It has been almost a month since my last visit to the embroidery workshop.
Wang Xiuxiu collected another batch of embroidered handkerchiefs before mentioning her trip to the county to Chen Chunhua.
When Chen Chunhua heard that she could get the money back, she was naturally happy, her face was full of smiles, and her tone became a little softer.
"Xiuxiu, when you go to the county this time, please buy some meat and bring it back. Xiaolang will be back from his leave in a few days. He's studying hard at the academy, I wonder if he's lost weight..." Chen Chunhua said while clearing the dishes, her eyes full of anticipation.
Wang Xiuxiu sat on a stool, holding a half-embroidered handkerchief in her hand.
She looked down at the half-embroidered pattern on the handkerchief, listening to Chen Chunhua's incessant chatter, but her mind was elsewhere.
The young man from the Wang family that Chen Chunhua mentioned is named Wang Chengwen. He is the son of Wang Degui and his first wife, and is Xiuxiu's younger brother from the same parents.
A year after Chen Chunhua married into the family, she sent him to the village scholar's private school for his early education.
When Wang Chengwen turned nine, he was sent to an academy far from home to study. He usually ate and slept at the academy and could only return home once every three months.
Wang Xiuxiu was not familiar with this so-called younger brother; in fact, she was somewhat of a stranger to him.
When Wang Chengwen returned home before the Lunar New Year, Wang Xiuxiu met him for the first time.
He was a boy of about ten years old, not very tall, wearing a blue cloth long gown, with a scholarly air about him, but not a smiling face.
He stood in the courtyard, his gaze sweeping coldly over Wang Xiuxiu, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
Wang Xiuxiu felt uncomfortable at the time, feeling angry and resentful at being looked down upon by a ten-year-old child!
However, Wang Chengwen's attitude was not directed solely at Wang Xiuxiu.
In this family, he was indifferent to everyone, except for Chen Chunhua.
Every time Chen Chunhua spoke to him, he would respond respectfully, and occasionally he would even show a rare smile.
During the days when Wang Chengwen returned home, Chen Chunhua was in an exceptionally good mood, always with a smile on her face, and her attitude towards Wang Xiuxiu became much gentler.
This was completely unexpected by Wang Xiuxiu.
In her view, Chen Chunhua was a selfish person who always bossed Wang Xiuxiu around and never gave her a kind look.
But she was a completely different person when it came to Wang Chengwen, not only showing him concern and care but also thinking of him in every way.
Wang Xiuxiu wondered why Chen Chunhua was so close to the child left behind by his first wife.
Logically speaking, given Chen Chunhua's age, it shouldn't be too difficult for her to have another child with Wang Degui.
However, she never had any children after entering the family, and treated Wang's son as her own.
This is why Chen Chunhua has a very good reputation in the village.
The villagers all praised her for being virtuous and generous, treating her stepchildren as her own, and some even called her a "model stepmother".
When Wang Xiuxiu heard these comments, she felt only irony.
Whether Chen Chunhua's kindness towards Wang Chengwen was genuine remains to be seen, but for her, it was merely an act for outsiders.
"Xiuxiu, are you listening to me?" Chen Chunhua's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, interrupting Wang Xiuxiu's thoughts.
Wang Xiuxiu snapped out of her daze and nodded quickly: "Mother, I'm listening. You told me to cut a piece of meat and bring it back. I've remembered."
Chen Chunhua nodded in satisfaction and then instructed, "Remember to pick the ones that are a good mix of lean and fatty meat, that's what Xiaolang likes to eat. Also, when you go to the county this time, see if there are any new or interesting things to bring back for Xiaolang. He works hard studying at the academy, so he should relax a bit."
Wang Xiuxiu was somewhat reluctant, but she still agreed.
She'll make you run yourself ragged if you buy anything, and then she'll nag you about whether it's good or bad.
Wang Xiuxiu stood up, put the embroidered handkerchief into her bundle, and prepared to leave for the county early the next morning.
---
The village was still shrouded in a thin mist in the early morning, and the air was filled with the scent of earth and grass.
The next day, before dawn, Wang Xiuxiu got up.
She quickly packed her things, took her embroidered handkerchief and some dry food, and tiptoed out the door.
Upon arriving in the county, Wang Xiuxiu went straight to Fuyuan Embroidery Shop.
When Manager Zheng of the embroidery room saw her arrive, he quickly put on a big smile.
"Young lady, you've finally arrived! If you hadn't come soon, I would have been stuck in the shop with customers."
"Manager Zheng, you're joking."
As Wang Xiuxiu spoke, she placed the basket containing the embroidery on the table and quietly watched Steward Zheng without saying a word.
Manager Zheng immediately realized what was happening.
"Of the ten handkerchiefs, the first three were sold for two taels of silver each, and the rest were sold for five taels of silver each. This is your share of the profits, Miss, totaling fifteen taels and five mace."
Wang Xiuxiu counted the money, took out five taels and five qian of silver, and then pushed the money back.
"I would like to trouble Steward Zheng to exchange it for silver notes."
"It was my oversight. Please wait a moment, young lady."
After Manager Zheng returned the money, Wang Xiuxiu took out her embroidered handkerchief and casually placed it on the table for him to inspect.
Manager Zheng was heartbroken to see this!
No deposit was paid for this embroidered handkerchief; Wang Xiuxiu and Steward Zheng agreed to settle the payment next time.
After leaving the embroidery room, Wang Xiuxiu first bought a boiled rice ball on the street, and while eating it, she went to find the old woman who sold Tong A cakes.
Tong A Bing is somewhat similar to modern roulong (meat roll), and Wang Xiuxiu could never forget it after eating it once.
I've been thinking about coming back to try it since early this morning.
After tasting the Tong'a cake, Wang Xiuxiu went to the pharmacy and bought a bottle of skin-nourishing cream.
A bottle of skin-rejuvenating cream costs more than four taels of silver, enough for only about a month. Although Wang Xiuxiu felt the pinch, she was still willing to spend money on it.
After finishing her business, Wang Xiuxiu went to the nearest butcher shop and, as Chen Chunhua instructed, cut a piece of meat with alternating layers of fat and lean meat.
It's not easy to come to the county town, and the old man who drives the cart usually doesn't set off back until 3:45 PM.
With nothing else to do, Wang Xiuxiu would stand with a group of children in front of the sugar painting stall and watch the stall owner make sugar paintings.
The stall owner skillfully handled his tools and syrup. Wang Xiuxiu touched the copper coin in her pocket, hesitated for a moment, and then bought one.
Taking a bite, the cloyingly sweet taste couldn't compare to modern candies at all, but for Wang Xiuxiu at that moment, the sweetness melted in her mouth, and her heart felt sweet as well.
After strolling around for a while, Wang Xiuxiu felt a little tired, so she found a tea stall to sit down and rest.
She drank her tea while thinking about things at home.
Thinking about Wang Chengwen's imminent return home and Chen Chunhua's overly solicitous manner, she couldn't help but feel puzzled.
She really couldn't understand why Chen Chunhua would care so much about a stepson.
It was already dark when I got home.
When Chen Chunhua saw her return, she quickly came to greet her: "Xiuxiu, have you bought everything?"
Wang Xiuxiu handed her the meat and odds and ends. Chen Chunhua took them, looked at them, and nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, Xiaolang will be happy when he comes back."
After she finished inspecting the basket, Wang Xiuxiu slowly lifted the cloth covering it and took out a small bag of silver.
Throughout the process, Chen Chunhua kept a close eye on it but dared not reach out to take it.
Previously, Wang Xiuxiu had deliberately tricked her into ruining one of her embroidered handkerchiefs, causing Chen Chunhua to lose a lot of money and making her heartbroken for several days.
Since then, Chen Chunhua has dared not touch Wang Xiuxiu's handkerchief again.
However, Chen Chunhua knew the number of handkerchiefs Wang Xiuxiu embroidered each month and was not worried that she would dare to keep them for herself.
It must be said that Chen Chunhua was also arrogant. She thought she had the entire Wang family under her control, so she became proud and complacent, feeling that everything was under her control.
Wang Xiuxiu was able to protect herself precisely because of her arrogance.
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