He obtained the God of All Laws from human skin.

Chapter 63 Zheng Ding's Portrait of a Beauty

Upon reaching the second floor,

Qin Chuan finished doing Xiao Taohua's makeup and was just about to find a quiet room to kick Zheng Ding out of the painting worth ten taels of silver.

Sister Wu stepped closer from the side and said, "Manager Qin, there's something I need to discuss with you."

Qin Chuan asked, "What is it?"

With a blush on her face, Sister Wu said, "It's about those erotic... no, propaganda posters from before. These past few days, people from the brothels on the next street have been asking us if we know the person who made the posters. They've come more than once. The day before yesterday, they sent a young maid to sound them out, and yesterday one of their managers ran into me at the door and also asked about it indirectly."

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Taohua, who was fixing her hair in front of the bronze mirror, immediately turned around and interjected, "It's not just the people from Xiangmanlou! Last night, a gambler also pulled me aside and asked if I knew that painter, Xiaoxiaosheng. I said I had to go back and ask, and he rewarded me with a coin."

"Some people have asked me that too," Xiao Xinghua, who was sitting in the corner, also spoke up. "He didn't look like a gambler, but more like someone running errands for someone. I didn't dare to say much, afraid of causing trouble for Manager Qin, so I made up an excuse that I didn't know him and sent him away."

Qin Chuan did not speak immediately after listening.

Inquiring about "Xiaoxiaosheng" was something he had expected.

Those paintings caused such a stir in Qinghe County; it would be abnormal if no one was curious about who the artist was.

Qin Chuan pondered for a moment and replied, "If anyone asks about it again in the future, just say that you know him, that you've met him once, but you're not close. Xiaoxiaosheng did paint a few paintings for Heaven and Earth Casino, but he's not a member of the gambling den."

He paused, then added, "After you've said all that, casually ask them why they're looking for Xiaoxiaosheng. If they want a painting, tell them to leave their request, and say you'll pass it on if you have the chance."

......

Later,

Zheng Ding stepped into the gates of Heaven on Earth once again.

He glanced around the hall, and when his eyes landed on Qin Chuan, he quickly walked over. Without bothering with pleasantries, he lowered his voice and asked, "Where's the painting?"

Qin Chuan stretched out his hand, a hint of helplessness on his face: "Young Master Zheng, you'll probably have to wait a while for this painting."

Zheng Ding's expectant expression froze instantly, and he asked, "Wait? How long?"

Qin Chuan explained, "Young Master Zheng, Xiaoxiaosheng said that this painting of yours is different from the ones that were posted outside before. Those were for passersby to see, and they only needed to be painted six or seven parts complete. This one is a painting made entirely by you, and every detail must be done according to your wishes. The eyebrows, eyes, figure, and posture—not a single stroke can be careless. He said that this painting will need to be polished for about seven days before it is presentable."

Zheng Ding frowned as he listened, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but then he felt that Qin Chuan's words made perfect sense. Qin Chuan was just showing concern for his painting, not deliberately delaying.

But the urge he felt inside, like an itch from a cat scratching, was something he simply couldn't suppress.

Seven days

too long.

He pulled a small piece of silver from his sleeve, about a tael, and stuffed it into Qin Chuan's hand: "Please say a few good words for me and tell him to hurry up, the sooner the better. Keep this silver, consider it my treat to tea."

Qin Chuan tucked the silver into his sleeve, cupped his hands, and said, "Since you've spoken, I'll go and urge you on. These next few days, I'll have him stay home and paint your portrait. I'll take care of his food and drink. It will take three days at the earliest, five days at the latest. After three days, you can come and take a look. If it's finished, we'll be very happy; if it's still lacking, please be patient. I'd rather he be a day late than let him do a shoddy job."

Seeing that he spoke sincerely and had accepted the money, and hearing him say "at least three days," Zheng Ding's anxious expression eased slightly.

He nodded, added a word of advice, "You must urge them," and then turned and walked out of the gambling den.

Qin Chuan stood there, watching Zheng Ding's figure disappear.

The painting was finished, not only finished, but also framed.

It was rolled up and placed in a drawer in the small room on the second floor.

However, since it's a transaction worth ten taels of silver, handing over the painting the next day would be too fast and would seem somewhat disrespectful.

That's why he deliberately delayed for a few days, making Zheng Ding wait a few more days before handing over the painting, so that the man would feel that the money was well spent.

Zheng Ding left the Heaven on Earth and walked a few steps along the street, but the painting was still on his mind.

He came today full of excitement to pick up the painting, and had even planned where to hang it and which details to examine first.

They said it would take several more days.

It's like a delicious-looking dish being placed in front of you, and you've already picked up your chopsticks, only to have it taken back untouched.

Right now, he feels like there's a cat scratching at his heart and liver.

After much deliberation, Zheng Ding had an idea.

He did not return to the house, but instead headed towards the county government office.

Upon arriving at the county government office, the guards recognized him as the county magistrate's nephew and didn't stop him.

Zheng Ding turned into the backyard with practiced ease.

County Magistrate Zhang Dajiang was discussing matters with his advisor, Feng Shu.

Upon seeing that it was Zheng Ding, Zhang Dajiang frowned and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Zheng Ding hurriedly bowed and greeted, "Uncle!"

Hearing this, Zhang Dajiang frowned even more deeply and said sternly, "What uncle? How many times have I told you? When we're at the county office, you must address me by my official title. This is the government office, not your home. You must be mindful of etiquette."

"Yes, Your Excellency." Zheng Ding didn't dare to argue and lowered his head slightly.

The clerk next to him was a very perceptive person. Seeing this, he immediately stood up, cupped his hands to Zhang Dajiang, nodded slightly to Zheng Ding, and then tactfully withdrew, making sure to close the door gently as he left.

Seeing the man leave, Zhang Dajiang's expression relaxed slightly. Although his tone was still somewhat stern, it was no longer as businesslike as before: "The imperial examination is just around the corner. Other students are studying late into the night. Why aren't you studying properly at home? What are you doing at the county office?"

Before coming, Zheng Ding had already prepared his explanation. He cupped his hands and replied, "Uncle, I have been reviewing the Book of Documents recently, but there are a few parts that I don't quite understand. I remembered that there is a copy of Scholar Wang's Complete Explanation of the Book of Documents in your study, which has detailed annotations. I have come to borrow it to read it carefully for a few days."

Zhang Dajiang looked up at Zheng Ding, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

His nephew wasn't a diligent student and had a carefree personality; he had never seen him borrow books so proactively before.

There's something rather strange about why I came to borrow books today.

However, it's always a good thing that he took the initiative to borrow books, and as his uncle, he had no reason to stop him.

Zhang Dajiang nodded and said, "It's on the third shelf, on the left. Go get it yourself. The children's exam isn't that difficult, but it's not that easy either. If you don't take it seriously, not only will I be in trouble, but your mother will be in even more trouble."

Zheng Ding repeatedly agreed, bowed to Zhang Dajiang, and then left the study, turning to walk back into the study.

Upon arriving at the study, Zheng Ding did not go to the third floor to look at the "Complete Explanation of the Book of Documents".

He walked straight past several rows of bookshelves to the innermost corner, where several rolls of miscellaneous items and scrolls were piled up. These were various odds and ends that the yamen runners had collected on weekdays, which had not yet been put away and were temporarily piled up here.

He rummaged through the pile of scrolls for a moment.

Not found.

Then, as if remembering something, he brought over a chair, stood on it, and looked up at the bookshelf.

There's a box on it!

Zheng Ding opened it, and inside were several books, with the words "Jin Ping Mei" and "The Monk" faintly visible, along with several scrolls.

Zheng Ding glanced around and spotted the familiar scroll, then carefully took it out.

He placed the scroll on the table, untied the hemp rope, and slowly unfurled it.

The woman's features gradually emerged in the painting. She stood sideways with her neckline wide open, and her slightly upturned eyes were looking at him with a half-smile.

It was the same propaganda poster that had been posted on the bulletin board a few days ago and then torn down in public by the yamen runners.

Having found the painting, Zheng Ding carefully tucked the scroll into his bosom, then casually pulled a book from the bookshelf, tucked it under his arm, and stepped out.

He walked into the courtyard, facing the opposite direction of Zhang Dajiang, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Uncle, I've got the book, I'm going back now!"

A soft "hmm" came from the study, followed by "Study hard and don't run around anymore."

Zheng Ding responded, but his feet had already started moving. He crossed the courtyard in a few steps and exited through the side gate of the county government office.

As soon as he stepped outside, he unconsciously pressed his hand to his chest, feeling through his clothes that the stiff scroll was still there, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Back in his room, Zheng Ding bolted the door shut, then went to the window and pulled the curtains closed. After confirming that no one was around, he went to the bedside and squatted down.

Under the bed sat a worn camphor wood chest, its corners covered with copper plates, and a small brass lock hanging on the latch. He took out the key from his waist, inserted it into the keyhole, and gently turned it. With a click, the lock spring opened.

He lifted the lid of the box, and inside were more than a dozen scrolls neatly stacked. Some were tied with silk ribbons, some with hemp ropes, and a few were sealed in thin bamboo tubes. They varied in length and thickness, but without exception, they were all preserved with great care.

He reached inside and flipped through the paintings. The top one depicted a woman holding a fan, her face half-covered, revealing only a pair of smiling eyes. Below that was a painting of two young girls sitting side by side, one playing a zither and the other with lowered eyes. Further down, there were paintings of girls gazing into the distance from a window, girls blushing and pouting, and girls playing the flute by the water...

Inside this box were all sorts of pictures of beautiful women!