Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 70 - 68 Owning a Car, a House, and a Shop

Chapter 70: Chapter 68: Owning a Car, a House, and a Shop

Chapter 70 -68: Owning a Car, a House, and a Shop

“Can you cure it?

Is this true?” He wasn’t doubting his niece, he was just too taken aback.

Many doctors had been unable to help with that illness, and his family had spent all their silver on it.

If he hadn’t vehemently opposed it, his father would have sold all their farmland to pay for his treatment.

However, they only had two acres of thin farmland.

“Hmm, I can’t make any guarantees, but I have heard of that disease.

Some have recovered without taking any medicine!” The man must have been suffering from night blindness.

He would only need to supplement his diet with Vitamin A.

“How can it be healed without medication?

I have never heard of such a thing.”

“It can be done by eating more pork liver, spinach, and carrots.”

“What is a carrot?

Is it a red radish?

Aren’t radishes only white?

Where can we find red radishes?

This seems harder than finding a doctor and getting medicine!”

“Well, a carrot is somewhat a red radish.

It’s much smaller than a white radish.

It’s a vegetable from the Western Regions, I believe.

I have bought it from the town before, and I even bought its seeds.

There must be people growing it.”

“Carrots really exist?

They are sold in the town?”

“Not every day, though.

I bumped into it once.

If I see it again, I will buy more for your dear friend.”

“Okay, I thank you on his behalf.” If the friend could be truly cured, he would be relieved, and the shop would gain a highly skilled carpenter.

“It’s no trouble at all, but now I need to call my brothers to go home.

We still need to run some errands in town.”

“Why not have lunch before you go?

Your aunt should have prepared it already.” For the past few days, Mrs.

Tan and Mrs.

Liu Lin had been preparing meals for those who were renovating the shop and the furniture store.

The house chores were left to their children to handle.

“We will just eat some dry food on our way home.

How are my cousins and where are they?”

“Someone has to feed the chickens and pigs at home.

Your grandma and aunt will return home in the evening and come back early the next morning.”

“How big are the pigs now?” Xiao’er remembered that her family was building a house and renovating the furniture shop, they had daily demand for pork.

It might be more cost-effective to buy two pigs, slaughter them, and eat them.

“Each year, the pigs raised by your grandma and your aunt weigh about 200 pounds by the end of the year.

Now they should be about 180 pounds.”

“That’s a big fat pig at over 180 pounds.

Since we’re building a house and the shop is under renovation, we must buy meat from the market every day.

Uncle, why don’t you sell the two pigs to me?

I can hire the butcher to slaughter them, and we won’t need to buy meat daily.

Let Aunt keep the chickens in the backyard, so Grandma and Aunt won’t have to run between the shop and home.”

“Xiao’er, you’re really smart.

But, I’m not going to sell you the pigs.

Tomorrow, I’ll have your aunt hire someone to slaughter them and send one to your home.

The other one will stay here at the shop.”

“No, that’s not right.

Then Aunt would’ve worked for a year for nothing.

She could sell the two pigs at a better price at the end of the year.

If I buy them now, it’d be as if I’m taking advantage of her.”

If a peasant family worked hard all year round, they would be expecting to sell the pigs to earn some silver for their living.

It would definitely be unreasonable to take the pigs for free.

“Xiao’er, don’t stand on ceremony with your uncle.

Just consider these pigs as an early house-warming gift from your uncle.

If there has to be someone taking advantage, it should be your uncle.

You cannot refuse, or your uncle will be angry.”

“Then I will buy one, and Uncle, you can gift me the other one!”

“Girl, I’m really getting angry now.

Isn’t the pig at the shop also mine?

How would it make sense for me to give it to you as a gift and eat it myself?”

Seeing the situation, Xiao’er had no choice but to back off, “Uncle, you’re too kind.

I’ve accepted your offer, but oh dear, just so you won’t get angry, I’m going to get spanked when I get home.”

Liu Minhong laughed on hearing this, “If your parents dare to spank you, tell them to come to me!”

“Haha, I have the death immunity token now!”

“What’s a death immunity token?” Jingrui had just come out and he asked when he heard this.

“Uncle said if Dad and Mom beat me, I should tell them to find Uncle.”

“Uncle, you are biased, I want a death immunity token too!”

“Me too!” Jinghao also joined in on the fun.

“It seems my dear niece and nephews are being beaten by my younger sister and her husband frequently.

I will stand up for you,” Liu Minhong said gravely, on purpose.

Jingrui: “What?

No, our parents have never beat us before.”

Jinghao: “I took the death immunity token just in case.”

Xiao’er: “Dumbo, Uncle is just teasing us, let’s go home.

In the afternoon, I have to go to Uncle Yao to order some flower pots and other pottery.”

The trio didn’t continue to wander, and headed straight to the city gate.

On the way, they encountered an old man selling: “Selling an ox and a bullock cart, all for just 10 taels…”

Upon seeing him, and knowing that Shen Chengyao recently didn’t have a bullock cart to use and had to carry everything home from the market, Xiao’er pulled on her brothers’ hands and approached: “Old man, it is only 10 taels for the ox and cart combined?”

“Yes, my young lady, would you like to buy?

Where are your parents?”

“My parents are at home, don’t worry.

We just happen to need an ox at home.

I have money with me, but it’s just the three of us siblings in the city today.

We need you to send us home, otherwise, we won’t know how to drive it even if we buy it.”

“Okay, not a problem.” He must hurry to send the children home, because he still needs to rush back to the clinic to pick up medicine for his son.

Coupled with the money he owes the clinic, along with the cost of this round of medicine, it totals exactly ten taels.

He sighed in his heart silent sigh!

He has no idea where he’s going to find the money for the next round of medicine.

All the sellable things at home have been sold.

A full-grown ox nowadays costs at least nine or ten taels,

This ox is both big and strong, usually sold for more than ten taels.

This includes a cart, all for just ten taels, which is really a good deal,

But people always sell cheaply when they are in trouble and have no other way out.

The old man sent them to the entrance of their village, and the trio hopped off the cart.

Xiao’er handed over twelve taels from her money bag to the old man.

“Sir, if there’s an excess, treat it as the fare for our journey home.”

The old man took it and checked it out after receiving it.

It’s all small change, and he didn’t count it carefully, but it was definitely enough for ten taels.

He quickly tucked the money away and hurried back to the city!

When he arrived at the clinic, he realized that there was actually twelve taels, and he quietly thanked Buddha for letting him meet a kind soul.

“Brother, you and our younger brother take the ox and cart home, while I go to Uncle Yao’s place.” Now their home has a house, a car, and a shop.

“I’ll go with you.” Jingrui seemed a little worried.

“No need.

It’s quite close, and I can handle it myself.

Brother, you and our younger brother go home quickly, and feed the ox some food.

It must be hungry.” After that, she waved and headed towards the town.

Upon reaching Changsheng Porcelain Kiln, Manager Yao saw Xiao’er come in, he was overjoyed and excited as if he had seen the God of Wealth himself.

“Niece, I have been waiting for you.

Uncle Yao has something to discuss with you.

Let’s talk in the backyard.” Manager Yao led Xiao’er to their previous accounting room.

“The three sets of porcelain you designed last time sold well.

Do you have other design drafts, Niece?” Manager Yao took out the three sets of porcelain to show her the final results of her designs.

“It is my honour to be able to help you, Uncle Yao.” Xiao’er picked up a cup and looked it over—a pristine white color, lustrous and elegant.

The colors were exquisite where they were applied.

Indeed, it looked dazzling and was elegant yet solemn, a sight for sore eyes.

“I have a set of matching tableware and tea sets here, which I would like to custom make for moving into our new house.

There are also some vases, flower pots, and other ceramic art decorations.

I want to custom order these as well.”

Xiao’er handed a stack of designs to Manager Yao, “Uncle Yao, order two sets of these tableware and tea sets.

As for the vases, flower pots, and other ceramic art decorations, order 50 of each first.” These are for the opening of the furniture shop, to be used as gifts or for sale.

“Little lady, our young master says he wants to cooperate with you.

You provide designs to our shop on a regular basis, and any product of your design, we will give you a 20% profit.

What do you think?” This was also part of the young master’s plan to retain talented individuals.

Making Changsheng Kiln the best porcelain kiln in the Minze Dynasty is the first step.

Xiao’er was somewhat surprised by his proposition.

She didn’t expect that this young master would make such a big decision based just on three ceramic designs.

The 20% profit is far more than 500 taels.

If done well, the nationwide sales, even exporting to other countries, that 20% profit can reach up to 50,000 taels.

The ceramics industry is also highly profitable.

With this line of thinking, it’s clear that the young master is someone who values talent.

“Niece, this kind of opportunity is hard to come by, even when looking for it with a lantern.

The 20% profit is definitely more than a few hundred taels.

If you’re up for it, Uncle Yao thinks you should agree.”

Shen Chengyao is his lifesaver, and Yao wished to repay this kindness somehow.

Seeing Xiao’er remain silent, he sincerely reminded her.

“Thank you, Uncle Yao.

I will accept this offer, but can we initially make it a one-year contract?”

“I’ll ask the young master first.

He’s coming over tomorrow, could you also come by tomorrow morning?”

“Sure!

I’ll come over again tomorrow!”