Chapter 10: Superb Painting Skills
"Where have I seen Miss Shen?"
Jiang Chengfeng shook his head. "It's just that I passed by the Shen Mansion today and happened to see Madam Shen, so I drew this portrait based on Madam Shen's appearance and my own imagination!"
Luo Youcai and his daughter were both dumbfounded.
Mrs. Shen is already over 30 years old, but just based on Mrs. Shen's appearance, he was able to depict her teenage daughter. Such painting skills and imagination are extraordinary!
Seeing the surprised expressions of Luo's father and daughter, Jiang Chengfeng was both amused and proud. The reason why he did this was to satisfy the curiosity of those who went to the Shen Mansion to apply for servants, making them all think that the woman in the painting was Miss Shen.
Later, Jiang Chengfeng felt that the charcoal was not easy to handle, so he asked Luo Ahui to find a small knife and cut the charcoal into a long and thin "pencil".
"Young Master, why do you want to cut it like this?" Luo Ahui didn't quite understand Jiang Chengfeng's actions, and asked, blinking her big, bright eyes.
"This is a simplified version of a pencil! Hmm... let's just call it a pen! Also, I'd like you to keep it safe for me, maybe I'll need it next time!"
Luo Ahui nodded in agreement.
After sharpening the pencil, Jiang Chengfeng frowned and thought again. The Luo father and daughter did not dare to disturb him and quietly stepped aside.
Soon, Jiang Chengfeng began to paint. Compared with the previous one, Jiang Chengfeng painted faster, but the outline of this painting was more delicate and fascinating than the previous one.
The woman in this painting looks like a fairy from heaven, with fluttering clothes and a calm demeanor. Her otherworldly temperament is vividly portrayed on the paper.
But the woman in the painting has her brows slightly furrowed, as if she is worried about something.
The reason for adding this stroke is that Jiang Chengfeng heard Luo Ahui's story. Miss Shen is busy with the Shen family's business, which makes the painting seem more real.
"What a nice view!"
As soon as Jiang Chengfeng put pen to paper, Luo Ahui couldn't help but praise him, her face showing joy, and then she sighed softly, "It's a pity that no one paints for me!"
Jiang Chengfeng chuckled and said, "If I have time in the future, I will definitely paint a picture for Miss Hui!"
In fact, Luo Ahui was just complaining unconsciously just now. She didn't expect Jiang Chengfeng to agree immediately. Luo Ahui was naturally surprised and happy, and thanked him politely.
There were no cameras back then, so which girl who loves beauty wouldn’t want a painter to capture her beauty in a portrait?
Jiang Chengfeng smiled, turned to look at Luo Youcai, and said, "What do you think, Uncle Luo?"
Luo Youcai had long admired him to the core, gave him a thumbs up, and praised him: "Young Master, you are so talented, I admire you!"
Jiang Chengfeng smiled triumphantly, and struck while the iron was hot. He drew several sketches of Miss Shen based on his imagination, with different expressions and clothing, just to make the applicants feel fresh and interesting.
After painting seven or eight paintings in a row, Jiang Chengfeng, who hadn't done anything big for a long time, was sweating profusely. He casually wiped the sweat from his forehead and stretched, "Alright! I'm so tired!"
Luo Ahui was surprised at Jiang Chengfeng's painting skills, but when her eyes swept over Jiang Chengfeng, she suddenly burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at, Miss Ahui?" Jiang Chengfeng didn't understand and stared at Luo Ahui blankly.
"Sir, don't move!"
Luo Ahui took out a white handkerchief from her arms, hesitated slightly, bit her red lips lightly, moved closer to Jiang Chengfeng, and gently wiped off the black ink on Jiang Chengfeng's forehead.
When Luo Ahui came closer, Jiang Chengfeng suddenly felt a fresh and lasting fragrance coming from his nose , and his heart was moved.
Jiang Chengfeng understood immediately, presumably because of the ink stain on his forehead . What surprised him was Luo Ahui's boldness. In this era when women's chastity was as precious as their lives, it was taboo for women and men to be so intimate!
Although Jiang Chengfeng did have some ideas about this girl, at least her father was watching, so Jiang Chengfeng took the white handkerchief and said with a smile: "I'll do it myself!"
Luo Ahui also knew Jiang Chengfeng's intention, so she handed over the handkerchief and smiled sweetly.
Jiang Chengfeng wiped it like this, and the white handkerchief suddenly turned black. Luo Ahui did not dislike it, but took the handkerchief and said with a smile: "It's okay! Just wash it!"
Jiang Chengfeng smiled awkwardly, and then taught Luo Ahui to redraw the sketch he had just made with a brush.
Although this kind of drawing is simple, it cannot be wrong and requires concentration, because a brush is different from a pencil and there is no eraser to correct mistakes.
It was the first time for Luo Ahui to do such a delicate and meticulous job. She was a little nervous. Her pretty face turned red, her right hand was trembling slightly, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Seeing Luo Ahui absorbed in her thoughts, Jiang Chengfeng couldn't help but smile. If he didn't get such a thoughtful and pretty girl, he would feel sorry for his journey through time!
Soon, Luo Ahui finished drawing.
I have to say that this girl is very serious and careful in her work. She finished sketching Jiang Chengfeng in such a short time, and there was no mistake at all.
"Ahui! If you marry someone else in the future, I will be sad!" Jiang Chengfeng held the portrait drawn by Luo Ahui and exclaimed in admiration.
Luo Ahui's pretty face flushed, the blush spreading to her neck. She found an excuse and hurried away.
Jiang Chengfeng smiled bitterly and touched his nose. It seems that he can't be so direct in the future! He scared the girl away!
After checking it again and feeling that there was nothing that needed to be revised, Jiang Chengfeng handed the final draft to Luo Youcai for printing.
Jiang Chengfeng knew that the printing technology of this era was backward, but fortunately the content of this booklet was not much. If he worked overtime, he could at least print six or seven hundred copies.
Luo Youcai had just left when Jiang Chengfeng suddenly remembered something important, so he ran out and stopped Luo Youcai, telling him to keep the secret, especially the manuscript, which must not be stolen.
There is no such thing as intellectual property rights these days. If a manuscript is stolen and becomes someone else's money-making tool, all previous efforts will be wasted!
Luo Youcai patted his chest and promised that he would do a great job on this matter.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for dinner, but Jiang Chengfeng did not return to his thatched cottage. He was alone anyway, so he might as well have a meal at Luo Youcai's house where there would be more people around and it would be more lively!
Luo Dongchuan just happened to come back from a long journey to have dinner, but looking at his excited face, it seemed that he had accomplished that task.
Because he was worried about the pamphlet, Luo Youcai took Jiang Chengfeng to the printing workshop after dinner. Under the temptation of three times the wages, all 23 workers in the printing workshop stayed to print overnight.
After a tiring day, Jiang Chengfeng returned to his little thatched cottage and fell asleep. In his dream, he saw Luo Ahui in half of her dress, which was extremely charming.
Jiang Chengfeng couldn't hold back any longer, fell to the ground, and attacked crazily.
