Following Mu Shuangshuang’s word, Lu Yuanfeng looked in the direction she pointed.
He saw a young lad in grey coarse clothing, holding up a painting, occasionally asking passersby if they wanted to buy his art.
The boy’s face flushed when he spoke, and after being rejected, he didn’t linger but quickly moved on, taking a long time to gather the courage to ask the next person.
"Oh my, how can someone be so clumsy in this world." Mu Shuangshuang held her forehead, expressing helplessness along with a sense of exasperation.
In no time, she noticed that Liu Zian only approached those who looked poorly dressed but had soft expressions, the kind of people who seemed like "nice people."
The problem was, these people didn’t have Copper Coins in their pockets and lacked scholarly knowledge, they simply wouldn’t buy.
Those interested in buying paintings are, if not people of culture, at least well-dressed, right? Otherwise, who would have the spare money to buy such things to display at home?
"Perhaps he thought those people would be easier to talk to!"
What Mu Shuangshuang observed, Lu Yuanfeng also noticed.
"Wow, Fengzi, not bad, your observation skills are sharp, and your insight is amazing." Mu Shuangshuang gave a thumbs up, sincerely praising Lu Yuanfeng.
Even Mu Shuangshuang admired his responsiveness to certain things.
She didn’t consider herself because this was her line of work; her job was just , focusing on details and comparing sharpness.
But Lu Yuanfeng wasn’t, although he had spent a few years in the military. However, Mu Shuangshuang believed that ancient military camps definitely didn’t teach such things.
In other words, his insight was either innate or formed through constant accumulation over time.
Lu Yuanfeng scratched his head in embarrassment, and the bitterness in his heart disappeared instantly, as he suddenly pointed generously at Liu Zian and asked, "Shuangshuang, why don’t we help him out? I heard your uncle has already gathered the travel expenses to Qianzhou Prefecture."
"Not only has he gathered the travel expenses, but he has also gathered a lot! I heard my uncle’s mother-in-law secretly gave him fifty taels, and given the character of my grandparents, they might give all their savings to my uncle.
I reckon my uncle has at least a hundred and ten taels of Silver in hand now."
This time it was Lu Yuanfeng’s turn to be surprised. Not to mention that a peasant family couldn’t bring out a hundred taels of Silver, even people in these towns probably hadn’t seen what a hundred taels looked like in their lives.
The Old Mu Family was indeed generous.
"But Liu Zian wouldn’t need that much Silver, would he?"
A hundred taels, even painting till one’s hands are worn out, wouldn’t necessarily earn that.
"He doesn’t need it. Judging by his appearance, I reckon five taels of Silver would suffice."
Liu Zian isn’t like her pretentious uncle, who also wants to hire teachers; the guy probably only needs a couple of Silver for carriage money, and some paper, pens, and food and accommodations.
With some frugality, five taels of Silver would be enough.
But even so, given Liu Zian’s stubbornness, even with a year, he probably couldn’t make five taels of Silver.
"Forget it, let’s go take a look." Mu Shuangshuang packed up the remaining twelve straw fans, tidied up the stall, and headed in Liu Zian’s direction.
At this moment, Liu Zian’s head was buzzing, and his vision was getting blurry.
After being out for nearly a morning, he hadn’t sold a single painting and almost got beaten up.
Just as he mustered the courage to approach the next person, a shadow cast over him, and he looked up to see Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng standing together.
"Miss Shuangshuang, what are you doing here?"
Liu Zian’s face lit up with surprise, not expecting to run into her .
Lu Yuanfeng, who had been ignored, coughed lightly to remind Liu Zian not to overlook him.
Only then did Liu Zian, flustered, greet Lu Yuanfeng. "Brother Lu, fancy meeting you, are you also doing business today?"
The words "doing business" sounded awkward coming from Liu Zian’s mouth, grating to Mu Shuangshuang’s ears, so she got straight to the point.
"Liu Zian, have you sold any paintings?"
Liu Zian turned his head and shook it. "Nope!"
"How much travel money do you think you need for the exam?" Mu Shuangshuang asked.
Liu Zian didn’t understand why the girl in front of him was asking this; he thought Shuangshuang was going to give him money and quickly shook his head. "I won’t use your money."
"You wish! Why would I pay for your exam?" Mu Shuangshuang rolled her eyes. This guy wasn’t close to her, yet his presumption was quite intimate.
Was she someone who just lends money to anyone?
Liu Zian felt his face flush with shame over his presumptuousness, and while he wanted to apologize, he didn’t know how to start.
Lu Yuanfeng struggled to hold back his laughter; he had to admit that Shuangshuang’s disdainful expression was quite charming.
"When Shuangshuang asks, just answer, maybe she knows a way to help you make money." Lu Yuanfeng helped explain for Mu Shuangshuang.
Only then did Liu Zian, with a flushed face, speak, "About six taels of Silver."
Mu Shuangshuang nodded satisfactorily; it matched her estimation. "Here’s the deal. The three of us will sell fans for a morning; if we earn less than six taels, all the Silver goes to you; if it exceeds six taels, the rest goes to me and Fengzi."
"What?" Liu Zian’s mouth gaped wide; he looked at Mu Shuangshuang in disbelief, seeming to doubt her words.
Mu Shuangshuang was always lazy to explain; after all, in this situation, making money for Liu Zian equated to making money for herself.
Of course, she was absolutely confident in Liu Zian’s painting skills; with a bit of guidance, she might be able to earn a nice profit.
"So where are we going now?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.
"To where they sell fans, I want to buy twenty folding fans, preferably without any designs."
"Aren’t the fans we have good enough?" Lu Yuanfeng asked.
"Fengzi, I just praised you for being smart, why have you turned foolish? Six taels of Silver isn’t a small amount; normal sales won’t meet it, so we have to target wealthy buyers. Have you ever seen a rich landlord holding a straw fan?"
A fan is a must-have for literati and wealthy people’s pretensions, especially in this hot weather, it’s easy to sell.
Moreover, if done properly, there might be unexpected results.
Mu Shuangshuang and the others quickly found a fan shop, where Mu Shuangshuang paid for twenty blank folding fans, each costing her twenty wen, which almost pained her to death.
"Shuangshuang, are you sure about this?"
Liu Zian, following Mu Shuangshuang’s instructions, was nervously painting on the fans; with each one completed, his expression turned more serious.
It was the first time he painted in this style, not that it wasn’t doable, it just was entirely different from what he usually painted.
"Of course it’s fine, just you wait and see!"