Chapter 466: Tie Them Up

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

At Guangxi Garden.

Chu Qingzhi called three helpers. “This is the exhibition painting I framed. I’ll frame another one to demonstrate for you. After you understand it, frame the other paintings.”

She had the already-mounted exhibition painting on her right, secured with four wooden strips, and a support stand behind the frame. The entire painting was slightly tilted, offering the best perspective when viewed standing up.

“Okay.”

Chu Qingzhi then carefully mounted another one. “Do you understand it now?”

The three nodded. “Yes, it doesn’t seem too difficult.”

“It’s indeed not too difficult.” Chu Qingzhi stepped aside. “Now, you give it a try. Be careful when mounting, so you don’t tear the paper; otherwise, I’ll have to start over.”

“Ok.”

The three immediately got to work. They were skilled woodworkers in the village and were known for their meticulous work, making them suitable for mounting paintings.

The first painting was mounted badly, but it was done nonetheless.

Mounting the second one was much easier.

By the time they were on the third one, they were quite skilled.

Seeing that everyone had no issues, Chu Qingzhi went to a shady spot to continue painting, hoping to complete all the exhibition paintings as quickly as possible.

Chu Xuhua led three elderly men in their fifties toward Chu Qingzhi. “Fifth sister, they’re looking for you.”

Chu Qingzhi looked up. The three elderly were dressed simply and looked like villagers. They looked anxious and uneasy. They must have encountered something difficult.

“What can I help you with?” Chu Qingzhi asked.

One of the elderly men said, “Miss, we are silkworm breeders. We used to supply our silkworm silk to the Shen family. However, since the Shen family sold their workshop, we can’t sell our silk anymore.”

Silk? Chu Qingzhi thought. She didn’t know if her second sister had bought the workshop. If she had, perhaps they could buy the silk.

“Which village arc you from?”

“From Wang Village.”

Wang Village was about a twenty-minute walk from Chu Village, not too far away.

“Do the entire village raise silkworms?”

“Yes, every season, we produce over two hundred catties of silkworm cocoons. Many of us rely on this for a living. If we can’t sell them, many people in our village won’t be able to survive.”

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Why are you looking for me this time?”

One of the elderly men hesitated for a moment, then said, “We want to set up a small stand at the Food Festival. Our silkworm cocoons are of excellent quality. In case any store owner takes an interest.”

“Do you have the silkworm cocoons with you?”

“Yes, we brought them.” The elderly man quickly placed his basket on the ground and showed Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingzhi picked up one of the silkworm cocoons. They were pure white and slightly larger than a thumb. The quality looked excellent. “You wait here. Let me call someone to take a look.”

The elderly man was grateful. “Thank you very much, Miss.”

Chu Qingyue and Ning Yuting passed by Guangxi Garden and were about to come in to take a look when they bumped into Chu Qingzhi, who was looking for them.

Chu Qingyue hurriedly approached Chu Qingzhi. “Fifth sister, what’s the matter?”

Chu Qingzhi pointed to the silkworm cocoons in the basket. “Have you bought the workshop? There are high-quality silkworm cocoons here. Do you want to take a look?”

Chu Qingyue smiled. “Yes, we have bought it. We were just discussing going to talk to the silk supplier.”

“That’s coincidental then.”

Ning Yuting took out one of the silkworm cocoons, examined it closely, and then picked up a few more to inspect. “Who used to buy your silkworm cocoons?”

The elderly man said, “The Shen family. However, after the Shen family’s weaving workshop was closed, they stopped buying. That’s why we came out to think of a way ourselves.”

Ning Yuting found the silkworm cocoons to be of excellent quality. “Take us to your village to have a look. If it’s good, we will consider buying it.”

The elderly man was overjoyed. “Really?”

Ning Yuting nodded. “Yes.”

The elderly man couldn’t contain his excitement and quickly agreed, “Great, I’ll take you there.”

A weaving workshop required various raw materials, including silkworm silk, as well as linen and hemp. Silkworm silk was used for making the finest fabrics. If the quality wasn’t good, the workshop would struggle to survive. Ning Yuting took this matter seriously.

After saying goodbye to Chu Qingzhi, Chu Qingyue and Ning Yuting followed the elderly men to Wang Village.

Chu Qingzhi continued her painting.

Chu Xujin approached her. “Fifth sister, Shopkeeper Xia, the lantern seller, has brought the lanterns. Do you want them hung up right away?”

The lanterns were sponsored. There were more than 300 of them, and there were all kinds.

“Just hang the two lanterns I specially asked Shopkeeper Xia to make on the door of Guangxi Garden. Put the rest away and hang them the night before the food festival.”

“Alright, I’ll arrange it right away.”

Chu Qingshuang, her skirts swaying slightly, excitedly approached Chu Qingzhi. “Fifth sister, I’ve brought the porcelain.”

Chu Qingzhi put down her paintbrush. “Let me see.”

This batch of porcelain was also a sponsorship. In addition to being used at the Food Festival, anyone who secured a stand would receive a set of porcelain as a gift.

These could include a tea set, vases, several bowls, and plates.

The workshop assistants carried several boxes into Guangxi Garden and opened them one by one in front of Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingzhi picked up one piece. It was simple but exquisitely crafted white porcelain with the words “Food Festival” and a cute illustration.

“Qingshuang, your craftsmanship has improved.”

“It’s all thanks to your guidance, Fifth sister.”

This batch of porcelain was only a portion of the total, with the rest still being made. The two sisters chatted for a while before Chu Qingshuang hurriedly returned to work.

The sponsoring shopkeepers were all quite efficient, and their items were arriving one after another…

Uninvited guests also made their appearance.

Tao Yuansong harbored a grudge against Chu Qingzhi for not conceding the right to host the Food Festival, and today he brought many people to cause trouble.

Tao Yuansong, filled with anger, pointed at Chu Qingzhi. “I’ll ask you one last time, will you give up the right to host the Food Festival or not?”

Chu Qingzhi picked up a stone and flicked it toward Tao Yuansong’s pointing finger. “I don’t like it when people point at me while speaking.”

When Tao Yuansong heard Chu Qingzhi speak, he also heard a crisp crack from his finger. Then, there was a piercing pain. “It hurts—”

Chu Qingzhi’s gaze turned cold as she looked at Tao Yuansong. “Get lost!”

Tao Yuansong tightly clutched his injured finger, his facial features contorted in pain. He shouted, “Smash this place!”

The henchmen immediately dispersed, holding clubs, ready to vandalize everything that had been painstakingly arranged.

“You are courting death!” Chu Qingzhi waved her hand, and a force materialized out of thin air, sending all the men flying to the gate, where they piled up like a group of statues. “Tie them up and leave them out in the sun.”

“You dare!” Tao Yuansong shouted again, “I’m the nephew of the county magistrate! Offending me is like offending the county magistrate!”

Chu Qingzhi’s eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness. “Do I look like I care?”

With a wave of her hand, she ordered, “Tie them up!”

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