Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 229 - 160 Pan Zi’an_3

Chapter 229: Chapter 160 Pan Zi’an_3

Next to Yixiang Building was an embroidery shop. Qian Yixiu wanted to buy some fine embroidery threads and plain silk for her little mother and little aunt, so they all went in. Qian Sangui and the others were not interested in these things, so they stood to the side. There were chairs in the store, which Qian Hua moved so that Qian Sangui could sit down.

Only Qian Yixiu, on tiptoe, spent a long time at the counter and bought twenty strands of the best embroidery thread, which were for her little mother to embroider "the most beautiful flower in her heart." She bought ten feet of plain silk and thirty strands of slightly inferior embroidery thread, which were gifts for her little aunt, Qian Mandie, and Qian Xiaoyu. She also bought two beautiful embroidered handkerchiefs for Duo Duo, as well as some plain silk and embroidery thread of the lowest quality, for herself and little Lolita Duo Duo to practice their skills and to give some to Xie Huzi’s two daughters. In addition, she bought five sets of embroidery needles and twenty fake silk flowers.

All these items together cost twenty-five taels of silver. The merchandise was bulky and summed up to two large packages, enough to draw a sidelong glance from Qian Sangui.

Passing by a study, Qian Yeejin went in to buy some brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones both for his own use and to give as gifts to Mr. Zhang, Qian Manpo, Qian Yishan, and others.

Walking and resting intermittently, they also bought things for Old man Qian and his wife and some other relatives. It wasn’t until the sun had shifted west that they called for a donkey cart to rush home. The donkey cart, though simple and without shade, was good for sightseeing. Qian Yixiu, sitting in the cart, looked around the streets and alleys of Xizhou Mansion with great interest.

This dynasty was somewhat like the middle and late periods of the Ming Dynasty. The commodity economy was extremely prosperous, and it was already in the sprouting stage of capitalism. Merchants’ status was not as low as before. Moreover, the military was relatively strong, and the Great Qian Kingdom was one of the most powerful countries in this fictional world. It was said that Emperor Renzong, the current ruler, was very diligent and good at heeding advice, a benevolent sovereign indeed.

Luckily, she had crossed over into this peaceful era. Although there were occasional wars on the frontier, they would not spread here. However, her poor little father had been left there forever.

Once they got home, Qian Sigui had not yet returned. Qian Sangui, tired, went straight to his room to rest.

The two siblings gave some plain silk and embroidery thread to Qian Manting and two brushes and two ink sticks to Qian Manpo.

Qian Yixiu secretly entered Qian Sangui’s room and asked him for two big silver ingots as pocket money. Since selling these for so much money was thanks to her granddaughter and Monkey Brother’s efforts, and besides, the granddaughter was not a spendthrift. Not only did Qian Sangui give her the two silver ingots, but he also gave her a hundred-tael silver notes, which left Qian Yixiu thrilled.

Qian Sangui also wanted to give money to Qian Yeejin, but Yeejin shook his head and refused, saying he rarely dealt with money, and if he needed some, he’d ask Grandpa and Grandma.

Qian Yixiu then teased Qian Yeejin by saying, "Brother doesn’t like to deal with money, but Xiu’er does, so why aren’t you handing over the money for your sister to help you manage, huh?"

Not only did this amuse Qian Sangui, but Qian Yeejin also laughed.

Qian Yeejin then took a silver ingot from Qian Sangui and gave it to his sister for safekeeping. He didn’t understand why, now that the family wasn’t short of silver, his little sister’s smile was still as radiant as before. The little boy made a secret resolve to work hard to earn more silver and keep his sister happy.

The next day, Qian Sangui was still quite tired and continued to rest at home. He also forbade the two children from going out, saying they were too appealing and he was afraid people would take notice.

When Wan Dazhong said he was going to the Silver Tower to buy some items, Qian Yixiu asked him to help get four silver collars made for her monkey and three dogs, and she gave him the measurements along with a silver ingot. Thinking that silver was too soft and the big rascals at home were too mischievous, she asked for four silver-plated ones to be made for durability.

The room was stiflingly hot, so the four children went out into the courtyard. With the dense foliage of the big tree and a light breeze, it was rather comfortable. Accompanied by the sounds of neighbors quarreling, the pastry room being noisy, and cicadas chirping in the trees, Qian Yixiu and Qian Manting played shuttlecock while Qian Yeejin taught Qian Manpo to read and write. Qian Sigui was teaching Qian Hua his experience in managing the store.

Looking at the cramped courtyard, Qian Yixiu deeply missed her own big courtyard with a lake.

Seeing Lady Wong and Lady Wei coming out to wipe off sweat and take a breath, Qian Yixiu felt even more sympathy. Especially for the two twelve-year-old apprentices, who in her previous life would be in sixth grade at elementary school, yet here were working in such harsh conditions. Because they were apprentices, they were only symbolically paid sixty wen a month. Oppression! Exploitation!

She never thought she would become part of the exploiting class. She had spoken to Grandfather Sangui the previous day to see if they could increase the apprentices’ wages, but he shook his head, stating that this was the industry norm and that their family couldn’t go against it.

However, the Qian Sigui couple were relatively kind, preparing plenty of mung bean soup every day, and the midday meals were quite generous, always including meat. According to the little friend Qian Manpo, the two apprentices were big eaters, surely combining breakfast and lunch into one meal.