Chapter 123 Two-in-One When you are with me, don’t always think about doing...
Zhou Ye tidied himself up and went back to work.
After the thatch for the roof in the courtyard was covered with mud, it had to be dried before the next step could be carried out. So Zhou Ye started making the bamboo rocking chair that Lin Shu had been talking about for a long time.
It is definitely impossible to finish it today, so Zhou Ye plans to do as much as possible.
He had just tasted some sweetness from Lin Shu, and now he was full of energy. He threw himself into one thing without distraction, and his efficiency was frighteningly high.
Lin Shu sat on a small bamboo stool and watched him work, thinking that even that old master, Grandpa Gao, wouldn't necessarily be able to do the same job faster than A'ye.
Zhou Ye was so charming. Lin Shu leaned on her head and looked at him, and she was mesmerized by him unconsciously.
She liked Zhou Ye very much, but at the same time she couldn't deny that she was greedy for his body.
Men can be greedy for women, and women can be greedy for men. Food, sex and nature are part of human nature, and she doesn't feel ashamed at all.
"Ashu, you don't have to stay here with me, just go inside and rest." Zhou Ye glanced at her distractedly, worried that she would be bored.
Lin Shu smiled and shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll just sit here with you. Ah Ye, I like watching you work."
She wasn't stupid. The fence around the yard was high, casting a shadow that provided shade. There was also some shade around the woodshed and the stove. She found a shady spot and sat down. It wasn't too hot.
The main reason was that she felt that Aye was working alone in the yard while she went to sleep in the house. This behavior was really unkind and she felt a little bit sorry for it.
Zhou Ye paused for a moment after hearing her words, and then hummed softly, "Then whenever you feel tired or hot, go hide in the house."
"Yeah, I understand."
As a result, Lin Shu's "reluctance" lasted less than two quarters of an hour.
It's so hot outside that she feels sleepy.
Lin Shu stared at it for a long time, and her eyelids began to twitch.
When Zhou Ye finished making the two armrests in his hands and looked up again, Lin Shu had fallen asleep with her head resting on the bed.
He quietly put down the things in his hands, washed his hands, and then squatted in front of Lin Shu and called softly, "A Shu?"
Lin Shu muttered something.
Zhou Ye picked up Lin Shu from the small bamboo stool and put her back on her own bed.
As soon as Lin Shu landed on the bed, she rolled over, found a comfortable position, and lay motionless, sleeping soundly.
Zhou Ye stood by the bed and looked at her for a while, then covered her stomach with a thin blanket and went to the yard to continue his work.
Even he himself did not realize that in the yard where he was alone, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised and his eyes were full of spring colors while he was working.
~
Because the breakfast was a sumptuous one, He Guixiang made dinner much simpler today.
Add pickles to the porridge and make a few pancakes.
Although Old Man Liao had said in advance that he could not come for dinner, He Guixiang still asked Zhou Ye to send a large pancake over.
When Old Man Liao received the pancake, he muttered something to himself, but after he ate a large piece of pancake sprinkled with chopped green onions and eggs, he was so full that he couldn't say anything.
How come even a pancake is so delicious!
Compare it with the bowl of porridge sent by the neighbor, which has only a few grains of rice. It is obvious who is truly caring about him.
As the saying goes, one who takes something from others will be grateful, and one who eats something from others will be grateful. After Old Man Liao ate something from others, he became more attentive when doing things.
After eating the pancake and tidying himself up a bit, Old Man Liao went to Old Man Gao's house before it got dark.
The Gao family is one of the richest families in Tianshui Village. The Miao family is rich because their ancestors had a lot of land and he got a large share. The Gao family is rich because of the bamboo weaving skills passed down from their ancestors.
Although Boss Gao wasn't cut out for this, Old Man Gao had already saved a lot of money for the family over the years. Furthermore, Boss Gao's wife, after giving birth to three daughters, finally gave birth to a son. Although the child was still young, Old Man Gao was strong and healthy, so it wasn't impossible for him to wait until his grandson grew up and pass on his bamboo weaving skills to him.
When Old Man Liao went there, Old Man Gao was teasing his grandson, which made him jealous.
Alas, everyone has his own destiny. He is destined to be alone for the rest of his life, and he has long accepted it.
"Brother Gao, are you entertaining your grandson?"
Lin Lao Er called him Brother Liao, but Old Man Liao wanted to call Old Man Gao Brother Gao.
But when the two stood together, one looked older and the other younger, they looked like they were about the same age. Old Man Gao didn't have to work in the fields, so he sat in the yard every day doing bamboo work. Although his hands were rough and unsightly, he was much whiter than those men working in the fields, and his face still had some flesh on it, so he naturally looked younger than his peers.
"Brother, I have some great news to tell you! Boss Gao, please stop what you're doing and come and listen..."
~
As the night grew darker, most families in the village had gone to bed, and Lin Laoer's family was no exception.
Zhou Ye lay in bed, unable to sleep.
He waited for a long time but there was no sound from the next room.
After confirming that Ah Shu would not come tonight, Zhou Ye couldn't tell whether he was disappointed or relieved.
Maybe both.
Recalling the touch of Ah Shu sitting on his waist last night, and the feeling of Ah Shu hooking her arms around his waist today, being kissed by him until her face flushed and her eyes were filled with tears.
Zhou Ye had countless moments where he wanted to sweep his tongue across the corners of Ah Shu's eyes, but he was afraid that his reckless and rude behavior would scare Ah Shu...
At this moment, even if he did nothing but think about what had happened, the already stuffy room would make him feel even more suffocated.
Zhou Ye's forehead was covered with a layer of hot sweat without him noticing.
His breathing became heavier, and at a certain moment he suddenly pulled the thin blanket that he had piled aside and covered his waist with it.
Then he turned sideways, slightly bent his waist...
Zhou Ye's breathing could be heard in the darkness, followed by a dull hum.
After a moment, he walked out of the door quietly and entered the yard.
Zhou Ye washed his hands with the mountain spring water from the bamboo pipe, and then rinsed his arms which were covered in sweat.
The mountain spring water was cool, and after it splashed on his body, it finally cooled the burning heat in his body.
Zhou Ye exhaled and couldn't help but turn his head to look at one of the windows of the thatched hut.
Summer nights were hot and muggy, and Ah Shu, craving cool air, kept the windows half-open. But after her recent illness, Zhou Ye had forbidden her to open the windows too wide, so tonight she only opened them a crack.
The gap was too small and he couldn't see anything. Zhou Ye looked at the window, but he seemed to be able to describe the scene behind the window with his eyes.
Ah Shu must be sleeping soundly, he thought.
Ah Shu couldn't hide her feelings, nor would she ever let herself down. Just like yesterday, she said she couldn't sleep and wanted to see him, so she bravely climbed onto his bed. He was aroused, burning like firewood in the stove, but she slipped away as soon as she was satisfied.
And today, as soon as Old Man Liao left, she rushed towards him regardless of anything, just because she wanted to hug him.
Zhou Ye rubbed his forehead and sighed helplessly in the courtyard shrouded in darkness.
If Ah Shu continues to be like this, he will... just let her be.
But he has to control himself.
…
Lin Shu had taken a nap yesterday and slept well that night, so when she heard some movement outside the courtyard, she got up. If you have good sleep quality, you don't have to sleep for a certain number of hours.
It was not until Lin Xiaopu told her that she realized that someone had come from outside. It was none other than Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao.
Grandpa Gao and his wife actually didn't want to come to Lin Er's hometown so early in the morning, but after hearing what Old Man Liao said when he came to their house last night, no one would be able to sleep!
Uncle Gao couldn't sleep after hearing about the string of money Old Man Liao had mentioned. Lying in bed that night, he'd talk about it with his wife, and the couple would count on their fingers, growing increasingly excited. If this bamboo recliner could really sell for three hundred coins, as Old Man Liao had said, even if they only took 60% of the profit, they'd still make a killing.
Although the couple knew that their father had worked hard throughout his life and saved a lot of money, no one would complain about having too much money.
Grandpa Gao couldn't sleep after hearing about the exquisitely crafted bamboo recliner. Old Man Liao explained that the recliner was retractable; when not in use, the lower half could be pushed inside, allowing you to sit on it without taking up space. When you wanted to lie down, you could pull out the lower half and put it back together, making it a couch.
Although he had been an honest bamboo weaver all his life, he also knew how to make bamboo tables and stools. He often visited the bamboo weaving shops in town, but he had never seen a retractable and foldable bamboo lounge chair like this before. He had been curious about it since he heard about it last night. Of course, he was happy to make money.
So the father and son hit it off and went to Lin Laoer's house early in the morning to see what the bamboo lounge chair looked like.
Before Lin Shu woke up, He Guixiang had already invited her in. When Zhou Ye came back from picking wild flowers in the mountains, Grandpa Gao immediately asked him about his bamboo lounge chair.
Grandpa Gao had already looked at the bamboo lounge chair several times. If it weren't for the inappropriate time, he would have wanted to turn the bamboo lounge chair over to take a look.
"Aye boy, did you make this bamboo lounge chair? Have you learned bamboo work before?" Grandpa Gao asked in surprise.
"This is my first time doing this. It's not that I'm good at bamboo work, but the drawings drawn by Shu are clear and easy to understand. I just do it one by one according to the dimensions on the drawing, and then put them together according to the drawing. It's not difficult." Zhou Ye said.
Grandpa Gao praised repeatedly, "Your craftsmanship is excellent!" The places that needed polishing were polished smooth and not prickly, and the places where they fit together also fit very well.
He was doing this and knew that bamboo work was not as easy as Zhou Ye said. For example, his bamboo work was not difficult as long as you learned the weaving method. It required more patience, while bamboo work required more ingenuity. If there was any mistake in the size, the bamboo tools would not fit together and all the work would be in vain.
Grandpa Gao also learned slowly at first, only gaining more experience to be able to make bamboo tables and bamboo stools. He could roughly understand the process of making Zhou Ye's bamboo lounge chair, but to assemble it properly, he absolutely needed some experience and good eyesight, and he had to compare each part with the blueprint.
I didn't expect Zhou Ye to be a good material for bamboo work. If he is good at bamboo work, then he must be good at bamboo strip work too.
It's a pity that this person is not from his family, alas...
The more Grandpa Gao thought about it, the more regretful he felt. Then he glared at his son with a look of disappointment.
Uncle Gao: ...
His father started again. Whenever he met someone with better qualifications than him, he would glare at him.
But he really wasn't cut out for it. He had followed his father for years and knew the steps of bamboo work better than anyone else. If he wanted to do it, he could barely do it, but the finished product was very crude, and the contrast was stark compared to what his father had made.
His father said that he could give his finished products away as gifts, but forget about selling them. Furthermore, not only did he lack the talent, he also couldn't sit still.
His father weaves these backpacks and scoops, and can sit in the yard and weave for the whole day, but he really can't do that.
Compared to writing this, he still prefers farming. He is not afraid of wind and sun, he just likes working in the fields.
When Lin Shu finished packing and came out, she called out to Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao and asked directly, "Have Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao decided to do this business?"
Uncle Gao said hurriedly, "Do it, do it, but Miss Lin Shu, can you really sell this bamboo recliner for three hundred coins?"
He often went to the bamboo weaving shop in the town with his father. The bamboo chairs there, which cost several hundred coins, were very exquisitely made, and some were even carved with flowers.
"Of course." Lin Shu said confidently, "This is because our Jingxi Town is small. If we sell it in the county town, the price can be raised even higher."
From ancient times to the present, wealthy people have liked rare things and like to try new things. Moreover, these three hundred coins are just a stone thrown into the water to hear the sound. They don't lack this little money.
Lin Shu's target was not only this group of wealthy families, but also those small families in the town who were not as rich as the rich but better off than the poor.
Uncle Gao thought about what his wife had told him and immediately asked, "Then can we make and sell it ourselves?"
Lin Shu replied, "Okay, in that case, I'll only charge sixty wen for each bamboo lounge chair. But Uncle Gao, let me be frank. If you want to keep this bamboo lounge chair business going long-term and securely, you'd better not change the price of three hundred wen a piece I've set. Even if someone offers you two hundred and eighty wen, two hundred and eighty wen, or ninety wen, it won't work. If you try to get a bargain and lower the price, then if these bamboo lounge chairs don't sell, or are sold at a low price, Grandpa Gao's hard work will be in vain, and I won't take any responsibility."
Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao: ...
This girl from the Lin family looked smiling, but why did she say such unpleasant things?
Uncle Gao's expression suddenly became conflicted.
Neither he nor his wife knew how to shout. They had extra baskets and backpacks made at home, which he would take to the town to sell. He would just put them aside and call out the price in a dry voice, or wait for others to ask. After all, there would always be people who needed them and would buy them.
After Lin Shu said this, Uncle Gao became depressed and looked at Grandpa Gao, asking for his opinion.
Grandpa Gao rolled his eyes in disdain. "You don't even know your own weight, yet you still want your wife to take on everything. She's just a woman, and she doesn't know shit. It's good enough for her to earn her share of money. Forget about anything else."
Uncle Gao was scolded like a grandson and just laughed dryly, "Dad, this is not our home, please speak slowly, little girl Lin Shu is listening, don't scold little girl Lin Shu."
Grandpa Gao coughed lightly and explained, "Lin Shu girl, Grandpa Gao is not talking about you. The women in our Tianshui Village are all ignorant and like to meddle in the affairs of the masters."
Lin Shu smiled but said nothing.
Even if what Grandpa Gao said included her, she couldn't really argue with such an old-fashioned man. In the eyes of most country men, women are long-haired and short-sighted, and it is they, the men themselves, who are the most awesome, haha.
Grandpa Gao straightened his expression and said, "Your uncle Gao and I are both willing to do the business of bamboo reclining chairs. My family will only be responsible for making them, and you will be the one to sell them. If what Old Man Liao said is correct, I can make one and get 180 copper coins without worrying about anything else. Am I right?"
Lin Shu nodded. "What Father Liao said is correct. This is what I mean. If you make these bamboo lounge chairs and sell them yourself, you'll take 80% and I'll only take 20%. My suggested price is 300 wen. But if you're sure you can sell them all, you can raise or lower the price if you want. I won't interfere. You can still give me 60 wen per chair. But if you don't want to be involved in the business, just focus on making the bamboo lounge chairs. I'll take 60% and I'll find someone else to sell them to."
Uncle Gao suddenly interrupted when he heard this, "Lin Shu girl, what you mean is that you don't want to sell it yourself?"
Lin Shu smiled and said, "Uncle Gao, I'll be satisfied with just the 20% I earn. We should leave the hawking business to someone more knowledgeable. Anyway, we each do our part, and only if we work together well can we make a lot of money together."
After hearing this, Uncle Gao immediately felt that he and his wife were too greedy, and they insisted on taking on the job even though they didn't have the ability.
After Grandpa Gao and his son discussed it for a while, it was finalized.
They were not greedy and only made the bamboo lounge chairs, leaving the buying and selling work to Lin Shu to find someone else to do.
In fact, Zhou Ye can make this bamboo lounge chair, and they can make it and sell it by themselves. Now Lin Shu is willing to share the business with them. It is because Lin Shu is kind-hearted and cares about their fellow villagers, so she lets them make money together.
"If you have made up your mind, I will write a deed and both parties will sign it. I will make two copies and keep them safe."
When Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao heard that there was a contract, they couldn't help but feel scared.
Uncle Gao muttered, "What kind of deeds do we need from our fellow villagers?"
Lin Shu explained, "It's not that I don't trust Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao, but any legitimate business should have its own rules and regulations. The deed is written, so it's convenient for us to follow it."
Seeing the two people's hesitation, Lin Shu said, "I'll read it to you after I finish writing it, or you can take the deed and ask someone else who knows the business to look it over before you put your fingerprints on it."
Uncle Gao was about to nod, but Grandpa Gao pinched him and said, "Miss Lin Shu, it's too formal for you to say that. Just write it down. I'll put my fingerprint on it today!"
Lin Shu didn't rush to draw up the contract, but asked first, "If we meet an experienced bamboo craftsman, we can just buy one and disassemble and reassemble it and he'll know how to make it. So it's best if we make a batch at once and take advantage of this opportunity. I wonder how many of these bamboo lounge chairs Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao can make in a month?"
Grandpa Gao said, "It's no problem for your Uncle Gao to help me. With his help, we can make at least twenty in a month."
"Okay, then we'll save up for a month's supply. Grandpa Gao will make more while ensuring the quality, and Ah Ye can also make a few when he has time. We'll wait for the big market at the end of next month, and then we'll use Father Liao's ox cart to pull them to the market and sell them!"
After the agreement was reached, Lin Shu wrote the deed on the spot and read it to Grandpa Gao and Uncle Gao. After they confirmed it was correct, Lin Shu signed it and Grandpa Gao put his handprint on it. They each kept a copy. After that, Lin Shu handed the blueprints of the bamboo lounge chair to Grandpa Gao.
After reading it, Grandpa Gao praised it highly, "So that's how it is. I understand. It's not difficult, it's just a meticulous job!"
Lin Shu smiled and replied, "Of course it's not difficult for an old man like Grandpa Gao, otherwise why would I ask Old Man Liao to act as a matchmaker?"
Grandpa Gao was so amused that he couldn't stop laughing. When they left, both of them were in a good mood.
Uncle Gao happily counted on his fingers, "Dad, if we make twenty a month, our family can get 3,600 copper coins. That's just one month's profit, which is equivalent to what you can earn in half a year!"
Although Grandpa Gao was skilled at bamboo weaving and everyone in the village came to him for work, the villagers didn't often make backpacks and dustpans, as each one lasted a long time. Any leftovers were sold at the market, but there were bamboo craftsmen in other villages who also made these and sold them there. Furthermore, since most villagers only gave him food and not money, Grandpa Gao didn't actually make much money at the end of the month.
"You rascal, speak softly, don't let others hear..."
After Grandpa Gao and his son walked away, Lin Xiaopu in the courtyard started to flatter him, "My sister is so capable! She doesn't do anything and yet she gets 20% of the salary for free. Twenty bamboo lounge chairs a month, that's 1,200 copper coins!"
"That's right! Ah Shu also has a business of chicken mushroom sauce!" He Guixiang was also very happy.
On one side, the mother and son were happily counting money, while on the other side, Zhou Ye called Lin Shu aside to chat.
"What are you doing? Ah Ye, I find you are getting bolder and bolder. Ah Niang and Xiao Pu are still here, and you dare to talk to me."
"Ah Shu." Zhou Ye called her. When Lin Shu looked at him with confusion, he pursed his lips and said very seriously: "I can also make twenty bamboo lounge chairs in a month."
"Pfft, I know." Lin Shu stole a glance at He Guixiang, tugged at his sleeve and pulled him further away, whispering, "Fool, do you want to be the second Grandpa Gao, sitting in the yard doing bamboo and bamboo work all day long? You don't need to earn all your money, isn't it better to steal a little time to relax? And--"
Lin Shu pulled him down so that he was bent over, and whispered in his ear, "When you're with me, don't always think about work, okay?"
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