Ah Yao, you know very well that Jin’er is often not straightforward. He appears aloof while being happy inside. You should be more tolerant,” he advised earnestly. “What big obstacle can’t a young couple overcome? Your mother-in-law and I eagerly await holding our grandchild!” He stroked his beard, looking jubilant as if already seeing a house full of grandchildren.
I felt conflicted and reluctantly said, “Wife understands.”
My father-in-law didn’t understand. Between An Jin and me was an insurmountable chasm. No matter how many bridges I built, they would only lead to a deep ravine, never reaching his side.
Chapter Two: His Resentment
An Jin, as usual, did not return home for dinner.
After the meal, I chatted with my in-laws, then went to my study with Que’er.
One thing I’m most satisfied with since marrying An Jin is having a study entirely my own. An Jin has never stepped inside, and my in-laws rarely inquire about it. I turned it into a dedicated painting room for mounting silk and later coloring. I claimed to love painting, so I painted orthodox landscapes, flowers, birds, and lady portraits for appearances, but privately, I was known as the Thirteenth Young Master of Yanfeng City, famous for my beauty portraits.
Painting beauty portraits became my way of making a living. My teacher once said to leverage one’s strengths. Among the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, painting was the only skill I could showcase. Flowers, birds, insects, and fish were too common and wouldn’t fetch much money, so I focused on portraits of beautiful women with some reputation in Yanfeng City.
The first subject of my paintings was Qin Yu, the top beauty from the Chu Women’s Hall in Yanfeng City at the time. I secretly sketched her during her outing to White Crane Plain, creating my first beauty portrait, “Jade Crane Dance”. This painting, displayed at the Moonlight Pavilion, was bought for thirty taels of silver by Qin Yu’s admirer to win her favor.
It was the first money I ever earned. After parting with the Moonlight Pavilion, I received fifteen taels. The pavilion’s owner signed a long-term cooperation agreement, willingly giving up a share of the profit and promising never to reveal my identity.
