Chapter 82 Making empty promises and picking fights
What? One of them is worth a hundred of the others?
Zhang Zhaodi looked at her best friend as if she were a fool, suspecting that she was having a fit of madness in broad daylight.
"A hundred is a conservative estimate. If your bamboo weaving could be more exquisite, closer to the real object, and more lifelike, the price could be even higher."
Sheng An was just like the health product salesman from his past life, doing everything he could to fool Zhang Zhaodi: "Have you ever heard of bamboo weaving paintings? I guess you haven't. I heard that if this stuff is made into a screen, it can sell for a hundred taels of silver."
Zhang Zhaodi was immediately agitated by the hundred taels of silver. She grabbed Sheng An's hand and asked, "What is bamboo weaving painting? How can bamboo be woven into a painting?"
Sheng An pointed to the large yellow dog woven from bamboo and offered Zhang Zhaodi some ideas:
"The big yellow dog you wove is more exquisite than others. Besides the different weaving techniques, the bamboo strips you split are finer, and you can perfect every detail, so the dog you wove is better than others."
Bamboo weaving paintings are even more intricate. The first step is to split the bamboo into thin strips, which you can imagine as silk threads. Just as silk threads can be embroidered into various exquisite patterns, bamboo split into thin strips can naturally be made into bamboo weaving paintings.
Bamboo weaving is very difficult and cannot be mastered in a short time. Sheng An didn't intend to make things difficult for Zhang Zhaodi, so the topic returned to the bamboo-woven dog:
“Shengyuan lacks rare ornaments. I can’t afford those calligraphy, paintings and antiques, but bamboo weaving is an option. You can make exquisite bamboo weaving into ornaments, and I can place them in the most conspicuous place in Shengyuan. If a customer takes a liking to them, we can turn them into money.”
Zhang Zhaodi's eyes lit up, but she wasn't very confident: "An'an, do you think I can do it? There are plenty of these little things at the market, you can buy them for just a few coins."
In such a large and beautiful place as Shengyuan, her rough bamboo weaving just doesn't look right at all.
"If I say it's possible, then it's definitely possible!"
Sheng An's tone was resolute as he pointed at the big yellow dog and said:
“You will definitely find a way to make it more refined. The biggest problem for you is color correction, which is not something that can be done in a day or two. You need to calm down and figure it out.”
Zhang Zhaodi's heart pounded wildly, but the light in her eyes grew brighter and brighter.
She looked at the big yellow dog, then at the other bamboo weavings, and nodded solemnly to Sheng An: "An'an, I understand!"
Regardless of whether it will succeed or not, she is determined to give it her all.
Once she succeeds, she can be self-sufficient like An'an, not only avoiding becoming a burden on her family but also enabling them to live a good life!
Sheng An was very pleased: "Okay, take your time, I'll wait for your good news."
After finishing their business, the two chatted about everyday things.
As we chatted, the topic turned to willow branches.
Zhang Zhaodi said mysteriously, "Some people say she has a lover. They often see her dressed up and running out, and she never comes back until evening. I think it's probably true."
Sheng An's expression shifted: "Do you know where she went?"
Liu Huazhi is reborn, and the man she takes a liking to must have accomplished something in his previous life.
Zhang Zhaodi shook her head: "I don't know, but someone saw her heading north. She ran around for a whole day, so I guess her lover's house is quite a distance from here."
Sheng An seemed to be deep in thought.
"I wonder who would be so blind as to fall for her."
Zhang Zhaodi's tone was somewhat gloating; she really didn't like Liu Huazhi.
"She's a stupid and vicious piece of trash, there's nothing about her that's pleasing to the eye. There's been a lot of arguing at her house these past few days, she and her brother are getting more and more impatient with Kong Dazhuang."
Kong Dazhuang's leg injury was slow to heal, so he could neither work in the fields nor go to the city to work and earn money. To Peng Chunlan and her children, he was a huge burden.
Knowing that swallowing his anger wouldn't lead to a good outcome, Kong Dazhuang stopped pretending to be a coward during this period, and the neighbors often heard him cursing.
Sheng An, uninterested in the Liu family's affairs, changed the subject and asked, "My aunt likes you very much. Last time you went with my aunt and the others, did she invite you to visit?"
Several days have passed; given my aunt's personality, she should have taken action by now.
“I have been invited, but we are not related. What would it look like if I went to your aunt’s house as a guest?”
Zhang Zhaodi had no idea what her best friend was thinking, nor did she know what Xu Cuilian was thinking: "But the day before yesterday, your cousin came to the nearby village to buy live pigs and actually brought my family a few pounds of ribs."
At this point, she said somewhat embarrassedly, "My mother gave your cousin money, but he didn't accept it. He turned around and ran away like a ghost, and I didn't even have a chance to thank him."
Sheng An hadn't expected this turn of events, her eyes gleaming with gossip: "Which cousin is it? Da Kui?"
Zhang Zhaodi nodded, wanting to laugh but holding it back: "His sudden appearance at my house startled my parents."
They were more than just startled; the couple almost grabbed weapons and rushed up to beat them up.
It's no wonder the couple was so alarmed; Zhang Daikui's appearance and physique were too deceptive. Anyone who saw him would feel intimidated and suspect that he had come to cause trouble.
Sheng An could easily imagine the scene, but she was more curious whether Da Kui wanted to deliver the ribs on his own or whether his aunt had arranged for him to do so.
After thinking for a moment, she asked, "What do you think of Da Kui?"
Zhang Zhaodi gave an objective assessment: "He looks fierce, but he's actually quite simple-minded and has a good temper. Your aunt complained the whole way, but he never got angry with her."
Seeing that her best friend had no other intentions, Sheng An silently shed a tear of sympathy for her aunt: "I wonder if he can find a wife with his personality. My aunt's hair is turning white with worry."
Zhang Zhaodi laughed and said, "Your aunt's family is well-off, so there must be girls willing to marry him. Someone like your cousin needs to find a clever and feisty girl."
Sheng An blinked: "I happen to know a clever and feisty girl."
Zhang Zhaodi casually said, "Then you can help make the connection. If it works out, your aunt will be grateful to you for the rest of her life."
Sheng An pinched her cheek: "Isn't it you?"
Zhang Zhaodi was stunned, unsure whether she was joking or serious.
Seeing this, Sheng An pinched her cheek again: "I was just saying it casually, I didn't mean to be a matchmaker, so don't feel pressured."
Zhang Zhaodi slapped away her mischievous hand, propped her chin up, and began to consider it seriously:
“Your aunt’s family is nice, and it would be a great honor for me to marry into their family. But your cousin is really scary. Just thinking about having to sleep with him after marrying him gives me goosebumps.”
At this point, she hurriedly waved her hand: "No, no, I don't like your cousin!"
Sheng An had guessed this outcome and sighed inwardly, sincerely encouraging her best friend: "If you don't like it, you don't like it. Once you make money from bamboo weaving, you can find a son-in-law to live with you and have children who will take your surname."
Zhang Zhaodi's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea!"
Not all sons-in-law are as bad as Kong Dazhuang. There are a few good sons-in-law in the neighborhood who are hardworking, capable, honest, and obedient, and wholeheartedly live with their wives and families.
Sheng An did not stay at the Zhang family's house for lunch. After leaving, he went to the vicinity of the Liu family's house to see if Liu Huazhi was home.
Fortunately, Liu Huazhi didn't go out today. Sheng An saw her carrying a basin of dirty clothes and walking towards the river.
Sheng An didn't follow directly, but took another path to the riverbank, where he bumped into Liu Huazhi halfway there.
Liu Huazhi's face fell instantly, and without thinking, she spat at Sheng An, the spittle almost landing on her shoes.
Sheng An was disgusted and stepped forward without saying a word, slapping her across the face: "Spitting on the ground like that, you have no manners at all."
The willow branch was hit so hard that it stumbled, the basin fell directly to the ground, and dirty clothes were scattered all over the place.
"Aaaaah, you bitch, how dare you hit me!"
Liu Huazhi was so angry that she screamed and couldn't believe that Sheng An dared to hit her directly.
"I'm going to fight, why should I discuss it with you beforehand?"
Sheng An was furious, but he just smiled as he watched Liu Huazhi jump up and down.
Liu Huazhi covered her swollen and painful face, vaguely feeling that the words sounded familiar. She suddenly remembered that on the day Sheng An returned to her parents' home, he had also slapped her and said the exact same words.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Liu Huazhi lunged at Sheng An, baring her teeth and claws: "You jinx, you wretched bitch, what right do you have to hit me!"
Unfortunately, she was a complete weakling. The moment she lunged at Sheng An, he grabbed her hair, shoved her to the ground, and pinned her face down.
"Who told you to keep cursing me to die a horrible death along with my unborn child? Because of your curses, I have nightmares every night. If I don't beat you up for your foul mouth, who else should I beat up?"
Sheng An made up a reason for hitting someone, his eyes fixed on Liu Huazhi's changing expression.
Sure enough, Liu Huazhi paused for a moment, then burst into a gloating laugh:
"Nightmare? Haha, did you dream that someone surnamed Xu divorced you, sent people to burn your two old bastards to death, and then left your body and your unborn child to die in the wilderness on your way to the capital?"
"Serves you right! You deserve it all! Who told you to be so ungrateful? Being the wife of a scholar wasn't enough; you also dreamed of becoming a noblewoman. You blocked his path to marrying a woman from a high-ranking family. If he didn't kill you, who would he kill!"
Sheng An's heart sank, but a smug smile appeared on her face: "It was just a nightmare. My husband is so good to me, how could he treat me like that?"
You're only saying this because you're jealous of me. Let me tell you, don't try to sow discord between my husband and me. My husband has promised me a lifetime of monogamy, and that I will be a high-ranking noblewoman, someone you'll envy and be jealous of.
For the rest of your life, you'll obediently be trampled under my feet, and you'll only ever be able to look up at the soles of my feet.
Sheng An became increasingly arrogant, even letting out a villainous, eerie laugh, as if mocking Liu Huazhi's naivety.
"Aaaaah, don't even think about it! You can't!"
Liu Huazhi's eyes were bloodshot as she stared fiercely at Sheng An, as if he were her mortal enemy from ten lifetimes ago.
"Everyone who likes you will become unhappy. Your grandparents died in a fire because of you, your best friend became a widow because of you, and even your only child died in the womb because of your greed. What face do you have to be proud in front of me?"
Why doesn't God take away this jinx who brings death to everyone around her, instead of leaving her in the world to harm others?
Sheng An's heart pounded wildly. Even though she knew Liu Huazhi was trying to provoke her, a surge of rage still welled up inside her.
She grabbed Liu Huazhi's hair and used reverse psychology: "You're talking nonsense!"
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