Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 75 - 73 Cooperation Again

Chapter 75: Chapter 73: Cooperation Again

Chapter 75 -73: Cooperation Again

With a basket on her back, Shen Xiao’er arrived at Manager Yao’s shop, where he had long been awaiting for her at the storefront.

“Girl, I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival.

Come with me quickly.” Saying this, he led Xiao’er towards the backyard of the shop.

“Sorry, Uncle Yao, I got held up by something.” Although Xiao’er was somewhat surprised by Manager Yao’s eagerness, she still apologized.

“No problem, it’s still early.

My young master came earlier today and has some matters to attend to, which is why I’m in a hurry.”

Manager Yao led her to the room door in the backyard and gave it a knock.

“Come in!” A voice responded from inside.

Hearing this familiar voice, Xiao’er blinked in surprise.

The world truly is small.

Manager Yao opened the door, “Young master, the person is here.”

Di Zhaowei looked up from the desk, raised an eyebrow.

Standing in the doorway with a smiling face, Xiao’er greeted, “Brother Di, good morning!”

“So it’s you, girl.

I should have guessed it.” Di Zhaowei stood up and gestured towards a chair near him, “Come sit.”

Manager Yao was incredibly surprised, “My niece knows the young master of my house?”

“The toys in the toy store were created by this girl.”

Now, Manager Yao was even more astonished.

Was this his younger brother’s daughter?

How could she be so knowledgeable!

Xiao’er gave Manager Yao a smile, “I met him before.

You could say we’re business partners.”

“My niece never fails to surprise me!” Manager Yao quickly recovered, exclaiming in admiration.

“Master, I will go and prepare some tea and refreshments, I’ll leave you two alone for now.” Since the two were familiar with each other, there was no need for him to stay there.

Di Zhaowei nodded in agreement, and then flipped through the drawings Xiao’er had handed in the day before, “The way you drew these is different from the way you sketch toys.”

Xiao’er nodded, “Ceramics and toys are two completely different styles of art.”

The two required different artistic methods.

The design on the ceramics tested her traditional Chinese painting skills, while for toys, a few simple strokes with a charcoal pen were enough.

“Originally, I was thinking of giving you twenty percent of the profit, but since it’s you, let’s make it thirty percent.

Girl, Brother Di is being so nice to you.

How are you going to repay me?”

“Repay you?

Isn’t it me who’s helping Brother Di to make even more silver?

If Brother Di thinks thirty percent is too much, I’ll go find another place!” Xiao’er made a show of standing up to leave.

Hearing this, Di Zhaowei was left speechless, “You girl, not willing to take a loss at all!”

“I only eat food, not losses!” Xiao’er responded seriously.

Di Zhaowei smiled helplessly, and didn’t tease her anymore.

He got down to business, “Girl, how many sets of design drafts can you produce in a month?”

“At least one per month, up to two sets!”

“That’s so few!”

“We should pursue quality instead of quantity.

If there are too many porcelain pieces, they may end up becoming as common as ordinary bowls.

Broken ones would only cost a few pennies and wouldn’t be worth a sigh.

However, one exquisite piece of porcelain can become an art piece lasting a thousand years.

We should value refinement over abundance.

This is different from toys.

Profits for these items are sometimes immeasurable.

Exquisite porcelain can become antiques.

But toys need volume, the more you sell, the more you earn.

Of course, we also need porcelain made in quantity.

We can’t just rely on one path!”

Di Zhaowei nodded, indeed quality is above quantity.

Throughout Minze Country, many kiln factories exist, but only a few exquisite pieces are produced each year, and most profits are made through quantity.

If his house could produce a few exquisite pieces every year, they would easily become number one across the country.

No matter how good something is, if produced in large volumes, it’s no longer valuable.

Scarcity makes things valuable.

The two further discussed details about their collaboration, then signed the contract.

The rough terms were that Xiao’er would provide at least one design per month, and she would receive thirty percent of the profits from all items she designed.

Xiao’er wouldn’t have to deal with production, management, or sales.

The contract would last for two years.

After signing the contract and pressing her handprint onto the document, Xiao’er dried the ink, folded the contract, put it into her coat, actually into her spatial storage.

“Brother Di, when I arrived, Uncle Yao mentioned you were in a hurry.

Are you returning to the Imperial Capital today?”

“Yes, if I don’t leave today, I’m afraid the roads would be blocked due to snowfall later.”

Xiao’er thought for a moment, pretending to rummage in her basket, she actually took out a large pack of pork jerky and a large pack of preserved fruits made with space fruits from her spatial storage, and handed them to Di Zhaowei.

“These are some snacks made at home.

Brother Di, take them for your journey.”

Di Zhaowei laughed and took them, “You really do care about me, Xiao’er.

Next year, Brother Di will also bring some delicious food from the Imperial Capital for you.”

“It’s because I have a favor to ask.

I want to open an ironwork shop, do you think the government will approve?”

“I knew you wouldn’t just accept a favor that easily!

That’s simple.

Your Brother Shangguan can sort that out with a word.

However, as this year is almost over, let’s talk about it next year!”

“The hand water pumps, sitting toilets, and colored glaze windows that you asked us to find someone to make last time are all ready, they should be delivered to your house in the next couple of days!”

“Really?

That’s fantastic!

Thank you, Brother Di!” That would be great for the new house.

“All the credit goes to your Brother Shangguan.” He dared not take credit for this, as the oddball who made these things didn’t owe him any favor!

Only Shangguan Xuanyi could get a bit of appreciation!

“Anyway, thank you both!”

Meanwhile, far away in the Imperial Capital, Shangguan Xuanyi was being surrounded by a group of imperial doctors who were taking turns to examine him!

The Emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, was pacing back and forth in the main hall, completely devoid of his usual dignity and calm.

The Empress, in her palace attire, was also pacing back and forth, with the two yellow figures eventually colliding!

“Ouch, it hurts.

Your Majesty, what are you pacing back and forth for?

Can’t you sit down?”

The Emperor felt wronged, for he was not the only one pacing back and forth, “Aren’t you following me around too, Empress!”

“I’m walking on my own, not following you!

Look, you’ve bumped my forehead and now there’s a bump!”

“Let me see!” Upon hearing this, the Emperor, no longer feeling wronged, rushed forward anxiously to examine the bruised forehead of the Empress and felt guilty about his pacing.

He had bumped into the Empress, “It’s all my fault, does it still hurt?

Someone, quickly bring the Ice Muscle Jade Gel to administer to the Empress!”

“At a time like this, you’re worried about medicine!

Yi’er’s matter is what’s important!”

“Alright, no medicine, no medicine!

Don’t be angry!”

“Your Majesty, the Ice Muscle Jade Gel is here!” At this moment, a beautiful and seductive maid came forward with a white jade jar and said sweetly.

“Didn’t you hear the Empress say no medicine?

Why bring it here then!”

“This slave knows her mistake!” The beautiful maid quickly knelt down with red eyes, but no one cared.

One of the maids behind the Empress sneered.

The mutual affection between the Emperor and Empress for over a decade could not be easily disrupted, this showed the Emperor’s dedication!

A little maid like her couldn’t manipulate him successfully.

After all, other than Consort De and Consort Shu, who successfully manipulated the Emperor and bore him a son each, no new additions were made to the harem for many years!

After the first imperial doctor had finished examining the pulse, the second one stepped in…

When all ten imperial doctors had finished, they looked at each other and nodded!

The imperial doctor then came forward again to take another reading before reporting to the Emperor and Empress: “After a unanimous diagnosis by all the doctors of the Imperial Hospital, it has been confirmed that the toxin from the Third Prince has indeed been completely eliminated!”

“Good, reward them, reward them greatly!

Haha…

”

“Thanks to Buddha’s blessing, my son no longer has to suffer!” The Empress folded her hands together and prayed.

All the imperial doctors knelt down in unison: “Thank you, your Majesty, long live, long live, long live!”

“You may all leave!”

“Thank you, your Majesty!” The imperial doctors filed out.

“Yi’er, did you see any famous doctors out there?” The Empress asked, holding Shangguan Xuanyi’s hand.

Shangguan Xuanyi was surprised too, but then he remembered the medicine for burns that Xiao’er had given him.

It seemed quite effective, in fact, it even healed severe burns without a scar!

He remembered asking her if the two packets of medicine were different, and she had said that her’s was much better.

Surprisingly so much better that even the poison that the imperial doctors could not cure was resolved!

“No, but Shen Xiao’er once gave me a burn medicine left by her master.

Maybe that’s what removed the toxin.”

“Sure enough, a lucky star!” The Emperor was even more convinced, “Is there someone secretly protecting her?”

“I’ve left a hidden guard to protect her.”

The Emperor thought for a moment, “There’s no need for a hidden guard, instead, it might draw the attention of those with ulterior motives.

For now, she’s just a farmer’s daughter, which is the safest identity.

Just keep an eye on her secretly!”

Shangguan Xuanyi thought for a moment and nodded.

Back to Xiao’er and Di Zhaowei, after saying their farewells, they went to find Manager Yao.

“Uncle Yao, did my parents set off for Yundong County last night?”

“Yes, they had a chat with Mrs.

Fang last night and left immediately.

It seems that Yun’er is seriously ill.

I made arrangements for a carriage to take them.”

“Thank you, Uncle Yao.

How far is Yundong County from here, and how many days would it take?” She hoped that her yet-to-be-met sister could hold on.

As long as she was still breathing, the medicine she had given Mrs.

Liu would definitely save her!

“It’s quite far, a carriage journey would take about four to five days, and a bullock cart would take over ten days.

Oh, your bullock cart is still in the backyard, I had someone prepare to drive it back for you.” Yundong County, which he had visited once, was a coastal area where most of the residents depended on fishing for their livelihood.

“No need, I’ll drive it myself later.” It would be perfect for transporting a bullock cart full of supplies home.

After saying goodbye to Manager Yao, Xiao’er immediately drove the bullock cart back home.

Along the way, she found a secluded grove and filled the cart with supplies.

When she returned home, she heard loud noises coming from her Fourth Uncle’s room.

She furrowed her brows.