After a good night's sleep, Qin Yao was full of energy. She got out of bed, packed her clothes, and called Liu Fei to go out together to find Fang, the shopkeeper who sold timber.
Manager Fang was very happy to have business, but he increased the price of wood by a full 10%.
"I can't help it. You're asking for less now, so this is already the lowest price. It's because you came here to haul the wood yourself that our boss agreed to give you this price. If you don't believe me, ask around the city. You won't find anything this cheap anymore."
Shopkeeper Fang looked sincere. Qin Yao knew what was going on and said without further ado, "Then sign the bill."
"Still the old rules?" Shopkeeper Fang asked with a smile.
Qin Yao nodded and agreed to pay 30% of the deposit. If the amount exceeds the deposit, the payment will be made immediately.
The contract was written very quickly because its content was simple. It was just a settlement certificate for a sale, equivalent to a bill of exchange in later generations, used for picking up goods.
The warehouse was outside the city, so Qin Yao still wanted to go and see it in person. Manager Fang agreed and arranged for a clerk who was on his way to the warehouse to take her there.
The group rode a ox cart to the warehouse outside the city. Qin Yao and Liu Fei checked the quality of the wood. After it met the requirements, it was already evening when they returned to the city.
Liu Bo had already arranged for the drivers to have their meals in the restaurant lobby. All those who came out to transport goods had standard meals, 30 cents per person per day, as long as they didn't spend more than that.
While driving the cart, one also has to stay up all night to stand guard, unload goods, and be on guard against thieves and bandits. Only with oil and water can one have the strength and energy to complete such a large workload.
In addition, this money is not distributed to everyone, so the drivers will not save money for their employers. They will order the maximum amount and eat to their heart's content.
Originally, their family was worried that they would lose weight after driving long distances, but they didn't expect that after three months at the stationery factory, not only did they not lose weight, they even gained weight.
Managers like Liu Bo and Liu Fei also have corresponding food and accommodation standards, which are clearly written and posted on the pillars outside the factory stables. Everyone can clearly know what treatment they will receive at the next level, and they have the motivation to work hard and strive for promotion.
However, the boss Qin Yao does not meet the standards because she pays for her own meals!
There is no curfew in the city, the lights are on, and the streets are most lively after dinner.
They would be returning tomorrow after delivering materials. Now that everything was done, they had some free time. Qin Yao excitedly asked Liu Fei, "Want to go out for a walk?"
Liu Fei's eyes lit up, "Okay, okay!"
Qin Yao motioned for him to go and ask Liu Bo if he wanted to go. Liu Fei quickly ran to the guest room in the backyard to find Liu Bo. The two brothers excitedly came to the lobby to meet Qin Yao, and the three of them went out to visit the night market together.
Liu Bo and Liu Fei were more familiar with the capital city. Having stopped here many times, Liu Fei already knew which cloth shop in the city had the most affordable prices and which one always stocked some rare gadgets from all over the world.
Led by him, the three of them came to a cloth shop, intending to buy some fabrics to buy new clothes for their family.
The weather is getting colder and winter is approaching. The shop owners have taken out all the leather materials that they had accumulated last year. There are rabbit skins, sheep skins, roe deer skins, deerskins, and all kinds of leather.
There are also many ready-made leather jackets, leather boots, cotton trousers and cotton-padded clothes, as well as exquisite girls' dresses made with snow-white rabbit fur trims.
The people in the provincial capital are more open-minded than those in the county town. Most of the customers in the store are women. Men like Liu Bo and Liu Fei seem out of place among them.
The two of them felt uncomfortable. One of them chose half a piece of discounted floral cotton cloth, and then went out to wait. Only Qin Yao was left in the store, struggling over whether to save some money and buy leather to take home, or to buy ready-made clothes directly to save trouble.
That pink jacket and skirt set with white rabbit fur is so beautiful. I tried it on and found that although it’s a little big, I can still wear it for two more years if I go home and tighten the cuffs and waist of the skirt myself.
"I bought it!" Qin Yao felt that even if she bought the materials herself and went back to Qiu's house, she would not be able to recreate this cute little pink dress, so she bought a ready-made one.
Qin Yao excitedly called the busy female clerk and said that she wanted this set.
The female clerk was startled, then apologized and smiled and explained: "Madam, this is a sample, not for sale. If you like this dress, you can customize it. You can get it in half a month."
custom made?
Another half month?
Qin Yao couldn't wait any longer and said decisively: "I'll pay more."
"This..." The clerk hesitated. Qin Yao suddenly sighed, "My daughter's birthday is tomorrow. I think she will be very happy when she sees this dress."
"My daughter has been weak since she was young," Qin Yao sighed softly, "It's been cold these days, and the doctor said her condition has worsened. I'm afraid..."
He turned his back, raised his hand to rub his eyes, then looked back and gave a strong yet miserable smile.
The female clerk's heart tightened. She really deserved to die!
"Ma'am, please wait a moment. I will pack the skirt for you. Please go to the front to pay." The female clerk's tone was much gentler and her eyes were full of sympathy. What a loving and poor mother she is.
When they arrived at the counter, perhaps because she had heard what the female clerk had said, the female shopkeeper nodded encouragingly to Qin Yao and handed her the dress wrapped in oilcloth.
"How much?" Qin Yao's loving mother asked with a smile.
The shopkeeper said: "I will give you the original price of two taels of silver. This dress has a whole rabbit skin as a back cushion. It will be very warm to wear. Your daughter will definitely get better."
Qin Yao kept smiling, but she took a deep breath in her heart. It's so expensive!
But I still spend the money very quickly, and I can wear it for one more year next year, so that makes it not so bad.
After paying the money and picking up the clothes, she walked out the door with a motherly smile on her face, which scared the Liu brothers. They thought she had been cast under a spell and it was not easy for her to suddenly look so kind.
Fortunately, Qin Yao soon turned back into the familiar Qin Yao, and the two brothers secretly patted their chests and breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that I have clothes for my daughter, I can go to another affordable fabric store and buy two pieces for the others, and then make them myself.
However, in order not to favor one over the other, Qin Yao bought a pair of ready-made leather boots for each of Dalang and the other two boys. The sizes were also a little unsuitable, but the finished products were only that size, so they could only take them home and alter them themselves.
I also bought a set of winter clothes for Awang, a complete set from head to toe, including a hat, shoes, socks and clothes.
Because they are ready-made clothes, there are always deviations in sizes. Zhang, the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law are too busy to take care of their own clothes, shoes and socks, so Qin Yao plans to go back and let Awang learn how to make alterations himself.
Liu Bo saw that Qin Yao's arms were full of things, but none of them were for Liu Ji, so he kindly reminded her:
"Sister-in-law, aren't you going to prepare something for the third child?"
"Him?" Qin Yao shook her head. "Last year's ones are still wearable." She also bought a few packs of pastries.
Liu Bo: “.” He was the one who spoke too much.
The three of them returned with a full load, went back to their rooms, and slept until dawn.
The group had breakfast at the restaurant, prepared some dry food for the journey, and then drove the carriage out of the city, loaded the wood, and set out on the return journey at noon. (End of this chapter)
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