Chapter 88
The previously confirmed cost price was twelve million yuan, while five million yuan represented the studio’s profit.
Shen You recorded the figures on her computer. Xiao Lu would come by regularly to organize the studio’s accounts, then settle everything on a monthly basis.
Nothing particularly significant happened that day. Shen You focused her attention on arranging the bedroom on the second floor properly.
Cheng Liang had repaired the windows earlier, and after her inspection, she found no issues with them.
She opened the windows for ventilation, which provided a perfect view of the winter sweet blossoms planted in the neighboring courtyard.
The owner of that property likely maintained another residence, as she had never spotted anyone there. The hydrangea pot below looked nearly dead from neglect.
Two days later, the first batch of thermal underwear arrived. The unloading still took place in the garage, and afterward, Shen You used her system to transfer everything to the interior warehouse.
Sleeping bags would arrive tomorrow, while the remaining items would be delivered gradually over the following period.
The warehouse couldn’t accommodate such a massive quantity of goods, so Shen You planned to divide them into several shipments for transport to the Great Qi side.
The border military forces required immediate delivery. The weather there was frigid, and transportation would consume additional time.
Her personal sales inventory could wait longer.
After many days of absence, the Great Qi antique shop opened its doors once more!
Once Liu Zheng’s assigned personnel saw her glowing wooden door plaque, arrangements would be made to visit the shop for merchandise collection.
More than a week had passed already. She wondered about the progress made by the embroiderer who had visited last time.
Looking at the several finished garments made from Great Qi fabric hanging in her dressing room, Shen You remembered this matter.
The capital had experienced days of cold, continuous rain that chilled people to the bone.
The day after leaving that peculiar shop, Liu Erniang had taken her silver ingots into the city to select the finest textile materials and embroidery thread she could afford.
She spent fifteen taels in one go, which still caused her some heartache.
However, when she considered making Miss Shen’s fabric beautifully, so that when Miss Shen needed fabric again in the future, she would think of her first, she immediately felt energized.
Of the remaining five taels, one tael would go toward her younger brother’s schooling expenses and purchasing necessary items.
One tael would cover house rent, while the remaining three taels would serve as living expenses for the entire family. For ordinary people like them, this amount meant they wouldn’t need to worry about meals for quite some time.
Liu Erniang looked at the items in her arms. These precious silk threads absolutely couldn’t be soiled. If anything went wrong, she couldn’t afford to replace them.
Therefore, she first returned home to store the items safely, then made another trip to the town market.
Prices there were somewhat lower than in the city. After wandering around extensively, and comparing option after option, she finally selected the largest chicken available.
A single chicken cost seventy wen, an expense their household would have never considered before.
She thought about how her younger sister had never eaten anything good since childhood. When Liu Erniang was young and their parents were still alive, their family had lived more comfortably.
Gritting her teeth, she spent another twenty wen on some candied fruit.
Compared to what the city shops sold, these were rather crude, but the taste remained acceptable. She only sampled a tiny piece, saving the rest for her younger sister.
Previously, her sister had envied how the neighboring girl got to enjoy these sweet treats twice every month.
Behind her, people gossiped again about how she had brought death to her husband, claiming that her husband had been unlucky to marry her.
However, Liu Erniang remembered Miss Shen’s words, which made her feel much better. She straightened her back and walked home with dignity.
When Liu Xiaomei received the candied fruit wrapped in dried lotus leaves, her eyes lit up instantly. Nevertheless, she first presented it to Liu Erniang, saying, “Big sister should eat first.”
“Big sister already ate some. All of this is for you.” Liu Erniang rubbed her head affectionately.
She went to boil water, then killed the chicken and prepared a large pot of chicken soup.
When Liu Wensheng returned from school, the chicken soup was served on the table. Seasoned only with salt and two slices of ginger, the aroma immediately stimulated the family’s appetite.
All three wanted to save more for the others to eat. Though their dining table and house were simple, the atmosphere felt exceptionally warm.
Half remained for the next day’s lunch, when they could reheat it for another meal.
After Liu Erniang finished cleaning the loom and prepared to begin work, she suddenly remembered something and got up to visit another household.
Sister Chen’s daughter suffered from poor health and required medicinal care, making their family financially strained as well. Just days ago, she had been searching everywhere for work. Before her marriage, she had served as a maid in wealthy households, so her skills were excellent, and her family also owned a loom.
The deposit Miss Shen had provided was sufficient to weave two bolts of silk with embroidered patterns. Doing it alone would take too long, but if she enlisted Sister Zhang’s help, they could complete the delivery much earlier.
Sister Chen had always been helpful to her family. Now that she had orders in hand, she could share some work with others.
What’s more as the weather grew increasingly cold, she also wanted to finish quickly so she could purchase some warm clothing for her younger siblings.
Warm clothing was already rising in price. When it got colder, prices would reach unimaginable levels.
When Sister Chen heard Liu Erniang’s purpose, how could she refuse?
“Rest assured, I’ll definitely do the work well for you.” Sister Chen wiped away tears. “Thank you for still thinking of me.”
Receiving orders from a wealthy family’s young lady was tremendously fortunate. Countless people competed for such opportunities.
Even if they stopped ordering fabric from them later, once people knew their weaving had gained noble approval, they would naturally purchase their embroidered textiles.
Hearing that the client paid generously, Sister Chen naturally assumed she was an official’s daughter. Liu Erniang offered no further explanation regarding this matter.
The arrangement was settled this way.
Coarse cloth worn by ordinary families could be woven by skilled workers in one or two days, but fine silk required much more precision, plus the subsequent embroidery work.
At minimum, it would take over ten days.
**
Light rain fell over the capital, and the sky darkened. The towering palace walls gained an additional atmosphere of misty, ethereal beauty.
Among pedestrians carrying various oil-paper umbrellas, someone who had just ridden past on horseback wore an eye-catching pink raincoat.
The thin hem fluttered in the cold wind, with rainwater droplets splashing from its surface.
Many people cast envious glances. Look how stylish it was to ride horseback wearing a raincoat!
They had heard that these raincoats from the Western Regions were extremely useful. Even standing in a downpour, not a single drop of water would penetrate the interior. Even the sage in the palace favored them.
Whenever any family acquired one, they couldn’t help but show it off by wearing it outside. It had become a symbol of status and position!
Last time, the minister’s son and the Hanlin Academy scholar’s son had made a bet involving raincoats and nearly came to blows at school.
These events had occurred just days ago, and everyone still remembered them, demonstrating the raincoats’ precious value.
**
Miss Shen’s shop had reopened. The moment Liu Zheng’s assigned steward discovered this, he hurried back personally to report.
When Liu Zheng received the news, excitement caused him to pace back and forth in his room twice before calming down.
Excellent! Shopkeeper Shen had returned!
Immediately afterward, he donned his raincoat and delivered the message to the Crown Prince’s residence.
He didn’t dare delay any news regarding Shopkeeper Shen, especially since His Highness had already asked twice previously.
Li Heng, who had just received the message, breathed a deep sigh of relief. His tense expression relaxed at that moment, becoming much gentler.
During these days, his thoughts had frequently turned to Miss Shen and her courtyard.
He knew she wasn’t someone who broke her promises, yet there had been no news whatsoever from Bluestone Alley.
Day after day of tranquility felt unfamiliar to him. Actually, he also disliked this feeling of lacking control over the situation.
He had been waiting and worrying simultaneously.
Fortunately, news finally came today.
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