Chapter 36.2

Translated by Aviana

Ever since that day, whenever elder sister Yang saw Lin Qingwan, she would at once take a detour and run away. The person has also curbed a lot. Previously, whenever they were cooking, she used to drop by and liked to criticize or order them around. Since that day, Sister Yang looked at Lin Qingwan and took a detour. But now, she didn’t come out at all. Her three kids were also restrained tightly. Her youngest daughter Li Yan’er quite seldomly shows her face and always follows her aunt, Yang Ermei. Dahu and Xiaohu, these two kids also stopped frequently having scuffles with the eldest branch’s few boys.

Currently, the situation at Yang jia was quite harmonious.

家 (jiā): home/family

Two days passed in that manner. Lin Qingwan, after mulling over for quite a while in her room, decided to go to the small town the next.

The last time she dropped by ‘Jin Xiu Fang’, she had taken few embroideries work home, and she had already had finished them previously. But she wasn’t able to find the time to hand them over, but it was also not good to keep on stalling.

( Jin Xiu Fang is the embroidery workshop Yang-shi introduced to Lin Qingwan in chapter 15.)

Furthermore, days are gradually getting colder and colder, and there was also not much work to do at home. Apart from doing household chores every other two days, she was idle the rest of the time. Thus, she wanted to bring some more work home so that she can also earn a bit.

Upon recalling Yao-shi, she was also planning to go and ask her if she was willing to do this work.

Although the family is not divided, who doesn’t like to have a few more silver coins in the hand. Moreover, Yang jia’s rule of handing over half of the extra silver earned from doing work other than farming is only applicable for men and does not apply to women. Presumably, in He-shi’s perspective, women don’t have the capability of earning silver. As such, so long as they earned silver and properly concealed it, the entire money would go into their pockets.

Sure enough, Yao-shi was pleasantly surprised upon hearing about it. After all, which woman isn’t skilled even a bit in needlework, and Yao-shi certainly was also not lacking that skill. Thus, naturally, she also wished to earn a bit of silver to save.

Her family’s man isn’t much skilled. Every time after the harvest was finished and there was nothing to do on the farm, he would go to the town to look for few odd jobs. Even after working hard to death, the silver money he could earn was also quite less, and after handing over half of it, the leftover silver in their hands would be pitifully low. Even after several years into their marriage, the third branch’s savings could be counted on hand. Not to mention, from time to time, He-shi would find few excuses to collect a bit more.

Both of them agreed to go to the town the next day together. And also, fortunately, the next day happened to be Wang-shi’s shift in doing housework. Thus, both of them didn’t have any fears in the rear. When Yang Tiezhu got to know that his wife was planning to go to the town, he wanted to accompany her. But when he heard that third dimei was also going, he let both of them go with his heart at ease.

后顾之忧 (hòugùzhīyōu): (idiom)fears of trouble in the rear. Having family worries (obstructing freedom of action). Meaning “no worries about anything”

弟妹 (dìmèi): younger brother’s wife

The next day first thing in the morning, Lin Qingwan and Yao-shi both set out from home together. When He-shi asked where they were going, both of them replied that they were going to the town to buy needles and threads to mend the old jackets at home.

As soon as they walked out of the gates, both of them smiled at each other, feeling a bit of secret comradery. After catching an ox cart, both of them arrived at the town. Last time, it was Yang-shi who brought Lin Qingwan here. This time, tables have turned, and it was Lin Qingwan, who brought Yao-shi.

Although it has already been more than 2-3 months since her last visit, Lin Qingwan more or less still remembered the route.

As soon as they walked into the ‘Jin Xiu Fang’, they were greeted by the shopkeeper Su, who, to her surprise, still remembered her.

“Sister Qingwan, right? Long-time no see——”

This shopkeeper Su, to her surprise, she still remembered her. Worth of being a boss. Just from her ability to remember people, Lin Qingwan can be certain that Jin Xiu Fang’s business would surely not be poor.

“Shopkeeper Su, pardon me.” Lin Qingwan was aware that she had dragged her work too long. Whether shopkeeper Su would blame or not, she still showed an apologetic attitude, “You see, this work got dragged by me till now.” Lin Qingwan had an expression of heartfelt apology all over her face.

Shopkeeper Su smiled cordially, without even a bit of blame.

“Look, how are you speaking? Aunt Yang had already told me that day that you were going to get married. I was well aware that you would need a bit more time. If I was afraid of being held up, would I still give you this work?”

Have to say, shopkeeper Su had good integrity, and her words were also pleasant to hear. Regardless of whether she said so with sincerity or just said so for the sake of the situation, Lin Qingwan felt good in her heart hearing her say so, and also felt that she was a good person.

“Then, I am truly thankful to you, shopkeeper Su.” With a smile Lin Qingwan handed a bundle to her.” Here you go, I came here to hand over this work. Once check it.”

(Last time Lin Qingwan came, she picked few embroidery pouches with blank space and two embroidery pouches that needs to be embroidered)

Shopkeeper Su opened the bundle and took out all the stuff one by one. After reading looking at them, she nodded and said, “The work is really neat, especially these two embroidered ones. From a glance, I can see that you must have truly studied this skill. And without exception, all of them have passes the standard requirements. How was it? Do you want to take up?”

“Naturally, but this time I want to take up to take only embroidery purse to embroider.” Doing embroidery on an embroidery purse can fetch her 12 wen; just from making one, she can earn several coins in one go. After doing needlework this while, Lin Qingwan felt she got the hang of it. And also further didn’t want to waste her time making embroidery pouches worth only 4 wen.

文 (wén): Copper cash used in ancient china.

“Okay.” After looking at Lin Qingwan’s work, shopkeeper Su could more or less estimate her worth. Having seen several needlecrafts of the people who come to pick up few works from her, she could ascertain that this was one of the best. If she didn’t use her, wouldn’t it be her loss?

“Then, this time, how many do you want to take back?”

After pondering for a moment, Lin Qingwan replied, “This time, I want to take 30 first and try it out as you also must be well aware that it is not easy for women like us to come to the town.” Saying so, she again quickly added, “But shopkeeper Su, you can be rest assured, this I will surely not take a long time.”

Shopkeeper Su nodded, “That’s alright. I am saying this just so you are aware that an embroidery purse with embroidery on it differs from a simple embroidery purse with a blank space. There are many people who come to me to pick up work for making simple embroidery purse with blank space. It isn’t a big deal even if this work gets a bit delayed, but this is not the same with embroidery purse with embroidery designs on them as they are not many people who opt for this work. As such, this cannot be delayed for a longer time.”

“Naturally.” Lin Qingwan nodded and once again explained, “This time, I had a bit of a special situation. It hasn’t been long since I got married, and there were too many things to deal with at home. Thus I couldn’t find time to drop by.”

“That’s okay. You wait a moment. I’ll go and get you the materials.” Shopkeeper Su was about to turn around to go into the room when she was stopped by Lin Qingwan.

Shopkeeper Su looked at her, puzzled. Lin Qingwan hurriedly pulled the Yao-shi, who had been shrunk behind her since the start, from behind her.

“Shopkeeper Su, I don’t know if you still have any extra work to take home here. This is my dimei; her embroidery is also not bad.”

Shopkeeper Su took a look at Yao-shi, and nodded after hesitating a bit. She then once again explained to Yao-shi about the work that can be taken home.

The same as what she told Lin Qingwan last time, 4 wen for an embroidery purse with a blank space, and 12 wen for an embroidery purse with embroidery work done on it. All the materials for embroidery work would be provided by the shop; Yao-shi simply needs to offer her skills.

Actually, shopkeeper Su’s “Jin Xiu Fang” was not only in the fabric business. She also has other connections. She also deals with the business of providing Yangcheng’s few big embroidery workshops with semi-finished or fully-finished articles. Else, just with this small shop of hers, how would she be able to use these many embroidery purses. Even if she sells them here, she won’t be able to sell much here. They were mainly for supplying them to big embroidery workshops.

Yao-shi appeared to be very reserved. However, boss Su also doesn’t seem to care about it. Once she heard the estimated number and type of embroidery pouches, she turned around and went into the storehouse behind before coming back with the materials.

Yao-shi picked up making of embroidery purses with blank spaces. In the countryside, women like Lin Qingwan, who are skilled at embroidery, are rare. They aren’t formally taught. The majority of them are merely taught by the elders in the family, just so that they would be able to make shoes, clothes, sew and mend the torn clothes.

In the countryside, the skills required in needlework are also just this bit; Embroidery and whatnot are not essential. It’s good enough for the countryfolks not to have to wear patched clothes. Who would even want to look at these embroidery designs of grass and flowers?

“Okay, here are your materials. All of us are acquaintances; thus, I won’t say much. When you are done, just come to me to settle the accounts.”

After saying so, shopkeeper Su handed Lin Qingwan a string of copper coins. This is the payment for your previous work; you once check if it is correct?”

She didn’t have to count it. Last time the work she received was only a little bit. Thus the amount she would receive will also be less. Summing everything up, it would be less than 100 wen only. Moreover, Lin Qingwan also had trust in shopkeeper Su.

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