On Tuesday morning, Zhou Xiaoyun had breakfast as usual and went to school with Xiao Bao. Da Bao walked quickly and impatiently, leaving his younger brother and sister behind.

  Zhou Xiaoyun and Xiao Bao chatted and laughed all the way to school, then went to their respective classrooms.

  Zhou Xiaoyun sat down in her seat and just opened her school bag when she saw Fang Wenchao outside the classroom beckoning to her to go out. Zhou Xiaoyun was a bit puzzled, why didn't Fang Wenchao come into the classroom and talk to her? It's so mysterious!

  As soon as he walked out of the classroom, he saw not only Fang Wenchao, but also two young women standing beside him. One was Fang Wenchao's new wife, Dai Shuqi, and the other was slightly older, probably around thirty years old, with a similar appearance to Dai Shuqi, dressed in fashionable clothes, estimated to be Dai Shuqi's sister or something.

  "Teacher Dai, this aunt of yours is very nice."

  Dai Shuqi smiled sweetly, her young face filled with the shy joy of a new bride: "Wen Chao, is this the doll made by this child? It looks like it was made by a very well-behaved and quiet little girl that people would like."

  Fang Wenchao's face was filled with an uncontrollable pride: "Of course, and who do you think is the teacher? Zhou Xiaoyun is not just about this, his harmonica skills are almost as good as mine, and his accordion playing is also quite impressive. He has been practicing calligraphy for over two years now, and his grades have never been below second place in the whole grade!"

  How can you not be proud? This is your own proud disciple.

  Zhou Xiaoyun felt embarrassed by the praise, who would dare to compliment someone like that in person? It seems that her skin was still too thin, and as soon as she heard others praising her, she felt uncomfortable all over. She quickly changed the subject: "Teacher Fang, what can I do for you?"

  Fang Wenchao and Dai Shuqi exchanged a glance, and finally Fang Wenchao spoke up: "Oh, it's like this. Two months ago, didn't you make two dolls for me? At the time, I took the dolls back with me, and Shuqi especially liked them, so she put them on her bedside table. The day before yesterday, Shuqi's older sister, that is, this aunt,"

  "He pointed to the fashionable girl and said, 'She saw it when she came to our house to play and really liked the handmade doll you made. She wants to come find you and ask how you made it.'"

  At that time, the fashionable girl smiled at Zhou Xiaoyun: "Little friend, hello, my name is Dai Shuping. I have a specialty store in the county town that sells handmade crafts and other gifts. I saw the doll you made and thought it was great, so I came to talk to you."

  Zhou Xiaoyun suddenly realized that she had been eyeing the doll she made herself.

  She was somewhat embarrassed: "Teacher Fang, are you saying this here?"

  "Look at me, come on, let's go to my dorm and talk about it. Let's sit down and have a chat."

  A few people walked and talked until they reached Fang Wenchao's dormitory. Fang Wenchao still had a class in the first period, so he let Zhou Xiaoyun chat with Dai Shuqi sisters in the dormitory before going to class.

  Dai Shuping was indeed a businesswoman, with a mouth that picked up only pleasant things to say, and before long she had become familiar with Zhou Xiaoyun. At first, it was one "Little Cloud" after another, but eventually she insisted on being called "Sister Shuping" by Zhou Xiaoyun.

  Zhou Xiaoyun politely declined, thinking to herself that if she called a woman in her thirties "sister", wouldn't she be at a great disadvantage? In her past life, she was 28 and now she has lived for three more years, so in terms of actual age, she is even older than Zhou Xiaoyun!

  Dai Shuping finally got to the point: "Xiaoyun, I'm a straightforward person, so I'll just say it. My store has always done well, selling high-end handicrafts targeting fashionable young people. Your doll is exquisite and lovely, if you can bring it to my store to sell, the prospects will definitely be good."

  Zhou Xiaoyun thought for a while before answering: "It takes me about a day and a half to make a pair of dolls like this, and during that time I can't do anything else. I definitely don't have the time to be busy with things like this all the time. I still need to go to school, go home and help my mom with chores, and when I'm free, I want to practice calligraphy and play the accordion!"

  The real reason is that in her previous life, she was a skilled female worker in a toy factory. No matter how good her craftsmanship was, she was still just a substitute for others, earning only over 1,000 yuan per month. In this life, she doesn't want to repeat the same mistakes. Occasionally doing it once or twice is okay, but long-term, she's not willing.

  She is more attracted to the path of a cultured and educated young woman who has grown up reading books seriously.

  Dai Shuping was not anxious at all, and instead proposed better terms to attract her: "You don't have to do a lot, just make two or three pairs for me in a week, and we can negotiate the price. I can give you five yuan per pair!"

  The price was really attractive, Zhou Xiaoyun made an effort to sober up from the colorful banknotes and shook her head with difficulty.

  Dai Shuping's disappointed expression made Zhou Xiaoyun feel unbearable, after all, she was Fang Wenchao's elder cousin, and it wouldn't be right to blame Fang Wenchao for this.

  "Alright, I can teach you how to make them. Once you learn, you can make and sell the dolls yourself."

  "Really?" Dai Shuping was overjoyed, but then hesitated: "However, I'm busy all day with stocking and running the shop, not sure if I'll have time to do it..."

  Dai Shuqi interjected, "Sister, why don't I help you out? This doll is just something to be sold, it's not a necessity for life. Just make as many as you can sell."

  This proposal was very much to Dai Shuping's liking, and after arranging to come again next Sunday to learn, the two sisters hastily returned to the city.

  Zhou Xiaoyun couldn't help but admire Dai Shuping, this woman is really shrewd, she's going to make a fortune in the future.

  Years later, Dai Shuping, who had made a name for herself with her exquisite handmade dolls, asked Zhou Xiaoyun if she regretted letting the opportunity to get rich slip away. Zhou Xiaoyun smiled and said she didn't regret it at all.

  Who else can understand Zhou Xiaoyun's complicated psychology and her feelings of both love and hatred for this doll that she reveres yet keeps at a distance?

  On Sunday, Dai Shuqi and Dai Shuping came as promised, and Fang Wenchao naturally became their escort. The original location was set at Fang Wenchao's dormitory, but the place was too small and crowded with people, making it uncomfortable to stay.

  Zhou Xiaoyun suggested going to her home, Fang Wenchao hesitated: "Will it be too much trouble..."

  Zhou Xiaoyun hastily took over: "Teacher Fang, you mustn't be polite, just treat it as if you're coming to my home to play! My dad and mom have gone to the market to sell pork, there are only a few of us siblings at home, I'm afraid you'll feel uncomfortable in our home!"

  It's too hypocritical to make excuses at this point. A few people walked for ten minutes and arrived at Zhou Xiaoyun's home.

  Dabao and Xiaobao were playing in the courtyard, all of them greeted Fang Wenchao with a loud "Teacher Fang is good". Er Ya followed to go to the vegetable market and was not at home, so they went to Zhou Xiaoyun's house.

  Fang Wenchao came for the first time and looked around Zhou Xiaoyun's boudoir, praising it repeatedly. He especially liked the few pots of wildflowers on the windowsill. He praised Zhou Xiaoyun's creativity in using ceramic bowls as small flowerpots without end.

  Zhou Xiaoyun saw it with her own eyes and remembered it in her heart, thinking that when Fang Wenchao left, she would send two basins.

  Dai Shuping's handicraft skills are not bad, after Zhou Xiaoyun's explanation and demonstration, she basically understands it, the rest is mainly a matter of practice. The two sisters sit on the stool making dolls while chatting, praising Zhou Xiaoyun in their conversation.

  Zhou Xiaoyun had always been helpless against flattery. She said to Fang Wenchao, "Teacher Fang, you all sit here and chat, I'll go cook." Then she rushed out.