Chapter 130 Do you want to stay? Shulan wants to stay in Shanghai.
Changying Jade Dew has become a hit.
This is not surprising. While the demand for high-quality imported goods is deeply ingrained and French perfumes are indeed very well-known, objectively speaking, most foreign perfumes in this era do not particularly suit the preferences of Chinese people—the scents are too strong.
Some modern stereotypes are still true in this era. For example, perfumes at this time were mainly for suppressing body odor; if they weren't strong enough, they'd be considered a mixed bomb. However, Chinese people were less affected by these stereotypes, especially in winter, but in summer...
Changying Yulu is positioned as refreshing, reminiscent of mint tea, lotus pond under the moonlight, bamboo forest breeze... These are just ordinary scenes, but they can soothe the irritability brought by the scorching sun. Although the aroma is not particularly outstanding, its practicality is off the charts, and most people would not mind making room for it on their table.
Hua Xing's prediction was actually correct. As long as Changying Yulu could be smelled, it would sell well. The only thing she didn't expect was that domestic products had declined to the point that customers had no interest in even trying them. Good wine needs no bush, but if the aroma can't spread, how can you attract customers?
...
After leaving the silver coins and her home address at the bathhouse, Yao Xiaoyu received Changying Jade Dew three days later. The glass bottle with a silver cap was packed in an exquisite wooden box. Yao Xiaoyu was in a great mood upon receiving the goods. Remembering that the one-year agreement was approaching, she went to Dr. Maria to inquire about Shulan's recovery.
"She is recovering very well."
Maria spoke in a relaxed tone, but frowned when she heard that Shulan wanted to go back to the rural life they had seen.
"She will be able to walk freely in another half month, but she cannot do any heavy work for at least three years, otherwise there is a high chance that her uterus will prolapse again."
The heavy work Maria was referring to meant carrying a weight of more than five kilograms, including lifting with both hands and carrying on one's shoulders. In other words, Shulan could not carry anything weighing more than ten kilograms.
The easiest thing for a farmer is to stay home, take care of the children, and cook. Even though Shulan's in-laws feel sorry for her, it's hard to meet the standard of physical exertion. Maria really doesn't want Shulan to go back. She has only ever seen one woman whose uterine prolapse has reached this level and can recover on its own: Shulan. She has a tenacious will to live, but that is not a reason for repeated exhaustion.
"I see."
Yao Xiaoyu nodded, having already prepared her words of conversation on her way to visit Shulan.
She spent money and energy taking care of him, and now she wants to go back and waste her life? It's not like she has no other way to live except to live a hard life in a farm. There's no logic to that.
When Yao Xiaoyu walked up to Shulan, Shulan was sketching with a pencil. The sketch was as big as a fist and very lifelike, with perfect perspective and lighting. Aunt Taohua was doing handicrafts next to her. When she saw Yao Xiaoyu coming over, she subconsciously hid her materials behind her back.
"I've finished all the work, I just did..."
Aunt Peach Blossom said somewhat incoherently that taking care of Shulan was much easier than working in the fields, and she earned quite a bit of money. She really wasn't slacking off, nor did she want to send her away.
"fine."
Yao Xiaoyu is not a ruthless person. As long as Aunt Taohua has fulfilled her duties, she can do whatever she wants in her spare time. Although Shulan's clothes have patches, they are well sewn and clean. She also looks good with relaxed eyebrows and eyes, so it is obvious that she has not suffered any grievances.
How have you been feeling lately?
Yao Xiaoyu glanced at the portrait of the Ghost Craft Ball and asked.
"very good……"
Shulan remained reserved. The two exchanged a few casual words as usual. Yao Xiaoyu handed over the design fee given to her by Lan Shuangyu to Shulan as a formality. People came and went at the hospital, and Shulan dared not leave large sums of money there. She asked Yao Xiaoyu to help her keep it safe. In addition to these large design fees, she would also hand over a silver dollar she had saved from doing handicrafts to Yao Xiaoyu.
Shulan had no intention of sending the money back to her husband's family. She didn't know anyone here, and if she entrusted it to someone else, they might run off with her money and she wouldn't know where to look for it. The post office wasn't reliable either. Besides... she had already given twenty silver dollars home. If she sent more money back, she wouldn't be able to earn any more money in the future and would only be blamed.
Shulan, who had never been to school, was unaware of the proverb "a little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment." However, human nature is universal. In her village, there was a girl who sold herself into servitude when she could no longer survive at home. It was supposed to be a one-time transaction, but she would send back any rewards she received to her family. At first, her family was very grateful, but later they took it all for granted.
When the girl got married and stopped sending things home, her family went to make a scene, calling her an ingrate. Finally, the girl couldn't take it anymore, so she spent time getting all the things she had sent home out and led a group of people back to demand the rewards, saying that she couldn't live up to the reputation of being an ingrate.
Those things had long been exchanged for money and used up. Even if some were still at home, they were very old and even broken, so the family naturally couldn't return them. The girl then directed the people she brought back to move things from the house to pay off the debt on the spot. In the end, even the house and land had to be sold at a discount to barely pay off the debt. Only then did the villagers realize that this family was the kind of people who would eat their fill and then curse the woman.
After receiving the money, the girl moved away with her husband and never heard from them again. The family gradually fell apart because they had nowhere to live. The villagers said they deserved it—if they hadn't relied on their daughter for support, they would have had some savings left.
She didn't have that girl's boldness, nor did she want her in-laws' family to become like that family; she was content with things as they were.
Yao Xiaoyu had no idea what Shulan was thinking, and she got down to business.
"There's only one month left until it's time for you to go back."
Shulan's hand trembled, and the picture book fell directly onto the bed, but she didn't notice. She just stared blankly at Yao Xiaoyu, wanting to say something but ultimately unable to utter a single word.
She found it hard to describe her feelings; it would be inappropriate to say she was unhappy, but she wasn't exactly happy either.
Shulan was born into an ordinary farming family and married into an ordinary family. If Yao Xiaoyu hadn't taken her away, she would never have come to Shanghai. At first, she knew nothing, but after hearing and seeing more in the hospital, her mind seemed to have opened up. Shulan still missed her child, but didn't really want to go back.
The days she spent in Shanghai were the best she had ever had. She wanted her children to study in Shanghai and settle down there in the future, instead of living like she did before, doing housework and working in the fields, spending their whole lives in the village.
But Shulan didn't know what to do. In the village, they could prepare everything themselves: chop firewood from the mountain, draw water from the well and stream, and grow crops in the fields. But in Shanghai, all of these things had to be bought with money.
Since Shulan had the idea of settling down in Shanghai, she would often ask Taohua about news from outside. If Taohua didn't know either, she would ask the seemingly kind family members of patients. Many people wouldn't answer, but many kind-hearted people were willing to tell her. In this way, Shulan pieced together fragments of Shanghai little by little, which made her more determined to settle down.
Shanghai is really rich. Children can earn money by collecting scraps or making things for others. To put it bluntly, they can't make a living. Even if you're a beggar in Shanghai, you can still get meat soup and preserved meat, which is much better than life back home.
Of course, if you can stand up straight and be a decent person, no one will want to beg. After inquiring about the prices of rent and daily necessities in Shanghai, Shulan has been thinking about her way out. But now, before the fog in front of her has cleared up, it's time to go home.
Shulan pondered the possibility of asking Yao Xiaoyu to introduce her to a maid job, never considering the possibility of making a living from design fees—although the money was a lot, it was like a peddler selling goods; she might sell it all in a day, or she might not sell any at all. She planned to send her child to school, so she needed a stable income.
Working as a maid in a better family, although the pay isn't much, provides room and board, saving on food costs. Most importantly, having a local as a protector means they won't be bullied, and they can also connect with other maids. If someone wants to hire a driver on a monthly basis, their family will be temporarily secure.
Her husband can't do anything except farm, but he can pull a cart as long as he has strength and legs. She heard that there are people pooling their money to buy carts here, and she has some money on hand. Once she gets a monthly contract, she'll buy her own cart...
Shulan had originally intended to explore other avenues, but since Yao Xiaoyu had spoken, she didn't have much time left. Just as she was about to ask Yao Xiaoyu for help, Yao Xiaoyu spoke first:
“My friend heard about your situation and consulted a fortune teller who said your birth chart can bring her wealth. When the time comes, she's willing to hire you for a year. Are you interested?”
The friend Yao Xiaoyu mentioned is Lan Shuangyu. No matter how talented a designer is, they still need to be down-to-earth to grow. Shulan can't do heavy work, but she has no problem drawing. First, use the name of the mascot to fool people. Once they can handle the work, they will naturally feel at ease. Then she won't have to wear these bucket clothes anymore!
"...Is it also twenty silver dollars?"
Shulan swallowed back what she was about to say and asked softly. Yao Xiaoyu was anxious when she saw Shulan's timid appearance. She just hoped that Lan Shuangyu could do something to help, or at least not let Shulan continue to speak like a mosquito buzzing.
"Yes, it's the same, meals and accommodation included. My friend is rich, and if you agree, she can even cover your round-trip travel expenses."
If Shulan insists on staying at home under these conditions, Yao Xiaoyu will not offer her any other solutions. Being stubborn is one thing, but not seizing an opportunity when it's presented to you is like a damned ghost who can't be persuaded with good advice. If you don't want to move up, forcing you to do so will not end well.
“I’m willing to go to your friend’s place, but I’d like to go home first.”
Shulan made a decision quickly, and Yao Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief.
To celebrate saving Shu·Clothing Transformation Accelerator·Lan, Yao Xiaoyu planned to take Tao Xiaoxiao out for Western food—those restaurants would serve ice cream!
"Have we still not found out who the 'ambitious one' is?"
Yao Xiaoyu left the hospital happily, only to hear a roar coming from a corner.
Yao Xiaoyu: ...
She pretended to know nothing and naturally led Tao Xiaoxiao into the rickshaw.
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Author's Note: Little Fish: What is the relationship between Yao Xiaoyu, the ambitious woman who pretends to be a rich girl, and Little Fish?
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