The Leisurely Life of a Peasant Woman in the Tang Dynasty

The moonlight, like water, streamed through the window lattice onto Tang Youyou's face, illuminating her complex expression. Wu Dehua's request was like a huge rock, stirring up waves in her tranquil heart. She knew that refusing the request of a powerful person required immense courage, and a single mistake could lead to disaster.

"Sir," Tang Youyou put down the teacup in her hand, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, "I appreciate your kindness. However, I'm new here and don't know much about the customs and practices of the capital. It would be inappropriate for me to rashly interfere in the affairs of the royal family."

Wu Dehua frowned slightly, obviously surprised by Tang Youyou's rejection. He had thought that a woman from a remote area would gladly accept such generous conditions.

"Mrs. Tang, you're worrying too much," Wu Dehua said, his smile subsiding. "There's no risk involved. I'll take care of everything. You just need to focus on the design and production."

"Sir," Tang Youyou took a deep breath and said firmly, "It's not that I don't know what's good for me, it's just that I have other ideas in my mind."

She paused, then continued, "I hope to use my design concepts to customize a series of gifts with Tang Dynasty cultural characteristics for your family. This would both honor the princess and showcase the cultural heritage of the Tang Dynasty. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

When Wu Dehua heard this, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, but then he regained his composure. He pondered for a moment, as if weighing Tang Youyou's proposal.

"Mrs. Tang is indeed very clever," Wu Dehua said, his lips curling up slightly in a smile of appreciation. "I agree with your proposal. I will do my best to help you open up sales channels in the capital."

Tang Youyou was delighted in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She understood that this was only the first step, and there were more difficult challenges waiting for her.

"Thank you for your support, sir." Tang Youyou stood up and saluted, "I will do my best to live up to your trust."

As the night deepened, Tang Youyou walked out of the mansion and looked up at the night sky. The sky was dotted with stars, but none of them were as dazzling as the twinkling stars in her heart.

"Mom, do we really have to cooperate with that adult?" Tang Wan walked to Tang Youyou and asked softly.

Tang Youyou looked down at her daughter, her eyes filled with determination, "Wan'er, we must not only cooperate, but also do better, so that the culture of the Tang Dynasty can resound throughout the capital!"

She gently held her daughter's hand, and the mother and daughter walked side by side, heading towards the unknown future...

Tang Youyou kept her promise and quickly formed a small team, including Tang Wan and Tang Jin. Tang Wan was meticulous and responsible for pattern design and customer communication; Tang Jin, although naughty, had a good business sense and was responsible for cost accounting and market research.

"Mom, do we really have to embroider those Tang Dynasty patterns on these strange fabrics?" Tang Wan was holding a rough local linen cloth and was a little doubtful.

"Of course not," Tang Youyou explained with a smile, "We need to learn the weaving methods of local craftsmen and incorporate Tang Dynasty patterns into them to create a unique fabric."

Tang Youyou took the children to visit many local artisans, humbly learning their skills and trying to combine Tang Dynasty silk weaving techniques with local materials. After repeated experiments, they finally succeeded in weaving traditional Tang Dynasty patterns such as peonies and auspicious clouds onto local linen and cotton cloth, creating a new fabric that not only retains the cultural characteristics of the Tang Dynasty but also conforms to local aesthetics.

"Mom, look, the phoenix on this cloth seems to be about to fly!" Tang Jin said excitedly, pointing at the newly woven cloth.

Tang Youyou looked at the children with satisfaction. Their eyes were filled with the joy of creation and anticipation for the future. She knew that this was just the beginning and there were infinite possibilities in the future.

With Wu Dehua's recommendation, Tang Youyou's work was showcased at a large local exhibition. The brightly colored fabrics, exquisite embroidery, and lifelike patterns immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"So beautiful! These patterns are unheard of, yet full of exotic charm!"

"This fabric feels comfortable and breathable, and it's much cheaper than silk. It's so practical!"

Suddenly, Tang Youyou's stall was crowded with people, and orders came in like snowflakes. Tang Wan and Tang Jin were busy recording orders and receiving customers, and they were overwhelmed.

"Mom, our goods are almost sold out!" Tang Jin ran to Tang Youyou and said excitedly, "A lot of merchants want to be distributors of our products. What should we do?"

Tang Youyou looked at the lively scene in front of her, a gratified smile on her face. She turned to look at Tang Wan and Tang Jin and asked, "What do you think?"

Tang Wan thought for a moment and said seriously, "Mom, I think we can select a few reputable and strong merchants to cooperate with and have them help us sell our products. This way we can free up more time and energy to focus on designing and developing new products."

"Sister, you're right!" Tang Jin added, "I met a few merchants from the Western Regions today. They said our fabric is perfect for making clothes and tents, and it's sure to be very popular over there! We can ask them to help sell our products even further afield!"

Tang Youyou looked at the two children with relief. They were no longer the children who only knew how to play. In this experience, they not only learned business knowledge, but also developed the ability to solve problems independently.

At this time, Tang Xiaoya ran over holding the hand of a local little girl. The little girl was wearing a head flower made of their newly developed fabric, and her face was filled with a happy smile.

"Mom, look, Maria and I have become good friends! I taught her to sing Tang Dynasty ballads, and she taught me to speak the local language. It's so much fun!"

Tang Youyou looked at her daughter's innocent smile, and her heart was filled with warmth. During her interaction with local children at the exhibition, Tang Xiaoya spread the culture of the Tang Dynasty and enhanced the friendship between the two places.

In the crowd, a figure watched all this silently. Wu Dehua looked at Tang Youyou and her children, his eyes full of admiration. He knew that Tang Youyou's success was not accidental, but came from her wisdom, diligence, and love of life. He walked up to Tang Youyou, with a bit of admiration in his tone:

"Madam Tang, your talent is admirable. I..."

"Madam Tang, your talent is truly admirable. I have a humble request." Wu Dehua's words were tinged with embarrassment. "Madam Tang, would you consider selling me all of this merchandise? I will definitely give you a satisfactory price."

Tang Youyou understood that Wu Dehua had seen the potential of this batch of goods and wanted to monopolize the market. However, she was well aware of the risks of putting all her eggs in one basket. Moreover, she was unwilling to give up other partners and the opportunity to open up a wider market.

"Master Wu, you are too kind," Tang Youyou smiled slightly, "but I have already promised several merchants who have come from afar to sell some of the goods to them. I believe that only fair competition can promote the prosperity of the market."

Translator Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead and translated Tang Youyou's words to Wu Dehua. Wu Dehua pondered for a moment, his eyes sweeping over Tang Wan, Tang Jin, and Tang Xiaoya, finally landing on Tang Youyou's determined face.

"Mrs. Tang is truly as capable as any man, with a long-term vision," Wu Dehua said with a hearty smile, dispelling the somewhat tense atmosphere. "I was inconsiderate. How about this? I'll buy half of your goods at the highest market price. Furthermore, I'll provide you with every convenience to help you promote your products to even greater destinations. How do you do that?"

Tang Youyou knew that this was the biggest concession Wu Dehua could make, which not only reflected his sincerity but also gave her ample room for choice. She gladly accepted the proposal, and the two sides reached a consensus in a peaceful atmosphere.

As night fell, the stars twinkled. Tang Youyou and her family sat in the yard, taking stock of the day's harvest. Tang Wan and Tang Jin excitedly discussed their future plans, while Tang Xiaoya snuggled up to Tang Youyou, recounting in her childish voice the fun of playing with her new friends today.

The sound of horse hooves approached from afar, breaking the tranquility of the courtyard. Tang Youyou looked up and saw two horses stopped outside the courtyard. The riders dismounted and walked straight towards her.

"Madam Tang, how are you?" The visitors were none other than the Ma Gang leader and Captain Zheng whom they had met at the exhibition. "We're here to discuss a big deal with you..."