All-rounder Artist

Chapter 356: Chapter 335: Limited Edition Signed Book_1

Because of the autograph event for “Murder on the Orient Express”, most people online were discussing just how good Chu Kuang’s handwriting was, and how terrible Chu Kuang’s deliberate action of writing an ugly elementary school-like autograph last time was—

As these discussions escalated.

Some readers who had acquired the autographed copy of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” couldn’t stand it anymore.

This netizen named Big Egg immediately posted online questioning whether Chu Kuang’s action was too unfair to the first batch of readers who received the autographs.

He ranted angrily:

“Chu Kuang gave us, the first batch of readers, such ugly autographs, and the second batch got such beautiful ones. I’m too embarrassed to admit I have Chu Kuang’s autograph.”

After posting this status.

A netizen named Sima Yanlong private messaged Big Egg:

“The autographed edition of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is so beautiful, and yours isn’t really good. How about you sell your autographed copy to me, 1,000 dollars okay?”

“Okay.”

Big Egg agreed instantly and completed the transaction the same day.

For Big Egg, the autographed copy of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” wasn’t valuable anymore. Who would know that Chu Kuang purposefully wrote an ugly autograph?

But, what he didn’t expect was…

Just the night he sold the autographed copy of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”, the comments area filled up with hundreds of messages. All were surprisingly consistent, they all wanted an autographed copy!

“I’ll give 2,000!”

“I’ll pay 3,000.”

“4,000 dollars okay.”

“Author, don’t sell it!”

“You guys just want to grab a bargain.”

“Can’t even grab a bargain now, I guess the author isn’t stupid enough. Must be showing off that he has ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ with an ugly autograph. If the author really wants to sell, private message me. I can offer higher than those in the comments.”

“Exactly.”

“Are you guys underestimating the author’s intellect? If you don’t have 10,000 dollars don’t come here; those offering 2 to 3 thousand are simply indecent. Even a fool would know Chu Kuang’s ugly autograph is limited edition; it might increase in value later.”

“…”

Big Egg was stunned.

He didn’t expect the autographed copy of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”, which he detested, was so sought after. Is he the stupid one or are these people stupid?

“I’m not selling anymore!”

He hurriedly found the buyer.

The buyer replied with a triumphant emoji: “The book is in my hands already, I’ve transferred the 1,000 dollars to you. It’s no use wanting to back out now. By the way, I’m going to advertise in your comments section, I don’t think you’ll mind.”

“Damn!”

Angry, Big Egg sent a series of foul words over, but the recipient refused payment as he had been blocked by the seller!

This wasn’t the worst part. What was even more outrageous was that the buyer shamelessly posted in Big Egg’s comment section:

“The autographed edition of ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ from the author has been sold to me; I got it for 1,000 dollars. I am willing to sell at 20,000 dollars, who wants it?”

“I want it!”

“Me, me, me!”

“Damn, you’re the most bloody indecent one, you actually bought it for just 1,000 dollars and now you’re advertising in the comments section too!”

“Heartless!”

“I take back my previous comments, there really are stupid people these days. They can’t even realize the value of ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’s’ autograph.”

“Hey, the author really is both dumb and pitiful.”

“I thought the author was on level five, turns out the author is on the first level. He really thought Chu Kuang’s authographed ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ was a rip-off; this is a pitfall that so many people wish to step in!”

“…”

Only then did Big Egg realize, Chu Kuang wasn’t setting him up, but giving him a fortune. He was just too stupid, went public with Chu Kuang setting up his readers. It turns out the autograph of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” increased in value due to its ugliness!

Pretty simple logic.

Autographs are more valuable when scarce!

If Chu Kuang’s autograph in the future is all beautiful then the autograph he signed for “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” in an elementary school handwriting style becomes even more unique.

…

Lin Yuan was oblivious to the fact that the price of the “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” autographed edition had been hyped by netizens online, doubling two or three times over.

At the moment, he just received a system prompt:

“Congratulations to the host for unlocking the calligraphy category; you’ve gained one thousand nine hundred prestige points in calligraphy. Additionally, reminding the host that when prestige in a certain category breaks through a certain number, it will receive a large amount of system rewards.”

With the system prompt, the calligraphy prestige was unlocked.

Including the earlier unlocked music, literature, painting, film and television, all five artistic fields have opened the prestige collection mode.

“Calligraphy?”

Lin Yuan contemplated, perhaps calligraphy could be Chu Kuang’s second hidden talent.

It’s just like Xian Yu being able to compose music and write and direct movies.

We, the Chu Kuang Tribe and I, not only know how to write but also excel at calligraphy. It’s reasonable and logical, which is perfectly normal.

Just happened to see someone questioned online whether all I could do was write signatures.

Exactly.

There are two main types of comments in Chu Kuang’s tribe area: one is complaining about the old rascal’s shrewdness, and the other is praising the old rascal’s superb calligraphy skills.

There’s a third voice, not mainstream, but it exists, which questions if it’s reasonable or not.

These voices declare themselves as sensible netizens.

“There’s no need to praise Chu Kuang’s calligraphy skills too highly, he’s just an ordinary person with good handwriting.”

“Yes, everyone should have practiced writing their own name. Some people have terrible handwriting, but their names are surprisingly beautiful when they write them.”

“Imitate a well-designed artistic signature hundreds or thousands of times, and anyone can achieve this effect.”

“Some time ago, an actor who only plays a little basketball was hyped up as a basketball star. Actually, there’s really no need.”

“Chu Kuang is excellent at writing, his calligraphy might be about the same as those we encounter in life who write well.”

“…”

An ordinary person with decent handwriting?

Lin Yuan thought it sounded like a show-off…

It’s a good chance to gain reputation, too bad there aren’t many who doubt me.

If each piece of my work was questioned by the outside world, the impact of a subsequent reversal would certainly be potent.

Now I can only argue with this handful of people.

Thinking of this, Lin Yuan said, “Uncle Jin, get the Four Treasures of the Study ready!”

“Huh?”

Jin Mu was startled.

Lin Yuan spoke straightforwardly, “I want to write with a brush.”

Jin Mu was surprised, “Posting it on the Tribe?”

Lin Yuan nodded, “It could be posted.”

Jin Mu made an OK gesture and turned to go shopping.

He just needed to buy some good quality paper, ink, brushes, and ink stones.

On Blue Star, calligraphy was mainly done in brush strokes, one of the prevalent forms of art, similar shops are abundant, there are two just a few hundred meters down the road.

After Jin Mu purchased the writing materials.

Lin Yuan suddenly called out the System, “I want to custom order some Chinese poetry, preferably in bulk.”

Calligraphy supplies, of course, had to be coupled with brilliant poetry, that’s when the best results were achieved.

System: “Chinese poetry package special price 50 million, do you wish to customize?”

Lin Yuan: “…”

Are you selling me a package of ancient poetry for 50 million?

It’s definitely worth it. All those poems, their value isn’t something money can measure. This transaction is clearly a bargain.

But the System is probably kind this time for a specific reason. Lin Yuan had already understood the System’s nature.

Regardless of the system’s intention, Lin Yuan wouldn’t miss such a bargain, considering the recent sales of his film and television rights, he nodded.

“Let’s do it.”

With his current income, spending 50 million to improve himself no longer feels painful.

Lin Yuan feels that his miserly, poverty-stricken persona is starting to crumble.

“Order complete!”

The System wasn’t very fast this time, probably because of the heavy workload.

Fortunately, the System got it all done in ten minutes, after which Lin Yuan felt his head filling up with countless lines of poetry.

He began to recite:

“In the peach blossom grotto orchard, peach blossom hermit. Peach blossom hermit plants a peach tree, and picks peach blossoms to exchange for wine money.”

Huh?

I got that poem, is the System trying to trick me?

Alright.

There might be duplicates in the customization, just like in the Poirot detective stories collection that includes “Murder on the Orient Express”.

“The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” is also in the detective collection.

As Lin Yuan’s voice fell, Jin Mu, who had returned after buying stationary, was full of admiration:

“Sir, you really have a taste for poetry, no matter how many times this poem is heard, it’s always wonderful.”

If it were a hundred years ago on Blue Star, Jin Mu would have called Lin Yuan “Sir”, so his cultured remark, paired with Lin Yuan’s poem, was quite fitting.