Chapter 71: In order to personally deliver my wife, I even took the job of a servant

In the end, Liu Yu chose sixteen pieces of fabric. The sixteen pieces were neatly arranged on the counter, looking quite impressive.

Since the fabrics were selected in the order of the counter, the last group happened to be on the section usually managed by Lu Chengzhang. The assistant then stacked those fabrics on Lu Chengzhang’s section of the counter.

With everything chosen, Liu Yu said to Lu Xun, “Uncle Lu, we’ll take these for now.”

Lu Xun laughed heartily. “Alright, I’ll settle the bill for you.”

He casually picked up an abacus from the counter. Considering that Liu Yu would use these fabrics to make clothes for sale, and that it wouldn’t be practical to buy just a little, as there were over a dozen types of fabric, Liu Yu might find it difficult to remember the price of each one. Lu Xun then called out to Lu Chengxiao, “You go and write a list of the items for Yu’er, so she can have it as a reference when she returns.”

Having spent a long time in the shop, Lu Chengxiao was already familiar with the prices. He agreed and went to the back hall to fetch pen and ink to write the list.

Meanwhile, Lu Xun’s fingers flew over the abacus, making clacking sounds. After a while, he glanced at the two customers in the distance, lowered his voice, and reported the total, “Fifteen taels and one qian, let’s round it down to fifteen taels even.”

Lu Chengzhang’s expression froze for a moment, and he looked at Lu Xun in surprise.

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Gwdv Elk pyke vblu bye nsxl cu xwzl nyav, ps vblu nswze cl zsyele sdvs vbl nyav.

Nw Ubldtgbydt nyzzle vbl yppkpvydv shla vs blzr okvb vbl zsyekdt, yde vbl Nkw qyxkzu yzps zldv y byde. Gqvla vblu qkdkpble, sdzu qyvbla yde psd olal zlqv cu Nw Ubldtgbydt’p plnvksd sq vbl nswdvla. Nw Ubldtgbydt vwadle vs bkp qyvbla yde pyke, “Pye, obyv ycswv vbl raknl usw tyhl?”

Nw Dwd vwadle bkp blye vs zssj yv Nw Ubldtgbydt, pvkzz pxkzkdt, cwv bkp lmralppksd xyel Nw Ubldtgbydt wdyczl vs nsdvkdwl.

“Go on,” Lu Xun said.

Lu Chengzhang could already see that his father had some dissatisfaction with him. He lowered his head and mumbled, “It’s nothing.”

Lu Xun stared at Lu Chengzhang for a while before saying in a low voice, “We’re in the business of dealing with money, but if all you see is money, then it’s truly pitiful. Think about it yourself.”

With just these words, Lu Xun left the counter and went to the backyard.

In the backyard, he saw the Liu family loading the fabric onto the cart and called Mrs. Zhou to bring some hot tea again.

Aunt Wei hurriedly declined, “Mr. Lu, please don’t trouble yourself. We’ve bothered you enough already, and you must be busy with your business. We should be leaving now.”

Despite her repeated refusals, Lu Xun didn’t insist. He simply stood by the carriage and suggested to Aunt Wei and Liu Yu, “I can see that Yu’er has good taste and skills. If you can continue with consignment, consider doing it for a while longer. By saving more capital, you can consider opening an embroidery shop directly in the county instead of just in the town.”

Having seen today’s income of ten taels of silver, Liu Yu had already had this idea in mind. It seemed that accumulating capital might not be as difficult as she had thought. Now, hearing Lu Xun’s suggestion, she couldn’t help but look at Aunt Wei.

Aunt Wei was also moved. If they could open directly in the county, even if it took a couple more seasons, it would still be profitable. Shops in the county and those in the town were completely different. She said, “That’s feasible. I’ll ask my eldest son to inquire about it. If there are shops available for rent on a quarterly basis, we’ll take the risk.”

Lu Xun smiled, “That’s the idea. The hardest thing to find in this county is a good shopfront. If there really is a shop, regardless of anything else, secure the shop first. As for the money for stocking up, if it’s not enough later, you can borrow from me for a while. Start with a small amount of goods first. Once you’ve set up shop, everything else will be easier.”

Regardless of whether they accepted this assistance, Aunt Wei accepted it with thanks.

On the other side, Lu Chengxiao finished writing the list after waiting for a while for the ink to dry. Hearing that the Liu family seemed about to leave, he hurriedly took the list and handed it to Liu Yu, whispering, “The prices listed are the market prices. My father calculated them for you, and it should be at fifty-five percent of the market price, which is the cost price for us.”

Fifty-five percent was the rate that Lu Chengxiao and Lu Xun had agreed upon earlier. It was essentially the purchase price of the Lu family plus the shipping cost, forming a cost price.

Liu Yu hurriedly thanked him in a low voice and took the list. She noticed that Lu Chengxiao’s handwriting was excellent, but unfortunately, she was currently illiterate. She couldn’t praise him, so she just folded it neatly and put it in her pocket.

Lu Chengxiao knew she was about to leave, and he felt somewhat reluctant. However, with the elders around, he couldn’t say much. He just asked Liu Yu in a low voice, “Have you been busy with needlework every day at home during this time?”

Liu Yu understood his meaning and smiled, “Not too much. I’ve been doing it together with Aunt Wei, so it’s not very tiring.”

How could it not be tiring? Lu Chengxiao thought for a moment and suggested, “You can handle the cutting and embroidery part, and for the sewing part, ask Aunt Wei to see if there are any good seamstresses in the village. Hire one or two to help at home, pay them some wages. This way, you can save a lot of effort and produce more clothes during the busy season. Overall, you might even earn more.”

Liu Yu’s eyes brightened. Indeed, relying on just herself and Aunt Wei, they could only produce seven sets of clothes in half a month. Now, with the shop owned by Sister Cui, there was only the one set she had sent over today. If she waited another seven or eight days before sending over a few more, it would waste too much time for selling the goods.

“Your idea is good. I’ll discuss it with Aunt Wei when I go back today.”

Lu Chengxiao loved seeing Liu Yu in her current state, with bright, shining eyes and a radiant expression.

He had never realized she enjoyed doing business so much. With a smile in his eyes, he restrained the inexplicable urge to touch her eyebrows and eyes in this moment.

Aunt Wei and Lu Xun watched from the side, both with smiles on their faces. Lu Xun really wanted to ask if it was possible to have a matchmaker visit the Liu family in August to propose marriage for their silly son. However, after some consideration, he resisted the urge. There were still three months left; he could have Chen Shi go and propose in July. It was better to let that foolish boy be anxious. Looking back on this process in the future, it should be quite beautiful.

Over at the Liu family’s carriage, the last piece of fabric had also been neatly arranged. Liu Yanping jumped down from the cart and said to Aunt Wei, “Mother, everything’s ready.”

As Wei Shi was leaving, Lu Chengxiao also escorted Liu Yu over. He hurried to help Aunt Wei and Liu Yu put up the curtains, but when he looked into the carriage, he realized that there was too much fabric stacked inside. If people were to sit in it, it would be too crowded. So, he lowered the curtain and said, “No, there’s too much fabric piled up. It’ll be too cramped if anyone tries to sit inside. Let me drive you back.”

Aunt Wei quickly lifted the curtain to take a look. In fact, they could still fit, but someone would have to sit by the door. She hastily declined, saying, “It’s too much trouble for you. We’ll manage on our own.”

Lu Chengxiao didn’t listen to her. “It’s not a bother, and I don’t have anything else to do. Just wait here. I’ll go hitch up the cart.”

Without even calling for the groom, he went to hitch up the mule cart himself.

With just a few words from father and son, it was decided. Zhou Qiongying watched dumbfoundedly from a distance. Today, she finally saw how Lu Chengxiao doted on Liu Yu. A young man dressed in fine clothes and mounted on an angry steed, besides farming, could also drive a cart like a carter.

After the cart left, Zhou Qiongying suddenly remembered that Babao was next door in the warehouse organizing goods.

Was it because he wanted to personally see them off that he even snatched the servant’s job?

Lu Chengxiao drove the cart all the way to the Liu family’s place. When he arrived, he accepted a cup of tea offered by Liu Yu and was even approached by the brown rabbit she raised, which wasn’t afraid of strangers at all. He felt extremely happy.

If it weren’t for the fact that Aunt Wei might trouble him to stay for dinner, he would definitely linger longer at the Liu family’s place, even if it was just to chat with Liu Yanping. Being in two adjacent courtyards with Liu Yu felt exceptionally fulfilling.

However, when he looked at the time, he could only take a sip of tea and take his leave.

Seeing that he was about to leave as soon as he arrived, Aunt Wei naturally tried to persuade him to stay. However, Lu Chengxiao thought of how every time he came, Aunt Wei and Liu Yu would be busy in the kitchen for over an hour, so he shook his head decisively, bid Liu Yu farewell, and left in a hurry.

After seeing him off, Aunt Wei jokingly said to Liu Yu, “Looks like your aunt can’t keep you here for long.”

Liu Yu laughed and replied, “Of course not. Before the shop is properly managed, I’ll have to rely on Aunt Wei. But I promised to help my three brothers find wives first.”

Liu Yanping teased with folded arms, “Is it for your dowry?”

Aunt Wei chuckled but then asked Liu Yu seriously, “Did you notice anything at the Lu family’s shop today?”

Liu Yu raised an eyebrow. “Are you talking about Lu Erlang¹second brother Lu?”

Aunt Wei nodded.

Liu Yu smiled and said, “People come in all varieties. Lu Chengxiao is good, his parents are good, and that’s all that matters. As for others, as long as they seem decent on the surface, it’s fine. I don’t think it matters much.”

Aunt Wei patted her hand and said, “As long as you understand. When you go to the Lu family’s shop again in the future, do it the same way as today, at least ten pieces at a time. That way, it’ll save us from gossip.”

As for whether Lu Erlang would feel uncomfortable with getting more than ten pieces at once, neither Wei Shi nor Liu Yu cared. It was better to ignore such matters.

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