Time slipped forward again, the workshop had opened for full operation. Yang Ruxin drew several albums and let Gu Yao send a message to Uncle Qi, hoping for a face-to-face meeting.
However, the response they received was that Qi Jingyi had returned to the capital, but he left a message that he would be back within a month at most.
Yang Ruxin was not in a hurry; after all, furniture making was a slow process in ancient times. Everything had to be handcrafted bit by bit. To produce all the furniture depicted in her albums, she estimated it would take no less than half a year. Therefore, she let Yang Rulin start by making samples.
Yang Rulin worked with great enthusiasm every day, leading a few cousins his great-uncles had selected, along with his grandfather, from dawn to dusk, sometimes even staying the night.
But this very thing caused discontent, particularly from Chen Yingzi.
"I’m saying, Dad, what is Great Grandpa thinking?" Chen Yingzi looked at her own husband, Yang Guowei, with dissatisfaction, "What, only those few are his grandsons? Isn’t Ruqing also a Yang? Why is Ruqing not used in the workshop?"
"Ruqing doesn’t like carpentry, what’s there to nag about?" Yang Guowei frowned, "You ask your son if he’s cut out to be a carpenter."
"Even if he can’t be a carpenter, he could still be an apprentice, right? Why exclude our family?" Chen Yingzi was very resentful, "This is favoritism. It must be because of your incompetence. They’re all grandsons, so why such a big difference?"
"Mom, I don’t like carpentry," Yang Ruqing also felt helpless. Great Grandpa had asked him, but he really didn’t like carpentry. His ambition was to be a soldier. He wanted to go to the battlefield, to be a Great General.
"Then what do you like?" Chen Yingzi’s voice rose, "I’m telling you, there’s no way you’re joining the army. You’re my only son; I won’t let you go. How many of those soldiers come back after they’ve left?"
Yang Ruqing didn’t speak anymore; there was no reasoning with his mother. Joining the army was indeed dangerous, but people sought wealth and status despite the risks. Maybe he could earn military achievements, how glorious would that be? Better to go and find Dabao to play, since Dabao knew a lot about fighting wars, and with that, he turned and ran off.
"Where are you going? I haven’t finished speaking..." Chen Yingzi wanted to chase after her son.
"Enough, the boy has his own thoughts. Can’t you stop nagging?" Yang Guowei sighed.
"Why shouldn’t I nag? We haven’t split the household, and our family has contributed no less. Why are we excluded when there are benefits to be had?" Chen Yingzi grew more frustrated at the thought, "People say both the palm and back of the hand are made of flesh, but look at us, what have we gained? Haven’t all the advantages been taken by the main family? How can you be such a pushover?"
"Enough," Yang Guowei suddenly barked, then stood up, "The more you talk, the more nonsensical it gets. Is the house lacking food, or what? If you despise me for being a pushover, go find someone who isn’t..."
"You... I..."
"Yingzi," Yang Guowei still tried to be patient, "you should also think about it. Previously, Great Grandpa indeed personally taught his grandsons who stayed with him, but Ruqing isn’t cut out for that, just like none of us brothers were meant for carpentry..."
But Chen Yingzi was too angry to pay him any heed.
"Anyway, I’ve said my piece. If you dare to cause trouble out there, see how I’ll deal with you." Seeing his wife’s attitude, Yang Guowei also lost his patience and warned her before turning and walking away.