Lin Xiyao actually asked Huang Ying to pass on a message, saying that she would rest today and would definitely go up the mountain with her again tomorrow.
Gu Lili couldn't help but laugh when she thought about how Lin Xiyao had said those words while rubbing her legs.
Huang Ying respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Highness, that's exactly what Miss Yao Yao instructed me to convey."
Gu Lili glanced at the two embroiderers behind her and nodded.
These two look exactly alike; they must be twins.
However, one of them had a very small mole on his face, which could still distinguish them if one looked closely.
"Huang Ying, you can teach them today. The place we prepared for you will start construction in the next few days. Once the house is finished, you can move in. For now, just make do."
Gu Lili had already instructed Aunt Zhang to find someone to teach her embroidery.
As Gu Lili spoke, she turned her gaze to the nine young girls who had just arrived that morning.
The girls were all around the same age as Gu Huanhuan, about eight or nine years old.
Gu Lili looked at the nine people and continued, "There are only a few people for now. You should see if these girls can learn. If they can, keep them and teach them properly."
When Aunt Zhang helped Gu Lili find someone, she had already made all the conditions clear.
For the first year or two of training, there is no salary, only room and board are provided, and there is no guarantee that you will be retained.
We still need to let the embroiderers take a look to see if they are suitable for this material.
Almost all the families in the village who had maids agreed to send their daughters to Gu Lili's house to learn embroidery.
The wages don't matter, it's just that this half-grown girl can't lift anything with her hands or carry anything on her shoulders.
If I could learn embroidery from Gu Lili's family, I could not only learn a skill, but also save my family food.
This is truly a wonderful thing.
Of course, there are also those who are unwilling to send it.
Although these young girls are not capable of doing heavy work, they are still good at cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry.
Hearing what Gu Lili said, Huang Ying, Hu Zhilan, and Hu Yuxiu exchanged glances, and the three of them walked up to the maids and began to examine them.
For this embroidery, the hands must be smooth and free of obvious scars.
Because the fabric used for embroidery is expensive, and if you have scars on your hands, you might accidentally snag a thread and ruin the embroidered fabric.
It's okay if it's a little rough now. Just use some hand cream, rub it on, and it'll be fine.
The three of them checked very carefully, taking each person's hand and examining them thoroughly.
Even with this rough screening, three people failed to pass.
“Princess, the scars on these three people’s hands are too large; they can’t learn embroidery.” Huang Ying brought the three who failed the test to Gu Lili and pointed to the scars on their hands.
Gu Lili looked over and realized it was indeed too big.
Obviously, it will definitely affect the embroidery.
Girls from farming families are not pampered; they are expected to help adults with chores around the age of three.
The scars on their hands were from cooking or chopping wood.
Upon hearing what Huang Ying said, the three of them lowered their heads in dejection.
Seeing this, Gu Lili smiled and said, "You three should go back first. I have other jobs to ask you for in the future, so you can come and help me then."
If they can't finish the embroidery now, they can come and help next spring when they pick mulberry leaves to raise silkworms.
This is a task that even a child can handle.
The three of them felt a little better after hearing this. They nodded, thanked Gu Lili, and left.
The remaining five looked smugly at the backs of the six people. They thought that since Gu Lili had kept them, they wouldn't have to do manual labor anymore.
Gu Lili smiled and shook her head. Children are just innocent; they don't know how to hide their thoughts at all.
"Those of you who stayed behind, don't get too cocky. Embroidery requires patience. If you don't have patience, you won't have been able to stay either," Huang Ying bluntly poured cold water on the six of them.
Keeping them here now doesn't mean they'll learn embroidery.
This embroidery requires sitting for almost the entire day.
Without a certain level of endurance, it's impossible to sit still.
At their age, they're at the stage where they're most playful, so they might not be able to stay.
We need to teach them some simple things first, and see how long they can keep up.
Upon hearing this, the group nodded in agreement.
Gu Lili took out the hand cream she had prepared beforehand and handed it to Huang Ying.
"Then the three of you will be in charge of them. You can decide what to do. If any of them aren't cut out for it, just tell them to go back. Here's some hand cream; you can manage that," Gu Lili said with a faint smile.
Gu Lili wanted to help the villagers, but that didn't mean she was willing to accept just anyone.
Gu Lili would never want someone who isn't capable.
Huang Ying bowed and accepted the hand oil, nodding and saying, "Princess, if they study hard, the three of us will definitely do our best to teach them."
The conversation between the two was clearly meant for the others to hear.
They were implied that if they studied hard, they could stay, and Huang Ying and her classmates taught with all their might.
If you don't study hard, Gu Lili won't give you any leeway.
Gu Lili knew that the more familiar someone was with them, the harder they were to manage, so she deliberately laid out the unpleasant truths beforehand.
After explaining Huang Ying's situation, Gu Lili went to pick mushrooms.
Gu Lili first went to check the place where she and Gu Chenxi had picked matsutake mushrooms yesterday.
Just as Gu Lili had predicted, many more mushrooms sprouted from the spot where the chicken-of-the-woods mushrooms had grown yesterday.
That's how termite mushrooms are; if you don't destroy their habitat, they can keep growing all summer long.
Gu Lili taught Chang'an and Li Ershu the same method she used to pick termite mushrooms yesterday.
Working together, the three of them quickly gathered the termite mushrooms from the ground.
After picking the termite mushrooms, the three of them first took the mushrooms home before heading up the mountain.
Today, Gu Lili was with Big Black and Little Fox as usual.
Having learned from yesterday's experience, Gu Lili made sure everyone carried a basket on their backs.
These mushrooms are so rare that almost no one dares to eat them, so there's practically no competition.
With the help of Big Black and Little Fox, the group picked mushrooms with even less effort.
As Gu Lili listened to the little fox's whimpering, she was about to go to the little fox when she suddenly heard a strange noise from above.
Little Fox seemed to have noticed as well, and was looking up at the sky.
Big Black had somehow crept up to Gu Lili and Little Fox, staring warily at the sky.
There weren't many trees where they were.
Gu Lili was looking up at the white shadow in the sky when Chang'an and Li Ershu, who were beside her, also noticed the abnormality and walked up to Gu Lili.
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