Painting a Memorial Portrait

"Such a pity. You paint so well—if my young lady saw your paintings, she would definitely love them," maid Xiao Xue said regretfully.

"The ones who should find it a pity are you, not me." Zhong Lin smiled. "With my skill, would I need to worry that no one could recognize quality?"

His tone was so confidently smug that maid Xiao Xue had the urge to hit him, though she had to admit that Zhong Lin's painting skills were the finest she had ever seen.

Xiao Xue did not understand such things as valuing spirit over form. She only knew that Zhong Lin's paintings looked exactly like the real thing, as though the people within could step out at any moment. It was simply divine craftsmanship.

She curled her lip and pointed at a scroll protruding from Zhong Lin's bundle. "Sell this one to me! I'll take it back for my young lady to see."

"Five taels of silver."

"That's fine, not expensive. Exquisite Painting Workshop charges three taels just to paint my young lady. Your paintings look this good, so five taels isn't costly."

As she spoke, maid Xiao Xue took a silver ingot from her purse. Not a bit more or less—it weighed exactly five taels.

Zhong Lin took the silver and handed her the scroll.

Xiao Xue slowly unfurled it again to admire the beauty in the painting. The woman wore flowing white robes and possessed an ethereal air. Her jet-black hair danced in the wind; her figure had depth, her eyes were lively, and she even seemed almost alive.

"So beautiful—more beautiful than my young lady. What is her name? Which family's young lady is she?"

Xiao Xue reluctantly tore her gaze away, rolled up the scroll, and asked.

Zhong Lin was still immersed in the joy of earning five taels of silver. He had drawn this in barely the time it took to burn one stick of incense; if he wanted, he could paint another at any time.

The yearly rent for the courtyard he leased was only three taels of silver. One painting had earned him five taels. With this skill, he would never again have to worry about going hungry.

Hearing maid Xiao Xue's question, he answered casually, "This is Little Dragon Girl, not some family's young lady. I saw her in a dream and painted her afterward."

"Someone seen in a dream? No wonder she is so hazy and filled with immortal grace. How could the mortal world possibly raise such a graceful woman?"

Maid Xiao Xue sighed in admiration, then turned and returned to the Warm Fragrance Brothel behind her.

Zhong Lin put away his five-tael silver ingot and strode off.

He had earned five taels from his first business deal, so he had to reward himself.

Eat at a restaurant.

"May I ask, are you Young Master Zhong?"

A carriage suddenly stopped before Zhong Lin. A tall, thin old man in his fifties stepped down from it.

"You are?"

"I heard that Young Master Zhong's brush brings paintings to life, and have come especially to invite you to paint for my master. Please come with me."

The steward showed no arrogance whatsoever despite Zhong Lin's youth. His tone was entirely mild and courteous, making one sigh at how worthy he was of being a steward from a wealthy household.

"I can paint, but the fee..."

"Rest assured, Young Master Zhong. If your painting satisfies my master, you will certainly not be treated poorly."

"Fine."

Zhong Lin stepped into the carriage, which headed along the main street toward the city center.

Inside the carriage, the steward spoke little and closed his eyes to rest. Zhong Lin found it awkward to strike up a conversation and instead looked out the window at the passing scenery.

As the carriage moved on, the buildings lining the street became more orderly, and the clothing worn by the passersby noticeably improved.

The streets were paved with bluestone, while modest homes and small courtyards gave way to deep compounds and grand residences.

After roughly a quarter of an hour, they arrived before a large vermilion gate. Above the residence hung a huge plaque bearing the words "Liu Residence."

"Young Master Zhong, this way."

Following the steward through the side entrance, Zhong Lin passed artificial hills and waters, pavilions and towers. He could not help marveling; it truly was the home of a great family.

Before long, the steward led him into the inner courtyard, where seven or eight maids and servants waited off to the side.

Some carried basins of water, some held towels, and others carried food boxes.

The moment he entered the room, a heavy medicinal smell rushed at him.

The steward explained softly, "Please forgive us, Young Master Zhong. My master is gravely ill. The physician says he has little time left. We invited you here to paint a memorial portrait for him, so that later generations may have his likeness to remember him by. Please rest assured that, once it is done, we will give Young Master Zhong an extra red envelope."

"Steward, has the painter arrived?"

A middle-aged man in his forties inside the room saw Zhong Lin and the steward enter and called out loudly.

"Young Master, the painter has arrived."

"Him?"

The middle-aged man glanced at Zhong Lin, his face showing the same old disbelief.

Zhong Lin said nothing. He directly took out the scroll from his back, unfurled half of it, and let the man see.

It had become Zhong Lin's calling card.

Sure enough, after seeing the painting in Zhong Lin's hand, the middle-aged man's eyes lit up. He nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. He'll do!"

The steward quickly led the silent Zhong Lin into the inner room. There, he saw the old man lying on the bed. His face was pale, his breathing weak, and every breath made a muffled sound in his throat like a broken bellows. No one would doubt that he might kick his legs up at any moment.

"You're here... cough, cough."

His voice was hoarse and feeble. After speaking only two words, he erupted into violent coughing. The old woman beside him rubbed his chest for a long while before it finally subsided.

"Master, this is the painter I found for you," the steward said softly as he hurried forward.

"Such a young painter? Never mind. If he has earned your approval, his paintings must be decent. Begin!" Master Liu waved his hand with difficulty.

"The finest brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones have all been prepared. Young Master Zhong, please."

Zhong Lin was utterly speechless. His original target customers had been the lovely ladies of the brothel. Who could have expected that he would fail to do business there, only to end up painting a memorial portrait instead? Life was truly unpredictable—one twist after another!

Well, paint it he would! Making money was nothing to be ashamed of.

Zhong Lin did not immediately sit down and begin painting. Instead, he turned to the steward and said, "Please bring me Master Liu's usual clothes and accessories for me to examine."

The steward gave Zhong Lin a surprised look. After asking for instructions, he went to make the arrangements as Zhong Lin requested.

Ignoring everyone else, Zhong Lin walked to the bedside and carefully studied Master Liu. Before long, he had it all firmly in mind.

Not long afterward, Master Liu's clothes were delivered. Normally, a portrait should be painted with its subject properly dressed and groomed, but Master Liu no longer had the energy for such things.

Zhong Lin then asked the steward about Master Liu's usual demeanor, temperament, habits, and so on. After all that, he finally sat down and picked up his brush.

An hour later, Zhong Lin slowly set down his brush and rose to his feet.

In truth, he had finished most of it half an hour ago, but he had to show some respect for the money they were paying.

"Young Master Zhong truly has miraculous hands."

The steward and Young Master Liu, standing behind Zhong Lin, could not help being moved when they saw the painting.

The person in the painting had a full face, spirited eyes, and hair combed meticulously into place. His overall appearance was vastly different from the old man on the sickbed, who was on the verge of death.

Yet they both knew it was Master Liu in his healthy days. In fact, the figure in the painting looked even younger than he had in life.

Just a bit of manual Photoshop—basic stuff, no need to make a fuss.