Chapter 28028 Contracted Painter
"I went to town half a month ago to buy books, brushes, and ink, and by some chance I landed this job. My employer has asked me to finish fifteen illustrations, and today is the deadline."
Fu Wen hugged the drawing paper tightly in his arms and smiled brightly. "Based on the difficulty of the illustration, I roughly estimated the wages to be two hundred coins."
Two hundred coins for half a month, and four hundred coins for a month.
In Daxia, an average farmer earns 300 coins a month, and working outside can earn at most 500 coins a month. If this business can be developed in the long term, daily expenses will not be a problem, and a lot of money can be saved.
"If it works, I'll treat you to a good meal tonight," Du Qingtang promised. "Let's go to the bookstore first, and then go to Xuanbaozhai to buy some rice paper, okay?"
Fu Wen readily agreed: "Then I won't be polite."
Friends always interact with each other. Last time she treated us to a meal, this time it was Du Qingtang's turn.
Qingyuan Bookstore is very close to the academy, and can be reached in an incense stick's time on foot.
It was a coincidence that the boss came to the bookstore to check the accounts today. When he was about to leave after checking the accounts, Fu Wen and Du Qingtang arrived.
Fu Wen handed over the drawing paper and said, "Master, please take a look and see if these fifteen illustrations are up to standard."
The boss didn't waste any time and checked it on the spot.
After a while, he laughed out loud and said, "Young Master, your painting is very good. I am very satisfied."
Fu Wen breathed a sigh of relief: "As long as you are satisfied."
The boss turned around and told the shopkeeper, "Give this young master two hundred and thirty coins."
Fu Wen's hands trembled, and he exclaimed in surprise: "So many?"
The shopkeeper handed the wages to Fu Wen and left in silence.
The boss twirled his beard and said, "You paint well, so your wages will be high."
Fu Wenxi couldn't help but solemnly promised: "Don't worry, boss, I will definitely do my best to paint."
After saying that, he looked at Du Qingtang who was standing beside him and said, "Boss, you said a while ago that the printing house was in urgent need of painters. My good friend is also good at painting. Can you let her try?"
The boss was a straightforward man. He found a book, opened the page, and pointed to a paragraph: "If you can draw a picture based on this sentence, I will hire you."
This was a description of a scene. After reading it, Du Qingtang pondered for a moment, then soon got an inspiration. He picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and began to paint freely.
Her painting style is wild and free, yet contains something that is hard to explain. It is stunning at first sight, but depressing upon closer inspection.
But this did not affect the grandeur and beauty of the landscape painting at all. Fu Wen and the host subconsciously held their breath, fearing that they would disturb the painter and destroy the beauty.
Until Du Qingtang put down the last stroke, she held the brush in her right hand, gently gathered her wide sleeves with her left hand, and looked sideways: "Is the boss satisfied?"
The boss seemed to have just woken up from a dream, clapping his hands and laughing: "Excellent! Excellent!"
Fu Wen approached to watch. The sun was setting over the long river, and a solitary bird was flying across the sky. He couldn't help but recite under his breath: "The setting sun and the solitary wild goose fly together, the autumn water and the sky are the same color."
The host was well-educated, so he naturally understood the meaning of the poem: "A good poem goes well with a good painting. Wonderful! Wonderful! The two young masters have really given me such a big surprise!"
Fu Wen was a good painter, but she didn't expect that the person she introduced was even more skilled.
With these two people around, why worry about no one buying books with these illustrations?
"You two can sign a long-term contract with the printing house. As long as the printing house is still in operation, you can continue to work for me. Of course, as long as you can satisfy me and my customers, the wages are negotiable."
There are several printing houses in Qingyuan County, and these two great treasures must not be snatched away by our rivals.
Du Qingtang and Fu Wen looked at each other, smiles flashing in their eyes, and said in unison: "Of course!"
The boss was overjoyed and immediately asked the shopkeeper to draft the contract, while also chatting with them enthusiastically.
The deed was made in duplicate. After signing and sealing, Du Qingtang and Fu Wen took their respective deeds and fifteen blank sheets of drawing paper and left for Xuanbaozhai.
Along the way, Fu Wen would occasionally touch the 230 coins he had just acquired through his academy uniform, smiling from ear to ear.
"Except for food and the money for buying paper and ink, I can save at least 100 or 200 coins a month, 2 taels of silver a year, and 20 taels in ten years!" Fu Wen said happily, "The boss is really a good person."
Du Qingtang could tell that this was Fu Wen's catchphrase.
However, finding a leisurely part-time job is indeed a happy thing. Fu Wen is not an "old man" like her who was reincarnated three times after traveling back to ancient times and has lived for countless years. It is understandable that he is happy.
The two of them arrived at Xuanbaozhai, and the waiter came up to them and asked, "What would you like to buy, sir?"
Du Qingtang: "Fourth grade paper, two knives."
Fu Wen: "I'm the same as her."
The Xuan paper sold by Xuanbaozhai is divided into four grades, with grade one being the best and grade four being the worst, and of course also the cheapest.
Although they had money, they could not squander it recklessly. They both tacitly chose the inferior rice paper.
Pay the money and get the goods.
Returning to Qingyuan Academy, Fu Wen hurriedly washed his face, sat down and began to paint.
However, Du Qingtang did not do so. Instead, he took out a piece of rice paper and divided it into thirty-one parts horizontally and four parts vertically.
The horizontal columns are written from one to thirty-one, and the vertical columns are based on one hour, from the morning class at Chen to the evening class at You.
Fu Wen accidentally glanced at it and asked curiously, "Qingtang, what is this?"
Du Qingtang created a rough outline and filled in the monthly courses for the Enlightenment Class D in order: "Course schedule."
Fu Wen stared at it intently. From this so-called "schedule", it was clear how many classes there were every day and when the classes started.
She admired from the bottom of her heart: "Qingtang, Qingtang, your wonderful ideas always make my eyes light up."
The timetable is just the basics of modern education. Du Qingtang turned and pointed behind the door: "With this timetable, I can also arrange my painting time. I'll paste it on the door with glue so you and I can see it."
After hearing this, Fu Wen gave up the idea of making a copy and continued painting.
Du Qingtang finished his course schedule and started painting.
The two of them were completely focused, not disturbed by the outside world. It was not until the sun set and the sky darkened that they realized that an hour and a half had passed.
By this time, they had already drawn two illustrations.
Du Qingtang stretched and rubbed his stiff neck: "I won't paint anymore. Let's go eat first."
Fu Wen: "That's exactly what I meant."
The two went to the canteen together and bought a bowl of porridge and a vegetable pancake.
Before leaving, Du Qingtang asked the aunt in the cafeteria for some flour, made it into paste when he got home, and posted the schedule on the back of the door.
"Do you want to practice?"
"brush."
"First do the homework that Instructor Sun left behind, then brush up on it after you finish it."
"good."
Du Qingtang took out his homework book and test papers and spread them out on the table. The two of them practiced hard by candlelight until late at night.
-
The next day, Du Qingtang got up at dawn as usual.
When I put on my shoes, there was a rustling sound from the bed curtain opposite.
Fu Wen poked her head out, her hair disheveled and her face drowsy. She glanced outside first, then at Du Qingtang: "It's still dark, why are you up?"
Du Qingtang hung up the bed curtains, folded the quilt, and made the bed: "Go out and memorize the lessons."
"Memorize?" Fu Wen shuddered, completely awake, his eyes wide open. "You got up so early yesterday to memorize as well?"
Du Qingtang nodded: "Yeah."
Fu Wen sucked in a breath of cold air, frowning and muttering, "Qingtang, you're too hardworking. I look like I'm just here to do nothing."
Du Qingtang laughed: "So Awen wants to come with me?"
Fu Wen jumped up and said, "Of course!"
After they got dressed, they didn't even wash their faces. They just casually fixed their hair and went out.
The familiar statue of Confucius has two people sitting on each side, holding a book and reciting with their heads shaking.
The cool air keeps them awake, and reading in the morning helps with memory.
Do not disturb each other, work hard and make progress together.
Yesterday, a man wearing a brown short-sleeved shirt, who looked like a craftsman, passed by. When he saw that the number of people reading next to the Confucius statue had increased from one to two, he was stunned at first, and then a smile appeared on his cheek.
He walked lightly so as not to disturb the two children.
After the recitation session, Du Qingtang began to do radio gymnastics.
Since Fu Wen didn't know how to do it, she slowed down her movements so that Fu Wen could learn.
After the class, the two went back to the dormitory to wash up, went to the cafeteria to buy two buns, and rushed to the Enlightenment Class D.
The first class was still taught by Teacher Sun.
"No lectures today, just exercises." Instructor Sun had the test papers distributed. "Please also hand in yesterday's homework. I'll review it with you later. The best answers..."
Someone rushed to answer: "Is there a reward?"
Teacher Sun: "I will post the essay of the person who gives the best answer for others to study and appreciate."
Everyone: “Ah~”
Teacher Sun remained calm and said, "Shut up! Do the questions!"
Du Qingtang got the test paper and read the stem of the question——
"I do not create, but I believe in and love the past."
Write a policy paper of no less than 1,000 words based on these eight words.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
