"Mulan, why are you back so early today? Were you chased away?" The woman's worried voice came from the inner room.
Gu Lili looked around the small courtyard and felt that it was the same as the house they used to live in.
There was only one house, and on the other side was a kitchen built with thatch.
Mulan excitedly pushed open the door to the main room, held up the money she had earned that day, and laughed, "Mother, no one chased me away. Look, these are the copper coins I earned today!"
As Mulan spoke, she handed three hundred copper coins to Yu Yirou.
Yu Yirou looked at the copper coin in front of her in disbelief. She quickly took out the small knife from the electronics department, wiped her hands on her dress several times, and then reached out to take the copper coin.
"Mulian, how much did you sell? We're so lucky today! I'll buy you some meat later!" Yu Yirou said with a smile, patting Mulian's head.
When Mulan heard her mother mention buying meat, she unconsciously swallowed.
But she obediently shook her head and said, "Mother, I don't want to eat meat. Let's keep this money and make you a nice cotton coat in the winter so your legs will hurt less."
Looking at the well-behaved Mulan, Yu Yirou's eyes welled up with tears.
Poor child, born into her womb, can only suffer along with her.
Seeing that Yu Yirou was about to cry, Mu Lian quickly changed the subject.
“Mother, look, these are the things these three bought for me. This pretty lady said she had something to ask you, so I brought them back with me.”
It was only then that Yu Yirou noticed Gu Lili and the other two standing at the door.
The three people were dressed in fine clothes, and it was clear that they were people of extraordinary status.
Normally, this small courtyard is almost deserted, so Yu Yirou never thought that anyone would come to their house.
They couldn't help but wonder what these three people had come here for.
"Oh dear, you child, you didn't even tell your mother when guests arrived, leaving them standing outside. How rude of you!"
While scolding Mu Lian, Yu Yirou wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with an embarrassed expression.
Mulan also felt that she had been impolite, but she was so happy because she looked so much like her mother that she had forgotten about Gu Lili and the others.
"Brother and sister, please come in quickly." Mu Lian smiled and welcomed Gu Lili and the other two in.
Yu Yirou smiled apologetically, "I have difficulty walking and cannot get up to greet the three guests. I am truly sorry."
Mulan hurriedly went to find something for the three of them to sit on, but after searching for a long time, she discovered that they only had two stools in their house.
With so many people, there wasn't enough room for everyone, and the girl's face immediately showed some embarrassment.
"Madam, you're too kind. It was our uninvited visit that was so impolite," Gu Lili said with a smile.
Seeing Mulan's predicament, she stepped forward and patted Mulan on the shoulder. Then, she, Chang'an, and Li Ershu moved the wooden stake by the door over, making it just big enough for them to sit on.
"Please sit down and talk, gentlemen," Yu Yirou said with a nod and a smile.
Gu Lili and the other two found wooden stakes and sat down casually.
Seeing the three of them sit down, Yu Yirou asked, "My daughter just said that the three of you had something to discuss with me. May I ask what it is?"
She really couldn't understand why these three people, who were so far apart from her, needed to ask her for advice.
Gu Lili didn't beat around the bush and directly stated her purpose.
“I find the jewelry you make to be very exquisite. I like it and would like to know if I could become your apprentice and learn a thing or two.”
Hearing Gu Lili say this, Yu Yirou was somewhat incredulous.
She never expected that her creations would find a kindred spirit.
Seeing Yu Yirou hesitate, Gu Lili quickly said, "Don't worry, Madam. I won't learn your skills for nothing. I'll pay you tuition."
Yu Yirou quickly shook her head, indicating that she was not after the tuition fees.
"Young lady, do you really want to learn? If you are sincere, I am naturally willing to teach you!"
This skill was taught to Yu Yirou by her mother.
Her mother raised her using this skill.
However, most women in this world prefer gold and jade, and are not very fond of jewelry made of wood.
Although some people do buy them, it's only enough to make ends meet.
Judging from Gu Lili's accent, she's not a local from Jiangdu. If she could take this craft to other places...
It would be a wonderful thing to let more people know about my mother's skills.
My mother would surely be pleased if she knew this in the afterlife.
Upon hearing Yu Yirou's reply, Gu Lili immediately took out a fifty-tael silver note from her purse and handed it over.
"Madam, this is my tuition fee. May I come to study with you tomorrow?" Gu Lili said with a smile.
This money wasn't just for tuition fees; seeing how poor Yu Yirou and her mother lived, Gu Lili felt a pang of sympathy.
Thinking it over, he decided to use the excuse of paying tuition fees to give the two of them some help.
Moreover, in Gu Lili's eyes, this craft is a priceless treasure!
If she weren't afraid of Yu Yirou's rejection, she would have thought fifty taels was too little.
Yu Yirou looked at the silver notes in Gu Lili's hand and shook her head repeatedly, "No, no, no, this is too much. We don't need so many."
Gu Lili handed over the silver note without saying a word.
"Madam, in my eyes, your craftsmanship is priceless. Please don't be shy, just accept it."
Unable to resist, Yu Yirou had no choice but to accept it.
If they accepted the money, their lives would be better.
Her little magnolia no longer had to suffer from hunger and thirst.
Seeing Yu Yirou accept the money, Gu Lili nodded in satisfaction.
If it's about learning mother-of-pearl inlay, a few more days won't hurt, since they're already satisfied with other things.
After agreeing with Yu Yirou that Gu Lili would come to study the next day, the group got up to say goodbye.
While shopping earlier, Gu Lili bought a lot of paper, intending to return to the Liu residence as soon as possible to draw several portraits of Chang'an so that the Liu family, Prefect Duan, and Magistrate Meng could help her find the person.
The three of them initially only planned to stroll around the city and did not intend to take a carriage.
It's still quite a distance to walk back to the Liu family's house.
The three of them carried large and small bags of things while chatting, and didn't feel tired at all.
For some reason, Gu Lili always felt that someone was following them.
Gu Lili thought to herself, all they had done in Jiangdu was offend Liu Yuanliang, but he was already paralyzed.
Could it be Prefect Duan and Magistrate Meng?
Yesterday they were only feigning respect for me, but today they've sent someone to assassinate me?
That doesn't make sense either, they don't have any deep-seated hatred for each other.
Even though Magistrate Meng and Duan Hongfei were disrespectful to Gu Lili yesterday, she didn't blame them.
Who else could it be?
Gu Lili dared not turn around, afraid of alerting the enemy.
He didn't mention it to the two people beside him, but quietly put his hand into his sleeve.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com