Chapter 484 Li Yuan Writes Letters on Behalf of Others
Snap snap snap...
After a cup of tea.
The constables squatted on the ground with their hands covering their heads, enduring the brutal beating from the two scoundrels.
“Registrar Cui, Registrar Fang, we really didn’t know this old man was your relative.”
The yamen runners were on the verge of tears.
I finally managed to snag a bargain, and I thought I could have an extra meal tonight.
Who would have thought they'd run into two big gray wolves?
"Remember, this street is protected by the big boss, Ottoman."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"When you see Old Yuan in the future, you should call him Grandpa Yuan affectionately."
Yes, yes, yes.
"Alright, get lost!"
The constables took off running.
So lucky.
We actually escaped unscathed from the clutches of the tyrant in Chang'an!
"How is Old Yuantou?"
Choi Shin-ki grinned: "I still have more face, right?"
*Slap slap*
Li Yuan raised his hand and gave him two sharp raps on the head.
"You two are just two chief clerks; I am the Emperor Emeritus!"
Li Yuan rebuked him, "Do any of you have the same face as me?"
"What happened to the Emperor Emeritus?"
Choi Shin-ki muttered to himself, "He can't even sell his paintings for a few coins?"
"What did you say?"
"No...it's nothing."
Choi Sin-ki glanced guiltily at Lee Yeon.
snort.
Just then, another guest arrived.
He looked around the stall; there were pens, paper…
Who owns this stall?
Huh?
Another customer?
However, when Li Yuan saw the other party's clothes, his heart sank.
This shabby appearance suggests they can't afford it.
"You want to buy a painting?"
"no."
"..."
Li Yuan's eye twitched, and his anger surged again.
"The old man wants to ask someone to write a letter for him."
Go write to someone else!
"Don't you have paper and pen?"
"I sell paintings!"
"Does selling paintings mean you can't write calligraphy?"
Oh my god.
Where did this troll come from?
Can't you tell that I dislike you very much?
"I'm not doing this kind of business."
"I understand!"
To everyone's surprise, the old man still refused to leave.
"Scholars, after all, care about their reputation."
“I know you might be afraid that writing a letter would make you lose face as a scholar.”
“But since you’re selling your calligraphy, you must be facing some difficulties in your life.”
"Life is more important than saving face."
"Selling calligraphy and paintings is essentially no different from writing letters on behalf of others."
"It's all about money, what does face have to do with it?"
"Don't think that writing letters is just a service for us illiterate people."
"But it earns a lot."
"So many people want to do this job but can't..."
The old man launched into a long, rambling lecture.
This truly left Li Yuan speechless.
Who said I sold paintings to make money? I sold them to prove myself!
And... you're Xiao Wei's neighbor, right?
How can someone be so talkative?
"Fine, I'll write it for you, okay?" Li Yuan surrendered helplessly.
If this goes on any longer, I won't be able to sell this painting anymore.
"Ah, that's right."
The old man was very happy.
I convinced another confused student, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment.
The tone shifted abruptly: "How much?"
How much?
This question caught Li Yuan off guard.
One hundred strings of cash?
That's unrealistic.
It's obvious this old man can't afford it.
"How much do you usually charge for having someone write your work?" Li Yuan asked.
"A letter costs five coins..."
Paper, envelopes, and writing fees—it all adds up to quite a bit of money.
Therefore, many scholars in ancient times earned money by writing letters for others.
That's really profitable!
"Then I'll give you four coins."
Li Yuan immediately disrupted market prices.
The old man looked rather shabby, so we couldn't exploit him too much.
"real?"
"Would I lie to you?" Li Yuan glared at him, clearly displeased.
"If it's true, I'll introduce you to some customers."
"..."
Do you really think I'm just someone writing letters?
However, Li Yuan still obediently wrote down what the old man said.
"Your handwriting is much better than others'."
After he finished writing, the old man unfolded it and took a look.
Although he was illiterate.
However, one can also distinguish between good and bad handwriting.
"Of course!"
"I'm not bragging to you."
"The longer you ponder a word, the more techniques and insights you gain."
"I've been writing for decades, that's definitely not something those greenhorns can compare to..."
Li Yuan started his nagging mode.
He was placed under house arrest for so long.
If you finally meet someone who appreciates your work, you'll have to brag about it to your heart's content, right?
"Yeah?"
The old man laughed heartily: "I think your stall can sell not only paintings, but also calligraphy copybooks."
"That won't do!"
Li Yuan waved his hand in refusal: "My main business is selling paintings!"
"You wouldn't understand this, would you..."
The old man got excited too: "If you want to sell your calligraphy and paintings for a high price, you have to make a name for yourself first."
"You don't even have a reputation yet, so why would anyone be willing to pay a high price?"
Um?
That makes sense!
Li Yuan's eyes lit up.
Then I started having a long chat with the old man.
"I need to mail a letter first, let's talk more tomorrow..."
After chatting for a while, the old man said goodbye.
"Okay then."
Li Yuan was somewhat disheartened.
The three of them could tease him, but they couldn't really connect on a conversation.
Having finally met an old man he could talk to, he wanted to chat a little longer.
"Your Majesty, weren't you selling paintings? Why are you writing letters?"
As soon as the other person left, Choi Shin-ki came up to him again.
"Get out of here... I get angry just seeing you two."
Sunset is approaching.
Li Yuan still hadn't sold a single painting.
Upon hearing that the unit was "guan" (贯), everyone turned and left in fright.
Many people also criticized Li Yuan for being obsessed with money.
"Everyone, come and see, right here..."
Just as Li Yuan was about to pack up and return to the palace, a familiar voice rang in his ears.
The old man who had written the letter earlier arrived with a large group of people...
"Old Qiu, what brings you here again?"
"It's not because your handwriting is good, but also because it's cheap."
Old Qiu laughed loudly, "When I went to mail the letter, I mentioned something, and they all came to you to write letters."
"..."
Thank you.
My words are worth a thousand pieces of gold, yet you treat me like a beast of burden?
However, Li Yuan couldn't refuse Old Qiu's kind offer.
I began writing, one character at a time.
"What's going on? Why are there so many people?"
When Wei Shuyu came over from his shift and saw so many people surrounding Li Yuan, he couldn't help but feel worried.
If Li Yuan were assassinated.
The Wei family was stripped bare.
Sometimes it wasn't that the ministers wouldn't allow the emperor to leave the palace, but rather that the emperor might encounter danger outside the palace, and the ministers couldn't bear the consequences.
"Big brother, what brings you here?" Choi Shin-ki greeted him.
"Nonsense, you guys haven't been back on duty all day, how could I not come?" Wei Shuyu rolled his eyes.
"Big brother, I'll tell you something..."
Choi Sin-ki glanced at Li Yuan: "The Emperor Emeritus is acting strangely, very strangely!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Fang Yi'ai nodded repeatedly: "I bet the Emperor Emeritus will come again tomorrow..."
Um?
Wei Shuyu looked at Li Yuan, who was being praised to the point of exhaustion.
Is Li Yuan really going to set up a stall here every day?
"Little Chicken, Little Ai, why aren't you coming over to help?" Li Yuan shouted.
After writing the letter, you have to put it in an envelope and seal it.
Without the help of these two, we really couldn't manage...
When I saw Wei Shuyu, I blurted out something without thinking...
"Oh, Xiaoyu is here too."
Wei Shuyu's face darkened.
Damn it, Xiaoyu.
If you keep calling me that, even the Emperor Emeritus won't give you any face!
"Old Yuan, is this your grandson?"
"What kind of grandsons are they? They're all good-for-nothings who only know how to annoy me all day long!"
"Haha... It's good to annoy people, that's what makes a house feel more alive!"
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