You Can Count It With a Palm

Qiao Mai came to the roadside and went straight to the cloth shop. She was very disappointed when she entered.

How could a small town possibly have high-end fabrics? Other than old and fine coarse cloth, and cotton cloth, there were at most a few rolls of silk on the display case.

She opened her mouth and asked, "Shopkeeper, do you have muslin here?"

There were a few customers in the shop, and the shopkeeper and workers were all busy. When they heard her words, they turned around to look at her.

When he saw she was dressed neatly and had a silver hairpin in her hair, the shopkeeper called another worker over. He personally came over to receive Qiao Mai.

"Madam, we don't have it here. However, if you want it, our shop can order it from the city."

"How much for one?"

"Five taels of silver for a horse. If you buy it yourself, you won't be able to get this price."

Qiao Mai understood there were collaborations between people in the same trade, and they were taking the wholesale price.

"When will it arrive?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll order a white muslin. Do you have the outer ring of the palace fan?"

"No, this has to be customized too."

"Do you sell fans here?"

"Ordinary fan stores sell them. Not many households in our town can afford the expensive ones, so our shop usually doesn't stock such goods."

Qiao Mai didn't ask any more questions. She paid the deposit at the cloth shop, took the receipt, and walked around the town.

Initially, she wanted to try doing it herself, but after seeing the carpenter shop, she decided to order it from them.

When she entered the shop, she saw that the shop assistant was busy working. He wiped his hands and came over to greet her.

"Madam, do you want to customize carpentry?"

"Can you make palace fans and round fan frames here?"

"Yes, this is a delicate job. It has to be done by our master. No one else can do it."

"Do fans of different shapes cost the same?"

"Pure bamboo is one tael of silver. If the fan requires wood for decoration, the price will increase according to the difference in the wood."

"Be more specific?"

"The yellow pear wood fan costs two taels of silver, the mahogany fan costs three taels of silver, the black walnut fan costs five taels of silver, and the expensive sandalwood costs ten taels of silver."

"Is it convenient for me to weave in the cloth myself?"

"Of course. There are buttons inside the bamboo. After the cloth is evenly spread, you can buckle it in, and the cloth will be unfolded."

Thinking that she only had five taels of silver left, Qiao Mai said," Then I'll order a yellow pear wood fan first. If your master's craftsmanship is good, I'll order more in the future."

"And you are?" The worker wanted to ask Qiao Mai what she did for a living.

"I'm an embroiderer. I'll be dealing with you guys often in the future."

The shop assistant was happy when he heard that. Although Qiao Mai was not the young mistress of a wealthy family, she had a good job and would definitely order more in the future. He had to talk to his master about this later, so he became even more respectful.

"Madam, I won't give you a discount for this one. When you become a regular customer, I'll report to my master and give you the most suitable price."

"Alright."

After Qiao Mai paid the deposit, she received the receipt again and left the carpenter shop. Next was the embroidery thread and needles.

When she arrived at Ruyi Embroidery Manor, several women were working inside. When Lu Sanniang saw her, she waved at her and gestured, meaning to ask her to wait.

Qiao Mai stood at the side of the shop and looked outside. While she was in a daze, a woman kept staring at her.

Not to mention that Qiao Mai did not know many people when she first came here, even in the past, Qiao Mai did not know many people in her mother and in-law's village.

The woman looked at her for a long time and asked carefully.

"Are you Madam Qiao from Peach Blossom Village, who separated from the Tian family?"

Qiao Mai turned around and glanced at her. "You are?"

"Ah, I knew you looked familiar. So it's true. I haven't seen you for half a month, and you've changed so much. You even wore a silver hairpin!"

Qiao Mai looked at her coldly. This day would come sooner or later, and she was mentally prepared for it.

"Yes. No one in the village helped me, so I came to town. Needless to say, even the townsfolk who don't know me can feel pity for me, but my own villagers ignored me."

The woman rolled her eyes. "Don't point fingers at me. I'm not having a good time either. Besides, the Tian family is watching. If we help you and let the Tian family know, with Madam Tian Li's temper, she'll come to our house and cause trouble. We can't afford to offend her."

"I'm not scolding anyone. I'm just telling the truth. May I ask who you are?"

"I'm the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhou family, opposite the Tian family. My family is from the same village as yours. My surname is Du."

"Oh, got it."

Qiao Mai was indifferent to her. After saying that, she looked into the distance and ignored her.

Madam Zhou Du kept talking endlessly." I say, Madam Qiao, now that you're rich, why don't you return to your maternal family? Your family is suffering now, and they lead miserable lives."

"They said that a married daughter is like spilled water. They forbid me from returning."

"That's just talk. It's because of the Tian family that they told you that. Which parent doesn't love their child?"

"Yes, which parent doesn't love their child?"

Qiao Mai was about to continue when Lu Sanniang called her from the shop.

"Madam Qiao, come in and work. If you don't do your job properly, I'll fire you."

Madam Zhou Du turned around and looked at Lu Sanniang. "Shopkeeper, is Madam Qiao working for you?"

"Yeah."

Madam Zhou Du pouted and rolled her eyes at Qiao Mai.

"I didn't expect you to be so lucky. So you met a benefactor. She's a famous rich woman in our countryside."

Qiao Mai also rolled her eyes and turned to enter the shop. Madam Zhou Du snorted coldly and walked away.

After she walked far away, she glanced back.

Lu Sanniang saw no one else in front of the shop and pulled her hand.

"Why did you come out?"

"I went to the cloth shop to order a muslin, then went to the carpenter shop for a palace fan. I'll try to embroider a palace fan first. The weather is getting warmer and warmer. I'm sure the ladies of rich families will have to come out. They would want a majestic fan."

"How long did it take you to embroider this fan on both sides?"

"Half a month."

"Double-sided embroidery is time-consuming and eye-consuming. How much do you think this palace fan is worth?"

"The cloth isn't worth much. It costs five taels of silver for a bolt and only a small piece. The fan frame costs three taels of silver, and there's a long tassel under the handle. Adding on my embroidery skills, the cost should be at least ten taels."

"It's not just ten taels. Based on your double-sided embroidery skills solely, it's worth a lot of money."

"Then let's calculate it at the cost of 20 taels. This palace fan should be sold for at least 100 taels."

Lu Sanniang's eyes widened." I was thinking of selling it for 50 taels, but you want to sell it for 100 taels. Can we really sell it?"

"Only those who have no money will haggle. Rich people won't care about this small amount as long as the product looks good. Oh, right, I forgot to order a wooden box for the palace fan. It will elevate its grade."

"Grade?"

"It's to increase its value, just like people. People rely on clothes, and horses rely on saddles, understand?"

"Haha, now that you mention it, I understand."

Qiao Mai went to the carpenter's shop again and ordered a wooden box for the palace fan. The requirements were also high-grade.

After taking the needle and thread from the embroidery shop, she didn't wander around anymore. Qiao Mai already knew the market price here, so she went home.

As soon as Madam Zhou Du returned to the village, she ran to the Tian family opposite and pulled Madam Tian Li along to start talking.

"Aunt, guess who I saw today?"

"Spit it out if you have something to say. Could you have seen a ghost?" 

"Tsk, it's your Madam Qiao!"

"Bah, not anymore. I've long wanted to divorce that b*tch. Slut. Don't let me catch that man. Otherwise, I'll burn her to death."

Madam Zhou Du shivered." Aunt, she's in Tianshui Town now. I haven't seen her for half a month, and she's dressed really well. She's even wearing a new cotton coat and has a silver hairpin in her hair."