A Good Country Wife
Chapter 455 - 449_1

Chapter 455: Chapter 449_1

Since these were for overseas shipment and it was their first time, Lin Yue did her best to handle everything herself, striving for perfection. Yet, quality alone wasn’t sufficient; the packaging and appearance had to be impeccable. The importance of this ’face project’ was undeniable. Although Zhao Fuquan helped with the carpentry at home, his skills were limited. He had improved a lot compared to before, but he still couldn’t produce some of the more intricate items, so Lin Yue had to think of another solution.

"Erhu, do you know who the best carpenter in Xin’an City is? I want to hire someone to do carpentry work at home. Brother Fuquan has improved his craftsmanship, but there are some detailed items he’s never learned to make. The drawings I have are too complex for him. This is our first time selling goods overseas, so we naturally have to do our best." Lin Yue discussed things with Zhao Erhu, knowing that Zhao Fuquan and Zhao Erhu had a special relationship. She took extra care to explain herself, not wanting to give the wrong impression.

"I know how you treat Brother Fuquan; I’ve seen it. Not many can be as generous and forgiving as you. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you. You don’t need to explain so thoroughly. As for carpentry, I really don’t know much. Why don’t we ask Brother Fuquan? He should be clear on this since it’s his line of work."

"Is that really okay? After all, inviting another carpenter might affect Brother Fuquan, especially if he thinks we’re doing it because we’re dissatisfied with him." Lin Yue genuinely liked this honest man, which is why she was so concerned. As for the relationship between Zhao Fuquan and Zhao Erhu, if she were truly upset, nobody would care about that. Of course, she was also happy to show Zhao Erhu her good side and let him see her virtues.

Zhao Erhu indeed interpreted Lin Yue’s actions as he imagined them, appreciating his wife’s consideration. If not for him, his wife wouldn’t need to worry about this. "Rest assured, Brother Fuquan isn’t petty-minded. He knows his own strengths and weaknesses, and he’ll definitely tell you if you just speak to him clearly. Plus, he respects you a lot. If you ask him, he’ll definitely help."

As for Zhao Fuquan, the person he admired the most these days wasn’t his former brother-in-law Zhao Erhu, but Lin Yue. That’s why Zhao Erhu said this. Hearing it, Lin Yue smiled and nodded, "Okay then, I’ll ask Brother Fuquan later."

When Zhao Fuquan was called over, just as Zhao Erhu had expected, he didn’t wait for Lin Yue to explain the reasons before he shared everything he knew. He didn’t hide anything, nor did he think about his own gains and losses or the possibility of losing his job. He just wanted to help Lin Yue with whatever she needed.

Lin Yue was always generous to the workers and servants at home, and Zhao Fuquan, being a skilled craftsman, was treated especially well. She didn’t just pay wages; during holidays, she would also give him bonuses to take home to his parents. In Zhao Fuquan’s view, Lin Yue treated him too well, and his gratitude deepened over time. By now, if Lin Yue asked him to commit arson or murder, he might probably do it. This ingenuous man was entirely devoted to Lin Yue.

"Brother Fuquan, I didn’t mean anything else by it. It’s just that the wooden boxes we need to make this time have very high requirements. You might not be able to make such delicate work for the time being, so I had to hire someone else. Please don’t think too much about it."

"Yueyue, what are you saying? In my heart, you’re like my own sister. As your big brother, I can only support whatever you want to do and not overthink things. Yueyue, you’re not that kind of person. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of hiring someone. Although I’m not very skilled, I’m still quite knowledgeable about carpentry. I’ll definitely find the best carpenter for you," Zhao Fuquan promised earnestly.

This sincere man not only shared everything Lin Yue wanted to know but also took the task of hiring someone upon himself. Lin Yue was deeply moved. Zhao Erhu, her former uncle-in-law, was truly trustworthy. Fortunately, this made things much easier for her.

"Since that’s the case, I thank you, Brother Fuquan. But we have to act quickly on this matter. I’m waiting to get the products ready." Knowing that carpentry was a craft that required patience for quality work, Lin Yue estimated the quantity needed and realized that three months wasn’t a long time. Assigning this task to Zhao Fuquan was a sign of her trust in him.

"No problem, I’ll get on it right away. I’ll head into town early tomorrow morning to hire someone. There won’t be any delay."

Zhao Fuquan agreed promptly and was efficient in his work. He set out for the city before dawn the next day and by noon had brought the person to Lin Yue. It was Zhang Qiusheng, the most renowned carpenter in Xin’an City. Renowned for his exquisite woodworking, anything that could be made out of wood, Zhang Qiusheng could create if you described it to him. There was no one in the carpentry business in Xin’an City who didn’t know his name.

It was also Lin Yue’s good fortune and timing. Under normal circumstances, a carpenter as famous as Zhang Qiusheng would be too busy with work to take on a house call at Lin Yue’s home. But this year, the new Magistrate had made life so hard for the people that, struggling to get by, they hardly had spare cash to spend on furniture. Business at carpentry shops wasn’t good, so when Zhao Fuquan approached him, Zhang Qiusheng readily agreed to the job.

"Master Zhang, thank you for coming over. I’ve designed several patterns, and I was wondering if you could help me make them?" Lin Yue handed over several drawings she had prepared earlier to Zhang Qiusheng. Although Master Zhang’s reputation was notable, Lin Yue wanted to see firsthand whether his skills lived up to his name. This was Lin Yue’s way of testing Zhang Qiusheng.

Zhang Qiusheng took the drawings from Lin Yue, first admiring the host’s remarkable drawing skills and clever designs. The boxes depicted on the papers would undoubtedly be exquisite and beautiful if created, but he wondered what such small, delicate boxes were for.

"No problem, this isn’t too hard to make. I can make one in half a day, no problem. I’ve brought my tools with me. How about I make one for you first to see if it’s suitable, and then we can discuss further?" Zhang Qiusheng, a rather down-to-earth person, felt that it was better to demonstrate through action rather than just talking about it. He selected a drawing, and Lin Yue arranged a quiet place for him to start his diligent carving.

Seeing Zhang Qiusheng’s confident demeanor, Lin Yue knew he must have genuine talent to act this way. She was also looking forward to seeing the products she had drawn turn into actual items before her eyes. This was indeed something that would give her a great sense of accomplishment.