Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: No Business Can Be Done without Evil

Chapter 53: No Business Can Be Done without Evil

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

There were too many things. He would send them back to his brother first. Anyway, his sister had said that she won’t come out soon. She would come out in an hour. He didn’t understand. She only wanted to take something. Why would it take so long?

Xiaoxiao was here today to provide Shopkeeper Liu with new designs, including ten zodiac signs. The colors needed to be discussed with Shopkeeper Liu according to the actual situation. She couldn’t draw them all at once, so she should go there many times.

Today, she happened to draw a rabbit. One of its long ears was perked up, and the other was curved. Its red eyes were dyed with gemstone red. Coupled with the way it carried the carrot, it looked even more pitiful. Even Shopkeeper Liu was tempted.

Xiaoxiao was happy but didn’t say the idea that had just sprouted.

Shopkeeper Liu had chosen the time to amaze the public. It would be on the fifth day of the fifth month. At that time, a dragon boat race on the Dusk River dominated the countryside, and the county would be lively. It was suitable for the Ruyi Clothing Shop to showcase their skills. The embroidery work in the shop had already been arranged. Once Xiaoxiao’s designs were ready, they would enter seclusion to prepare.

This was the only way to avoid the danger of the painting being leaked.

Every time Xiaoxiao used the lead embroidery and thread as an excuse to come over, she would draw until her eyes went blurry. She was not used to using a brush. Fortunately, she only needed to use a charcoal pen to draw the shape and the coloring was done by Shopkeeper Liu.

Ning Erlang was even more puzzled. “You just took an embroidered silk cloth or something. It’s not long, but why do you look so exhausted?”

Xiaoxiao waved her hand. “You don’t have to worry about me.” She dismissed him.

Only recently did she find out that the Ruyi Clothing Shop had many branches. Further up, every state, county, and even Jingcheng City had its branches. Therefore, if the twelve-zodiac activity went smoothly in Xijiang County, it would also be held in Jingcheng City.

After knowing this, Xiaoxiao only had one thought—the price was too low! She thought it was already the limit for a shop in the county to spend five taels of silver to buy a design from a little girl, but she did not expect her to be so timid. Shopkeeper Liu had been laughing at her recently and always used the contract to anger her, reminding her, “No business can be done without evil.”

Shopkeeper Liu was an adulterer, but Xiaoxiao knew she had no power or influence. If it was someone else with evil intentions, they could take her designs for nothing. Now that 50 silver coins were in her space, there was a saying, “With money in your pocket, you don’t panic.” Her greatest creed in life was to be content.

“Brother, let’s eat meat tonight!” It was impossible to expect her parents to take the initiative to improve their meals. The two couldn’t wait to eat bamboo shoots every meal to save on expenses. Xiaoxiao admitted she wasn’t a panda and couldn’t eat her fill with bamboo, so she resolutely went to the meat stall and bought a catty of pork belly. She also used the five copper coins to buy the bones the stall owner had placed aside. Of course, the large intestines that were extremely cost-effective couldn’t be missing.

After being influenced by her delicacies, her family accepted its taste and occasionally asked her to cook to improve their meals.

When Xiaoxiao saw that someone in the market had taken out the radishes from the cellar to sell, she also picked a few to make bone radish soup.

Ning Erlang was already calm about his sister’s shopping habits. In the end, his sister would persuade him. Why should he struggle? Besides, wasn’t his sister’s cooking delicious?

Xiaoxiao strictly controlled the food amount and promised she would not stay after finishing the meal. This way, it would not be wasted, and she would not give the people from the old residence a chance to take it away. Today, she had also started to make the braised pork that she had been thinking about for a long time when she returned home.

Ever since Second Aunt Ning taught them a lesson, they had developed a good habit of closing the door and locking it before dinner. Ning Fengnian and Madam Song originally felt inappropriate, but Xiaoxiao’s words stopped them. “The designs of the Ruyi Clothing Shop have to be kept a secret.”

Ning Erlang was in favor of this decision. Ever since his sister changed the seasonings in the kitchen, the fragrance of the food would always make people drool.. If those greedy people from the old residence smelled it, they would take the pot away!