I trade in both worlds

After he said this, Xu Jizong knew that this group of people would think that others were blocking their way when they saw others doing business honestly, unless they joined forces with them: "They don't look like good people, you'd better be careful."

"It's okay. We have a backer in our business. They don't dare to do anything to me." Xu Zishan smiled happily and said, "They are just pretending to scare away my customers."

Since he said it was okay, Xu Jizong was no longer worried and said directly: "I want to buy a cow, please help me pick a good one. Now let's find a place to settle your sister-in-law and Xuxu, and don't let them come here."

Xu Zishan nodded and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, there is a wonton seller in front of Xuxu. Their wontons are good. You go there and wait. We will come to you after we have selected the beef. It's just right that we can have lunch together at noon. We can't afford the expensive food, but wontons are absolutely fine."

They had agreed to go together, but now they were asked to wait outside. Second Aunt Xu was full of questions. She knew Xu Jizong must have his reasons for doing this, so she didn't ask any more questions and replied with a smile, "We'll treat you if you want. Thank you for troubling you today. Is the wonton stall the one on the corner?"

"Yes." Xu Zishan nodded.

Second Aunt Xu took the basket that Xu Jizong was carrying and said, "I understand. Xuxu and I will go buy some things first and wait at the wonton stand later."

Xu Jizong nodded and went into the mule and horse market with Xu Zishan.

Seeing them enter the mule and horse market, Xu Xu said to Second Aunt Xu: "Second Aunt, let's go to Jinxiu Pavilion. I want to ask if there is any embroidery work available."

Second Aunt Xu remembered that Xu Xu had mentioned before that she wanted to bring back some embroidery work, so she nodded and followed her to Jinxiu Pavilion.

As soon as she entered the embroidery room, she saw the shopkeeper Feng Jie checking the accounts at the counter. Xu Xu remembered that she first came here when she was 12 years old. Zhang Yunxiang brought her here. That was also the year she started taking jobs. She has been embroidering for 8 years.

Seeing that Sister Feng was busy with her work with her head down and didn't notice her, Xu Xu smiled and called out, "Sister Feng."

Hearing this, Sister Feng looked up and greeted with a smile: "Aunt Xu, Xuxu, you haven't been here for a long time. I thought you didn't take embroidery work anymore."

Aunt Xu nodded to Sister Feng, then turned around and went to find the shop assistant to buy some scraps of cloth to make shoes.

Xu Xu hadn't been here for more than two months. Time passed so quickly: "How could that be? I came here to find a job."

Hearing this, Sister Feng immediately said happily: "As long as you are willing to do it, there will definitely be work. Just yesterday there was an order for a double-sided embroidered screen with cats, and the cats on the front and back had to be different. When I received this order, I thought of you."

Before Xu Xu could say anything, Feng Jie asked anxiously, "How is it? Do you want to accept it? The reward is quite good. I can give you 35 taels, but you have to finish the embroidery within two months."

After calculating his own time, Xu Xu felt that he should be able to handle it, so he nodded and said, "Take it."

Hearing the answer she wanted, Fengjie hurriedly packed up all the fabrics and embroidery threads she would need and handed them to Xu Xu, as if she was afraid that she would go back on her word.

Xu Xu, who was forced to accept a burden, said with a smile: "I won't run away, why are you so anxious?"

Sister Feng also laughed, turned around and took out two boxes of snacks from under the cabinet and handed them to Xu Xu: "Xu Xu, someone gave me two boxes of snacks yesterday. One box is for you, and one box is for Aunt Xiang. If you come two days later, you won't have any snacks to eat."

Xu Xu took the two boxes of snacks and stared blankly at the boxes in his hands with a sad face. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Sister Feng.

"I heard someone say that Aunt Xiang was sick. Is she feeling better now?" Sister Feng didn't see Xu Xu's expression. She lowered her head and tidied up the scattered embroidery threads on the table. "Why didn't she come with you today?"

After she finished speaking, there was no reply for a long time. Fengjie looked up and saw Xu Xu with his head down, tears in his eyes and his lips trembling slightly. Suddenly, she seemed to understand something and felt a little sad.

Fengjie opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but her throat seemed to be sealed with a layer of membrane and no sound came out. She turned and looked at Aunt Xu, only to see her selecting scraps of cloth in the corner and chatting happily with the shop workers. She didn't notice them.

Sighing deeply, Fengjie walked forward, hugged Xu Xu, patted her back soothingly, and without saying anything, took her to the backyard and fetched water for her to wash.

After washing her face, Xu Xu smiled shyly and said, "Sister Feng, thank you for your help."

Sister Feng shook her head, thought for a moment and then asked, "Where is your brother? How are they arranged now?"

Xu Xu lowered her eyelids and forced a smile as she said, "I got divorced and took my children back to my parents' home. My two younger brothers live with me."

At the age of 20, she lost her parents, divorced and returned home, and had to raise 4 children. You can imagine how difficult it was. Looking at Xu Xu, Fengjie sighed softly, feeling pity for her. She wanted to help her, but she was powerless, except to help her get more high-priced embroidery jobs.

After a long silence, he wanted to comfort her, but it seemed pale and powerless to say anything: "I am not very capable, as long as you want to take on embroidery work, I can help you, just tell me if you need anything."

"Thank you, Sister Feng." Xu Xu whispered, "Let's go out."

When leaving Jinxiu Pavilion, Sister Feng also gave two pieces of defective cloth for the four children to make two sets of clothes. Xu Xu could not refuse and had to accept it.

Xu Xu looked at the two boxes of osmanthus cakes in his hand and handed one to Second Aunt Xu: "Second Aunt, this is given by Sister Feng. We each have one box."

Aunt Xu didn't bother to be polite with her and put the two boxes of snacks in the backpack. Xu Xu carried the materials for her embroidery work by herself, mainly because she was afraid of getting them dirty or scratched. After all, they were not her own things, and she would have to pay for them if they were damaged.

Seeing that it was still early, Xu Xu wanted to buy some cakes and snacks for the children first: "Second Aunt, I want to go to the cake shop to buy some long-lasting cakes, and then go to the grocery store to buy some red dates and peanuts and melon seeds."

"Why buy peanuts? We already have peanuts at home, so there's no need to buy more." Aunt Xu said, "Besides, new peanuts will be out soon. The ones we buy now are from last year."

Xu Xu smiled and said, "I want to buy some spiced peanuts. We'll make them ourselves when the new peanuts come in this year. I'm buying a small amount now to make snacks for the kids."

The remaining peanuts at home were all single-grained and not very nice-looking. They were fine for frying peanuts or making porridge, but not suitable for making roasted nuts. I reluctantly agreed, "Then buy less. The peanuts will be harvested soon."

They went to the pastry shop first. Xu Xu bought two kilograms of peach cakes, two kilograms of mung bean cakes, and two kilograms of rice flour cakes. Aunt Xu also bought one kilogram of mung bean cakes and two kilograms of rice flour cakes.