Since the commission is for a painting, I’ll paint it then, earning money isn’t shameful.
“Please bring the clothes and accessories that Lord Wang usually wears.”
“The maid who dresses and grooms Lord Wang should also be called over.”
“Additionally, fetch a more beautiful chair.”
Steward Li looked at Chen Mu in surprise and, after going out to seek Young Master Wang’s instructions, arranged everything according to Chen Mu’s requests.
Normally, one should have the subject dress up properly before painting them.
Unfortunately, given the condition of the person lying in the bed, it’s not just about dressing up for a pose, it’s doubtful whether he can even see tomorrow’s sun.
If it weren’t for his Second Rank drawing skills, Chen Mu wouldn’t have dared to accept the task.
But now, he was brimming with confidence.
As soon as he saw Lord Wang’s clothes, an image of the man dressed neatly appeared in Chen Mu’s mind.
After carefully inquiring about the daily grooming routine from the maid, the healthy appearance and hairstyle of Lord Wang were already set in Chen Mu’s heart.
With the addition of a chair that was simple and solid.
The entire portrait’s effect was vividly clear before his eyes.
Chen Mu glanced at Lord Wang again. Then he immediately lowered his head and began to draw.
An hour later, Chen Mu put down his brush and stood up.
“Young Master Chen is truly skillful!” Even Steward Li, who had been maintaining a stern face, couldn’t help but be moved.
The man in the painting had a full face, spirited eyes, and hair combed meticulously; he bore little resemblance to the man on the sickbed.
But Steward Li knew, this was what Lord Wang looked like when he was healthy!
He hadn’t expected that this poor scholar, who had always gone unnoticed, would possess such a talent.
…
On the carriage, Chen Mu clutched a small cloth bag with a delighted expression on his face.
Inside was the tip that Steward Li had given him, ten taels of silver.
And his rent was waived for a year.
In Qingshan County, one tael of silver could be exchanged for approximately twelve hundred copper coins.
Three hundred copper coins were enough to cover the monthly expenses of a family of three, and that included being well-fed.
Ten taels of silver, if used sparingly, could support a household for three years!
For Chen Mu, this was a substantial amount of money!
Yet Steward Li had given it just like that.
Apart from his own outstanding portrait skills, it was more so because the Wang family was wealthy and did not care about such a small sum.
“Now I can finally have some meat!”
He had secluded himself for half a month, exerting a lot of energy on practicing painting. Although he ate his fill every meal, it was only vegetables and wheat.
Not only had he not gained weight, but he had also lost some.
When he arrived at the East Market, he got off the carriage in advance, ran to the meat stall, bought two jin of pork belly, and carried it on his way home.
After enduring a month and a half, he was going to have a good meal today.
On his way, he passed by a martial arts school.
Hearing the shouting inside the martial arts school, Chen Mu couldn’t help but stop and watch.
He hadn’t forgotten about that constable Lu who could leap five or six meters in a single step.
The martial arts school had a sign with black background and gold letters, which read “White Cloud Martial Arts School.”
Chen Mu stood at the entrance and observed without making a sound.
The apprentices were either lifting stone locks, practicing spear moves, or dancing with swords and sabers, buzzing with excitement.
After watching for a while, Chen Mu left the martial arts school in disappointment.
Those training methods were mostly about building strength, similar to lifting weights in a gym from his previous life.
With such techniques, one definitely couldn’t develop the ability to leap five or six meters like constable Lu.
“No rush, I’ll find out gradually.”
…
The next day, not until the sun was high in the sky did Chen Mu get up to wash and dress.
Putting all his hopes in a half month of isolation, facing an unfamiliar world and an uncertain future had brought him great pressure.
But the ten taels of silver he had earned yesterday finally allowed Chen Mu to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
With that money, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about going hungry for a year or two.
More importantly, he had mastered a skill that was more than enough to support himself, and even live comfortably.
“It’s just a pity to draw a memorial portrait for someone as soon as the shop opens. It would have been nice if a beautiful singer had come instead.”
After eating his fill, Chen Mu, with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone in tow, set out for Anle Square to continue selling his paintings.
The neighborhood where Chen Mu lived, Ping’an Square, is located in the southeast of Qingshan County, and the houses here are all clustered low-rise buildings that make up a commoners’ district.
The roads are all small alleys that twist and turn every which way.
Just as he turned a corner, he was met by a tall and burly bruiser coming from the opposite direction.
The other’s eyes were fixed on Chen Mu, his face full of horizontal flesh that quivered menacingly.
Instinctively, Chen Mu felt something was awry. He turned to exit the alley.
But somehow, behind him stood a shorter man.
The man was grinning at Chen Mu, his face carrying a mocking smirk akin to a cat playing with a mouse.
He was being blocked!
Panic fluttered through Chen Mu’s heart in a flash as his mind rapidly sifted through his predecessor’s memories, but he could not recall seeing either of the two men before, nor did he have any memories of having enmity with anyone.
“I have an appointment with the Wang family in town today to draw a memorial portrait for the old master. If I am delayed, you two will have to take responsibility,” Chen Mu tried to remain calm as he spoke.
“Trying to scare me, huh?” The short man said with a sneer, “Didn’t you just finish that yesterday?”
A sinking feeling hit Chen Mu’s stomach. These two were clearly prepared!
“I have all the brushes-up fee right here. Can you let me pass?” Chen Mu said as he took out a cloth bag, now ironically calm.
He decided to avert disaster by forfeiting money.
He knew these people were like dogskin plasters: once stuck, they could not easily be shaken off.
But if he didn’t offer, the other party would surely rob him, and might even beat him up in the process.
“That’s not enough. You have to add something else,” the short man drawled as he approached, his voice filled with frivolous amusement.
Chen Mu furrowed his brows. Apart from this bag of silver, he had nothing else of value.
“Add your hands!” the tall, burly man said coldly.
Chill shot through Chen Mu’s heart.
“Can you tell me who sent you?” This was no simple robbery!
The short man looked at Chen Mu with surprise. “Aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid,” Chen Mu replied calmly. But fear would not make these men stop.
The short man furrowed his brows.
Why was this guy so indifferent?
Shouldn’t he be panicking, begging for mercy on his knees?
“Break off his arms!” the short man ordered coldly.
Once I break your hands, let’s see if you can stay so calm.
Chen Mu’s scalp tightened, suppressing the instinct to flee, his eyes earnestly studying the two men.
He had to memorize their faces, and he could memorize them.
“Look at your own damn mother!” The short man, annoyed by Chen Mu’s gaze, kicked him to the ground.
“What, you thinking of retaliating against us?”
“Once I break your legs, gouge your eyes, let’s see how you retaliate then!” the short man said venomously.
They were street thugs, their brutal methods as familiar as daily meals.
The tall, burly man took two steps towards Chen Mu, raised his foot, and viciously stomped towards Chen Mu’s hands.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but tense up all over.
Bang!
A shadow flickered before his eyes, and the anticipated pain did not come.
Unexpectedly, the tall, burly man was sent flying through the air, crashing down some three or four meters away, twitching like a worm, unable to get up.
Bang!
Almost simultaneously, another noise followed.
The short man, as if part of a painting, uncontrollably plastered against the wall.
He soon tumbled to the ground, his face contorted as he gasped for air.
Chen Mu turned his head to look, and at some point, a figure in a Black Tight Suit wearing a long blade at his waist had appeared not far behind him.
“Captain Lu?!”