Putting on the umbrella cover is a delicate job, which requires gluing the cut cotton to the umbrella frame, trimming the edges, and shaping it.
About an hour later, the paper umbrella was finally completed. However, the whole umbrella was plain white, without any dyeing or painting, so it was not very beautiful.
But this does not stop everyone from being happy. Being able to make an umbrella for the first time also gives people a sense of accomplishment.
Yu Zhixing called Yu Qizhe to paint the umbrella. He took the paint he had bought, and Yu Qizhe rolled up his sleeves, revealing his fair and delicate wrists. He picked up the brush, dipped it in the paint, and splashed ink. In just an incense stick of time, he painted a picture of red plum blossoms blooming in the snow on the plain white umbrella.
As soon as this picture was painted, the whole umbrella immediately became extraordinary, extremely elegant and beautiful.
Women like beautiful and exquisite objects the most. Wang Mengyan held her child and kept praising them, and Yu Huangqi couldn't stop saying that they were beautiful.
The umbrellas used by villagers are mostly brown or green, so they are sometimes called green oil umbrellas. They are relatively cheap. Umbrellas with paintings are much more expensive and are mostly used by wealthy families.
Although the craftsmanship of the oil-paper umbrellas made by Yu Qiaoshan and his colleagues was not sophisticated enough, after careful consideration, they decided not to set the price too high. They would only charge the same price as ordinary green oil-paper umbrellas, twenty cents each, in order to make it easier to sell the umbrellas.
After the painting on the umbrella surface has dried, it is time for the last and most important step - brushing oil. The tung oil needs to be brushed densely and closely on the umbrella surface. This is related to the durability of the umbrella and its ability to shield from rain. Yu Mengshan carefully applied two coats of tung oil and placed it in the corner of the yard to dry.
It was getting late, so Yu Huangqi did not stay any longer. She planned to let Meng Dafu try to make the oil-paper umbrella at home to see if he could make it, and then go sell it with Yu Qiaoshan and the others.
Yu Huangqi was pregnant and could not travel, so the two of them borrowed a donkey cart from the village, which made it convenient for Yu Jiao to go to Mengjia Village with them.
Yu Mengshan helped carry the rice and flour he had bought onto the cart. Yu Zhou saw it but didn't say anything. She specifically asked Yu Hanshan to leave a five-jin piece of pork and a few pork bones for Yu Huangqi, and put them all on the cart for Yu Huangqi.
Yu Ruhai was also asked to take Yu Huangqi's pulse. Only after confirming that the pulse was stable did he send Yu Huangqi and his wife out of the hospital.
When Yu Ruhai heard that Yu Jiao was going to follow him back to Mengjia Village, he was a little worried. But when he saw that Yu Qizhe followed her, and that Yu Jiao was only going to visit Liu Sanniang and her son and would not stay overnight in Mengjia Village, he didn't say anything.
The donkey cart was not as comfortable as a horse carriage, but because Yu Huangqi was pregnant, her husband Meng Dafu was particularly careful and considerate. He put a thick mattress on the cart floor so that the ride was not so bumpy and uncomfortable.
The four of them left Qingyu Village. Yu Huangqi was an easy person to get along with. He chatted with Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe on the way. He also asked about Yu Qizhe's health and talked about some things along the way.
Seeing that Yu Jiao was feeling uncomfortable sitting with her big belly, she took the initiative to let Yu Huangqi lean on her.
About half an hour later, the donkey cart entered Mengjia Village. Yu Jiao looked at the unfamiliar scenery around her. Although she looked calm, her heart was not at peace.
She didn't even know what attitude to adopt when she met Liu Sanniang and her son later.
Liu Sanniang didn't like her daughter in the first place, and she didn't know how she would react when she saw her come back.
Before Yu Jiao could think about it, the donkey cart stopped outside the gate of Meng Dafu's house. Meng Dafu jumped off the donkey cart, turned around and carefully helped Yu Huangqi down from the cart.
Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe also jumped out of the car.
Meng Dafu pushed open the courtyard door, and Yu Huangqi smiled and greeted Yu Jiao and the others, "We're home. You haven't been to my aunt's house yet. Come in and have some tea and rest."
Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe followed Yu Huangqi into the courtyard. The old lady of the Meng family who was feeding the chickens in the courtyard looked up and saw Yu Huangqi coming back. She smiled kindly and said, "You're back?" She looked at Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe behind Yu Huangqi and asked in confusion, "Is this... the girl from the Qingyun family?"
Yu Huangqi smiled and nodded, "She followed me back to the village to see her mother, and my nephew from my mother's side, Fifth Brother, also came with her."
The old lady of the Meng family quickly put down the dustpan in her hand, wiped her hands, walked forward, and greeted warmly, "Go inside and sit down."
Meng Dafu's father also came out of the house when he heard the noise. He smiled kindly at Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe, invited them into the house, and poured them some tea.
The Meng family's courtyard is not big, but the courtyard and the house are very clean. Yu Huangqi's eldest maid snuggles up to Yu Huangqi, looking at Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe curiously with her big round eyes.
Yu Huangqi lowered his head and coaxed the eldest girl to call for help. The little girl then called out obediently, "Fifth Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law."
Yu Jiao smiled and couldn't help touching her cuffs. Well-behaved children are always very likable, but it was a pity that she didn't have anything to give to a child.
Everyone in the Meng family should have heard of Yu Qizhe's name. Out of respect for scholars, the old man of the Meng family treated Yu Qizhe very kindly. He held his hand and said many words to show his concern for his health and studies.
I have to say that Yu Huangqi's marriage was really good. Meng Dafu was the only son in the family. Not only was his relationship with him simple, but the old lady and old man of the Meng family both looked very friendly.
"Aunt, it's getting late. My fifth brother and I still have to go home, so we won't stay here any longer." After drinking a cup of tea, Yu Jiao stood up and said to Yu Huangqi with a smile.
Yu Qizhe also stood up.
Knowing that they still had important things to do, Yu Huangqi did not continue to be polite. She was in heavy body, so she called Meng Dafu to accompany them to Liu Sanniang's house.
Meng Dafu was a good-tempered man, diligent and obedient to Yu Huangqi. He carried the rice and flour without letting Yu Qizhe help, and led the two of them to Liu Sanniang's house.
The courtyard was different from what Meng Yujiao remembered, and looked particularly dilapidated and desolate.
Yu Jiao raised her hand and knocked on the door. After a long time, a woman's voice came from the courtyard, "Who is it?"
Yu Jiao took a deep breath and said, "Mom, it's me."
The courtyard was silent for a moment, and the wooden door creaked. Liu Sanniang, wearing a half-worn straight-collared, double-breasted, short-sleeved jacket, was holding the wooden door and standing in the door frame. When she saw Yu Jiao standing outside the door, her face was moved for a moment.
"Aunt San." Meng Dafu called out, smiling, "Your eldest daughter and her husband, Brother Wu, are here to see you."
Liu Sanniang smiled at him, then looked at Yu Jiao and Yu Qizhe. The smile on her face froze a little, and she stepped aside stiffly, as if she didn't know what to say. She only said in a low and dry voice, "Come in."
Meng Dafu entered the house carrying the rice and flour. Yu Jiao had expected Liu Sanniang's attitude, but now that she was there, her uneasiness disappeared, and she did not feel embarrassed by Liu Sanniang's lukewarm attitude.
She walked into the yard with Yu Qizhe.
A child of about seven or eight years old rushed out of the house, threw himself into Yu Jiao's arms, and called out excitedly, "Sister, Sister, you are finally home, I missed you so much!"
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