"I’d like to commission a few paintings from the talented Xiao Chiang, the painter, to consign at Mingchen Studio," He Jin said, batting her eyes at her as if casting a spell. "I won’t charge you a fee, and I’ll even go all out to promote you. The money we make will be paid to you in full. How about it?"
Chiang Xiao didn’t feel electrified, but rather a little shocked.
A tall and handsome man making such a cutesy gesture was simply dissonant.
"Hold on, are my paintings really that popular?"
Chiang Xiao felt relieved inside; she had been worried that the painting of the Welcoming Pine wouldn’t change the vibe of the guesthouse after being hung up and that Uncle Lee would come looking for her.
Even if he did, she wouldn’t take responsibility, but it would still be unpleasant.
Now, seeing that Uncle Lee still wanted her paintings, it meant that painting was a good fit.
She also hoped her paintings would be popular.
"You have no idea. The newspapers covering the art competition that day sold out, did you know that? It’s not that everyone loves painting so much—it’s not a universal interest, after all. But you? You’re a little star!" He Jin said, "Thirteen years old! A little girl from a mountain village! And you won first prize in a painting competition! Don’t you think people would be interested?"
What’s this "little village girl" talk?
But He Jin didn’t sound condescending at all; he was clearly just that candid. "Anyway, you definitely don’t know how famous you are now. I’m telling you, those painters in the association are suddenly seeing a boom in visitors. Lots of parents are looking to send their kids to study painting as apprentices."
Such an effect, really?
Chiang Xiao broke into a sweat.
"Also, lots of people are trying to find out who your teacher is, planning to become disciples under the same master as you," He Jin looked at her, and then winked, "Come on, little star Xiao Chiang, tell me in secret—who’s your teacher?"
"Sorry, my teacher prefers to keep a low profile and doesn’t want to be disturbed!" Chiang Xiao immediately refused.
Uncle Lee quickly pushed He Jin aside, "Little He, can you stop interrupting? I’m in the middle of asking Xiao Chiang for paintings! Xiao Chiang, let me tell you, your Welcoming Pine has gone up in price! Just like that, the lousy price this kid offered, it’s doubled, two thousand."
Chiang Xiao was taken aback. Uncle Lee continued, "So, ’Big Master’ can’t cheat you. Help ’Big Master’ paint another one, priced at two thousand. How about that?"
Two thousand per painting...
Welcoming Pine, she had just painted that not long ago. Does he mean mass production?
Copying her own painting, that’s not really difficult.
Chiang Xiao didn’t pussyfoot around; she spoke directly, "Uncle Lee, I really need money right now. I can paint for you, and I’ll give it to you within two days, but could you pay me in advance?"
"You need money?" He Jin immediately spoke up again, "How much do you need? I’ll give it to you! Then you paint for me and once it sells, we can settle the account based on that, wouldn’t that work?"
That seems like an option...
However, Chiang Xiao still felt she was more familiar with Uncle Lee, and there was a clear price in place here, just a matter of getting paid two days earlier. If she went with He Jin’s proposal, it was still an unknown.
So she still looked towards Uncle Lee, waiting for his response.
"Little He, can you not always compete with ’Big Master’?" Uncle Lee glared at He Jin exasperatedly, and quickly said to Chiang Xiao: "No problem at all!"
Chiang Xiao agreed to paint for him, and it would be ready for the opening in three days; he was already overjoyed inside.
Besides, he trusted Chiang Xiao a lot. Though young, she seemed very reliable.