Chapter 8: Chapter 7: Danhong, You Know How to Embroider?

Sister Hong wondered if it was passed on to her?

She heard Su Danhong ask, “Sister Hong, what do you think of the price of my embroidery?

It was natural to negotiate the price first before they discussed business.

Sister Hong had been in this business for many years. It was destroyed a few years ago, but she started it again and she had her own sales channel. However, she lacked top embroidery products, so she naturally doesn't want to miss out on a master like Su Danhong.

“Meizi, what do I call you?” Sister Hong smiled and brought her over for tea.

When she first walked in, she thought she was an ordinary village woman. But when she sat down, it’s like she changed into a different person. She really agreed with the saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover”.

Su Danhong introduced herself, after all there was nothing to hide.

Sister Hong smiled when she heard it, "It's really fate. I’m called Zhen Miaohong, and meizi, you are called Su Danhong. There is a ‘Hong’ character in our names."

Su Danhong smiled.

“To tell you the truth, meizi, I've been in this business for at least ten years, and I haven't seen a master as fast and as good as you in embroidery, " Sister Hong said.

Su Danhong modestly said, “So sister Hong doesn’t dislike it. How can this bit of skill be regarded as a master?”

“Meizi, don’t be modest. Your skills are at the top master level. Ordinary masters are not even at your level.”

Sister Hong was still a bit explicit and said, “That’s why I won’t lie to you. If you take these kinds of skills outside, it can be bought for a high price. However, you have to find a market yourself. It’s hard to find one and others may not trust you. The price is naturally very low. This embroidery can not be sold so casually. Aside from this place, there are a few embroidery shops in Jiangshui City. If you trust me, you can take embroidery needles and thread from here in the future. As for embroidery, you can give it to me and I will pay you in person. If you’re not satisfied, we can discuss it. But if I sell your embroidery, then I will definitely have to take some portion of the profits. Meizi, what do you think?”

“I’ll listen to sister Hong,” Su Danhong nodded when she heard those words.

Zhen Miaohong completely opened up while speaking to her. She thought that when Zhen Miaohong saw her embroidered yellow oriole bird, it was enough to catch her eye and to keep her. Otherwise, she would not get such treatment.

“Meizi is straightforward. Don’t worry, sister Hong will not let you suffer.” Sister Hong saw she was delighted and thought she was worthy of being an expert level embroiderer among embroidery masters. This mindset was not something ordinary people could have.

“But sister Hong, I plan on making better embroidery pieces,” Su Danhong said.

“That’s natural, this was just for practice,” sister Hong smiled and went to get her the best embroidery material.

Su Danhong looked forward to it, but she still felt a bit dissatisfied when she saw it. This might already be sister Hong’s best, and she could only use it reluctantly.

On this side, Su Danhong requests were very demanding and she had a critical eye with things.

Sister Hong could tell the embroidery material she owned was not very special. Yet, she was not dissatisfied with it. Instead, Su Danhong’s position in her mind rose.

After all, whether one’s embroidery skill was or was not top rate, wasn’t sister Hong clear about it? But she didn’t expect Su Danhong to only touch it and know the embroidery material’s quality.

“Meizi, don’t worry. Next time you come, I will definitely get you better embroidery work!” Sister Hong exclaimed.

Su Danhong also was not polite, “Then I’ll trouble you, sister Hong.”

“There’s no trouble at all.”

Before, sister Hong did not dare to enter into that type of first rate embroidery work because she was worried about ruining it. But she found a treasure now. Sister Hong would certainly enter it. Moreover, the embroidery work was extremely good. The higher the quality of the embroidery work, the higher the price. This was a win-win situation!

Sister Hong did not need a deposit from Su Danhong, so she took the best embroidery needles and threads from there. Su Danhong was not in a hurry to go back home. She walked around town to buy a lot of necessities before returning home satisfied.

Su Danhong saw that it was almost noon, so she quickly cooked up two dishes. One was an egg chive stir fry1 and the other was sliced meat with green pepper2. Then she went over to Lao Ji’s home.

“Danhong?” Father Ji and Mother Ji were preparing to eat and were stunned when they saw Lao San’s wife come over.

“Father, mother, I have not prepared to eat yet. I just made two dishes. Can I come over and eat with you?” Su Danhong asked.

Father Ji nodded for her to sit.

“If you come, then come. Why do you need to cook some dishes?” Mother Ji said and glanced at the dishes with satisfaction. She was not greedy for the two dishes, it was Lao San’s wife’s attitude problem.

She was filial to be willing to bring two plates of food over.

Mother Ji brought her a bowl and chopsticks and called her to sit down and eat together.

Father Ji and Mother Ji’s dishes were simple, pickled vegetables, and salted peanuts. With Su Danhong’s two plates of food brought over, there were two more dishes.

While eating dinner, Father Ji was silent and Mother Ji was not so polite. She did not pay attention to eating and speaking.

Su Danhong dared to stare at Ji Jianyun, but did not dare to stare at Mother Ji.

“Did you already send the clothes to Ji Jianyun?” Mother Ji asked.

“Sent.” Su Danhong nodded.

“Did you write a letter to Jianyun?” Mother Ji asked.

Su Danhong’s face became slightly red. She nodded lightly and said “I wrote a few sentences.”

Mother Ji thought it was funny seeing her like this and said, “What is so shy about writing a letter to your man? Isn’t it normal?

Su Danhong quickly shifted the conversation and said to her father-in-law, “Father, I want to trouble you to help me make an embroidery frame.

Father Ji used to be a carpenter. He had been taking fewer jobs in recent years. Years ago, people would come see her father-in-law if they wanted a dowry wardrobe.

“Embroidery frame?” Father Ji had not spoken when Mother Ji, who was taken back, asked, “What do you want that thing for?”

Su Danhong said in a gentle voice that two years ago she saw some embroidery in town and thought it was beautiful. Thus, she quietly learned how to make it in the house.

“Today I went to send Jianyun clothes and saw it was still early. I passed by sister Hong’s embroidery shop to look around. I embroidered a yellow oriole bird for sister Hong to see. She said I can use my embroidery to make money. As a matter of fact, I thought that I was idle at home and should do some work. No matter how much it is, I can earn a little to supplement my family.”

She wanted to earn a little for her family. She was ready to have children and Jianyun was outside. Although he was paid every month, it was not a lot. If she really did have children, then the money would be quickly used like running water. How could she rely on Jianyun alone?

There was some money saved at home, but children's food and clothing expenses need to be meticulous. Furthermore, the children needed to go to college in the future. These things cost money.

It goes without saying that Mother Ji was dumbstruck and Father Ji was startled.

Mother Ji was more straightforward. When she saw her daughter-in-law’s fat waist, big bottom, and rough hands, she could not cover up her own doubt. “Danhong, you know how to embroider?”

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