"Shaowen is very smart and has a good memory. He should be able to get started quickly, so don't worry, there won't be any problems."
As Cheng Yue spoke, she placed the cloth on the stone block at the gate. Before they could stop her, she continued, "Sister-in-law Yulan, take this cloth back and make two sets of clothes for Shaowen to wear while working."
You meet all sorts of people at the shop every day, so you should dress presentably and avoid being pushy or dismissive.
When Zhang Shaowen heard Cheng Yue say this, he looked down at his patched clothes and realized that they were indeed not very suitable.
He worked in the shop, and his own dignity was a reflection of Aunt Cheng Yue's reputation.
With a slightly flushed face, she said, "Aunt Cheng Yue, I'll take this cloth, but I can't accept it for free. You can deduct it from my wages."
Qian Yulan suddenly realized, "Yes, yes, deduct it from your wages!"
She also felt that Cheng Yue's words made sense. People who run businesses have to meet so many people every day. If they were dressed in rags, it would be embarrassing for Cheng Yue.
But I don't have that much money. It would be too difficult to buy this piece of cloth. It would be easier to just deduct the wages.
Cheng Yue agreed without hesitation, "Okay!"
She didn't want to keep getting into arguments about this, so she figured she might as well agree first. Once Cheng Yue agreed, Qian Yulan knew that how much she would be paid would be up to her.
Cheng Yue agreed readily, and Qian Yulan and Zhang Shaowen didn't think much of it, finally feeling a little less pressure.
"This bolt of cloth must be forty feet long, enough to make four sets of clothes. I'll make them all, two for Shaowen and two for Xiaolin. I'll get on with it in the next couple of days!"
Qian Yulan stroked the fabric, already having made up her mind: Chen Lin was wearing cotton clothes, but for work, linen would be more suitable.
"Okay, then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Yulan! Please deduct less from Shaowen's wages."
Cheng Yue smiled and said that she originally wanted to buy half a bolt of cloth, but she was too lazy to have it cut. Qian Yulan's suggestion was perfect.
"No trouble at all!" Qian Yulan chuckled, feeling even more pleased with Cheng Yue's understanding.
She said she was making two sets of clothes for Chen Lin, without thinking about Shao Wen's wages. But when Cheng Yue said that, it saved Shao Wen half of his wages. How could he not be happy?
After speaking, Cheng Yue and her family went up the mountain, and Qian Yulan, carrying the cloth, followed Zhang Shaowen into the courtyard.
Madam Feng was busy in the kitchen with Wang Chunmei when she heard the noise and came out, asking with concern, "Shaowen's back! How was today?"
Zhang Shaowen sincerely said, "Uncle Chen An and Aunt Cheng Yue have been very good to me, teaching me step by step. Xiao Lin and the two younger sisters have also been very good to me. Don't worry! I'm sure I can do it!"
Besides, there was the matter of meeting Chen Gen today, and the comfort and reassurance from Aunt Cheng Yue and the others, which made him feel a weight lifted off his shoulders, as if he had never felt so relaxed before.
Upon hearing this, Madam Feng smiled and said, "This child has become much more talkative, and he seems much more energetic!"
As they were talking, the village head and the Zhang brothers returned. When they saw the cloth in Qian Yulan's hand, they exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on? We haven't even been paid yet, where did she get the money to buy cloth?"
Qian Yulan grinned: "What?! This was given to me by Cheng Yue's wife. She said it's for Shaowen to make clothes, specifically for work!"
Looking at the village head's expression, he immediately explained, "Father, we didn't take it for nothing. They said it would be deducted from Shaowen's wages."
The village head, his mouth gagged, could only say, "We should be more presentable. Eldest daughter-in-law, hurry up and make the clothes so that Shaowen can wear them as soon as possible."
"Alright, Dad!"
Qian Yulan turned around and went to get the sewing basket.
Wang Chunmei smiled and said, "I'm happy today, so I'll cook some rice for dinner!" Usually, she can only eat porridge with some cornbread or flatbread, and rarely eats rice.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Dajiang's eyes lit up. "This is really thanks to Shaowen!"
Zhang Shaowen blushed and then said to Wang Chunmei, "Second Aunt, I won't make mine. I ate with Aunt Cheng Yue and the others at noon, so I'm not hungry."
He ate three bowls of white rice today, more than he'd ever eaten in his life. It was not only full but also very oily, and his stomach was bulging.
Zhang Dashan asked in surprise, "Why is lunch provided?"
Zhang Dajiang swallowed hard. "What did you eat?"
"It had eggs, meat, and pork cracklings. There were some vegetables I didn't recognize, but overall it was delicious!"
Zhang Shaowen always felt that his second uncle's focus was a bit off, but he still listened and said what he was told.
That evening, the family ate brown rice with wild vegetables. Looking at Zhang Shaowen sitting to the side with a bewildered and silly grin, they roared inwardly, "That brat is really lucky!"
On the other side, after Zhao Xiangxiu and Cuicui finished work, Cheng Yue handed over another bolt of cloth after settling their wages.
"Sister-in-law Xiangxiu, this cloth is for you and Cuicui. Use it as you see fit, consider it a treat for you."
The mother and daughter mainly raised chickens and ducks in the village. It didn't matter what they wore; they were treated the same as everyone else when they worked for her, and they couldn't be treated differently.
What you have that I don't, even if they don't think much of it, it's not that simple.
"Why would we give you cloth when you have nothing better to do? We don't want it."
Zhao Xiangxiu quickly declined, not understanding what Cheng Yue meant by talking about benefits.
This bolt of cloth costs several hundred coins; it probably wouldn't even cover the mother and daughter's monthly wages.
Cheng Yue explained, "Shaowen works in the shop and needs to dress decently, so I bought the fabric. I couldn't leave you out."
Zhao Xiangxiu said magnanimously, "You're really bothered by this? We deal with chickens and ducks all day long, so we have to wear tattered clothes. Even if you gave us this cloth, we wouldn't want to wear it!"
"I won't concern myself with that. In short, the cloth is yours to decide."
After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Xiangxiu and Cuicui had no choice but to accept it. They knew Cheng Yue's personality well; if she wanted to give something, they would accept it without hesitation!
Cui Cui exclaimed happily, "This cloth has such a beautiful color! When my brother proposes marriage, we can put it in as a betrothal gift!"
This silly child, his own sleeves are so torn they're unwearable, yet he's still thinking about his older brother's marriage.
Just as Cheng Yue was about to speak, Zhao Xiangxiu objected, "We've all received our wages, and your older brother's marriage isn't a problem. Don't think about them all the time. This cloth is for you to make clothes!"
It's okay for boys to be a little rough around the edges; girls are the ones who need to be pampered.
In the past, we didn't have the means. My daughter never had a new set of clothes made for herself. She always wore hand-me-downs from her and her two older brothers. Her clothes were always drab and didn't look like a girl at all.
Now that life is better, how can we still mistreat our daughter?
Cheng Yue laughed and said, "Yes! Bright colors only look good on little girls. Let your mother worry about your two older brothers!"
Cui Cui's little face flushed red. "Thank you, Mother! Thank you, Aunt Cheng Yue!"
The mother and daughter received their wages and happily went home, clutching the cloth.
Watching the two walk briskly, Cheng Yue felt happy.
It's something to be happy about if you can live a good life yourself and also help those who are good to you to live a good life together.
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