After Zhao Cheng and Chu Ping finished drinking, they made an appointment with Chu Yi to come back the next night to learn how to make copper coins and burn paper, and then returned home. After that, the two families had a discussion.
After breakfast the next day, Shen Luzhu went back to her parents' house across the river. Shen's mother and her second aunt Zheng were weaving rattan baskets in the courtyard. In addition to farming, the men of the Shen family also went to the mountains to collect herbs from time to time. They go to their own medicine shop to get medicine, and this rattan basket is prepared for them.
Seeing that her daughter suddenly returned home early in the morning, Mother Shen was a little surprised: "Lu Zhu, why are you back at this hour? But what's the matter?"
Shen Luzhu moved a small wooden stool and sat down next to Mother Shen: "There is something I want to discuss with my family. The sales of copper coins and burning paper have been getting better and better recently. It will be the Ghost Festival again in a while. , Chu Yi and I planned to sell more before the festival, but we couldn’t do it, so we thought we could ask our family if we could help, and we could make it for a dollar and a half, what do you think?”
Mother Shen glared at her daughter: "You two are too busy. Just tell your family that there are many people in the family. Although your father and others are busy, your second aunt, sister-in-law, me, and I are very free. We are just Help me, what are you saying about money and not money?”
"Auntie, how can this be possible? Your son-in-law and I make money from this, so how can we come back to take advantage of our parents' family and make people work for nothing!"
"What is it like to earn money from your daughter and son-in-law!"
"Aniang, when Chu Yi came back to ask about our family yesterday, I knew that Aniang must not accept money, but we really have no choice. We can't just find someone to do this job. Molds It's easy to be copied by others, and there aren't many people we can trust. As time goes by, it's inevitable that someone will have other thoughts. Mom, please help your daughter, okay?" Shen Lu said. Zhu used her usual tricks again, holding Shen's mother's arm and shaking it slightly.
Mrs. Zheng on the side saw this and helped to persuade: "Sister-in-law, if you refuse to accept the money, I'm afraid your niece will not ask us for help. Unfortunately, you can't find anyone you trust, which will delay Zhongyuan." It’s not nice to make money frugally, isn’t it?”
Mother Shen thought about it carefully, and if it was true what her daughter said, this was not just a matter of helping out a few times. She was willing to be the mother-in-law. Over time, her sisters-in-law may not have thought in their minds: "Well, why?" If you talk to your family about it later, it’s a job that makes money, so it’s better to be clear about it!”
"Daughter, I know. Auntie, just wait until Chu Yi makes the new mold and then come over to demonstrate it!"
When Shen Luzhu came back from Shen's house, he didn't rush to set up the stall. Instead, he went to the backyard to find Chu Yi. He had found someone to help make copper coins and burn paper. The next step was to seize the time to make a few more sets of molds, and more in town. Bring back some burning paper!
"Chu Yi, should we give out the set of molds we have and start working on them today, so that we don't delay the recent business and have time to make new molds!" Give us the job of making copper coins and burning paper. , is just the first step of Shen Luzhu's plan. Her ultimate goal is to make Chu Yi have less work, but before that, she still has to discuss it with Chu Yi!
"Okay, I'll ask them in the evening. I'll go to the blacksmith's house at noon and ask him to make some more iron pieces according to last time."
"In addition to making molds, I have to go to town several times to bring in more burnt paper and stock it up first. I don't want to trouble Chu Ping all the time. Why don't I go discuss it with my grandpa and grandma and let us have a little rest during the day? Son, this way you can go to town to buy goods by yourself, what do you think?"
Chu Yi felt that his wife's idea might not work. If it would delay the work at home, it would be impossible for grandpa and grandma to agree! Not only will it not work, he might even get scolded, but Chu Yi never throws cold water on his wife: "I'll go ahead, or I'll just do it faster!"
If you tell me to do it faster, he is already fast enough! Chu Yi's work is not piece-based. He can rest after completing as many tasks as he needs to do every day. Even if he does it quickly, he will just finish this job and then do the next one. He will continue doing it forever: "But you today I still have work to do, don’t worry, I’ve been trying to please my elders since I was a child, so I’ll just discuss it with my grandpa and grandma, and if they don’t agree, they won’t stick around, so let’s find another way!”
After saying that, without waiting for Chu Yi's reaction, he ran back to the front yard and went to the main room to find Grandpa Chu and Grandma Chu!
Shen Luzhu knew that Grandpa Chu and Grandma Chu didn't even feel sorry for Chu Yi, his biological grandson, so how could he be willing to compromise with her, so Shen Luzhu had already thought about it, and she didn't intend to actually discuss it, but just hugged her I went with the mentality of talking about business!
She had asked Chu Yi before and knew that he actually liked to do these carpentry jobs, so she did not really plan to let Chu Yi stop doing it in the future: "...Every month from now on, my grandson and grandma will be filial to my grandpa and grandma. For three taels of silver, let Chu Yi work for half a day every day, and take a day off every ten days, okay?"
When someone in the countryside dies, most people buy a simple thin coffin and bury it in it. This kind of thin coffin is made of relatively common wood. It is polished smooth after being formed. It doesn’t matter whether it is painted or not. There are no complicated and exquisite patterns, but the price is close to the people. Generally, a coffin costs about one or two yuan. Better wood Yes, it can be sold for two taels of silver, so it is easier for farmers to accept it!
The Chu family makes this kind of coffin. If Chu Yi doesn't delay too much in a month, he can make about three to four coffins! These coffins are not bought immediately. Most of the time, they have to be left in the yard for a while before they can find a buyer.
The Chu family's coffin business used to be pretty good, but later on Chu Yi was the only one who could do it, and the output was naturally greatly reduced. As time went by, people in the village became accustomed to going to the town to buy. Now the Chu family is very annoying. You can sell two or three coffins, but in bad times you may not be able to sell even one!
That's why Shen Luzhu said that he would pay the Chu family three taels of silver every month, which is almost equivalent to the Chu family's monthly income!
Grandpa Chu pondered for a long time before slowly speaking: "You should go back first. Let me discuss this matter with your grandma."
The paper money stall run by the grandson and his wife is very profitable. Grandpa Chu probably knows it. The old woman even whispered to him twice, but firstly, this is a rule left by the older generation of the Chu family, and besides, the grandson did not delay the family. Even if I feel a little unhappy about my job, there is nothing to say.
They didn't agree with their family's business in the first place, so the grandson and his wife did it on their own. Could it be that now that they know that others have made money, they will reach out to ask for it?
Shen Luzhu didn't wait too long. When he was making lunch, he helped Grandma Chu in the kitchen and got Grandma Chu's approval. He just told her not to talk about it outside!
When we were having lunch, Mr. Chu announced the matter at the dinner table: "Chu Yi and his wife are doing well in business. They seem to be very busy recently. From now on, Chu Yi, you can only do half-day work every day. Don’t tire yourself out.”
After Grandpa Chu finished speaking, he saw that not only his son and grandchildren were looking at him blankly, but why was Mr. Shen also staring at him without blinking? After thinking for a while, he added: "Let's take another day off every ten days."
Shen Luzhu then responded with a smile: "Thank you, grandpa and grandma!"
Chu Yi looked at Mr. Chu, then at his wife beside him, then took Shen Luzhu's hand under the table and squeezed it!
Shen Luzhu didn't intend to hide it from Chu Yi. After dinner, he took the initiative to confess: "If you pay, you will be rewarded. You can't let your elders suffer, don't you think so, Chu Yi?"
Chu Yi was a little helpless. His A-Zhu would often behave in ways that surprised him, and he seemed to be very reasonable but open-minded!
Seeing that he didn't speak, Shen Luzhu felt a little guilty. He took two steps forward and hugged Chu Yi's waist. He raised his head and asked, "Are you angry?"
Chu Yi had no choice but to tap his wife's forehead: "Aren't you going to take a break?" There was no other way, everyone was doing it for his own good!
Is this a reversal? Shen Luzhu blinked: "Have a break!"
After dinner, Chu Ping and Zhao Cheng came to Chu's house again. Chu Yi showed them how to use the mold in the spare room. He also said that it would take a few days to make the new mold, but it would need to start in the next two days. Now this set of molds can be taken back for use.
When Chu Ping heard this, he immediately said that he would let Zhao Cheng take it away and start making it first. He planned to take advantage of the few days of making new molds to live a leisurely life. After he went back and told his family yesterday, his grandma and grandma My mother could not wait to come and thank her cousin immediately, saying that this lazy guy finally wanted to do something serious. She had let him play with Chu Yi since he was a child, and he was really not the wrong person! Today, I have been talking about it for almost a day, telling him to study hard, take care of himself, and if he has a chance to have some free time, he would be a fool not to do it!
The matter of finding someone to make copper coins and burning paper was solved. In the following days, while making new molds, Chu Yi made several trips to the town to purchase goods. He did not give up until the empty room was almost filled with the yellow burning paper he bought. ! Shen Luzhu, on the other hand, continued to set up her stall. As soon as she sent away the customers that day, she saw her eldest uncle, Mrs. Wang, walking over in a hurry. Before Shen Luzhu could say hello, she entered the main room with a straight face. !
Not long after the Dragon Boat Festival, someone came to deliver a message to Mrs. Wang. Chu Ren, who had returned to town, asked someone to deliver the message. It turned out that Chu Ren's father-in-law and mother-in-law were all infected with the cold, and his wife, Mrs. Li, needed to be taken care of in front of the bed. , I am afraid that my grandson will be sick after being around him since he is still young, and I want his mother-in-law to come to the town to help take care of him for a few days!
After receiving the letter, Mrs. Wang packed up her parcel and hurried to her in-laws' house in the town. She thought she would only stay there for seven or eight days, but it turned out that her in-laws were just in time, and Mrs. Wang got sick again, and they had only stayed there for more than half a month. , I didn’t return to Kaoshan Village until this noon!
As soon as Mrs. Wang returned home, she heard Uncle Chu talk about what happened at the old house. Uncle Chu was very angry about the copper coins and paper burning. These people were all blind. How could they spend high prices to buy such nondescript things? thing! Mrs. Wang also felt strange. She had seen a lot of excitement before she left and didn't buy much. Why did she go to town and everything changed when she came back?
Could it be that the child's father was exaggerating? The more he thought about it, the more he couldn't sit still. He put down the package and went to the big willow tree at the end of the village. The villagers would stay under the tree and chat when they had nothing to do. If they wanted to inquire about something, You’re right to go there!
After staying there for only a moment, she asked all kinds of questions about the old house. Mrs. Wang couldn't believe her ears! How can a deceased person receive copper coins? How dare she make this up! In order to make money, you don’t even have to face yourself?
The more Wang thinks about it, the more uncomfortable she feels. If Shen is messing around like this, will her parents-in-law just ignore her? No, she has to go back to her old home!
