Back to 90s small fishing village

"Participating in an exhibition? But we don't have such qualifications, right? High-end jewelry or something..." Xu Pingli asked.

"My idea is to exhibit a representative work first, build a reputation, accumulate some popularity and funds, and then talk about the rest." He Yifan explained.

"Okay, then let's discuss this matter at the meeting tomorrow morning when everyone is more awake." Xu Caimei said.

After getting down to business, everyone continued to eat.

After eating, everyone dispersed except those on duty.

"I'm going back to draw the design. I'm leaving first." He Yifan stood up and said.

"By the way, I haven't even asked yet, where do you live now?"

"I saw that there was a ready-made house at auction in your village, so I bought it directly and now live there." He Yifan said, "Caimei, do you want to come and sit down someday?"

"Could it be..." Xu Caimei turned her questioning eyes to the remaining people, and Xu Ping'an nodded.

It turns out to be Xu Pingchang’s family, Xu Caimei thought to herself.

"It's okay, I won't go. They are all from the same village. I have been to every house."

"That's okay, that house isn't that good anyway. It's dirty everywhere, and the furniture and everything are very old. I've already contacted someone to renovate it. I'll invite you to come as guests after it's tidied up."

Xu Caimei nodded.

Back home, He Yi sat down on the chair.

He had thrown away most of the old furniture in the room because he thought it was dirty, leaving only an old desk.

There are a few small words engraved on this desk: Sister Picking Cabin, with a vague heart pattern in the middle.

The mark is very deep and cannot be modified or painted over.

In fact, during his stay in the village, he was vaguely aware of Xu Caimei's past. There was even a photo album in this house, which contained one or two family photos related to her.

However, based on the changes in the characters before and after, He Yifan speculated that this was not a family portrait of Xu Caimei's family, but a man named Xu Pingcang.

Xu Caimei in the photo had a numb expression and empty eyes, just like what he had experienced, which shows that she was not happy at that time.

He Yifan burned those photos without asking Xu Caimei's opinion.

So does this table.

He Yifan didn't want others to pick it up.

The home decoration team hadn't arrived yet, so he had to make do on the camp bed borrowed from Xu Ping'an's house, take a nap and sober up.

The next day, He Yifan told everyone his design ideas.

"My estimated cost is [-] yuan - I don't know how to calculate the market price here yet, so I set a tentative cost estimate of [-] yuan.

"This design requires natural seawater pearls. There is no limit to the quantity and color. The more the better. I heard from Caimei that we have a cooperative silver jewelry factory. Please help me borrow some tools so that I can complete the design by hand."

"What is this going on? And where are we going to get so many pearls?" Xu Pingcai asked.

"There is a way." Xu Pingli patted him, "Brother, have you forgotten those people who fish for pearls?"

"That's not possible. I've asked before. Natural pearls are so popular now, but they may not have them in stock."

"It doesn't matter. We'll try our best to ask. If it doesn't work, I can go into the water and pick it up." Xu Caimei said. "But there is one more thing, which may be a bit troublesome. I also need you to help me purchase at least one top-quality large pearl. The price is easy to negotiate. If the price exceeds the expected price, I can give you a discount."

Hearing this, Xu Pingan glanced at Xu Caimei unconsciously.

Xu Caimei knew that Xu Pingan was thinking of the black pearl in her hand.

"It wouldn't be bad if that pearl could be used as a boost to the breeding farm." Xu Caimei thought.

After the meeting, she took Xu Pingan and He Yifan back home.

Looking at Xu Caimei squatting at the foot of the wall and scratching the ground, He Yifan was very confused.

It wasn't until Xu Caimei handed a large and plump black pearl to him that he understood and was really surprised.

"You are still hiding such a treasure!" He Yifan's eyes widened.

He Yifan took the small bag handed over by Xu Caimei, held it carefully in his hand and looked at it.

The shape is round and full, with even and soft luster and color. He Yifan looked at the pearl and changed the design in his mind again and again.

"This one is enough. For the others, you can collect some ordinary pearls for me. I want 50 pearls, no, let's go with 99 pearls. No matter the shape or color, anything will do." He Yifan's eyes widened. Light, looks particularly excited.

For the next three days, He Yifan locked himself in his room and revised the design repeatedly.

"Why is this kid working so hard? It's so scary." Li Meiyan asked Xu Caimei secretly while on duty.

"This is what an artist is. Otherwise, how can I say that I don't have the ability to make a living? We are all partners now, and he is working so hard. We must also work hard and take good care of him."

While they were chatting, Xu Pingcai and Xu Pingan, who were responsible for collecting pearls, came back.

They were accompanied by several people who had resigned earlier and returned to their old business of pearl fishing.

"Why are you back? Can't you survive?" Li Meiyan started joking as soon as she saw them.

Although they resigned, they were not bad people, and everyone had a good relationship at the farm at that time.

After hearing Li Meiyan's joke, the dark man in the lead grinned.

"Didn't I hear that you are collecting pearls everywhere, here to ask if you have encountered any big business, and to beg for food?"

"That said, we are also a small business, and we all earn hard-earned money. How can we be said to be like landlords and rich people?" Li Meiyan also laughed.

"Ninety-nine pearls, in normal times, are indeed not many, but it's almost winter, and we just found someone to collect one..." The black-faced man suppressed his smile.

"Money is not an issue. If you want to add more money, it's no problem - as long as you don't add too much." Li Meiyan glanced at Xu Caimei, as if asking for her opinion.

"Yeah." Xu Caimei nodded.

"That's not what we meant." The black-faced man waved his hand, "When the farm was in trouble, our brothers left. Thinking about it afterwards, I always feel that we were owed. After all, when the farm was making money, you didn't forget us... So, we are here just to help.”

"But isn't it said that it's hard to pick pearls?" Xu Caimei said, "And I have picked pearls myself. It's better not to go into the water in winter, because accidents are easy to happen."

"Don't worry about this. We have other ways. We just have to ask you to wait a moment - we will bring 99 pearls in half a month at the latest."

"Let's make it clear first that no matter what, it must be a natural pearl. We cannot compromise on this." Xu Ping'an stressed.

"Don't worry." After the black-faced man said this, he took several other people with him, thanked Xu Caimei, and left.