Chapter 64: Making Money 2/3

After learning that Li Qingzhi would accompany County Magistrate Gou today, Sister Wang couldn’t help but envy, “Xiaoye, your husband is really something!”

“He’s just going to see the excitement.”

“We don’t even have the chance to see the excitement!” Sister Wang smiled and teased Li Damao and Li Ermao, “Damao, Ermao, do you think your dad is amazing?”

Li Damao and Li Ermao nodded without hesitation, “Dad is the most amazing!”

Everyone present laughed.

While they were chatting, Li Qingzhi arrived.

After leaving the garden with County Magistrate Gou, Li Qingzhi didn’t go to the county office but came directly to Jin Xiaoye’s place.

As soon as he arrived, Sister Wang and the others immediately asked about the chamber of commerce.

Li Qingzhi then told them about the gathering, describing the venue, the food they ate, and who was present. Sister Wang and the others knew some of the well-known businessmen in Chongcheng County, so they asked about them. Li Qingzhi had read their information and could give a general idea.

When Wu Baichuan arrived, Li Qingzhi was talking about the manager of the porcelain shop, “Shopkeeper Zhou does look pretty good, but I’m not sure if his wife married him because of his looks.”

Seeing Wu Baichuan, Li Qingzhi didn’t continue and greeted him with a smile, “Shopkeeper Wu.”

The gathering of businessmen ended after County Magistrate Gou left.

Wu Baichuan, despite being timid, was reliable when it came to getting things done. Realizing his mistake, he immediately began thinking of ways to rectify it and brought silver coins with him.

“Mr. Li,” Wu Baichuan smiled at Li Qingzhi. The smile was particularly bright, but upon closer inspection, one could see a hint of stiffness in it.

Then, his eyes showed astonishment, as if he had seen something incomprehensible.

Li Qingzhi sat on the bamboo chair that Jin Xiaoye had specially bought for him, chatting with people while cutting fabric with scissors.

Some of the larger pieces of fabric could still be used for other things after being cut, such as the headbands Jin Xiaoye had sold before, which were made from scrap fabric.

Jin Xiaoye had someone make some “fabric samples” from wood, and Li Qingzhi would place the wood pieces on the fabric and cut along the edges of the wood to cut out the usable fabric.

This task was quite easy, so Li Qingzhi didn’t stop Jin Xiaoye from doing it.

Beside Li Qingzhi, Zhao Xiaodou was also cutting fabric, while Li Damao and Li Ermao were helping them select the fabric to be cut.

Wu Baichuan was amazed. He never expected that Li Qingzhi, who was so skilled and deep-thinking, would be gossiping while cutting fabric.

Li Qingzhi’s posture while sitting in the chair was particularly reminiscent of the two old ladies beside him.

Jin Xiaoye asked, “Shopkeeper Wu, are you here to inspect the goods after finishing your work?”

“Yes, I’m here to inspect the goods and deliver the final payment,” Wu Baichuan replied, regaining his senses and looking at Jin Xiaoye, then couldn’t help but glance at Li Qingzhi.

Li Qingzhi stood up and said, “Shopkeeper Wu, let me make you some tea. You can inspect the goods with Xiaoye.”

“No need, no need, I’m not thirsty,” Wu Baichuan hurriedly declined.

But Li Qingzhi still went to make tea. Wu Baichuan couldn’t figure out what Li Qingzhi was thinking and could only follow Jin Xiaoye to inspect the goods.

Jin Xiaoye was very meticulous in her work, and the quality of the goods she prepared was impeccable.

The more Wu Baichuan looked, the more satisfied he became. However, he couldn’t help but observe Li Qingzhi while inspecting the goods.

After Li Qingzhi made tea for him, he went back to cutting fabric. This person was truly extraordinary…

“Shopkeeper Jin, the goods you prepared are flawless!”

“You are really meticulous!”

“Shopkeeper Jin, you are an honest person.”

Wu Baichuan kept praising Jin Xiaoye and then handed her a silver note, saying, “Shopkeeper Jin, this is the final payment. I’ll have the goods moved out tomorrow!”

Jin Xiaoye glanced at the silver note, feeling a bit puzzled.

According to their agreement, Wu Baichuan would take away a batch of goods and then pay for them. But he hadn’t taken away the goods yet and had already gave her the money?

However, since the money was already in front of her, she wouldn’t refuse it!

After showing Wu Baichuan all the goods, Jin Xiaoye sent him off.

The business with Wu Baichuan was negotiated by Jin Xiaoye, and Sister Wang and the others were not familiar with Wu Baichuan. They usually didn’t interact with strangers, especially men… When Wu Baichuan was there, Sister Wang and the others didn’t speak, they just focused on their own tasks.

After Wu Baichuan left, they gathered around Jin Xiaoye: “Xiaoye, Mr. Wu seems like a good person!”

“Xiaoye, how much money did Mr. Wu give?”

“Xiaoye, is he coming to pick up the goods tomorrow?”

“Yes, Mr. Wu will come to pick up the goods tomorrow. Once he takes the goods, I’ll go to the money exchange to get the money and pay your wages!” Jin Xiaoye replied.

Hearing this, Sister Wang was particularly happy.

She had lent some money to Jin Xiaoye, and now that Jin Xiaoye had received the money, she would definitely repay her debt. Additionally, she had done a lot of work and would receive a substantial amount of pay!

Sister Wang calculated that she would probably earn two taels of silver, and her daughter would also earn two taels. She had also loaned her house to Jin Xiaoye, who promised to pay three taels of silver in rent.

That was a month’s worth of money!

Mrs. Xu had done more work than Sister Wang, so she was also happy. This month, she had earned more than three taels in wages alone.

Only Fang Jinniang seemed a little worried. Her mother would definitely find out about Jin Xiaoye paying their wages, and there might be trouble…

It was getting late. After Wu Baichuan left, Jin Xiaoye and Li Qingzhi took the three children home.

On the way back, Jin Xiaoye asked Li Qingzhi, “Ah Qing, did Mr. Wu suddenly change his attitude because he saw you at the Chamber of Commerce?”

“Yes,” Li Qingzhi smiled.

“He was unusually polite, and in such a hurry… What’s going on?” Jin Xiaoye was puzzled. It was normal for Mr. Wu’s attitude to improve upon knowing Li Qingzhi was acquainted with the County Magistrate, but being in such a hurry to pay and pick up the goods seemed odd.

“I talked to him and asked him to hurry up and take the goods,” Li Qingzhi explained.

“Why?” Jin Xiaoye asked.

Li Qingzhi coughed lightly. “Xiaoye, haven’t you forgotten our agreement from a few days ago?” Jin Xiaoye had said that when the business went well, she would let him do something.

Jin Xiaoye suddenly remembered this and glared at Li Qingzhi with her bright eyes, causing Li Qingzhi’s heart to beat faster.

When they returned to Miaoqian Village, Li Laogen had already prepared dinner.

Li Qingzhi now gave Li Laogen five cents of pocket money every day, and he would also give him some extra money to buy meat and tofu to bring home.

Li Laogen’s cooking skills were not great, but at least he could cook, and no one complained.

Jin Xiaoye’s behavior outside was similar to usual, but when they returned to the room they slept in at night…

Jin Xiaoye suddenly hugged Li Qingzhi around the waist, lifted him off the ground, and spun around.

Li Qingzhi: “!!!”

Jin Xiaoye didn’t have extraordinary strength, but she was used to farm work, so she effortlessly lifted Li Qingzhi.