CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 55: CUSTOM FURNITURE

Although Yu Xiaolian spoke thus, the Sun family still wanted to tidy up the rooms in the second room courtyard, reasoning that storage rooms should also be clean.

Yu Xiaolian helplessly let her be, as her mother had a bit of a cleanliness obsession.

Hard work makes everything easier. As Yu Xiaolian finished laying the kang mats in the west room, the Sun family had already cleaned the three rooms in the second courtyard and started sweeping dust in the warehouse with a broom.

Her mother’s eyes really couldn’t tolerate even a speck of dirt; she was naturally diligent.

As for Yu Xiaolian, her body remained inactive while her soul was restless.

Um, don’t call me lazy. I’m just busy in a less obvious way.

Yu Xiaolian slowly cleaned out the garbage from the courtyard, she was just about to throw away the broken bench in the yard when the Sun family hurriedly called her over, saying to keep it for firewood, otherwise they’d have to spend money on buying fuel.

Yu Xiaolian thought the same, the city isn’t like River Bay Village; you have to spend money to burn firewood.

Thinking of the firewood she had painstakingly collected in River Bay Village, it was a real bargain for Old Lady Yu and them.

By the time the Sun family finished sweeping the warehouse, Yu Xiaolian had also finished sweeping the yard. The mother and daughter exchanged smiles and beamed joyfully.

"Mom, do we need to measure the size before buying pots?"

"Certainly, I’ve already measured. The east room needs an eight-inch large pot, and the west room needs a six-inch small pot. They both need to be installed, one for cooking rice and the other for making dishes." Sun thought for a moment and added, "We should also buy more charcoal and firewood. Buying on the spot isn’t convenient."

Yu Xiaolian nodded, indicating she understood.

"Mom, our family is different from others. The things in the house can’t be found outside. For now, let’s keep our distance from the neighbors and not entertain guests at home. When you go out, adopt a cool demeanor and don’t engage with strangers."

Sun indicated her understanding and, seeing no other tasks at home, asked Yu Xiaolian to join her in going out to buy pots.

"Oh dear, no rope. How can we carry them back? Does your supermarket have any rope?"

Yu Xiaolian thought for a moment, "Seems like it doesn’t. No worries, mom, we’ll pay them to help deliver it to the door."

In need, this was the only option.

After informing Yu Changhe, Yu Xiaolian and the Sun family headed to the street. The road in front of their house was paved with stone slabs, making it easier in the future if they wanted to push a board cart or something.

The bustling market was just five minutes away.

Being newcomers in the area, they couldn’t find the blacksmith shop, so Yu Xiaolian asked a lady selling eggs for directions.

"Just keep walking straight to the end and turn left. There you’ll find a blacksmith shop."

Following the lady’s directions, Sun and Yu Xiaolian found the blacksmith shop without much difficulty, bought two pots from there, and inquired about a carpenter shop for making furniture.

Paid for the pots, left an address, and arranged with the blacksmith to have them delivered home later.

Sun and Yu Xiaolian then visited the carpenter shop. For large wooden boxes and carved kang cupboards they usually used, they were ready-made there.

But Yu Xiaolian wanted to make some unique furniture. The carpenter said if she could draw a design, he could make it.

Yu Xiaolian borrowed the carpenter’s son’s pen and ink and drew a kang cupboard with two rows of drawers at the bottom, two long cabinets with hinged doors at the top, with rods inside for hanging clothes.

Then she drew a floor cabinet, which was simpler; it overturned the tradition of top-opening doors, turning them into rows of side-opening doors, with each door needing several partitions inside, meant for storing different items.

Finally, Yu Xiaolian drew a bookshelf, which was designed in a simple style.

"These items don’t need carvings, just polish them nicely and wax them appropriately."

Yu Xiaolian set down the brush, seeing the carpenter staring at the designs in amazement, she thought he couldn’t make them, "Can’t make them?"

This was already the simplest design she had drawn.

"I can make them, I can make them!" The carpenter exclaimed with excitement holding the designs, "You, young girl, are remarkable; you can draw plans, and draw them so well. This furniture will definitely sell well when made."

"I only make furniture; I don’t sell designs. If you want to make and sell these to others, shouldn’t the furniture I custom order be a bit cheaper for me?"

The carpenter, with great generosity, gave his chest a pat, "Cheap? If you leave these designs behind, I’ll make them free for you."

It’s just a few pieces of wood; wood isn’t expensive, what’s valuable is his craftsmanship.

With these designs, would he worry about not selling furniture?

With such innovative designs, the nobility and wealthy young ladies will surely like them.

The aristocracy is a tight circle, once it spreads from one to ten, ten to a hundred, will he still worry about getting business?

Hearing she would get them free, Yu Xiaolian couldn’t contain her joy, "I also want two small bedside tables, a dining round table, four chairs, and a bathtub."

"No problem." The carpenter agreed without hesitation.

Having achieved her purpose, they headed home.

After Yu Xiaolian and Sun family left, Liu the carpenter’s apprentice grumbled, "Master, those two are dressed in ragged clothes, and they don’t seem to have money to order furniture. Were you tricked by that girl?"

Giving free items for just a few designs, and so many too, the apprentice felt his master was deceived.

Liu the carpenter was immersed in happiness from the new designs; he never thought cabinets could be made this way.

The apprentice saw his master wasn’t listening, so he grabbed a hammer and started working on a wooden board, thinking of delivering low-quality furniture for free; otherwise, his master would be losing money.

Passing through the market, seeing firewood on sale, Yu Xiaolian stopped.

The clusters of people selling firewood saw Sun’s mother and daughter dressed worse than them and didn’t bother greeting them. It was two lean boys who timidly asked Yu Xiaolian, "Buying firewood?"

"Yes, how much per bundle?"

These two thin and tall boys seemed about Yu Xiaolian’s age, looked exactly the same, and must be twin brothers.

Seeing them truly buy firewood, the boys were thrilled, "Six coins per bundle, ten coins for two bundles."

Sun asked, "Is this cart all yours?"

"Yes." Two little heads nodded in unison.

Yu Xiaolian glanced at Sun, and the mother and daughter reached a consensus with their eyes.

"We’ll take them all. Can you deliver them to my home?"

"Yes, yes." The brothers smiled alike, feeling they met kind people today, not having to push the heavy firewood cart home like yesterday.

When Yu Xiaolian arrived home, the blacksmith’s delivery person was knocking on her door. Seeing them return, he placed the pots at the door and left.

Sun carried the pots into the yard, Yu Xiaolian led the twin brothers to the backyard.

They neatly arranged the wood in a corner before running to Yu Xiaolian’s side, "Sister, altogether twenty bundles, one hundred coins."

Yu Xiaolian asked, "Do you come every day to sell firewood?"

"Yes, we’ve been coming every day lately." Because their mother was sick, they had been chopping and selling firewood daily lately.

"Do you know how to make charcoal? My home needs quite a bit of firewood and charcoal."

Da An and Xiao An exchanged glances and replied in unison, "Yes, we know how to make charcoal."

"Then bring another cart of wood and a cart of charcoal, this half silver as a deposit."

Yu Xiaolian originally didn’t plan to buy so much wood, after all, there were plenty of wood sellers, but she saw the little ones seriously stacking the wood neatly and was impressed by them.

"Thank you, sister, you’re truly a good person. Tomorrow, we’ll first send a cart of wood, charcoal will come later."

"Alright, no hurry. If the charcoal burns well without smoke, my family will regularly use your delivery."

Winters in Great Liang were extremely cold, the further north more so. The house couldn’t do without coal fire in winter, so stocking up abundantly was good.

The little ones expressed their gratitude repeatedly to Yu Xiaolian and left happily.

Yu Xiaolian glanced at the neatly stacked firewood and praised the little ones again in her heart.

Such neat work!

Passing by the horse stable, Dahong neighed at Yu Xiaolian, reminding her she hadn’t bought horse fodder and hadn’t watered it.

She took a small red plastic bucket from her space, drew a bucket of water from the well, and carried it to Dahong, who immediately dipped its head into the bucket to drink.

It seemed really thirsty.

With such hot weather, how could it not be thirsty?