The next day, Magistrate Qiu began posting notices to recruit painters. Anyone with excellent painting skills would be hired and paid 10 taels of silver per month, and would not be required to work every day.

All you need to do is be there when the government needs you.

And so, many scholars dressed in long gowns came to the gate of the yamen.

They come in all ages, and as for their drawing skills, you'll only know once you try.

Thus, a scene like this appeared at the entrance of the government office: many people gathered in a circle to watch people paint on the spot.

The model in the painting is an old man with a deeply lined face, wearing a tattered straw hat and coarse linen clothes. His most distinctive feature is a large mole on the tip of his nose.

The old man was hired by the yamen (government office) for 50 copper coins plus six steamed buns a day. After all, no one in the yamen had time to be a model.

Sitting all day isn't an easy thing either.

The old man was clever; when looking for a seat, he specifically asked the constable for a chair.

He then used his old clothes to pad his bottom, and rolled up the rest and placed them against his lower back.

This way, the old man won't feel uncomfortable from always being in the same position.

Since paints are not cheap, applicants were only provided with ordinary brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones; in short, they were asked to paint a black and white portrait.

The artists who applied for the jobs mostly produced either abstract or impressionistic paintings, with only one or two being realistic.

The government was recruiting painters, not to cultivate their sentiments. Therefore, many painters from the freehand and abstract schools were eliminated by Tao, leaving only two painters from the realist school.

Since both are realist works, a further comparison is necessary.

So the missing girl's mother described her daughter's appearance on the spot, and the two of them drew it.

The two paintings were completed quickly, one about 70-80% similar and the other about 80-90% similar. In terms of speed, the one about 70-80% similar was completed faster, while the one about 80-90% similar was completed a little slower.

When the government investigates a case and examines clues, it naturally relies on resemblance. Therefore, it keeps the one that is eight or nine parts similar to the original.

However, this person made a request.

“Master, I’m just here for the fun of it today. If I were to actually paint, my fee wouldn’t be calculated based on monthly wages, but rather per painting.”

A painting costs 5 taels of silver, so let's leave this job to this gentleman.

His painting skills and foundation are quite good. As long as he slows down his speed, he will naturally achieve the desired effect.

"It would be better to ask another person to describe someone's appearance; then the effect will become clear."

The advisor was a little confused.

"What do you mean? Do you think you won't do this job if the government doesn't pay you five taels of silver per set?"

The sign in front of the yamen gate clearly reads "ten taels of silver per month".

"When you participated in the competition, you already agreed to this price. Now you're going back on your word. Aren't you disrespecting the authorities?"

The boy, who was eight or nine parts similar to her, said...

"My lord, you may not know this, but I have just seen this gentleman's paintings and know that he has a deep understanding of the essence of figure painting."

Although the woman said it only resembled the subject by seven or eight points, that was just her personal feeling. Upon closer inspection, this gentleman has captured the expression of the person in the painting remarkably well.

If you saw the real person, I believe you would be able to recognize the person in the painting very quickly.

For example, when I look at this painting, I feel a sense of familiarity with the people in it.

The six or seven-point man was looking at the eight or nine-point boy with a very grateful gaze.

After all, getting this job would definitely improve the family's life.

The advisor was so angry that his beard almost stood on end.

How could someone be so stubborn? If it weren't for his clear eyes, the advisor would have thought he was playing hard to get.

The boy's eyes lingered on the eyes and nose of the person in the painting, and finally he covered the person's chin with his hand. His head suddenly felt like it had been blown open.

This person was none other than Xu Dongsheng from Zhao Family Village.

The reason I came here to participate in the painting recruitment was entirely because a friend who owns a calligraphy and painting shop signed me up.

That guy always hoped that Xu Dongsheng could give him more paintings, especially paintings of ladies, since who doesn't like beautiful women?

But Xu Dongsheng seemed not to hear him, refusing to answer no matter what, and when pressed, he simply said he didn't know.

Since you said you couldn't, I'll find an opportunity for you to demonstrate your skills.

So they actually signed Xu Dongsheng up, and Xu Dongsheng had no choice but to accept the challenge.

The advisor noticed the change in Xu Dongsheng's expression.

In particular, Xu Dongsheng's expression of being struck by lightning was clearly visible.

The advisor then called Xu Dongsheng aside for questioning.

"Young man, may I ask your name? I noticed you looked at the person in the painting with a strange expression. Do you perhaps know the person in the painting?"

Xu Dongsheng cupped his hands again.

“Master, I am Xu Dongsheng from Zhao Family Village. I covered half of the face of the person in the painting just now because the upper half of that face looks very much like my fiancée.”

The advisor was quite surprised, "Your fiancée?"

Xu Dongsheng nodded. He knew that the Zhao family had some connections with Magistrate Qiu, but he didn't reveal everything when he spoke.

It was just a coincidence.

After the conversation, the clerk learned that Xu Dongsheng had been a student three years ago. If it weren't for the great changes that had befallen his family, this young man might already be a successful candidate in the imperial examinations.

What a talented person! Upon further reflection, Zhao Family Village—such a familiar name! My own parents even attended a wedding banquet there.

They had a very pleasant conversation.

"Xu Tongsheng, to be honest, the adults are currently overwhelmed with the case of the missing girl, and it is urgent to catch the thief."

If the real culprit is not caught in a day, countless innocent girls will suffer.

Xu Tongsheng is very talented, and we hope that he can lend a helping hand to help the yamen alleviate its predicament.

On this day's competition, only that scholar Lan and you are suitable to draw a decent portrait.

But there are so many suffering girls; one painter is simply not enough. Why don't you, Xu Tongsheng, help out and stay to paint a few more pictures?

Xu Dongsheng felt that he had been trapped by the advisor. This guy didn't talk about the transaction or wages, but only about righteousness and human relationships. He thought to himself that the old man was too wicked.

But since we've already come this far, it would be disrespectful to continue pushing us away, so I had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept the day's work.

The yamen specially prepared a room for Scholar Lan and Xu Dongsheng, and then the victims' families came in one by one to describe their daughters' appearance and other characteristics.

When he finished work that evening, Xu Dongsheng was utterly shocked.

Some of the missing girls bear some resemblance to Zhao Qingyan.

The girls who went missing from their homes were all very different, some were demure and gentle, some were bright and elegant, and some were lively and charming.

Rubbing his temples, Xu Dongsheng felt he needed to hurry home.