Chapter 4

At the beginning, Yang Ji was still at a loss, but after his gaze swept around a few times, he gradually began to discern a pattern.

"These people buying couplets mostly go to the famous large clan tutors and a few other old gentlemen. Apart from them, very few people buy from others."

This discovery came as a surprise to Yang Ji.

Clearly, he wasn't the only one facing this situation. Although he looked the youngest and the most pitiful, others weren't much better. Many people had their hands tucked into their sleeves, and their stalls were deserted, with only a few items sold after a long time.

Yang Ji particularly noticed that a few old gentlemen with more skillful and elegant calligraphy sold fewer couplets than another gentleman with average calligraphy.

Yang Ji vaguely recognized that the gentleman with average calligraphy was surnamed Zhou and had been selling calligraphy here for seven or eight years.

"That's it! I understand now!"

This discovery was like a sudden enlightenment for Yang Ji, and he immediately understood.

"The people coming here to buy couplets can't really tell the difference in calligraphy. In their eyes, all the couplets might look the same, so they still go to Mr. Zhou out of habit."

Yang Ji finally understood why he hadn't sold a single couplet for so long.

"So... to sell my couplets, I need to stand out. I need to make them see that I'm clearly different from others. Only then can I sell them."

A smile appeared on Yang Ji's lips.

Now that he understood why the couplets weren't selling, the rest was easier.

Yang Ji's gaze slowly swept over the market. When his eyes fell on a painting shop by the street, he had an idea:

"I've got it."

Swish, swish, swish!

Yang Ji unfolded a new piece of paper and quickly wrote a new couplet. His brush strokes were heavy and powerful, especially with the thick ink, making the characters appear particularly strong and vigorous, like a waterfall or a majestic peak.

Left couplet: Blessings do not come in pairs.

Right couplet: Misfortunes never come singly.

After writing the couplet, he hung it on the banner behind him, replacing the original one.

Whoosh!

The crowd, which had been ignoring Yang Ji, suddenly burst into a commotion when they saw the new couplet.

"Brat, what are you doing?!"

"Are you cursing people? Looking for a beating!"

"At this time of year, you dare to write such a couplet!"

"Take it down quickly, fast!"

...

The New Year was supposed to be the most joyous time, with everyone busy either raising money for the New Year or buying New Year goods for good luck. No one expected such an ominous couplet to appear in the center of the market. Wasn't this cursing people?

Especially the merchants who traveled from all over, seeing this couplet was like seeing blood in the first month of the year, and they glared angrily, extremely unfriendly.

Seeing such a couplet at this time was extremely hateful.

Curses came from all directions, with people indignant. A few burly men even rolled up their sleeves, ready to attack, but they hesitated when they recognized Yang Ji as a member of the Yang clan.

Facing the agitated crowd, Yang Ji remained calm and composed, but he didn't push it too far. When he saw the crowd gather, he immediately made a move.

Picking up his brush, Yang Ji added three characters to each side of the couplet on the banner:

Left: Blessings do not come in pairs—today they do.

Right: Misfortunes never come singly—yesterday they did.

With these few additional characters, the meaning of the couplet changed. The misfortunes had passed, and blessings were coming today. This was the meaning of "bitterness turning to sweetness."

The originally angry crowd was now stunned, and they couldn't help but applaud in admiration!

Who had ever seen such a brilliant transformation? What was originally a curse became a blessing with just a few added characters in Yang Ji's hands.

This ability was truly remarkable.

"Ha ha ha, good boy, you have it in you."

A bearded merchant laughed heartily and pushed his way through the crowd:

"Just for coming up with this idea, I'll buy this couplet. One copper coin, right? Here you go!"

Businessmen are incredibly shrewd and could see that Yang Ji was using this to attract customers. He felt a sense of admiration for the clever young man. Merchants often admire those who are smart.

"Finally, it worked."

Yang Ji's tense nerves relaxed. The first sale he had been waiting for hours finally came, and he felt an indescribable excitement. However, he didn't rush to close the deal.

"Hold on!"

Yang Ji took down the couplet from the banner, picked up his brush, and with a focused expression, quickly added a few strokes to the blank spaces on the couplet.

In the surprised gaze of the bearded merchant, the originally plain couplet now had lively ink paintings of magpies and plum blossoms on both sides.

"Magpies on the branches herald spring. You're a merchant, and buying this is also for good luck. I'll give it to you."

Yang Ji said.

"Amazing, amazing! Young brother, with your mind, it's a waste to be a scholar."

The bearded merchant was deeply impressed.

Merchants travel far and wide and have seen everything. He had only admired this young man at first, thinking it might be a bit showy. But when Yang Ji added the paintings to the couplet, he was thoroughly convinced.

At this age, such a quick-witted young man was a first for him.

"At this age, to have such skill and quick thinking... truly impressive. —It's a pity he's a scholar."

The bearded merchant felt a twinge of regret, but this thought quickly faded.

"Ha ha ha, just for these magpies and plum blossoms, and your good wishes, this couplet is worth two copper coins."

The bearded merchant laughed, took out another copper coin, and slapped it on the table.

"Thank you."

Yang Ji's voice betrayed his uncontrollable joy.

After all, he was only fifteen years old, not as composed as those old gentlemen who had lived for decades. Selling his first couplet and earning his first money filled him with indescribable joy and excitement, even making his fingertips tremble.

With this successful start, Yang Ji's business indeed improved.

People in Pingchuan County had never seen paintings on couplets before, and they found it particularly fresh and novel. Moreover, after the first sale, Yang Ji set a very low price, one copper coin per couplet.

The ink paintings on the couplets were essentially free.

"Give me one, give me one!..."

"Me too, me too! I was here first..."

...

In no time, Yang Ji's previously deserted stall was surrounded by a crowd, all wanting to buy his calligraphy and paintings. Even the tutors from the large clans couldn't help but look at him with admiration.

"Success."

Yang Ji clenched his fists, his heart swelling with emotion.

One couplet after another appeared on the paper, and the Xuan paper he had bought quickly ran out. He had to go to the stationery shop and buy several more bundles.

Yang Ji wasn't very experienced in painting, only dabbling in it when he learned calligraphy, and he was only skilled in a few flowers, birds, and landscapes, not deeply. But it was enough for a few couplets.

"Exhausted!"

Yang Ji wiped the sweat from his forehead, rubbed his wrist, and put down the brush:

"Although I sold many couplets, it also took a lot of time and energy."

Yang Ji looked up at the sky; it was already late. The market wasn't as crowded as before, and now he could only sell three or four couplets per hour.

"The market will disperse soon."

According to the rules, the market would only last until dusk, and the number of people would decrease. Yang Ji counted his money bag, deducting the cost of the Xuan paper, and realized he hadn't earned much.

"Only forty-five copper coins."

Yang Ji's eyes showed disappointment: "After a whole afternoon of hard work, it's still far from enough!"

Yang Ji had thought that if he worked hard, he could earn enough for himself and the old steward for two months before the New Year. But reality was far more complex and harsh.

Although he had sold the couplets, buying Xuan paper, renting the stall, and even the ink sticks, which he had to buy more of due to heavy use, all cost money.

To be fair, earning forty-five copper coins was not bad. Even the tutors from the large clans might not earn more in a whole day. However, Yang Ji knew this was far from enough.

"Today is the first day, and people bought a lot because it was new. As time goes on, sales will decrease. Moreover, people aren't fools; by tomorrow, someone will follow my lead, and I might not sell as much."

Yang Ji was secretly worried.

For others, a few copper coins might just mean more or less food, but for Yang Ji, it was a matter of life and death, of whether he and the old steward could survive the winter.

No one could help him with this. He had no one to rely on and could only fend for himself.

"There are only a few hours until nightfall, and I can't sell much more here. I need to find another way."

Yang Ji stood up; he wanted more than just forty-five copper coins.

"Selling one by one is too troublesome, and a household can only buy one couplet. To earn enough before the New Year, I need to sell in bulk. And the only ones who can afford that... are the shopkeepers!"

Yang Ji's gaze fell on the shops along the street.

After a moment's thought, Yang Ji quickly entered a nearby sundries shop. The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man who looked very shrewd.

"Boy, do you want oil, flour, or some fireworks to celebrate? I have very reasonable prices."

The shopkeeper smiled.

"No," Yang Ji shook his head, "I'm here to sell something."

"Sell something? Young man, are you sure you haven't come to the wrong place?"

The shopkeeper looked surprised, then burst into laughter, pointing at the sign outside, teasing:

"See the sign? I only sell, not buy. Selling things to my shop is a pipe dream. Young man, turn around and go to another shop."

"Two copper coins for two couplets, with ink paintings."

Yang Ji didn't move, just extended a finger and looked at the counter seriously.

The shopkeeper was taken aback, realizing Yang Ji was serious, and frowned but didn't drive him away.

"Your shop is right behind me. You should have seen how many couplets I sold today."

Yang Ji spoke, and he didn't choose this shop without reason.

"All you need to do is hang my couplets in your shop. People coming to buy New Year goods will naturally buy a couplet. If you sell two, you earn a copper coin. Why not?"

The shopkeeper's expression softened.

"You don't sell things, but the New Year is coming. Why would you turn away money that's right in front of you?"

Yang Ji said seriously.

This made the shopkeeper think. Businessmen don't turn away money. If it were someone else, he might not have agreed.

But he had seen how well Yang Ji's business did today, and the money was real, more convincing than anything else.

"This boy is still inexperienced. These couplets with ink paintings are already considered art. They're worth more than a copper coin. If I really sell them, I'll earn more than two copper coins for two couplets."

The shopkeeper glanced at Yang Ji, calculating in his head.

He was a shrewd businessman and could tell that Yang Ji, though trying to act experienced, was still a novice. This was clearly his first time doing this, or he wouldn't have set such a low price.

"Alright! Young man, you seem honest. I'll take your couplets. But my shop mainly sells flour and oil. I can only take about ten couplets, any more would be risky."

The shopkeeper decided.

Two copper coins for two couplets was already a low price, and he didn't want to haggle.

"Thank you. But if you can write a note proving you bought ten couplets from me, I'll give you an extra one."

Yang Ji wasn't in a hurry, speaking calmly.

"Ha ha ha, good, good! Young brother, if you have more good things, come to me."

The shopkeeper, impressed, spoke more politely.

It's foolish not to take a good deal. Although Yang Ji selling to others might affect him, he could handle a dozen couplets and had no reason to stop Yang Ji.

This wasn't a big money-making opportunity, but earning some extra before the New Year was good, and it didn't require much effort.

They made a deal, and Yang Ji quickly wrote eleven couplets with ink paintings, which were quite refreshing.

The rest went smoothly. With the note as a "knock-on-the-door" tool, Yang Ji went from shop to shop, knocking and selling his couplets.

Although each shop's capacity varied, from a dozen to just a few, the total was not small.

"In total, eighty-five copper coins. Deducting my original five, I earned eighty copper coins today. Although it's a bit short, it's enough for me and Uncle Liang to get through the winter. As for future expenses, I'll think of something later."

Yang Ji thought, a smile appearing on his face. He had been tense all day, and now he finally relaxed.

"Earning money is indeed not easy. I spent a whole day, my wrist is numb, and I feel like I'm about to collapse, and I only earned eighty copper coins. But it was worth it, despite the hard work. —That woman would never believe I could earn so much in a day."

Yang Ji snorted, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

"It's getting late, and Uncle Liang is waiting at home. I should go back and make him happy."

Yang Ji packed up his brush, ink, and paper, put on his pen box, checked the direction, and quickly walked toward the Yang residence.

"This boy... not simple at all! The lady only gave him half a month's salary, and he thought of selling couplets to earn money."

A figure quickly emerged from a hidden corner of the alley, watching Yang Ji's departing back, murmuring:

"I must report this to the lady quickly."

Turning around, the figure quickly disappeared.

(PS: Please recommend and collect!)