Chapter 91: I Have Everything Here

When Liuzi learned that Wen Xiuyi wanted to commission a piece from his father, he left the stall in Wen Nong’s care and took Wen Xiuyi and Wen Yao to his own home.

By that logic, Wen Nong might as well do all the work himself.

At Liuzi’s house, quite a lot of lumber was stacked in the courtyard, all of it covered with oiled cloth to keep the rain from soaking and ruining it.

Liuzi’s family name was Zhang, and generations of his ancestors had been carpenters.

Master Zhang knew Wen Xiuyi well. He knew Wen Xiuyi was a scholar, and he also knew that when Wen Xiuyi was running his stall, he would often teach his son to read and write. The Zhang family was sincerely grateful to him from the bottom of their hearts.

“Brother Wen, what brings you to my house today? Come in, sit down. Wife, hurry and make some tea for Brother Wen.” The moment he saw Wen Xiuyi, Master Zhang was all warmth and enthusiasm. After all, everything Liuzi learned at Wen Xiuyi’s place, he would bring home and teach to the other children in the family. When it came down to it, the Zhangs were the ones benefiting from the Wen family’s kindness.

Wen Xiuyi and Wen Yao thanked him before following Master Zhang inside and taking a seat. As soon as they sat down, he took out his drawings.

“Little brother, have a look at this. Can you make it?”

Master Zhang took one look at the drawing and was somewhat surprised. “This is... a plow?”

It was somewhat like the plows he usually made, yet also quite different.

Wen Xiuyi nodded. “Yes, this is called a curved-beam plow. It’s not the same as a straight-beam plow. Look, I’ve marked the structural details here. Take a close look first. If anything is unclear, ask me, and then hurry and make it.”

After all, if they did not make it soon, they were all going to work themselves to death.

Master Zhang took the drawing and immediately began studying it, not even lifting his head when Liuzi’s mother brought in tea.

“This part here, and this part here—Brother Wen, explain these to me.” After studying the drawing, Master Zhang pointed to two places he did not quite understand.

Wen Xiuyi began explaining right away. The two of them leaned close together, muttering in low voices.

Liuzi’s younger siblings peeked in from the doorway, and Wen Yao stood up and went outside. She crouched by the door and chatted with the two children, secretly handing each of them a piece of fruit candy bought from her spatial storage and repackaged, and only returned once Wen Xiuyi and Master Zhang had finished speaking.

“I can start on it right away. By evening it should be mostly done. The only thing is the iron head in front will need to be custom-made by a blacksmith,” Master Zhang said.

Wen Xiuyi felt a little embarrassed. There was no need to rush that much.

“Won’t this hold up your other work?”

Master Zhang laughed heartily. “Nothing is more important than Brother Wen’s business. Don’t worry, I’ll go to the blacksmith’s place in a bit and have him try to finish it today. It’s just that the blacksmith’s side will probably need to be paid, after all, iron isn’t cheap.”

As for their own side, it would only waste a bit of wood. Liuzi ate at Wen Xiuyi’s place every day and studied there too; how could he possibly have the face to ask for money?

“All right. Tell me how much the plow and the head together will cost.” Wen Xiuyi had no intention of taking advantage of anyone.

Master Zhang waved his hands repeatedly. “Brother Wen, saying that makes you sound like an outsider. I’m making this plow for you free of charge. As for the blacksmith, we’ll only need to cover the material cost.”

“That won’t do. One matter is one matter. If money should be taken, then take it. We can’t take advantage of you,” Wen Xiuyi said.

Master Zhang smiled. “Brother Wen, you saying that is what makes me ashamed. Has your family not already benefited enough from ours? Liuzi eats and takes things from your place every day, and you don’t charge him a thing. You even teach him to read and write. We’re grateful to you and not yet able to repay it. It’s only a few pieces of wood—how could we take your money? Please don’t say that again.”

Because of the Wen family’s help, not only Liuzi but even the two younger children had filled out a little. The Zhang couple was deeply grateful, always looking for a chance to return the favor.

But aside from this carpenter’s skill, he had nothing else worth offering. And the Wen family could hardly need that many wooden buckets and basins. Such things did not break easily; they would have more than enough.

At long last, he had found a chance to repay even a little of the kindness. Naturally, Master Zhang was unwilling to let it pass.

Wen Xiuyi hesitated. The Zhang family was doing all right, but no one’s life was easy, and he simply did not want to take advantage of them.

“This...”

“Brother Wen, don’t be so polite with me. It’s settled then. I’ll have Liuzi deliver it to you tonight.” Seeing that he was still wavering, Master Zhang made the decision for him.

Wen Xiuyi had no choice but to agree. “All right, then. But only this once.”

“All right, all right, only this once.” Master Zhang chuckled, though as for next time, that could wait until next time.

After leaving the Zhang house, Wen Xiuyi still felt as though he had accepted an undeserved favor.

Wen Yao said, “The Zhang family is honest and grateful. To them, teaching Liuzi to read and write is already a great kindness, so accepting this one plow really isn’t much. Besides, in the old days, didn’t children have to pay tuition to study? Just think of this as the Zhang family’s tuition, and teach Liuzi well from now on.

“And I think Uncle Zhang is truly skilled. Those basins, buckets, tables, chairs, and stools he makes are all fine and sturdy. Aren’t we building a house? When the time comes, won’t we need him for the furniture and such?

“All right then, Great Professor Wen, a man of spotless integrity, let’s go see Shopkeeper Deng in the south of the town.”

With Wen Yao interrupting him like that, Wen Xiuyi also felt that it made sense. The father and daughter returned to the stall, told Wen Nong a word, and then simply shook the dust from their feet and left.

In addition, remembering the Zhang family’s kindness, Wen Xiuyi also assigned Liuzi some homework.

Liuzi sat at the stall, and then homework came falling from the sky. Who was he supposed to reason with?

There were hardly any customers at the brokerage office in the south of the town; only the former attendant was on duty. When he saw them come in, he first greeted them, then recognized the father and daughter as people Shopkeeper Qiu had brought before, and quickly put on a smile to welcome them.

“You two are looking for our shopkeeper?”

Wen Xiuyi nodded. “Is Shopkeeper Deng here?”

“Yes, yes. Please sit for a moment, both of you. I’ll go call him right away.” The attendant finished speaking and headed to the back courtyard. Soon, Broker Deng came out with him.

“Brother Wen, what’s up? What are you looking to buy this time?” Deng the broker asked with a smile. Knowing that this family had a deep connection with Shopkeeper Qiu, he naturally did not dare to slight them.

Wen Xiuyi did not beat around the bush and said directly, “We just bought some land and need an animal for work at home. I wanted to ask whether you sell cattle.”

Deng the broker laughed. “Then you’ve certainly come to the right place. In all of Cloud and Mist Town, only my brokerage office has whatever you might need. When do you want it?”

“Right now, if that’s convenient.” Wen Xiuyi did not want to walk home again.

“Of course. I’ll take you to have a look. They’re kept in the livestock shed in the back courtyard. Do you need a cart too? I sell ox carts as well.” Deng the broker led the two of them inside as he spoke.

Wen Xiuyi nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes. We’re old acquaintances now, so please remember to give me a discount, Shopkeeper Deng.”

Deng the broker laughed loudly. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. If you’re Old Qiu’s friends, then you’re my friends too. I definitely won’t cheat you.”