Transmigration of Mian [Reluctantly] Becomes His Man [Wife]-Chapter 039: Live In a New House (1)
039 – Live In a New House (1)
Later, Qin Mian wasn’t in the slightest surprised to see Du Shi and her company coming back for lunch, or to see Lei Daqiang at the table. Only Lei Chuntao, who’s skin was too thin, unwilling to come. Despite that, Qin Mian still prepared her meal every day and asked Du Shi to bring it home.
Nearly half a month later, the new house was finally completed, standing in silence with greenish-black bricks and black roof tiles. For the reason that Qin Mian often went to “supervise” and treat the laborers warmly and considerately, in return, the laborers worked very carefully. Every brick and tile was very neatly put and one would know at a glance that they had done their best.
On the day when the house was completed, Qin Mian moved the meal from noon to evening and also prepared good wines. The laborers ate and drank to their heart’s content and satisfaction, to the extent where they were smiling broadly even when being scolded by their wives who called them home.
After this event, they had a little more understanding of Qin Mian and Lei Tie, and later treated the two with a little more kindness. To a certain extent, this attitude had affected other villagers. Qin Mian and Lei Tie then had a better relationship with the people in the village, especially Qin Mian. This was a part of the story to be recounted later, not to be mention at the moment.
Qin Mian struck the iron while it was hot[1]. He found several experienced masons earlier and showed them the drawing of the heatable brick bed that had been drawn for a long time as he explained in detail so that the heatable brick bed would be successfully built.
Aside from having a trace of surprise when seeing the drawing, Lei Tie didn’t voice out an opinion and gave Qin Mian a free rein to do what he wanted.
After the heatable brick bed was completed, Qin Mian focused on the bathroom. It took him and Lei Tie two days to find some blocks of marble from the mountain and sent them to the Precious Stones Pavilion where jewelries and ornaments were made, requesting them to use special cutting tools to cut the stones to flat slabs for the bathroom floor and the kitchen stove. It costed 5 taels of silver just to cut and polish it, which made Qin Mian so distressed that he didn’t buy meat dishes that day.
The cutting master in that shop was more distressed than him. His cutting knife was used to cut precious stones, jadeite and pearls, not rocks. Ultimately, he cut it for the sake of money.
Afterwards, Qin Mian and Lei Tie went to the Rich and Honor Woodcraft Shop with furniture drawings.
Liao Zhifu saw Qin Mian enter the door with a smile on his face, while Lei Tie followed him silently with a basket on his back. This familiar scene made him think that time had turned back to a month ago.
“Manager Liao, hope that you are well.”
The sprightly smile on Qin Mian’s face suddenly made Liao Zhifu feel a little stomachache, “Haha, it’s little brother, all thanks to you.” The last blueprint made their employer earned more than 5000 taels, which was not much for them businessmen, but it was rare to get 5000 taels for a month’s net profit. Therefore, he didn’t want to offend Qin Mian.
“I really don’t deserve this [compliment],” Qin Mian said with a more enthusiastic smile, “I’m sending you money again.”
“Oh?” Liao Zhifu was interested.
Lei Tie’s eyes had always been on Qin Mian. How should he be no worse than the wife who could make money?
“What are you thinking?” Qin Mian hit Lei Tie with his arm. He called for several times but Lei Tie didn’t respond.
Lei Tie returned to his senses and was inwardly surprised to find that he could be absent-minded even when he was not alone. He kept his composure and upon seeing that Liao Zhifu also looked at him uncertainly, realization hit him. He took out some papers from the basket and handed them to Qin Mian.
Qin Mian threw a glance at the top one and handed them it to Liao Zhifu. “Manager Liao takes a look first before we discuss?”
Liao Zhifu looked intently and was surprised, “This is a wardrobe?”
“Correct.” Qin Mian nodded.
Liao Zhifu didn’t immediately express his opinion, seeing that Qin Mian still had several pieces of paper in his hand. He glared at the shop assistant who was curiously coming over to have a look. “Don’t you have any foresight? Why don’t you serve tea to these two brothers?”
“Yes.” The assistant quickly stepped back to withdraw.
Qin Mian smiled plentiful and pulled Lei Tie to sit down.
Liao Zhifu sat down opposite them, looked at the drawing and considered: “I only ever see a wardrobe with sliding doors, but this is the first time I see this kind with flap doors.” Qin Mian’s drawing was very meticulous and not difficult to understand at all.
Qin Mian came straight to the point, “We are here today because first, we want to order some furniture in your shop; and second, we want to make some money to supplement our family expenses. What do you think of this drawing, Manager Liao?”
Liao Zhifu was a businessman with unique vision. This wardrobe was divided into different sizes of slot, which were integrated with a dressing table. There were several small slots beside the mirror in the middle that could put some rouge, gouache, comb, jewelry box and other objects within reached just by sitting in front of the dressing table. He was sure that such a wardrobe would be popular with the ladies.
Strange to say, how come no one thought of doing this before? Liao Zhifu was a little upset, but he still straightforwardly said: “10 silver taels for this drawing. What do you think little brother?”
Qin Mian had no objection since there was nothing strange about such a wardrobe and felt sorry to overcharge.
When Liao Zhifu saw that the other party didn’t keep bidding, he vaguely guessed that the other party also intended to be on friendly terms with him and the smile on his face became more sincere. He asked: “The other drawings?” He looked at Qin Mian’s hand.
Qin Mian handed him the design drawing of a settee and explained it in detail. The drawing was highly praised by Liao Zhifu, which fixed the price of 50 taels.
Finally, Qin Mian took out a plate and a potato from the basket.
Liao Zhifu and the downright curious assistant were rather baffled as they looked at him.
Qin Mian chuckled, turned his back to them and peeled the potato in a short period of time before turning around and showed it them.
“Is the speed of peeling fast?”
Liao Zhifu amazedly asked: “How…. did you do it?”
Qin Mian smiled but didn’t speak. He turned his back to them again and similarly, he turned back not a moment later.
When Liao Zhifu saw it, there was a plate of finely shredded potatoes.
Note:
[1] act at good opportunity or while circumstances are favorable
