RPAGF Chapter 195 Her Goal
Chapter 195 Her Goal
Early the next morning—
Xia's father and the others packed the things they had prepared into luggage, intending to use their daughter's special abilities to store them inside, and then take them out after they got home.
Just as Xia's father and the others were about to set off, a change occurred.
A skilled framer came to the door and said he was willing to pay to frame Xia Mo's two calligraphy pieces.
The framers who came were well-known in Anning Prefecture. They announced their purpose at the door, and the neighbors and passersby all heard it.
Xia's father and the others greeted the people inside with smiles.
"You..." Xia's father was somewhat skeptical. What kind of framer would come to you on their own? Isn't it the artist who takes the painting to find the framer?
“The day before yesterday, I was fortunate enough to see those two calligraphy pieces, and I was amazed by their beauty. I wanted to use this opportunity to further enhance my reputation,” said the mounter, Mr. Jiang, sincerely. He then added, “This is my address; my shop is right here.”
Xia's father took the slip of paper from the other party, looked at the address written on it, and still hesitated before handing it to Xia's older brother.
Brother Xia nodded.
There can't be any mistake.
"Oh, of the two calligraphy pieces from yesterday, one was given away, so there's only one left," Xia's father said nervously upon hearing that the other party was indeed a very skilled mounter.
"Even one piece will do," said the mounter Jiang with some regret. Such calligraphy with such integrity would surely make him famous!
"Given the current weather, it will take me three days to finish mounting the painting. Is that feasible?" the mounter, Mr. Jiang, inquired.
“Yes, yes,” Xia’s father nodded.
My daughter has such excellent handwriting, it should naturally be framed and hung in the study or main room of our home.
“This is it,” Xia’s mother handed over the calligraphy and painting containing the two lines of the persuasive poem.
“You may come with me to my shop,” said the picture mounter, Mr. Jiang.
Just as Xia's father was about to say no, and that he trusted the mounting artist Jiang, Xia's second brother had already followed.
Xia's father's lips twitched, and he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
About 45 minutes later, Brother Xia returned.
Brother Xia said, "Master Jiang is indeed the owner of that shop, and also the most outstanding mounter in the entire Anning Prefecture. All the literati in Anning Prefecture like to seek him out for mounting their paintings."
"That's good, that's good," Xia's father thought for a moment and said, "How about we postpone our trip home for three days?"
"We need to get our hands on Nannan's framed calligraphy and paintings before we can proceed," said Xia's father.
"Row."
Brother Xia and the others nodded.
Three days may seem short, but many changes can occur in a short period of time.
* * *
Three days later—
Xia's father and the others began preparing their luggage to return to Anjia Village once again.
Just then, a shop assistant from the mounting shop came to the door and asked Xia's father and the others to go to the calligraphy and painting shop.
Xia's father and the others were puzzled.
The cheerful shop assistant explained, "A distinguished person has taken a liking to that calligraphy and painting and wants to ask you if you'd sell it to them."
Without hesitation, Xia's father said, "No need, we'll keep it for ourselves."
The delighted shop assistant paused for a moment, then hurriedly said to Xia's father, "The other party said they are willing to pay this amount."
"Two... liang?" Xia's father looked at the two fingers the shopkeeper was holding up and asked hesitantly.
"No, no, no," the waiter shook his head, about to speak, but was interrupted again.
"Two hundred taels?" Xia's mother raised her voice and asked, her heart pounding and her hands trembling. She opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
The waiter smiled and said, "We'd better add another zero."
"His-"
Mr. and Mrs. Xia gasped sharply, their mouths agape in shock, speechless for a moment!
"This……"
Two taels? She could refuse so easily, but this is two thousand taels... I should ask my daughter's opinion first!
Xia's father immediately told Xia's second brother to call Xia Mo over.
Xia Mo had prepared early, applied tanning cream, and dressed in a neat and practical men's outfit.
“Miss Xia,” the waiter recognized Xia Mo immediately from her tanned skin.
Xia Mo smiled, still wondering why Huangfu Qian hadn't made a move even though it was almost the third day.
And so, Huangfu Qian took action.
"Someone is willing to pay two thousand taels for your calligraphy and painting, 'Diligence is the path to the mountain of books, and hard work is the boat to the boundless sea of learning.' The person is still in the shop. Whether you sell it or not, please go and tell them," the shop assistant said.
“Okay, I’ll go tell them,” Xia Mo nodded with a smile.
Xia's father and the others couldn't possibly leave their daughter alone, so they hurriedly packed up and followed.
Yin Rou was a guest and mingled with Xia's father and others, following them to the shop of the picture mounter, Jiang.
* * *
At this moment, the shop of the mounting artist Jiang was packed with people.
The shop was filled with scholars, all of whom were well-mannered. Outside the shop, there was a large crowd of people, including scholars, but mostly ordinary people, wealthy merchants, and others who came to watch the spectacle.
When Xia Mo and the others arrived, Xia Mo's distinctive tanned skin immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Even though Xia Mo was dressed in men's clothing, everyone present recognized her at a glance.
"Are you Miss Xia?"
Some people have already asked excitedly.
Xia Mo glanced at the person who had called out.
Those who recognized Xia Mo's identity squeezed to make way for her and her companions so they could enter the store smoothly.
"The person who left behind the calligraphy and paintings has arrived," said Jiang, the mounting artist, somewhat excited upon seeing Xia Mo.
"Are you the Hermit of Distant Mountains?" A tall, thin middle-aged man with a goatee and mixed black and white hair stepped forward and stood in front of Xia Mo.
"Who are you?" Xia Mo smiled and nodded.
"I never imagined that the Hermit of Distant Mountains, at such a young age, could already produce such astonishing calligraphy and paintings, so elegant and unparalleled," the man with the goatee praised sincerely.
The man with the goatee looked at Xia Mo with admiration and praise in his eyes.
Xia Mo smiled and nodded. This person was arranged by Huangfu Qian.
"I am willing to pay two thousand taels for this calligraphy and painting. I wonder if you, Hermit of Distant Mountains, would be willing to part with it?" the middle-aged man with a goatee asked sincerely.
"Do you think my calligraphy and paintings are worth it?" Xia Mo asked instead of answering.
“Your Excellency Yuanshan will surely become famous throughout the country, and this is the first inspirational couplet you have written. Its meaning is even more profound,” the man with the goatee exclaimed.
With that person around, just based on the calligraphy of "Summer's End," he's sure to become famous. The first piece of calligraphy and painting has a different meaning, and its value can be further inflated. Selling it for five thousand taels is definitely no problem!
Xia Mo smiled and clasped her hands in a fist salute: "Just because of your affirmation, sir, I am willing to produce this calligraphy."
"Good, good, good," the goatee-bearded man eagerly pulled out a large silver note from his pocket and handed it to Xia Mo.
One silver note is worth one hundred taels, so here are twenty silver notes.
Xia's father stepped forward to take it, confirmed the name of the bank, and looked at Xia Mo in disbelief, still feeling dizzy.
“Then I’ll take this calligraphy and painting,” the man with the goatee said happily as he accepted the calligraphy and painting, put them in a special box, and left holding them carefully in his arms.
"His-"
Just now, everyone was in shock, the scene was so quiet you could hear the wind. Now, the crowd has recovered from their shock and gasped in astonishment.
She has accomplished two-thirds of her goal, and only the final third remains.