Qingliu and the others, who had the privilege of constantly accompanying Inspector Lin, were naturally blessed with good looks and graceful figures. Now, with their lightly powdered eyebrows, delicately tinted lips, a smile on their faces at the first sight, and their willowy waists swaying gently, their amorous glances instantly caught the eyes of many men who had brought their wives along.
"Pah! Where did these vixens come from? Country bumpkins are just country bumpkins. They're simply not fit for any decent occasion. It's truly a disgraceful and lewd display, just like those women in the brothels!"
Many of the female guests who had come to the fishing village for a "holiday" were well - educated and dignified ladies from good families. They naturally looked down on Qingliu and the others' coquettish appearances.
"Let's go! Why should we stay in this filthy place and lower our own status for no good reason!"
Li Ying had been busy drawing more designs of clothes with different patterns. Suddenly, she saw A Man rushing into the room in a panic. A Man told her that the guests in the village had quarreled because of the enchanting looks of the flower - wearing girls. Li Ying couldn't help but frown tightly.
They really just couldn't stop causing trouble.
"Sister, I've already taken some people to warn those sluts like Qingliu and locked them up in the ancestral hall for self - reflection. But because of this commotion, many dignified ladies from wealthy families have developed a prejudice against our flower - wearing custom. They're leaving even before the Dragon Fire and Ascending the Yu Gate ceremonies. They can't wait for a single moment. What should we do?"
A Man was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but Li Ying just put down her pen and pondered for a moment.
"Don't be anxious. I have my own plan."
She took out two sheets of paper from a stack of drawings, picked up some delicate pastries, and bought a jin of good wine. Then she calmly walked out of the door.
When Granny Sun was in danger this time, among those who took the lead in digging the cave, Uncle Dong, the bricklayer from the west of the village, was the most prominent.
This Uncle Dong was not a very talkative man, and his temper was rather sullen. Since Li Ying came to the fishing village, she had rarely interacted with him. She only knew that this old man was a down - to - earth craftsman. He had a son, but unfortunately, the son was rather flighty and good - for - nothing.
After Granny Sun survived the disaster, Li Ying had been busy bringing tea and medicine to take care of her these days. She was also distracted by the flower - wearing matter and hadn't had the chance to visit Uncle Dong to express her gratitude in person. Now it was finally a good opportunity.
Before Li Ying even reached the gate of Uncle Dong's yard with the gifts in hand, she heard from afar that Uncle Dong was angrily scolding his good - for - nothing son with a rattan stick in his hand.
"Look at what you've done!"
"I told you to learn my craft, but you just refused. I told you to go fishing at sea with the Zhang family's boy, but you couldn't bear the hardship of living on the open sea. Now look at this!"
"Miss Ying is so capable. She came up with the idea of building houses and roads with oyster shells. Those oyster - shell houses are so grand and solid. Our bricklaying craft is no longer needed! I'm an old man who's already half - buried in the soil. I won't live for many more years. What will you do when I'm gone? You don't have any skills and no money. How will you survive?"
The young man from the Dong family kept silent. After a while, there came the muffled sounds of punches and kicks. Presumably, Uncle Dong couldn't hold back his frustration at his son's uselessness and had started to beat him.
Li Ying frowned, and her heart tightened.
This was indeed her oversight.
At that time, building the oyster - shell houses was just to make the fishing village's guesthouses look unique. She never thought that it would accidentally take away the Dong family's means of livelihood.
Li Ying blushed slightly. She composed herself and finally raised her hand to gently knock on the Dong family's door ring.
"Uncle Dong? Are you at home?"
The voices in the room suddenly stopped. After a long while, Uncle Dong slowly opened the door. His expression was rather unnatural.
He didn't know how long Li Ying had been there or how much of their father - son conversation she had heard.
He wasn't very familiar with Li Ying. Now, looking into her eyes, with his rebellious son's bruised face, he felt extremely embarrassed, as if his family's shame was being exposed. He couldn't help but feel uncomfortable all over.
Li Ying also noticed his embarrassment. She composed herself and gave a smile first.
"Uncle Dong, I've been rude. Thank you for saving my mother the other day. I should have come to thank you earlier."
She entered the house, put down the gifts in her hand, and stood respectfully at the lower position with her head down. She was secretly thinking about how to explain her purpose to Uncle Dong.
Uncle Dong was also a man of few words.
Although Li Ying had taken away his business, in the end, she was also doing it for the benefit of the villagers. He couldn't help but feel a bit resentful, but he just couldn't speak harshly to this polite junior.
As for the beaten young man from the Dong family, he stood there silently like a gourd. The atmosphere in the room became rather subtly awkward for a moment.
After much thought, Li Ying cleared her throat and said softly, "Uncle Dong, I've come today. Firstly, to thank you, and secondly, it's also..."
Before she could finish her words, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly saw a few broken clay figurines lying on the shabby table. Upon closer inspection, she could tell that they were the figures of male and female opera performers.
The clay figurines were so lifelike, with every frown and smile vividly sculpted. However, they were all broken. Presumably, these were the "useless things" that the young man from the Dong family had been "wasting his time" on and were smashed by Uncle Dong in a fit of anger.
Li Ying's eyes lit up instantly. She didn't even care about choosing her words carefully. She rushed forward in a few steps, picked up the figurines, examined them carefully, and said with excitement, "Uncle, are these clay figurines your son's masterpieces?"
Uncle Dong never expected that his son's unseemly little tricks would be seen by an outsider. He felt even more ashamed and said coldly, "It's a misfortune for our family. The bricklaying business is declining, and my son is just a good - for - nothing!"
Seeing his flushed face, Li Ying was afraid that the old man would get too angry. She quickly took out the two sheets of drawing paper from her bosom and said excitedly, "Uncle, don't be in a hurry! I came today just to discuss a business deal with you! I was still a bit worried before, but now I'm suddenly enlightened!"
What was drawn on the paper were two cute clay figurines, a little boy and a little girl, sitting cross - legged with beaming smiles on their round little faces and two tufts of hair on their heads. They were very cute.
"Uncle, I don't mean to insult you."
"You've been a bricklayer for many years. I'm sure you know that building houses and laying tiles is not a stable job. Only when there are new births or weddings can you get some work. Even without the oyster - shell houses, this business can only barely make ends meet."
Li Ying spoke bluntly. Uncle Dong's face darkened, but in the end, he couldn't say anything. He just nodded honestly.
How could he not know this truth?
That was exactly why he had never truly hated Li Ying.