Chapter 11 Furnishing the Home

Chapter 11 Furnishing the Home

Old Man Yang's face creased with frustration as he stomped his foot, exasperated by Shen Miao's demands. "You want beechwood, and you want it carved, painted, and lacquered! Go ask around all of Bianjing, where can you find such a deal! That's good wood!"

Shen Miao bowed slightly. "You're a kind man, Old Man Yang. As you can see, my family has just suffered a disaster, and I have two children to feed and clothe. Every penny saved helps! In a few days, I'll come back to you for doors and windows! This is a long-term partnership between us! Look, I just ordered wooden furniture from you yesterday, and now I'm back for a cart. It's not just your craftsmanship I value, but your character as well!"

Old Man Yang's tanned face flushed slightly, and his chin lifted with pride. He glanced at the collapsed walls and the charred remains of the house behind Shen Miao and sighed deeply. "Alright, alright, helping others is helping oneself. Let’s call it two hundred coins. You're a young woman with children, and it's not easy for you."

Shen Miao was overjoyed, having saved another thirty coins. She quickly bowed respectfully to Old Man Yang. "Thank you, Old Man Yang! I keep my word, and I'll definitely come back to you for doors and windows!"

Old Man Yang chuckled. "It’s a deal, no take-backs."

Shen Miao smiled. "Next time you come for pancakes, I’ll give you a discount!"

The day before, Shen Miao had already discussed the design of the cart with Old Man Yang. As a seasoned carpenter, Old Man Yang was a skilled draftsman. After just one explanation, he had meticulously sketched out the design. Shen Miao then went over the details with him:

The cart would have two rear wheels wrapped with non-slip hemp rope. The front would have an I-beam support and curved handles. The sides of the cart would be propped up by four wooden poles to support a bamboo canopy. The canopy would have a vertical wooden sign with the words "Shen's Pancake Shop" painted in bright red, and a bowl of noodles would be carved between "Shen's" and "Pancakes."

The sides of the cart would be extended with mortise and tenon joints, allowing for an additional storage shelf when unfolded and foldable when not in use. A circular indentation would be carved into the center of the cart to hold a food basin, preventing it from tipping over when pushing the cart.

Two wooden hooks would be attached under the cart for hanging baskets, which could hold utensils and condiments.

Additionally, the entire cart would be treated with waterproof tung oil to prevent mold during rainy days.

After hearing this, Old Man Yang stared at Shen Miao for a long time, his eyes filled with a mix of resentment and uncertainty. "This cart of yours is quite unique, and it’s going to be very intricate to build... Do you have a budget in mind? How much are you willing to spend?"

Shen Miao chuckled, her eyes twinkling as she painted a rosy picture for Old Man Yang. "Oh, Old Man Yang, don’t think I’m trying to shortchange you. If you do a good job, I'll have 'Old Man Yang's Woodworks' carved on the wheels. When I set up shop on Golden Beam Bridge, anyone who asks will be sent your way. You won't have to worry about customers! It’s a win-win, right?"

Old Man Yang remained silent, puffing on his pipe for a long time before finally saying, "Let me think it over. I’ll talk to you tomorrow after I deliver the order."

Shen Miao let him think and bid him farewell. She was confident Old Man Yang would agree, especially since his apprentices had been nodding enthusiastically as she spoke.

Sure enough, they struck a deal that morning.

Old Man Yang said it would take him and his three apprentices half a month to complete the cart, even working day and night. Shen Miao agreed and paid a hundred coins as a deposit. This was expected, as her order was custom-made, and no ready-made carts were available. For the time being, she could manage without the cart and focus on selling other items.

After Old Man Yang left, Shen Miao picked up a few bamboo poles. It was a fine sunny day, and the spring sun warmed the backyard of the Shen household, which was bathed in sunlight. Standing on the porch, Shen Miao squinted at the sun, thinking the backyard would be perfect for growing flowers and vegetables. When she had the time, she would clear out two plots of land and buy some chicks and seeds at the market.

As she mentally calculated the days until the next market, she propped the bamboo poles against the collapsed wall and took the opportunity to wash the bedding Aunt Gu had lent to Ji Geer, spreading the cotton quilt on the poles to dry.

She then boiled a bucket of water and took turns sending Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer to a hidden spot behind the house to wash up, stripping off their outer clothes for her to wash as well.

Halfway through, the cotton quilt maker arrived. He was shocked to see that such a house could still be inhabited, and he seemed to recognize Shen Miao's father. As he brought the quilt inside, he sighed, "Your parents suffered such a tragedy, and then the fire... What a hard life!"

Shen Miao sighed along with him. The quilt maker kindly said, "When I used to eat noodles at your father's place, he often rounded down the price, and he never charged poor families for extra soup. He was a good man! In the future, if your quilt gets lumpy, just bring it to me, and I'll fluff it for you, free of charge!"

That was a great offer. Shen Miao offered him a bowl of water and saw him out.

When she returned, Ji Geer had already laid out the bedding, and the room was filled with the cozy scent of fresh cotton. Xiang Jieer, wearing only her underclothes, happily kicked off her shoes and rolled around on the quilt.

The front door of the Shen household's shop had only been scorched, and Shen Miao tapped on each plank, finding them still sturdy. She simply added a piece of broken wood as a wedge to the door latch, making it immovable and the shop inaccessible.

Thus, the shop was now entirely converted into a living space for the three siblings.

Turning around, she saw Xiang Jieer had placed a small horse-painted pinwheel by the bed, and Shen Miao smiled knowingly.

Though modest, the house was finally starting to feel like home.

Shen Miao then pulled out the fabric she had bought the night before and had Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer stand while she measured them. After marking the fabric with a few stitches, she sat by the bed and began sewing.

She wasn’t planning to do any embroidery, simply cutting and sewing in the style of their previous clothes. At first, Shen Miao was a bit clumsy with the needle and thread, but after a few stitches, her hands seemed to remember the old skills, and she worked faster and faster. The children’s clothes used less fabric and were quicker to sew than adult clothes.

While she was busy, Ji Geer practiced writing with a stick in the yard after taking his medicine. Perhaps because Shen Miao had returned, the weight on his shoulders and the sadness in his heart eased, and he recovered quickly. He hadn’t had a fever since yesterday and only had a slight cough left.

Xiang Jieer also helped by separating threads and holding the fabric. By noon, Shen Miao had finished hemming and buttonholing, completing Xiang Jieer’s outer garment first. The child no longer had to run around in her underclothes.

When Xiang Jieer tried on the new clothes, the pale yellow color made her face look fair and rosy, like a soft little peanut. She hadn’t worn new clothes for a long time and was so happy that her little face turned red. She twirled around like a happy little magpie and clung to Shen Miao’s neck.

"Let go, I can’t breathe. Step back and let me see how it looks," Shen Miao laughed as she pulled Xiang Jieer off her, adjusted her sleeves, and nodded.

It was her first time making clothes, so the stitches were a bit rough, but they fit well.

At noon, Shen Miao considered making a quick bowl of noodles, but she hadn’t lit the fire. Aunt Gu came to return the clay pot, which contained millet porridge, and also brought them some flatbreads.

Shen Miao tried to refuse but couldn’t, so she accepted. She sighed, realizing she was accumulating more and more debts of gratitude.

Before leaving, Aunt Gu couldn’t hold back her tears and grasped Shen Miao’s hand, saying, "...Poor child!"

It seemed Aunt Gu knew she had been divorced. Shen Miao didn’t feel ashamed or think her life was miserable. The truly unfortunate Shen Da Jieer had already passed away with endless regrets.

At noon, Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer both fell asleep in the warm, soft new bedding. Shen Miao didn’t like taking naps, so she sat in the warm afternoon sun and continued to make Ji Geer’s outer garment.

When they woke up, the pottery shop’s deliveryman arrived with a carrying pole, bringing a few earthenware plates. Shen Miao thanked him and inquired about where to find affordable charcoal and ironware. The deliveryman blushed upon seeing Shen Miao and stumbled over his words.

After everything was done, Shen Miao had Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer dress neatly in their new clothes. She called Xiang Jieer over, had her sit on a round stool, and carefully styled her hair into two round buns, adorning them with a pair of butterfly hairpins from her own box.

Shen Ji watched and suddenly asked insightfully, "Are you taking us out, sister?"

Shen Miao pulled Xiang Jieer up, looking her over from left to right. The seven-year-old looked adorable with just a little bit of dressing up. Satisfied, she nodded, "Yes, I see you’re almost fully recovered. Why wait? Let’s go to our uncle’s house today to settle things."

Shen Ji’s mood dropped, "Aunt is sharp-tongued and mean. I’m afraid you’ll be at a disadvantage."

Shen Miao was surprised. This child was actually worried about her?

Shen Ji felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze and stared at his toes for a while. Suddenly, he looked up with determination and said, "My teacher once said that a gentleman should maintain decorum and not use foul language, but if Aunt insults you, I... I will definitely help you fight back!"

Shen Miao burst out laughing.

This child, though a bit naive from studying, wasn’t completely foolish.

Her heart warmed. It seemed that since leaving the Rong family, she had encountered good people in this unfamiliar world. Shen Miao habitually rubbed Ji Geer’s head, and this time he didn’t dodge.

"Don’t worry, we’re not going to fight. Even without their mistreatment of you and Xiang Jieer, it’s only proper for me to visit our uncle after three years away. Besides..."

Shen Miao bent down, tapped Ji Geer’s nose, and raised an eyebrow:

"How do you know I won’t win the argument?"