northernbook Chapter 301: Transformation
Chapter 301: Transformation
Chapter 301: Transformation
Ji Meiqing then asked Shen Bin to find a carpenter to make two wooden planks. One plank was to be the same length and width as the space left on the left wall, while the other plank was to be slightly longer than the length of a person's foot and the same width as the space left. Both were to be made into solid wooden planks.
Then, make a small room using wooden planks near the triangular area on the left wall, with the door facing the wall for privacy.
In Fuzhou.
Ji Meiqing has been gone for almost a month, and Yan Zhi is feeling incredibly bored staying at home all by herself, with no one to talk to. She thinks to herself, "If I don't go out and socialize soon, I'm going to go crazy."
She went out without a second thought, not knowing where to go. After walking for a while, she saw a shed with many people in it, surrounded by fruit trees. Just as she was about to go in, she was suddenly stopped by someone. Li Ming said, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Rouge looked at Li Ming. Perhaps she had spent too much time in brothels and seen too many of these flamboyant lechers. Seeing that Li Ming didn't seem moved at all, she couldn't help but become interested and said, "Why can't I come here? This isn't a place only you can come to." As she spoke, she laughed, laughing at Li Ming for getting so excited over such a small matter.
"You can't just wander in here. This is where our guests work," Li Ming said, not even looking at Yan Zhi, just standing there, preventing her from entering. Yan Zhi wasn't angry; inwardly, she praised Ji Meiqing for hiring such dedicated people, saying she had a good eye for talent.
"Oh, isn't this just Sister Ji's factory? I can't even go in for a look," Rouge said reproachfully. As soon as Li Ming heard Rouge mention Ji Meiqing, he stepped aside and went to do his own thing.
Rouge looked around, initially thinking there was something fun to do, but now it seemed like the same old thing, and she pouted. Seeing Li Ming working with his head down, she went over, squatted down beside him, and watched him put things into the wine jar.
As she watched, she noticed that Li Ming was repeating the same thing over and over again, adding various things to the wine jar. Unable to bear the boredom any longer, Rouge said, "Hey, what's your name? My name is Rouge," she asked, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Li Ming.
Li Ming was busy with his things, head down. Seeing that he was ignoring her, Yan Zhi snatched the wine jar from his hands. Li Ming's face darkened. Yan Zhi, seeing his anger, didn't say anything, just giggled. Li Ming, burning with rage, glared at Yan Zhi: "Miss, give me the wine jar! Don't disturb me!"
"It's just asking for a name. Tell me and I'll give it to you." Rouge hugged the wine jar, looking like she'd rather die than give it to him. Li Ming said, "Li Ming," and snatched the wine jar back from Rouge's hand, then lowered his head and went about his own business.
Rouge murmured "Li Ming" to herself, smiled, and went home alone.
A few days later, Ji Meiqing received the wooden planks made by the carpenter, placed them on the open space on the second floor, and then used the planks as a stage, placing a potted plant and a screen on them.
After several days of setup, Ji Meiqing went to the silver jewelry shop she had visited before. The owner showed her the finished products. Ji Meiqing was very happy with the finished products, paid for them, and took about ten pieces.
After receiving the finished silver jewelry, Ji Meiqing picked out several bells, pendants, red strings, and some ready-to-wear butterfly hairpins from the ornaments displayed at some street stalls. After buying a lot of jewelry, Ji Meiqing returned to the inn.
Upon returning to the inn, Ji Meiqing went to find Zhao Ning'er and knocked on the door. Zhao Ning'er opened the door and, seeing Ji Meiqing, said, "Sister Ji, what brings you here?" Ji Meiqing immediately pulled Zhao Ning'er along, also bringing Zhao Lei along. Zhao Ning'er was filled with questions about Ji Meiqing's actions. Ji Meiqing led them to the tailor shop they had visited earlier.
When the tailor shop owner saw that it was Ji Meiqing, Ji Meiqing asked him to bring out the finished product. The owner looked uneasy, but eventually brought out the finished clothes. Ji Meiqing then told Zhao Ning'er and Zhao Lei to change into the clothes.
Seeing the two people dressed, Ji Meiqing carefully examined them. They were exactly the same as the ones she had drawn in her blueprints, and the hats were also very well made. Zhao Lei was probably wearing such a strange hat for the first time, and his face was red, as if he was afraid that others would say he looked ugly or something. Ji Mei clapped her hands and cheered, and the shop owner's worries finally subsided.
After paying, Ji Meiqing led the siblings back to the inn. Zhao Ning'er looked at the clothes that cost fifty taels and couldn't help but click her tongue, thinking it was too expensive, yet also feeling that Ji Meiqing was too generous. Looking at the clothes in her hands and thinking about the fifty taels, she bit her lip, feeling a pang of regret.
I don't know what Sister Ji wants me to do with these clothes and face cream. Father used to say that only courtesans wear heavy makeup every day. Sister Ji wouldn't be... Oh dear, no, no. Zhao Ning'er was startled by her own thoughts and quickly dismissed them.
Once Ji Meiqing had the clothes in hand, she led Zhao Ning'er and the others back to the inn. She took out the hairpins she had made the day before, along with some other hair accessories she had bought, removing the beads, bells, tassels, and so on, and then threading them through the holes in the hairpins. Thus, some hairpins had tassels, some had long chains of beads, and some had bells.
After getting everything ready, Ji Meiqing went to find Zhao Ning'er. She knocked on the door, and Zhao Ning'er opened it. Ji Meiqing saw that she was still wearing her old clothes, and she hadn't brought out the new clothes she had bought. Ji Meiqing felt a little helpless.
"Sister Ji, what can I do for you?" Zhao Ning'er pulled Ji Meiqing into the house and sat her down with her. Ji Meiqing took out her hair ornaments from her sleeve and placed them on the table.
Upon seeing the hair ornaments, Zhao Ning'er, who had been sitting, suddenly stood up and said, "Sister Ji, you should keep these for yourself. I don't need them." Ji Meiqing ignored her and stood up to put the hair ornaments on Zhao Ning'er's head. Zhao Ning'er's hands were restless as she tried to take the hairpins off her head, but Ji Meiqing grabbed her hand and said, "I've said before that I'm a businesswoman and I never do unprofitable business. These clothes and jewelry are useful to you."
Zhao Ning'er stopped collecting, biting her lip to hold back her tears. Ji Meiqing didn't notice anything amiss. She kept fiddling with the hair ornaments in her hair. Zhao Ning'er sat motionless. Once Ji Meiqing felt it was appropriate, she held up a mirror and asked Zhao Ning'er, "Does it look good?"
Zhao Ning'er, seemingly lost in thought, stammered, "It's...beautiful," forcing a smile as she spoke. Ji Meiqing chuckled and pinched her cheek, teasingly saying, "Don't force that smile, okay?" Zhao Ning'er could only quickly lower her head and remain silent. Ji Meiqing didn't seem to mind.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Ji Meiqing sat down and fiddled with the jewelry in her hands. Zhao Ning'er lowered her head, fidgeting with her clothes, biting her lip, looking like she wanted to say something but didn't have the courage to speak. "Now that Sister Ji is doing this, I'm really panicking, but I don't dare to ask her. What should I do?" Zhao Ning'er's heart was pounding.