"Anyway, it means a skilled craftsman. Mother, Mother was just happy and said it randomly. Hurry up and make all these flatbreads on the cutting board. Make them look nice and exquisite. I guarantee that as soon as Mother goes out, all these little steamed buns will be snatched up!"
Liang Shuyan sat on a wooden stool to the side, watching Dashan draw stitch by stitch. Zhang carefully placed the finished small steamed buns into the steamer and started steaming them.
Liu squatted on the stove door, rubbing her hands excitedly: "I really didn't expect that my eldest brother had this skill. How come I never discovered it before?"
Zhang blushed and said, "When we first met, Dashan drew me a sunflower. At the time, I thought I saw a sunflower growing on the ground. After all this time, it turns out that the sunflower was just on a piece of paper!"
Da Shan blushed and said, "You old hag, this is such an old story, let's not talk about it anymore, okay? If the kids hear it and laugh at me, I'll lose face."
Suddenly, an idea popped into Liang Shuyan's mind: "I wonder if the tailor shops in town are lacking painters like this? If they are, this might be a good way out for Dashan? If Mantou can make money, we can spend some money to let Dashan learn from a master again, and when the time is right, we can let Dashan open a painting studio!"
Erniu was called over by the old lady: "Can you help Grandma see what price these patterns Grandma made can fetch? Can you take them to town to ask for help, but don't let your mother know about this!"
Erniu scratched his head and said, "Okay, Grandma, if my mom asks later, just say I went to the fields to weed!"
Li Lanfang tidied up her needlework and handed it to Erniu: "Grandma's good grandson, if it's this price, then it's a deal. If it's more than this price, Grandma will give you a share of the money!"
Jin Erniu was a filial son. He quickly covered the old lady's mouth and said, "Grandma, please don't say anymore. But please don't do things like this again. I think my mother doesn't want you to do it because she's worried about your health. I can only help you this once!"
"Okay, go quickly!"
After Erniu left, Li Lanfang rubbed her back and let out a long sigh: "If this embroidery can really make money, then I can start with embroidery, save some money, and then open a pharmacy in town. Wouldn't that be great?"
Li Lanfang always wanted to own her own pharmacy, but she didn't want to burden her daughter, so she secretly did some embroidery work and then took it to town to exchange for money.
Beibei is only five years old this year. She has a very clever little mouth. When she saw the old lady, she said, "Madam (Dai Dai, the child's accent is not clear), my daddy is gone and he's not taking Beibei with him!"
Li Lanfang picked up Beibei and said, "Beibei, be good. Don't tell your grandma that your dad went to buy you candy. If your grandma asks, just say that your dad went to weed the fields!"
Beibei has a chubby face, two baby teeth that have just come in, and a tuft of hair on her forehead, making her look very cute.
"Okay, Beibei will be good!"
Children are children after all. In no time, Beibei wandered into the kitchen. When Liang Shuyan saw her beloved grandson, she quickly picked him up and said with heartache, "Oh dear, Beibei, where's your father? Why isn't he watching over our Beibei?"
"Dai Dai said that Daddy went to weed the fields and told Bei Bei not to talk nonsense!"
Liang Shuyan was puzzled: "What's wrong? What's in the field that we have to go weed? Or did the old lady send Erniu out to buy something and ask Beibei to keep it from her?"
Having sorted out her thoughts, Liang Shuyan went to Li Lanfang's room. As soon as she entered, she found the old lady mysteriously drawing something on a piece of paper.
"Mother, stop hiding it, I know everything. Tell me honestly, are you going to help me earn money to support the family?"
Li Lanfang gave an awkward smile: "Your mother doesn't have that ability, you really think too highly of your mother!"
"Mom, Beibei already said that if Grandma asks, she'll say she went to weed. See, the child doesn't know how to lie. So, you're the one teaching Beibei to lie?"
Li Lanfang's face turned bright red: "I... I was just afraid you wouldn't let me do it."
"How could that be, Mother? If you like making this, give it to me when you're done, and I'll help you sell it. You can keep the money!"
The old lady was about to say something when Liang Shuyan stopped her: "Mom, don't lie anymore. We're all family, especially these children who are still young. We mustn't lead them astray!"
Li Lanfang nodded like a child who had made a mistake: "Okay, Mother understands!"
In the kitchen, Zhang exclaimed happily, "Mom, look! The flower-shaped steamed buns are a success! The flowers from the mountains are so beautiful, while ours, made with chopsticks, are all blurry!"
Liang Shuyan took a closer look and it was true. The patterns drawn with chopsticks were all blurry, while the patterns drawn by Dashan with his embroidery needle were clear, brightly colored, and lifelike!
"Oh, Dashan, these steamed buns are promising! But if there's a market and they're mass-produced, how can you manage it all by yourself? Why don't you teach your wife, and your wife teach your second son's wife? At least the family members should be able to make them!"
Dashan blushed and said, "Yes, Mother, simple flowers are fine!"
Liang Shuyan said happily, "Second son's wife, keep the big bad wolf you drew for Erniu. The person who goes to the field to weed should get a big bad wolf!"
Liu covered her mouth and said, "Mother, you can't blame Erniu for this. Besides, Grandma is an elder. How could Erniu not listen to Grandma?"
"Alright, you liar, you're even corrupting my grandson! I'll teach you a lesson! Eldest daughter-in-law, take these steamed buns to your grandma, let her see the skills of our mountain folk!"
Da Shan had never been praised by his mother before. When Liang Shuyan said this, he lowered his head even further: "Mom, Da Shan is so old now, and you still treat me like Niu Niu. It's so embarrassing!"
“You, Niu Niu is my daughter, and you are my eldest son. You are so capable, what’s wrong with me praising you a few times? When we get to the market, I’ll be banging drums and gongs to show off how capable my eldest son is!”
"Mother!" Jin Dashan's eyes welled up with tears. He turned around and began to sob softly.
"What's wrong, Dashan? Do you miss your dad?"
"Mother, I was just excited. I didn't realize how important the mountains were to you! I promise I will take good care of you from now on!"
It turns out that because Jin Dashan was lazy and gluttonous, the original owner lost faith in this eldest son. Not only did he ignore him, but his wife was also often ruthlessly beaten and scolded by the original owner!
"Oh my, when did my grandson acquire such skills? It seems our Jin family is about to prosper!"
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