Chapter 102 Grandpa Zhao, Who Can Do Carpentry
"Caw caw caw!"
"Giggle giggle!"
The sounds of ducks and geese quacking rose and fell.
Upon reaching the village entrance, a group of people surrounded them, their faces full of surprise.
"Grandma Dashan is really capable; she managed to buy so many ducklings."
"These ducklings must have been born at least half a month ago. Some of their yellow feathers have already fallen off, so they'll be easy to raise."
“Newborn ducks used to cost five or six coins. These larger ducks must be expensive, right? Auntie Shan, how much is one?”
Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, "Seven coins each."
A duck costs five coins in the mall, and she earns two coins per duck, which she considers as her travel expenses.
This price is very fair to the villagers, since these ducks, once raised for a while longer, will lay eggs and be slaughtered for food, and their value will far exceed seven coins.
The women who had previously ordered ducks rushed back to get their money, exchanging cash for the ducks.
A cartload of ducks was emptied in an instant.
There were only thirty ducks left, and Cheng Wanwan asked Zhao Ergou to take them to Old Zhao's house.
Grandma Zhao had no idea that someone in the village had asked her eldest daughter-in-law to buy ducks in town. If she had known, she would have paid for them long ago.
Old Zhao's family only separated one branch, and they still have more than 20 mu of paddy fields. Thirty ducks are simply not enough.
"Ergouzi, tell your mother to buy me another twenty ducks tomorrow." Old Mrs. Zhao paused and said, "Thirty, make sure you buy more."
She turned around and went to the hole under the bed to get money. She had lent Zhao Yougui two hundred coins the day before yesterday, so she had four hundred coins left. In addition, she had received wages from her eldest daughter-in-law in the past two days, as well as money from her two good-for-nothing sons. In total, she had four hundred and forty-eight coins, enough to buy more than sixty ducks. She would then have more than twenty coins left for emergencies.
Twenty coins is a bit little, but she still has income every day. If she saves up for a while, she'll soon have five hundred coins in her hand again.
Sun watched helplessly as the old lady gave away all her possessions, her eyes reddening: "Mother, why do you insist on buying ducks? The locusts will definitely not come back after a while. Buying ducks will only cause trouble."
"What do you know, you old woman!" Old Mrs. Zhao scolded irritably. "Can't we raise ducks if the locusts don't come? Look at these children in the house, how skinny they are. Ducks are more hardworking than chickens, and they lay more eggs when they grow up. If you complain that ducks are too much trouble, I won't give you a single duck egg in the future."
Madam Sun forced a smile: "I...I was just afraid of tiring Mother..."
The main concern was that it would tire out her eldest daughter, Chunhua. Chunhua was the eldest maid in the family, and she did all the household chores. Once they raised ducks, the tasks of herding and feeding them, cleaning up their droppings, and so on would all fall to Chunhua.
"My four maids take turns looking after the ducks, so it doesn't tire me out."
Old Mrs. Zhao glared fiercely at Mrs. Sun.
Mrs. Sun dared not say anything more. Anyway, she hadn't bought the duck, and she would have duck eggs to eat in the future, which was enough for her.
When Zhao Ergou returned home, he handed the copper coin given to him by Old Mrs. Zhao to Cheng Wanwan. Cheng Wanwan accepted the money and looked at Cheng Zhao, who was messing around in the yard.
This child only teaches at night, and has nothing serious to do all day, so he just messes around.
Yesterday, they worked on four sand tables, and they turned out quite well. The four boys were very happy. Cheng Zhao was probably encouraged by this, and today he started studying how to make an abacus.
Making a sand table is easy, but making an abacus is not so simple. It requires wood and various tools, and it is a meticulous task.
Cheng Wanwan separated the five goslings and walked over to them, saying, "Zhao'er, your hands aren't suited for this. How about I buy a few abacuses tomorrow?"
Cheng Zhao pursed his lips and said, "The cheapest abacus costs three or four hundred coins."
This price is indeed a bit expensive.
Zhao Sidan said with a grin, "Cousin, my three older brothers and I can take turns using your abacus. We'll definitely learn how to use it."
Cheng Wanwan rested her chin on her hand and said slowly, "Si Dan, your grandfather can make wooden buckets, so he should, perhaps, possibly also be able to make an abacus?"
A wooden bucket is made by a carpenter, and an abacus is also made by a carpenter; the principle should be the same.
Zhao Sidan's eyes lit up: "Then I'll go find Grandpa."
Cheng Zhao washed his hands: "I'll bring my abacus with me."
"Wait a minute." Cheng Wanwan called out to the two of them, "Last time your grandfather made wooden buckets, I didn't pay him. Even if I did, he wouldn't want the money. This time, if we ask him to help make an abacus, we have to pay him. Zhao'er, how much do you think is appropriate for an abacus?"
Cheng Zhao recalled the prices at Dehetang. The cheapest abacus cost 350 wen, while the most expensive cost over ten taels of silver, depending on the workmanship and materials.
He said, "We'll know once it's made, but even the worst one will cost at least fifty coins."
Cheng Wanwan nodded: "Okay, let's make it first and then talk about it."
Zhao Sidan led Cheng Zhao to the Zhao family's old house in a great hurry.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Third Aunt!"
Zhao Sidan called out to everyone one by one.
Cheng Zhaoqian politely followed suit, saying, "Hello, Grandpa and Grandma Zhao, hello, Third Aunt."
His physique and demeanor were out of place in the entire Dahe Village. As soon as he entered the courtyard, the others felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Even Sun, who was always fond of finding fault, didn't dare to stare at Cheng Zhao for too long, feeling that it was a disrespect to a scholar. She went into the house and brought out a stool, but felt that the stool was too worn out, so she went back in and brought out a more decent and clean stool, wiped it clean, and placed it in the courtyard for Cheng Zhao to sit down.
Cheng Zhao waved his hands repeatedly: "I came here this time because I have a favor to ask of Master Zhao."
Old Zhao was puffing on his pipe under the eaves when Cheng Zhao called him. He nodded casually, but in reality, he was secretly observing Cheng Zhao. He had only heard of this eldest nephew of the Cheng family before. A few days ago, he said that Cheng Zhao had come. He had been wanting to go and see him, but he had no reason to go to his eldest daughter-in-law's house.
This time he saw it up close, and at that moment, he finally understood why his eldest daughter-in-law favored this nephew.
Not only is he good-looking, but he's also literate. He seems sensible and well-behaved, and he's humble and polite to us peasants. Why isn't such a good young man a member of the Zhao family? If the Zhao family could raise a scholar, how much face he would have when he closes his eyes to meet his ancestors.
Just as Old Man Zhao was heartbroken, Cheng Zhao suddenly said he needed his help.
The old man immediately stood up: "Young man of the Cheng family, what is it? Tell me quickly. As long as it is within my power, I will do it without hesitation."
Cheng Zhao picked up the abacus: "I wonder if Master Zhao knows how to use an abacus?"
Having traveled all over the country for so many years, Old Zhao naturally knew how to use an abacus. Most educated people knew how to use one, and some shopkeepers and waiters would also learn it. He once begged a shopkeeper to teach him, but the shopkeeper looked down on him as a farmer and refused to teach him the essentials, just spouting nonsense every day. After studying for half a month, he hadn't learned anything and finally broke off relations with the shopkeeper in anger.
Old Zhao walked over, took the abacus, and watched the smooth beads roll, rolling against his heart.
He nodded: "Even if I don't know how, I have to try."
He looked at Zhao Youcai, who had just walked in, and said, "Third brother, go up the mountain to cut down trees, camphor wood or cypress wood will do."
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