Opening an antique shop and getting rich through all the worlds

Chapter 109

Liu Erniang searched for a long time before finding a suitable place, negotiated the price several times, and finally secured it.

On the way home, she was already eager to tell her younger brother and sister, and Sister Chen, this good news.

“Really?! Sister, we’ll never go hungry again!”

Little Sister Liu was still young. In her mind, only wealthy households could afford to open workshops, so they definitely wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

Liu Erniang just smiled gently, determined in her heart to manage the workshop well.

Only this way would she not waste Miss Shen’s help.

Sister Chen suggested, “There’s no need to buy new looms, someone in town is selling some. I can go with you to take a look.”

Liu Erniang said delightedly, “That would be wonderful.”

The slippers could wait until after the workshop matters were settled before trying to make them. It was just a few days’ work.

She had bought several different materials to compare which would be most comfortable when made.

——

On her phone, Shen You spoke to Master Zuo at the tailor shop, then lay down scrolling through her phone for a while, napped until noon, and then leisurely went to the kitchen to make something to eat.

She didn’t arrive at the tailor shop until three in the afternoon, then conveniently went to check on the workshop. She wasn’t in a hurry.

After eating, in a good mood, she melted two gold bars stamped with Lan City Bank, to take over together to be made into restoration jewelry.

Recently the workshop had received a big order. Zheng Mingbo from the Collectors’ Association wanted a phoenix crown for his sister’s wedding, restored in Ming Dynasty style.

When collecting old items, those in good condition were rare finds.

He had a Qing Dynasty one himself, silver-plated gold, which he’d worked hard to recover from abroad, but still felt it wasn’t grand enough, so he’d found the workshop.

Shen You’s asking price was five million, with the gold needed costing only a few hundred thousand. The expense was in the craftsmanship and the workshop’s reputation.

This price was already a friendship rate, requiring most of half a year’s work.

The specifications he wanted. If it were a real antique, it would likely be a recorded noble or imperial piece, starting at eighty million.

Shen You had just taken off her work jacket, preparing to rest a bit before going out.

Someone came to the shop.

It was Li Heng, bringing the golden nanmu rocking chair.

He stood in the courtyard, looking at the young woman before him, wearing a cream-colored top and light brown long skirt, with a beret he’d never seen before on her head, her long hair loose.

This outfit, which would seem strange in the Great Qi, was unexpectedly beautiful.

Li Heng’s gaze grew more gentle, and the smile at the corners of his mouth was genuine, not the deliberate courtesy he maintained in front of others.

“Miss Shen, see how this piece of furniture is. If it won’t do, I’ll have the craftsmen modify it.”

“It’s perfect!”

Shen You didn’t notice his bright eyes, busy admiring the chair in front of her.

The craftsmanship spirit of ancient artisans was truly remarkable. After receiving the blueprints, they’d added some Chinese aesthetic carving to the original design.

This wood grain that glowed golden, and its natural fragrance, every inch smelled like money.

Sitting on it gave her the feeling of ascending to a throne.

“I also presented two chairs of this style to the palace. After Father Emperor received them, he was very pleased, and seeing me studying these things, he’s become much more amiable toward me.”

“Many others in the capital have also begun imitating the rocking chair style with other woods. I’ve handed this over to the trading house to handle, and when the money comes in, I can give you dividends.”

He knew what his Father Emperor wanted to see, so these past few days he’d been coming and going among craftsmen, personally overseeing the chair-making progress.

Meanwhile, he was secretly maintaining contact with his subordinates, receiving messages.

Looking at what he’d brought, Shen You didn’t want to dampen this big customer’s enthusiasm, so she listened to him talk until he mentioned dividends.

“There’s no need to share money, I didn’t put in any effort with this matter. You drew the blueprints, and you’re doing the business.”

Hearing her distant words, Li Heng sighed helplessly and didn’t continue this topic.

“Is Miss Shen going out?” He looked at Shen You, this thought suddenly arising in his mind.

Shen You: “Yes, I need to handle some business, not in the Great Qi.”

“Then I won’t disturb you today.”

Li Heng’s face showed nothing, but his heart was somewhat dazed.

Was she going to see someone?

Even crossing through that wooden door, entering her shop, standing before her,

What he knew about her world was still far too little.

And the Great Qi, to her, had nothing that could make her stay.

After the customer left, Shen You locked up, took her keys, gathered her things, and drove out.

At Master Zuo’s shop, Mrs. Gu had also given advance notice. Master Zuo examined the fabric, settled the payment with Shen You, and the matter was done.

What Master Zuo’s place lacked least was wealthy customers. Good fabric wasn’t afraid of having no buyers, so he wasn’t worried about paying first and losing money.

However, the money she’d just received, Shen You gave half back to Master Zuo after seeing a light green fabric suitable for making qipao, ordering a dress.

She’d made money here, only to spend it here in the end.

Going out to Xi Garden, she saw that Yu Xiaosu and Cheng Liang were preparing for the big order.

First they had to draw designs. Cheng Liang was skilled at this, reportedly having once been an art student.

If Shen You had to draw, she could only guarantee she’d understand what she drew.

“When we finish this order, I’ll give you both bonuses.” Shen You sat down at the table.

At the mention of bonuses, both their expressions brightened, nodding repeatedly.

The artifacts from the last museum collaboration restoration had also been delivered, and the main work for this was still for Shen You to do.

It was clear the museum trusted her greatly, not even afraid she’d damage the items.

The delivered items were complex and blackened, and heavily oxidized, the difficulty was considerable.

Shen You only did preliminary inspection work, leaving the rest for tomorrow. This kind of complex project couldn’t be rushed.

“When Mr. Xu from the museum delivered it, he specifically asked about you. Asking why you didn’t come to the workshop today?”

Yu Xiaosu covered her mouth with her hand, lowering her voice but with a hint of gossip: “I said you’d come in the afternoon, and he seemed a bit disappointed.”

For someone in Mr. Xu’s position, delivering things shouldn’t be his job, yet he said he was just passing by.

It didn’t look like it to her.

Shen You acknowledged this without saying anything else. Xu Jiayen had sent a message around ten in the morning saying he’d come to the workshop, but when she woke up and saw it, it was already noon.

She checked the time. It was almost six o’clock.

“Everyone can go home.”

No rush, no need to work overtime, and she didn’t want to either.

“Great!” Yu Xiaosu nodded, and the two quickly packed up their things, leaving together with Shen You.

When she got home, Shen You collected several packages and takeout dinner.

The pottery jars and dried roses she’d newly bought had arrived. She could set up the tea-around-the-hearth equipment.

The temperature was just right today, perfect atmosphere.

After eating, she arranged everything: peanuts, oranges, some small snacks, and a tablet for watching shows.

Then she lit the fire, and added smokeless charcoal.

She followed the online tutorials, then failed spectacularly.

Everything happened too fast. The milk in the pottery jar boiled over, and she frantically tried to save the situation for a long time, fortunately not scalding the newly received golden nanmu rocking chair.

Shen You refused to give up, directly pulling out a small pot with a handle. It wasn’t as pretty, but practical.

Wen Zhi arrived at just the right time, when she’d just finished making the milk tea in the pot.

“What happened to your hand?“