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Jiang Mixia and Madam Zheng had an in-depth discussion and reached a preliminary agreement for collaboration.
The arrangement involved Jiang Mixia creating the puppet designs, which Madam Zheng would purchase outright. Each set of puppet design drawings, including front, side, and back views along with necessary detail sketches, would be priced at two taels of silver. If color was required, the colors would also be indicated.
Delivery would be made monthly. Madam Zheng would settle the payment on the spot once she had examined the drawings, without delaying payment. The monthly delivery would range from a minimum of five sets to a maximum of twenty.
For complete sets of puppets, the pricing would be negotiated based on the quantity and quality, starting from the base price of two taels per set.
In addition to these terms, Jiang Mixia proposed a prerequisite for achieving these conditions—Jiang Chunshi would work as a woodworker at Qiu’s and learn the craft from the master.
Madam Zheng smiled in response, “No problem. Qiu’s is currently short of hands, and I see your elder brother is an honest person, suitable for working at Qiu’s. I will select an experienced master to guide him.”
“For the shop assistants, those without families live in the backyard of the store. Those with families usually rent a courtyard in the county town together. I will inquire about this when I return. Once your elder brother is settled, he can also bring his family over,” Madam Zheng added.
Most young couples who visited the temple were seeking to have children, especially since Jiang Chunshi had only one daughter, making their visit particularly poignant.
Although learning woodworking at Qiu’s would benefit Jiang Chunshi’s future, it would not be appropriate for his family to be separated. Living together would be the best option.
“Thank you, Madam,” Jiang Mixia expressed her gratitude, appreciating Madam Zheng’s thorough consideration of even these finer points, which led her to see Madam Zheng as a promising business partner.
“When the puppet heads are made for the first time according to the designs, it might be challenging to know where to start. When I deliver the first batch of designs, I will create prototype models using clay according to the designs, making it easier for the craftsmen to proceed,” Jiang Mixia added.
“Then I’ll be relying on you, Jiang Shi .”
Jiang Mixia’s intelligence and her ability to create such innovative puppet designs were evident during their business discussion; she covered many details thoroughly, not falling short of someone who had been in business for many years. Madam Zheng was left with a favorable impression of Jiang Mixia.
After reaching an agreement, Madam Zheng didn’t linger. She took the purchased puppets and bid farewell.
Meanwhile, Jiang Mixia and her group went in search of a place to eat. As they descended the mountain, the sun was almost directly overhead, but having delayed for so long, it had already started to lean towards the west. Everyone was famished.
Even little Jiang Maihua, who had snacked on fruits to tide her over, was now complaining of hunger.
Having sold out their goods, they planned to eat and head straight back. They bought various snacks and treats along the way.
Having sealed the deal today, if things went well for Jiang Mixia, she would earn over a hundred taels of silver in a year. This meant a new opportunity and work for Jiang Chunshi. Both families were delighted, and their purchases were generous.
They bought crispy twisted dough sticks, lotus seed pastries, minced meat cakes, spring rolls with shredded vegetables, large dumplings with minced meat filling, and mixed rice noodles, among other things.
As they rode back in the cart, the scent of food and various snacks lingered around Jiang Mixia’s group. Song Jingyun happily crunched on fish-skin peanuts.
Jiang Chunshi, concerned that Fang shi might tire from carrying Jiang Maihua all the way, carried her. However, Fang, worried that Jiang Chunshi, being a man, might not handle their daughter well, sat close to him, ready to take over when needed.
As a result, Fang, Jiang Chunshi, and Liu shi rode together in one cart, while Jiang Mixia, Song Jingyun and Jiang Youcheng rode in another.
Riding together with his wife made Song Jingyun feel elated!
And to think, his wife could earn two taels of silver just by drawing a single design… She was truly capable!
By the time they arrived home, it was already dark. As they had lunch late and weren’t particularly hungry, they had bought plenty of food at the market, snacked a little, and each washed it down with a glass of egg water. After eating, they tidied up and retired to their rooms to sleep.
The next day, Jiang Chunshi invited Jiang Mixia’s family, mentioning that they had slaughtered two chickens and planned to make a chicken stir-fry for lunch. He also mentioned that Jiang Youfu felt it had been a while since he and Jiang Youcheng had a proper meal together, so he had specially bought two pounds of wine to share with Jiang Youcheng at lunch.
While that was the stated reason, Jiang Youcheng and Liu shi understood that this was a gesture of gratitude from the main household. They knew that Jiang Mixia had been considerate of Jiang Chunshi’s situation while conducting her own business, thus helping secure a good path for him. Therefore, they couldn’t refuse the invitation. Jiang Youcheng led his family to the main household, bringing some eggs from their home.
The two young roosters they raised were tender, and with Yang shi’s cooking skills and Liu shi’s assistance, the chicken stir-fry was exceptionally flavorful. They also made tomato and scrambled egg, cucumber with peanuts, minced meat with green beans, and a pot of vegetable and tofu soup, accompanied by steamed white rice.
It was pure rice, without any added sorghum or millet. The families gathered together, enjoying a lively meal.
After the meal, Jiang Youcheng, Jiang Youfu, Jiang Chunshi, and Song Jingyun enjoyed some drinks, while Yang shi and Liu shi prepared two appetizers to accompany the drinks and chatted on the side.
Fang shi, Jiang Mixia, and Jiang Xiaoxing led Jiang Maihua to play nearby.
Jiang Xiaoxing was the third daughter in the main household, the same age as Jiang Mixia, but slightly older. She was Jiang Mixia’s fifth cousin, with a round face and lovely almond-shaped eyes.
Having grown up playing together, Jiang Xiaoxing often looked out for Jiang Mixia, and the two of them played together at this gathering.
“Have you set a date for Xiaoxing’s wedding?” Liu shi inquired.
“Yes, it’s been set. It will be on the sixteenth day of the twelfth month,” Yang responded with a smile. “It’s an auspicious day. I’ve heard that the Hong family lives quite comfortably, and with three sons in the Hong family, they can all support and take care of her. When Xiaoxing marries into their family, you can rest assured,” Liu shi added with a smile.
“I guess they’re not bad, just a little far away…” Xiaoxing’s smile faded as she mentioned this.
The distance to the county town was similar, and in the future, if they were to visit her family, it might not be very convenient. If anything happened, it would be inconvenient to send messages back and forth.
“You can’t say that. It’s not too far from the county town. If Brother Chunshi and his wife can settle down in the county town in the future, it would be closer to Xiaoxing. With her elder brother and sister-in-law nearby, there’s nothing to worry about,” Liu reassured. “As long as everything is good on their end, that’s what matters most.”
If things were not good, if the couple couldn’t get along, or if the in-laws were difficult to deal with and only focused on nitpicking, even if they were nearby, the maternal family could only do so much. It would be frustrating.
Yang shi understood this, nodding in agreement. “You’re right…”
As they conversed, there was suddenly a loud noise from the drinking table.