The other vendors were all shouting their wares, and the passersby knew what they were selling. But Li Youyun was just sitting there. Who would know that he made a living by selling paintings?
Also, Li Youyun was just a poor scholar. Why would anyone ask about his paintings?
"Hey, are you a scholar?"
Suddenly, an old woman wearing hemp clothes came to Li Youyun. She looked at Li Youyun with confusion.
Li Youyun's face was slightly red, but he quickly stood up and bowed. "I am indeed a scholar. Auntie, do you want to buy a painting?"
"I am illiterate. If I buy your paintings, I can't eat or wear them. What would I buy them for?" The old woman in hemp clothes smiled.
"Then you are …?" Li Youyun was startled.
"Aye."
"My son is far away at the border fighting a war. He sent someone to send a letter back, but this old woman is illiterate. I want to ask you to read it for me. It would be best if you could send a letter back to my son." Only then did the old woman reveal her purpose.
"I see."
Li Youyun nodded slowly. His eyes were filled with disappointment. But he was kind and said, "Where is the letter? I will read it for you."
"Okay, okay, okay. Thank you so much."
The old woman smiled gratefully. She quickly took out the letter and handed it to Li Youyun. Li Youyun opened the letter and read it to the old woman. This made the old woman cry. She kept thinking about her son who was far away at the border.
"Auntie, I have finished writing the letter. You just need to send someone to deliver it to your son." Li Youyun handed the letter to the old woman. The old woman was so grateful that she kept bowing to Li Youyun.
"Child, Auntie doesn't have any money to thank you. Here are two meat buns that were just given to me by a rich family. You must accept them."
As the old woman spoke, she took out two paper buns from the bamboo basket she was carrying. The aroma of meat buns filled the air. Without waiting for Li Youyun to refuse, she stuffed the buns into Li Youyun's hands. Then, she quickly walked away from Li Youyun's stall.
"This … this …?"
Looking at the two meat buns in his hands, Li Youyun was speechless. His eyes were filled with gratification and self-mockery.
He was gratified that he was able to use his own two hands to exchange for food, but he was self-deprecating that a dignified scholar like himself had fallen into such a situation.
Gulp!
The aroma of the meat buns woke Li Youyun up. He swallowed his saliva and carefully put the two meat buns into his bag.
Obviously, he was really hungry, but he knew that Ye Xuan and Fatso Huang were hungrier than him. These two meat buns were also left for Ye Xuan and Fatso Huang.
"Wait a little longer, wait a little longer. Someone will definitely buy my calligraphy and paintings. Once I get the money, my two brothers and I won't have to suffer so much."
It was the beginning of spring and the weather was still a little cold. Li Youyun's body was already weak. He hugged his arms and shivered in the cold wind. His lips were already a little pale, but he still insisted on waiting for the next customer.
"Sir, I …!"
Seeing this scene, Fatso Huang's eyes were filled with pity. But before he could finish, Ye Xuan lightly shook his head and said, "Have you done what I asked you to do?"
"Yes, but … but …" Fatso Huang couldn't bear it and couldn't continue.
"No buts. Don't forget our bet." Ye Xuan coldly said.
"Yes, sir." Fatso Huang reluctantly agreed. He could only pray for Li Youyun in his heart.
In front of the City God Temple.
Li Youyun was shivering in the cold. He kept rubbing his hands to warm himself up, but the thin clothes on his body didn't allow him to feel any warmth at all.
"Hey, are you a scholar?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded in front of Li Youyun's stall. Three young masters were looking at Li Youyun with a puzzled expression.
"I am a scholar. Do you want to buy some calligraphy and paintings?" Seeing that there were customers, Li Youyun quickly cupped his hands and bowed to the three people.
"Humph, you are a disgrace to the educated. Since you are a scholar, why do you have to associate with stinky money? You are really ruining the reputation of us scholars."
One of the young men coldly scolded. He was wearing a brocade robe. At a glance, one could tell that he was either rich or noble. At this moment, he looked at Li Youyun with eyes full of disgust and contempt.
Being scolded by this person with disdain, Li Youyun's face turned red. He also felt humiliated, but he still cupped his hands and bowed: "Brother, you don't know. I have studied hard for ten years just to pass the imperial examination.
"But the journey to the capital is long. I have already used up all my traveling expenses. Big brother and second brother have been living frugally for me and have been hungry for several days. As a scholar, I won't bend my waist for stinky money. But I can't bear to see big brother and second brother starve, so I came up with this plan. I want to sell some calligraphy and paintings to get some money to feed my two brothers."
"Is what you said true?"
Suddenly, another youth with delicate features opened his mouth and asked.
"Every word is true. Heaven and earth can bear witness." Li Youyun cupped his hands and bowed.
"What a joke. A disgrace to the educated is a disgrace to the educated. No matter how much you say, it can't change the fact that you are a disgrace to the educated."
The young man in the brocade robe sneered. Then, he turned to look at the young man and said: "Young Master Xian Xian, we should leave this kind of person who associates with stinky money. Otherwise, wouldn't it dirty our eyes?"
Unfortunately, the young man didn't respond to this person's suggestion. Instead, he smiled at Li Youyun and said: "I wonder if brother can let me see your calligraphy and painting?"
Originally, Li Youyun was ashamed and angry. But not only did the young man not leave, he also wanted to see his calligraphy and painting. So, Li Youyun could only hand a calligraphy and painting to the young man.
The young man slowly pushed Li Youyun's calligraphy and painting away. In just three short breaths, the young man's eyes lit up and he said "good" three times.
"The brush moves like dragons and snakes. The painting style is unique. What a Splendid Mountain River Painting!" The young man was full of praise. His face was full of love.
One had to know that he was born with a noble background. He had seen many famous works. Although Li Youyun's calligraphy and painting couldn't be compared to those famous works, there was a kind of pure and refined artistic conception contained in the calligraphy and painting. If there was an expert to guide Li Youyun, Li Youyun's future achievements would be limitless.
"Brother, how much do you want for this Splendid Mountain River Painting?" The young man took the calligraphy and painting in his hand and looked at Li Youyun with a face full of appreciation.
"Ten taels of silver." Li Youyun's face was flushed red.
"What? Ten taels of silver?" The young man was stunned.
"Five … five taels is also fine … I really can't go any lower." Li Youyun said with a flushed face. He thought the young man thought the price was too high and this was his final bottom line.
Looking at Li Youyun's flushed face, the young man suddenly realized. He hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Brother, you misunderstood. Brother's masterpiece is worth ten thousand taels of silver. A mere ten taels of silver is simply an insult to brother."
"If brother trusts me, I'll bring this calligraphy and painting back first. Wait for me here tomorrow. I'll definitely send someone to deliver ten thousand taels of silver." The young man said solemnly.
Obviously, this young man was born with a noble background. This time, he didn't bring a single copper coin. However, he loved Li Youyun's calligraphy and painting so much that he didn't want to let it go.
"Brother, take the calligraphy and painting. Ten thousand taels of silver is too much for me. You only need to deliver ten taels of silver tomorrow."
For his calligraphy and painting to be valued by a fellow scholar, this was a great affirmation for Li Youyun. He offered the calligraphy and painting with both hands, then picked up his luggage and left the Shing Wong Temple.
"This person is so strange. Isn't he afraid that I'll cheat him?" The young man was in a daze. He didn't think that Li Youyun would trust him so much and give him the calligraphy and painting.
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