Chapter 17: Exchange Paintings for Money
Jiang Miaomiao stretched out her little hand.
He was babbling in his mouth.
Eyes staring straight at the wall.
Lu Qingyao followed her daughter's gaze and saw a picture of green bamboo on the wall.
I was secretly happy.
Why didn't she think of it?
The little guy is really her lucky star, and she kissed him on the little cheek.
Turning to Liu Yu Niang, he said, "Sister-in-law, there is a way. We can sell these paintings and pay back the money."
Liu Yu Niang was half-believing and half-doubting, "Really? Sister-in-law, don't lie to me."
These calligraphy and paintings do not look new and some of the colors have even faded.
Can it really be sold for money?
"Of course it's true. You should first ask Aunt Zhang to reject the marriage, and then come home tonight to get the money." Lu Qingyao instructed her that this should be done as soon as possible.
In terms of technique, the paintings that Jiang Yunze painted in the past were not as good as those in his later years.
The brush, ink and paper used are also very ordinary rice paper.
But none of this matters.
What’s important is that they are all from Jiang Yunze’s handwriting.
I just don’t know if his calligraphy and paintings are worth money in this rural area?
"Mom, I copied twenty books, which should be worth one or two taels of silver. You can take them and exchange them for the money for my aunt." Jiang Ziyan and his brother took out the books.
Lu Qingyao didn't say that the money was too little and far from enough to pay back.
The child is so thoughtful, so let’s change it first.
Open the almanac.
There are still two days until the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Good for traveling and making money...
Send the book first and try your luck, maybe you can meet Mr. Cui.
After that, Liu Yu Niang and her daughter left.
Lu Qingyao and her family prepared to go out. Because they had entertained the villagers, the rice and flour were almost finished.
Even the old hen that laid eggs was slaughtered.
Have to buy a few more.
Jiang Miaomiao didn't sleep well at night.
At this moment, she was sleeping soundly in her elder brother's arms.
Her little mouth was half open and saliva was flowing out.
I'm hungry again. Babies get hungry quickly.
As soon as I opened my eyes.
Then she saw the old man from last time smiling at her.
Jiang Miaomiao smiled back.
"Madam, your daughter is so smart." Shopkeeper Sun praised.
"Manager Sun, you're too kind. What can you see from a two-month-old baby?"
Lu Qingyao smiled modestly, thinking about how to bring up the matter of selling paintings.
After all, I told him last time that I didn’t recognize Jiang Yunze.
Now he comes to sell his calligraphy and paintings again.
Isn't it impossible to justify it?
Shopkeeper Sun accepted the copied book from Jiang Ziyan and paid him the money.
"Madam, this is one thousand two hundred coins. Keep it."
"Thank you!" Lu Qingyao took the copper coin and handed it to her youngest son, "Yan'er, keep your own money."
Shopkeeper Sun was not surprised.
After all, the child can earn money, so there is nothing wrong with saving it for himself.
Shopkeeper Sun saw that Lu Qingyao seemed to have something to say, so he thought she wanted to ask Mr. Cui.
"Madam, I originally told you that Mr. Cui would come on the fifth day of the New Year, but now I'm afraid he can't come..."
"Why?" Lu Qingyao and Jiang Ziyan asked at the same time.
"It's a coincidence that the New Year is almost here. Young Master Cui has sent someone to take the Cui family elders back to Beijing for the New Year. They're leaving tomorrow. I'm afraid I won't be able to become their disciple!"
Shopkeeper Sun also felt very sorry.
This young man has such talent. If he can become Mr. Cui's disciple, he will definitely have a bright future.
"I wonder if Mr. Cui will come back after the New Year?" This is what Lu Qingyao is most concerned about at the moment.
The reason why she came all the way to Qingshi Town.
The most important reason is that I came here for Mr. Cui.
"It's hard to say. Several of the Cui family's sons are in the capital. I heard that the old man's second daughter-in-law gave birth to a little grandson, so they are rushing back to see him."
Seeing the mother and son looking disappointed, Shopkeeper Sun quickly comforted them, "Don't be discouraged, Madam. Even if Mr. Cui doesn't return to Qingshi Town, you can still go to the capital to find him. I've mentioned this to the old man before, and he wants to meet your young master, too."
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Sun! We'll wait and see."
Jiang Ziyan glanced at his mother.
They can’t go back to Beijing for the time being, as the capital can no longer accommodate them.
Lu Qingyao hesitated for a moment, then took out Jiang Yunze's calligraphy and paintings. "Shopkeeper Sun, could you please help me see how much these calligraphy and paintings are worth?"
She searched the entire house but only found two pieces of calligraphy and a painting of green bamboo.
When Shopkeeper Sun opened the calligraphy and paintings, his brows furrowed slightly, "Madam, are you really going to sell these calligraphy and paintings?"
"Sell it!" Lu Qingyao didn't care how much it could be sold for.
As long as it can solve the immediate problem, it's fine.
She was just curious that Manager Sun didn't even ask her about the origins of the calligraphy and paintings.
Shopkeeper Sun had a vague guess.
He asked the servants of the Cui family who came from the capital and learned that the family of General Lu Huaian, the Great Zhenbei, was convicted and exiled.
Now there is only one married daughter left.
The man that the girl from the Lu family married was Jiang Yunze, the Minister of Rites.
I think the person in front of me is the Mrs. Jiang who is in trouble.
"Madam, let me be frank. Although Lord Jiang's calligraphy and paintings are very popular among young students, these paintings have been damaged by moisture due to improper collection, so the price has dropped a bit..."
"Shopkeeper Sun, please name a price."
Lu Qingyao actually didn’t know how much Jiang Yunze’s calligraphy and paintings were worth.
My expectations are not high, ten or twenty taels will do.
"One hundred taels." Shopkeeper Sun rolled up the scroll and said, "Three paintings, I can only offer one hundred taels. Do you want to sell them?"
"Sell, of course." Lu Qingyao said without hesitation.
I didn’t expect that Jiang Yunze’s paintings are so valuable in this remote place.
If it had happened in the past, she wouldn't have thought it was a big deal.
Can be placed in Qingshi Town.
In comparison, the average family earns less than 100 coins a day.
This one hundred taels of silver is a sky-high price.
"Shopkeeper, can you exchange it all for small change?"
"Of course." Shopkeeper Sun looked at the joy on the family's faces.
A little confused.
How could the wife of a minister fall into such a state?
It was the first time that Jiang Zifeng and Jiang Ziyan knew that their father's calligraphy and paintings were so valuable.
I regret not taking some out secretly.
But what makes her even happier is that Sister Qiao'er doesn't have to marry Liu Shazi.
Jiang Miaomiao was playing with the little doll in her hand.
His eyes were rolling around.
Disagree.
She calculated.
My scumbag dad's calligraphy and paintings only cost more than thirty taels each.
If the new work was placed in the capital, it would probably cost only about 100 taels per piece.
Not expensive... not expensive at all...
She had seen the research.
In the ancient collecting world, an ordinary painting or calligraphy would cost anywhere from dozens to hundreds of taels of silver.
As for famous paintings by famous people, they would cost at least a thousand taels of silver.
The level of the scumbag dad should be above average.
Received the money.
It seemed that my mother and brothers had forgotten the regret of not being able to become his disciples.
Shopping spree...
The eldest and second brothers each received two taels of silver.
The eldest brother went to the blacksmith shop to make a sword.
My second brother bought a new book.
My mother spent three taels of silver to buy one stone of corn and four stone of fine grains.
Getting ready to fill up the newly dug cellar at home.
I spent another three hundred taels of silver to buy six half-grown hens.
Before leaving, I went to the pastry shop and bought some yam cake.
Jiang Miaomiao looked at her mother with burning eyes.
Mother...where's mine, where's mine...
You can’t refuse to buy it for me just because I don’t have teeth.
Lu Qingyao pinched her little face and smiled gently: "Miaomiao is still young, mother will save it for you..."
Jiang Miaomiao pouted and looked unhappy.
......
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