I Became a Medical Genius in the 80s

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Going to the Market

After dinner, Beisitian cleaned up the dishes, returned to the east room, and sat on the edge of the kang, picking up the basket to start braiding.

Mrs. Qin was quite pleased to see her taking the initiative to help, and the frown between her eyebrows relaxed a little.

Luo Anguo leaned against the stack of quilts, rolling his own cigarettes. Although the family didn’t have much money right now, Mrs. Qin didn’t want to let him suffer, so she would still buy some tobacco leaves, and he would roll them himself when he had free time.

As Beisitian braided, she pondered how to speak up. After all, practicing calligraphy required purchasing materials, and the Xuan paper and brush for practicing writing cost money!

”Ping’an, why aren’t you practicing your writing properly? What are you drawing?” Luo Anguo glanced at his notebook.

Luo Anping was at an age where he naturally liked to doodle, and since Beisitian had never drawn before but became so good at it later, he was naturally envious.

”I’ve already finished writing on three large sheets of paper today!” Luo Anping took out his exercise book, filled with numbers and simple radicals.

Luo Anguo took a look and saw some improvement compared to before, but since he was doodling instead of practicing characters, he still scolded him a bit.

Seeing this, Beisitian said, ”Dad, I also want to start practicing calligraphy again.” After she finished speaking, she added, ”Brush calligraphy.”

Luo Anguo, rolling the cigarette in his hand, looked up at her and said, ”You can write brush calligraphy? Did your father teach you?”

Beisitian nodded, attributing everything to her inexpensive father, ”Yes, whenever I had time, I practiced from a young age.”

Mrs. Qin, while sewing the vamp of a shoe, said, ”Du Bapi gave you time?”

When Beisitian heard the word ’Bapi’, she had a sudden idea and said, ”Calligraphy can be sold for money, so she didn’t oppose it.”

”Money, money, money! All she knows is money! She’s fallen into a money pit!” Mrs. Qin got angry as soon as she mentioned her.

”Enough, she’s married and out, why are you still nagging!” Luo Anguo snapped at Mrs. Qin.

Du Chunmei had married with her daughter to the neighboring village, their previous house had been sold, and although not far, it seemed they didn’t plan to return.

”Little Tian’er, have you ever sold your calligraphy?” Luo Anguo asked.

Only well-written calligraphy can be sold, Luo Anguo wanted to ask about her skill level.

Beisitian didn’t dare tell the whole truth; before she came to the Luo Family, she was only twelve, and practicing calligraphy isn’t something done overnight. A twelve-year-old girl, often oppressed, how could she possibly have cultivated good calligraphy?

”No, I haven’t tried selling it yet, my dad he just...” Beisitian lowered her voice, then suddenly looked up and said loudly, ”But my dad said I have a gift for it and told me to practice well if I get the chance in the future.”

Mrs. Qin placed the finished shoes aside, not even raising her eyelids, ”Practice what? Biting off more than you can chew, you should just focus on your embroidery, I see you have a gift for that.”

”Mom, if my calligraphy can sell, it might bring in some money.” Beisitian also wanted to persuade Mrs. Qin in this aspect.

But Mrs. Qin didn’t believe she could write brush calligraphy at all. That skill, even if mastered by the head of the family, couldn’t be sold; how could a little girl sell hers?

Luo Anguo had remained silent and at this moment spoke to Mrs. Qin, ”Old woman, is my brush still in the left cabinet?”

Mrs. Qin, annoyed, put down her work, ”So what if it is? There’s no ink at home, why are you acting so impulsively!”

”Isn’t there still a bottle of fountain pen ink?” Luo Anguo said.

Fountain pen ink?

Beisitian was taken aback. Fountain pens and fountain pen ink were precious items, how could there be any here?

She immediately thought of Luo Xudong, these things, probably only the army would have them.

Sure enough, Mrs. Qin said, ”That was an award from the army to Xudong, each use depletes it, it’s out of the question!”

The fountain pen and bottle of ink were awards given to Luo Xudong when he was honored as an exemplary soldier, such valuable items couldn’t be squandered!

Moreover, these were mementos kept by Mrs. Qin, once used up, they wouldn’t have any left!

Mrs. Qin’s attitude was firm, and Luo Anguo had no choice; this time Beisitian had to pass on it disappointedly.

Beisitian wasn’t too disheartened, though there was no ink, having a brush was still something. Luo Anguo appreciated ambitious people, so borrowing a brush from him shouldn’t be difficult later.

Beisitian decided to buy yellow paper herself; she found a few handkerchiefs in the cabinet, bordered in blue or pink, only the embroidery on them was quite rough. With some refinement, she should manage to sell them for a few coins.

Yellow paper was 15 cents for 2 packets, enough to last her a while.

She planned to become financially independent in the future; otherwise, she’d always feel restricted like now. If she controlled the money, things wouldn’t be as complicated.

It wasn’t that Mrs. Qin didn’t want her to manage the household finances, but the original owner was unreliable. If given the money, who knows when it might just disappear.

After finishing the shoe vamps, Beisitian braided all the wheat stalks Mrs. Qin had given, then took time to embroider the handkerchiefs.

On the day before the market, Beisitian finally finished embroidering five handkerchiefs, spending such a long time because she put a lot of effort into them.

The five handkerchiefs were embroidered using the Double-sided Embroidery method; three featured elegant, twinning goldfish, and the other two had golden roses paired with charming green leaves.

With only two colors at hand, the patterns were naturally simplified, but the results were exquisite. The two goldfish were vivid and lifelike, exuding a sense of leisurely freedom.

She intended to sell each of the three handkerchiefs for 50 cents, while the other two, each with a large, blooming golden-yellow rose and a budding flower bud adorned with green leaves, presented an elegant, noble appearance that one couldn’t help but admire.

These two handkerchiefs were priced at 80 cents each.

Such prices were quite high for handkerchiefs, but for the Double-sided Embroidery craftsmanship, they were too cheap!

If she sold them as planned, she could save a little money, easily enough to buy yellow paper and even ink.

The market was located in Ma Temple Village, three villages away. Mrs. Qin got up before 4 a.m. to get ready, and when Beisitian and Luo Anping woke at 5 a.m., they were set to depart.

Luo Anping was thrilled; going to the market was like an outing for kids like him, full of fun things that would cheer anyone up just by looking at them.

The three of them headed to the market, while some from the village rode donkeys. But that cost money, and every cent was precious, so Mrs. Qin led them on foot.

The distance wasn’t short, about ten miles, leaving before dawn, and only reaching the market by morning light.

The noise gradually increased, making Luo Anping excited again, bouncing with each step.

Beisitian, too, looked around, curious about what this local market had to offer.

Turning her head, she saw someone.