Chapter Two, in Jiangcheng, the plum blossoms fall in May

The young lady said: "I will give you an additional thirty taels of silver per month, which includes food and accommodation"

His attire is rather shabby, and it poses a dilemma for him to board such a luxurious pleasure boat

This person is Xiao Hong

Now it is different, the body is becoming increasingly healthy, and since it is already the seventh month, various signs indicate that he is likely to stay in this world for a long time

He himself does not want to die at all, especially after experiencing the deterioration of his body in the past; just thinking about it makes him feel nauseous

Gu Qing seized the point and asked, "Is your young lady planning to buy my calligraphy?"

He did not intend to continue waiting for Xiao Hong, and he had little expectation in his heart. For many years, he had not held much expectation for himself, let alone for others. Gu Qing tidied up the calligraphy, and the shops around him flashed by. The painted boats on the river and the scholars in their blue robes came and went. Gu Qing walked into a street on the outskirts of the city, arriving at a small tavern, where he ordered a plate of fennel beans and a small cup of wine. Gu Qing tidied up the calligraphy, and the shops around him flashed by. The painted boats on the river and the scholars in their blue robes came and went. Gu Qing walked into a street on the outskirts of the city, arriving at a small tavern, where he ordered a plate of fennel beans and a small cup of wine

After Xiao Hong left, it was not until noon that even the two sour scholars beside him had opened their stalls, yet no one came to inquire about Gu Qing's calligraphy. The two sour scholars felt somewhat pleased, for although your writing is good, you have no official title.

How to go up

It also evokes thoughts of the clear springs in the mountains, refreshing and pure, with a hint of vitality

Gu Qing realized and said: "Are you working here?"

Suddenly, someone approached Gu Qing, and Gu Qing turned to look.

Gu Qingdao: "Because you like this line of poetry and have a feeling for it, you probably won't see this line anywhere else. Even if you encounter this line again in the future, it may not evoke the same feeling as it does at this moment. Therefore, for the sake of your current appreciation, spending a little money is nothing; after all, even the most ordinary item here is worth far more than one hundred taels, yet how many things can you truly say you like?"

Xiao Hong said: "Why are you not in the original place? I asked the two scholars next to you, and they both said they did not know you and were unclear about where you went. I searched for you for a long time afterwards, thinking I would never find you again, so I came back here. I didn't expect to actually see you. Didn't you say you were out of money? Has your writing been sold?"

The young lady then focused her attention on the words, softly reading: "In the city by the river, the plum blossoms fall in May."

In fact, Gu Qing is not really feeling dejected; if no one buys, then no one buys. He currently needs money, probably because he wants to move to a better place and enjoy better food. He does not rely solely on selling his calligraphy for a living; he is just temporarily too lazy to think of other options.

Xiao Hong said: "Let's not talk about that for now. Regarding your note, my young lady has seen it, and she said your handwriting is quite good."

Gu Qing shook his head and said: "If you like this line of poetry, it should be at least one hundred taels."

Next, Xiao Hong took him to a secluded residence by the river, passing by a large number of houses that were closely arranged. The people living in this vicinity clearly held some status.

She chewed silently for a while before asking, "Is that all?"

Gu Qing's thoughts drifted to the recently passed pleasure boat, which was filled with wealthy individuals. It should not be difficult to encounter a few discerning ones.

Gu Qing shook her head; if she had to study for another year and a half, wouldn't that delay her own progress

The young lady said, "But I have one condition, you must teach me how to write"

This pleasure boat is clearly different from the others, entirely purple, exuding an air of nobility. As Gu Qing stepped in, he silently assessed the value of the furnishings inside; some items appeared to be antiques. There were certainly many pieces made of agarwood and rosewood. The hanging calligraphy and paintings were not superior to his, but they surely had some renown and were not inexpensive. The incense burner was purple, and the lacquer on it looked very expensive, with craftsmanship that was quite exceptional, probably just slightly inferior to his own.

She curiously examined Gu Qing for a while, then smiled and said, "You are truly beautiful"

Gu Qing nodded

At this moment, he somewhat misses the good qualities of Xiao Hong; this eight coins came just in time. He earns money by selling calligraphy to avoid the hassle, as although he is capable of doing business, it requires a lot of preparation and interaction with people, which he currently does not particularly enjoy.

She babbled on about a lot of things, but her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes were filled with joy

Gu Qing couldn't help but hesitate, instinctively responding with a price, saying: "Fifty taels."

No one restricted Gu Qing's movements, so Gu Qing went out to the riverside to stroll every day

Gu Qingdao: "What you said makes sense, but it still has to be one hundred taels"

Xiao Hong said: "My young lady wants to take another look at your calligraphy before making a decision, and the price may not be very high, but it won't be too low either. The specific price should be discussed further"

... ...

Gu Qing looked at her and said, "Really?" He spoke at length, though he himself was not entirely convinced. He could only guess that this young lady's bottom line was certainly not twenty taels. After all, it was just a matter of talking, and there was a possibility of selling for a bit more money, so why not take advantage of it

As for the specific background of the young lady, Xiao Hong did not clarify it.

They cannot help but reminisce about the time when the country was first established, when there were truly few scholars, and the notion of a poor scholar did not exist at all. Now, there are indeed too many literate individuals, to the extent that even an uneducated rustic can write beautifully.

Gu Qing was unconvinced and took out a piece of paper, asking: "Do you want to buy it?"

The young lady smiled and said, "Deal"

The young lady said: "Your calligraphy is better than those worth one hundred taels, but you lack fame. Moreover, you are still alive"

In the past, he believed that death was a common occurrence, so it did not matter where he lived; after all, when the time came, he would change his identity, and perhaps he would be blessed with wealth and prosperity

Gu Qing did not ask either

I am actually a bit hungry, Gu Qing said as he touched his stomach

The young lady was somewhat surprised by Gu Qing's stubbornness and asked, "Why? Aren't you afraid of making me angry? You don't even have twenty taels left."

In the past three days, Gu Qing had not seen that young lady, and even Xiao Hong was rarely seen. However, every day, a servant would deliver meals to him at regular intervals

The mistress here is the young lady mentioned by Xiao Hong. She wears a layer of veil and is draped in a very loose robe, making it impossible to discern her figure. The fragrance of the powder on her body is faint and not overpowering, exuding a sense of delicate and distant elegance

The young lady smiled gently and said, "I can offer one hundred taels."

Two individuals boarded a painted boat

Only later did the two disappointed scholars feel disheartened, as no one paid attention to Gu Qing's writing; yet he remained undeterred, calm and unperturbed.

However, on the way, Xiao Hong also chatted with Gu Qing, mentioning that the young lady was not the kind of girl Gu Qing had assumed; the pleasure boat was merely one of the young lady's enterprises

... ...

However, it appears that he indeed chose the wrong place to sell the characters previously

After finishing his meal, Gu Qing arrived at the riverbank, standing under a willow tree. The drooping willows resembled smoke, and the scenery was picturesque. As Gu Qing observed the scholars and merchants coming and going, he contemplated whether he should, like before with the two scholars, find someone inside to discuss principles, borrow a set of clothes that did not appear shabby, and mingle on a pleasure boat

The young lady lamented: "If it were a poem, it would be worth several hundred taels, but now I can only offer twenty taels of silver."

The pair of eyes she revealed was also very expressive, unlike those of a woman who seduces with a smoky gaze; they resembled the moonlight by the window, always capable of embellishing people's dreams

Gu Qing : `` ... ... ''

Gu Qing certainly understands that the calligraphy and paintings of deceased calligraphers and those with great fame are valuable. However, he has his own thoughts on the matter

As for leaving, he has not thought about it for the time being; after all, meals and accommodation are provided, and he does not really need to work much, so he has become lazy again

When your health deteriorates, no amount of wealth or power can compensate for that gap and discomfort, which is why Gu Qing learned to become numb, to let it be, for after death, one will be reborn again

After she finished speaking, she directly pulled Gu Qing's sleeve and walked forward, fearing that Gu Qing would disappear again