"Dad, you don’t make much money from carpentry, do you?"
Xu Nianhua didn’t answer but countered. However, he understood Xu Qinghe’s point, as time was pressing. Just managing to finish the cabinet was already good enough. He thought about the future need to build houses and didn’t argue further. Otherwise, how would they move the wardrobe when constructing a house later?
"There are many carpenters around, and we don’t get a lot of work each month." Xu Qinghe sighed; there were many carpenters, and they didn’t get much work.
A month’s earnings were only around thirty to fifty dollars, and that was if they had a lot of work. Sometimes, when there was less work, even making twenty dollars was good.
Of course, during the New Year, they earned more as there were also more weddings.
"Yes, everyone’s carpentry work, the cabinets, they all look the same. Naturally, it doesn’t matter who they hire. But Dad, what if your cabinets were prettier than others’?" Xu Nianhua wasn’t skilled in interior design or furniture making, but he had seen a lot!
Thinking of the wardrobes from future generations, which came in all sorts of designs, she thought for a moment, then went back to her room to grab some paper and a pen. As she drew, she said, "Dad, look, wouldn’t a wardrobe look better?"
A whole wall of clothes; although her drawing wasn’t very good, the segmentation was very clear, quite different from the currently popular three-door wardrobes, especially the large cabinet at the very top, which looked very spacious.
"Girl, is this part specifically for quilts?" Xu Qinghe inquired, not quite following what Xu Nianhua had said earlier, but he got a rough idea once she drew it out.
Xu Nianhua nodded affirmatively, saying, "Our family doesn’t have that many clothes to store, but others might, you see. We can stash seasonal quilts and clothes up there, plus, our wardrobes can have more divisions, like adding another drawer or something."
"Dad, I think those traditional dressers, we can make them prettier too. Like various sizes that can be assembled and arranged, this way the homeowner has more options. Who knows, maybe people will seek you out specifically for these?"
Xu Nianhua’s words broadened Xu Qinghe’s horizons considerably. He was hardworking but not unimaginative; he said, "I’ll try that next time."
After all, it was just a matter of one more suggestion. What if someone liked what Xu Nianhua had proposed?
"Girl, your education wasn’t wasted." Xu Qinghe praised her, looking at her proudly. From the tiny bundle he had first brought home to the graceful young woman she had become.
"Dad, supporting our education wasn’t easy; we ought to learn as much as possible."
Xu Nianhua said happily, thinking that if her father stopped doing carpentry and started making furniture full-time, maybe they could even open a furniture factory one day?
Furniture, and what other styles of furniture looked good?
Xu Nianhua thought, determined to think more and inspire her father further.
Xu Nianhua handed the hundred dollars they had earned from translating a contract to Ji Ying, saying, "Mom, big brother definitely needs money for his wedding."
"Big brother’s wedding is important." Xu Nian’an said, agreeing to hand over the money.
Ji Ying looked at the money and said, "I know, you siblings share a close bond, but this is the money you earned."
Xu Nianhua said, "Mom, we’re a family, no need to split these things."
Xu Nian’an nodded in agreement.
"This money, I’m borrowing from you." Xu Nianji was touched by his family’s gesture, feeling moved, he said, "This kindness, I’ll remember it in my heart, and I’ll pay you back once I’ve earned some money."