The weak scholar in the end of ancient times

Chapter 89 The Calligrapher and Painter
Upon seeing the grain coupons, Feng Zaining was stunned for a long time.

This is the first time I've received a return gift like this.

A note was also sent with the gift.

The content inside roughly means: During our casual conversation today, Brother Feng mentioned that he had just arrived and was not yet settled in, and his servants were running around, which was quite inconvenient. After thinking it over, I thought it would be better to lighten Brother Feng's burden.

The post stated that these food coupons were printed this month and are valid for three months. They can be used in Jingxingfang, where the canteen offers ginger soup, hot porridge, and occasionally some meat, eggs, and side dishes…

Feng Zaining put down the invitation and picked up a grain coupon from the wooden box.

Gold, silver, copper, and iron are no longer worth what they used to be, and the money you can get in return is much more substantial.

In the past, it was convenient to give servants some small amounts of silver as a reward, but now it's really inconvenient, as grain and goods have to be pre-packaged.

If the canteen in Jingxingfang is reliable, these food coupons can indeed be used.

The pearls and corals he gave to Wen Gu would have been priceless in the past. But now, it's hard to say.

The wealthy and powerful who love jewelry are willing to pay high prices; if no one likes it, its value will plummet.

After making a compromise assessment, what he gave away was not much different from the grain coupons and glass book knife he had given as a return gift.

During his three days in Xinzhou City, Feng Zaining sent out many gifts, and the return gifts he received were roughly divided into two types: those that emphasized "form" and those that emphasized "substance".

"This Director Wen seems to be a pragmatic person."

Those two from the Shen family aren't very reliable; don't place too much hope in them. This Director Wen, however, is quite interesting.

Analyzing the people from Xinzhou he had met over the past few days, Feng Zaining took out a thick stack of grain coupons from the box, called over his attendants, and distributed these grain coupons to everyone as allowances.

If it's inconvenient for the guards and attendants to cook, they can try going to the large canteen in Jingxingfang with their food coupons.

The world is different now, and commerce in the city is far from active.

In the past, servants could buy their own food when they ran errands outside, but Xinzhou City was a strictly managed neighborhood system, with no shops on either side of the road, only neighborhood walls.

They had just arrived and hadn't yet figured out which neighborhoods sold food.

Currently, Jingxingfang is the first one.

Those who went to Jingxingfang to gather information no longer needed to hide their activities.

After giving instructions regarding the grain coupons, Feng Zaining thought of the magic gourd he had seen at Jingqing Gong's residence.

When he chatted with his grandmother, he also thought about building a Buddhist temple using something as shiny as Baoqiao, but he had to first understand the rules of Xinzhou City and the attitude of the Zhao family.

The Buddhist shrine in the house I currently live in will remain as it is for now. We'll keep a low profile for now, observe the situation, and then renovate it later.

The fact that the Taoist temple in Qingyunfang was allowed to open must be due to other interests involved; it is not an ordinary Taoist temple.

He thought the magic gourd was alright. Although it was made by a Taoist priest, it would be nice to buy one and put it at home.

I'll ask another day whether it's better to buy it directly with money and grain, or to donate some merit money to exchange for it.

Jingxingfang.

After the construction site was shut down, many manual laborers temporarily lost their income and cut back on food.

The canteen was a bit quieter, and the circulation of food coupons had slowed down.

But soon, people from Sihaifang made the place noisy again.

The guards and attendants of the Feng family arrived one after another, carrying their food coupons and allowances.

They were quite enthusiastic, offering a close-up view of the bridge, making it easier to gather information, and providing hot soup.

Seeing this, the other people who had migrated north from the city this winter also had a new idea.

Since we are all new to this place and have not yet prepared many things, it is inconvenient for the servants to cook and it is also inconvenient to give them rewards. It would be better to use the grain coupons from Jingxingfang as subsidies.

In the end, we can save some money and food while also getting more information.

Saves money, time, and effort.

It's not that no one had thought of it before, but everyone had many concerns and no one wanted to be the first.

Now that the Feng family of Sihaifang had taken the first step and seemed to be fine, they followed with peace of mind.

For small quantities, exchange food coupons directly with the canteen manager; for larger quantities, exchange them at the public office.

There were also wealthy families who frequently sent servants to the city gate to receive their family members returning from outside the city; they had to send someone to look out at the city gate several times a day.

Especially on snowy days, some managers would bring people to the Jingxingfang Grand Canteen to drink ginger soup and hot porridge while they waited.

Leave one or two quick-footed men at the city gate to relay messages. If there is any movement, just give a shout and they can rush over immediately.

Jingxingfang isn't right next to the main road, but it's not far either, and it's quick to get there and back. There's no need for everyone to gather at the city gate and freeze.

Suddenly, the Jingxingfang canteen became crowded.

Therefore, several sheds near the canteen that were used to store miscellaneous items were cleared out and used as private dining rooms.
The generous managers, unwilling to stay in the main dining hall, would reserve a private room with a coal stove and exhaust pipe to conduct heat.

The cafeteria hired five more temporary workers to clean up the dishes and do other cleaning.

Cheng Zhi and He Xiaodi grinned broadly as they reviewed the accounts.

The cafeteria spends a lot of money, but it also makes a lot of money!

The neighborhood head said that the main canteen is not enough, and a second canteen will be built after the weather recovers. At that time, more people will be hired.

Now, some residents who have nothing to do will take the initiative to go to the canteen to help out, make their presence known, and try to get priority in being hired.

Wen Gu drew a picture of the lively scene in the canteen and asked Chang Shun to send it to the calligrapher and painter he had chosen.

It's still a trial period; he hasn't officially started learning the craft yet. It's a two-way selection process.

Wen Gu chose this person as his calligraphy and painting teacher, but he still needed the other party to accept him as a student.

The three candidates my cousin recommended all come from extraordinary family backgrounds.

Despite their advanced age and leisure at home, these three individuals are actually quite extraordinary family members.

One of the family members is a former Hanlin Academician, who was a confidential secretary to the emperor and is now helping Old Zhao with his affairs.

One of his cousins ​​was once the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, and now he is also highly regarded by Old Zhao.

Then there's the old man Wen Gu has his eye on. He's surnamed Hong, and his two sons once held important positions in the imperial court. Now they help Old Zhao govern the town.

In a world ravaged by plague, even a small town is not one that ordinary people can govern effectively.

Just like the counties that Wen Gu and his companions encountered on their journey north, some were completely wiped out and became monster lairs, while others managed to preserve more lives, becoming a beacon of light in the chaotic world.

In short, these three individuals currently hold no real power, but their families do.

That's how powerful and influential families are; you can't judge them by looking at just one person. They stick together, and if one thing happens, the whole thing is affected.

We really can't use force.

Treat others with sincerity! Connect with others from the heart!

I want to make this Mr. Hong feel my dedication to seeking knowledge and learning!

From the day the candidate was chosen, Wen Gu would send the old gentleman a painting every few days, asking him for his guidance.

The accompanying post clearly stated that he was drawing a picture of the large canteen, and that once he had a satisfactory drawing, he would use it to print food coupons.

Of course, it won't be printed with such precision; it will only refer to the composition angle, primary and secondary elements, solid and void, density and sparseness, where to leave blank space, the position of the seal, and so on.

Layout and composition can influence the overall spirit and atmosphere of a painting.

Since it's all about learning to draw, even well-drawn pictures will have their uses.

So, the fresh map of Jingxingfang Grand Canteen was delivered to a certain neighborhood in the core area.

On Grandpa Hong's desk.

The unfolded scroll is vivid and lively, as if one can hear the bustling sounds of the marketplace in the past.

Although Old Master Hong had never been to Jingxingfang in person, he had only seen the precious bridge when he passed by nearby.

What was Jingxingfang like? He had only heard about it from others. But the canteen of Jingxingfang was now clearly imprinted in his mind.

The changes in the cafeteria during this period, like a serialized story, brightened the mood of those who viewed the painting.

It has a nostalgic, down-to-earth atmosphere.

Judging solely from his painting skills, Mr. Hong's opinion was that Wen Gu's paintings were not particularly good.

But he could sense that the people in the painting were full of hope and vitality in every detail, rather than struggling in the mire or sinking into numbness.

From laborers working hard on construction sites to idlers running errands and joining in the fun, and even stewards and attendants in wealthy households, all have taken on a more vibrant side.

As Mr. Hong revisits the paintings, his mindset also changes.

At first, I would just add a few strokes to the painting, but later I would carefully point out the problems and make corrections.

...and now.

The old servant beside him had been with him for many years, and they usually got along quite well and casually.

From the first painting Wen Gu sent to this one, the old servant has seen them all.

In his recent paintings, the cafeteria looked rather deserted, and his mood reflected that.

With the weather freezing cold and construction sites closed, the laborers were nowhere to be seen, leaving only idle men who boasted.

Jingxingfang was unusually crowded and lively today. He seemed to feel the warmth of the winter fireplace as well, and couldn't help but smile.

The old servant had already ground the ink and laid out various pigments, waiting for the master to revise the painting.

However, the person at the table picked up the pen several times, then put it down again.

Grandpa Hong stared silently at the painting in front of him.

It's not that the composition and technique of the painting are perfect enough.

After thinking for a long time, he took out his seal and stamped it heavily.

The old servant beside him asked in confusion, "...Master? You're not going to paint anymore?"

"I'm not drawing anymore!"

Old Master Hong stamped the document with a snap, showing no intention of writing anything.

"I always have this weird feeling that I'm helping him draw up food coupons or working for him! Or maybe it's not just a feeling?"

“Ah, this…” The old servant was stunned.

No, no, that's not true.

Following the master's instructions, he rolled up the painting and had it delivered to Jingxingfang.

He was still thinking to himself: Although the scholars who survived the chaos of the times were all cunning, what if that Wen Fangzhang was really an honest kid?
Qingyunfang.

Wen Gu looked at the craftsmen before him with clear and sincere eyes:
"Your skills are becoming more and more exquisite and proficient!"

He just received a customized learning gift, and he is very satisfied with the finished product.

After being spurred on, the dog-like Taoist priest was indeed motivated and quickly worked with the craftsmen to complete the work. The craftsmen in front of him were mainly responsible for the carving and polishing processes.

The review section praises the craftsmanship of the artisans, from the details of the carving to the overall effect and the craftsman's skill, with each sentence expressing a unique sentiment.

The craftsmen in front of him were so flattered by the praise that they blushed and were too excited to know what to do.

They were all craftsmen kept by wealthy families. They usually worked for their employers, and if the employer was happy, they would give them a reward; if the employer was unhappy, they would be punished in any way they wanted.

Only with Wenfangzhu could I hear such sincere praise, and he was so generous with the payment! I'm overjoyed!

Afterwards, Wen Gu left several more challenging polishing tasks, and the craftsmen repeatedly assured him that they would definitely finish making the items for the workshop director before the end of the year!
Wen Gu walked back with the gifts he had received for learning the craft.

With the addition of the Feng family, a prominent merchant family, to the Sihaifang business group, the kiln business has become more financially secure, and there is now enough money and supplies to purchase raw materials and auxiliary materials.

Anyway, the failed attempts at firing will all become decorative materials for Wanfuyuan next year.

The result of the artisans' hard work was that they finally managed to fire materials that met the requirements for reviewing and studying!
If he can finish making something before the New Year, the New Year's gifts he gives to his aunt, uncle, and cousin will be quite substantial.

Hmm, my uncle's warehouse is full again recently.

The amount of money certificates those businesses in Sihaifang held indicated how much merchandise they had given to the Zhao family…

Thinking about the New Year, Wen Gu returned to Jingxingfang and was then greeted by the painting delivered by Mr. Hong's servant.

"The revisions were done so quickly this time?"

Previously, they would be sent back every one or two days.

I am well aware of my own drawing skills; they are far from sufficient.

Wen Gu opened the scroll with a sense of doubt.

There wasn't an extra stroke in the painting, but there was an extra seal.

This is the key!
A look of joy appeared on Wen Gu's face.

This is the first time Mr. Hong has used his seal, which means he approves!

In other words, he can now formally come to learn the craft!
Wen Gu looked at the painting again, rolled it up and put it away, then wrote a message to schedule a time.

They also packed up gifts for the apprenticeship program—

Made of glass, the ink tray and brush washer are designed to be stacked, making them both decorative and usable.

The overall shape is square on the outside and round on the inside.

The outer shape is square, symbolizing firmness and stability. The inner shape is round, symbolizing harmony and balance.

The surface is engraved with auspicious patterns, making it suitable for placement on a desk, as it is both practical and elegant.

Mr. Hong does not formally accept apprentices, so he does not accept formal apprenticeship gifts. This is just a learning gift prepared for reviewing the skills.

The next day, he took Tie Tou and Cheng Zhi to a neighborhood near the city's core area.

Here, or more precisely, in the neighboring wards, many officials resided.

Old Master Hong is sixty years old, with gray hair and beard.

He once served as an official, but resigned early to run an academy and teach.

While he may not have countless students, he has still produced quite a few talented individuals.

It wasn't until the chaotic times that he and his family came to Xinzhou in the north.

The old man had a deep concern for the country and its people, as well as a strong sense of martial spirit.

I reviewed and recalled the information I had learned.

Unfortunately, a new round of snowfall has begun today, but thankfully the wind is not strong.

If the world were at peace, there would surely be many scholars composing poems and appreciating the snow.

However, nowadays, it only appears cold and desolate.

Even in this neighborhood full of wealthy and powerful people, if you pause to listen for a moment, you can hear cries that are either faint or sharp.

Upon arriving at the residence of Old Master Hong, a servant led us into the courtyard.

An elderly man in blue is practicing swordplay in the snow.

His figure was lean yet strong, his imposing presence like that of an armored warrior breaking through enemy lines.

A sudden north wind howled, and the cold light chased the snow.

His swordsmanship was sharp and righteous, reminiscent of the sages of the past.

Wen Gu stood to the side, watching quietly.

The old man is in great health!

I can still practice swordsmanship for at least another twenty years!
(End of this chapter)