135 Chapter 135: One Shouldn’t Judge A Book By Its Cover
Of course, Big Girl Li could nap at home, but when she woke up, she was covered in perspiration all over.
How could she be as refreshed and comfortable as she was now?
Furthermore, after waking up, she could still come to this cool little alley to enjoy the breeze.
“It’s indeed not bad,” Qin Xiaoyao responded.
!!
After the start of summer, when they woke up, almost all of their Song family members would come to work in this small alley.
Qin Xiaoyao would be preparing century eggs while Yun’er and Xiaomei would be weaving straw sandals.
Even Ye’er would come here to play.
Only her mother-in-law and her attractive husband would stay in their rooms.
One reason was that it was not easy to move the embroidery frame, for fear of dirtying the embroidery work.
The other reason was it was not easy to move the desk, and he did not want to go outside either.
Fortunately, their house was big enough, and the roof was made of tiles, so it was not too hot even if they stayed in the room.
“Sanya! Yun’er!” At that moment, there was a knock on the door suddenly.
Qin Xiaoyao was about to answer when Song Yun answered first.
Song Yun came out of Madam Liu’s room and ran to the courtyard as she answered.
“Coming, Aunt!”
That was right. The visitor was Aunt Sun, their next-door neighbor. There was also Aunt Sun’s little daughter Sun Xiaoyue.
Ever since she had seen Madam Liu’s embroidery work, Aunt Sun would bring her little daughter to pay them a visit at their house whenever she was free.
The weather was cool in the morning, and Aunt Sun would usually not visit.
After lunch, after they had taken care of everything at home and rested for a while, the mother and daughter would pop over.
It just so happened that Madam Liu was about to wake up.
They could then do embroidery work together.
Qin Xiaoyao smiled when she saw Big Girl Li looking around the courtyard curiously. She said, “That’s our next-door neighbor, Aunt Sun. In the afternoon, she often brings her daughter over to chat with my mother.”
Song Yun welcomed the two of them into the house. Both of them were holding their sewing baskets in their hands. Big Girl Li nodded her head.
“Aunt Song is doing embroidery work now?” Then, she turned to Qin Xiaoyao and asked with a puzzled expression.
How much money could she make by doing embroidery work? It would be better to weave straw sandals.
Even though the business at their stall was not as good as before, the straw sandals in her stall always sold well every day.
It was a pity that Sister Sanya had given her too few straw sandals.
“Yes. Making too many straw sandals can hurt the hands. Since Mother has the skill to do embroidery work, then let her do it.”
“Moreover, she’s currently taking on big embroidery jobs. One set of embroidery takes one or two months to complete, and once it’s done, it can be sold for more than ten taels of silver.”
Big Girl Li was shocked.
“So… much?”
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Big Girl Li with a smile.
“A lot, right? When I first heard about it, I was also shocked.”
“However, it’s for real.”
Facing Big Girl Li’s curious eyes, Qin Xiaoyao continued, “This kind of embroidery work is rarely sent out by the embroidery workshop. Most of it is assigned to be done by the embroidery ladies working in the embroidery workshop.”
“But my mother’s skills are good! She is even acquainted with the boss of the embroidery workshop.”
“She told him that she wanted to take on a big embroidery job, and the boss of the embroidery workshop agreed immediately.”
Big Girl Li was a little suspicious.
“Then, in the past, why didn’t Aunt Song…”
An embroidered craft work could be sold for more than ten taels of silver. Moreover, it would only take one or two months to complete it, so there was naturally no need to weave straw sandals.
However, since there was such a good deal, why did the Song family…
“Previously, it was because the family’s situation was not good, and there was no embroidery frame. Also, the thatched hut was in a mess, and dust would fall from the roof occasionally. Our house was in no condition to take on that kind of work.”
“Sigh! In the past, Mother was like the cleverest housewife who couldn’t cook without rice.” Qin Xiaoyao sighed as she spoke.
Big Girl Li nodded, indicating she understood.
After Song Yun led Aunt Sun and Sun Xiaoyue to Madam Liu’s room, she walked toward them.
“With such good skills, why didn’t Aunt Song teach Yun’er?” Big Girl Li asked Qin Xiaoyao.
The neighbor had brought her daughter over, obviously to learn the ropes.
It didn’t make sense that Madam Liu could teach others but not her own daughter, right?
Qin Xiaoyao laughed and said helplessly, “That’s only if Yun’er has the talent and is willing to be an embroidery worker.”
She saw that Big Girl Li was still confused.
Qin Xiaoyao continued, “Don’t be fooled by the fact that the girl looks fragile and gentle. In fact… Pfft! Her needlework is not much better than mine!”
Big Girl Li was surprised.
“It’s true!” Qin Xiaoyao nodded with a smile.
“To be an embroidery worker, one must have talent, and one must also work hard to learn and develop the skill. It’s hard for Yun’er to do this for a living.”
...
It was for this reason that her mother-in-law was the one making all the clothes at home.
The little girl could not help at all.
Or rather, she didn’t want to help.
She felt that if she took the time to make two more pairs of straw sandals, she would be able to contribute more to the family.
Big Girl Li turned her head and looked at Song Yun, who was walking towards them with a smile on her face. She had some other thoughts about her Sister Sanya’s little sister-in-law.
One really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover…
Seeing that Wang Xiaomei was also walking towards them from behind Song Yun, Big Girl Li began chatting with Qin Xiaoyao again.
“So, now only Yun’er and Xiaomei are making straw sandals for you?”
It might be a blessing for Big Girl Li that that girl Yun’er had no talent in embroidery. Otherwise, wouldn’t Big Girl Li be getting less straw sandals every day?
Hmm, weaving straw sandals was still better.
Once woven, they could be sold for money instantly. The more one weaved, the more one earned, and the sales turnover was quick too.
...
“Yes, I’m mainly relying on them now. Of course, I’ll occasionally make a few pairs when I’m free,” Qin Xiaoyao replied.
Big Girl Li frowned and looked at Qin Xiaoyao’s hands, which were busy working.
“You’re busy all day long. How much free time do you have?”
“You’ve never thought of recruiting an apprentice?” When she said this, Big Girl Li’s eyes showed a strong interest.
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Big Girl Li.
“How can I recruit apprentices? Weaving straw shoes isn’t complicated, and straw could be found everywhere in the countryside. Wouldn’t teaching an apprentice put me out of business?” she said with little interest.
Teaching others to make straw sandals wouldn’t really put Qin Xiaoyao out of business. However, this skill was too simple and too easy to pick up.
If she taught others, she wouldn’t get many benefits, but she might lose a lot.
Why should she nurture a talent and then watch the talent become her competitor? Or he might strike out on his own after working for her for a short while?
Forget it. She would rather earn less and not do this.
Big Girl Li was stunned.
“What if he gives you money and signs a contract?” she continued.
She also understood her Sister Sanya’s concerns but she wanted to earn more money.
In addition, if it still didn’t rain, she wasn’t sure how long her business of receiving goods would last. She had to find alternative ways in advance.
Qin Xiaoyao quickly noticed Big Girl Li’s odd behavior and asked her, “What do you mean?”
Big Girl Li smiled in embarrassment.
“Can our Xiaomei and I learn how to make straw sandals from you?”
“The apprenticeship fee will be one tael of silver per person. In addition, we’ll sign a contract to ensure that the woven straw sandals will be provided to you at two copper coins per pair, and we won’t pass the skill to outsiders.”
In this way, she could also make straw sandals to earn money in her free time.
In addition, if she handed the woven straw sandals to Sister Sanya, Sister Sanya would give her a small portion to sell at the stall, and she could earn more again.