Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ruyi chatted with Yang Yi for a while. Seeing that his expression gradually calmed down, he let him eat something. Zhou Jia brought Tiezhu upstairs.
Ruyi said to Yang Yi, âBrother Yang, my Master is here.â
Yang Yi hurriedly bowed. âGreetings, sir.â
Zhou Jia glanced at the reserved Yang Yi and said amiably, âThereâs no need to be so polite. Sit down and talk.â
Yang Yi bowed and sat in a corner of the chair cautiously. When he looked up and saw Zhou Jia opposite him, he was stunned for a moment. He hurriedly lowered his head and thought to himself that Lord Zhou was extraordinarily handsome and had a dignified aura of a superior.
Yang Yi stabilized his emotions and told Zhou Jia about his encounter.
Every family who lived in Lantern Alley after the New Year was busy with the Lantern Festival lanterns. Yang Yi was also helping in the shop at home. A rich woman in luxurious clothes stood at the entrance of the Yang familyâs shop with a few servants. She pointed at the glazed lanterns that had just been hung and asked, âShopkeeper, how much are these lanterns?â
Yang Yi smiled and went forward. âMadam, this is the latest glazed lantern. It costs nine taels and nine taels of silver each.â
The noblewoman smiled at Yang Yi and said coquettishly, âAlright, give me ten of these glazed lamps first. Also, give me two of those hibiscus lamps, embroidered ball lamps, snowflake lampsâ¦â
Yang Yi was overjoyed when he heard that. He calculated in his heart that there were still enough lamps at home enough and hurriedly agreed. He placed the lamps in the frame. The noblewoman looked at the bamboo baskets and smiled. âShopkeeper, Iâll pay you first. Send the lamp to the third house on General Street immediately.â
âOkay, okay. Iâll send it to you now.â Yang Yi took the money and carried the lamp to General Street on the handcart. He found the Country Lordâs residence and sent the lantern in.
After the old woman counted the lanterns, she said to Yang Yi, âShopkeeper, sit in the flower hall and drink a cup of tea first. Iâll send the lanterns to Madam.â Yang Yi cupped his hands and smiled. âAlright, sorry to trouble you.â
Yang Yi followed the old woman to the reception hall and sat down. The girl served tea and stood at the door. Yang Yi felt that the reception hall was as warm as spring and decorated magnificently.
After half an hour, the old woman walked out and said to Yang Yi with a smile, âShopkeeper Yang, my Madam is very satisfied with your lamps. Please help us hang it up. My Madam wants to discuss a big business with you.â
When Yang Yi heard that there was a big deal, he nodded happily. âAlright, thank you, Granny.â
âShopkeeper, youâre too polite.â
Yang Yi nodded in agreement and returned to the flower hall to drink two cups of tea. After a while, the old woman at the door shouted, âMadam is here.â
Yang Yi stood up and saw the noblewoman who had bought the lantern walk into the reception hall.
Yang Yi bowed to her and said, âGreetings, Madam.â
âThereâs no need for formalities.â Country Lord Ning glanced at Yang Yi indifferently. âShopkeeper, on the Lantern Festival, my relative and I are holding a lantern party in the garden outside the city. We want to custom-make a batch of lamps which include hibiscus lamps, embroidered ball lamps⦠I wonder if your family can do it?â
Hearing such a big deal, Yang Yi was tempted. On second thought, the Lantern Festival was about to arrive. There were so many things. Not only would he not be able to make it in time, but he would probably not have enough raw materials.
âMadam, itâs only ten days away from the Lantern Festival. It takes a lot of effort to make the lanterns you want. The raw materials are expensive, and we donât have much at home. Iâm afraid we wonât be able to meet the deadline for the goods.â
Country Lord Ning smiled and said, âYou can let your peers do it for you! Iâll give you a portion of the deposit first and you can deliver them to me before the Lantern Festival.â
Yang Yi thought about it and felt that it should be possible. To be safe, he had to go back and ask the other families if they had the time.
âMadam, Iâll reply to you after I go back and take a look.â
Country Lord Ning thought for a moment. âCan you do it in my residence? If not, Iâll hire someone else to do it.â
Yang Yi thought that such a big business could fill up the shortfall for the purchase of a shop by his family. It shouldnât be a problem for his family to rush to work, so he nodded and said, âWe can make them at your residence.â
Country Lord Ning nodded in satisfaction. âShopkeeper, if youâre confident that you can make them, Iâll give you a new drawing from the palace. Iâll give you a list and pay you half the deposit first. Weâll also sign a contract. Everyone can rest assured.â
When Yang Yi heard that there was a new drawing, he asked happily, âMadam, can I use the new drawing in the future?â
âItâs just a drawing. Go ahead.â
Yang Yi bowed to Country Lord Ning. âThank you, Madam.â
Country Lord Ning got someone to give the list to Yang Yi and gave him half the deposit. She showed the contract to Yang Yi. Yang Yi saw that it said that if the Yang family did not deliver the goods according to the agreed date, the Yang family would have to double the compensation.
Yang Yi felt that there was nothing wrong after reading it, so he signed it and pressed his thumbprint. He happily came out of Country Lord Ningâs residence and sped along, thinking of going home to tell his parents the good news.
When hr reached home, she saw that her mother and sister-in-law were both overjoyed. âBrother Yi, we just received a big job at home. Your father and brother have gone to the Hundred Garden to help make lights.â
Yang Yi panicked and hurriedly asked, âMother, do you still have those glass and hydrangea lamps at home?â
Mother Yang said happily, âNo, they are all needed for the Hundred Garden. They said that some noble is holding a lantern party in the garden on the 60th day of the 15th!â
Yang Yi thought to himself, I can only let the granny next door do the business.
Yang Yi took out the contract unhappily, âI accepted a big business from the patron who bought the lamps. Father and Brother went to the Hundred Garden, so I had no choice but to give this business to the granny next door.
When Mother Yang heard this, she said anxiously, âWhere are we going to find someone to make these? The big shops have all gone to the Hundred Garden.
They wonât be back until twelve. Hurry up and return this!â
Old Master Yang walked out of the house and looked at Mother Yang unhappily. âWhat happened? Canât you talk to the child nicely?â
âFather-in-law, this child didnât even discuss with us before signing a contract.
What should we do?â
Old Master Yang turned to look at Yang Yi. âBrother Yi, quickly reject this business. Explain the situation and return the deposit to him.â
Yang Yi looked at the contract in his hand and felt that the Madam just now was amiable. If she explained the situation clearly, she should understand.
âGrandpa, Iâll talk to her.â
Old Master Yang said gently, âTell her nicely. If it doesnât work, weâll think of another way.â
Mother Yang looked at Yang Yi worriedly. âBrother Yi, say it nicely. Donât be stubborn.â
Yang Yi nodded in agreement and rushed to the Country Lord Ningâs residence. When he arrived, the old woman came out to see Yang Yi..
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