Chapter 141 – Third Sister Wants to Be an Apprentice
Taking the embroidery tools from Liu Xu’s hand, she skillfully clamped the embroidery cloth on the hoop, then threaded the needle and began to sketch out the image of a blooming peony in her mind.
Liu Xu stood aside watching, seeing her head down and focused on the embroidery, she appeared extraordinarily calm and elegant. Her eyes were covered by long thick eyelashes, like two fans.
This was the first time he had encountered such a peaceful and lovely woman.
“Miss Yan, three sticks of incense is a long time. Please sit on this stool to do your embroidery.”
Liu Xu handed an embroidery stool to Yan Shuyun.
As Yan Shuyun lifted her eyelids, her gaze met with Liu Xu’s. Liu Xu was a bit close to her. Looking at Liu Xu’s clean and handsome face, her heartbeat inevitably quickened a few beats.
“Thank you, Mr. Liu.”
Standing and embroidering at the same time did affect her performance. She took the stool from Liu Xu’s hand and sat down.
Ms. Zhong and Yan Xiaosi’s two sisters quietly watched from the side.
Yan Xiaosi had a confident face.
With their third sister’s proficient embroidery skills and her careful and patient personality, there was no problem at all for her to become an apprentice in the Xu Family Fur Store.
As she expected, before the three sticks of incense burned out, a blooming red peony took shape under Yan Shuyun’s hand.
The peony was embroidered very vividly, lifelike.
As Yan Shuyun finished her work, bit off the thread, and was about to show the finished product to Liu Xu for his approval; Just at this moment, Liu Ke and Xu Hailin returned.
The two of them had gone to the thread shop to buy embroidery threads.
Seeing his brother-in-law and sister return, Liu Xu quickly went to the door to greet them.
“Brother-in-law, sister, you are back.”
Xu Hailin nodded, and while entering, he asked Liu Xu, “Brother Xu, how was business in the shop after your sister and I left?”
Liu Xu honestly replied, “After you and sister left, I sold two fox fur tops and a mink fur cloak. I recommended the white mink fur cloak to young master Bai from Jiren Hall.”
Liu Ke asked, “Xu, are you referring to Doctor Bai Mingyue from Jiren Hall?”
“Yes, sister.”
Liu Ke glanced at Liu Xu with a satisfied smile.
“Young Master Bai has an extraordinary appearance, that white mink fur cloak does match his temperament. Xu, you are becoming better at doing business.”
Liu Xu modestly replied, “It’s all thanks to the good teachings of sister and brother-in-law. By the way, sister, there is a girl named Yan Shuyun who wants to apply for an apprenticeship in our shop. According to your instructions, I asked her to embroider a peony within the time of three sticks of incense.”
Upon hearing the name Yan Shuyun, Liu Ke’s eyes brightened, and she quickly walked inside.
As they entered, they saw Ms. Zhong, Yan Xiaosi and the others present.
“So, the boss and the lady boss of Xu Family Fur Store have returned.”
Yan Xiaosi greeted Xu Hailin and Liu Ke with a polite nod and smile, then took the embroidered peony from Yan Shuyun’s hand and handed it to Liu Ke.
“Madam, this is the peony that my third sister embroidered within three sticks of incense. Please take a look.”
Liu Ke took it and a smile appeared on her face.
She raised her eyebrows, looking very satisfied with Yan Shuyun.
“Third Miss Yan, you have passed the test. You can now be an apprentice at our Xu Family Fur Store. During the apprenticeship, you will be paid two silver per month. If you graduate and become a master in the future, your wages will be recalculated.”
Liu Ke’s words made Yan Xiaosi and her family very excited, especially Yan Shuyun.
Before this, she thought she would spend her whole life in Shaoyao Village, living in poverty and hardship. But now, she was filled with anticipation for her future.
“Mom, big sister, second sister, Xiaosi, I passed the test!”
Ms. Zhong’s eyes moistened with joy, she laughed and pushed down the tears in her eyes.
Looking at Liu Ke, she asked respectfully, “Madam, I wonder when my daughter Yun can start working at your shop?”
Encountering someone as talented as Yan Shuyun, Liu Ke naturally hoped she could start working at Xu Family Fur Store as soon as possible.
As the temperature dropped every day, the fur business was getting better and better. Having one more person to help out would lessen the workload in the shop. “Aunt Yan, I naturally hope that Third Miss Yan can start working in our shop tomorrow. I have one more request. It would be best if Third Miss Yan could live in our shop. At this time, the fur business is good, and our shop opens early and closes late every day. It’s not safe for Third Miss Yan to go back when it’s late.”
Yan Shuyun had never left Ms. Zhong’s side since she was born, and suddenly she was asked to stay in a strange place, making her feel a little uneasy.
Her uneasy gaze rotated between her family members. She didn’t know how to respond to Liu Ke.
After a moment of silence, Yan Xiaosi asked Liu Ke.
“Madam, is the area behind your shop a residential yard?”
Judging by the layout, there should be a large courtyard behind the Xu Family Fur Store.
Seeing Liu Ke nod, she continued to ask, “Madam, who lives in the courtyard at the back?”
She needed to understand their living arrangements before she could feel at ease leaving her third sister here as an apprentice.
Liu Ke understood their family’s concerns.
It was normal for them to feel uneasy about leaving a young lady in someone else’s care. “There are two female embroiderers, two female dyers, three female clerks responsible for attracting business, and a female cook who also cleans living in the back. My husband and I have a small courtyard nearby. Our younger brother, Liu Xu, helps us manage the business here during the day and stays with us at the small courtyard at night.”
In that case, it seemed that all the people living in the backyard of Xu Family Fur Store were women.
This eased the worries of Ms. Zhong and Yan Xiaosi. Yan Shuyun also felt more assured.
Yan Shuyun looked at Ms. Zhong and asked, “Mom, can I come tomorrow?”
Ms. Zhong said, “Of course, you can. We’ll go home and pack up today, and I’ll bring you here early tomorrow.”
Having settled the matter, Liu Ke asked Liu Xu to show their family around the back.
The backyard was quite large, and all the processes, including dyeing, ironing, cutting, sewing, and embroidery, were carried out there. The finished products were then brought to the shop for sale.
The cook, who was also responsible for cleaning, kept the backyard very clean. Yan Shuyun was quite satisfied after seeing it.
Although it was the backyard, the living conditions were top-notch to her.
After staying at Xu Family Fur Store for nearly an hour, the family left.
Liu Xu escorted them to the door, watching Yan Shuyun leave with some reluctance.
“Brother Xu, have you taken a liking to Third Miss Yan?”
Liu Ke suddenly appeared behind him, seeing him staring blankly at the departing cart.
Liu Xu was startled, his ears turned red, and he hastily averted his gaze. “Sister, don’t talk nonsense. Be careful not to ruin the young lady’s reputation.”
