Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Father Wanted to Help
"Hmm… I usually buy them from Wang's Grocery Store. His straw sandals were worth five copper coins. The market fair occasionally sells straw sandals for about four to five copper coins a pair."
"Take your Second Brother and me. We typically wear out at least one pair of straw sandals a month. In the future, if you sell them here, your Second Brother and I will buy them directly from you!"
Qin Xiaoyao immediately refused.
"Big Brother, what are you saying? It doesn't take much effort to make these straw shoes. I'll just send them to you and Second Brother regularly in the future. Who wants your money?"
Qin Dahu laughed as he scratched his head.
Then, he looked at his father.
"If you don't want money, then I don't want it." His sister's family was already in such a state. If he still took advantage of her, was he still worthy of being a brother?
Qin Dazhuang also looked at Qin Xiaoyao.
"It's settled then. Your big brother and second brother's straw sandals will be contracted out to you in the future. There's also mine. We'll pay five copper coins per pair. Give us two pairs each first."
As he spoke, Qin Dazhuang began to fumble with his money bag.
"These three pairs count as well. Give me three more pairs." Then, he started counting the money.
Qin Xiaoyao refused.
"I'll make up three more pairs. Father, you just have to give me fifteen copper coins. If you still insist, then I don't want the money and I won't weave for you anymore. And I won't give you straw sandals in the future."
Her father had given her copper coins and meat today. After that, he had helped pay for her attractive husband's medical expenses and even loaned her money.
Her big brother had also given her two taels of silver.
If she only gave him three pairs of straw sandals and still charged him, what would people think of her?
Qin Dazhuang knew that his daughter had already made a compromise, so he didn't insist further.
"Alright, take this!" Then, he counted fifteen copper coins and gave them to Qin Xiaoyao.
Only then did Qin Xiaoyao accept it.
"Take your time. I'll go with your brother to help you fix the house," Qin Dazhuang said.
"Okay. Thank you for your help, Father and Big Brother!" Qin Xiaoyao replied.
"Hey, it's nothing!" Qin Dahu replied to his sister and went in.
When Song Yun saw that her sister-in-law had gotten copper coins, her eyes were filled with envy.
Looking at the poorly-made straw sandals in her hands, she made up her mind.
She had to learn how to make straw sandals as soon as possible and make them of the same quality as her sister-in-law's.
This way, they could be sent to town to be sold for money.
After a while, Madam Liu came out.
She said that she had boiled some water and offered Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu some water.
The two of them didn't reject her offer. They drank some water, thanked her, and continued with their work.
The thatched house's roof was quickly lifted.
Not only did Father Qin and his son replace the broken beam, but they also adjusted the other beams and tidied up the thatched roof.
It was already two hours later when they finished the task.
After getting off the roof, the two of them each drank a large bowl of water before saying goodbye to their daughter and sister.
"Oh, I almost forgot something important. I went to look for your Uncle Zhao," Qin Dazhuang quickly walked to his daughter's side and said.
"How did it go?" Qin Xiaoyao immediately looked at her father.
"He agreed. They said they'll pay you five copper coins per catty for a hundred catties of Chinese yam."
"If it sells well, they will continue to buy from you."
"In addition, Fortune Mansion also accepts wild animals and mountain products. If you have any, you can send them to him."
"When the time comes, send them directly to the kitchen of Fortune Mansion and tell them his name. Someone there will give you a fair price."
Qin Xiaoyao's eyes lit up when she heard that.
Five copper coins. It was one copper coin higher than what she had expected.
A hundred catties was nothing. She had confidence in her Chinese yam, and Fortune Mansion would definitely need more in the future.
Anyway, the Chinese yam could be stored. After digging it up, she could sell it slowly.
"Alright! Thank you, Father!" Qin Xiaoyao quickly thanked him.
"What are you thanking me for?" Qin Dazhuang glared at his daughter.
"Also, your straw sandals. I've just discussed it with your big brother."
"My pork stall is big enough, and there's quite a lot of people. If you're free, why don't you make some straw sandals to sell at my stall? I'll help you sell them at that point."
Anyway, it was easy to sell straw sandals. He didn't need to weigh them and could just charge them by pairs. It didn't take him much effort.
Qin Xiaoyao was very surprised.
"Just follow Father's suggestion. If they can really be sold, it will also help with your family expenses," Qin Dahu advised.
Qin Xiaoyao thought for a moment and then nodded.
"Deal! Then let's give it a try. However, I can't let father help me for nothing."
"How about this, Father? Help me sell them at four copper coins per pair. I'll give you a copper coin for every pair sold as sales commission."
The design and quality of the straw sandals she made were not bad.
There should be a market for it if they were sold for four copper coins a pair.
Even if she gave one copper coin to her father, she would get three copper coins for a pair.
The straw in the countryside did not cost anything. Other than the time needed to weave it, there was no cost involved.
It was quite feasible to rely on this method to get more income for the family.
Qin Dazhuang was about to refuse.
"Father, if you don't agree, then we'll forget about this matter." Qin Xiaoyao continued unexpectedly.
Qin Dahu laughed as he patted his father's shoulder.
"Alright, let's do as little sister said. This way, you'll be able to answer to Aunt when you return."
Qin Dazhuang glared at his eldest son in annoyance.
How outrageous! He even made fun of his own father.
"Alright, then. Remember to send the straw sandals to me after you've completed them." Qin Dazhuang said to his daughter, suppressing the sense of helplessness in his heart.
"Okay!" Qin Xiaoyao agreed happily.
After Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu said they were leaving, she sent them off.
Qin Xiaoyao didn't return to the village until they were on the main road and only at their urging.
Along the way, some people in Brook Falls Village were watching with excitement.
Seeing that Qin Dazhuang and Qin Dahu were on good terms with Qin Xiaoyao, the rumors about them were quickly dispelled.
What was all that about the Qin family disowning this daughter?
The moment he heard that his son-in-law was injured, this father-in-law and brother-in-law immediately rushed over. Did this look like they were not acknowledging him?
From the looks of it, the Song family was not too unlucky.
With the Qin family's help, Eldest Son Song's injuries might very well receive the medical treatment they needed.
Qin Xiaoyao didn't care about that. She went straight home and continued weaving straw sandals.
After all, it was a money-making business. It was good to make a few pairs a day and sell them in exchange for some food.
After her sister-in-law came back, Song Yun quickly continued to stare at Qin Xiaoyao weaving straw sandals. She watched and learned carefully, hoping to learn this skill as soon as possible.
Madam Liu already knew that the Qin family had agreed to help her daughter-in-law sell straw sandals. She also felt that this was a good business opportunity and came forward.
"Why don't I learn it as well? After we have acquired the skill, Yun'er and I can make straw sandals at home, so things will be easier on you."
Qin Xiaoyao looked up and glanced at his mother-in-law.
"You can also earn money by doing embroidery. Weaving these straw sandals is even more taxing on the hands than sewing," she said.
"Embroidery work can make a bit of money, but it's slow," Madam Liu said.
"My family doesn't have much money, so I usually only take on some purse-embroidering work from the embroidery workshop.
"Take the Rainbow Raiment Embroidery Workshop in the town. For a minimum of ten pouches taken up, the deposit is three copper coins each. I have to fork out a deposit of thirty copper coins each time."
"After the patterns are embroidered and returned to the embroidery workshop, one pouch is seven copper coins. Ten of them can only bring in forty copper coins minus the deposit. This is not even considering the cost of the embroidery. "