As the days slipped into November, it became colder and colder.
It hasn't snowed yet, but Qiao Mingjin still lit a charcoal pot in the house early.
At this time, Xiahe Village was located in the south of the Wei Dynasty, and there was no habit of burning pits in the north. When it was the coldest, two more charcoal fires were burned in the house and wrapped in thick quilts.
Qiao Mingjin put on winter clothes for Wan'er and Yunluan early.
They are both still too young, so if they get sick, it will be a disaster. Many children die in infancy these days. In Xiahe Village, some women give birth to seven or eight children and only feed one or two.
There is still two hours of ox-cart distance between Xiahe Village and Jishang, and it is even further away from Qingchuan City. Although it is faster with a horse-drawn carriage, the water far away cannot quench the thirst of the people nearby.
In this era, there are no designated hospitals or on-call medical services.
Qiao Mingjin didn't care about the cold weather in spring and autumn. As soon as the two children said they were cold, she and Mingqi hurriedly added clothes to the two children and wrapped them up like fat balls. I really don't know if it was snowing in the middle of winter.
Can still walk.
The two children were wearing winter clothes and were very excited.
It was the first time for them to wear clothes. What child doesn’t like wearing new clothes? He complained about the cold and asked for more clothes, but he didn’t know whether it was because he was really cold or because he liked to wear new clothes to show off.
Anyway, as Sister Xiu said, she heard Yue Donggen next door rolling around and clamoring about making new clothes. In exchange for this, Mrs. Sun scolded her from morning to night.
Occasionally, Qiao Mingjin met her and heard her heavy nasal voice. He squinted his eyes and muttered in a low voice: A child who rolled in the mud in the country, put on new clothes and became a rich girl in the city?
Qiao Mingjin just pretended not to hear.
Is it bothering you?
Every time Zhou Yanqing came, he would bring some fabrics or leathers. Before Qiao Mingjin refused, he said it was because it was winter in the house. Even the maids had some.
She, Qiao Mingjin, as Zhou family's partner on Saturday, felt aggrieved because she only took some copies from the government. Whoever works with him doesn't prepare generous New Year gifts in advance every year?
Before Qiao Mingjin was about to speak, Saturday Master said again that she would naturally have some New Year's gifts, and these were just an outpost.
Qiao Mingjin swallowed her joke.
Of course it's just a joke.
She didn't feel that people would care about her.
Ever since Zhou Yanqing gave him the golden hairpin inlaid with beads, emerald gold and silk to catch butterflies and flowers, the two seemed to have become more familiar with each other. Qiao Mingjin could sometimes make some innocuous jokes without restraint.
Zhou Yanqing was naturally happy about Qiao Mingjin's transformation.
I gave several gifts in a row.
But after Qiao Mingjin reminded her, the value of the golden hairpin could not be matched. She did not refuse even if it was not worth anything.
There is a feeling of being a bestie.
Where she grew up, there was no rule that a best friend must be a woman, right? But she thought this setting was really weird. Sometimes, she couldn't help but laugh a few times just thinking about it...
Since the root carving works of Yayi Workshop became famous in Qingchuan City, Zhou Yanqing became even busier.
We used to see each other every now and then, but now we don't see him every half a month.
There is naturally no shortage of discerning merchants in the city. Ever since Yayi's root carving works came out, they have naturally attracted the envy of countless colleagues.
Everyone is trying to get a piece of the pie.
But where is it so easy?
Not to mention whether you understand the process of root carving works. Even if you do, how can the raw materials be so easy to find?
What's the weather like now? Winter is coming.
Qiao Mingjin and Zhou Yanqing had already taken advantage of the nearby raw materials. Not only had they almost been dug out in Xiahe Village, but also in several surrounding villages, as soon as they dug out wooden piles, the whole family pushed the ox carts to deliver them to Xiahe Village.
Zhou Yanqing had already said hello in advance to people nearby or everywhere who could get good wood for making furniture. After cutting the wood, he must dig out the wooden stakes and send them to him to sell them for money. The stakes are quite expensive.
To others, the once-abandoned wooden piles cannot be compared with the wood they want. But it is just a piece of cake. Isn't it nice to be a favor to Lord Zhou of the Zhou family?
In this way, it also indirectly cuts off the source of raw materials for others.
Next, even if someone else purchases from a farther place, firstly, the items are too big to be shipped, and secondly, the weather is getting colder. It has started to snow in the north, and the road is not easy to walk on.
The wooden pile was a little heavier because of the snow, and it became more and more difficult to transport. It would take a long time to transport it back and wait for it to dry.
So even though the carpenter shop in the city was about to move, Qiao Mingjin was not very worried.
However, taking advantage of this wind, the carpenter shops in the city also made some exquisite wood carvings out of wooden pieces.
Although it does not have the beauty of the natural form of tree roots, there are still exquisite works among them.
Zhou Yanqing took advantage of the fact that someone wanted a piece of his pie, and ran out frequently to sell his root carvings to others. He took Yunjin to several surrounding cities and counties several times.
He also had the "peacock in full bloom" in the carpenter's shop, which was regarded as the treasure of the store, painted and sent to the capital along with daily letters...
While everyone was busy, no one paid much attention to the two children at home.
When Xiao Yunluan held his chin in his two fleshy hands and said dullly that he hadn't seen his father for several days, Wan'er seemed to have reflected on this.
Her mouth was pursed and her eyes were dim with tears. It seemed that she had not seen her father for a long time.
The little thing's eyes turned around, but she couldn't find her mother. After thinking about it, she ran to the kitchen and pulled Mingqi's clothes. She raised her head and asked with tears in her eyes: "Auntie, when will my father come back?" ?”
The aggrieved look made Ming Qi angry and hateful.
Pulling the hem of the clothes back from the little thing's hand: "Why don't you ask your mother?"
"Wan'er doesn't dare."
Mingqi looked down at her and became even more angry.
"Hmph. If you really ask, your mother will definitely be angry. Do you want your mother to be angry?"
The little thing blinked his tears and shook his head vigorously.
"That's right. You don't want your mother to be angry, so you don't dare to ask. Ask your aunt. Aren't you afraid that your aunt will be angry? Is your aunt loving you in vain?"
"Why is aunt angry?"
Ming Qi held the spatula and turned around to face her, looked at her softly and said, "Wan'er, do you want to go back to your grandma's house? My aunt will send you there as soon as she's done cooking."
The little thing shook his head vigorously, shook his head again, took two steps back, then two more steps, and quickly stepped back to the threshold, then turned around and ran away quickly.
Don’t go to grandma’s house!
It's so scary. My aunt knows how to bully people.
Mingqi stretched his head and glanced into the yard. He found that the two children were playing together again. It seemed that nothing serious had happened, so he went back to the kitchen to cook.
The spatula made a clanging sound as she swung it. If the iron pot had been made thinner, it might have been able to be penetrated by her two shovels.
In the evening, Mingqi wanted to open her mouth several times after dinner. But seeing how busy her sister was during this time, she kept her mouth shut.
Huh, he is a passed-up person, why would you bring him up just to make your sister unhappy?
Qiao Mingjin really couldn't take care of her family during this period, and didn't pay much attention to the changes in the expressions of her children.
After the workshops in the city gradually launched some wood carvings, small root carvings and bamboo root carvings, Zhou Yanqing didn't come much anymore. He was busy showing off his extraordinary business ability in the city every day.
And Qiao Mingjin also felt the crisis. She went to the workshop every day to do some drawings and stayed in the workshop, drawing and painting.
There are no patent rights these days. Unless your thing has something to do with the royal family, it may be imitated to a lesser extent. But otherwise, as long as something is made, others will inevitably imitate it.
Although their workshop started early, they became famous in the city, and controlled most of the raw material market near Qingchuan. But if they don't keep it intact and someone buys it at a high price, there will be some people who can't resist betrayal.
These days, there are many hidden craftsmen with great skills among the people. As long as there is a market, others will inevitably want to get a share of the pie, and no one can stop it.
She just took the first step.
And this time period is also considered to be the right time and place. It coincides with winter, and it is inconvenient to transport raw materials from other places. However, it can allow their workshop to stay at the top for a while. At least it can survive the New Year, and it can still be stable before March and April.
Steady.
But after the Chinese New Year, even if others have the raw materials, the products must be more attractive than those made by others. As long as the styling concept is good, people will have the desire to buy and collect it.
So Qiao Mingjin fought hard.
She wandered around the workshop every day, staring at the newly shipped, semi-dry, dry wooden piles. She looked at them again and again, observing and observing, not missing every detail or root system. She didn't notice until her eyelids were sore and swollen.
Shut yourself back into your room and draw drawings.
She had seen many root carving works in her previous life, and she had gone to see the works in root carving museums in several provinces.
There are some inspirations to some extent.
These days, it's not terrible that I have you. What's terrible is that what I have first is not as good as what you have after catching up.
If you have me, you need to be smart. Maybe you can still find a way out in the jungle.
So every day, Qiao Mingjin's mind was full of various works and drawings. When she put Wan'er to bed every night, Wan'er hesitated to speak, she didn't even notice.
The little thing was sulking for several days. Just when she had almost forgotten about it when she looked at it every day, her father Yue Zhongyao finally came back.
"Wan'er!"
The little thing belatedly looked towards the sound and stared blankly at the dusty man in front of him.
Looks a bit familiar.
The little thing stood up and moved forward two steps. He stopped again and looked up at him blankly.
Yue Zhongyao was a little surprised to see his daughter, but he couldn't help but feel sad when he saw his daughter like this.
He hasn't seen his daughter for more than a month. She has almost forgotten him, right?
"Wan'er, you don't recognize daddy anymore? Daddy is back to see us, Wan'er."
After hearing this, the little thing said "Wow" and ran over with his short legs.
Maybe he wore too many clothes and was wrapped into a big ball of flesh, and his steps were a little staggering.
Yue Zhongyao put his luggage on the ground, took two steps forward, lifted the little thing high up on the inside of his arms, and hugged it tightly to his chest.
It's hot.
The daughter he talks about day and night.
The daughter who is connected to him by blood.
"Do you miss daddy?"
The little thing's face was covered with tears, and he nodded while sobbing.
Yue Zhongyao's heart became softer and softer, and he gently wiped his daughter's face with his big hands. He was extremely careful and gentle.
His daughter's face was as tender and smooth as a peeled egg. He didn't know how Jin Niang raised it, so he didn't dare to rub it hard for fear of damaging it.
"Wow...ahhh..."
Yue Zhongyao was startled, and hurriedly pushed his daughter away, staring directly at her face.
"Wow ah ah..."
In a moment, a small meat ball passed by him and ran quickly towards the door.
Who is that? Yue Zhongyao blinked again and again.
Mingqi gouged out Yue Zhongyao's eyes bitterly at the door of the hall, then ran out to chase Xiao Yunluan.
That little thing must also miss his father.
Humph, you are such a troublemaker. Why come back when you have nothing to do? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
ps: ps: This chapter was typed out after twelve o'clock. I wanted to post it, but it was too late and I was afraid no one would read it, so I posted it in the morning. I will add a few more chapters today to make up for yesterday's post. Thank you
"Clear Sky and Ten Thousand Moons" becomes the helmsman and scatters flowers~~~
The following is a long list of thanks: Thanks to the following classmates for the sachets and peace charms: jansam, leisurely afternoon tea, clear sky and moon, yangyang0412, taemiki.
Thanks to the following students for their pink votes: First Class Dreamer, sxy1256, Xuanying, The Crying Fish Who Wants to Fly, Feiling Sky, Leisurely Afternoon Tea, jang, yangyang0412, Little Coco 11, Dream Clouds, Happy Pet Pig,
The saint is writing the article, Ling-----er...
To be continued, I can’t put too many words here. I won’t say anything, just bow...
