The Little Life of a Big Landlord

Chapter 132 Photos

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"Still dare to deny it? Do you think I didn't see your wedding photo with Sister Qingqing? I could recognize you two in your clothes at a glance..." Wang Yufang said smugly.

"It's you..." Lu Huifen's eyes were practically spitting fire as she stared intently at Yang Ming.

Hearing her daughter say this, and thinking back to the wedding photo she saw in his house yesterday, she really felt that the boy who took the photo with her daughter was Yang Ming in front of her. No wonder she always felt something was strange when she looked at that photo.

If Yang Ming were an unmarried young man, she would never object to her daughter being with him. However, Yang Ming is a married man, so wouldn't her daughter become the legendary "mistress"?

"You brat, tell me, how did you get to know my daughter..." Wang Zhengzhi's gaze towards Yang Ming also turned somewhat unfriendly.

I had a pretty good impression of Yang Ming, but who would have thought that this kid would hook up with my daughter? Luckily, I've been teaching for so many years and I've tempered my temper a bit, otherwise I would have given this kid a good beating and taught him why flowers are so red.

"I said, what's going on with you guys? Do I know your daughter?" Yang Ming looked at Wang Zhengzhi and Lu Huifen's unfriendly gazes and felt a deep sense of fear.

The power of love is great, and so too is the hatred and anger that arise from love, which possess immense power, perhaps even surpassing that of love. Most people would be lucky not to wet themselves in the face of such power…

There's a story about an old woman who, to save her grandson who was trapped under a car, single-handedly lifted the car up. That's a real example...

"You still have the nerve to say you don't know him? Didn't you and my sister take pictures together at the Chenghai Building in Laolongtou?" Wang Yufang pointed at Yang Ming's nose, looking at him with the same anger she felt towards a modern-day Chen Shimei (a notorious figure in Chinese folklore known for abandoning his wife).

"You're not talking about Wang Huifang, are you?" Yang Ming immediately remembered Chenghai Tower.

"Of course, my sister's name is Wang Huifang..." Wang Yufang said angrily, "You're already married, and you're still messing with my sister. I never thought you were this kind of person..."

"Xiao Yang, you look so respectable, I never expected you to be this kind of person. Putting aside whether you've done right by Da Fang, have you done right by Qing Qing?" Lu Huifen was so angry that her face turned pale.

"..." Wang Zhengzhi had already clenched his fist, ready to deliver a heavy blow to Yang Ming at any moment.

"I'm saying, can you please not convict me so quickly? Even the police make prisoners give statements during interrogations. You can't be more direct than the police, can you? You're already sentencing me..." Yang Ming said, frustrated.

"Tell me, if you can't give me a straight answer, don't blame me for getting physical with you..." Wang Zhengzhi suppressed his anger and said.

"Here's what happened. We were traveling in Qinhuangdao when we met a college student, your daughter Wang Huifang, at Chenghai Tower. We asked her to take pictures for us. After she finished, she thought our Hanfu looked nice and wanted to take a picture in it. We felt bad refusing, since we had just used her, and it would have been impolite to refuse... So, Qingqing took off her Hanfu and let your daughter wear it. Your daughter thought about it and then pulled me to take a picture with her. It's that simple. And the person taking the picture was my wife! I don't think this counts as me cheating, right?" Yang Ming explained.

"Really?" Wang Zhengzhi's expression softened noticeably.

"Really..." Yang Ming nodded. "If you don't believe me, ask my wife. She's knitting a sweater in the house..."

"Then forget it..." Wang Zhengzhi believed it.

"Just ask, some people will take advantage of these blind spots to cover things up. I'll only believe it if Qingqing tells me herself..." Lu Huifen said, walking into the house. She was going to find Wei Qingqing and ask her about the matter face to face.

"I'll go ask too..." Wang Yufang quickly followed her mother.

Wei Qingqing spent the whole morning with Aunt Liu. One of them knitted a sweater, and the other sewed Hanfu. They snuggled together on the kang (a heated brick bed), looking quite content. When they were thirsty, they drank milk, and when their mouths felt bland, they ate some fruit. They also whispered secrets to each other from time to time.

"Aunt Liu, have you been working too hard these past few days?" Wei Qingqing suddenly asked.

"No? I feel full of energy..." Aunt Liu's hands kept moving, deftly threading the fine needle through the clothes, leaving a barely visible, dense stitch.

"I mean mentally. Don't you feel like you've been getting angry a lot lately?..." Wei Qingqing continued working on her hands.

"Losing your temper? No, not at all?" Aunt Liu said casually.

"No? You threw a tantrum with Brother Huang and Fangfang yesterday, which scared them half to death..." Wei Qingqing deliberately exaggerated the situation.

"Hmph, I'd be a fool to believe you. Brother Huang's skin is thicker than his fat, and Fangfang is just a show-off. Do you think they'd be scared?" Aunt Liu didn't believe it at all.

"Oh, right, Aunt Liu, there's something we've been wondering about. Can you tell me about it?" Wei Qingqing looked out the window and lowered her voice.

"What?" Aunt Liu asked casually.

"It's about Zheng Dahan. What did that kid do to offend you? Why did you insist that Yang Ming fire him? Now all of us greenhouse workers are feeling insecure and can't do any work," Wei Qingqing said.

"No reason, I just don't like that kid..." Aunt Liu said calmly, without any emotional fluctuation.

"You don't like him? Is it because he tried to take Bao'er away? What about Zheng Dayong and Zheng Dazhuang? They were also involved. Should they resign as well?" Wei Qingqing said.

"Resign them, I get annoyed just looking at them..." Aunt Liu said calmly.

"..." Wei Qingqing was speechless for a moment, quite annoyed and fell silent, but she didn't see Liu Sao, who was working with her head down, with a smile on her lips.

"Qingqing, Qingqing, I have a question for you..." Lu Huifen burst in from outside.

"Oh, Sister Lu, what's wrong?" Wei Qingqing asked hurriedly.

"Do you know Wang Huifang?" Lu Huifen asked.

"Wang Huifang? I think I've heard that name before, but... I can't remember where I heard it..." Wei Qingqing thought for a moment and said.

Actually, Wei Qingqing had just seen the photo that Wang Huifang posted online a few days ago. Of course, if she had a photo of Wang Huifang now, she would definitely remember her. But if she only had a name, it would be unlikely. With so many things to do every day, who would remember a stranger's name all the time?

"That's my sister, the one who went to university in Yanshan..." Wang Yufang also came in.

"Let me think... This name does sound familiar, but where exactly have I heard it before..." Wei Qingqing thought hard.

"Dafang and Yangming took a photo at Laolongtou, and you took it..." Lu Huifen reminded her from the side.

"Oh...you mean that female student? I didn't expect that she would be your eldest daughter..." As soon as the topic of taking photos came up, Wei Qingqing immediately remembered her.

"Did you really take these photos for them?" Lu Huifen asked.

"I took these photos for them. To be honest, your eldest daughter is really beautiful..." Wei Qingqing said, though she added in her mind: "But she's a little less beautiful than me."

"So it's true???" Lu Huifen's tone still carried a hint of regret.

"How could it be true?" Wang Yufang's regret was even more obvious, which also shows the nature of women who love to watch the drama unfold, even if the person involved is their direct blood relative.

"What's wrong? What do you mean by 'real' or 'not real'?" Wei Qingqing asked.

"Oh! It's nothing, it's nothing at all..." Lu Huifen quickly waved her hand.

"Yes, yes, nothing's wrong..." Wang Yufang quickly waved her hand and said.

"Hehe," Aunt Liu chuckled, raising her head, "It must be that someone saw that photo, and they misunderstood that there was something between my daughter and Yang Ming... Isn't that right, Sister Lu?"

"Hehe, it was only when Erfang saw Yang Mingqing's wedding photo that she guessed that the man was Yang Ming. Their clothes were too conspicuous..." Lu Huifen laughed awkwardly, but she was wary of this Aunt Liu. This Aunt Liu was really a shrewd person. She could deduce the process of anything just by observing the beginning.

"Of course, in the whole world, the only people who can make Hanfu are my mom and me..." Aunt Liu said with confidence. In fact, she was not bragging or lying. If we're talking about making Hanfu by hand, there are no three people besides Aunt Liu and her mother. But if we use machines to process it, it's much simpler and more convenient.

However, there is a big difference between machine-made and handmade products. After all, machine-made products do not pay too much attention to details, and some stitches may be more noticeable. But handmade products are different. When making products by hand, the stitches are usually integrated into the color, and you will definitely not notice them if you do not look carefully.

"How can you be so sure?" Wei Qingqing asked in surprise.

"Of course, it's certain. Since the Manchu Qing dynasty forced the shaving of heads and the changing of clothing, the craftsmanship of Hanfu making has been basically lost... Of course, I'm talking about handmade... Anyone who dared to make or wear Hanfu back then would have been beheaded..." said Aunt Liu.

"Don't we see people wearing Hanfu in period dramas? How could it have been lost..." Wang Yufang said.

"Those aren't the authentic ones. What you see, in today's terms, are all non-mainstream. Some even have the left-fastening lapels..." Aunt Liu said.

In ancient times, the clothing of the Hu people was left-fastening, which was fundamentally different from the orthodox Hanfu. Right-fastening represented civilization, while left-fastening represented barbarism.

"It seems that Aunt Liu is now a national treasure, possessing a kind of intangible cultural heritage..." Wei Qingqing suddenly felt a sense of crisis. She should open a tailoring school now to pass on the craft of making Hanfu.

As for the matter of hiring a group of tailors for Aunt Liu, which was discussed with Yang Ming yesterday, let's not even mention it. Of course, Wei Qingqing still brought it up: "...We originally thought you were too busy and wanted to find some tailors to help you with your work, but who would have thought you'd become like a panda? Is making Hanfu really that difficult?"

"Of course not," Aunt Liu was deeply moved by Wei Qingqing and Yang Ming's concern. "Making Hanfu isn't difficult, but it requires attention to detail. Think about it, Hanfu is tied with knots. You can't let the clothes get wrinkled after using knots, right? That would look terrible. And the waistline—you have to be able to move freely. You can't wear this and twist your body and the clothes will twist... In short, you have to pay attention to all sorts of details. Basically, everyone needs a different size of Hanfu. Of course, if it's just for taking pictures or something, you can wear whatever you want. Men can wear women's clothes, and women can wear men's clothes—it's all fine. But if you want to wear it in everyday life, then you need to have a set made to fit properly."

In fact, even the Hanfu commonly worn by Han people in ancient times was not necessarily a perfect fit. To prevent the Hanfu from losing its shape, people rarely made any vigorous movements while wearing it. Farmers would tighten their belts before going to the fields, and even when scholars ran, their bodies did not sway, unlike long-distance runners who swing their arms and legs. Therefore, Han people appeared to be more elegant...

"I never knew there was so much to learn about making clothes! Aunt Liu, could you make me a Hanfu?" Wang Yufang's big eyes shone like two little light bulbs.

"Sure... We run a clothing company, how can we refuse a customer?" Aunt Liu said.

"That's great! I want the outfit that Sister Qingqing is wearing..." Wang Yufang cheered, jumping up and down with joy.

"Twelve chapters? That'll take quite a while..." Aunt Liu said, nodding.

"How much will it cost?" Lu Huifen was more rational.

"Not much, just a few tens of thousands of yuan. Of course, if you add a mutton fat jade pendant, the price will be even higher..." Aunt Liu knew they couldn't possibly buy it, so she didn't even mention the exact price.

"Huh? Why is it so expensive?" Wang Yufang's mouth dropped open.

"It's not expensive at all. You should know that it's a Twelve-Chapter Robe, the highest-ranking Hanfu. Even the emperor only wore it when worshipping the Jade Emperor..." Wei Qingqing got off the kang (a heated brick bed), took out her Hanfu from the wardrobe, spread it out on the kang, and let the mother and daughter have a good look at it.

"This is so beautiful..." Wang Yufang was immediately captivated by the magnificence of the Twelve Chapters Hanfu, and drool even dripped from her mouth. Luckily, she swallowed it in time, otherwise she would have gotten Wei Qingqing's precious Hanfu dirty.

"It's only a few tens of thousands of yuan, it's a bit of a waste for these twelve chapter outfits..." Wei Qingqing said regretfully.

"Well..." Lu Huifen swallowed hard. "This is what the emperor wore when he offered sacrifices to Heaven. You can't wear it out normally. How about we get something more casual for home?" Spending tens of thousands of yuan on a new outfit? She'd have to be crazy to do that.

"For home wear? Then it's a shenyi, a garment where the top and bottom are connected. I do have one of these, and the client has already tried it on. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the client didn't take it with them when they left. I'll just show it to you..." Wei Qingqing said, slipping on her shoes as she ran to Aunt Liu's house and took out the Hanfu she had made for Zhang Yingning from their wardrobe.

"This Hanfu is a bit simple..." Lu Huifen said, looking at a black robe with red trim spread out on the kang (a heated brick bed).

The red trim of this shenyi (a type of traditional Chinese robe) is embroidered with a row of peonies, adding to the elegance of this Hanfu.

"This is a women's deep robe, made of real silk, with a very good texture and fine stitches that blend seamlessly with the color. If you don't look carefully, you won't be able to tell at all. It also comes with a white undershirt underneath..." Wei Qingqing spoke eloquently as she introduced the robe to the mother and daughter.

It's said that Wei Qingqing used to be a real estate saleswoman, and her eloquence was superb.

"Can I try it on?" Wang Yufang asked eagerly.

"That won't do, because this outfit isn't a sample we're showing to customers; it's a product we've already sold," Wei Qingqing said.

"Just try it on, no one will know, Sister Qingqing..." The little girl tugged at Wei Qingqing's arm and pleaded, "When people buy clothes at the mall, they're allowed to try them on..."

"Forget about it. This outfit will never fit you. Have you forgotten what I just said? Everyone has their own size. If you want to buy something, it's best to have it custom-made," said Aunt Liu.

"How much does this outfit cost?" Lu Huifen was experienced and knew how to avoid shopping traps.

"This set of robes is relatively simple and easy to make, so it only costs five thousand yuan..." Wei Qingqing said.

"Hiss... We working class can just pass on this..." Lu Huifen gasped.

"You can't say that. Our Hanfu includes a shenyi (a type of traditional Chinese robe), a zhongdan (another type of traditional Chinese robe), a crown, and boots. This four-piece set only costs five thousand yuan. Is that expensive? We all think it's cheap. You know, even a single piece of designer underwear can cost several thousand yuan," Wei Qingqing said.

"Yes, Mom, this is all handmade..." Wang Yufang didn't know which side she was on, but at this crucial moment she stood on the opposite side of her mother.

Lu Huifen glared at her daughter and said, "Can you even wear this out in public? Won't people laugh at you? If you wear it to school, won't they think it's weird clothing?"

"Look at what you're saying! This is the most traditional clothing of us Han people. How could it be considered strange clothing?" Wei Qingqing found it hard to believe.

"Modern people don't understand this..." Lu Huifen pursed her lips.

"So, what price range are you planning to go for, eldest sister..." Wei Qingqing asked with a smile.

"What's the cheapest you have?" Lu Huifen asked.

Wang Yufang blushed, feeling that her mother was quite embarrassed.

"Just a simple shenyi (traditional Chinese robe), the kind without any lace, would only cost a thousand yuan..." Wei Qingqing said.

"What about something more expensive?" Lu Huifen asked.

"Hey, you don't need to ask me bit by bit. I'll just tell you the price range of the Shenyi. The most expensive Shenyi we have is 10,000 yuan, and the cheapest is 1,000 yuan. It's a price range of 1,000 yuan. In other words, this Shenyi can only be considered mid-range..." Wei Qingqing said, pointing to Zhang Yingning's Shenyi.

"Let's make one for our daughter too, it'll cost three thousand yuan..." Lu Huifen said.

Originally, they were going to the city to buy clothes with a budget of three thousand yuan. Buying a set of Shenyi here would be quite reasonable. In any case, Lu Huifen had fallen in love with the dignified and elegant Shenyi.

"Sure, I'll take Yufang's measurements in a bit. Leave your phone number with us, and we'll call you when the Hanfu is finished," Aunt Liu said with a smile.

Lu Huifen quickly gave Liu Sao her home phone number.

"Erfang, choose a color. What color do you like?" Wei Qingqing asked.

"I want this color..." Wang Yufang said, pointing to Zhang Yingning's dark robe.

"What kind of lace do you want? Peony? Or a phoenix?" Aunt Liu asked.

"Hmm... I'll take the peony... no, I'll take the phoenix... or maybe I'll take the peony again..." Wang Yufang thought for a moment, finding it difficult to choose between the peony and the phoenix.

"Everyone hopes their sons will become dragons and their daughters will become phoenixes. Our Erfang is still a student, and she will be taking the college entrance examination the year after next. How about we get a phoenix?" In the end, Lu Huifen made the final decision. A phoenix is ​​a good omen.

"Okay, no problem..." Aunt Liu agreed readily. Whether it was a peony or a phoenix, it was no problem for her.

Wei Qingqing folded and put away both sets of Hanfu, then handed a large peach to Lu Huifen and her daughter Wang Yufang, turned on the TV and told them to rest in the room. She then snuggled back onto the kang (heated brick bed) and picked up a sweater to knit.

Wang Yufang ate fruit while watching TV. It's said that this girl also likes "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf". Lu Huifen, however, was interested in Aunt Liu's needlework and leaned forward to take a closer look.

"How's it going? Can you prove my innocence now?" Yang Ming lifted the curtain, walked into the room, and winked at Wang Yufang with a smile.

From the moment Wei Qingqing ran to Liu Sao's house to get the Hanfu, Yang Ming knew that his "problem" was over.

"Hmph, I still need to ask my sister." Wang Yufang was stubborn as a mule; children, even if they make a mistake, won't easily admit it.

"Sure, go ahead and ask. I've got your sister's QQ number. Want to ask her now so you don't waste your phone bill making a long-distance call..." Yang Ming said with a smile.

"You remembered my sister's QQ number? Tell me, do you two keep in touch privately?" Wang Yufang immediately stared at Yang Ming with wide, bright eyes, as if she had discovered a new continent.

"Are you... are you kidding me? I know your sister's QQ number, that's normal, isn't it? Shouldn't I send her her photos?" Faced with such pressure from his gaze, Yang Ming couldn't help but shiver.

"Really?" Wang Yufang looked doubtful.

"Of course..." Yang Ming patted his chest and assured him.

"I don't believe it. You must have been in contact with my sister in private..." Wang Yufang was about to start making trouble. The little girl was willing to risk everything for her sister's sake, desperately trying to drag her down the path of being a "mistress".

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(End of this chapter)