CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 71: RECEIVED AN EMBROIDERY JOB

To check on the rouge and face powder situation, Chun Nuan specifically took some time to stroll around town.

Upon reaching the entrance of the embroidery workshop, Chun Nuan saw Chun Ning actually chatting with the shopkeeper’s wife.

Chun Nuan walked in casually, didn’t join them, and just listened silently from the side.

"Young man, has your family moved? Where did you move to? You don’t know, I went back to my hometown specifically a few days ago, intending to visit your family, but no one was there."

"Indeed, we moved. Not sure what Manager Lin is looking for me about?"

"Of course, I’m looking for you for something. Look at you, why so cautious? I’m not going to eat you."

Chun Nuan almost choked when she heard this.

How could you eat someone so small?

Would you even want to?

"Didn’t you say last time that your family can do embroidery? Let me tell you, I received a large order, which requires the embroidery style of your family. Will you accept this job?"

"Manager Lin, I’m not very knowledgeable. You mentioned a large order, but I’m afraid my family might not be able to handle it." Chun Ning thought for a moment, "How about this, you tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll go back and discuss it with my family, then give you an answer tomorrow?"

"That works too. I took on the job of embroidering a dowry for the county magistrate’s daughter. It’s a big job and requires excellent embroidery skills. Otherwise, not only might you not get paid, but you might also end up in jail."

"And yet you still want to help her embroider?" Chun Ning didn’t quite understand, "Isn’t it true that girls embroider their own dowries?"

When they were in the capital, mother frequently reminded the elder sister, saying she was already fifteen and should start embroidering her dowry. The elder sister always said she couldn’t embroider and that it was best to have the embroiders help.

As expected, the elder sister got a good scolding.

The most common criticism was: "You’re not good at needlework nor are you learning, only fiddling around in grandfather’s pharmacy. When you marry, no one will allow you to fiddle around."

In the end, the elder sister said: "If they don’t allow it, I won’t marry them. Best to ask the Zhaang family first if they mind me not knowing needlework. If they do mind, let’s just break the engagement early."

Unexpectedly, the elder sister’s words came true.

She really broke off the engagement with the Zhaang family.

"How many wealthy young ladies can endure the hardship of embroidery? The needles pricking the fingers hurt, so their dowries are all embroidered at embroidery workshops. In the end, they symbolically stitch a few stitches themselves."

Chun Ning understood. It turns out elder sister wasn’t the only one who didn’t know needlework.

"Young man, hurry back and ask. We really need to take this job, otherwise, I’ll have to seek embroiders elsewhere."

It truly is worrying; worry when there’s no business, and worry again when you fear not doing well once a business is accepted.

Opportunities and risks co-exist.

"How is the wage for the embroidery work calculated?"

Chun Ning was no longer the naive young boy of the past. His first thought was about earning money.

Chun Nuan, listening from the side, thought to herself: The potential for business is starting to show.

"You won’t be at a loss." Lady Lin was also straightforward: "Honestly speaking, embroidering this wedding dress pays two taels of silver. As long as your family accepts it, we’ll split it evenly, one tael for each of us."

Chun Ning began doing mental calculations.

No wonder everyone says money in business is easy to earn. The truth of Mrs. Lin’s words regarding two taels is debatable, but it’s certain that her one tael was effortlessly gained.

She receives the job from the county magistrate’s residence, passes it on to her family to complete, and then returns it to the magistrate’s residence. A single transaction, and she’s pocketed one tael of silver.

Meanwhile, his family has to work several days tirelessly, only to receive one tael in the end.

Chun Ning went back and asked, and the members of the Xiao family all said to take it.

For the Xiao family now, one tael of silver is still money.

"I can help with the embroidery too." Zhu Lingling said, "I just happen to have nothing to do right now.

"Lingling, you just came out of confinement, you can’t do too much needlework, it’ll really strain your eyes."

Mrs. Xu quickly said: "It’s just one wedding dress, your second and third aunts and I can handle it completely."

Back then, their wedding dresses were embroidered by themselves, stitch by stitch.

Thinking of the glory when marrying into the Xiao family, and then thinking of her husband who is now incommunicado in the Northern Desert, Mrs. Xu felt somewhat heartbroken.

Chun Ning accepted Lady Lin’s business.

The Xiao family members picked up needles and thread, beginning to work on the wedding dress.

"We finally have a chance to earn some money. All this time, we’ve relied on Chun Nuan, and we couldn’t even share her burden a little." Mrs. Xu said with emotion, "Earning even a tael of silver is still money."

In the past, when she managed the household finances in the Xiao Mansion, she would reward silver taels to servants who did well.

Thinking about today’s living though, Mrs. Xu felt distressed, truly not better than the servants back then.

Chun Nuan watched the entire process of Chun Ning handling this business and felt assured that he was finally forced to grow up.

Then she came to another alley entrance and ran into Uncle Luo.

"Chun Nuan, what are you doing here?"

Uncle Luo immediately regretted his words; since she moved her entire family to town, why wouldn’t she be here?

"Uncle Luo, I’m just wandering around. How about you, what are you up to?"

"Speaking of which, I haven’t had a chance to thank you." Uncle Luo said, "If you hadn’t come to stop me from going to the pier to pull cargo in the river that day, I might have been long gone by now."

It’s true, it was a close call. He was terrified, not just a little, but frequently startled awake by dreams of being swept away by floods.

"I heard about the dock workers." Chun Nuan said, "I didn’t do much. Uncle Luo, blessed people naturally have their blessings. Your life holds a fortunate destiny."

"Chun Nuan, your Aunt Luo said you have a way with words. You really do; it warms my heart."

He suddenly felt he truly was blessed.

"I’m just stating the facts."

"Oh, by the way, Chun Nuan, I forgot to tell you something."

"What’s that?"

Chun Nuan looked puzzled at Uncle Luo.

"That medicine wine matter..."

Then, Uncle Luo told how he had applied the medicinal wine on those dock workers.

"I told them to apply it for three days, and if there’s no improvement, so be it. But if there is, they should pay ten coins."

The medicinal wine was still with him, and he actually came up with such a method, which was great.

"You don’t know, I’ve become famous on the docks; many are aware I have excellent medicinal wine and are eager to make friends with me. I’m so busy." Uncle Luo said, "Chun Nuan, soak more of that medicinal wine. Soon, you can definitely sell it."

"All right, Uncle Luo, I know. I’ll brew two more jin of wine right away."

"Chun Nuan, you don’t know, they even call me Doctor Luo now. I’m not some Doctor Luo, it’s just your medicinal wine works wonders. I have an old buddy, surnamed Chen, who couldn’t walk. I applied it for him for three days, and now he can get up and about; he’s so happy."