On Oct. 25, at a coffee shop in Jinjiang District, Chengdu, seven-year-old Jiujiu entered a state of 'flow'. Unfazed by the bustling crowds and loud music around her, she focused solely on the brush in her hand and the model before her, looking up to observe and then down to paint with intense concentration.

Her small stall featured a cardboard sign with childish handwriting that read: 'Boss Jiu's Big Portraits: Drawing People, Drawing Dogs, Drawing Cats'. Due to its playful phrasing, the slogan is often misread as 'Drawing People Like Dogs,' prompting deep thought among passersby. However, Jiujiu had no time for such wordplay, remaining wholly immersed in her world of painting.

Jiujiu is painting attentively

This level of focus seemed to exert a magnetic pull, drawing a crowd curious to see what the little girl with pigtails was painting. As people gradually gathered, their eyes fixed on her drawing paper.

Her artwork featured bold colors, with fluorescent pink, Klein blue, and bright yellow clashing vibrantly. The lines were rich and varied, weaving together curves and straight strokes, softness and strength, adorning the clothing depicted. Her style was unconventional, featuring elongated necks and crescent-shaped arms; yet, these whimsical elements combined to create a portrait that surprisingly captured the likeness of the model.

Faced with such vivid artwork, adults found themselves at a loss for words, able only to exclaim repeatedly, 'It looks just like them! It really does!' Amidst the chorus of praise, Jiujiu unhurriedly handed over the packaged portrait to her customer before preparing to welcome the next one.

A portrait painted by Jiujiu

Jiujiu's mother is a former art teacher and her father is a designer. Influenced by her family environment, she has loved drawing since childhood. Last summer, her mother spontaneously suggested setting up a street stall. The intention was simple: to let the child experience life and enjoy the outdoors.

Unexpectedly, 'Boss Jiu's' business boomed. Initially setting up by the river near their home with a fee of just 1 yuan, she attracted long queues of customers seeking portraits. Her tiny stall was always surrounded by waiting patrons.

Later, her mother took her to various markets, where Jiujiu had fun and made new friends. Her mother discussed raising the price to 3 yuan to cover costs, but Jiujiu, who did not understand the concept of costs, firmly refused. Respecting her child's wishes, the mother did not adjust the price at that time.

Jiujiu's stall was swarmed by crowds

After entering primary school, Jiujiu learned addition and developed a rudimentary sense of 'financial management', agreeing to raise the price to 3 yuan. Business remained brisk; during her busiest periods, she would set up her stall in Yulin until late at night, with customers still lining up endlessly.

Due to excessively long queues, her mother joked that the paintings had taken on a 'corporate vibe' and suggested raising the price to 9.9 yuan to manage the crowd. Although she did not fully grasp the logic, Jiujiu agreed. To date, she has earned more than 400 yuan, which she saved in her smartwatch, happily noting that she could now buy plenty of snacks.

Despite her professional background, her mother has not systematically taught her techniques, fearing it might erase the innocence and spontaneity from her work. She hopes this purity can be preserved for as long as possible. On the streets of Chengdu, the earnest and imaginative Jiujiu makes people pause, offering a glimpse of what childhood ought to be.

【本篇文字部分内容由 AI 辅助写作，特此声明。Please note: the text in this article was created with the help of AI.】