The Female Supporting Role Shows Out - Chapter 87

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

After returning home, Du Rusong asked the old steward to send the good leather in the warehouse and one hundred taels of silver to Lin Dan.

The old steward was a loyal servant that Mother Du had left to her two children. He had taken care of them since they were young, so he had made a plan for them wholeheartedly. He couldn’t help but dissuade, “Young Master, making leather armor requires not only exquisite skills but also strength. Leather armor is so thick. It’s a piece of strength to cut and sew them together. How old is the little girl from the Lin family? Did she have the strength to do that? If you don’t like it, I’ll find another craftsman to make it for you. These are all good leather. Don’t let the young lady of the Lin family spoil them.”

Du Rusong thought of Lin Dan’s strength of chopping wood and smiled, “Uncle Sun, don’t worry. She is so strong that she can definitely cut and sew leather armor. Besides, where can you find the craftsmen for me? The craftsmen who were able to make leather armor were all in the army, and the control was very strict. The craftsmen outside did not dare to touch these things, and they would be in prison if they were found. However, the Lin family is different. As a member of the brigands, the Lin family naturally had a way to make leather armor and weapons, and even they could make iron armor. I’ve thought about it for a while. I’m afraid only Young Miss Lin could finish it.”

Uncle Sun thought for a while and nodded, “You are so considerate, Young Master. I didn’t expect that moving to this shabby small house would also be a good thing.”

Du Rusong thought of something and couldn’t help smiling. What he didn’t tell Uncle Sun was that even if his leather armor was made, he didn’t want to wear it during the training. Since his boss deliberately made things difficult for him, he would definitely wait to find out his fault. Seeing that he had found leather armor from nowhere and it was hard to blame him on the face, he would definitely send people to investigate secretly. If he traced the clues to the Lin family and implicated the little girl, he would be guilty.

Therefore, after the leather armor was ready, he put it in the camp. He wouldn’t wear it to kill the enemy until the war broke out. On the battlefield, no one would care whether you wore leather armor or not, let alone ask where your leather armor came from. After the war, many soldiers would take off the equipment on the bodies of the bandits and take them for their own use. Then he would infer the origin of the leather armor as booty so that he would be fine.

Thinking of this, Du Rusong felt mixed feelings, bitter and hurt. When he was young and powerful, he had never thought that he and his sister would end up like this. Not only were they homeless, they had no relatives to go to, but they even had to ask for clothes to wear.

But he wouldn’t always struggle at the bottom. Sooner or later, he would take back everything he had lost, and ask the people who had trampled on them to pay a hundred or even a thousand times the price. After thinking, he lowered his eyes and showed a ruthless smile.

—

After getting the craft sent by Uncle Sun, Lin Dan went to Zhang Hui for the tools. The leather armor was different from the fabric. The needle and thread were customized, and pincers, hammers, and other things were needed. When Lin Dafu was a thief, the leather armor he wore was all made by Zhang Hui, so she kept these tools.

“What did you say? How dare you agree to make leather armor for Du Rusong! Don’t you know that only the craftsmen in the military camp can make leather armor, and no one outside can touch them?” Zhang Hui was about to scold, but Lin Dan said slowly, “He gave me one hundred taels of silver.”

Zhang Hui’s angry face immediately turned gentle and kind. She said softly, “Wait a minute. I’ll get it for you.”

“By the way, can you give me fifteen pounds of iron pieces? Each iron piece is two inches square. I want to wrap it in leather. The defensive power of the leather alone is too weak. Since he can’t wear iron armor, I’ll disguise it as leather armor. Is that okay?” Added Lin Dan.

Zhang Hui suddenly turned around and said with a ferocious expression, “Do you know that the iron weapons are also controlled by the government? Even an iron hammer should be reported, let alone fifteen pounds of iron pieces? You want me dead!”

“Mom, one hundred taels of silver,” said Lin Dan calmly.

Zhang Hui raised her hand, slowly erased the ferocious expression on her face, and smiled, “Okay, I’ll find someone to do it.” In the past, she was the second-in-command of the brigands. She had hired people to make their leather armor, swords, and halberds, so she naturally had a way to do so.

As soon as she stepped out of the threshold, she stopped and frowned.”Oh, no, when did you learn how to make leather armor?”

“I saw you make it when I was a child. At that time, my father often went to other places to purchase goods, so you asked him to wear leather armor all the time. As you know, I can learn things at a glance.” Lin Dan explained briefly.

Without any doubt, Zhang Hui went out. When she walked to the door, she couldn’t help but turn around and look at her daughter sitting in the corridor, with a smile in her eyes. Her daughter was so smart that she could see everything at a glance. Third and Fourth Sister had told her about it, but what made her more proud was her daughter’s perseverance. She was very decisive and had lots of mobility. She knew that she couldn’t sit still and was impetuous, so she cut firewood to dispel this impetuousness. How could Zhang Hui not notice that the firewood in her house was consumed so fast? She just didn’t want to expose it.

Her daughter didn’t need others to urge her, but she could find a way to improve herself. This kind of ruthlessness was similar to her father. If she continued to live like this, why did she worry about the Lin family?

After thinking for a while, Zhang Hui took another look at her daughter and then went out happily.

The next day, when Zhang Hui was about to make leather armor, Du Ruyan came in with a beautiful and quiet girl, saying that she wanted to introduce business to her.

Knowing that the girl was the sixth daughter of the Admiral of Zhejiang Navy, Lin Dan didn’t show any fear on her face. Instead, she said in neither humble nor pushy tone, “Miss Xu, what kind of style do you like? Can you draw it and let me have a look. I will try my best to make it in your favorite style.”

As for the unfamiliar customers, she had to ask more questions in case of getting into trouble in the future.

“I like wisteria flowers. Miss Lin, can you make a dress embroidered with wisteria flowers for me?” Although Xu Qian remained silent at home, she was actually a talented woman. She thought for a while and had a draft. Then she picked up a brush and drew it carefully.

Staring at the painting for a while, Lin Dan nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll embroider the wisteria flower. When do you need new clothes, Miss?”

“You’d better hurry up before the Mid Autumn Festival.” Xu Qian put down her brush.

There were still sixteen days left before the Mid Autumn Festival, and the construction period should be up, so she agreed. Xu Qian immediately paid 5 taels of silver as the deposit, and then said goodbye and left. She was very gentle and kind from beginning to end, completely different from the noble daughter of the governor.

Lin Dan had a good impression of Xu Qian. After sending her away, Lin Dan said to Du Ruyan, “You can introduce more clients like her to me in the future. Here, this is your push money.”

Staring at the one piece of silver in her palm, Du Ruyan was totally confused.

“What? Do you think it’s not enough? I’ll give you half a tael of silver more. One and a half, I can’t pay more, or I won’t make any more money. Every time you bring a customer, I will draw half of the money for you.” With the scissor in her hand, she cut a small piece of silver into two and put it into the hand of Du Ruyan.

Du Ruyan was stunned for a while and then slowly closed her palm. She clenched the silver into her fist and said in a trance, “Can I make money now?” This was the first money she earned of her own ability. Although it was one and a half teals, it was pitiful, but she felt better than ever!

If she didn’t fall to the bottom, she would never understand the happiness of earning money by herself.

“Brother, Brother, I’m making money! Lin Dan gave me push money! Brother, did you hear that?” She ran into the yard and shouted across the wall. Her face was full of joy.

Lin Dan looked at her in surprise. She didn’t understand why she was so happy.

Du Rusong quickly jumped onto the wall and listened to his sister with a smile. His eyes were full of love and tenderness. Seeing his sister being crushed by life and no longer being arrogant and sunny, his heart ached like a knife cutting into pieces.

However, when she moved to this house, she heard about what had happened to Lin Dan and saw her fight hard for tomorrow. His sister gradually found a better herself. She hid her pride in her heart, learned to compromise, to endure, and to be strong. Now she was happier than when she was in An’ding Marquis Manor.

Seeing that Lin Dan walked over unhurriedly, Du Rusong smiled gently and said in silence, “Thank you.”

—

When Xu Qian returned home, her mother, Madam Kou, had been waiting for her for a long time. She kept complaining, “Where did you go just now? I couldn’t find you. Did you know that to welcome the distinguished guests, Madam is going to make a new set of clothes for each of the ladies in the mansion? She also invited Meng Si to take the measurements for them in person. All the ladies had gone, but you were not there. All the beautiful cloth had been picked up, leaving only these outdated floral cloth. What are you going to wear to the Mid Autumn Festival? I’m so worried about you. Why do you still drink tea? Come with me to Meng Clan Embroidery Shop and ask her to make up for your size.”

The teacup was taken away, and the tea water was spilled on her clothes, which wet her clothes. However, Xu Qian was not annoyed at all. She said slowly, “Auntie, don’t waste your time. Do you really think that Madam would ask Meng Si to cut clothes for us by herself after she invited her to measure us? A single embroidery of Meng Si can be sold for thousands of taels of silver. Is she willing to spend money on the shu daughters like us? She was just playacting. Let’s wait and see. When Meng Si gets the size back, she must have embroidered the clothes for Seventh Sister herself. The other sisters are only qualified to wear clothes made with ordinary embroidery.”

(Note: In a traditional polygamous Chinese family, the husband had only one wife, and the other women marry him were concubines. The children of the concubines, shu children, called the wife Mother and their biological mother Aunt or Auntie.)

“It’s better than you wearing old clothes to attend the Mid Autumn Festival, isn’t it? Did you know that I’ve found out that the distinguished guest at the Mid Autumn Festival was not someone else, but the eldest prince who was ordered to inspect the coastal defense? If you can win his favor at the banquet, maybe you can marry into the royal family and live a happy life. You can’t hide as before. I heard that Madam wants to marry you to Lieutenant Li as his second wife. If you miss this opportunity, you will have a hard time in the future!”

(Note: The second wife here means that the wife of Lieutenant Li was dead, and Xu Qian may become a new wife, not a concubine.)

Madam Kou was so anxious that she kept turning around, but Xu Qian didn’t panic at all. She comforted her, “Auntie, don’t worry. I’ve already asked someone to make the clothes. This time, I will seize the opportunity.” The lieutenant’s ex-wife was beaten to death by him. Madam and her father knew that, but in order to win over the military power, they pushed her out as a sacrifice. Since she had been so well behaved, and they still didn’t let her live well, she could only fight for herself once.

After returning home, Du Rusong asked the old steward to send the good leather in the warehouse and one hundred taels of silver to Lin Dan.

The old steward was a loyal servant that Mother Du had left to her two children. He had taken care of them since they were young, so he had made a plan for them wholeheartedly. He couldn’t help but dissuade, “Young Master, making leather armor requires not only exquisite skills but also strength. Leather armor is so thick. It’s a piece of strength to cut and sew them together. How old is the little girl from the Lin family? Did she have the strength to do that? If you don’t like it, I’ll find another craftsman to make it for you. These are all good leather. Don’t let the young lady of the Lin family spoil them.”

Du Rusong thought of Lin Dan’s strength of chopping wood and smiled, “Uncle Sun, don’t worry. She is so strong that she can definitely cut and sew leather armor. Besides, where can you find the craftsmen for me? The craftsmen who were able to make leather armor were all in the army, and the control was very strict. The craftsmen outside did not dare to touch these things, and they would be in prison if they were found. However, the Lin family is different. As a member of the brigands, the Lin family naturally had a way to make leather armor and weapons, and even they could make iron armor. I’ve thought about it for a while. I’m afraid only Young Miss Lin could finish it.”

Uncle Sun thought for a while and nodded, “You are so considerate, Young Master. I didn’t expect that moving to this shabby small house would also be a good thing.”

Du Rusong thought of something and couldn’t help smiling. What he didn’t tell Uncle Sun was that even if his leather armor was made, he didn’t want to wear it during the training. Since his boss deliberately made things difficult for him, he would definitely wait to find out his fault. Seeing that he had found leather armor from nowhere and it was hard to blame him on the face, he would definitely send people to investigate secretly. If he traced the clues to the Lin family and implicated the little girl, he would be guilty.

Therefore, after the leather armor was ready, he put it in the camp. He wouldn’t wear it to kill the enemy until the war broke out. On the battlefield, no one would care whether you wore leather armor or not, let alone ask where your leather armor came from. After the war, many soldiers would take off the equipment on the bodies of the bandits and take them for their own use. Then he would infer the origin of the leather armor as booty so that he would be fine.

Thinking of this, Du Rusong felt mixed feelings, bitter and hurt. When he was young and powerful, he had never thought that he and his sister would end up like this. Not only were they homeless, they had no relatives to go to, but they even had to ask for clothes to wear.

But he wouldn’t always struggle at the bottom. Sooner or later, he would take back everything he had lost, and ask the people who had trampled on them to pay a hundred or even a thousand times the price. After thinking, he lowered his eyes and showed a ruthless smile.

—

After getting the craft sent by Uncle Sun, Lin Dan went to Zhang Hui for the tools. The leather armor was different from the fabric. The needle and thread were customized, and pincers, hammers, and other things were needed. When Lin Dafu was a thief, the leather armor he wore was all made by Zhang Hui, so she kept these tools.

“What did you say? How dare you agree to make leather armor for Du Rusong! Don’t you know that only the craftsmen in the military camp can make leather armor, and no one outside can touch them?” Zhang Hui was about to scold, but Lin Dan said slowly, “He gave me one hundred taels of silver.”

Zhang Hui’s angry face immediately turned gentle and kind. She said softly, “Wait a minute. I’ll get it for you.”

“By the way, can you give me fifteen pounds of iron pieces? Each iron piece is two inches square. I want to wrap it in leather. The defensive power of the leather alone is too weak. Since he can’t wear iron armor, I’ll disguise it as leather armor. Is that okay?” Added Lin Dan.

Zhang Hui suddenly turned around and said with a ferocious expression, “Do you know that the iron weapons are also controlled by the government? Even an iron hammer should be reported, let alone fifteen pounds of iron pieces? You want me dead!”

“Mom, one hundred taels of silver,” said Lin Dan calmly.

Zhang Hui raised her hand, slowly erased the ferocious expression on her face, and smiled, “Okay, I’ll find someone to do it.” In the past, she was the second-in-command of the brigands. She had hired people to make their leather armor, swords, and halberds, so she naturally had a way to do so.

As soon as she stepped out of the threshold, she stopped and frowned.”Oh, no, when did you learn how to make leather armor?”

“I saw you make it when I was a child. At that time, my father often went to other places to purchase goods, so you asked him to wear leather armor all the time. As you know, I can learn things at a glance.” Lin Dan explained briefly.

Without any doubt, Zhang Hui went out. When she walked to the door, she couldn’t help but turn around and look at her daughter sitting in the corridor, with a smile in her eyes. Her daughter was so smart that she could see everything at a glance. Third and Fourth Sister had told her about it, but what made her more proud was her daughter’s perseverance. She was very decisive and had lots of mobility. She knew that she couldn’t sit still and was impetuous, so she cut firewood to dispel this impetuousness. How could Zhang Hui not notice that the firewood in her house was consumed so fast? She just didn’t want to expose it.

Her daughter didn’t need others to urge her, but she could find a way to improve herself. This kind of ruthlessness was similar to her father. If she continued to live like this, why did she worry about the Lin family?

After thinking for a while, Zhang Hui took another look at her daughter and then went out happily.

The next day, when Zhang Hui was about to make leather armor, Du Ruyan came in with a beautiful and quiet girl, saying that she wanted to introduce business to her.

Knowing that the girl was the sixth daughter of the Admiral of Zhejiang Navy, Lin Dan didn’t show any fear on her face. Instead, she said in neither humble nor pushy tone, “Miss Xu, what kind of style do you like? Can you draw it and let me have a look. I will try my best to make it in your favorite style.”

As for the unfamiliar customers, she had to ask more questions in case of getting into trouble in the future.

“I like wisteria flowers. Miss Lin, can you make a dress embroidered with wisteria flowers for me?” Although Xu Qian remained silent at home, she was actually a talented woman. She thought for a while and had a draft. Then she picked up a brush and drew it carefully.

Staring at the painting for a while, Lin Dan nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll embroider the wisteria flower. When do you need new clothes, Miss?”

“You’d better hurry up before the Mid Autumn Festival.” Xu Qian put down her brush.

There were still sixteen days left before the Mid Autumn Festival, and the construction period should be up, so she agreed. Xu Qian immediately paid 5 taels of silver as the deposit, and then said goodbye and left. She was very gentle and kind from beginning to end, completely different from the noble daughter of the governor.

Lin Dan had a good impression of Xu Qian. After sending her away, Lin Dan said to Du Ruyan, “You can introduce more clients like her to me in the future. Here, this is your push money.”

Staring at the one piece of silver in her palm, Du Ruyan was totally confused.

“What? Do you think it’s not enough? I’ll give you half a tael of silver more. One and a half, I can’t pay more, or I won’t make any more money. Every time you bring a customer, I will draw half of the money for you.” With the scissor in her hand, she cut a small piece of silver into two and put it into the hand of Du Ruyan.

Du Ruyan was stunned for a while and then slowly closed her palm. She clenched the silver into her fist and said in a trance, “Can I make money now?” This was the first money she earned of her own ability. Although it was one and a half teals, it was pitiful, but she felt better than ever!

If she didn’t fall to the bottom, she would never understand the happiness of earning money by herself.

“Brother, Brother, I’m making money! Lin Dan gave me push money! Brother, did you hear that?” She ran into the yard and shouted across the wall. Her face was full of joy.

Lin Dan looked at her in surprise. She didn’t understand why she was so happy.

Du Rusong quickly jumped onto the wall and listened to his sister with a smile. His eyes were full of love and tenderness. Seeing his sister being crushed by life and no longer being arrogant and sunny, his heart ached like a knife cutting into pieces.

However, when she moved to this house, she heard about what had happened to Lin Dan and saw her fight hard for tomorrow. His sister gradually found a better herself. She hid her pride in her heart, learned to compromise, to endure, and to be strong. Now she was happier than when she was in An’ding Marquis Manor.

Seeing that Lin Dan walked over unhurriedly, Du Rusong smiled gently and said in silence, “Thank you.”

—

When Xu Qian returned home, her mother, Madam Kou, had been waiting for her for a long time. She kept complaining, “Where did you go just now? I couldn’t find you. Did you know that to welcome the distinguished guests, Madam is going to make a new set of clothes for each of the ladies in the mansion? She also invited Meng Si to take the measurements for them in person. All the ladies had gone, but you were not there. All the beautiful cloth had been picked up, leaving only these outdated floral cloth. What are you going to wear to the Mid Autumn Festival? I’m so worried about you. Why do you still drink tea? Come with me to Meng Clan Embroidery Shop and ask her to make up for your size.”

The teacup was taken away, and the tea water was spilled on her clothes, which wet her clothes. However, Xu Qian was not annoyed at all. She said slowly, “Auntie, don’t waste your time. Do you really think that Madam would ask Meng Si to cut clothes for us by herself after she invited her to measure us? A single embroidery of Meng Si can be sold for thousands of taels of silver. Is she willing to spend money on the shu daughters like us? She was just playacting. Let’s wait and see. When Meng Si gets the size back, she must have embroidered the clothes for Seventh Sister herself. The other sisters are only qualified to wear clothes made with ordinary embroidery.”

(Note: In a traditional polygamous Chinese family, the husband had only one wife, and the other women marry him were concubines. The children of the concubines, shu children, called the wife Mother and their biological mother Aunt or Auntie.)

“It’s better than you wearing old clothes to attend the Mid Autumn Festival, isn’t it? Did you know that I’ve found out that the distinguished guest at the Mid Autumn Festival was not someone else, but the eldest prince who was ordered to inspect the coastal defense? If you can win his favor at the banquet, maybe you can marry into the royal family and live a happy life. You can’t hide as before. I heard that Madam wants to marry you to Lieutenant Li as his second wife. If you miss this opportunity, you will have a hard time in the future!”

(Note: The second wife here means that the wife of Lieutenant Li was dead, and Xu Qian may become a new wife, not a concubine.)

Madam Kou was so anxious that she kept turning around, but Xu Qian didn’t panic at all. She comforted her, “Auntie, don’t worry. I’ve already asked someone to make the clothes. This time, I will seize the opportunity.” The lieutenant’s ex-wife was beaten to death by him. Madam and her father knew that, but in order to win over the military power, they pushed her out as a sacrifice. Since she had been so well behaved, and they still didn’t let her live well, she could only fight for herself once. Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com