“This matter is easy to handle. Leave it to me!”
Upon hearing that it was just about finding a few scholars who write storybooks, the madam quickly patted her chest and promised, “The north courtyard of Hanxiang Tower has nothing else in abundance, but failed scholars are the most plentiful. For a few taels of silver, you can have as many as you want.”
“Mama Feng, this is the first task my master has entrusted to me. Money is not the issue. The most important thing is talent. The stories written must be good!” Qingyuan reminded her.
“Now that you mention it, I do recall someone.”
The madam said, “I remember seeing him just last night. Wait here. I will send a maid to look for him and see if he has left.”
With that, the madam hurried out.
Soon, a scholar in a long robe followed the madam in.
The scholar’s robe had been washed until it was faded white, with two patches at the knees.
“This is Chen Wenyuan, Young Master Chen!”
The madam introduced, “Qingyuan, you must have heard of him. He is the one close to Xiaolian.”
“So it is Young Master Chen!”
Qingyuan quickly curtsied.
She had indeed heard of Chen Wenyuan.
He was a down-and-out scholar with some talent, though his talent lay not in poetry or parallel prose, but in crafting stories.
Unfortunately, in the Great Kang, being able to craft stories was useless. One needed to write poetry or parallel prose to pass the imperial examinations.
Chen Wenyuan had taken the exams for several years in a row without even becoming a xiucai. He could only earn a living at the bridgehead by copying poems, books, classics, and letters for people.
Occasionally, he would write family biographies for deceased local gentry.
There was a girl named Xiaolian at Hanxiang Tower who was illiterate. She went to the bridgehead to ask Chen Wenyuan to help write a letter home.
That was how the two caught each other’s eye.
Printing technology in the Great Kang was very backward. Many books relied on manual copying to circulate.
Chen Wenyuan had excellent calligraphy, so he usually had decent business. Many wealthy families liked to hire him to copy poems and books.
His income was not huge, but it was enough for living. He could even afford to drink a few times a month.
But after meeting Xiaolian, Chen Wenyuan’s savings quickly ran out.
He worked desperately copying for people, yet needed to save for several days just to see his beloved once.
To spend a night at Hanxiang Tower, he had to save for at least half a month.
As for redeeming Xiaolian, that was something he dared not even dream of.
Xiaolian treated him well too. To meet him privately, she often used her own private savings to subsidise Chen Wenyuan.
This kind of life was too painful, so when the madam found him and said someone wanted to hire a storyteller, Chen Wenyuan came without hesitation.
“Young Master Chen, this is Miss Qingyuan. She is the one looking to hire you to write stories!”
The madam pointed to Qingyuan and introduced her again.
Upon hearing this, Chen Wenyuan could not help feeling a little disappointed.
Brothels generally did not receive female guests. From the way the madam had spoken to Qingyuan earlier, it was clear this girl knew Xiaolian.
So Chen Wenyuan subconsciously assumed Qingyuan was a brothel girl.
What story would a brothel girl want him to write?
And how much could she pay for it?
But out of politeness, Chen Wenyuan still bowed to Qingyuan. “This humble scholar greets Miss Qingyuan!”
“You are too polite, Young Master. Your story with Sister Lian is one that we sisters all envy.” Qingyuan said with a smile.
This was not a lie. Tales of talented scholars and beautiful ladies were always popular in brothels.
It was just a pity that this scholar was a bit too poor to redeem Xiaolian. Otherwise, it would surely become another beautiful tale.
“You make me ashamed, Miss!” Chen Wenyuan thought Qingyuan was trying to get close to bargain for a lower price, so he said, “Rest assured, Miss. Since you are Xiaolian’s sister, I certainly will not overcharge you!”
The madam, being such a shrewd person, saw through Chen Wenyuan’s little thought at a glance.
She quickly interjected, “Young Master Chen, Miss Qingyuan is now working for Mr Jin. She is also here on Mr Jin’s behalf to find someone to write stories!”
“Yes, Young Master Chen. As long as your stories are good, money is no object!”
Qingyuan added, “My master said that as long as it does not exceed thirty taels of silver, I can decide!”
Before leaving, Jin Feng had given her a full hundred taels, but for safety, she only mentioned thirty.
Even so, it was enough to excite Chen Wenyuan.
Usually, writing a letter for someone earned him only a few coppers.
Copying hundreds of pages of poetry might fetch a hundred wen.
Thirty taels of silver was more money than he had seen in his entire life.
“I do not need thirty taels. Twenty-five taels would be enough!”
Chen Wenyuan quickly waved his hand. “No, twenty-two and a half taels would suffice!”
Xiaolian was not a top courtesan, and she was no longer young. Chen Wenyuan had asked the madam. Twenty-five taels would be enough to redeem her.
Over the years, Xiaolian had secretly saved some tips from guests, totalling two and a half taels.
If Qingyuan gave him twenty-two and a half taels, he could pull Xiaolian out of her misery.
“I said, as long as Young Master’s stories are good, money is no problem!”
Qingyuan said, “But I will say the ugly truth upfront. My master is also a scholar. If the stories you write do not pass his scrutiny, then there is nothing I can do.”
“Your master would not plan to haggle down the price after I finish writing, would he?”
Chen Wenyuan frowned and asked.
He had encountered such clients before. They agreed happily beforehand and even gave a hundred wen copper as deposit cheerfully.
But after he joyfully copied hundreds of pages for them, when it came to payment, they nitpicked endlessly. The agreed three hundred wen ended up as only fifty more wen, and he was dismissed.
“If Young Master is unwilling to write, then so be it. I will find someone else. Please do not insult my master!”
Qingyuan, who had kept smiling, immediately turned cold upon hearing Chen Wenyuan question Jin Feng.
The guards behind her also turned to glare at him angrily.
“Young Master Chen, do not speak nonsense. Mr Jin’s worth is over ten thousand taels. How could he disregard his reputation and covet your small sum of silver?”
The madam, as the middleman, saw the two sides about to fall out and quickly tried to smooth things over.
“Mr Jin? Which Mr Jin?”
Chen Wenyuan’s attention had been on the silver earlier. Now that Qingyuan and the madam mentioned Jin Feng again, he finally came to his senses.
“Which other Mr Jin could there be in our Xichuan City?”
The madam pointed westward. “Of course, it is General Jin who repelled the cavalry outside the city!”
“Is it the Mr Jin of ‘golden spear and iron horse three thousand li, one blade’s chill light sixteen provinces’?”
Chen Wenyuan quickly pressed.
In feudal times, the bridgehead was the liveliest place in many cities.
Not only were there street performers and jugglers, but also storytellers and singers.
Chen Wenyuan made his living at the bridgehead, right next to a storyteller’s stall.
He had heard Jin Feng’s stories countless times.
As a storyteller himself, he could naturally tell that much of it was embellished.
But he believed the poems attributed to Jin Feng were genuine.
Because such stunningly brilliant lines could not be fabricated by a mere storyteller.
Thus, he held Jin Feng in extremely high regard.
Learning that his patron was Jin Feng, Chen Wenyuan immediately became excited.
“Miss Qingyuan, Mama Feng, I am sorry. Earlier, this humble scholar did not know it was an errand for Mr Jin.”
Chen Wenyuan bowed deeply to Qingyuan. “Rest assured, Miss. This humble scholar will certainly do his utmost. If the master is not satisfied, I will take not a single wen!”
