Chapter 18: Chapter Eighteen: You, Will Not Be Chosen.
Translator: 549690339
Jiang Ning was startled.
Although her calligraphy was passable, her painting was a stretch.
Who would have so much money to burn, to buy her calligraphy?
It was highly likely that Xiaoqian was up to something.
Considering Old Man Li’s destitute appearance, how much money could he possibly have at home?
Surely, the silver ticket in Xiaoqian’s hand must be fake, a child’s plaything. How could he possibly deceive the experienced housekeeper, Aunt Hua?
Before Jiang Ning could say anything, Aunt Hua burst into laughter, “A thousand taels of silver! What kind of calligraphy could possibly be worth such a price? Kid, did you just draw this silver ticket yourself?”
With a serious face, Xiaoqian replied, “You can take it and exchange it at any money house. If you can’t cash it in, I’ll take your surname.”
“Is it real?”
Aunt Hua gave a signal to a maid at her side.
The maid took the silver ticket and looked at it carefully for a long time before saying, “Madam, this… appears to be real.”
“Impossible!”
Aunt Hua snatched the ticket, scrutinizing it back and forth. The longer she looked, the more her face fell.
Because she failed to identify the ticket as a fake.
Which meant that the silver ticket was indeed genuine.
Someone was actually willing to pay a thousand taels for Seventh Miss’s calligraphy?
“Do you believe it now?” Xiaoqian said, “Auntie, you just need to write a couple of characters.”
“Write… what?”
“Hmm… just write ‘High Mountains and Flowing Rivers.’
“Oh…” Jiang Ning glanced at the silver ticket in her hand, thinking to herself that it was indeed genuine, even Aunt Hua couldn’t tell it wasn’t.
Could it be that Old Man Li’s family makes counterfeit tickets?
Even if it was fake, she couldn’t let Xiaoqian lose face in front of everyone.
“Auntie, you should write now,” Xiaoqian shook her hand.
“Well, paper and pen,” Jiang Ning looked at Aunt Hua, “Lend me your account book for a moment.”
Aunt Hua watched in disbelief as Jiang Ning picked up the brush and wrote the words ‘High Mountains and Flowing Rivers’ on a yellowing page of the account book. She tore off the page and handed it to Xiaoqian.
The sight gave Aunt Hua and Jiang Fifth Daughter a shudder.
Her calligraphy was trained through copying from famous masters, it looked decent and professional.
Xiaoqian’s eyes brightened when he saw it, “Auntie, you have a good handwriting.”
“Just average, just average,” Jiang Ning modestly replied.
Xiaoqian shoved the silver ticket back into Jiang Ning’s hand, “Auntie, you take this. Your calligraphy is worth a thousand taels per character, so these four characters should be worth four thousand taels. I’ll have that person send another three thousand taels later!”
Aunt Hua and the others were stunned.
Jiang Yuan, in particular, was astounded. Were her words really that valuable?
Xiaoqian cradling the calligraphy, he turned to Aunt Hua and Jiang Yuan and snorted, “You dare to call me dirty and bully Auntie, you just wait. Auntie, let’s go.”
Jiang Yuan muttered, “What can you do, you’re just a kid.”
Xiaoqian turned to her, “You’re the daughter of the Jiang family; it looks like you’re also planning to enter the palace for the selection of the Princess Consort of Yu, right?”
Although Jiang Yuan was puzzled by the boy’s tone, she didn’t deny it, “That’s none of your business.”
“Indeed, it’s none of my concern, but I can assure you, you won’t be chosen.”
“What did you say?”
“Hmph.”
Xiaoqian ignored her and followed Jiang Ning’s wheelchair out of the room.
Back in her own courtyard, Jiang Ning returned the silver ticket to Xiaoqian, laughing, “You mischievous sprite, you shouldn’t play with such things. What if someone decides to hit you?”
Xiaoqian waived it off, “I know you’re not short of money, Auntie, so just keep this as pocket money. It’s getting late, I need to go home. Otherwise, my grandpa will scold me..”