am not familiar with him

However, today, Wei Zhen actually invited Cui Huanzhi to drink.

After all, selling paintings was merely a temporary measure for him, needed to buy medicine. As for the future, Chu Xian has other ways to earn money, so this will be the only time.

The old man, dressed in scholarly robes, exuded an extraordinary demeanor, walking with the grace of a dragon and the might of a tiger, yet he did not lose his elegance.

After it was hung up, no one went to see it for most of the day, as everyone knows that the calligraphy and paintings on the lowest floor of the Moon Crown Building are quite ordinary, and very few people pay attention to the artworks on this floor

Chu Xianze said: "I understand the rules"

Who would dare to offend such a person

Although the Moon Crown Pavilion engages in the sale of calligraphy and paintings, the threshold is quite high, so there are times when not a single piece is received throughout the day. Today's transaction is considered an early one, as the attendant quickly hung the painting in a rather inconspicuous corner on the lowest level of the Moon Crown Pavilion

Although Cui Huanzhi also held a sixth-rank official position, there were quite a few such officials in the Imperial Examination Hall. The most important point is that they had little real power, and in no regard could they be compared to Wei Zhen, the Military Governor's Deputy.

It is the owner of the Moon Crown Tower, who is rarely seen at this moment, accompanying by the side

Generally, officials do not need to be so courteous, after all, how could one establish the Yueguan Building in Ancheng without substantial background and support? However, the elder whom he referred to as Lord Wei is not an ordinary person.

Chu Xian is self-aware; his goal this time is merely the lowest level of the Moon Crown Tower. If he can manage to sell his painting at the Moon Crown Tower, he could at least exchange it for ten taels of silver. This amount of money would be sufficient to purchase some essential medicinal materials. Compared to other places, it is likely that his painting, being from an unknown artist, would not even fetch a single tael of silver.

Following the steward, Chu Xian arrived at a room where several plainly dressed individuals of various ages were already waiting. It was evident that they were all there to have their calligraphy and paintings appraised, hoping to sell them at a good price in the Yueguan Building.

That is good. The middle-aged scholar was quite straightforward, and after examining the painting of the evening lotus pond carefully, he indeed found it quite pleasing. He then said: "Generally, for works without fame, the most one can offer is fifteen taels; for this piece, I will give you twelve taels"

Because he had been there before, Chu Xian quickly found the steward of the Moon Crown Tower

The middle-aged scholar handled matters efficiently, quickly settling the financial transaction. After bidding farewell, Chu Xian left, while the middle-aged scholar called over an assistant to hang the painting on the lowest shelf, awaiting its sale

Is it a character or a painting? Let's take a look. The middle-aged scholar replied dismissively, not even raising his eyelids. After all, he had to entertain quite a number of such impoverished scholars every day, most of whom were sent back after just a glance from him.

Twelve taels of silver are sufficient to support a family of four for a year. For Chu Xian, it can also serve as a temporary emergency fund, so he nodded and did not negotiate further.

Chu Xian plans to go to Ancheng to sell his paintings on consignment. Ling County is small, while Ancheng is a large city in the province, home to discerning individuals who appreciate elegance and can afford the prices. Most importantly, Ancheng has a place called "Yueguan Tower," which is a refined venue where scholars and students gather. They often enjoy tea and discuss philosophical ideas, and many people hang their calligraphy and paintings at an angle on the walls, indicating their intention to sell. If someone takes a liking to a piece, they simply straighten it up, which signifies their interest in purchasing it. The price depends entirely on the location of the artwork.

"That is natural, Lord Wei, please!" The owner of Yueguan Tower is also a person of great tact. He was secretly astonished; someone who could invite Wei Zhen, the Sima of the Ancheng Military Government, to a banquet must be an extraordinary individual. Thus, he cast a glance at the person following Wei Zhen.

Chu Xian immediately spread the painting on the table. The middle-aged scholar glanced at it and said, "The painting is indeed good, but it lacks a signature, so it cannot be considered a masterpiece. Its price will not be very high."

However, it is not a problem; with the capabilities of Yueguan Tower, finding a person is exceedingly easy.

On weekdays, many impoverished scholars come to the Moon Crown Pavilion to seek to consign their calligraphy and paintings, so the steward has long been accustomed to this. They even have a dedicated expert to appraise the ink treasures, who are either seasoned literati, candidates who have yet to enter officialdom, or renowned masters of calligraphy and painting, possessing an unparalleled perspective

From Ling County to Ancheng, it is merely thirty miles. Even on foot, a round trip would take less than half a day. Therefore, Chu Xian did not delay; after informing his mother that he was going to Ancheng to visit a classmate, he set off. By the time he arrived in Ancheng, he had only taken a little over an hour.

"Lord Wei, you truly are a rare guest. Your arrival has brought great honor to the Moon Crown Pavilion this entire month," the proprietor of the Moon Crown Pavilion said respectfully

After waiting for a moment, when it was his turn to enter the room, Chu Xian saw a middle-aged scholar sitting behind a wooden table