Chapter 510: Pickle Jar
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After being exposed, Yan Yanrong completely broke down. She gave up and shouted, “Yes, I broke it. I did it. Are you satisfied?”
Chu Qingshuang looked at the hysterical Yan Yanrong. Was this woman’s brain damaged? How could she be so self-righteous after breaking the porcelain?
Unexpectedly, Li Shaoliang said, “I’m not satisfied. Are you going to compensate for the 5,000 taels of silver? Or should I tell your family and ask them to compensate?”
This brought Yan Yanrong back to reality, as she couldn’t bear the price of being responsible for such an expensive mistake. Kneeling on the ground, she pleaded, “Master, I was foolish, it wasn’t intentional. Please don’t tell my family. I’ve saved some money, I’ll bring it to you right away.”
Li Zhenzong looked at her disappointedly, “The porcelain cannot be compensated for. Go back and don’t come to the workshop anymore.”
Yan Yanrong, drained of all energy, collapsed to the floor.
Chu Qingshuang, looking at her without a hint of sympathy, thought Yan Yanrong got what she deserved for her actions.
Just then, someone knocked on the door, “Miss Chu Qingzhi is here.”
“Fifth Sister is here?” Chu Qingshuang brightened up and ran out, “Fifth Sister, Fifth Sister…”
Li Zhenzong and Li Shaoliang also went outside, leaving Yan Yanrong alone in her misery.
Yan Yanrong, looking at their departing figures, clenched her skirt in her fists, her eyes filled with resentment. She was determined to make them regret choosing Chu Qingshuang over her!
After greetings, Chu Qingshuang asked Li Shaoliang to distribute ice cream bars to the workers at the porcelain workshop, helping Chu Qingshuang build good relations.
Chu Qingshuang held Chu Qingzhi’s wrist. She was happy. It was great to have such a sister.
“Fifth Sister, you must be here for something, right? Tell me, 1’11 do it for you.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’m just here to buy some water tanks.”
“Why are you buying water tanks?”
“To make soybean paste.”
Chu Qingshuang’s mouth watered at the thought, “Soybean paste must be delicious.”
Chu Qingzhi replied, “You’ll know once you taste it.”
Li Zhenzong said, “Qingshuang, the porcelain workshop is not busy now.
You’re familiar with this area. Why don’t you accompany your fifth sister to buy water tanks?”
Chu Qingshuang agreed happily. “Yes, Master.”
The two sisters left the Li porcelain workshop hand in hand.
Li Shaoliang wanted to follow, but he was afraid of disturbing the sisters. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth and followed.
Qingshuang had a good relationship with her fifth sister, so he had to curry favor with her. This was a rare opportunity.
Li Zhenzong looked at his son’s back and smiled. The boy seemed to have become smarter since the food festival.
Chu Qingshuang led Chu Qingzhi to Zhang’s Pottery Workshop nearby, “Fifth Sister, Zhang’s Pottery Workshop is usually the best, let’s check there first. If you don’t like it, we’ll look elsewhere.”
Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Okay.”
Catching up, Li Shaoliang blurted out excitedly, “Fifth Sister, I also think Zhang’s pottery is good. They have been here for over twenty years.”
Fifth Sister? Chu Qingzhi raised her eyebrows and looked at Chu Qingshuang.
At first, Chu Qingshuang didn’t react. After seeing Chu Qingzhi’s gaze, she belatedly reached out and patted Li Shaoliang. “She’s my Fifth Sister. Why are you calling her Fifth Sister?”
Li Shaoliang’s face immediately turned red. “I, I…”
Chu Qingshuang pulled Chu Qingzhi away and helped Li Shaoliang avoid the awkwardness.
Watching the two girls walk away, Li Shaoliang wished he could hide in a hole, embarrassed and regretting his attempt at currying favor too eagerly.
Chu Qingzhi smiled at Chu Qingshuang, “You and Li Shaoliang…”
Chu Qingshuang, who had no romantic interest in Li Shaoliang and saw him more as a brother, replied frankly, “Fifth Sister, there’s nothing between us.”
Hearing this, Chu Qingzhi dropped the topic as they arrived at Zhang’s Pottery Workshop.
A shopkeeper greeted them at the entrance, “Greetings, Miss. What are you looking to buy?”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at the small pottery jars by the door which looked quite good, “Let’s have a look first.”
The shopkeeper, smiling, led them, “Right this way, ladies.”
The pottery for customers was displayed in an open area with various sizes and types of ceramics, including large water tanks, rice containers, salt jars, pickle jars, and more, filling the entire space.
Chu Qingzhi tapped a few medium-sized water tanks, which gave a clear ring, indicating good quality. “Shopkeeper, I’ll take five of these hundred-catty water tanks and two thirty-pound pickle jars.”
She intended to use the pickle jars for making fermented bean paste and fermented tofu at home.
The shopkeeper enthusiastically asked, “When would you like these delivered? We can bring them to your house.”
Chu Qingzhi replied, “Please arrange for delivery right away. I’ll be heading home soon.”
The shopkeeper agreed, “Please settle the bill, and I’ll have someone load them up.”
The pottery was inexpensive; seven pieces cost only ten taels, including delivery.
Two strong men loaded the goods onto a cart, securing them before waiting for Chu Qingzhi.
After paying, Chu Qingzhi was escorted out by the shopkeeper, who said, “If you’re satisfied with our products, we’d appreciate it if you could recommend us to others. Thank you very much.”
Chu Qingzhi was pleased with the service and promised to do so, then said goodbye to Chu Qingshuang and headed home.
In the Chu Village.
The pottery was unloaded in the old house’s courtyard. The delivery men kindly helped Chu Qingzhi move the water tanks next to the well for easy cleaning.
Chu Qingzhi thanked them with a piece of ice cream bar each, “Take care.”
“Thank you, Miss.” The men were pleasantly surprised to receive a treat for their work and left with smiles.
Chu Qingzhi returned to the courtyard to fetch water from the well to clean the tanks.
Tang Jinghong came over, “Let me do it.”
Chu Qingzhi didn’t argue and went to fetch some sieves, pouring the seeds onto
them.? The seeds, bought by bulks, were mixed with some shriveled and bad ones, needing to be sorted out.
Auntie Zhang, helping with the beans, looked curiously at the seeds, “Qingzhi, you bought so many seeds. How much land are you going to plant?”
Chu Qingzhi replied, “Mother plans to clear the wasteland next to the herb garden. 1 intend to use all of it for planting vegetables.”
“That wasteland can’t grow anything,” said Auntie Zhang. “Many years ago, people tried to cultivate it, but the crops either died or were stunted. Since
then,? no one has bothered with it.”
Chu Qingzhi responded, “I’ve already bought the seeds, so let’s give it a try. If it doesn’t work, we’ll give up.”
Auntie Zhang thought to herself that Chu Qingzhi often achieved what others couldn’t. Perhaps she would be lucky with the wasteland. She stopped persuading her and offered, “If you need any help, just say so. The busy farming season is over, and everyone is free.”
“Thank you, Auntie Zhang..”
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