Chapter 29

Meng Yao smiled and agreed. “Of course. I’ll sell you four pieces of Four Beauties, four of Chang’E’ Flying to the Moon, and four Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. That’ll be three hundred and sixty taels.”

Mr. Liu Liu nodded. “Don’t worry, Madam Zhao. I won’t shortchange you. However, we must create a contract so everyone can be at ease.”

Meng Yao nodded. “That’s reasonable.”

Mr. Liu wrote the contract, signed his name, and stamped it using the Hundred Embroidery Manor seal.

On the other hand, Meng Yao signed her name and stamped her fingerprint. It was a pity that the handwriting was a little ugly. She had never practiced with a brush before, and there were many strokes in her name. It was not easy for her to be able to write it cleanly.

Mr. Liu’s handwriting was much neater in comparison. Even so, he was shocked. After all, to his knowledge, there was almost no woman in the countryside who could read, let alone write.

Mr. Liu praised Meng Yao a few times.

Meng Yao graciously said that Zhao Ting had taught her and that her son was also studying now.

It was easy for scholars to gain favor in that Era. Meng Yao mentioned Zhao Dahe to raise her status. There was a big difference between farming and studying. One could pass down knowledge while the other could provide food for the family.

Sure enough, there was a hint of admiration in Mr. Liu’s eyes.

“I’ll give you three hundred and fifty taels in silver notes. I will give you the rest in taels,” said Mr. Liu.

It would be too eye-catching for Meng Yao to walk around with that much silver. Although the world was at peace in that era, no one could guarantee Meng Yao’s safety.

Meng Yao thanked Mr. Liu Liu for his thoughtfulness and put the taels into her purse, then the silver notes into her bosom.

“Then what will you be purchasing today, Madam Zhao?” Mr. Liu asked Meng Yao as usual.

Meng Yao decisively refused. Although she had inherited the original Meng Yao’s embroidery skills and was quite interested in them, it didn’t mean she was willing to do embroidery day and night.

If Meng Yao continuously embroidered for a year, she would only get around thirty taels of silver. Now, she had earned an additional three hundred and thirty taels and could support Zhao Xiaoshu’s studies for a few years.

Moreover, Meng Yao could paint whenever she wasn’t doing embroidery. She didn’t have to worry about a shortage of money.

Mr. Liu was somewhat regretful. “I like your embroideries, Madam Zhao.”

“It’s not like I won’t embroider anything. When I do so, I’ll give priority to the Hundred Embroidery Manor,” Meng Yao promised.

Of course, she had to butter up to her golden goose.

“Mr. Liu, I hope to keep the fact that I’m the painter of these art pieces a secret.”

An ordinary man was innocent, but treasure would make him greedy and guilty. Meng Yao understood that. After all, the Hundred Embroidery Manor did not monopolize their business. They had many competitors, and Meng Yao could be in danger if they found out about her dealings.

Mr. Liu also understood that principle. He immediately promised to keep their dealing a secret. After all, Meng Yao looked worried.

Meng Yao was a little nervous upon leaving the Hundred Embroidery Manor because she was carrying a lot of money. The silver notes in ancient times differed from debit cards from the future. One could not recover lost silver notes with a password, while anyone could exchange them for actual silver taels in ancient times.

‘If only there were a safer place to store the notes,’ Meng Yao thought.

Suddenly, a strange thing happened. The taels in Meng Yao’s hand were gone. Then, Meng Yao checked her bosom and realized the silver notes were also gone.

Meng Yao had read a few transmigration novels in the past and knew many characters who possessed unique abilities like incredible luck and pocket dimensions.

Before this, Meng Yao never thought of putting her money in a safe place, so she never realized that she had a pocket dimension.

Meng Yao focused her attention and silently said in her heart, ‘Retrieve one piece of silver.’ Then she felt a weight inside the empty purse.

Meng Yao wanted to see how big her pocket dimension was, but she did not dare risk doing such a thing on the street.

Meng Yao read that some transmigrators would fall into a slumber after using the pocket dimension. Some would even resemble wooden statues while using it. The requirements to use the pocket dimension were a little harsh. Therefore, it was better to study it at home.

Meng Yao prepared to go shopping after retrieving some taels from her pocket dimension.

Song Xiu’er didn’t have many clothes, so Meng Yao picked a few feet of fabric suitable for Song Xiu’er. Song Xiu’er could sew some clothes for herself when she came out of her confinement.

However, Meng Yao couldn’t just give some fabric to her daughter-in-law, not Zhao Dajiang. She picked out a few more feet of coarse fabric in two colors—dark blue and gray.

Then Meng Yao bought two outfits that were just right for Zhao Dahe. In the past, the original Meng Yao made Zhao Dahe’s clothes. However, the current Meng Yao didn’t want to do that. But she had plenty of money on hand, so of course, she would just buy it.

Zhao Xiaoshu also didn’t have many clothes, so it was time to buy a few more. To further influence her son, Meng Yao decisively picked out a roll of cotton fabric and prepared to go home to sew the clothes herself. Meanwhile, Meng Yao only had one daughter, and she did not want to appear biased.

As for herself, the original Meng Yao dressed more maturely. The current Meng Yao didn’t like any of her clothes, but when she thought about it, the women in the countryside dressed the same way.

Meng Yao dared not stand out too much, so she copied Mr. Liu’s style and bought two plain ready-made clothes—a light pink coat with gray pants. They looked clean and simple.

The fabric and clothes cost a total of eight taels. Among them, the fabric for Song Xiu’er and Zhao Dahe’s ready-made clothes was the most expensive.

Meng Yao didn’t feel bad for spending so much because earning money was a never-ending cycle. She could just spend whatever she had and earn more next time.

After that, Meng Yao bought a few more desserts and candied fruits before heading straight to the Cypress Hall, where Zhao Dahe studied.

The older gentleman guarding the door had a good memory and recognized Meng Yao. He happily let her in and told her to wait. There were fifteen minutes more before lessons were over.

After Meng Yao thanked the older gentleman, she followed the route she remembered and went to the center of Cypress Hall.

Soon after, Zhao Dahe arrived with a young man about the same height as him but as fair and chubby as Zhao Xiaohua. Zhao Dahe was highly excited about Meng Yao’s arrival. “What good stuff did you bring me, Mother?”

Meng Yao fished the snacks and clothes she bought and handed them to Zhao Dahe. However, his smile diminished slightly. “Mother, you didn’t make these. Didn’t you say you’d always make the clothes I wear?”

“Song Xiu’er needs to recuperate, and so does Xiaoshu. You know what kind of person Zhao Dajiang is, and Xiaohua’s mood hasn’t been good lately. I’m so busy I have to split myself in two.”

“On top of that, I still have my embroidery work. You’ve always loved me, so I’m sure you won’t want to see me tire myself out just to make clothes for you. Instead, I bought some ready-made ones for you,” Meng Yao said seriously.

Meng Yao’s reason was sound, so Zhao Dahe couldn’t argue. He could only obediently wear the ready-made clothes his mother bought. After all, they were new nonetheless.

“All right, put away your long face. The next time you come home, I’ll make you something delicious,” Meng Yao promised. Even though Zhao Dahe was not as old as Zhao Xiaohua, he was still a glutton.

As expected, Zhao Dahe’s eyes instantly lit up, and the chubby boy next to him stared at Meng Yao like a spotlight.