Two days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Shen and her daughter Zi Qing went to the city to deliver some vegetables and eggs to Zhou. Shen also planned to buy some festive goods. When they arrived at Zhou's place, Zhou's leg had recovered enough to walk, although she still limped. Zi Ping was next door again, supposedly learning embroidery. Shen tactfully mentioned, "Girls should be kept close to home to feel secure, especially one as big as her."

  "My daughter Zhiping is the most obedient, she has been helping me with chores since she was young, such as chopping firewood, feeding pigs and chickens. Now that we are in the city, it's not easy for her to have some free time, she wants to go next door to learn embroidery, how can I stop her? Besides, she doesn't want to go anywhere else." said Mrs. Zhou.

  "Sister-in-law, I'm worried about this. Our Xiaoping is growing up day by day, she's already 12 years old this year. In a few years, it'll be time to arrange her marriage. Girls should be cherished more, and there are only a few years left."

  "No, I only have this one child. I often restrict her and don't let her go out. The woman next door has a child at home, she often goes over to chat with her, learn some needlework, and when she's older, I won't let her go anywhere."

  As she came out of the Zhou's house, Shen sighed and said, "I hope nothing is wrong, it's best if nothing is wrong." Then she added, "But why can't I feel at ease in my heart?"

  "Girl, you're just thinking too much, always thinking about this matter, can't you be more down-to-earth?" But on the other hand, not paying attention to it is also not good. What if something really happens in the future? Wouldn't I have to blame myself for half my life? However, even if I say something, they might not listen. These are all Zi Qing's inner speculations, how can she bring them up openly? If things go wrong, she'll be the one getting splashed with dirty water. They'll say that at such a young age, she already knows these things, it's clear what kind of things she usually learns. This way, she'll even drag her own mother into trouble and get scolded.

  After returning from Anzhou, Zi Qing looked listless, and even Zi Lu noticed that something was off. He said: "Qing'er, today after school, Second Brother will take you to pick up the pinecones, it's time to burn them. Second Brother knows where there are many wild chicken eggs, he'll take you to find some. When we get back, Second Brother will roast some wild chicken eggs for you to eat, and you'll definitely have a great time."

  "Second brother, I want to go too. You guys didn't bring me last time when you went to catch loaches. If you don't bring me this time, I won't close the door for you." Zi Shou said with a pout on his face, while Zi Xi was still young and only knew how to say "Egg, eat egg egg".

  Zi Qing gently pinched Zi Xi's small face and smiled: "Okay, sister will find eggs for Little Four to eat."

  Zi Qing's mood suddenly brightened up a lot, and the things that would happen later could be talked about later. She hummed a little tune as she went to steam egg custard for Zi Xi.

  After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zi Qing suddenly remembered that he had said earlier that he would sell lanterns during the New Year. However, as it turned out, the weather was still not cooperating, and since the late rice transplanting, there had only been a few scattered light rains. The sweet potatoes were barely enough, but the paddy fields were drying up. If it didn't rain heavily soon, the late rice crop would definitely be reduced, and the farmers' lives would be difficult. Who would have spare money to buy lanterns?

  Ziying changed her mind and thought, why not make high-end ones and sell them to the wealthy families in the city. She made up her mind and asked her third uncle to help her cut down a few bamboo trees, taking down the thin green skin, which had the best flexibility. Ziying experimented for a day, with the help of Zirong, and actually managed to create a pumpkin-shaped prototype that could be opened and closed at will. When open, it was a pumpkin with eight petals; when closed, it was four bamboo sticks tied together, saving a lot of space.

  Zi Qing took out a piece of red cloth from Shen's place, gestured for a long time, cut two small pieces of cloth with pointed ends and a larger middle section, sewed them together but it didn't work so she took them apart again. In the end, He Shi gestured to show the size and cut the fabric, which was then sewn together successfully. Zi Qing kept one piece of active cloth, which could be opened to put candles inside, and directly used a chopped bamboo as a candle holder, making it more convenient.

  Zi Qing handed it over to Shen Shi to show off, and said with a smile, "Mother, aren't you good at knitting? If you knit a few rows of lace and hang them underneath, it will definitely look great."

  It's best to have a big red Chinese knot, but unfortunately, Ziyin doesn't know how. As long as it means good luck, it's fine. At first, Shen's mother didn't agree with Ziyin doing this business, but she couldn't resist Ziyin's persistence and also Zhilu's help in speaking up for her, "Mother, this lantern is something my sister and I made together, just let us try, you see, we sold couplets last year as a group of people working together, it's not our first time, I believe we can succeed."

  "Come on, mom, why don't you believe me? Look at the barren mountain I bought and how well I've managed it. It's not a waste of money, is it? Besides, it won't cost much silver. If worst comes to worst, can't I just borrow from you?" Zi Qing continued to pester.

  He sighed and said to Shen, "I think this child is possessed by a demon, just agree with her. In my opinion, this lantern has some meaning, it's not impossible for the child to make it. After all, your family's wealth was also created by this child, so just give her a few more taels of silver, what's the big deal?"

  Zi Qing saw that Shen Shi had finally agreed, and hurriedly asked Shen Shi for five taels of silver, saying he wanted to hire San Tang Shu to make lantern frames. Two cents each, mainly because cutting bamboo was a hassle, and his family couldn't do it themselves. Making these frames was something San Tang's wife could also do at home, and it would be a good way for their household to earn some extra income.

  Shen agreed and smiled: "With this silver, your Third Uncle's family can also have a good New Year."

  The fourth child of Zeng Ruiyu's family had just been full moon for a short time, when Shen Shi went to send the full moon gift, San Tang Shu said that this year thanks to Shen Shi's help, otherwise this child would not be raised.

  Zi Qing made a sample and took it to San Tang Shu, asking: "San Shu, do you think we can finish making 2,500 of these frames by the end of the year? It's just that cutting and splitting bamboo is a bit troublesome, but making them isn't. My aunt at home can also make this frame, it's very simple, two cents each, what do you think?"

  "It doesn't cost two cents, one cent is enough. But what do you want this for? And why so many?" Zeng Ruiyu took it over and said after careful examination.

  "Let's make a deal, I need it urgently. Can you bring me what you've done each day after dinner? Will you remember the count?"

  Zeng Ruiyu touched his head and smiled foolishly, "I can only count up to one thousand, I don't know how to remember."

  Ziying told him to come and count himself, and also said that he would make one, match a small bamboo bowl with a diameter of one inch square, which can be simply scraped out with discarded bamboo. After finishing speaking, Ziying handed over five taels of silver, but unexpectedly her third uncle refused to accept it, insisting on completing the task first, saying that he had never seen such a large silver ingot, and copper coins looked more reassuring, spending them was also smoother. Ziying smiled and said: "Then let's settle accounts every day, you send how much, I'll give you that much in wages."

  Zeng Ruiyu also smiled and said: "It's better this way."

  The next morning, Ziyin asked Shen to accompany her to the city. Since there was nothing else to do, Shen suggested that He also go for a stroll. Zixi was almost two years old and could walk steadily now. Besides, with so many people watching, there was no need to worry. So, the five of them, young and old, took a donkey cart to the city. First, they went to Zhou's shop to deliver eggs. Usually, Shen would save up two baskets before sending them over. After delivering the eggs, the group went to the vegetable market for a stroll. This time, Ziyin bought fifty or so little chickens and six lambs. Seeing someone selling oranges, Ziyin first bought one to taste, and finding it acceptable, she bought thirty or so more.

  They sent the things to Zhou's store, and several people went to the cloth shop. Shen looked at a piece of bright red satin, which cost 1.2 silver coins per piece, and also looked at fine silk, which cost 800 copper coins per piece. Shen thought it was a bit expensive and asked: "Shopkeeper, do you have anything cheaper? Not the best."

  The shopkeeper said no, but a fellow next to him said: "Shopkeeper, aren't there still those fabrics in the warehouse?"

  The shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, then reacted quickly and said: "This big sister, the warehouse does have a batch of large red silk fabrics. When they were delivered, they got damp, and some places are not quite right in color. I don't know what you plan to do with them? They can be sold cheaply, 200 coins per bolt, you can take it away. This batch of fabric really made the boss lose a lot."

  After finishing, let the young man carry a match. Shen opened it and took a look. The color was one foot light and one foot deep. It's really not suitable for making clothes. No wonder the shopkeeper said to discount it. For Zi Qing, it should be just right. The lantern is divided into eight petals, just one petal deep and one petal shallow. Zi Qing pulled her mother's hand and asked her mother to lean down, whispering a few words in her ear. Then Shen asked: "Shopkeeper, how many pieces of fabric do you have? Can we get a discount if we buy them all?"

  "One hundred horses, you want them all, I'll make it easy for you, one hundred and eighty coins per horse, can't be any less."

  The Shens didn't bring the silver, so they first took fifty bolts and said they would come back another day for the rest. After finishing buying fabric, the Shens also asked for some colored threads from the store. There were too many things, so the shopkeeper had two apprentices send the fabric to the general goods store, and Zhou the shopkeeper even specially sent a donkey cart to send them back.

  In the evening, Ruiyu sent over twenty lantern frames. Ziqing gave him forty cents, and then asked He Shi to cut, Ziqing to sew, and Shen Shi to tie the knots. Several people divided up the work and started doing it. Ziqing's process was the slowest. By the time they finished, he had only made seven or eight. Fortunately, there was no rush, as careful work produces fine results, and Ziqing's requirement was to strive for perfection.