Please read my translation only at Moonlight Teatime.
If you like our translation, please support us on Patreon or Ko-fi or donate
"I’m Liu Sihe, just call me Old Liu! Are you looking for a carpenter?"
Su Xiaoxiao was taken aback. "Hmm?"
Liu Sihe laughed.
"Dahu came by at noon and gave me a heads-up!"
Su Xiaoxiao: This child is really becoming too clever for his own good!
Su Xiaoxiao said, "I need a signboard made, and I would also like some furniture and two wooden partitions."
Liu Sihe replied very professionally,
"Do you have drawings for the furniture and partitions?"
"Yes, I do."
Su Xiaoxiao took a folded drawing from her pouch, unfolded it, and handed it to him.
Liu Sihe examined the drawings carefully, a flicker of admiration in his eyes.
"Did you... draw these yourself?"
"Yes." Su Xiaoxiao said.
Liu Sihe praised repeatedly: "Very innovative designs. I heard you’re opening a medical clinic. What do you plan to name the signboard?"
Su Xiaoxiao: "The Best Clinic in The World."
Liu Sihe: Young lady, you’re quite bold.
Liu Sihe was straightforward and efficient, no boasting, no unnecessary small talk.
Their discussion lasted less than fifteen minutes.
"I’ve noted everything you mentioned. Any other requirements?"
"None." Su Xiaoxiao said.
"How long will it take to complete?"
"Seven days."
"Only seven days?"
That was quite a lot of work.
Liu Sihe laughed.
"If I don’t finish them in seven days, I won’t charge you! You can go about your business!"
Su Xiaoxiao disliked beating around the bush, she loved dealing with people who got straight to the point.
Moreover, the price Liu Sihe quoted was far below her budget, saving her a significant amount of expenses.
After leaving the Liu residence, she headed to the house at the intersection of the western end and Zhuangyuan Street.
Dahu mentioned Grandpa Zhang, a strong blacksmith called Zhang Erzhu who was a few years older than Father Su and quite stern.
Despite the cold, he simply wore a linen vest, leaving his strong arms exposed to the air.
Su Xiaoxiao’s first thought was: With such well-built muscles, are all blacksmiths nowadays this strong?
Zhang Erzhu was not surprised when Su Xiaoxiao stated her purpose.
Because Dahu had already come by to give him a heads-up.
"I would like to have some knives made."
Su Xiaoxiao said, while handing him the drawings.
"I’ve heard that the capital has strict controls on ironware. I need a large amount of knives, do I need to report it to the authorities?"
"No need." Zhang Erzhu said flatly.
"I haven’t made knives in these styles before, so I’ll need to make new molds. Return in ten days to get them."
Su Xiaoxiao asked, "How much of a deposit should I pay first?"
"No deposit needed."
Zhang Erzhu replied straightforwardly.
"As for the exact cost, I’ll know after finishing, but it probably won’t exceed five taels."
Five taels?
It was worth noting that, aside from salt, the imperial court strictly controlled iron.
Iron was very expensive in ancient times.
"Are you sure?"
Seeing Su Xiaoxiao’s stunned expression, Zhang Erzhu thought for a moment and said, "Then make it two taels."
Su Xiaoxiao: "..."
You discounted your own price so badly, that others had no room to bargain…
Finally, Su Xiaoxiao went to Granny Zhou’s house.
She lived just two doors down from Su Xiaoxiao’s home.
The reason she was saved for last was that this transaction might take the longest to discuss.
"You are Dahu’s mother, right?"
Granny Zhou greeted Su Xiaoxiao with a warm smile and invited her into the main hall, pouring her a cup of hot tea.
Su Xiaoxiao suddenly felt like she had become famous in the alley.…..
Granny Zhou was quite old.
It seemed that everyone in the alley, regardless of age, called her Granny Zhou.
"What exactly are you looking for? How many people, and for what kind of work?"
Granny Zhou asked with a smile.
Su Xiaoxiao said, "I need a coachman and four medical assistants, preferably two of whom are female. We can teach them medical theory regardless of their prior knowledge. Also, I need a cook and a cleaner for odd jobs."
Granny Zhou replied, "The others are easy, but female medical assistants.….."
In Great Zhou, few women practiced medicine. The majority of young women who worked outside were maids or embroiderers.
She added, "I will try then. Come to my house tomorrow morning to take a look."