Chapter 87: Moving House
This batch of goods took seven days, and under everyone’s efforts, it was finally completed.
In these seven days, Zhang Pandi and her daughter gradually ‘recovered’ under Jiang Jing’s treatment.
Villagers marveled endlessly at Jiang Jing’s medical skill. Of course, some were still half-believing and half-doubting, and came to Jiang Jing to see a doctor with various excuses.
Su Yaoguang directly hung up a sign at the doorway and told the villagers that seeing a doctor was fine, but Jiang Jing, as a female doctor, would charge a consultation fee; she wasn’t there to play house with everyone.
The group who originally came to tease Jiang Jing was unhappy, of course, and wouldn’t spend that ‘wronged money’.
Of course, some people really wanted to see a doctor. However, they still didn’t trust Jiang Jing’s strength, so they hesitated to be the first patient. Until Su Yaoguang announced that the first ten patients only needed ten copper coins for the consultation fee, medicine money calculated separately. If they weren’t willing to have them prepare the medicine, they could grab it themselves at the clinic. Under such temptation, finally the first patient came to see a doctor.
“There’s no problem with your body. You’ve been married to your husband for five years without children, and it might not necessarily be your problem. If you have time, you can bring your husband to see a doctor.”
Hearing Jiang Jing say this, that woman’s face changed drastically. She stood up to leave: “You really are a quack doctor. I actually hoped you could cure my infertility. I won’t come again.”
That woman ran out as if there was a ghost chasing her from behind.
Jia Chunni walked in carrying a basket, angrily saying: “Does that woman have a problem? Even if I don’t understand medical skill, I know having children is a matter for two people. Her body is healthy, which means the problem is with her man. Why doesn’t she want to bring her man to try?”
“She certainly knows, but she doesn’t dare make such a request. From that woman’s expression, it’s clear her man must be an extremely domineering person. If she told such a domineering man that there’s a problem with his body and that’s why they can’t have children, that woman would suffer a lot. Forget it, anyway, everything that needed to be said has been said; I can’t help with anything else.” Jiang Jing said nonchalantly. “Hasn’t Yaoguang returned from delivering the goods yet?”
“She’s back.” Zhang Yingdi shouted from the courtyard, “Yaoguang is back.”
Jiang Jing and Jia Chunni walked out the door and saw Su Yaoguang driving the ox cart into the courtyard.
Zhang Yingdi took the ox rope from Su Yaoguang’s hand and tied the ox rope to the tree stump.
Jia Chunni and Jiang Jing came over to move things.
They were about to move to the city soon, and hadn’t bought many things in daily life, only some daily ingredients. Once the shop in the city was almost ready, they would move to the city to open the shop.
Su Yaoguang got off the ox cart and said to Zhang Yingdi: “Everything went smoothly, and the payment for the goods was received.”
“That’s great.”
At dinner, Su Yaoguang suggested letting Jia Chunni and her daughter go to the city first. When she went to deliver goods today, she received another order from the dance hall. This time the quantity wasn’t large, and it was all scattered pieces. She planned to finish this batch of goods before going to the city; by then it would be time to prepare to open the shop.
The next day, Jiang Jing sent Jia Chunni and her daughter to the city, settled them down, and then returned.
A few days later, after this batch of goods was completed, Su Yaoguang told Aunt Li, and then the whole family moved into the city. When they moved away, the villagers were still sighing that their family had gotten rich.
“Didn’t Su Yaoguang say before that it was small business that didn’t earn much money? If it really didn’t earn money, how could they move to the city to do business so quickly? Look at Zhong Lanhua and Jiang Yihuan, that mother-daughter pair. They do embroidery business, and it’s said their embroidery work is very good and sells at not cheap prices, so why haven’t they moved to the city?”
“Now it seems Su Yaoguang and her daughter are more capable. Zhong Lanhua and Jiang Yihuan, that mother-daughter pair, look glamorous, but they’re probably just showy, all looks no substance.”
Zhong Lanhua put her hands on her hips, about to rush over to argue with those gossips, but was stopped by Jiang Yihuan.
“Why are you stopping me? I have to go tear their mouths apart. No matter what, it’s not their place to talk. They’re so great; I’m afraid they’ve never even seen silver.”
“Mom, what’s the use of arguing with them? What they say isn’t wrong. Su Yaoguang and the others went to the city, while we mother and daughter have done needlework for so many years without earning much money. No, the money we earned before was all spent on brother for his studies; we ourselves only bought some nice clothes, and even the house is still the one left by dad. Isn’t it all looks no substance!”
“That was before when your brother had high study expenses. It’s different now; he studies without paying tuition fees, which saves a lot of money! We mother and daughter continue with embroidery, and we’ll definitely earn big money.”
“Mom, let’s open a shop too!” Jiang Yihuan said, fiddling with the loose hair by her ear. “Yesterday when I went to the city, I went to find brother. Although I didn’t see brother, I saw Xiao Ci. Xiao Ci’s paintings sell well; he has some money saved. I’ll go get it from him, and we can open a shop in the city too. Mom, you’ve been strong for decades; you don’t want to be outdone by Zhang Zhaodi and her daughter, right?”
A gleam flashed in Zhong Lanhua’s eyes: “Xiao Ci was just a servant we bought with money. Later, we heard he was good at studies and made a deal with the academy. After all, waiving five or six years of tuition fees is worth far more than what we paid for him; we only earn without loss. Now hearing you say this, does this person have other uses? Then should I show favor to him and make him work for us?”
“To make him work for us, I can show favor; Mom should still be harsh to him like before. Look at the people in plays: one plays the bad cop, one plays the good cop, that’s how you win hearts!”
“You mean I should continue to be harsh to him, and be harsh to you when he can see, to make him feel pity for you, and then develop feelings of shared suffering with you?”
“Don’t all men fall for that?” Jiang Yihuan said with a sly smile. “The more pitiful and fragile I am, the more they want to protect me and take care of me. That Xiao Ci is good-looking and just a foolish man.”
“When it comes to dealing with men, Mom is no match for you. Looks like I’ll enjoy good fortune from my daughter in the future.” Zhong Lanhua said proudly.
“Tomorrow I’ll go to the city to find Xiao Ci. Even if he can’t come up with the money right away, I want him to figure out a way to earn it for me.” Jiang Yihuan said.
While Jiang Yihuan and her mother were discussing how to scheme for people’s hearts, a figure left from outside the fence courtyard. That person entered the courtyard opposite, dejected, as if having suffered a blow.
“Dachun, did you go fetch water and chop wood for that mother-daughter pair again? Are you cheap, rushing to be their servant?” Dachun’s mom angrily said.
“Mom, didn’t you say before you’d find a matchmaker to arrange a meeting with a young lady for me?” Zhang Dachun asked. “I’m willing to meet; you arrange it!”
Dachun’s mom was delighted: “You’ve finally come to your senses? Thank heavens, you silly boy finally grew a brain. Then Mom will go find the matchmaker to talk about this matter right away, settle the marriage engagement early to avoid complications.”
