Transmigration: A Farm Girl's Brocade-Chapter 56 - Distaste_1
Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Distaste_1
Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Distaste_1
Qian Manhe’s face turned red. On his way to the county town, he had come across Qian Xiang, who was heading to Huaxi Village, and learned that there was a meal at the courtyard today at noon. He knew his parents wouldn’t think to bring something for the meal and also wanted to thank Qian Yixiu for her advice, so he bought two small packets of malt candy.
When his sister asked like that, he had no choice but to say, “Next time,” and then he turned towards that table.
Lady Tang was also a bit angry with her son for “eating at home and elsewhere,” but she couldn’t bear to scold him. She therefore said to Qian Yixiu, “Xiu’er, you can’t finish all that candy by yourself, give half to your cousin, Ah Cai.” Li Ahcai was Qian Mandua’s eldest son, and he was seven years old this year.
They really were bullying her because her family was weak. Duo Duo didn’t dare to ask for more, but they insisted on demanding from her. Although she wasn’t keen on malt candy, she just couldn’t stand Lady Tang. Qian Yixiu refused, saying, “If I don’t finish it today, I can still eat it tomorrow, candy doesn’t spoil.”
Lady Tang was so angry she gritted her teeth, “That Xiao Douding has too many tricks up her sleeve.”
Lady Wang couldn’t help laughing out loud. Lady Wu now thoroughly despised Lady Tang and pretended not to hear.
Once the dishes were served, the elders hadn’t yet said to start eating when Qian Mandua sneakily picked a few slices of chilled pig’s heart to eat.
Old woman Qian, with her sharp eyes, glared at her and commanded, “Eat.”
Only then did everyone begin to use their chopsticks. Qian Mandua’s eating was even uglier than little Duo Duo’s, as she incessantly rummaged through the plates for big, thick pieces of fatty meat. Perhaps Lady Tang, feeling sorry for her daughter’s situation at her in-law’s, also kept adding pieces of fat to her bowl.
Lady Wang, who looked down on Qian Mandua, had to use Qian Yiduo as a subject to tease, laughing and saying, “Duo Duo, slow down, no one is competing with you for the food.”
At the men’s table, they were discussing the business of selling Xia Grass. Each family was earning thirty wen money daily, which would continue for more than three months, and indeed this was a significant income for a farming family. Both families were happy and indirectly acknowledged the favor of the third branch of the family.
Qian Mandua pricked up her ears and listened for a while before realizing that selling Xia Grass was Qian Yixiu’s idea. Immediately, her attitude toward Qian Yixiu changed, and while eating, she also put pieces of fat into Qian Yixiu’s bowl, “Xiu’er is really a smart child; I hope your cousin Ah Cai learns more from you in the future.”
Qian Yixiu, staring at the meat in her bowl, lost her appetite. Though Qian Mandua was considered a beauty, she was quite vulgar, with dirty clothes, and an unpleasant way of eating, not to mention her habit of biting on chopsticks. Especially that way she looked at people with naked, lamb-hungry eyes, it was even more off-putting to Qian Yixiu.
So, she put down her bowl and said to Lady Wu, “Nanny, I am full. I will go back to keep my mother and aunt company.”
Lady Wu tried to persuade her but seeing that her granddaughter was determined to leave, she nodded her head.
Qian Mandie, who was serving the dishes, laughed and said, “I saved some dishes for your sister-in-law and Auntie Xia. Xiu’er, please take them back for me.”
Upon going to the kitchen, there was a bowl on the chopping board filled with pig’s head meat and braised pork. Qian Mandie added more pork and pig’s trotters until the bowl was full, then placed the bowl into a basket.
When Qian Yixiu carried the small basket back home, her stepmother and aunt were eating dough drop soup. She left a little less than half of the meat for Qian Yijin, and everyone had a full stomach.
Qian Yixiu patted her little belly; she had eaten her fill with great satisfaction. Although they now had some money, Qian Sangui’s couple feared “eating their way through their stockpile” and remained very frugal. Having enough to eat was never a problem, and occasionally they would stir-fry a small bowl of meat, but never indulged in eating meat in such large quantities as they did today.
In the afternoon, Qian Sangui and Lady Wu returned, true to expectations, with a piece of pork weighing around two jin. Qian Sangui, having drunk some alcohol, had a slightly flushed face and went to rest. Lady Wu cut up the meat, adding extra salt and cooking it thoroughly so it could be kept for a few more days.
After sowing the seeds in the fields, Lady Wu and Qian Manxia were not as busy. Now that Qian Sangui was basically able to take care of himself, and Qian Yixiu no longer needed looking after and could even help with household chores, Lady Wu had considerably more free time, so she began teaching Qian Manxia sewing and embroidery.
They first finished the bedding for Qian Yixiu’s room, altered two sets of clothes given by Ah Zhu, and then started making new clothes and cotton-padded jackets for Qian Yixiu, Qian Sangui, and Lady Wu. Cheng Yue would make her new clothes when her arm had healed enough to do it herself.
When the big red bedding was finished, Qian Yixiu touched the thick and soft quilt, burying her head in it to smell the scent of the fresh cotton, and did not want to lift her head for a long time. But the bedding was to be used only when the weather got cold; right now, they had straw mats woven by Qian Sangui on their bed.
While making the new clothes, Lady Wu even apologetically said to Qian Yixiu, “We’re sorry, our dear Xiu, for it’s the first time we’ve made new clothes for you now that you’ve grown up.”
Qian Yixiu thought to herself that the ones they really owed an apology to were the poor little girl who had already died. When she was with this family, she not only never wore new clothes but also seldom had a full meal.
Qian Yeejin was very diligent, and with a clever mind and good memory, he soon surpassed his “old classmates” in academic performance and left younger children like Qian Yishan several streets behind. Mr. Zhang was ecstatic to have such a talented student and believed that years later, he would surely have a proud protégé who would succeed in the imperial examinations. Consequently, he often gave him special tutoring.
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With pride under his small hat, Yijin would eagerly report his progress to his family upon returning home. Qian Sangui had been taking nourishing medicines from Zhang Zhongkun, and his mood improved, strengthening his health considerably.
Cheng Yue’s fracture was in the upper part of her arm, and by June, she was able to move her left wrist and hand. Though not very flexible, she could manage small movements.
Qian Yixiu thus asked Lady Wu to go to the county town’s iron shop to buy some needles, thread, and scraps of cloth, which had to be of good quality and brightly colored. This time, they were taking the high-end route, making items specially to sell to the daughters of wealthy families, so the materials needed were preferably good-looking silk or fine cloth.
When Lady Wu heard that the purchase was for Cheng Yue’s sewing and embroidery, and that they needed to buy high-quality embroidery threads and fabric scraps, she was somewhat reluctant. She said, “Your mother is good at sewing patches or making coarse cloth clothes, but can she handle delicate work? We shouldn’t waste money. Or, shall I find time to do it?”
Qian Yixiu shook her head; she had to let Cheng Yue do something to shine in this family. It was not only to show her value but also to let her repay this family for their care and upbringing. Their family didn’t mind Cheng Yue being idle, but Old woman Qian and the relatives felt differently. Everyone needed to know that Cheng Yue didn’t just give birth to their siblings; she also contributed to the family. They shouldn’t just think about cutting ties once they’d crossed the river by marrying her off.
Also, Yixiu had an intuition that her stepmother’s needlework was excellent, and if she could embroider some fine products, they could be sold at a good price. Not only would it improve the family’s living conditions, but her standing in the home would also be more secure, because, after all, the economic foundation determines the superstructure. Now she just wanted her stepmother to practice, and later she might embroider finer pieces. When she earned money from these, she could claim the credit.
So she tugged on Lady Wu’s sleeve and said, “Trust me, my mother can do it. Even if she wastes a bit of scrap at first, it won’t cost much. Once she gets skilled, the good things she makes might sell for a lot. Besides, the work this time isn’t fine embroidery but making some dolls.”
Lady Wu trusted Qian Yixiu very much and, convinced by her confidence, nodded her agreement.
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