mtl008 Chapter 149 New Home, New Life
Chapter 149 New Home, New Life
Standing in the newly rented three-courtyard house, Shi Wanxia was filled with emotion. The house was spacious and grand, with two main wing rooms, ten guest wing rooms, and twelve wing rooms on each side. There were three kitchens, two small kitchens and one large kitchen, and each room was about forty square meters, with plenty of space.
However, looking at the size of the house, Shi Wanxia was somewhat worried. The rent was really not cheap, fifteen taels of silver a month, and it had to be paid for a year at once. They didn't have more than two hundred taels of silver left, and they still needed to buy some household items tomorrow, such as pots and pans, firewood, rice, oil, and salt, which would be quite an expense.
Nevertheless, Shi Wanxia was quite satisfied with the house. She looked around the house, and the antique architectural style and exquisite carved doors and windows all highlighted the charm of the house.
The house also has gardens, pavilions, rockeries, ponds and a small lake. The scenery in the courtyard is breathtaking and it is larger than the house in Sanlo.
After touring the house, Shi Wanxia returned to the main hall. Shuyun and the others were wiping and cleaning the tables and chairs. Shi Wanxia awkwardly scratched her nose and quickly went to help with the cleaning. While wiping the tables, she asked Qinxin about the day's investigation.
"Qin Xin, what do you think? Do you think we can survive on this?"
Qin Xin nodded excitedly, gesturing wildly as she recounted, "Sister Shi, you're so amazing! So many people liked the cloth bags you taught us to make, and I sold them all. They even asked me if I had any left, and if I was going again tomorrow!"
Qin Xin thought Shi Wanxia was quite capable; she had sold over thirty taels of silver today, which she handed over to Shu Yun, since Shu Yun managed the household accounts. Qin Xin didn't feel that life was hard; on the contrary, she felt that her current life, with plenty of food and clothing, was much better than before.
Being able to support herself and no longer having to endure being beaten, scolded, or sold off at will filled her with motivation.
Hearing Qin Xin's words, Shi Wanxia felt a little comforted. It seemed they still had hope of surviving here. She began to plan how to arrange her days ahead.
First, the house needs to be furnished as quickly as possible to provide everyone with a comfortable living environment. Then, make more cloth bags and incense to sell at the market to earn some living expenses. At the same time, consider starting other small businesses to supplement income.
The next day, Shi Wanxia took Shuyun, Qinxin, and Shuying to the market to buy household items. The market was bustling with activity, and all kinds of goods were on display. They selected some good quality, affordable pots and pans, firewood, rice, oil, salt, and other daily necessities. They also bought some fabrics and decorations, preparing to decorate their house to make it more cozy.
Back at the house, everyone worked together to arrange the newly purchased items. Shi Wanxia even designed some decorations to hang in the rooms, making the house more beautiful. With everyone's combined efforts, the house gradually began to feel like home.
They bought a lot of meat and vegetables at the market today. While they were setting up the room, Wanxia took Qinghuan to the kitchen to cook. Qinghuan was in charge of tending the fire, while Wanxia rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
In the kitchen, Shi Wanxia skillfully washed and chopped the meat and vegetables, then stir-fried them in a wok. Her movements were practiced and efficient, and soon the kitchen was filled with a fragrant aroma. Qinghuan sat in front of the stove, carefully tending the fire, adding firewood from time to time to keep the flames burning brightly.
The whole piece of mutton was stewed in a pot with some ginger and star anise to remove the gamey smell. Unfortunately, in ancient times, oxen were protected, and buying, selling, or slaughtering them privately was punishable by death. I could only buy some goat meat, which was over an ounce per pound—really expensive! Pork was only a little over three hundred coins per pound.
Knowing that today was her housewarming party, she felt she couldn't let herself go without a good meal. After all, she couldn't let her little mouth go hungry.
As Shi Wanxia chopped cabbage and mushrooms, the rich aroma of mutton wafted from the pot. Thinking it was almost time, she took the mutton out to cool. She prepared the side dishes, planning to make a stir-fried mutton. She didn't intend to throw away the mutton broth, so she added the mutton offal, which she had painstakingly cleaned, to the pot to simmer.
With their seamless teamwork, delicious dishes were quickly prepared. Shi Wanxia brought the dishes to the table and then invited everyone to come and eat. Everyone sat around the table, enjoying the food Shi Wanxia had made, and praising it highly.
After dinner, everyone sat together in the living room chatting, sharing their stories and experiences. Shi Wanxia and Qinghuan sat quietly to the side, listening to everyone's conversation. Their faces were filled with happy smiles, as if this little family was their whole world.
Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, while the charcoal fire in the main hall radiated warmth. Shi Wanxia sat at the table, sketching and writing. Merchants were considered lowly in this era, but that didn't matter; as long as one could eat their fill, who could turn down money?
She decided to continue making and selling soap starting tomorrow. Although it was laborious, it was a necessity that ordinary families could afford.
Although it was midday, her hands and feet were still a bit chilly, and the air felt somewhat stuffy. She told her family members to go back to their rooms to read and practice calligraphy, while she went out to stroll around the streets to see what other ways she could make a living. After all, with so many people in the family, it was always good to save more money.
As late summer strolled along the street, her gaze swept over the shops and stalls on both sides. She noticed some exquisite handicrafts displayed in front of a general store, and a thought struck her.
She went into the shop and chatted with the owner, learning that all the handicrafts were made by the owner himself and were very popular. Wanxia thought that if she could learn to make these handicrafts, perhaps she could make them at home and sell them to increase her income.
But the shop owner kicked her out. How could he let others learn these skills that he used to make a living?
Shi Wanxia had no choice but to leave, and then wandered around the streets. When she got tired, she found a teahouse to rest. She drank her tea and listened to the gossip of the people around her. In the center of the teahouse, an old man and a young man were playing and singing.
The lyrics had a slight accent, and she couldn't understand what they were singing. However, the girl looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, with delicate and pretty features and gentle eyes. Her captivating appearance drew the attention of many men present.
She seemed used to such gazes, her expression unchanged as she sang a little tune. Her voice was soft, and the old man, presumably her father, held a pipa. His fingers moved nimbly, and heavenly music was born from his hands.
Shi Wanxia clicked her tongue in amazement. The old man and the young woman were truly remarkable; they played the music and lyrics without sheet music—it was incredibly impressive. Although the teahouse was a mixed bag, they were forced to perform for a living. It wasn't easy for them!