Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
If the notes were stolen or dropped, it was fine too. They had more money to offer.
Shao Yunduan was studying at home. He had two articles to write and in three days. he was going to visit Master Ynn.
Qiao Xuan and Taotao, as well as Yang Xiaoni, went into the flower field with the six maids.
They were going to extract some oil.
They had been relaxed during the whole winter and were only working on cooking different dishes. So when it was time to work, Taotao and Yang Xiaoni felt somehow expectant and excited.
They loved delicious food, but they loved making lipsticks to earn some money.
They felt so eager to earn the money. So did Ms. Xu.
She could not help but mention it to Qiao Xuan. “It is just flower picking and grinding. These are just light tasks. We are not some spoiled town women! When I was pregnant with my first two children, I was still doing housework when I was almost about to give birth to them!”
30 wen a day was the salary from the generous Qiao Xuan, who would also offer them a bonus after the sale. In this way, they could earn ten or twenty liang altogether. Now her husband was recovering from the wound, and he could not do heavy work. She was free but there was no income coming to their family. So, she was very anxious.
In Qiao Xuan’s opinion, pregnant women needed to be taken care of very well. They had money and laborers at home, and all Ms. Xu needed to do was sweep the flowers, feed the roosters and wash her own family’s clothes… She did not need to do any other tasks.
That was what Ms. Fang told her too. After all, their daily life had been improved.
So, Qiao Xuan could not possibly allow her to work in the flower field.
What if she fell or something happened. That would be a huge deal.
Qiao Xuan also knew that Nis. Xu wanted to earn money. So, she did not turn her down entirely but smiled after thinking for a while. “Elder Sister-in-law, I have got the maids. Now, what we need to do is to make sure that they work accordingly. We don’t need to do the labor personally. After you have the child and finish the first month, there is a lot of work for you to do! If you are bored, could you please make some shoes for me?”
Shoe-making was a relatively easier and safer job.
What Ms. Xu was worried about, above all, that Qiao Xuan would replace her with someone else. So when she heard this promise, she smiled and nodded with a smile. “That is good! Fifth Sister-in-law, you can ask me for any kind of help in the future. I have very little work to do, so I will make you the shoes when I am free.’
Qiao Xuan smiled. “Thanks, Elder Sister m in-law!”
Ms. Xu started to work on the shoes, without thinking about anything else.
Qiao Xuan was a very generous person. She would not let her do the work for free. What she needed to do was to make the shoes.
When Ms. Xu was settled, Qiao Xuan and Taotao headed to the flower field with the maids.
Before they walked into the field, Qiao Xuan warned the six maids not to mention anything about what they saw in the flower field to anyone. They were not even allowed to speak of it while casually chit chatting with anyone, or they would be fined half a month’s salary.
Worse, they could even be fired, if they spilled anything.
The maids got very nervous. They put on a serious look and nodded constantly.
When they went into the flower field, they were all shocked.
What caught the eye most was the rows of shrubs as high as half a person, with a wooden frame for climbing and standing in the middle, and bushes with buds on both sides of the wooden frame..