Chapter 40: Delicate Flower Chapter 44

Chapter 44 – Returning Home

 

Yu Tang was a very big-hearted person.

Otherwise, those years in Li family, she would have long been driven insane by Madam Lin’s unscrupulous ways.

Since she had made her decision, she wouldn’t think twice about it.

They would act accordingly as discussed.

Master Qian sent word that for the painting to be restored, and then to make a fake and produce 3 copies of the paintings, he may not be able to get everything ready in short time, and they would have to pay another thirty taels of silver for it.

Yu Wen made a prompt decision and quietly borrowed thirty taels of silver from second supervisor Tong, and promised to repay after they had returned to Lin’an. Fearing that second supervisor Tong would leak the news and make others suspect the purpose of their visit to Hangzhou, he fervently requested second supervisor Tong to keep it a secret, saying “I’m a scholar too, so it’s humiliating if people hear of this. Let’s keep this between us.”

In actuality, he was afraid that someone would suspect his purpose for visiting Hangzhou.

There were so many downtrodden scholars – even some court officials did not have much money in their hands. Second Supervisor Tong, who obviously had seen many of such individuals, just smiled and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about this.” Thereafter, Yu Wen wrote a promissory note, and kept it in the pawnshop’s safe. “Here in Hangzhou City, it’s secure, so you can rest assured!”

If Yu Wen didn’t trust the Pei family pawnshop, he wouldn’t have came to borrow silver.

He thanked second supervisor Tong gratefully before returning to the inn.

Yu Tang had nothing much to do in the inn, so she used the two days they had to make her Mother a head flower piece with interlinking begonias , and even made the innkeeper’s wife a pair of plum blossom head flowers pieces using red Zhang velvet.

The innkeeper’s wife was very happy to receive it and complimented her on skills, saying, “I haven’t seen such an exquisitely made one in years! Do you want to earn some money from this? If you are interested, I can help you ask the Cai family about the price of the flower head pieces that they sell in their stores. After you return to Lin’an, you can send your head flowers pieces to the Pei family pawnshop’s Big Supervisor Tong and get him to deliver it over, and I will help you sell them to the Cai family’s cosmetics store.”

The thought of making money through this had never crossed her min even in her two lifetimes, so she was a little uncertain and said, “Are the head flower pieces that I made really that good? Will people buy them? I don’t know how many head flower pieces I can make in a month, so I’m unable to give you an answer.”

The innkeeper lady smiled. “If you sincerely want to do this, first go back and think carefully, see how many you can do in a month and the cost. Once you have calculated the costs and formulated a plan, you can then reply me. I am always here anyway, so you can find me if you come.”

Yu Tang thanked her profusely, and used her remaining days in HangZhou to make seven or eight head pieces. It just so happened that Yu Yuan came back to change his clothes, so she called him over to help her calculate the cost.

After calculating the costs and profits, they got a shock.

Just these seven or eight head flower pieces, they only spent less than ten copper coins, so even if they sold for a minimum of thirty copper coins a piece, they would have already earned a sizable profit.

Yu Yuan thought about it and discussed with Yu Tang. “Do you think we should really go into this?”

It is possible for her to make a few head flower pieces occasionally to supplement the family’s income, but as a long-term business, Yu Tang had never thought about it. But if Yu Yuan wants to do it, she will support him.

“Then brother, you go to inquire about the market situation.” Yu Tang said.

Yu Yuan thought about it further, but finally sighed and said with a bitter smile, “Forget it! Father is determined to rebuild our family’s lacquerware store.”

Yu Tang had never strolled about in Hangzhou City previously as she had now, so she always felt that their family’s store was pretty good. Now that she visited Hangzhou, she felt that Lin’an was a bit small and understood why Yu Yuan was restless. However, this is a road that Yu Yuan has to walk himself, to feel, to decide, to earn it by his own abilities.

She smiled and changed the subject, asking about Master Qian. “You’ve been there the past few days, is it still going well?”

“Everything’s going smoothly!” Yu Yuan said, “Master Qian’s craftsmanship is unsurpassed.”

When he finally brought back the paintings, everyone examined it closely, but could not spot any difference from the originals. Yu Wen was in awe with Master Qian and wanted to deepen the friendship, but Master Qian directly refused. Yu Wen was very disappointed, but knew that such a thing could not be forced, so he packed his bags and prepared to go back to Lin’an.

Yu Tang asked Yu Yuan to accompany her to the street where they sold powders and headpieces and bought some materials and tools for crafting headpieces. As they prepared to depart to Lin’an, Yu Wen took them to thank Pei Yan.

However, both Pei Yan and First ranked imperial scholar Zhou had already left for Huai’an.

According to second supervisor Tong, the nephew of First ranked imperial scholar Zhou’s was transferred to the Huai’an prefecture, and so he dragged Pei Yan over to join him.

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Yu Wen was green with envy, saying. “Study ten thousand books and it will open ten thousand paths. I wonder when will I be able to experience this.”

Travelling by boat or on horseback carried an element of danger, and so Yu Tang did not want Yu Wen to travel too far away.

She said straightforwardly, “That’s because the Pei family’s third master and First ranked imperial scholar Zhou have acquaintances whom they know. You’ll be better off staying at home with Mother and I!”

Yu Wen laughed heartily as he stroked his daughter’s soft hair and chuckled, “Don’t worry, I’m only feeling envious, I’m ok with leaving you and your mother to travel out for three or four days, but definitely not for longer.”

Yu Tang smiled.

They thanked the innkeeper and his wife and boarded the boat at a small pier not far from the Pei’s pawnshop.

The trip was smooth-sailing, and it took four hours before the pier was already in sight.

The Pei family pawnshop’s big storefront signs were still swaying in the wind, and the pier was still as lively as usual.

Yu Tang, however, felt as if she had been gone for a year and a half, even feeling nostalgic about the hustle and bustle of the pier.

She jumped off the boat.

Big supervisor Tong shouted at her from afar. “Slow down, slow down! Be careful, lest you fall into the water.”

Yu Tang smiled cheekily and went forward to greet Big supervisor Tong.

Big Supervisor Tong welcomed her with a smile and greeted Yu Wen. “My younger brother said that you would be back today. I was only just wondering why haven’t you arrived, but I didn’t expect you to have arrived. How was your trip to Hangzhou?”

“Pretty good!” Yu Wen and Big Supervisor Tong, stood side by side, as they walked forward he thanked him, “If it weren’t for your brother, my daughter would have suffered.” He told Big Supervisor Tong about the physician.

Yu Tang said exasperatedly, “Father, it’s fine for you to talk about this to Big Supervisor Tong, however, you can’t speak a word of it to others.”

Yu Wen and Big Supervisor Tong were startled, and then laughed out loud and remarked, “The little lady is shy. We definitely won’t say it in the future.”

Big Supervisor Tong invited Yu Wen to the store to drink tea and rest awhile.

However, Yu Wen thought of Madam Chen waiting at home and politely declined.

Yu Tang, gave a few of the head flower pieces she made to the women of the Tong family.

Mrs. Tong and Little Mrs. Tong liked them very much. After hearing that Yu Tang made them herself, they took out handkerchiefs or embroidered socks as gifts in return and urged Yu Tang to come over with Madam Chen when she was free.

Yu Tang smilingly agreed.

When she returned home, she generously began to give out her own handmade gifts.

Madam Chen, Old Aunty Chen, Shuang Tao, Ma Xiuniang, and Mrs. Ma …… she even sent one to the women of Master Wu’s family next door.

Everyone praised Yu Tang’s skills, but Madam Chen asked Yu Tang skeptically, “Did you really make this? Didn’t you buy it?”

Yu Tang then made one for Madam Chen on the spot.

Madam Chen was very surprised as she hugged Yutang and laughed, “Dear child, I didn’t expect you to have such talent. When did you learn it? How come I didn’t know of this?”

Yu Tang did not reveal it to Madam Chen.

In the evening, when Madam Chen and Yu Wen were conversing, she blamed herself and said, “Although I am sick and don’t have the energy to take care of Ah-tang in everything, I am still too negligent, I didn’t even know she could make head flower pieces.”

Yuwen’s mind was still on the paintings, and so he only made a few non-committal remarks, “Let’s sleep. Don’t worry. Ah tang is a decisive person and can definitely support our family in future. Perhaps, we’ll be the ones to enjoy the results of her hard work instead.”

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