Chapter 48: Little Liar, Get Away!

She said, "If we're going to do it, we'll do it," and the next day Su Ruan used the existing fabric, referenced fashion elements from memory, and drew several design Sketches of Modified Cheongsam and waist‑cinching Dress, the styles simple and elegant yet with a distinctive design sense.

She cut and sewed herself, while Jiang Ran was in charge of finding a familiar tailor to consult on certain Handcraft details, or of gathering some special accessories.

At the same time, Su Ruan also began making some delicate Handcraft items.

She used the leftover silk trims to make exquisite Frog Buttons in butterfly and orchid shapes, vivid and lifelike.

She also embroidered simple yet elegant orchid grass and emerald bamboo onto a corner of a plain handkerchief.

She also crafted a few pouches filled with dried‑flower fragrance, with fine stitching and novel designs.

When these items were taken out, they immediately caught Jiang Jiaojiao's and Li Huijuan's attention.

They couldn't put them down, especially those Frog Buttons and embroidered handkerchiefs, insisting they looked far prettier than anything sold in a department store.

"RuanRuan, it's a pity you don't open a shop with this Handcraft!" Jiang Jiaojiao said, holding an orchid Frog Button, admiringly clicking her tongue, "This piece is distinctive, it'll surely sell well!"

Li Huijuan held a lotus‑vine embroidered pouch that Su Ruan had made, turning it over and over, eyes full of affection, yet a lingering, inescapable worry furrowed her brows.

"RuanRuan, your Handcraft is truly beyond praise; this pouch, these Frog Buttons, are crafted more delicately than a master's."

Li Huijuan's sincere praise then took a turn.

"But… just by looking, this isn't cheap; the materials are good, the workmanship fine, if priced high, I'm afraid few will be willing to buy."

"Yet if the price is low, we won't even recoup the cost, all that effort would be wasted. How should we sell it then?"

Su Ruan took the pouch, her fingertips brushing the fine stitches, a faint mysterious smile curling her lips: "Mother, don't worry, I have my own way."

She then explained her plan calmly: "I don't intend to sell those large items like Cheongsam Dress at the start; the cost is high and the risk great."

"I plan to start by selling small items such as these pouches, Frog Buttons, and embroidered handkerchiefs."

"These things require little capital, are easy to carry, and even if they don't sell immediately, the pressure of unsold stock is minimal."

"Then… who will sell them?" Li Huijuan asked further, "You'll set up a stall yourself? That's too hard, and moreover…"

She glanced at Su Ruan's slender hands and calm demeanor, feeling that this didn't seem like something she could hawk on the street.

Su Ruan shook her head, a smile with a hint of cunning: "I won't sell them myself."

"Mother, think about it: on the street, what spreads fastest? Whose hawking voice most easily draws attention without causing annoyance?"

Li Huijuan was momentarily stunned, then realized: "You mean… let children sell them?"

"Right." Su Ruan nodded, "Children are clever, quick on their feet, and have sweet mouths; having them hawk these little trinkets may work better than us adults doing it ourselves."

"Besides, this also provides a livelihood for some children from poor families."

The idea seemed novel and vaguely feasible to Li Huijuan, but she still had reservations: "The idea is good, but where among us can we find children of the right age who are trustworthy?"

"No rush," Su Ruan said calmly, "The items are made slowly; we'll wait and see, opportunities will come."

Sure enough, an opportunity arrived unexpectedly the next day.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran went back onto the street, this time conducting a more detailed survey of foot traffic, potential shop locations, and possible competitors.

When the two of them reached a relatively quiet street corner, they heard a faint whimper and pleading voice.

In the corner of the wall huddled two rag‑clad, pale, emaciated children.

The older one was a boy, about eleven or twelve, his face sallow yet his features faintly delicate, his eyes timid, and he was repeatedly bowing to passing pedestrians.

"Please… please help us, my sister is ill, feverish… give some money to buy medicine…"

At his feet lay a little girl, about seven or eight, eyes tightly shut, cheeks flushed abnormally, breathing rapidly, clearly seriously ill.

However, most passersby hurried on; occasional onlookers paused with frowns, either shouting "Little liar, get away!" or hurrying away as if avoiding a plague.

The boy's gaze shifted from hopeful to desperate, tears swirling in his eyes yet stubbornly not falling, and he pressed on, repeating the pale, feeble plea over and over.

Su Ruan's heart felt as if something had tugged it.

She could see that the girl was truly feverish, and quite badly.

Though the boy was shy, the urgency and desperation in his eyes seemed genuine.

"Come, let's go take a look." Su Ruan tugged Jiang Ran's sleeve.

Jiang Ran also furrowed his brows; though he was rough around the edges, a streak of chivalry remained in his bones, especially unable to see the weak bullied. He nodded and followed Su Ruan.

Seeing two well‑dressed young people approach, the boy seemed to clutch a lifeline, thumped down and knelt, sobbing as he bowed: "Kind‑hearted people… please save my sister! She's about to die! I'm not a liar! Really!"

Jiang Ran was startled by the boy's action, quickly bent down to pull him up, awkwardly saying, "A man's knees are not for constant kneeling! What's happening?"

Su Ruan crouched, reached out to touch the little girl's forehead, and felt a scorching heat.

Her expression hardened: "She's burning badly, we must take her to a hospital immediately!"

The boy, hearing this, could no longer hold back his tears, they streaming down as he choked out, "I… I have no money… Yesterday I begged all day, only enough to buy half a steamed bun…"

"Stop talking, let's go to the hospital first!" Jiang Ran decided instantly, hoisting the little girl, "Show us the way, where is the nearest hospital?"

The boy froze briefly, then seemed to recover, quickly pointing ahead: "There! Turn that way, the district hospital is just beyond."

Jiang Ran, cradling the child, broke into a long stride toward the hospital, with Su Ruan and the boy close behind.

At the hospital, after registration, consultation, medication, and injection… after a flurry of activity, the little girl's condition finally steadied; she lay on the bed, deep in sleep, still weak but breathing much more evenly.

The boy, seeing his sister out of danger, felt his constantly tense nerves finally relax; he stepped before Jiang Ran and Su Ruan, his eyes reddening again, about to kneel once more: "Thank you… thank you both… I… I…"

Jiang Ran, quick‑eyed and swift‑handed, steadied him again, awkwardly turning his face away: "I said you don't need to kneel, it's no big deal!"

Su Ruan looked at the thin yet bright‑eyed, grateful boy, and the vague plan in her mind gradually clarified.

She gently asked, "Little brother, what's your name? How old are you? Is there anyone else at home?"