Chapter 39
Chapter 39: Buying Straw Sandals
Qin Xiaoyao returned a humble smile.
“These straw sandals can be sold for money in town. Aunt Song, you can earn money with this skill!” Big Girl Li seemed to have thought of something and looked at Madam Liu with envy.
Not only did Qin Sanya know about Chinese yam, but she also knew how to make straw sandals.
Why did she feel that the Qin Sanya in front of her was different from the Qin Sanya she knew before…
Admittedly, she was beginning to feel a little jealous of Qin Sanya.
In the past, everyone was somewhat useless and didn’t have any skills. However, now, she seemed to be the only one who had no ability.
“Hehe! Yes. Sanya is now asking her father to help us sell straw sandals. Whether we sell more or less, we can at least get some income for the family,” Madam Liu replied with a smile.
She only mentioned that her in-laws were helping them sell the straw sandals, but she didn’t mention that her daughter-in-law had gone to the grocery store to sell the straw sandals.
The envy in Big Girl Li’s eyes grew stronger.
“Uncle Qin’s pork stall is doing well, and there are many people coming and going. I’m sure he can help you sell many pairs of straw sandals.”
Her parents also had a regular tofu stall in the market on West Street, and they had the conditions to help sell straw sandals.
It was a pity that she didn’t have the skill.
Otherwise, she could also rely on this to earn some money, right?
“Hehe! I’m just starting. We’ll give it a try.” Madam Liu smiled and replied. She was obviously looking forward to it, but she said it so humbly.
“Sigh! Let’s not talk about this! Since Aunt Song can weave straw sandals, is there a pair suitable for me? Give me a pair to change into. The soles of my feet are very hot right now!” Big Girl Li said quickly.
When Liu Daniu heard this, he also looked at Madam Liu.
“Aunt Song, how much are you selling these straw sandals for? I want a pair too!” he also said.
“Well…” Madam Liu hesitated and looked at Qin Xiaoyao.
Seeing her daughter-in-law nod at her, she said, “There’s no need for money. You two have worked hard helping Sanya. I’ll give you two pairs of straw sandals as a gift.”
With that, Madam Liu turned around and walked out.
“This won’t do!” Liu Daniu and his wife quickly ran after Madam Liu.
“You’re going to sell this for money. We can’t take it for free. Besides, when Mrs. Song hired us to work, she promised to pay us wages!”
“However much you sell in town, that’s what we’ll pay! I’ll have Mrs. Song deduct it from my wages later. The two of us can’t take it for free.” Liu Daniu protested with determination.
They had already taken advantage of the Song family by staying for dinner.
No matter how thick-skinned he was, he simply couldn’t take two pairs of straw sandals from them without paying.
However, Madam Liu did not seem to hear Liu Daniu’s words.
She walked to the spot under the roof eaves and started to look through straw sandals.
“What size do you two take?” she asked.
Following her daughter-in-law’s instruction, most of the straw sandals she and her daughter made were for adult men.
Of course, there were also some for women and children, but the quantity was a lot less.
Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li quickly told her the size of their feet.
Only then did Madam Liu retrieve two pairs of straw sandals.
“You two can try them,” she said immediately.
The couple’s faces lit up with joy. They quickly took the straw sandals of their respective sizes and went to one side to try them on.
In the end, they found that the size was just right, and the straw sandals were also light and comfortable to wear.
They then immediately took off the other fabric shoe and changed into the pair of straw sandals.
“This pair of straw sandals is more comfortable and sturdy than the pair Father bought for me!” Liu Daniu exclaimed after walking back and forth for a few steps.
Big Girl Li was also very satisfied with her new sandals.
She hadn’t worn straw sandals since she married into Brook Falls Village. However, in town, she had worn them before on rainy days.
She also felt that the straw sandals made by the Song family were better than the ones she used to wear.
“Aunt Song, how much are you selling these straw sandals?” Liu Daniu quickly asked Madam Liu.
Madam Liu simply beamed widely and waved her hand without saying a word.
“If you don’t want the money, we don’t want it!” Seeing this, Liu Daniu made a gesture of taking off his shoes, even though he was a little reluctant.
Big Girl Li was also reluctant, but she also cooperated with her man.
The main thing was that she was too embarrassed to take advantage of the Song family.
Qin Xiaoyao came out at this moment. Seeing the situation, she smiled and said, “If you two really want it, I’ll just charge you six copper coins for two pairs of straw sandals.”
“If these straw sandals are sent to the town, I also charge my father three copper coins per pair. The extra money from the sale will be considered as payment for my father’s hard work.”
The couple was shocked.
“Only… three copper coins?” Liu Daniu asked in surprise.
The straw sandals in the market were usually four to five copper coins a pair, and a pair of straw sandals of this quality would probably be sold for five copper coins.
Mrs. Song was only selling it to them for three copper coins?
“Yup! If the two of you like it, you can come back to buy more in the future. My family’s straw sandals will be sold for three copper coins in the future to the people of our village.” Qin Xiaoyao added.
Liu Daniu’s eyes lit up.
He was really impressed, thinking that Mrs. Song was genuinely a good person.
“Then I’ll buy four more pairs for my parents and siblings!” he said immediately.
His parents’ straw sandals were already broken, and his siblings did not have any.
He and his wife had just earned their wages today, and buying sandals for their family was also a nice gesture, wasn’t it?
“Deal!” Qin Xiaoyao laughed as she replied.
Then, she looked at Madam Liu and Song Yun, who looked stunned.
“Mother, then help them search. If we don’t have the right size, Yun’er, you can help your Brother Daniu weave it up on the spot.”
“Okay!” The two of them quickly agreed.
Seeing this, Liu Daniu stepped forward and told them the sizes of his family members’ feet.
In the end, only his parents and younger brother could find straw sandals of the corresponding size. His sister’s feet were too short, so there weren’t any suitable ready-made straw sandals for the time being.
However, it didn’t matter. After Song Yun found out about Liu Xiaomei’s feet size, she started to make the straw sandals.
Seeing this, Liu Daniu and Big Girl Li were extremely envious.
This Song family’s little girl was also a person with good skills.
At such a young age, she could already help her family earn money. How could they not be envious?
Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao didn’t bother with the two.
She went back into the room and took out ninety copper coins.
Then, she gave Liu Daniu seventy-two copper coins.
“The is the balance of ninety copper coins of the wages we agreed on earlier. After deducting the cost of the six pairs of straw sandals, that’s seventy-two copper coins.”
Liu Daniu had already done the calculations in his heart. He accepted the copper coins and thanked Qin Xiaoyao.
After a day of hard work with his wife, he finally had some returns.
Qin Xiaoyao acknowledged their thanks and walked toward Madam Liu and Song Yun.
“Mother, this is the money for selling six pairs of straw sandals. You and Yun’er can keep it.” As she spoke, she handed over the remaining copper coins.
The mother and daughter were so shocked that no one accepted the coins.
“You can keep it! You’re the one taking care of the family now, and you’ll be in charge of our family in the future.” Then, Madam Liu finally blurted out. Her face was full of sincerity.
She was genuinely convinced by her daughter-in-law and really wanted to give her the right to take control of the family.
Song Yun also looked at Qin Xiaoyao and nodded.
She also agreed with her mother’s decision.
Sister-in-law had changed. She was now the head of the family.
With Sister-in-law in charge of the family, the whole family would work hard together, and the days at home would definitely be better.
Not far away, when Big Girl Li saw this situation, she was extremely envious.
In the beginning, she thought that Qin Sanya was stupid to give the copper coins to her mother-in-law and little sister-in-law.