Zhang Yun’an didn’t return to her meal until Lin Fengyi’s figure had completely disappeared from sight.
One of the lunchboxes contained braised hairtail fish and vegetables. The fish pieces were large and thick, with a glossy red hue. The savory-sweet flavor suited her taste perfectly, and there was no fishy smell at all. It didn’t even contain scallions, as the original owner wasn’t fond of them.
The vegetables were crisp, tender, and refreshingly sweet, accompanied by a separate box of rice with distinct, translucent grains.
Once again, Zhang Yun’an couldn’t help but wonder what kind of bodhisattva Liang Fengyi was.
Although her stomach was growling with hunger and the food tasted excellent, she couldn’t shake a lingering sense of unease as she ate.
With basic survival still unresolved, Zhang Yun’an quickly adjusted her stirred emotions. After finishing her meal, she got up and headed to the study to paint.
Uncertain about the preferences of people in this era regarding calligraphy and painting, and eager to successfully sell her work, Zhang Yun’an ultimately painted two Guanyin images: one of the Thousand-Handed Guanyin and another of the Child-Granting Guanyin.
Painting Guanyin demanded particular attention to smooth lines and the serene expression on the deity’s face. Zhang Yun’an’s grandmother had excelled at painting Guanyin, and during her lifetime, many had visited seeking her artwork. Unfortunately, her grandmother never sold Guanyin paintings, only gifting them to those she felt a connection with.
Zhang Yun’an possessed exceptional talent in calligraphy and painting, having been introduced to the art by her grandmother. Her Guanyin paintings were no less impressive than her grandmother’s. She understood why her grandmother refused to sell Guanyin images, only bestowing them upon kindred spirits—it was to avoid disrespecting the divine. Besides, her grandmother had no financial need and could afford such principled restraint.
But now, penniless and even indebted to the original owner for ten yuan, Zhang Yun’an could only silently ask the deities for forgiveness.
When she reappeared in the alley frequented by antique dealers, the onlookers who had recognized her from the incident with the swindling Shopkeeper Qian two days earlier gathered again, curious to see if she had returned to sell her calligraphy. Though not necessarily intending to buy, they were drawn by curiosity.
Someone even asked her why, with her knowledge of antiques, she didn’t try hunting for bargains instead of selling calligraphy here.
Zhang Yun’an thought to herself that bargains weren’t so easy to come by—finding them required both luck and capital.
But regardless of the onlookers’ motives, their presence meant an opportunity to sell her paintings.
Her grandmother’s Guanyin paintings used subtle colors, evoking an ethereal, otherworldly feeling.
In contrast, Zhang Yun’an’s Guanyin paintings employed a golden palette, especially the Thousand-Handed Guanyin. As soon as the painting was unfurled, it radiated a sense of golden light, warming the hearts of those who beheld it.
After viewing the Thousand-Handed Guanyin, the crowd fell into a stunned silence. Among them were several painting enthusiasts who had seen Guanyin Statues by master artists, including those who used bold colors. Yet rarely had they encountered a Guanyin painting that so directly conveyed a sense of divinity.
“Boss, how does one respectfully acquire this Thousand-Handed Guanyin?”
The question came from a middle-aged man. His choice of words revealed a person of refinement—he didn’t ask how to buy it but how to “respectfully acquire” it.
Zhang Yun’an looked at this first potential buyer with surprise. Judging by his attire, demeanor, and bearing, he was either an intellectual or a public servant. People like him typically rejected feudal superstitions and rarely invited Guanyin or similar deities into their homes.
Surprised as she was, since he wanted to buy it, Zhang Yun'an naturally wouldn't refuse. However, she wasn't familiar with the price of Guanyin statues in this era, and the original owner also knew nothing about paintings and calligraphy, so her memory contained no related information. She could only counter the man's question: "Guanyin paintings are different from others—they emphasize a connection of fate. If you and this painting share such a connection, please offer the price you feel it's worth in your heart. If I name a price and you're dissatisfied, haggling over it would only disrespect this Guanyin painting."
As soon as Zhang Yun'an said this, not only the prospective buyer but also several seasoned collectors nearby couldn't help but smile, finding her response quite clever. Recalling how she had dealt with that Boss Qian a couple of days ago, they suddenly felt that this young woman, remarkable not only in appearance but also in her painting skills, was likely no ordinary person. Her current stall-selling of paintings was probably just a way to pass the time out of boredom.
After all, whether in terms of her attire or her demeanor, she didn't seem like someone short on money. Otherwise, those two antique dealers wouldn't have targeted her so quickly earlier.
But the prospective buyer was also clever; he wouldn't offer an excessively high price just because of Zhang Yun'an's words. He simply said, "Guanyin Bodhisattva saves all beings, so this painting is priceless in my heart. Unfortunately, my means are limited, and even if I emptied my pockets, I could only offer 50 yuan to respectfully take it home."
Hearing this, Zhang Yun'an raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that indeed, those with good taste were never foolish. Look at how flawlessly he had responded.
Fifty yuan was far below her expectations. However, in the eyes of those present, she was neither a descendant of a renowned family nor had any reputation. Moreover, based on the original owner's memory, money was still quite valuable at this time—50 yuan could buy dozens of catties of meat. For someone to offer 50 yuan for her Guanyin painting was already not a low price.
Having made up her mind, she didn't continue exchanging veiled remarks with him and simply handed the painting over.
The man was straightforward as well, paying immediately and leaving.
When others wanted to take a look at the Thousand-Handed Guanyin painting, he politely declined, citing other matters.
"Comrade, do you have any more of that Thousand-Handed Guanyin?"
With only a Child-Granting Guanyin painting left on the stall, the onlookers asked Zhang Yun'an.
Although the Child-Granting Guanyin was also well-painted, it was generally something only those seeking children might bring home. Collectors like them weren't likely to buy it.
Nowadays, while the state no longer cracked down as harshly on feudal superstitions as in previous years, it still didn't encourage them. The person who bought the Thousand-Handed Guanyin earlier certainly didn't do so for genuine worship.
Zhang Yun'an shook her head. "If any of you still wish to respectfully acquire one, you'll have to wait a bit longer. It's too late to paint another one today."
Initially, Zhang Yun'an had considered telling them that if they really wanted to buy, they could pay a deposit in advance. However, she didn't know any of these people, and they likely wouldn't trust her enough to pay a deposit upfront. Moreover, some seemed to be asking casually rather than genuinely intending to buy.
Sure enough, when those who inquired heard there were none left today, they gave up. After watching her write for a while longer, they dispersed.
A few who sensed she might be no ordinary person each spent five yuan to buy one of her calligraphy pieces to take home as a collectible.
Zhang Yun'an had originally thought the popular Guanyin Statue of Child-Giving would sell, but in the end, it didn't. However, her state of mind today was completely different from the previous two days.
Two days ago, she was still worried about basic survival, but today she had no such concerns. She had also gained some insight into the preferences of calligraphy and painting enthusiasts of this era.
For now, she wouldn’t paint the Guanyin Statue of Child-Giving again. Instead, she planned to focus on single-figure Guanyin Statues and also wanted to try her hand at a Beauty Portrait, as that was what she loved painting most.
On her way back, she saw someone selling Chicken Leg Bread from a tricycle. Zhang Yun'an bought ten. In this era, Chicken Leg Bread wasn’t cheap—each cost fifty cents, so ten amounted to five yuan.
Holding the large bag of Chicken Leg Bread, Zhang Yun'an inexplicably recalled Lin Fengyi’s earlier words and, almost as if possessed, found herself heading toward the Lin Family’s neighborhood.
It wasn’t until she reached the entrance of the alley that she realized her indecisiveness would only make Lin Siyi feel worse when she left. Just as she was about to turn back, she heard children’s clamoring from the alley, along with someone calling Lin Siyi’s name.
"Lin Siyi, your mom is a bad woman who abandoned you and is running off with another man. Why won’t you let us call her a bad woman?"
Lin Siyi remained silent, only pushing the loudest boy, who was nearly a head taller than him, to the ground.
The boy, caught off guard and embarrassed by the fall, scrambled to his feet while cursing, "A bad woman’s child is indeed a bad child."
With that, he called over his little followers, clearly intending to gang up on Lin Siyi, who was several years younger.
Witnessing this, Zhang Yun'an felt a throbbing in her temples. She rushed over, pulled the boys away from Lin Siyi, and scooped him up in her arms. Glaring at them, she said sternly, "Who said I abandoned him? Let me tell you, if any of you dare bully Lin Siyi again, I, this ‘bad woman,’ will have his father shoot you all when he returns."
"You’re lying! You’re running off with another man. Lin Siyi’s dad won’t listen to you."
"When Lin Siyi’s father returns, you’ll see whether I’ve run off with another man. If you have the guts, wait here and see if he’ll listen to me and shoot you all."
"Zhang Yun'an, you really have no shame. Now you’re even targeting a bunch of children? What kind of skill is it to scare kids?"
Just as Zhang Yun'an was arguing with the group of half-grown children, two of their mothers hurried over.
Already furious, Zhang Yun'an had long abandoned her ladylike demeanor. Pointing at the two women, she scolded, "When your big kids were bullying Lin Siyi, you pretended not to see it. Now that I’ve just taught them a lesson, you suddenly aren’t blind anymore. Who’s the one without shame?"
The two mothers were already in the wrong. If the Lin Family found out their children had bullied Lin Siyi, who had somehow ended up alone outside, they would surely offend the Lin Family—even if it wouldn’t lead to their children being shot as Zhang Yun'an claimed. Cornered by her words, they fell silent.
"Listen up, all of you. From now on, if any of you dare bully Lin Siyi again, not only will I have Lin Shaoxun deal with whoever bullies his child, but I’ll also make sure he deals with you parents who only know how to give birth but not how to raise your children properly. At worst, Lin Shaoxun can pay with his life for yours."
Zhang Yun'an's words not only left the group of children and the two mothers speechless, unable to come up with a retort, but even Lin Fengyi and Lin Fengyu, who had noticed Lin Siyi was missing and rushed out to find her, were momentarily stunned into silence.
Lin Fengyu thought that ever since Zhang Yun'an hit her head, she seemed to have grown even more reckless. Was she completely disregarding her older brother's well-being? At least she hadn't completely lost her humanity—she still knew how to protect her own.