Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 357 - 357 358 The Theater_1

Chapter 357: Chapter 358: The Theater_1 Chapter 357: Chapter 358: The Theater_1 Madam Liu was stunned, “What do you mean?”

Muniang’s mind raced with thoughts, and she quickly said, “Auntie, I just realized that no matter how exquisite the embroidery of the characters in these patterns is, it can never be as good as the real thing. If we could tell these stories, we’d definitely make more money.”

“How to tell them? Hire a storyteller?”

Muniang smiled and shook her head, “Storytelling is boring, we should put on a grand performance! Do we have an acting troupe here? I want to open a theatre, and let the actors perform these stories. Wouldn’t that be better? If these stories were widely known, their merchandise would surely become popular. Then, there would be many ways to make money.”

“Merchandise? What’s that?”

Muniang found it hard to explain in a few words, so she said, “It’s things related to the play, like the embroidery pieces we create based on the characters in the plays, wooden puppets, and a series of other goods. This would unfold our business blueprint at once, and we might benefit from all sectors.”

Hearing this, Madam Liu was stunned; she was ambitious but had never imagined expanding the business blueprint to such an extent. Muniang had already deeply impressed her when she opened an embroidery house in the Capital City, and now this was an even bigger shock.

“Wouldn’t that require a large investment? Have you thought this through, Muniang?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make a plan these days, and as for the funds, we really don’t have to worry. Not to mention the income from our embroidery house, I also have dividends from owning a floor in the Dongxing Building.”

Besides, even if the money was not enough, they could seek sponsorship. She refused to believe that no one would be envious of such a profitable opportunity.

Madam Liu started laughing, “Then just decide on your own, you’ve always been full of ideas, I’ll listen to you.”

“How’s Tianniu doing with her studies at Lord Lu’s Mansion recently?”

“She’s doing very well, the child is naturally smart, much better than her several brothers. It makes me happy. Lord Lu also laments every day that Tianniu is not a boy, for if she were, she would surely be a Number One Scholar,” said Madam Liu with pride glowing in her eyes as she spoke of her daughter, her lifetime’s pride.

Muniang was impressed, “If even Lord Lu is praising her so highly, she must be extraordinary.”

“It’s also thanks to you. Otherwise, Tianniu might have really been wasted by me. You were the first to discover her talent and took the trouble to find her a Master. It makes me, her mother, feel ashamed,” Madam Liu expressed her gratitude.

Muniang smiled, “What’s there to thank? I like the child and treat her as my own sister. But the other day, she told me she wanted to learn about business. Of course, I have no objections, but I wanted to ask for your opinion.” After all, it was unusual for a girl to be so forward in business, and Muniang wanted to make sure Madam Liu was accepting, which was why she had specifically come to ask.

To her surprise, Madam Liu was thrilled, “Why not? Lucky she has you to guide her, otherwise she would blame me to death. You don’t know, but that girl goes on and on about ‘Sister Mu’ this and ‘Sister Mu’ that all day long. She eagerly hopes to become like you one day.”

“Don’t even mention Tianniu wanting to become someone like Muniang; even Madam Liu is envious. For a woman to hold up a piece of the sky in business, that’s truly an incredible feat.”

“Very well, my theater is just about to start preparing, and when the time comes, Tianniu can follow me around to take care of various matters. Learning by my side, with her clever mind, she’ll certainly catch on quickly.”

Muniang felt delighted inside. If Tianniu really could stand on her own two feet by then, she’d hand over the theater to her once it was built. But she couldn’t tell her this just yet, or the girl would be over the moon with joy.

——

“Oh, my child, why is life so hard on you? Losing your name and being driven out of the village was bad enough, and now to be injured like this, it’s practically taking my old life,” Madam Zhao wailed sorrowfully as she looked at the unconscious Qiao Yuanzhen on the bed.

Qiao Dazhi sighed repeatedly. All these years, he had been harsh on so many of his sons, all in the sincere hope of raising one who would be successful. But in the end, the one he valued the most turned out to be the least successful, while those he purposefully distanced himself from are each doing better than the last!

“Are you dead already? What’s with all that noise? If you’re going to mourn, go outside and do it. If you’re going to die, don’t die here, bringing bad luck!” A shrill woman’s voice came from next door, her cursing was just as fierce as Madam Zhao’s.

This was where the Qiao parents had temporarily found a place for Qiao Yuanzhen to stay in Chatu Town, because the Qiao family didn’t have much silver left. In the past, they indeed had a considerable reserve, but after Qiao Yuanzhen became a Scholar, he mixed with wealthy people and liked to put on airs; as a result, the Qiao family’s reserves of silver rapidly dwindled, leaving them destitute.

So, after being driven out of Tupo Village, they really couldn’t afford any decent place to live. After all, the town was not like the countryside; they had limited silver coins on hand, and they still had to spend money on Qiao Yuanzhen’s medical treatment. Eventually, their place to stay could only be found in the slums.

In a place teeming with both good and bad, you can’t expect to encounter many kind souls. There, people would curse at you with words that could damn your whole family to death.

Madam Zhao was furious. She stood up with a “huff” ready to go out and scold, “It’s your family that’s dead! Watch your mouth or it’ll be covered in sores! My son is a Mr. Scholar, are you tired of living, picking a fight with us?”

The sharp-tongued woman snorted with a laugh, “Oh, a Mr. Scholar, how rare! A Mr. Scholar who’s fallen to such a state is really quite something.” With that, she sashayed out, hips swaying.

Madam Zhao, ready to rush out and fight, was pulled back by Qiao Dazhi, “Haven’t you had enough chaos? It took us so long to find this place. Do you really think it’s like Tupo Village where everyone is easy to bully? If you provoke them, won’t they take their anger out on Yuanzhen?”

Defeated, Madam Zhao sat down, holding in a bellyful of anger, “It’s all the fault of those heartless sons! One by one, as if their hearts were eaten by dogs. I really brought them up for nothing. Now that their own younger brother is in trouble, they don’t even want to lift a finger to help, forcing Yuanzhen to live in a place like this. I’ll make sure to kick up a fuss!”

Just then, Qiao Yuanzhen slowly came around, and Madam Zhao, elated, hurried over, “Yuanzhen, are you feeling any better? Tell mother if there’s anything uncomfortable.”

Qiao Yuanzhen’s eyes were filled with gloom. These past days, one blow after another had practically kept him from standing tall, and his anger was growing fiercer. Seeing Madam Zhao’s petty bourgeois face only added fuel to the fire.