The Legend of the Farm Girl

Huang, the shopkeeper, said to Yun Fangniang, "If I may recommend something to you, I know of a family that will be renting out a house next spring. That house is in the north of the city, and it was rented by an embroiderer and her family. The embroiderer will also come to deliver goods to me. She has told me about her family's situation. The family has saved some money in the past few years and is going to buy a house in the south of the city. There is a school in the south of the city, and the embroiderer will send her son to school next spring."

"Next spring, huh? That's perfect. I was planning to move here next spring. I'll have to trouble Shopkeeper Huang to help me make some connections."

"No problem, it's just a matter of words. When the embroiderer comes over next time, I'll tell her the time of your next visit, and then you can talk to her in detail."

"Okay, okay, Shopkeeper Huang, thank you so much for troubling you."

At this time, the delivery boy came back and said to Shopkeeper Huang, "Shopkeeper Huang, the boss said that you have made great contributions this time and will be promoted to second-class shopkeeper. The embroidery sent by Madam Yun is ingenious, so I will reward you with three taels of silver."

Shopkeeper Huang looked very excited. Although Yun Fangniang didn't know what a second-class shopkeeper was, she felt that it must be more powerful than three taels of silver. Didn't she see that Shopkeeper Huang was so excited!

Shopkeeper Huang looked at Yun Fangniang next to him, took out three taels of silver and handed it to her, smiling and saying to her: "Take this money, and then I will give you another eighty handkerchiefs, you can take them home to embroider. This time, you don't have to worry about the pattern, but it must be as distinctive as chrysanthemums. Send it to me as soon as possible this time, and after the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, when the county magistrate's wife has given away these handkerchiefs, I believe the handkerchiefs you embroider will cause a sensation."

Yun Fang Niang nodded and said, "Okay, I'll do it as soon as possible. I'll come again on September 15th, but I'll also trouble Manager Huang to talk to the embroiderer about the house."

After taking the money and embroidery, Yunfang's mother decided to rent a car to return to the village. Otherwise, it would be too late to walk home and Yunfang and the others would be worried. Besides, it would not be safe for her to carry so many things and money.

She asked Huang the shopkeeper about how to rent a car to go back to the village. It cost her 15 cents to rent a car, and Yun Fangniang returned home in an hour. Yun Fangniang also agreed with the driver to pick her up at Yun Fang's house on September 15th, and he would still pay her 15 cents for each trip. It was almost evening when she returned home.

On this day, Yunfang fed Yunying with rice soup, but when Yunying saw her mother, she still cried out of grievance.

Yunfang's mother told Yunfang everything that happened in the county town today, and Yunfang was very happy. The house was finally ready, and she made more money than she had imagined. This was the power of learning.

Yunfang's mother brought back eighty handkerchiefs. If she wanted to finish them by September 15th, she would have to embroider at least four every day. In addition to chrysanthemums, the thing Yunfang practiced the most and best in every day in the system was orchids. This time, Yunfang also planned to focus on embroidering orchids, and also embroider some chrysanthemums.

The rattan used to make rattan baskets on the mountain is no longer usable. Yunfang's mother stays by Yunfang's side every day, helping her with some simple work and matching the colors of her thread. Apart from embroidery, she doesn't let Yunfang do any housework.

In this way, eighty handkerchiefs were finally embroidered on September 14th. Most of these eighty handkerchiefs were of various orchids. Although there were many orchids, they were all different. The petals of the orchids were embroidered as silky, delicate and rich in layers, as if you could smell the fragrance of the flowers.

When Yunfang's mother saw these finished products, she felt that this time's harvest couldn't be bad. She discussed with Yunfang: "Fang'er, tomorrow I will take a car back and forth, which will be much faster than last time. The hired car will also be convenient for shopping. If you have anything you want to buy, I will bring it back."

Yunfang thought for a moment and said to his mother, "Mom, buy a piece of fine cloth for Xiaofeng and Xiaoying to make inner clothes. I'll learn how to cut it in the system when I get back. Then, mom, think about what else we need in winter. If we need to buy it in the city, buy it and bring it back!"

"Okay, let me think about it. We can buy the charcoal and food needed for winter in the village. We can buy food after the autumn harvest. We can buy it from your aunt Wang's family. As for charcoal, we need to order it from Lao Zhao's family at the head of the village. They will deliver it to us after it is cooked. These will cost about two taels of silver. We are running out of eggs at home. We need to give eggs to you and Feng'er. In winter, Ying'er can also eat some eggs. Eggs can also be bought in the village, but not many. Eggs in the city are more expensive. I can wait until the big market to go to the countryside to have a look. It is said that salt and sugar are cheap in the city. I will go and have a look. If they are really cheap, I will buy some. The most important thing is to settle the house issue and save the rent money." Yunfang's mother chattered to Yunfang about the things she was thinking about.

Yunfang likes to hear her mother say these things. She thinks her mother is particularly energetic the way she arranges her life.

On the 15th day of September, the hired car arrived at the Yun family's door early. After feeding her youngest son, Yun Fang's mother set off with her embroidery.

After arriving at Shanhai Embroidery Workshop, Huang, who was about the same age as Yun Fangniang, stood next to her. After looking at the embroidery Yun Fangniang brought, Huang gave Yun Fangniang two taels and four cents of silver. Then Huang said to Yun Fangniang, "This is Madam Liu, a famous embroiderer in our Shanhai Embroidery Workshop. She bought a house in the south of the city and will move there in the spring. I have already told her about your renting of a house, and she agreed to take you to the landlord to discuss it. When you finish your house business, come back and I will assign you some work."

Yun Fangniang was very surprised: "Thank you, Manager Huang, and thank you, Madam Liu."

Madam Liu stepped forward, took Yun Fangniang's arm and said, "Why are you thanking me? We are all embroiderers. I understand that it's not easy for you to just come to the city. Shopkeeper Huang also told me that your embroidery is unique and has many patterns. I just saw that the orchid embroidery is really lively. I will definitely have to go to you to learn from you in the future!"

Yunfang's mother felt a little embarrassed. She had not clarified before that these handkerchiefs were embroidered by her daughter Yunfang because she was afraid that Manager Huang would know that Yunfang was young and would not trust her. Now they were going to move to the city, and her daughter would have to deal with the people at Shanhai Embroidery Workshop on her own. It was time to tell them the truth.

"In fact, these handkerchiefs were embroidered by my seven-year-old daughter. Look at my hands, I can't embroider such handkerchiefs."

Shopkeeper Huang and Madam Liu were a little surprised, but they didn't want to ask who taught them. Shopkeeper Huang said to Yun Fangniang, "I really didn't expect that your daughter has such great embroidery skills at such a young age. She will be even more amazing when she grows up. Madam Yun is so lucky. You guys should go quickly. Madam Liu just told me that she has made an appointment with the landlord. Don't keep him waiting. Come back after the house issue is settled."

"Okay, okay, we'll go right away." Mrs. Liu replied with a smile.