Chapter 23: Another Unexpected Profit

When Xie Jiu’er arrived home, Xiao Jinyu was already there, and Zhou shi was preparing lunch.  Soon, Wuyang returned with a bundle of firewood.

“Brother Xiao, how much did you sell the rabbits and chickens for?” Xie Jiu’er asked casually upon seeing him.

“Four taels of silver,” Xiao Jinyu pulled out the money from his bosom.

“One tael each?  Coincidentally, I sold the ones you didn’t take, and they also sold for one tael each.” Xie Jiu’er pulled out two and a half taels. “I used the remaining half tael to buy a garment, but the size is wrong, and I need to have it altered. I’ll go get it after dinner.”

Xiao Jinyu pursed his lips. “Why did you sell them all? This winter will be harsh; having food is better than anything.”

Xie Jiu’er went into the room to help Zhou shi with the fire, her back to Xiao Jinyu. “Don’t worry about that. When are you leaving?”

Xiao Jinyu looked at the gloomy sky. “Regardless of the weather, I’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”

“Oh.” Xie Jiu’er replied indifferently. After dinner, she picked up the robe.  She would roast some taro and make some jerky; she didn’t want him to travel on an empty stomach.

After dinner, Xie Jiu’er washed the dishes, and Zhou shi continued sewing clothes, the size and style suggesting they were for Wuyang.

“Mother, after you finish Wuyang’s clothes, make a pair of underpants for Brother Xiao before dark!  They should be double-layered and thick. He’s leaving tomorrow, and his old pants are torn from his wound.”

Xie Jiu’er picked up Wuyang’s clothes. Zhou shi’s stitches were neat, but the style was unremarkable, though most people here wore similar clothes.

“Alright, I hadn’t thought of that.” Zhou shi replied while sewing.

“And… I don’t want to keep the silver from Brother Xiao’s hunting. He’s going on a long journey, and it’s cold and harsh. I want him to take it all for travel expenses.”

Xie Jiu’er watched Zhou shi’s expression carefully; she didn’t want to cause any family discord.

Zhou shi looked up at Xie Jiu’er, who was being cautious, and chuckled. “What, are you afraid Mother will be angry? We’re poor, a widowed mother and children with limited skills, but Mother isn’t unreasonable.  Those rabbits and chickens were hunted by him with great effort and risk; what does it have to do with us? It’s only right that he takes them. Mother has seen how much Brother Xiao has helped us, and I understand.”

Xie Jiu’er was relieved.  Seeing her daughter relax, Zhou shi playfully glared at her. “Little girl, trying to trick Mother, so clever! You use all your cleverness on your mother.”

Xie Jiu’er hugged Zhou shi’s neck and acted cute. Zhou shi was overwhelmed, and pricked her finger with the needle. “Alright, alright, you’ve made me dizzy.”

After the affectionate exchange, Xie Jiu’er gestured at Wuyang’s shirt, indicating how to cut her own clothes. Zhou shi was impressed by the folds she marked. “This is indeed prettier than before.”

Xie Jiu’er had a sudden idea. “Mother, what do you think about opening a clothing shop?”

Zhou shi stopped sewing, sighing. “A business needs capital! Fabric, storefront, seamstresses—it costs money, and you could lose everything.”

Xie Jiu’er realized this.  They needed to solve their food problem first.  Thinking about this now was a pipe dream.

After staying home for a while, she went to the shop to pick up Xiao Jinyu’s robe.  The owner saw her and rushed out to greet her. “Oh, girl, you’re here! I was worried sick.”

Xie Jiu’er was puzzled. “What’s wrong?  Didn’t you alter the robe?”

The owner was excited. “It’s not that it wasn’t altered; it’s that it turned out to be surprisingly beautiful.  Did you work for a wealthy family? I’ve never seen this style before.”

Xie Jiu’er awkwardly smiled.  “It’s because my design incorporates thousands of years of your clothing-making wisdom.  I’m just borrowing from others; it’s not my real skill.”

“Girl? It’s okay if you don’t tell me. I want to ask you to design more styles for me. I’ll give you a discount on this garment. What do you say?”

The owner looked Xie Jiu’er up and down, seeing her ragged clothes, certain she would agree.

Xie Jiu’er scoffed. “Shopkeeper, your calculations are quite clever.  In a month or two, this market will flourish.  Although the war has just ended, there’s no shortage of wealthy people.  Just the garment you altered can give you an advantage over other shops.  This beautiful design isn’t cheap. The robe only cost half a tael; how much cheaper can it get?  Later, if I draw a few designs for other shops, I can easily earn dozens of taels!”

The owner laughed dryly, offering Xie Jiu’er tea. “Whether it will make money or if customers will like it is another matter.  Aren’t you too confident? I’m giving you a real benefit.  You design five styles for me, you get this one for free, and I’ll return your half tael.”

Xie Jiu’er looked at the tea and didn’t drink it. “No, thank you. You keep your money, and I’ll take my clothes.”

She stood up to leave. The owner looked at the robe and gritted her teeth. “Fine, design three styles for me: one men’s and two women’s—one for a married woman and one for a young girl. I’ll pay one tael per design.”

Xie Jiu’er sat down again, took a sip of tea, and cleared her throat. “Get me paper and pen.”

The owner quickly agreed.  Soon, three designs were on paper. The owner nodded as she looked at them. Xie Jiu’er looked at her own robe. “You have the design now, so shouldn’t you give me extra for that design?”

The owner hesitated. “Okay! We’ll settle separately for your robe. I’ll give you four taels. Come back in a few months; if it sells well, we can cooperate further.”

Xie Jiu’er nodded, clutching the four taels and holding Xiao Jinyu’s robe, happily returning home.

When Xie Jiu’er returned home, Xiao Jinyu was carefully cleaning his sword. She shook open the robe in front of him.  “Here’s what I prepared for you. Try it on; there’s still time to alter it if it doesn’t fit.”