At the beginning, Yang Ji still had no clue, but after scanning his eyes a few times, he gradually found some clues.
"These people who come to buy couplets basically go to the famous teachers from large clans and a few other old gentlemen. Apart from that, there are not many people who go to other places to buy couplets."
This discovery surprised Yang Ji.
Obviously he was the only one who had the same experience. Although he looked the youngest and the worst, the others were not much better. Many people had their hands folded in their sleeves, and the stalls were crowded. It took a long time to sell one or two.
pieces.
Yang Ji particularly noticed that several old gentlemen with obviously better penmanship and better calligraphy sold far fewer couplets than another gentleman with mediocre calligraphy.
Yang Ji vaguely recognized it. The old man with mediocre calligraphy was named Zhou, and he had been selling calligraphy here for seven or eight years.
"Yes! I know!"
This discovery gave Yang Ji an enlightenment and he suddenly understood.
"People who come here to buy couplets can't tell the difference between calligraphy at all. In their eyes, maybe all the couplets are similar, so they still go to Mr. Zhou to buy them as usual."
Yang Ji finally understood why a pair of couplets had not been sold for so long.
"So... if I want to sell the couplets, I have to look different. At least let them know that I am obviously different from other people. Only in this way can I sell them."
A smile appeared on Yang Ji's lips.
Once you understand why the couplets cannot be sold, the rest will become easier to explain.
Yang Ji's eyes slowly swept across the market. When his eyes fell on a painting studio on the street, his heart moved:
"Yes."
Swish, swish, swish!
Yang Ji spread out a piece of writing again and wrote a new couplet in a matter of seconds. He wrote heavily and with great strength, especially when he dipped in more ink. The words he wrote were particularly vigorous and majestic, like a waterfall.
Like Liuxiong Peak.
Left couplet: Unparalleled blessings arrive.
Right couplet: Misfortune never comes alone.
After writing this couplet, it was hung directly on the banner behind me, replacing the original couplet.
Wow!
The people who originally turned a blind eye to Yang Ji exploded after this couplet was posted.
"You brat, what are you doing?!"
"Are you cursing someone? I'm looking for a beating!"
"How dare you write such couplets at this time of year!"
"Get out of here quickly, quickly!"
…
The end of the year is originally the most festive time. Everyone is in a hurry to either raise money to celebrate the new year or buy new year goods to seek good luck. No one thought that such an unlucky couplet would be posted in the center of the market. This is not the case.
Curse people?
In particular, a few merchants who were doing business from north to south looked at this couplet as if they had seen blood in the first month, and they glared at each other, which was extremely unfriendly.
Seeing this kind of couplet at this time is extremely hateful.
There were curses from all directions, and everyone was filled with righteous indignation. Some strong men even rolled up their sleeves and were ready to hit someone. However, they recognized that Yang Ji seemed to be a member of the Yang family and did not take action for a moment.
Facing the excited crowd, Yang Ji was calm and calm, but he didn't do anything too much. When he saw that the crowd was almost gathered, he stopped immediately.
Picking up the pen, Yang Ji immediately added three words to the left and right of the couplet on the banner:
On the left: Unparalleled blessings arrive—today.
Right side: Misfortune never comes alone—it happened yesterday.
As soon as these lines of words come out, the artistic conception changes immediately. Disasters have passed away long ago, and blessings are coming. This means "after all the hardships, happiness comes".
The people who were still angry around were all dumbfounded and couldn't help but scream in admiration!
They had never seen such a wonderful writing. It originally seemed to be a curse, but after adding or subtracting a few words in Yang Ji's hand, it immediately changed to the opposite meaning.
This ability is amazing.
"Hahaha, good boy, I have you."
A strong, bearded businessman laughed loudly and squeezed out of the crowd:
"Just because you can come up with this idea, I bought this couplet for a copper plate, right? I'll give it to you!"
The businessman is so shrewd. He can tell at a glance that Yang Ji is using this to attract customers, and he feels a sense of sympathy in his heart. Businessmen often have great admiration for those smart people.
"Finally it worked."
Yang Ji's originally tight heart relaxed. He had been looking forward to the first business deal for several hours, and he felt indescribable excitement in his heart. However, Yang Ji was not in a hurry to complete this business.
"Wait a minute!"
Yang Ji took off the couplet from the banner, held the pen in his hand, looked attentively, and in the blink of an eye, he added a few strokes to the blank space of the couplet.
In the surprised eyes of the strong bearded man, the originally monotonous couplets were symmetrical on the left and right, and suddenly there were a few vivid ink magpies and winter plums on each side.
"The branches of magpies are full of spring. You are a merchant, and buying this is also a blessing. I will give this to you."
Yang Jidao.
"Awesome, awesome! Little brother, you have such a mind, it's a shame to study."
The strong and bearded businessman admired him endlessly.
The businessman traveled all over the country and never saw anything. He originally only had some appreciation for this young man, but when he thought about it carefully, he couldn't help but feel that it was a bit sensational. But when Yang Ji added this painting to the couplet, he was thorough.
Impressed.
This was the first time he had seen such a sensitive young man at this age.
"At this age, to have such skill and such a sensitive mind... is really impressive. - It's a pity that he is a scholar."
Luo Yihuo secretly regretted it, but this thought was just a thought and was soon gone.
"Hahaha, just for your magpies and plum blossoms, and in line with your good wishes, this pair is worth two copper coins from me."
The bearded man laughed, took out another copper coin, and slapped it heavily on the table.
"Thank you."
Yang Ji's voice revealed uncontrollable joy.
After all, he is only fifteen years old this year and cannot compare to those old gentlemen who have lived for decades and have a calm mind. He sold his first couplet and made his first money. The joy and excitement in his heart
I was speechless, even my fingertips almost trembled with excitement.
With this good start, Yang Ji's business has indeed improved a lot.
People in Pingchuan County usually buy couplets. I have never seen pictures painted on the couplets. Everyone feels that they are very fresh and novel. Especially, except for the first order, the prices of subsequent orders by Yang Jiding are very low, all for one copper per pair.
.
The ink paintings on the couplets were given away for free.
"Give me a pair, give me a pair!..."
"And me, and me! I came first..."
…
For a moment, Yang Ji had just returned to the empty stall, and suddenly there was a huge crowd of people around, all coming to buy Yang Ji's calligraphy and paintings. Even the teachers couldn't help but look at him secretly.
"Successful."
Yang Ji clenched his fists, his heart surging.
A pair of couplets appeared on the paper. The rice paper Yang Ji bought was quickly sold out, so he had to go to the study shop again and buy a few more stacks of rice paper.
Yang Ji actually didn't dabble much in painting. He only dabbled in it accidentally when he first learned calligraphy. He was only good at a few flowers and birds, landscapes, and was not very sophisticated. However, it was more than enough for a few couplets at this time.
"worn out!"
Yang Ji wiped the sweat on his forehead, rubbed his wrist, and put down the brush:
"Although we sell a lot of couplets, they also consume time and energy."
Yang Ji looked at the sky and saw that it was already very late. There were not as many people in the market as there were at first. Now, he could basically sell three or four pairs in an hour.
"The market will be closing in a little while."
According to the rules, the market will only last until evening at most, and there will be fewer and fewer people there. Yang Ji counted his money bags and deducted the money spent on rice paper each time. In fact, Yang Ji didn't make much.
"Only forty-five coppers."
Yang Ji couldn't hide his disappointment: "I've been busy all afternoon, but it's still not enough!"
Yang Ji originally thought that as long as he worked harder, he would be able to earn enough money to support himself and his old housekeeper for two months before the end of the year. However, the reality was far more complicated and ruthless than imagined.
Although the couplets were sold, it cost money to buy rice paper, rent a stall, and even ink sticks. Due to heavy consumption, I had to buy a dozen more.
To be fair, forty-five coppers was already a lot of gains. Even teachers from several big clans might not earn more than him in a whole day. However, Yang Ji knew deeply that this was far from enough.
"Today is the first day, and everyone is so new that they buy so much. But later on, the sales will be less and less. It is impossible to sell so many every day. - And everyone is not a fool.
, someone will definitely follow suit tomorrow, and I may not be able to sell much by then."
Yang Ji was secretly worried.
A few copper coins may be a matter of eating more and less for others, but Yang Ji is different. He knows deeply that for him and the old housekeeper, it is a matter of life and death, whether they can survive this cold winter.
The problem.
No one can help him in this matter. He has no one to rely on and has to fend for himself.
"There are only a few hours until dark, and we can't sell much here. I have to find another way."
Yang Ji stood up. He wanted more than just forty-five coppers.
"It's too troublesome to sell one by one, and each family can only buy one pair of couplets to stand up. If I want to make enough money before the end of the year, unless I sell them in bundles, I can afford to buy so many.
Of…only those stores!”
Yang Ji's eyes fell on the shops on both sides of the street.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Ji quickly walked into a sundry store behind him. The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man who looked very shrewd.
"Young man, do you want grain or facial oil? Or buy some firecrackers to celebrate the occasion. My prices here are very reasonable."
The shopkeeper said with a smile.
"No," Yang Ji shook his head, "I'm here to sell something?"
"Selling something? Young man, are you sure you're not in the wrong place?"
The shopkeeper looked stunned, then laughed out loud, pointed to the sign outside the door, and said jokingly:
"Did you see the sign at the door? I only sell here, not buy. It's really whimsical to sell things to my store... Young man, turn around and leave the door, go to another store."
"One copper, two pairs of couplets, with ink paintings."
Yang Ji didn't do anything, he just extended a finger and looked at the counter seriously.
The shopkeeper was dumbfounded, and then realized that Yang Ji was serious. He frowned, but did not chase Yang Ji away.
"Your shop is right behind me. You should be able to see clearly how many couplets I sold in the market today."
Yang Ji opened his mouth and said that he did not choose this store without any reason.
"You just need to hang my couplets in the store. People come and go here to buy New Year goods. It's not strange to buy a pair of couplets. As long as you sell two pairs, you can earn an extra copper plate, and
Why not?"
The shopkeeper looked slightly relaxed.
"It's true that you don't buy anything here, but the new year is coming. At this time, do you still want to push the money delivered to your door out the door?"
Yang Ji said seriously.
The grocery store manager was greatly moved when he heard this. The businessman did not push the money out. If it had been anyone else, he would not have agreed to this.
But how prosperous Yang Ji's business was in the market today was clearly visible from behind him. It was all real money, which was more convincing than anything else.
"This kid is still too young. This kind of couplet with ink painting can be regarded as calligraphy and painting. The price will definitely be more than one copper plate. If I really sell it, it will be more than two couplets for one copper plate."
The shopkeeper glanced at Yang Ji and made a calculation in his mind.
He is a businessman, shrewd and has read many people. He can tell at a glance that although Yang Ji pretends to be sophisticated, he is actually still a young bird with little experience. It is obviously his first time to do such a public thing, otherwise he would not have determined the price.
Already.
"Okay! Young man, seeing how sincere you are, I want your couplet. However, this is a grocery store and I mainly sell flour, grains and oils. I can only order about ten pairs of these couplets at most. Any more would be a bit risky.
."
The shopkeeper said.
One copper coin and two pairs of couplets, the price was already very low, and he was too embarrassed to negotiate the price.
"Thank you. However, if you can help me write an extra piece of paper to prove that you bought ten pairs of couplets from me, then I can give you an extra pair of couplets."
Yang Ji was not in a hurry and said calmly.
"Hahaha, okay, okay! Little brother, if you have any good things in the future, you might as well come to me."
The shopkeeper came back to his senses, secretly praised in his heart, and spoke a little more politely.
Don't take advantage of the bastard. Although it would have some impact on Yang Ji to sell calligraphy and paintings to other people, he could still digest more than a dozen couplets, so there was no reason to stop Yang Ji.
There is no hope of making a fortune with this kind of thing. It would be nice if you could make a fortune before the end of the year. It doesn’t take much effort anyway.
The two reached a deal, and Yang Ji quickly produced eleven couplets, paired with ink paintings, which was quite refreshing.
Things went much smoother after that. Yang Ji took the receipt written by the grocery store manager and matched it with the fingerprints on it, and knocked on the door one by one and entered the store.
With the calligraphy certificate as a "stepping stone", Yang Ji's couplets were sold much faster.
Although the digestion capacity of each store is different, more or less, more than a dozen pairs, and as few as two or three pairs, but the total amount is not a small amount.
"A total of eighty-five coppers. After deducting my original five coppers, I have earned eighty coppers today. Although it is still a little short of that, it is enough for Uncle Liang and I to spend the entire winter. As for the subsequent expenses.
Degree,...it won’t be too late to think of a solution by then.”
Yang Ji was thinking, and showed a happy smile. He had been tense all day, and now he finally relaxed.
"It is indeed not easy to make money. It took me a day to write, and my wrists were numb and I felt like I was going to lose weight. I only earned eighty coppers. However, although it was hard work, it was finally worth it.
——I’m afraid that woman will never believe that I can make so much in one day.”
Yang Ji snorted coldly, feeling extremely relieved in his heart.
"It's getting late, and Uncle Liang is still waiting at home. I'll go back quickly to make him happy."
Yang Ji packed up his pen, ink, paper and inkstone, carried the pen box on his back, looked at the direction, and immediately walked quickly in the direction of Yang's house.
"This boy... is so simple! My wife only gave him half a month's silver, but he actually thought of selling couplets to make money."
A figure walked out quickly from a hidden corner of the alley, silently looked at Yang Ji's leaving figure, and murmured to himself:
"No, this matter must be reported to Madam as soon as possible."