☆ Chapter 30: I got tricked
Zhao Yunjing released his grip, his expression indifferent: "Yes, I am the unlucky one from the Zhao family."
The old woman opened her mouth, but the young woman shouted, "Mom! Whether he's a jinx or a jinx, that's just what other people say. Anyway, he saved Xiaobao, so he's Xiaobao's savior! Besides, if he really were a jinx, Xiaobao would be dead by now. How could he be alright now?!"
The old woman nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! Xiulan, you're right! Young Master Zhao, this old woman is so sorry for not knowing how to speak properly."
Zhao Yunjing pointed at Zhou Mujiao, his expression indifferent: "It was she who saved Xiaobao, not me."
The old woman grabbed Zhou Mujiao's hand and thanked her profusely, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing, almost overwhelming Zhou Mujiao. She looked at Zhao Yunjing with pleading eyes.
It was rare to see her like this, so Zhao Yunjing suppressed a laugh and went over to take her hand, saying, "Watch the child, we have to go."
Watching the oxcart leave, the young woman named Xiulan asked hesitantly, "Mother, was that girl Liuya? Xiuzhu's daughter, Liuya."
The old woman glanced at her for a few moments and nodded: "It's Liu Ya. So she went to the Zhao family. That's good. Although the Zhao family is a bit poor, it's still better than Zhang the butcher's family. The young man from the Zhao family is good-looking and seems reliable. At least Liu Ya won't get beaten up."
"What a poor child... I hope she lives a good life! Sigh!"
Zhou Mujiao naturally couldn't hear the sighs of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Looking at Zhao Yunjing's back, she hesitated for a moment and said, "Brother Zhao, you're not unlucky."
"Um."
“I’m serious,” Zhou Mujiao said crisply. “But next time someone shouts randomly, don’t hold back. Just hit them. After a few times, they’ll behave and behave.”
In the face of absolute force, no amount of skill or cunning will work. Moreover, these villagers are unreasonable. Only when you are stronger than them, stronger than they can fight back, will they be afraid.
The so-called "simple and honest folk customs" are, in reality, just barbaric and primitive.
Zhao Yunjing chuckled lightly: "I'm used to it, there's no need to take action."
“Then let’s start changing our habits from today. You don’t mind being called an unlucky person, that’s because you’re determined, but the children on the sixth, ninth, and eighteenth of the lunar month are still young. When people point at them and call them ‘the unlucky person’s younger brother/sister,’ aren’t you afraid they’ll feel bad?”
Zhao Yunjing remained silent the entire way until they tied up the ox outside the city, at which point he finally spoke: "...I'll listen to you."
Zhou Mujiao smiled, and the two went straight to the clothing store after entering the city.
From afar, they could see a crowd gathered in front of the clothing store, with Sister Liu in the middle. Zhou Mujiao pulled Zhao Yunjing over and called out, "Sister Liu!"
At the same time, a burly man rushed out and blocked their way: "We've finally waited for you!"
It was Ma Dalang. Ma Dalang grinned at Zhou Mujiao and said, "Come on, I'll take you to a good place!"
Ma Dalang originally had a fierce look, but now that his front tooth is missing, he speaks with a lisp, which makes him look quite comical.
Zhou Mujiao pointed ahead: "Let's not rush to the good places. See that clothing store? The one surrounded is my sister Liu. I have important business with her."
"clear!"
Ma Dalang waved his hand, and several burly men followed him. After a while, only Sister Liu and two other women remained in front of the shop. When Zhou Mujiao arrived, she saw that it was the mother and daughter who had asked Sister Liu for two more coins to buy their handkerchiefs last time.
Looking at the baskets at their feet, Zhou Mujiao roughly understood the situation. She stepped forward and said, "Sister Liu."
Sister Liu smiled wryly and spread her hands: "You were right. Last time, someone actually bought their handkerchiefs for five coins each. Today, they brought two thousand handkerchiefs to me to fulfill their promise."
How's the quality?
"They're much better than what they embroidered themselves, worth maybe three copper coins apiece," Sister Liu sighed. "I pride myself on knowing all sorts of people, but I never expected to get ripped off in the end."
The mother and daughter, one holding her hand and the other adjusting her dress, cried, "We agreed last time, eight coins each, you'll take as much as I take, Sister Liu, you can't go back on your word! My husband's life depends on these handkerchiefs!"
It's one thing to cry and whine, but to kneel down in public is another.
Not far away, a brightly dressed woman walked over, waving a handkerchief: "Oh, Sister Liu, are you out of business? You can't even afford to collect a thousand or so handkerchiefs? Come, come, how much is one handkerchief? I'll collect it for you!"
That's Sister Liu's arch-rival, Sister Ye, who also runs a garment business!
Sister Liu couldn't let Sister Ye look down on her, so upon hearing this, she immediately took out her money: "It's no big deal. Even if you brought another two thousand handkerchiefs, I could afford it. Unlike some people who are so down on their luck that they have to conspire with others and sell their reputations just to earn a few coins from me!"
"Willow catkins, you—"
Sister Liu tossed the silver into the hands of the mother and daughter, picked up the basket, and took Zhou Mujiao's arm with her other hand: "Little sister Zhou, I'm in a good mood today. You can pick any clothes you want, it's a gift from me!"
Zhou Mujiao said domineeringly, "Only children make choices, I want them all!"
"I'll give it to you, I'll give it all ...!"
The mother and daughter took the money and immediately tried to give it to Sister Ye, but Sister Ye was so angry that she stomped her feet and swept the silver away, saying, "Get lost! Who cares!"
She glared at the clothing store with hatred, sneered, and turned to leave, but unexpectedly bumped into a wall of people as soon as she turned around.
"Who are you? What do you want? —"
Ma Dalang said fiercely, "This clothing store is under my protection, Ma Dalang. If I see you here again, I'll slap your teeth out!"
"How dare you speak to me like that? Do you know who I am? I have Boss Yang behind me—"
"I don't care who you are. This shop, that young girl, and Sister Liu are all people I, Ma Dalang, will protect. If your boss, Mr. Yang, has any guts, go find the magistrate's son and demand an explanation yourself!"
The common people cannot fight against the officials. No matter how powerful Boss Yang is, he is no match for the county magistrate. Sister Ye accepted her bad luck and left unwillingly.
The onlookers dispersed, the mother and daughter who had cheated her left, and Sister Ye, who had kicked her while she was down, also left. The shop was deserted. Sister Liu looked at the basket of handkerchiefs and grew angrier and angrier. Finally, she slammed her fist on the table: "That Ye! How dare she cheat me! I'll tear her apart!"
Zhou Mujiao took her hand and said, "Sister, don't be angry. It would be better if you were angry to death, as it would allow them to attract all your old clients."
"I won't swallow this insult!"
"I can't swallow this insult either. But there's plenty of time. That woman surnamed Ye cheated you like that, she'll definitely cheat others too. You should just focus on your business and make your money. Someone will take care of her. Don't panic about those two thousand handkerchiefs. I'll find a way to get rid of them for you. Don't worry, I definitely won't let you lose money. You might even turn this into a blessing and make a fortune."
Zhou Mujiao calmed Sister Liu down with just a few words. Without hesitation, she took out the nine pieces of clothing and placed them on the counter. She then handed another set of clothes to Sister Liu.
"Sister Liu, these are clothes that our family made ourselves. There are nine sets in total, and this one is a gift for you. Put it on quickly, I guarantee you will like it."
When Sister Liu went to change her clothes, Zhao Yunjing had already moved the three or four bamboo figures into the shop. Zhou Mujiao hung up three sets of clothes, leaving one bamboo figure empty. After thinking for a moment, she hung up the four sets of clothes that Sister Liu used to have in the shop. She hung them in the most conspicuous place so that they could be seen as soon as you entered. Anyway, Zhou Mujiao believed that if a customer came in at this time, the first thing they would notice would definitely be the clothes that she designed herself.
Just as she finished hanging the sign, two or three guests came in, and Zhou Mujiao greeted them with a smile.
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