I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 23: Portrait of Xue the Fool

Jia Cong sighed, still without saying anything, but set up his drawing board and started painting.

Aunt Mei didn't guess Jia Cong's intention for a moment, so she fell silent.

A quarter of an hour later, Jia Cong finished the portrait and handed it to Aunt Mei to see.

"Mother, what do you think of my portrait?"

Aunt Mei took it and examined it carefully. She couldn't help but praise it, "This portrait is so lifelike. Cong's painting skills are truly extraordinary."

This was not the first time that Aunt Mei had seen the portrait painted by Jia Cong. She was still amazed when she saw it again this time.

Jia Cong couldn't help but say, "Mother, I went to paint for someone today and earned fifteen taels of silver in one hour."

"Please keep this money first, mother. I only need to go out to paint for more than ten days every month, and it will be enough for our expenses. You don't need to work so hard."

Hearing what Jia Cong said, Aunt Mei's face changed drastically and she couldn't help but shed tears.

She couldn't help but say, "Brother Cong, you are the son of a noble Duke, how can you make a living by selling paintings and engage in such a lowly business?"

"And if I distract your attention and prevent you from going to school, then I will be guilty of a grave crime and I will be held responsible even if I die! Even if I die, I will not be able to rest in peace!"

"You must never sell paintings again. I will do handicrafts. Even if I die from exhaustion, as long as I can support your education, I will die with peace of mind."

Learning is valuable than anything else!
This is probably the understanding that is ingrained in the bones of people of this era, right?

I have to say that feudal ideas are deadly!

Now that I'm this sick, what reputation and face do I still need?
After thinking for a moment, Jia Cong said softly: "Mother, if you do needlework to support me and it makes you exhausted, do you think I can be at peace?"

"If outsiders learn of this, won't I be accused of being unfilial? And if I am accused of being unfilial, where will I stand in society?"

"Although my reputation for selling paintings is not very good, as long as they know that I sell them to support my mother, I will be known as a pure and filial person. With this reputation, why can't I make a living?"

"And don't worry, mother. Even if I go to sell paintings, it will only take me an hour a day. Besides, I don't go out every day, so it will definitely not affect my studies."

"How about this? I will only continue to sell paintings until February next year. After paying back Miss Lin, I will save some money and then stop selling paintings. How do you think that is?"

"But you have to listen to me, mother. You just need to take good care of yourself. Even if you are well, don't do needlework anymore. Only when you are in good health, mother, can I study with peace of mind."

Jia Cong knew that he could not persuade Aunt Mei from the front, so he had to persuade her from the side.

Judging from the change in Aunt Mei's expression, she must have heard it.

After hearing what Jia Cong said, Aunt Mei couldn't help but sigh: "Brother Cong, it's all because of your mother's uselessness that you have to bear so much at such a young age."

"Well, I'll listen to you. But you have to keep your word. By February next year at the latest, you can't go out to sell paintings anymore."

Hearing this, Jia Cong could not help but be overjoyed and said, "Don't worry, mother. I will keep my word."

In fact, Jia Cong had not originally planned to make a living by selling paintings.

As long as you can hold on during this period of time, your status will be improved when you pass the examination to become a scholar next year.

By then, you can find other ways.

After returning to his study, Jia Cong read some books.

Before going to bed, Jia Cong practiced Ba Duan Jin several times, and suddenly he felt a warm current flowing out again.

He hurriedly opened the proficiency panel.

【Name: Jia Cong】

【Four Books and Five Classics (proficient): 177/200】

【Ba Duan Jin (Dacheng): 196/1000】

【Calligraphy (Dacheng) 413/1000】

【Sketch (Complete): 207/1000】

【Medical Books (Introduction): 55/100】

[Physique: 8]

Huh?
Ba Duan Jin is still in the great success stage and has not been promoted to the next level.

But his physical fitness increased by 1 point, reaching 8 points. The gap between him and an adult man was getting smaller and smaller.

It seems that physical fitness does not necessarily improve only when one's realm is promoted.

Daily exercise can also improve physical fitness.

Of course, it could also be because he is a teenager and his physical fitness would improve even without exercise.

No matter what the reason is, it is a good thing for Jia Cong.

After exercising and washing up, Jia Cong went to bed to rest.

……

The next day after school and dinner, Jia Cong took his drawing board and went to the front street again.

When he arrived at the place where he had painted yesterday, he was shocked.

I didn't expect that there was already a long queue here in advance.

Seeing Jia Cong coming, someone couldn't wait to shout: "The little painter is here, come on, I'll be the first one in line, paint for me first."

"Little painter, why are you here just now? We have been waiting for you for a long time!"

"It's good that you're here. Little painter, hurry up and paint, or I'm afraid it will be dark again when it's my turn."

Jia Cong smiled slightly, put down the drawing board, sorted out his tools, and quickly started painting.

Today, he painted even faster.

The quality of the images has not decreased but increased.

After all, his sketching experience will continue to improve with the portrait.

Just when Jia Cong was painting seriously, he suddenly heard a commotion in the team.

When Jia Cong looked up, he saw a drunk young man driving people away with a few servants.

"I heard that the portraits painted by this painter here look just like the real person. Zhao Da, Zhao Er, the two of you should drive everyone away and let this painter paint a picture for Master Xue first."

"If you draw well, you will be rewarded handsomely! If you draw badly, his legs will be broken!"

This young man was none other than Xue Pan.

It would be fine if this fool Xue just showed off his power in Jinling.

I didn't expect that after coming to the capital, he would dare to act so domineeringly.

Xue Pan's two servants immediately stepped forward to drive the people away.

The people in the queue saw how arrogant Xue Pan was. They didn't know which family this dandy kid was from, but they knew they couldn't afford to offend him.

These people were angry but dared not say anything, so they could only move away in dismay.

After sending the man away, Xue Pan immediately sat on the bench and said, "Come on, draw for Master Xue."

This Xue Pan actually didn’t recognize him!
Jia Cong had no intention of recognizing him.

It doesn't matter who you are painting for, Jia Cong changed the paper and started painting quickly.

A quarter of an hour later, a portrait was completed.

Jia Cong handed the portrait over and said, "It's finished. Are you satisfied?"

Xue Pan snatched the portrait from Jia Cong's hand and was immediately struck by her beauty at a glance!
"Like! It's so like! How can it be so like? Good! Good! Reward! Big reward!"

Hearing about the high reward, a servant immediately threw fifty taels of silver in front of Jia Cong.

Jia Cong picked up the silver and said with a smile: "Thank you for the reward, sir!"

Although this fool Xue is rude and vulgar, he does have his merits!

At least he was very generous!
It is said that Xue Pan did not pay any attention to Jia Cong at all. He held the portrait in his hands as if it were a treasure and left with a happy smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)