035 Reviving Old Trade (Part 2)

"Shopkeeper."

She tethered her motorcycle at the entrance of the bookstore and hurried inside. The shopkeeper was bent over his abacus, but upon hearing the clear voice of the youth, he raised his head subtly, glanced around, then lowered it again, the rhythmic clacking of the abacus resuming. He casually inquired, "What books does the esteemed customer wish to purchase?"

Shen Tang pointed outside to the sign indicating that they were collecting manuscripts.

Above it was a notice offering a high price for manuscripts.

"Does the shopkeeper here accept manuscripts? What are the prices?" she asked.

As she spoke, the shopkeeper's fingers, which had been swiftly moving over the abacus, hesitated briefly, and the clicking of the beads ceased abruptly, leaving behind a lingering echo.

Raising his head, he first paused to confirm something on her face, then smiled with a hint of meaning, "Is the esteemed customer interested in selling paintings?"

Shen Tang nodded, "Yes, yes, I'd like to give it a try."

Little did she know, the shopkeeper shook his head, "Customer, the kind of paintings this humble store needs, you probably can't provide. It's not suitable. Why not try elsewhere?"

"I paint, and you buy, how is that not suitable?" Shen Tang retorted.

The shopkeeper chuckled ruefully, then felt that Shen Tang was perhaps too young to understand, so he used a more tactful approach, "This task, the store generally seeks older, married painters. The skill of painting is not a high requirement; as long as it's passable, age and experience are the most important."

Initially perplexed, Shen Tang's expression turned strange upon hearing the suggestion that "age and experience are the most important." She twitched her eyebrows, subtly hinting back, "Oh, I see. I understand the shopkeeper's meaning. But sometimes, age and experience are truly not that important. I believe knowledge and insight are more crucial."

The shopkeeper choked for a moment, "You understand?"

Shen Tang retorted, "Why wouldn't I understand?"

After all, she was supposed to be the "playboy" as described by Qu Yuanliang. If she didn't understand, wouldn't it be a disservice to the image he had imposed? Shen Tang felt she must have once been involved in the world of secrets.

It was well-known that before crossing over, she was just an ordinary painter, making a living with her skills as a homebody.

In her scarce memories, her business scope should have been quite extensive — from cheap private portraits to relatively expensive commercial sketches, she had drawn emoticons and fan art. Regardless of whether it was for knowledge or enjoyment, she had dabbled in various areas.

As for her painting skills, they might not compare to those revered masters, but making a living should not be too difficult.

She had a mysterious confidence in her professional skills.

The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment. Could it be that he had misjudged?

He thought that since the sign had been hanging for several days without anyone volunteering, and the client was getting impatient, it wouldn't hurt to let someone try. After all, it was payment upon delivery of the manuscript, so if the painting was unsatisfactory or displeasing, he wouldn't lose anything.

After pondering for a moment, the shopkeeper decided to let Shen Tang give it a try.

Some ugly truths had to be stated upfront, such as the payment method and the content requirements for the painting. This time, the client wanted a specific type of secret picture. The client was a leading figure at the Moon Palace, and the requirement was to paint a set of suggestive but not explicit portraits featuring him.

Shen Tang didn't pay much attention to the other details for the time being.

All she heard were the three words "Moon Palace" — wasn't this a coincidence? The Moon Palace was where Old Chu worked.

"Is this how 'Moon Palace' is written?" Using her finger as a brush, she dipped it in some tea and wrote the three characters "Moon Palace" on the wooden counter. The strokes were vigorous and grand, with a wild yet orderly aura, presenting an overall impression of fluidity and elegance.

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he suddenly felt a sense of anticipation.

The handwriting is exquisite, indicating that the painting skills must also be remarkable.

"Yes, indeed, it is the Moon Palace," Shen Tang affirmed.

The entire Xiaocheng only had this one Moon Palace.

Shen Tang further inquired, "While creating the portrait is not an issue, there are other requirements. However, I have not had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman."

The shopkeeper waved his hand dismissively, "That's nothing to worry about."

Typically, the subject of the portrait would meet the painter, especially if they weren't very famous. They would lower themselves, meticulously dress up, and pose for the painter, all in pursuit of a flattering portrayal.

It's worth noting that hiring a painter to create a secret picture isn't something any random client can arrange. Usually, only the top or second-tier establishments would offer such treatment to attract attention and potential patrons.

If the secret picture sells well, it could provide a source of income in one's later years, even as youth fades away.

In summary, it's somewhat akin to a personal photoshoot. It's not about broadening one's horizons; it's about showcasing the beauty of the subject.

Shen Tang expanded her knowledge, "May I come back later?"

The shopkeeper responded, "Why wait? Now is the perfect time to go."

Shen Tang was surprised, casting a glance outside at the blazing sun.

"Now? In broad daylight?"

Even with her limited memory, she knew daytime wasn't ideal.

The shopkeeper chuckled, "The gentleman in question is quite popular. If you were to go in the evening, he wouldn't have time to entertain you, let alone sit for a portrait. The place is quite chaotic and not suitable for young ladies at night. Now is the most suitable time."

Shen Tang didn't doubt this.

However —

"Is the shopkeeper familiar with the Moon Palace?" she asked.

The shopkeeper casually replied, "Familiar might be an overstatement. After all, there are so many establishments like this in Xiaocheng. I've had dealings with most of them. It's just that the Moon Palace is well-known and does a lot of business."

Shen Tang appeared pensive and asked again, "If... I were to purchase a servant from the Moon Palace, approximately how much would it cost?"

Seeing her serious inquiry, the shopkeeper imagined a scenario where a young sibling was trapped in misery, and a poor painter stepped forward to rescue them. After all, apart from such a reason, normal people wouldn't spend money to buy a servant from such a place.

"Well, it depends on whether the servant is male or female, old or young. Different conditions warrant different prices," he explained. "Now that we've secured a painter, I'm quite pleased with our client's arrangements. Besides, everyone knows that these establishments, apart from having a fair exterior, are quite ruthless in their demands. They ask for exorbitant prices and won't let go until they get what they want, even for a mere servant, they demand three to five times the normal price."

Shen Tang muttered, "Indeed, trying to break free from such a place is akin to shedding a layer of skin."

She had a bold idea.

If Old Chu was willing, she wanted to buy him out.

After all, who knew when Qu Yuanliang, this "guiding NPC," would disappear? Buying Old Chu would then allow her to take over Quishan's role.

She didn't know Old Chu's address, but she could definitely find him at his workplace. One couldn't escape a temple even if they escaped from a monk.

Shen Tang thought the shopkeeper's statement about "so many establishments like this in Xiaocheng" was exaggerated, but she never expected it to be entirely true. In the central area of Xiaocheng, both sides of five long streets were filled with such establishments.

However, it was daytime now, and the streets were desolate and bleak.

She exclaimed, "So many?"

The shopkeeper looked unsurprised.

"The county government encourages their construction. How could there not be many?"

"The county government encourages... construction?" Shen Tang was momentarily stunned.

The shopkeeper led Shen Tang to stop in front of a newly decorated building, asking her to wait outside while he went in to explain the situation. Soon, he returned, saying, "It's perfect timing. The gentleman has just woken up. Once he's ready, he'll be here. Let's go to the teahouse across the street and wait in a private room."