Chapter 70: Making Tea and Discussing Painting
Zhao Xiaoliu reported the situation truthfully to Lin Qianqian and Si Xuan.
"My Lord, Miss Lin, I have already found out that all those noblemen from other places were invited to appreciate the paintings. They were the three paintings that Miss Lin sold to Mr. Qin II."
Lin Qianqian was worried at first, because the ice sculpture only required a few hundred people, but there were more than 100,000 people in Beiyue Pass, and providing such a small number of jobs could not support the people. Now, before the ice sculpture garden was completed, a large number of guests had already come to Beiyue City.
With so many guests coming, they must have food and drinks, and they must have accommodation.
Moreover, they are all wealthy people with strong purchasing power, which can bring considerable benefits to the people of Beiyue City.
Lin Qianqian was the first to smell the business opportunity.
It is totally possible to open a few shops. Anyway, I have girls who were rescued from bandits. Some of them are very weak and not suitable for going to the battlefield. It is better to open a few shops and let these girls work in the shops.
In addition, the shop can also recruit many people from Beiyue City to work, so that more people can earn money and support their families.
"Hongdou, go find my cousin Yueying and ask her to buy three or five shops to open a teahouse and a calligraphy and painting shop."
"Yes, girl."
~
At this time, the Qin Mansion and the second son of the Qin family's courtyard were filled with guests.
It was very cold outside. There were five tables in the yard, and tea was being brewed at each table, with steam bubbling out.
As a scholar, I like to discuss philosophy while drinking tea.
Most of the people were good friends of the second son of the Qin family, and some were friends of their friends. They were all obsessed with painting and came here because of his reputation.
In such cold weather, I traveled a long way just to see the masterpiece of the painting master.
"Qin Er, quickly bring out the painting saint's masterpiece."
"Yes, yes. I came all the way here in a carriage. I was so excited that I didn't sleep for many days."
Everyone urged the Second Master Qin to take out the paintings so that everyone could see them.
Ah Shui, the servant of the Second Young Master Qin, responded to the crowd: "Don't be anxious, my guests. My Second Young Master attaches great importance to such a masterpiece. You must wash your hands and burn incense before you bring out the painting."
Don’t be fooled by Qin Feng’s usual messy hair and unwashed face.
But before he took the painting, he washed his hands and wiped them again and again with a towel.
It finally came out after much anticipation.
Anyway, everyone has long been accustomed to Qin Feng's unkempt appearance. All the literati in the northwest know that Qin Feng is a famous painting fanatic.
You can stay up for days and nights to paint a picture, or you can admire a new painting you like for days and nights in a row.
Soon, Qin Feng took out the three paintings one by one. They had already been framed and carefully placed in the yard.
Eight servants held ropes in their hands and circled the painting, not allowing anyone to get within three meters.
Even so, all the scholars in the courtyard were still excited.
"Look at the seal on this painting. It really belongs to the painting saint."
"What a great painting! The composition is very exquisite."
"The writing is like a god! This is exactly the work of a painting saint. We are far behind!"
"After seeing this painting today, Fang will die without regrets."
…
Everyone was watching intently when suddenly a breeze blew in the courtyard.
This wind made the second master Qin very nervous.
"Hurry, the wind is blowing, don't damage the painting. If there is no wind tomorrow, I will show it to you all."
Although the literati did not see enough, they all regarded good historical books and paintings as treasures, and they all supported putting the paintings away.
"Brother Qin is right. Put it away quickly before it gets damaged."
"Brother Qin, please be careful, be gentler, even gentler."
Qin Feng's servant Ah Shui complained in his heart: When it comes to cherishing paintings, my young master dares to claim second place, and no one dares to claim first place. My young master loves painting as if it were his life, and he will be extremely careful without being reminded.
After moving the painting into the house and placing it properly, Qin Feng stayed in the house to accompany the painting, and actually forgot that his friends outside were waiting for him to come out.
The literati and painters miss their previous paintings very much, just like the longing they feel for a beautiful woman after falling in love with her at first sight.
They waited for an hour before Qin Feng came out of the house.
"Brother Qin, why don't we find a spacious place like a teahouse and hold an art exhibition so that all the art lovers in the world can have a look."
"Yes, Brother Qin, you don't have to pay, we can just pool our money together."
When the time comes, the paintings can be placed indoors for viewing, and you won’t have to worry about wind or snow, so you can fully appreciate them.
The news that three of the Saint’s paintings were in the North spread.
Many literati and painters come to Beiyue City from other places every day.
Although it was a cold snowy day, the streets were as lively as spring, with cars coming and going and the flow of people.
Everyone was waiting to see the works of the painting saint.
As a result, the second son of the Qin family kept dragging it out.
Today they use the excuse that it is windy, tomorrow they use the excuse that it is snowing, and the day after tomorrow they use the excuse that it is not an auspicious day.
In short, the fanatical painting fans have not been able to see the works of the painting saint again, and they are all very anxious.
Lin Qianqian bought a large shop close to the Ice Sculpture Grand View Garden and simply converted it into a teahouse.
It is named Yinyue Teahouse, and the "yue" is taken from the "yue" in my cousin Yueying's name.
After the Ice Sculpture Garden opens, we will provide supporting catering services here, and business will surely be booming.
"Cousin, I lent you money to open this teahouse. When you make money, just return the capital to me."
Lin Qianqian's move was to help the Jiang family earn more money.
My grandfather's family has a strong sense of self-respect and are unwilling to accept charity.
Apart from the two carts of things his cousin gave him at the beginning, he was unwilling to accept anything else.
If my cousin could earn money from doing business, she could improve the Jiang family's living conditions.
Because in Lin Qianqian's plan, the teahouse business is a sure win.
Even if she really had to pay compensation, she would not let her cousin pay for it.
Jiang Yueying showed a longing expression on her face. She used to weave cloth at home, which was forced by the imperial court. The only reward she got was a little bit of moldy coarse grain.
Now that I have the opportunity to make money, I am naturally very happy.
Jiang Yueying was also a little worried.
"Cousin Qian, the shop has been open for two days and there is not a single customer."
Lin Qianqian was not worried at all. "Everything is difficult at the beginning, but there will definitely be business in the future."
As a result, three days later, the teahouse business was still slow.
Jiang Yueying looked at so many idle shop assistants and became anxious, with blisters appearing at the corners of her mouth.
It takes a lot of money to support so many people. If we continue like this, we will lose a lot of money.
Lin Qianqian couldn't bear to see her cousin getting anxious and angry, so she spread the news that the paintings of the Saint of Painting were in the Yinyue Teahouse and could be appreciated for free.
The news was released that evening, when all the teahouses were closed.
As a result, the second son of Qin actually came.
No matter how the servant A Shui tried to persuade him, the second young master Qin was unwilling to go home and said he wanted to wait in the carriage until the teahouse opened the next day.
Ah Shui had no choice but to order someone to go back to the house to get a heater and thick quilt.
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