While Wei Yan and Yuan Ziwen were drinking tea in the teahouse, Shen Xiu was entertaining Lu Caiwei who came uninvited.
Lu Caiwei held the hot tea prepared by Shen Xiu, took a sip and said, "Ms. Shen, have you ever thought about going to Fucheng?"
Going to Fucheng, Shen Xiu said with a smile: "I haven't thought about it yet."
She is too busy with the business of her shop and has never thought of going to Fucheng.
However, Lu Caiwei sincerely invited: "I am not saying this on a whim. My eldest sister has arranged a marriage for me in Fucheng, and my mother will take me to Fucheng next month. If you want to go, you can follow. I'll go with you, my carriages and horses are all ready-made. It just so happens that my eldest sister has always wanted to thank you in person, so if you are willing to go, she will definitely be very happy."
Shen Xiu hesitated for a moment and said from the bottom of her heart that of course she wanted to go out for a walk and broaden her horizons. But then she thought about those unfinished orders and felt that the time had not come yet.
Lu Caiwei didn't wait for her to politely refuse and said: "I know you are busy, but this opportunity is rare. You probably don't know yet, but your orchid embroidery screen has already gained quite a reputation in Fucheng. I heard that the famous Manfang Embroidery Workshop in Fucheng is also famous. I once thought of paying a high price to invite you over."
"Manfang Embroidery Workshop?" Shen Xiudao: "How come I don't know about this?"
Lu Caiwei said: "It was my sister who told them that you would open an embroidery shop yourself, so they gave up. By the way, Manfang Embroidery Shop is an industry under the name of the Tao family. My eldest sister's sister-in-law is married to his family. relative."
Shen Xiu was a little confused by this relationship. Lu Caiwei explained it to her before she understood the relationship.
Lu Caiwei's eldest sister, Lu Cailian, married into the Yu family in Fucheng, and Yu Shuya, the only girl of this generation of the Yu family, recently got engaged to the Tao family.
The status of the Tao family in Fucheng has nothing to do with Shen Xiu. What attracted Shen Xiu was the Manfang Embroidery Workshop. I heard that there were many embroidery girls with superb embroidery skills in the embroidery workshop. Among them was the Bai Embroidery Lady, whose embroidery skills were not inferior at all. To the former Zhu Xiu Niang.
Shen Xiu is not so competitive in embroidery and insists on competing with others.
It's just that as an embroiderer, if you can communicate with colleagues, it will be very helpful to your embroidery skills.
It wasn't that Shen Xiu didn't want to communicate with Zhu Xiu Niang at the beginning, it was just that the two were rivals. In this case, let alone communication, even sitting down and talking together would be misunderstood by the two bosses.
But Manfang Embroidery Workshop is different.
He opens a shop in the county town, and he is not in an antagonistic relationship with Manfang Embroidery Workshop. As long as someone is willing to help, he can make friends with the Bai Embroidery Lady.
Regarding this, Lu Caiwei was confident, "Don't worry, with my eldest sister here, you will definitely be able to see the white embroidered lady."
These words solidified Shen Xiu's hesitant heart.
"Okay, then when will you leave?"
Lu Caiwei said: "My mother plans to wait until the end of March before leaving. If we leave in mid-March, there will be candidates going to Fucheng to take the exam everywhere, and we may not even be able to find an inn. It is better to avoid this wave of candidates. Wait until the end of March before setting off so that the inn won’t be overcrowded.”
Shen Xiu calculated the time. It was only February at this time, and there was still more than a month before the end of March. In more than a month, she should be able to get Luo Gong's order out.
This way we can get to Fucheng in time.
"Then it's settled. By the end of March, I will follow you to Fucheng."
Lu Caiwei smiled and said, "That's great. I'll tell my mother when I get back and write another letter to my eldest sister and ask her to clean up another room for you."
Lu Caiwei tried her best to persuade Shen Xiu to go to Fucheng, partly because Lu Cailian wanted to see Shen Xiu, but partly because the journey was boring, and Lu Caiwei also wanted to have more company.
Now that she heard that Shen Xiu was willing to follow him to Fucheng, Lu Caiwei left happily.
Not long after she left, Wei Yan came back.
Shen Xiu originally wanted to ask him what Master Li said. Wei Yan had already spoken first and told him about his encounter with Yuan Ziwen.
"Ziwen heard from the elders in the clan that every time there is a prefectural exam, there will be a large influx of candidates rushing to take the exam in the prefectural city. If you arrive late, let alone an inn, you won't even be able to find a temple where you can stay."
Yuan Ziwen invited Wei Yan to have tea, not only to express his determination, but also to discuss many matters about going to Fucheng.
Wei Yan said: "After we discussed it, we still feel that the sooner we leave, the better."
"Then when do you plan to set off?"
Wei Yan said: "I will go find Qu Huan tomorrow. If there is no problem with Qu Huan, we plan to leave the day after tomorrow."
When Qu Huan was mentioned, Shen Xiu couldn't help but remind Wei Yan, "Ms. sir, have you forgotten those peony embroidered screens?"
Qu Huan wanted to wait until those peony embroidered screens were finished and then take them to Fucheng to make a fortune.
If he went to Fucheng in advance, how could he transport those peony embroidered screens. After all, only two of those peony embroidered screens were embroidered.
Wei Yan also thought about this after being reminded by Shen Xiuyi.
However, he quickly thought of a solution, "Then Ziwen and I will leave first, and when we arrive at the inn, we will reserve a room for him in advance. This way, even if he arrives a few days late, the exam will not be delayed."
For Wei Yan, of course, the latter was more important when it came to business and government examinations. But for Qu Huan, the former was more important.
The fact that Wei Yan came up with this idea for Qu Huan showed that he really understood Qu Huan's thoughts and knew that the other party would probably choose to stay.
He did not persuade the other party to leave early, but stood in the other party's position and thought of a solution and retreat for the other party.
"Ms. sir, I now know why so many people are willing to be friends with you." Shen Xiu said with a smile, "Your greatest strength is that you can consider each other's feelings."
Later, when Qu Huan learned about this, he thanked Wei Yan again and again.
"Thank you Brother Wei for your help." Qu Huan thanked him and took out his purse from his arms, "There are ten taels of silver in this purse. Brother Wei doesn't have to book the best room for me, as long as it can accommodate me."
Prices in Fucheng are definitely higher than in county towns, and with so many more candidates in Fucheng, hotel room prices will definitely rise.
Qu Huan didn't want Wei Yan to help and advance money for him at the same time, so he handed over the ten taels of silver to Wei Yan in advance.
After Shen Xiu learned about this incident, she even commented on Qu Huan, "I have had a lot of dealings with Qu Huan these days. This man is both shrewd and kind, and he is a trustworthy person. My husband, you choose your friends."
His vision is still very good."
Wei Yan couldn't help but smile and said, "Madam, you have a good taste." After saying that, she picked up the baggage in her hand and said, "My lady, who has a good taste, come and help me take a look at these two pieces of clothing, which one should I bring?"
"
Those two pieces of clothes were packed away by Shen Xiu. But Wei Yan didn't want to bring so many clothes, so he only picked out one or two pieces.
"Ms. sir, if you only bring these few clothes, what will you do if it gets cold?"
Wei Yan said: "It will be March soon, and the weather won't be too cold."
Wei Yan stuffed the clothes into his baggage, turned around and saw Shen Xiu looking at him intently, so he stretched out his hand and pinched the other person's earlobe, "What are you thinking about?"
Shen Xiu originally wanted to tell Wei Yan that he would leave for Fucheng soon. But after thinking about it, he felt that he should give Wei Yan a surprise, so he endured it and said nothing. He only said: "Mr., I can't bear to let you go.
"
Wei Yan gave her a warm hug, "Silly girl, I can't bear to leave you either. Just stay at home and I'll be back soon."
Shen Xiu was buried in his arms, looking sad on the surface, but actually laughing. If Wei Yan saw him in Fucheng one day, he would definitely be surprised.
When she thought of Wei Yanyan's surprised expression, Shen Xiu's sadness about parting disappeared without a trace.