Chapter 63 Thieves
She paused, glanced at the county magistrate beside her, her eyes filled with tenderness and pride:
"It was precisely because of this unique birthday gift that Master Huang was so pleased that our master received an excellent grade in his evaluation and his year-end promotion was brought forward. The master has been talking about how he should thank this clever and skillful young embroiderer."
Feng Lan suddenly realized.
It turned out that Daya's business had inadvertently helped the county magistrate a lot! She quickly pushed Daya.
Daya blushed, took a step forward and whispered:
"My Lord, and my Second Wife, I embroidered the ten handkerchiefs, but my sister Erya embroidered the "Cold Orchid Heralding Spring" pattern. She thought the orchids I embroidered were too lively, so she came up with something different and embroidered a different one."
Everyone's eyes were focused on Erya.
Arya felt a little embarrassed by the stare, and added softly, "I... I just think that in such a cold winter with so much snow, the orchid can still bloom. It must be very amazing."
Children speak without restraint, but they express the most simple truths.
The county magistrate laughed heartily upon hearing this. "What a 'very impressive'! Well said! At such a young age, he possesses such insight and character. Rare, rare indeed!"
He looked at Chen Kangbo and Feng Lan, pondered for a moment, and said, "This official sees that although your family is a farming family, you have a strong character. The daughters you have raised are also outstanding. It is a pity that such a skill is only passed down among the countryside."
"How about this? I own a shop facing the street in the east of the city. I originally rented it to a rice merchant, but the owner went back home a few days ago, and the shop is now vacant. The location is good and it's quite spacious. How about you open an embroidery shop there?"
Open a shop?
This thought exploded in Feng Lan and Chen Kangbo's minds like a thunderclap.
They had never dreamed that things would take such a turn. From being bullied to having nowhere else to go, and now to the county magistrate personally promising them a shop, this dramatic turn of events had left even the usually calm Chen Kangbo a bit overwhelmed.
Feng Lan was the first to calm down. She knew full well that there was no such thing as a free lunch. The magistrate's action was certainly an act of gratitude, but more than that, it was probably a form of investment.
She stepped forward and asked calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. However...if we take over this shop, how should we share the profits?"
The county magistrate looked at her approvingly, and his opinion of this peasant woman's shrewdness and insight became even higher.
"No need for a share of the profits," the county magistrate said with a smile, "I've said this is recognition of your talent. Just open your shop and build its reputation. As for the rent, it will be calculated according to the market price, payable monthly. I won't let you suffer any loss. This will also add a touch of elegance to the county market."
These words were watertight, doing them a great favor while preserving the government's dignity. Not taking advantage and simply following the rules was actually more reassuring.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, Second Wife!" Chen Kangbo bowed deeply and sincerely this time. He knew what this shop meant to their family. It was not only a way to make a living, but also a broad road to a whole new world.
After coming out of the county government office, the family, led by Mother Zhang, went to see the shop first.
The shop was located on East Street, the busiest street in town. It was a two-story building with a brand new vermilion lacquer facade. The combined floor area was about 30 to 40 square meters, larger than their east courtyard house. The downstairs could be used as a storefront, the upstairs as a warehouse, and even had a small room partitioned off for resting.
Daya and Erya stood in the empty shop, their eyes gleaming with a light they had never seen before. They touched this pillar, looked at that window, and imagined they could already see the shop covered with exquisite embroidery and crowded with customers.
"Dad, Mom..." Daya's voice trembled with excitement. "We...we really have our own shop?"
"Yes!" Feng Lan hugged her two daughters, her heart burning with joy. "Got it! From now on, this place will be your world!"
Chen Kangbo stood at the doorway, watching the people coming and going on the street, looking at his two daughters, and then looking at his wife, who was quiet and resolute beside him. Even this iron-clad man couldn't help but feel his eyes warm. He felt that all the grievances, frustrations, and pain he had endured since the separation of the family were worth it at this moment.
The family, filled with great joy and boundless hope for the future, set out on their journey home. The setting sun stretched their shadows long, and along the way, even the air seemed filled with sweetness.
However, when they reached the village entrance and saw their own yard from afar, their joy froze in an instant.
The gate to the courtyard was ajar.
Feng Lan's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. She and Chen Kangbo exchanged a glance and quickened their pace.
When they pushed open the gate, the scene before them made the family feel like they were falling into an icy cave.
The yard was a mess. Several large rocks and mud had been thrown into the recently dug well. The newly built vegetable patch was trampled into disarray, and several cabbage seedlings, barely sprouting leaves, had been uprooted and thrown aside.
They rushed into the house, even more furious.
The room looked like it had been robbed.
The door of the single wooden cabinet was wide open, and the folded clothes inside were torn and thrown all over the floor. The bed covers were also pulled back, and the rice jar was overturned on the floor, with white rice scattered everywhere.
The few copper coins that Qian and Liu compensated them were wrapped in cloth by Feng Lan and hidden under the rice jar. At this moment, the cloth bag was cut open, and all the copper coins inside were gone.
Even the piece of bacon hanging in the corner was taken away.
This didn't seem like ordinary theft, but more like a crazy, venting revenge.
"It's them! It must have been those bastards from the West Courtyard who did it!"
Chen Kangbo was so angry that he was shaking all over, veins popping out on his forehead, and his clenched fists crackled. Chen Kangzhong and Chen Kangji had just been arrested, and their family members were taking revenge in this way!
Daya and Erya looked at their destroyed home and burst into tears in fear.
Feng Lan didn't cry. She just walked over silently, picked up the fallen rice jar, squatted down, and began to pick up the scattered rice grains one by one and put them back into the jar.
Her movements were slow and steady, and her face was expressionless.
But Chen Kangbo knew that the calmer his wife was, the more angry she became.
He looked at his devastated home, then at the last ray of sunset in the sky, and a hint of determination and ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.
"Lan'er, take the child and clean up the house." He stood up, his voice terribly low, "I'm going out for a while."
"Kang Bo, where are you going?" Feng Lan raised her head.
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