Two days later, Xu Genbao and Wang Xiaoju had already combed out several quilts and were fluffing them up on the wire mesh.
The slingshot buzzed as Wang Xiaoju took out a spool of cotton thread to put on the shelf.
Suddenly, the back door was pushed open, and the old woman from before came in with a woman wearing a white veil.
Although the veiled woman was dressed in plain clothes, they were made of fine materials, and the silver hairpin in her hair was adorned with pearls and jade. Her figure was also alluring.
Women in Bavaria rarely wear face coverings unless there is a special reason.
Xu Genbao and Wang Xiaoju only glanced at it and did not show any surprise, because they were also wearing face masks and assumed that the host was afraid of the dust.
So he didn't stop, but just nodded in acknowledgment.
Once you start working on cotton fluffing, your head, face, and body will be covered in white fluff, so you can't just rest. Besides, the master wants to watch the work, so you can't rest at all.
Xu Genbao knocked harder and harder, and immediately the fluff filled the air.
The woman with the veil was too intimidated by the white fluff to approach, but the old woman frowned and said in a deep voice, "Alright, alright, you two stop for a moment. My lady wants to come and take a look and ask a few more questions."
Xu Genbao quickly stopped, took off the veil covering his face, and bowed, saying, "Don't worry, Madam. My husband and I both agree that the cotton carding is good, and we're willing to use the mesh reinforcement, so it won't separate when you cover yourself with it."
If there's a problem, you can come to me anytime for a free rework.
The old woman lowered her eyelids: "Who asked you to answer? Just listen."
Xu Genbao was interrupted, gave an awkward laugh, and then shut up.
Wang Xiaoju, standing beside her, raised her eyebrows: "I'm here to make money, not to beg. What's with this affected attitude?"
Although she is suffering now, she was raised in the town and the only person she fears and respects is Aunt Jiang.
Although they were afraid of being beaten, they admired Aunt Jiang from the bottom of their hearts for arranging for the whole village to repair their house.
You can work while bending over, but you can't kneel down to beg for food.
The old woman was clearly unaware that Wang Xiaoju had already become disgusted, and continued, "My wife thinks you two work hard, so she'll give you an extra ten coins."
Xu Genbao smiled apologetically, "Thank you, Madam!"
When you're out in the world, it's not shameful to say a few kind words.
Wang Xiaoju didn't smile along; she just lowered her eyes, her hand still holding the bamboo pole to pull and wind the line.
The veiled woman spoke softly, "I heard you're all from Xujia Village in Pear Blossom Town?"
Xu Genbao nodded: "Yes, we are both from Lihua Town. My name is Xu Genbao."
When he wants to find work, he will naturally give his name and place of origin first, otherwise people will not feel comfortable letting strangers come and go from his home.
Upon hearing the name "Xu Genbao," the masked woman moved closer, scrutinizing his appearance as if searching for a familiar figure.
Xu Genbao felt a little embarrassed by the gaze and scratched his head, saying, "Does Madam also know about Xu Family Village?"
The veiled woman did not answer the question, but only said, "How old is the craftsman? He looks to be in his early twenties."
Xu Genbao was even more embarrassed: "I'm twenty-three this year."
Wang Xiaoju snorted coldly from the side: "Just asking his age made Genbao blush!"
And what is this eccentric woman trying to do? She's not only staring at Genbao's face, but also asking his age.
Could it be that she had thoughts of cheating on her husband because he was good-looking?
Her cold snort didn't frighten Xu Genbao, but it did wake the masked woman.
The masked woman quickly turned around, her voice softening again: "I don't know anything about Xu Family Village. I just remember that my family's servants used to be from Lihua Town, and they had heard of Xu Family Village."
I heard there was a disaster there during this war, so I came out of curiosity to ask about it.
Wang Xiaoju, with a cold face, said in a gruff voice, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. The people are not all dead yet!"
The masked woman chanted a Buddhist prayer: "It's good that people can live."
What she said was perfectly reasonable and even well-intentioned, but it didn't sound right to Xu Genbao and Wang Xiaoju.
What does it mean to say that as long as you're alive, that's enough?
Only someone who has experienced disaster can say such a thing; it's just self-comfort.
It's not just some fancy, casual remark from someone else.
Xu Genbao's father is still lying in the mass grave in Yuzhou City, and Wang Xiaoju's family shop was destroyed in the robbery by soldiers and bandits.
These things are none of other people's business, but they're not something to be asked about as a fun anecdote.
Xu Genbao tugged at Wang Xiaoju, telling her to stop looking so sullen, and then forced a smile: "Madam is right, as long as we're alive, that's good, even if life is a bit tough. If Madam is truly kind-hearted, then please let a few coins slip through your fingers!"
If you talk a good game, then pay me.
I came out here to earn money, not to listen to childish nonsense.
The old woman next to her scolded sharply, "You country folk are all greedy! Our lady just said to give us an extra ten coins!"
Xu Genbao and Wang Xiaoju exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads to prepare to start the flower-patterning process again.
If they don't want it, they don't want it. I don't care anyway. I'll just do my own work. I don't have time to chat.
The masked woman quickly waved for the two to stop: "I misspoke earlier. It's fifty coins. I knew a few people in Xujia Village when I was young, and I wanted to ask you about them."
Xu Genbao then stopped: "Then let's talk about fifty coins with Madam."
Xu Yuxian stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "Did everyone from your village leave during this famine?"
Xu Genbao said, "Almost everyone has left. There were a few households that didn't leave, but they were all burned down by bandits who set fire to the place!"
He was right; Aunt Jiang and Xiaoman's family escaped, so they are still alive.
Xu Yuxian immediately understood that if her sister-in-law was alive, she was also fleeing famine outside.
She wanted to ask the child who was being fostered by her parents, but fearing suspicion, she only evaded the question by asking, "And who else came back alive?"
Xu Genbao frowned upon hearing this: "Those who were supposed to come back have all come back, and those who didn't want to come back have settled down in Yuzhou Prefecture!"
These words were as good as saying nothing at all. Xu Yuxian glared at Xu Genbao in annoyance: This bastard, talking to his aunt like this, is so unreliable.
Unfortunately, Xu Genbao didn't see her angry and reproachful glare, but Wang Xiaoju did: This vixen is flirting with people again.
The fact that Wang Xiaoju, a girl from the town, could take a liking to Xu Genbao at first sight naturally shows that the young man is handsome and talented.
Xu Genbao was handsome and a promising young man in the farming family.
However, Wang Xiaoju is also quite good-looking.
While in the mountains, she inevitably encountered those idle men who hurled vulgar insults at her, so Xu Genbao kept a close eye on her.
When Wang Xiaoju went to the city to work, she was surrounded by fair-skinned young women and wives, a veritable harem of beauties. She kept a close eye on Xu Genbao.
Now that a lady was making conversation like this, Wang Xiaoju clenched her fists.
Xu Yuxian had no idea she had made a mistake and kept asking roundabout questions: "Who are your parents? What is your birth order in the family? Do you have a place to live and eat now? How many acres of land do you farm? Do you have enough food to eat?"
Before Xu Genbao could speak, Wang Xiaoju said, "Genbao's father is dead, but he still has his mother, elder brother, and sister-in-law. They have three rooms in the house and enough land to eat. If someone tries to take him as a concubine, he can afford to support them."
Xu Yuxian's face changed drastically, and she angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting! What do you mean by 'small' or 'not small'..."
Wang Xiaoju threw down the spool of thread in her hand, raised her chin, and said: "Not want to be a concubine? Or do you want to be a second wife? You'll have to wait until I'm dead!"
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