"I dare only say this to you," Shi Xiaolan continued with some embarrassment, "I wouldn’t dare say it outside. At home, it’s just me, Yu Yu, and Niuniu. If someone tough came to rob us, we couldn’t defend ourselves."
It was then that An Jing put away the three taels and smiled, "Being discreet with your wealth is the right thing to do."
After thinking for a moment, An Jing then said, "Xiao Lan, my sewing skills are lacking, and I’m carrying two children now. I’d like to entrust you to make their little clothes. Two coins for each garment, can you do it?"
Without waiting for Shi Xiaolan to reply, An Jing added, "The babies in my belly still have several months before they’re born. If you take on the job, you can take your time. There’s no need to rush, just have them ready before my two little ones arrive. We’re not in a hurry."
Shi Xiaolan’s eyes reddened with emotion, she fully understood that An Jing was trying to help her. She choked up with gratitude, "Thank you, An Jing. I can do it, and I will make sure to do a good job. However, two coins for each is unnecessary, one coin is enough."
"Thank me for what? Even if I didn’t ask you, I’d ask someone else. You’re my friend; I couldn’t possibly bring my business to someone else and not you. Everyone else charges two coins per garment, so how could I have the heart to pay you just one? However, if you make the clothes ugly, I definitely won’t pay you even one coin."
Hearing An Jing’s playful words at the end, Shi Xiaolan was immediately amused and laughed, "Just look at the clothes on Yu Yu and Niuniu, all made by me. Which one is unsightly? Everyone praises my craftsmanship, and I won’t make ugly clothes for you."
An Jing also laughed, and after chuckling twice, she said, "We haven’t bought the fabric yet. In a few days, my husband and I will go to the town to buy it, and then we’ll let you work on them. Take your time, there really is no rush."
"Hmm," Shi Xiaolan nodded, her voice choked with tears again. She felt incredibly lucky to have found such a friend.
Two days later, An Jing and Xiao Changyi went to town to find Wang Youbao.
Upon seeing them, Wang Youbao was very surprised but even more so at the sight of An Jing’s bulging belly.
Naturally, his surprise was laced with astonishment. Could Stone Women now get pregnant in this day and age?!
Spotting the insinuation in Wang Youbao’s expression, An Jing snorted, "Who told you I was a Stone Woman?"
Wang Youbao, taken aback, immediately countered, "Aren’t you one?"
An Jing did not answer but instead just thrust out her belly.
"..." Wang Youbao fell silent for a moment before profusely apologizing, "I merely heard a rumor, and I misunderstood that you were a Stone Woman. Please be lenient, An Jing, and don’t hold it against me."
An Jing did not mention that she only began menstruating last year but simply nodded, "Indeed, you can’t believe everything you hear on the road."
As Wang Youbao was about to apologize again, he was interrupted by An Jing as she took out a letter and handed it to him, "Here, it’s from my apprentice to you."
"A letter from Miss Li to me?!" Wang Youbao was extremely surprised and felt a faint joy in his heart, although he himself hadn’t noticed it.
Once he confirmed it, mindful of the proper conduct between men and women, Wang Youbao immediately waved his hand, "That won’t do, that won’t do. How can Miss Li write a letter to an unmarried man like me? If word got out, her reputation would be ruined."
An Jing did not insist on Wang Youbao taking the letter, instead she gave it to her husband, "Husband, burn it. He doesn’t want it anyway."
Xiao Changyi took out a flint intending to burn the letter, but Wang Youbao snatched it away in a hurry, then hid the letter behind his back, looking as if he feared Xiao Changyi would wrestle it from him.