Chapter 87: Moving House
This batch of goods took seven days to complete, finally finished through the efforts of several people.
During these seven days, Zhang Pandi and her mother gradually ’recovered’ under Jiang Jing’s treatment.
The villagers were impressed by Jiang Jing’s medical skills. Of course, there were still some who were skeptical and came up with various reasons to get Jiang Jing to diagnose them.
Su Yaoguang directly hung a sign at the door, telling the villagers that consultation was possible, but as a female doctor, Jiang Jing would be charging a consultation fee; she wasn’t here to play house with them.
The group who came to amuse themselves with Jiang Jing was not pleased, and certainly wouldn’t spend this ’unnecessary money.’
Of course, there were also some genuinely seeking diagnosis. They just weren’t confident in Jiang Jing’s capabilities, so hesitant to become the first patient. Until Su Yaoguang informed everyone that the first ten patients would only need to pay ten cents for the consultation fee, with medicine costs calculated separately. If unwilling to get medicine from them, they could also go to the clinic themselves. Under such temptation, finally, the first patient came for a consultation.
"There’s nothing wrong with your body. You’ve been married to your husband for five years without children, but it’s not necessarily your problem. If you have time, you can bring your husband for a consultation."
The woman turned pale upon hearing Jiang Jing, stood up and said, "You really are a charlatan. I actually expected you to cure my infertility. I’m never coming back."
The woman ran out as if chased by a ghost.
Jia Chunni came in with a vegetable basket, angrily saying, "Is this woman crazy? Even I know having a child is a matter for two people. Her body is healthy, indicating the problem lies with her husband. Why won’t she bring him to give it a try?"
"Of course she knows, but she’s afraid to make such a request. From the expression of the woman, it’s apparent her husband must be extremely domineering. If told such a domineering man has issues with his body, so they can’t have children, she’d suffer greatly. Forget it, anyway, all that needed saying has been said, there’s nothing more I can do to help." Jiang Jing was indifferent. "Yaoguang hasn’t returned after delivering the goods?"
"She’s back." Zhang Yingdi shouted from the yard, "Yaoguang’s back."
Jiang Jing and Jia Chunni walked out and saw Su Yaoguang driving the ox cart into the yard.
Zhang Yingdi took the rope from Su Yaoguang’s hand and tied it to the stump.
Jia Chunni and Jiang Jing came over to move things.
They were soon moving to the city. They usually didn’t buy much, just daily necessities, waiting until their city shop was almost ready, then they’d move to the city to open a store.
Su Yaoguang got off the ox cart and said to Zhang Yingdi, "Everything went smoothly, and the payment was received."
"That’s great."
At dinner, Su Yaoguang suggested Jia Chunni and her mother should move to the city first. When she delivered goods today, she got another order from the dance house, which wasn’t large and consisted of loose items. She planned to complete this batch before going to the city and preparing to open the store.
The next day, Jiang Jing sent Jia Chunni and her mother to the city, settling them in before returning.
A few days later, after the batch was completed, Su Yaoguang told Aunt Li and then the whole family moved to the city. As they left, the villagers lamented their family’s fortune.
"Didn’t Su Yaoguang say earlier it was a small business barely making money? If it truly didn’t make money, why move to the city so quickly to do business? Look at Zhong Lanhua and Jiang Yihuan, that mother-daughter pair, they do embroidery business, claim their needlework is good, and sell at high prices, yet haven’t seen them moving to the city?"
"It seems Su Yaoguang and her mother are more capable. Although Zhong Lanhua and Jiang Yihuan look glamorous, they’re just empty shells, pretty but useless."
Zhong Lanhua, hands on hips, was about to argue with those gossiping women but was stopped by Jiang Yihuan.
"Why stop me? I have to tear their mouths apart. No matter what, they’re not fit to talk. They’re just full of words, probably never even seen Silver?"
"Mom, what’s the use of arguing with them? What they said isn’t wrong. Su Yaoguang went to the city, while we’ve done women’s work for years and haven’t made much money. No, previous earnings all went for brother’s expenses, we only bought some nice clothes, the house still the one dad left, doesn’t that make us pretty but useless!"
"That was when your brother’s study expenses were high; now it’s different. He no longer needs to pay for school fees, saving quite a bit of money! We continue embroidering; we’ll surely make big money."
"Mom, let’s open a shop too!" Jiang Yihuan fiddled with her hair and said, "Yesterday I went to the city to see brother, although didn’t see him; I met Xiao Ci. Xiao Ci’s paintings sell well, and he has saved some money. I plan to get some from him — we’ll open a shop in the city. Mom, you’ve been strong for decades, surely don’t want to be outdone by Zhang Zhaodi and her mother?"
Zhong Lanhua’s eyes sparkled: "Xiao Ci is just our paid servant. Heard he studied well and made a deal with the academy, saving several years’ fees, worth far more than buying him for Silver, we only gain and don’t lose. Now hearing you say this, does he have other uses? Should I treat him better so he’d serve us?"
"To make him serve us, I’ll treat him well — mom should, as before, make things difficult. Look at those in plays, one acting tough, the other soft, only then can you win people over!"
"You mean I continue to make it difficult for him, even in front of him, also making it hard for you, evoking pity and kindred feelings between you?"
"Do men not always fall for this?" Jiang Yihuan smiled, "The more pitiful and frail I am, the more they want to protect and take care of me. That Xiao Ci looks good, but is just a foolish man."
"Regarding dealing with men, I’m no match for you. Seems I’ll enjoy a daughter’s blessing from now." Zhong Lanhua felt proud.
"Tomorrow I’ll go to the city to find Xiao Ci — even if he can’t temporarily offer the money, I’ll make him figure a way to earn it for us." Jiang Yihuan said.
As Jiang Yihuan and her mother plotted to calculate human feelings, a figure left from outside the fence. That person entered the opposite yard, looking downcast, as if struck.
"Da Chun, did you go again to carry water and chop firewood for that mother-daughter pair? Are you foolish, insisting on serving them as a servant?" Da Chun’s mother said angrily.
"Mom, you said earlier you’d look for a matchmaker for me, was that right?" Zhang Dachun asked, "I’m willing to meet, arrange it!"
Da Chun’s mother was delighted: "You’ve finally come to your senses? Thank heavens, this silly boy finally has brains. I’ll immediately find a matchmaker to discuss this, settling the marriage early to avoid complications."