Zhang Jidi and the people who had jobs had already eaten at the factory, so he only made dinner for the children and wanted to taste it himself.
She was thinking about Zhenzhu, so when Xiang Mianmian finished her meal and put down her chopsticks, she carried her into the room.
Xiang Lili had no choice but to wash the dishes. Humph, it was Xiang Mianmian's turn to wash the dishes today! Remember to let her do it again tomorrow.
Xiang Mianmian didn't hide it either, and took out a handful of pearls from her pocket: "Mom, he still sells these pearls, 20 cents each, 95 pearls for a total of 19 yuan."
"Where did you get so much money?" Zhang Jidi asked immediately. She knew the children's small treasury very well and never gave them ten yuan more.
Xiang Mianmian said without blinking, "I gave him a 5 yuan deposit. If you like it, he will come to collect the money tomorrow. If you don't like it, you can return it to him tomorrow."
How could Zhang Jidi not like it? She looked at the pearls of different sizes, picked and chose, and barely put together 50 pearls of similar size to make a pearl necklace.
"Mom, who are you going to give this one string to? What if my second sister and eldest sister-in-law start arguing?"
Zhang Jidi rolled his eyes at her and said, "Can't I wear it myself? I've given them hundreds of dollars in betrothal gifts, and they still expect me to give them pearl necklaces? They're so beautiful!"
After being sprayed back, Xiang Mianmian touched his nose awkwardly.
Zhang Jidi wrapped 50 pearls in a handkerchief and prepared to ask someone to punch holes in them to string them into a necklace, and then he chose from the remaining 45 pearls.
"Come and help me pick out a pair of earrings for your second sister, fifth sister, eldest sister-in-law, and you. If there are any left over, pick out a pair for your future third and fourth sister-in-laws."
This time it’s much easier to choose, because just two of them are about the same size.
Xiang Mianmian picked out two Baroques for herself: "Look, Mom, this one looks like the moon, and this one looks like a star. I want these two!"
"That's true. You silly kid, you only know how to be fancy." Zhang Ji took a look at it and found that it was indeed very similar. He was amused and agreed to give it to her.
Zhang Jidi also wrapped the five pairs of pearls separately and wrapped Xiang Mianmian's separately. It must be so unique that it must be correct.
The remaining thirty or so are of different sizes and shapes, and it is basically impossible to put them in pairs.
But buying a pearl necklace and six pairs of pearl earrings for 19 yuan was a good deal, and she was very satisfied.
Zhang Jidi had seen the accounting supervisor in her factory wearing a pearl necklace. It was a pearl necklace her husband bought for her when he went on a business trip to Shanghai. It cost nearly 40 yuan!
Satisfied, she put away the pearls and handed the 20 yuan to Xiang Mianmian: "Okay, these are for you. Keep the rest for yourself to buy candy."
The middleman makes a profit from the difference and adds 4 yuan to Mianmian’s small treasury.
Xiang Mianmian happily collected them.
The small treasury she earned through her own ability is what she deserves.
"Don't tell Meimei and the others. This is a surprise I'm giving them on the wedding day," Zhang Jidi instructed.
Xiang Mianmian nodded casually, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "Mom, where are you going to string pearls?"
He looks like a craftsman. Maybe I will need to rely on this master's care in the future.
Zhang Ji saw through his daughter's thoughts at first sight: "I won't tell you, you can't afford to offend these people. If things go wrong, you might end up sleeping in the cowshed. Don't go and join in the fun."
Frightened, Xiang Mianmian pouted and shut up.
Although she knew that Xiang Mianmian was lucky, Zhang Jidi was still afraid of this society. There were too many typical cases of people being caught, and she didn't want her daughter to be among them, so she simply gave up her idea.
The two packed up their things and went back to their rooms to sleep.
Time flies, and the elementary school has summer vacation in mid-June.
In fact, primary schools in the city have late holidays, but in rural areas, summer vacation started half a month ago in order to harvest rice, and teachers and students all have to rush to harvest.
The young man selling river clams came again on the way. This time there were fewer river clams, only 31, and the meat was not fresh. Xiang Mianmian spent 11 yuan to buy them all.
The two men were familiar with each other and knew the price. From knocking on the door to the stall owner packing up and leaving, the transaction was completed in just over ten minutes.
This time I was luckier. Thirty-one river clams yielded 70 pearls, half of which were crooked or broken. The other half could barely be made into two bracelets.
Xiang Mianmian smiled and reported to Zhang Jidi: "Mom, this time there are 70 pearls, a total of 14 pieces. I didn't take the clam meat because it wasn't fresh."
Zhang Ji gave her 15 yuan without saying anything and let the child play by herself.
When the coal factory was no longer busy, Zhang Jidi took all the pearls and went to an acquaintance on a Sunday. She happened to know someone who could make jewelry.
After waiting for a month, Zhang Jidi got the finished product.
She gave those 68 pearls of various shapes and sizes as processing fees, and without spending a penny, she got the necklace, two bracelets and six pairs of earrings she wanted.
The craftsman even made her an extra silver ring inlaid with a square pink pearl: "You gave too much. Silver is worthless. You can wear the whole ring for fun."
Zhang Jidi did not refuse and put it on his left ring finger. The size was perfect.
She went home happily.
What woman doesn't like jewelry? Zhang Jidi kept a close eye on the pearl jewelry in his arms and locked it up as soon as he got home.
It's no wonder she was nervous. These pearls cost more than 30 yuan. If her children weren't about to get married, she wouldn't have bought them just to save face.
Although the strange-shaped pearls offset the labor costs, the money was actually spent, so it's better to be careful. If it is stolen, you will regret it.
Perhaps all the clams had been taken out, the stall owner didn't come back until October 1st, which made Xiang Mianmian and Zhang Jidi, mother and daughter, feel very sorry.
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