When the madam heard that he was just helping to find a few scholars who could write scripts, he quickly patted his chest and promised: "There are not many in the north courtyard of Hanxiang Tower, but there are the most down-and-out scholars. You can give me a few taels of silver, and you can have as much as you want."
"Mother Feng, this is the first time that my husband has asked me to do something. Money is not an issue. The most important thing is to be talented and write good stories!" Qingyuan reminded.
"When you say that, I really want to be alone."
The old bustard said: "I remember seeing him once last night. Just wait, I'll ask the maid to look for him to see if he's gone."
After saying that, the madam ran out.
Soon, a scholar wearing a long gown followed the madam in.
The scholar's gown has been washed and turned white, and there are two patches on the knees.
"This is Chen Wenyuan, Mr. Chen!"
The old bustard introduced: "You should have heard of Qingyuan, the one who is good with Xiaolian."
"It turns out to be Mr. Chen!"
Qingyuan quickly bowed.
She had indeed heard of Chen Wenyuan.
This man was a down-and-out scholar, but he did have some talent, but his talent was not poetry, but storytelling.
It's a pity that there is no use in making up stories in Dakang Society. You have to be able to write poems and parallel prose in order to be able to take the exam for merit.
Chen Wenyuan took the exam for several years, but failed to pass the exam. He could only make a living by copying poems and scriptures for people at Qiaotou and writing letters.
Occasionally, I also write family biographies for some local gentry who have passed away.
There was a girl named Xiaolian in Hanxianglou who was illiterate. She went to Qiaotou to ask Chen Wenyuan for help in writing letters to her family.
The two of them just looked at each other.
Dakang's printing technology was very backward, and many books had to be copied and circulated.
Chen Wenyuan was good at calligraphy, so his business was usually good, and many wealthy families liked to ask him to copy poems and books.
Although the income is not too much, life is not a problem and I can still have a few drinks every month.
But after meeting Xiao Lian, Chen Wenyuan's savings were quickly spent.
I work hard every day to help others copy, and I have to save several days to meet the girl I like.
If you want to spend the night in Hanxiang Tower, you have to save up for at least half a month.
As for redeeming Xiaolian's life, don't even think about it.
Xiaolian treated him well. In order to have a private meeting with him, she often used her own private money to give to Chen Wenyuan.
This kind of life was too painful, so when the madam came to him and said that someone wanted to hire someone to write a story, Chen Wenyuan came without hesitation.
"Mr. Chen, this is Miss Qingyuan, she is the one who asked you to make up stories!"
The madam pointed at Qingyuan again and introduced.
When Chen Wenyuan heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Brothels generally do not accept female customers. From the Madam's conversation with Qingyuan just now, it is obvious that this girl knows Xiaolian.
So Chen Wenyuan subconsciously mistook Qingyuan for a brothel girl.
What kind of story would a brothel girl ask herself to make up?
How much money can I get for editing?
But out of politeness, Chen Wenyuan still saluted Qingyuan: "Xiaosheng has seen Miss Qingyuan!"
"Young master, you're welcome. We sisters are all envious of what happened between you and Sister Lian." Qingyuan said with a smile.
This is not a lie. Stories about talented men and beautiful women are already popular in brothels.
It's just a pity that the talented man in front of me is a little too poor to redeem Xiaolian, otherwise it will be another good story.
"Let the girl laugh!" Chen Wenyuan thought Qingyuan was trying to get close to her and wanted to be cheaper, so he said: "Don't worry, girl, since she is Xiaolian's sister, I will definitely not charge you more!"
A man like the madam could see Chen Wenyuan's little thoughts at a glance.
He quickly interrupted: "Mr. Chen, Miss Qingyuan is working for Mr. Jin now, and she is also looking for someone to write stories for Mr. Jin!"
"Yes, Mr. Chen, as long as your story is well written, money is not a problem!"
Qingyuan also said: "My husband said that as long as it does not exceed thirty taels of silver, I can make the decision!"
Before leaving, Jin Feng gave her a full one hundred taels of silver, but for the sake of insurance, she only said thirty taels.
Even so, it was enough to make Chen Wenyuan excited.
He usually helps people write a letter for only a few copper coins.
He copied hundreds of pages of poems and prose, but only a hundred pages of poetry were copied.
Thirty taels of silver, he had never seen so much money in his life.
"I don't need thirty taels, twenty-five taels is enough!"
Chen Wenyuan quickly waved his hand: "No, twenty-two and a half is enough!"
Xiaolian is not a popular girl, and she is not too young either. Chen Wenyuan asked the old bustard that he could redeem Xiaolian's life for twenty-five taels of silver.
Over the years, Xiaolian has also secretly saved some money from guests' rewards, which adds up to two and a half.
As long as Qingyuan gives him another twenty-two and a half, he can pull Xiaolian out of the sea of suffering.
"I said, as long as the story is well written, money is not an issue!"
Qingyuan said: "But I have said ugly things first. My husband is also a scholar. If the stories written by the young master cannot pass the judgment of my husband, then there is nothing I can do."
"Your husband won't think about lowering the price after I finish writing it, right?"
Chen Wenyuan asked with a frown.
He had met this kind of customer before, and he had a good conversation before writing, and he happily gave him a hundred copper coins as a deposit.
As a result, he happily helped the other party copy hundreds of pages of poems. When it was the other party's turn to pay, he found all kinds of faults. He agreed on the price of three hundred yuan, but in the end he only gave him another fifty yuan and left it.
He dismissed it.
"Mr. Chen, if you don't want to write it, that's all. I'll find someone else. Don't humiliate my husband!"
Qing Yuan, who had been smiling all the time, immediately turned cold when she heard Chen Wenyuan question Jin Feng.
The escorts behind her also turned their heads and glared at Chen Wenyuan.
"Mr. Chen, don't talk nonsense. Mr. Jin is worth more than ten thousand dollars. How could he ignore his face and be greedy for your money?"
When the middleman, the madam, saw that the two parties were about to fall out, he quickly came out to smooth things over.
"Mr. Jin? Which Mr. Jin?"
Chen Wenyuan's attention was previously focused on the silver, but now that Qingyuan and the Madam mentioned Jin Feng again, he finally came back to his senses.
"Which Mr. Jin can we have in Xichuan City?"
The madam pointed to the west: "Of course it's General Jin who repelled the cavalry outside the city!"
"Is this Mr. Jin who has fought for three thousand miles and conquered sixteen states with one sword?"
Chen Wenyuan quickly asked.
In the feudal era, Qiaotou was the busiest place in many cities.
There are not only entertainers and jugglers, but also storytellers and comedians.
Chen Wenyuan makes a living in Qiaotou, next to a storyteller's stall.
He didn't know how many times he had heard Jin Feng's story.
He also makes up stories, so you can naturally hear that there are many edited parts in them.
But he believed that the poems written by Jin Feng were true.
Because such stunning and brilliant sentences cannot be made up by storytellers.
Therefore, Jin Feng is also highly regarded.
Chen Wenyuan immediately became excited when he learned that his employer behind the scenes was Jin Feng.
"Miss Qingyuan, Mother Feng, I'm sorry. The young student didn't know it was Mr. Jin's errand just now."
Chen Wenyuan bowed to Qingyuan and said: "Don't worry, girl, Xiaosheng will do his best to write. If you are not satisfied, sir, you won't take any money from me!"