Power Up, Artist Yang!

It took quite a few strolls through the marketplace for Yujia to eventually find a gift for Zixu.

In this era, couples exchanged tokens of love with each other. They were small things, like sachets, pendants, jewelry, and the like. Since previously, the two agreed to exchange them before their marriage, as part of their own private formalities, Yujia now had a task upon her to find a perfect token from her end. Yet while finding Zixu a gift should've been a simple task for Yujia, she found herself stuck.

Though, then again, considering the chaotic process it took her to come up with the idea of sewing a cloak for his birthday, Yujia should've realized she was always incredibly bad at picking presents.

She didn't want to pick something too common. Neither did she want to pick a gift that she had previously given Zixu, or vice versa. Considering creating a personal gift, Yujia realized her handiwork probably wasn't good enough to last for a lifetime, nor was worthy enough to do so. The only thing she could create which she was proud of was her own art, the problem now being that these tokens were typically smaller objects. Yujia didn't think gifting a tiny canvas painting was very realistic or desirable.

Being at such a loss of what to gift, Yujia asked around for some help. She couldn't say something like picking a gift for a lover, but she did ask about what to gift a friend. Those that she went to help for— Chef Hong, Lili, Yufeng, her master— gave a few suggestions, but none of them sounded right to her.

At one point, Yujia even asked Gao Yi, the store manager of Three Inks, as well, since she couldn't find Bo Zhizhong anywhere. It was a decision she instantly regretted making. Yujia should've realized earlier, with how she looked down on Gao Yi's gaudy taste in interior decoration, that anything he suggested would include items that cost as many ingots as possible. It seemed like for him, the more expensive something was, the better— a feeling that Yujia didn't mutually share.

Thus, after feeling stuck with all these poor ideas, Yujia was left to search for inspiration in the great big world of the capital. It took crossing through marketplace after marketplace, venturing to the complete opposite side of the city, for her to find something that finally caught her eye.

The stall she stumbled upon was a vendor sitting on a cushioned blanket, sprawled out by a frozen riverbank. She had actually skimmed over this specific seller before, considering how his wares were all placed on the floor. Compared to the stalls and shops around him, it was just too easy to miss what he was selling.

Yujia came to a stop in her steps, observing the vendor. He appeared to be middle-aged by the wrinkles on his skin, yet his hair was far too white for someone his age, giving him an older appearance than those in his age range. His face had typical features, nothing too notable to differentiate him from a crowd.

Yet despite that very typical face, Yujia could've sworn she had seen this man somewhere before. He looked oddly familiar, but she just couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Seeing that she had stopped in front of his wares, the man greeted her, waving his hands at the things he sold. "Young Miss, are you interested in the arts?"

Even his voice sounded familiar. Yujia pursed her lips together, staring at what he sold. They seemed to be boxes of brushes and inks, nothing too spectacular jumping out at her.

Her gaze raised back to the man's face. She leaned closer, narrowing her eyes.

"Sir, have we met before?" she couldn't help but ask. The familiarity was just too much for her to ignore.

"Did you buy something from me recently?" The man also squinted, trying to get a better look at her face, which she had covered the lower half of with a veil.

Yujia shook her head. She realized, though, with the veil covering her face and the fur hood of the cloak she wore draped over her head, it was difficult for anyone to be able to see her identity. As a result, she pushed her hood back, reaching to temporarily unclasp her veil as well.

The moment she took off her veil, the middle-aged man drew in a sharp breath.

"Y-you're—!" his voice stopped at a hush.

"I'm?" Yuija said.

Recognition apparent in his gaze, the man answered, "You bought something from me long ago. Do you remember ordering brushes that were hollow in their center?"

Yujia's eyes lit up as well. All of a sudden, memories of her first few days transmigrating flashed through her mind. Back then, it was her goal to create pencils. A large part of how she was able to establish Three Inks and enter Lingxin Pavilion was, in fact, a merchant that had created custom wooden models for her to make pencils with. 

This was an event from so long ago that she hardly remembered who the merchant was. Their encounters were rather brief, after all. Except, now that she saw him again, everything was clicking back into place. 

It was surprising to see him again, especially when he looked like this. Last time, didn't he have a stall? He was a small merchant, but he wasn't poor. His wealth shouldn't have reduced him to how he was now, sitting on the ground with nothing but fabric dividing him from the dirt and snow. The clothes he wore were also worn-out and frayed. They didn't seem to keep him warm, with his face frozen red. 

"I do remember," Yujia replied, folding her hands together into a bow. "What happened for you to… end up like this?"

As she went back to veil her face, the merchant shook his head with a deep sigh. His breath fogged up in the air as he explained, "Lots of things happened in just a few months. I heard news that there was a business opportunity of simply transporting a few materials, and I had seen other merchants gain quick wealth through these manners. Except, when I tried to participate, I accidentally entered a scam, which was taking advantage of these rumors in the business world to trap merchants like me. I saw all my life-savings depleted in just a week's time, and my work selling art supplies was ruined as well. Now that I think of it, I was truly foolish for believing there was ever a scheme to earn money fast. The entire thing, rumors and all, must've been contrived by these scammers to fool over gullible individuals like me."

"That's tragic," Yujia said, eyebrows furrowing. "How could such injustice run free in this world while good men like you must suffer?"

The merchant only shook his head and gave yet another deep sigh.

"I wish I could help you in some way," Yujia went on. 

She genuinely wished she could. After all, if not for this merchant at the start, she wouldn't be anywhere with her pencils. Sure, she may have found another to help her create, but this merchant in particular was an honest man, who gave her clueless, fumbling, newly-transmigrated self reasonable prices and wares. Not to mention, he also crafted the brush molds himself, with his own skill and artistry.

"Ai, Miss, I appreciate your kind heart, but there is not much you can do for this one. I got myself into this own mess, and I will find my own way out."

Yujia bent down. "Let me buy something from you, at least."

She scanned her eyes over the art supplies he sold in front of him. None of the inks or brushes seemed like anything she needed. There were better quality ones available in Lingxin. Yet truly, she felt like helping this man was more important than the quality of the goods she bought.

"Actually, Miss, don't look at any of that," he interjected. Yujia looked up in question, head tilting. The man reached to his side, grabbing a box that had been resting below the others. "I made this one before my luck fell, you see," he explained, "and the materials used are surely higher quality than the ones on display right now. They are jade brushes, and one of my proudest creations. Alas, I only have one left, but if I were to sell it to anyone, I would want you to have it."

With that, he opened the thin box, taking the brush out and presenting it to her. Yujia picked it up. The white jade stem of the brush was cold to touch, and as Yujia raised it to the light, she realized just how flawless the quality of jade was. Not a single impurity could be spotted in the pure white jade. Furthermore, as light struck the brush, it only passed through halfway, making it look as if the brush was glowing. 

Just from the shaft of the brush, she could tell how valuable it was, but then, her fingers brushed against the tip of the brush. "This hair—" Yujia exclaimed.

"Indeed, Young Miss has always had a good eye," the man affirmed. "The hairs selected for this brush have a core made of weasel hairs, while the outer layer is wrapped by white goat hairs. Not only does this preserve the white appearance of the brush. With the inner core being stiffer and the outer softer, both furs work excellently in harmony so that regardless if you use it to paint or do calligraphy, your works will turn out magnificent. Smooth yet refined."

Yujia placed the brush back into the box. Even without the descriptions from this man, she would've been able to tell that she held a good brush. It was a case where the quality was apparent through touch.

"I'll buy it," she declared. "But…" 

"Yes?"

"Could you do something extra for me?" Yujia requested, putting on a warm smile.