The three of them returned home, and the village head immediately took them to the workshop.
The workshop was currently a simplified version, but after the items inside were cleared out, it was indeed spacious.
Zhao Jiaqi was satisfied after taking a good look.
"Good, it's done quite well. Uncle Liu, when you go to town tomorrow to procure things for the shop, take the opportunity to buy some long tables. If there aren't any very long ones, then buy several smaller ones and push them together. We'll strive to have everything prepared tomorrow and start production the day after!"
The village head nodded gently. Seeing that it wasn't completely dark yet, he decided to make another trip. Although he didn't understand what this Madam Fan was up to, he saw her eagerness and felt a bit restless himself, thinking it was better to finish sooner.
Thus, he set off in the horse-drawn cart. Auntie Liu had asked him to go the next morning, but she couldn't stop him.
"Alright, Auntie, let's go back to my place and wait. I have something to give you!"
The two of them went home together. Liu Qinshi finally voiced her questions from the past two days: "Niece-in-law, we're already this familiar, can you tell me why you're in such a hurry?"
Zhao Jiaqi shook her head at her and whispered, "I'll tell you when we get home!"
Hearing her words, Liu Qinshi's heart became even more restless, like a hundred claws scratching at her. Finally arriving home, she impatiently asked, "Don't just focus on cooking, hurry up and tell me what's going on, or my heart will keep thumping erratically!"
Zhao Jiaqi sighed and put down the dipper in her hand. "Auntie, to be honest with you, I want to get your workshop built before the year ends, and then my husband and I will be leaving!"
Leaving... leaving?
She widened her eyes. "Where are you going? Will you come back?"
"Home. I think we'll come back once after the new year. After we've settled things, we won't be coming back."
Hearing this, Auntie Liu's tears began to fall like raindrops, and she cried out, "How can this be? Life is just getting better, how can you say you're leaving so abruptly!"
Outside the door, Granny Li, who had come to help, heard this and ran into the kitchen to look at Zhao Jiaqi. "When... when are you leaving?"
As she spoke, her lips trembled uncontrollably, and it was evident she was trying hard to hold back tears.
Zhao Jiaqi was silent for a moment and said, "We'll leave after the workshop starts production!"
That would be very soon, in the blink of an eye.
While Auntie Liu had her husband and son for company, Granny Li was all alone, with no family on her mother's or father's side, nor any children to depend on.
Zhao Jiaqi stepped forward and took the hand of the only teacher she had in this world. "Come with us. From now on, my husband and I will take care of you in your old age, alright?"
Granny Li, who had been heartbroken, suddenly heard this. Tears streamed down her face, but her expression was filled with unconcealed excitement and joy.
Her trembling lips parted and closed. "Ah, yes, yes, I'll go with you!"
She wasn't worried at all about being sold. The moment Zhao Jiaqi finished speaking, she nodded without hesitation!
Dinner was eaten quite late. They only started eating after the village head returned.
The village head was a coarse man, but he could clearly sense the unusual atmosphere at the dinner table.
He said, "The tables are all bought and will be delivered first thing tomorrow morning. All the items for the shop have also been procured. While I was there, I also bought fifty bolts of fabric. When the shopkeeper saw I was buying so much, he gave me all the scrap pieces from his shop and said he'd continue to sell us fabric in the future at a discount, and those scrap pieces would be free. This way, we've actually saved some money!"
The efficiency in handling matters was indeed high. Zhao Jiaqi smiled happily and praised the village head, "Uncle Liu handles things, it puts one at ease!"
The village head chuckled, waved his hands, and sat on the kang, boasting, "To be honest with you, when I was young, my mind was sharp too. For these small matters, I have them all figured out!"
This wasn't him bragging, but rather having a keen eye for detail!
Liu Qinshi slammed her chopsticks heavily on the table and was very displeased with him. "You're so capable, you're so amazing. Look at you, you can't even shut your mouth to eat!"
The village head was momentarily bewildered. He hadn't said anything excessive; why was his wife so angry, like a firecracker, easily ignited!
"What's wrong? So, me doing this is wrong now?" The village head, not understanding what was happening, retorted.
"I just saw you all working so hard, and I went to town thinking I'd get everything done. If the workshop can't be used tomorrow because we don't have fabric, wouldn't that delay things? I bought it for you, and you're unhappy about it. I'm doing a thankless job. I won't handle this next time. Don't ask me to go, do whatever you want!"
Liu Qinshi was so exasperated that tears streamed down her face. This made the village head even more perplexed. "No, did I scold you? Did I hit you? Why are you crying?"
Auntie Liu stood up and said to the village head, "You're nothing."
After scolding the village head, she ran off.
Zhao Jiaqi quickly chased after her and grabbed her in the courtyard. "Look at you, if I had known you'd be like this, I wouldn't have told you. Then I would have slipped away secretly and saved you the tears!"
Auntie Liu clasped her hand, her eyes teary, and asked, "Can't you not go?"
Zhao Jiaqi told her clearly, "No, but if you miss me in the future, you can come and find me! Bring my other aunties with you!"
Hearing this, she flung Zhao Jiaqi's hand away and sobbed, "We're all over fifty now, how many times can we go out!"
"Then it's settled, I'll come to see you then!"
This sentence slightly soothed the hurt in her heart. Even though her mood had improved a little, she couldn't eat and felt a lump in her throat!
Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi didn't stop her and repeatedly instructed, "Auntie, don't tell anyone about my departure, and come a bit earlier tomorrow. I have something to entrust to you!"
"It's very important!" Zhao Jiaqi added.
Upon hearing it was important, Auntie Liu stopped being coy. "Alright, I'll be here first thing tomorrow. I'll leave now. Let him drink here by himself. He only knows how to drink all day. Alas!"
With that, she wiped her tears and left the courtyard, walking alone on the road. The bright moonlight fell on her, casting her shadow long and slender!
Returning to the house, Fan Zehao saw the village head's dejected expression. "I told Uncle about our departure, and Uncle understands why Auntie is angry."
Zhao Jiaqi nodded. These were things that had to be faced eventually. The sooner they knew, the less impact it would have on them.