The merchant's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it was just right for everyone to hear. For a moment, the atmosphere became rather awkward.
Yun Jianzhou was extremely concerned about his pride and was on the verge of going up to argue with the man. Fortunately, Yun Fujin grabbed him.
"Don't be so hasty!"
"Brother!" Yun Jianzhou stamped his foot anxiously. "Isn't he just looking down on our family? But what's wrong with us?"
"You'd better change your temper quickly." Yun Fujin held onto Yun Jianzhou to prevent him from acting rashly and at the same time gave Yun Que'er a look.
Yun Que'er understood instantly. She stepped forward and gave the merchant a sweet smile.
"Hello, Uncle."
One should not hit a smiling face. Moreover, Yun Que'er was beautiful and truly an endearing child.
Being called like this, the man's previously somewhat gloomy face instantly turned from overcast to partly cloudy. He also put on a smile, bent down, and greeted Yun Que'er.
"Hello, little girl. What should I call you?"
"Big brothers and sisters all call me Xiao Que'er."
Yun Que'er had lived two lifetimes and knew best how to please people. She became even more coquettish and said,
"Uncle, I don't know your name yet."
The man smiled. "My surname is Li, Li Chengfu. You can just call me Uncle Li."
It was actually him!
Yun Que'er was extremely excited.
A few days ago, she heard Ji Chengxuan give her a science popularization that in their era, there was a cultural relics merchant named Li Tao who inherited the family business.
And the one who led the Li family to prosperity was Li Chengfu.
According to Ji Chengxuan, Li Chengfu was searching for cultural relics everywhere in this era. It was said that his hometown was not far from Yuhe Village and they were in the same county.
So Ji Chengxuan guessed that maybe the merchant who came this time was somehow related to Li Chengfu.
Unexpectedly, not only was there a relationship, but the one who came was actually Li Chengfu himself.
Yun Que'er's eyes flashed quickly and she said,
"Uncle Li, don't blame us. My father is a teacher in the town. He went back to work today, so there are only a few of us at home. But the money my father earns alone is not enough for our living. That's why my eldest brother inquired about this opportunity from Teacher Li. It's our fault to trouble you to come all the way on such a hot day."
Li Chengfu was beaming with joy after being coaxed by Yun Que'er's words. He couldn't help but touch Yun Que'er's head.
"You're a sweet - tongued girl at such a young age."
Teacher Li chimed in, "Yes, Brother Li. Don't look at these half - grown children in this family. They're all extremely smart."
Yun Fujin stepped forward accordingly. "We're sorry to bother you. I just want to earn some money to support the family. Although I really don't have much ability and don't understand this business, please believe that we're willing to work hard. We can even be apprentices."
Only then did Li Chengfu see the determination of the Yun family. Thinking that these children were quite sincere, he nodded.
"Okay, then I'll tell you how to do the cultural relics business."
Li Chengfu was invited to sit down. He talked to them in detail while drinking tea.
Actually, the general situation was similar to what Ji Chengxuan had said. He also bought and sold precious cultural relics, but to be honest, most families were just ordinary, and there were very few truly wealthy people.
Even if they liked elegant things, they would inevitably shy away after hearing the prices.
That was why Li Chengfu began to deliberately collect some ordinary wood and then send it to the factory for beautification and polishing.
This not only satisfied the vanity of some small merchants who wanted to appear elegant but also didn't make them over - stretch their finances.
Yun Que'er listened carefully on one side and couldn't help but admire Li Chengfu for his business acumen.
Sometimes, insisting on staying in one place might lead to complacency. And with new and better competitors emerging, one might be left behind at any time. So occasionally changing one's thinking was actually a good choice.
As for what others said about him losing his original intention and spoiling this business, that was just what others said. He just needed to make his own money.
"So this time, I'm going to collect a batch of wood. Of course, I'm also looking for some craftsmen." Li Chengfu said.
Yun Que'er took the opportunity to say, "Speaking of craftsmanship, our family might make a fool of ourselves. But we just happened to make a batch of wood carvings. Uncle Li, do you want to take a look?"
As soon as Li Chengfu heard this, he immediately became interested.
"This also depends on talent. If you can make them, even if your craftsmanship is not refined, it means you can make a living from this. You just need some time. Since that's the case, bring them over and let me have a look."
Yun Que'er immediately fetched those wood carvings and let Li Chengfu take a close look.
Li Chengfu turned them over and over in his hands for a while and sized up Yun Que'er from time to time.
After a long time, he asked,
"Did your eldest brother make them?"
"My third sister and I made them, but most of them were made by my third sister." Yun Que'er said with an embarrassed smile.
Li Chengfu marveled and looked at the two little girls in front of him.
How young these two children were, yet they could make such things.
Although they were a bit rough and couldn't be compared with real cultural relics artworks, given time, they would surely achieve great things.
"Not bad, really not bad."
Li Chengfu praised them several times in a row.
"When I first came in, I thought Teacher Li was joking with me. It seems that people can't be judged by their appearance. I underestimated you. I'm ashamed."
Only then did Yun Fujin ask, "So do you think we can enter this business?"
Li Chengfu thought for a while. "Well, this matter is not up to me alone. How about you make a few more for me and I'll take them back for others to see. If everyone agrees, then we'll be business partners in the future."
Although he didn't agree immediately, there was already a glimmer of hope, which was the best outcome.
Yun Que'er and Yun Fujin exchanged a smile.
Since they had this opportunity, they couldn't give it up easily.
After seeing Li Chengfu off, Yun Que'er and Yun Fujin immediately went to find Zhang Yingying.
Unexpectedly, before they even reached the Zhang family's door, they heard crying inside.
"Mom! I won't marry. I'd rather die than marry!"
"Dear daughter, mom has no other choice..."
The mother - daughter pair of the Zhang family were crying, but they couldn't cover up the voices of others.
A man shouted in a rough voice, "What big girl doesn't get married? With your family's situation, it's already good that someone wants you! Don't be so coy! Do you really think you're something special?"
There was also a woman scolding, "Don't you know why you're being asked to marry? Calculate carefully how much your family owes us! If you get married and pay off the debt, this account will be written off! Cry? What are you crying for? If you don't want to marry, then take out your father's mahogany box and use it to pay off the debt!"
Zhang Yingying was crying so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. "Uncle, Auntie, are you trying to force us to death? When did our family ever owe you money? It's you. You ransacked our house as soon as my father passed away, and now you're forcing me to get married. You're trying to kill me!"