Chapter 183 Portrait

As dusk fell, strings of lanterns were lit around the stalls to illuminate the scene, echoing the full moon in the sky, creating a very fitting atmosphere.

The family's two stalls are already set up, one on East Street and the other on West Street.

A long street runs east to west, selling food and trinkets, while a street runs north to south, lined with lanterns of all kinds. At the intersection in the middle, there are ice lanterns, the most distinctive feature of the northern region.

Craftsmen chisel ice from the river and then carve it into various shapes, crystal clear and exquisite.

"Little girl, you're on your way."

With a smile on her face, Ms. Chen quickly greeted the guests.

"What kind of noodles are these? One bowl each."

The first table of customers were probably from out of town and were quite hungry. Seeing the steaming food at the stall, they just wanted a quick bite so as not to miss the lantern festival.

Lin Yuesha explained to the customers that plain hot and sour noodles cost eight coins, and adding some minced meat would only cost ten coins, and the taste would be even better.

Of course, if someone can't eat spicy food, she can make a clear broth version of the hot and sour noodles, which is neither sour nor spicy. This is her last act of defiance.

After finishing a bowl of hot and sour noodles, they drank every last drop of the broth and praised it highly. As soon as one group of guests left, new guests joined them one after another.

There aren't many people yet, but the house is already bustling with activity.

Zhang Qing'er and Jiang Baozhu came over and invited Lin Yuesha to go for a stroll through the lantern displays.

"Let Light Green stay and watch the stall, let's go take a look around."

Zhang Qing'er pulled Lin Yuesha, determined to keep Qianlu.

"This won't do!"

Qianlu was Zhang Qing'er's head maid. She didn't usually do any rough work, and everyone wanted to see the lantern festival, so she couldn't do that.

"Miss Lin, it's alright, leave it to me."

Qianlv didn't mind at all. She and her young mistress had discussed it beforehand, and she would come to help out and relieve Lin Yuesha for a while.

The main reason is that her daughter hired an artist to paint portraits of the three of them as a keepsake.

"Sister Yue Sha, come with me."

Zhang Qing'er had a long face; this might be the last chance for the three sisters to stroll around together.

Her father received a transfer order to serve as the prefect of a prefecture in the south after the New Year. The order was issued during the day, catching Zhang Qing'er off guard.

Ultimately, the fact that her father's position remained unchanged for several years, only to be suddenly promoted after the New Year, was largely due to Lin Yuesha's efforts.

"You're the one who overturned the blood-drop kinship test, but it's my father who benefits from it."

Zhang Qing'er believed that the government should give Lin Yuesha a large reward instead of just sending her away with a hundred or so taels of silver.

"Lord Zhang has always been honest and upright, serving the people. His promotion is a wonderful thing!"

Lin Yuesha was genuinely happy for Zhang Qing'er. Even after she went south, she would still be a good sister she could keep in touch with and who was worth thinking about.

"If Lord Zhang doesn't get promoted, are you suggesting I become an official?"

Lin Yuesha smiled and handed the apron in front of her to Qianlu. If that were the case, she really wanted to be with Zhang Qing'er.

Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and the Zhang family is packing their things to set off, meaning the two will have fewer and fewer opportunities to meet.

"Sister Yue Sha, Bao Zhu, I can't bear to part with you."

Zhang Qing'er's eyes were slightly red. The news came too suddenly. Although her parents were very happy, she felt no joy at all.

Although they hadn't known Lin Yuesha and Jiang Baozhu for long and the three of them had different personalities, they inexplicably got along well.

She was about to embark on a long journey, and the three of them didn't know if they would ever see each other again before their wedding.

Before her marriage, her mother, Lin, had a close sister who followed her husband to the Northwest. They corresponded only once every year or two, and she might never see her again in this lifetime.

Zhang Qing'er couldn't help but feel sad whenever she thought about this.

"Sister Qing'er, we are destined to meet, we will meet again someday."

Lin Yuesha was also somewhat reluctant, but she couldn't control whether the other party wanted to leave.

“Qing’er, you often write back from the south. I heard there are many delicious foods there. Don’t you want to try all the delicacies in the world? The south is a rare find.”

Jiang Baozhu comforted Zhang Qing'er, and Zhang Qing'er stopped crying and started laughing.

Yes, although they can't meet for the time being, she can write letters and buy some pretty little things from the south to give to her sisters.

"I didn't discuss it with you. I found an artist to paint our portraits so that even after a few years, I won't forget what you look like."

As Zhang Qing'er spoke, she became sentimental again.

"Okay, but if I become more beautiful in a few years, I'll still want to have my portrait redrawn!"

To lighten the mood, Lin Yuesha smoothed her hair and bought a rabbit-shaped jade hairpin of less-than-ideal quality from a stall for one or two taels of silver.

"Those lotus lanterns were made by craftsmen commissioned by the government. Let's stand in the middle of the lotus flowers."

There were many people around, and as it got dark, there were even more people.

Fine snowflakes drifted in the air, and soon Lin Yuesha's head was covered with tiny white specks, like she was wearing plum blossoms.

"Ladies, just smile gently when you're together."

Zhang Qing'er went all out and invited three painters. The three of them buried themselves in their work and soon produced three portraits of beautiful women.

"Sir, I can see Sister Yue Sha and Bao Zhu in your painting, but who is this stunning beauty?"

Zhang Qing'er looked carefully and found no one behind her.

The artist was embarrassed and laughed, "This is you, Miss."

When painting a portrait of the county magistrate's daughter, he couldn't make her look ugly, especially since the other two women were more beautiful than her.

Fearing criticism, the artist had no choice but to make slight changes, portraying Zhang Qing'er as a great beauty as well.

"This is what I look like, how come I didn't know!"

After a moment's thought, Zhang Qing'er understood the artist's intentions and was quite annoyed.

The portrait is meant to be kept as a memento, not for a beauty contest. If we keep this portrait and give it to Lin Yuesha and Jiang Baozhu, will those two still remember her?

"Redraw it! I want the most realistic one! If it's not drawn well, I'll tell my father!"

Zhang Qing'er doesn't need to be fawned over; she repeatedly stated that she wants to be in her most natural and authentic state.

Whether a person is good-looking or not is a gift from their parents. Although she is not that beautiful, her family background is already very good. She has no worries about food and drink and has never suffered any great injustice. If she is still not satisfied, even God will not be able to stand it.

The artists were reprimanded. They looked at each other, exchanged glances, and finally reached an agreement: to do as the young lady said.

After another fifteen minutes, the new portrait was completed. Zhang Qing'er was satisfied with the new portrait; the round-faced, smiling girl was indeed her.

The three of them nestled together, their smiles illuminated by the lamplight, and a subtle light shimmering in their eyes.

“Moonlight Maiden, Baozhu, each of you choose a painter and a location.”

The group photo of the three is complete. Next, we need to make individual portraits, at least three in total, for each to be kept.

This trip will likely be the last time Zhang Qing'er has the chance to return to the North, and this is the only way she can think of to commemorate the occasion.

Perhaps in the future, when I get married and have children, seeing these things will remind me of those days, and they will all be beautiful memories.

"Alright, sir, please follow me."

Lin Yuesha chose an elderly man with a white beard. As for the location, it was her family's hot and sour noodles stall, and the signboard even had a calligraphy by Master Zhang.