Chapter 314 – Clothes From The South
Chapter 314 Clothes from the South
Qu Xuexin asked with a smile, “Moying, it just so happens that I don’t have anything else to do. Can I go out with you to take a look?”
Qu Moying hesitated for a moment and asked, “Does Auntie know?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve told my mother that I might take a walk with you. I haven’t taken you for a walk yet after you returned to the capital because I couldn’t find the right time. Since you are going out, let me go with you.” Qu Xuexin was in high spirits. She pointed the embroidery frame and the needle box in the maid’s hand and said, “Moying, I’ll put my sewing box in your place.”
“Alright!” Qu Moying readily agreed.
Qu Xuexin’s maid, Hong Mei, followed Yu Dong into the room. After putting down the things in her hands, she followed Yu Dong out.
The carriage had been waiting at the door for a long time. Qu Xuexin and Qu Moying got on the carriage together. The carriage was not small, so it was enough for the two maids to sit inside, too.
The carriage went all the way to Yue’s Clothing Pavilion. After arriving at the shop, Qu Moying and Qu Xuexin got off the carriage together. Aunt Yang had already received the news and was waiting at the door.
“Moying, is that the ex-Crown Princess’ dowry shop?” Qu Xuexin curiously looked at the shop next to Yue’s Clothing Pavilion. It had not opened yet, and it should be in the process of reorganization. A few shop assistants walked past the shop and looked over curiously. However, they did not dare to casually talk about it and went on to work.
Qu Moying nodded and walked towards her own shop. “Yes, it is Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s shop.”
Qu Xuexin rolled her eyes and suddenly grabbed Qu Moying’s sleeve. “Moying, why don’t we go and take a look? I heard that the goods in that shop are the most fashionable ones. I’ve heard of this shop of the ex-Crown Princess when she was still alive, and people said it was a nice shop.”
Qu Moying secretly sneered. When Qu Moying was still Ji Hanyue, Qu Xuexin couldn’t even get close to her. Although she was in charge of Yue’s Gold Pavilion, most people did not know about it, so how could Qu Xuexin know it?
Qu Moying shook her head. “It isn’t open yet. It’s inconvenient to go in.”
“I just want to take a look. It’s no big deal. Earl Ling’an Mansion’s first branch’s second wife is sort of your relative. I heard that she used to be a servant of your family. I believe she won’t forget you. You are her former Master.” Qu Xuexin said gently, smiling as if she was joking.
Qu Moying said with a faint smile, “Eldest Sister, you are wrong. She is Earl Ling’an’s legitimate wife now. She has a noble status. Even if I used to be her Master, so what? Eldest Sister, please be careful with your words. If people hear you, they might write a report to censure my father and uncle.”
Qu Xuexin’s words just now were unpleasant to hear and full of contempt for Madam Duan.
Qu Xuexin didn’t expect Qu Moying to defend a servant. She was angry, but she didn’t show it on her face. She smiled and said, “It’s my fault. I still thought she was a dowry concubine but not…”
“Eldest Sister, let’s go. I still have some accounts to check.” Qu Moying walked forward, not intending to waste time with Qu Xuexin.
“Alright!” Qu Xuexin said unhappily. Seeing that Qu Moying had already walked forward, she could only follow her.
The South’s goods had already arrived. What surprised Qu Moying was that her maternal grandparents’ family had really sent two embroideresses from the South, and they were extremely skilled.
Aunt Yang had already tested them. They were indeed skilled, and their embroidery skills were different from those popular in the capital. Their handling of details was especially skillful.
After Qu Moying sat down, Aunt Yang asked the two embroideresses to come to greet her.
The two embroideresses were about thirty years old. They looked smart. After asking them about their basic information, Qu Moying let them leave.
Qu Xuexin did not follow Qu Moying into the room. She said that she wanted to see the goods in the shop, so she took her maid downstairs to have a look at the goods.
After a quick glance over the account book sent from the South, Qu Moying put it down and asked, “Aunt Yang, how’s your plan going?”
“It’s almost done. But the matter of the theatrical troupe is a little tricky.” Aunt Yang said. Previously, Qu Moying had discussed with her about setting up a stage for a theatrical troupe to perform on the opening day. They also planned some other activities that day to gather attention and customers.
Qu Moying looked up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I have booked a theatrical troupe before. It is a nice one in the capital. But now, this troupe accepted the offer of someone who also has an event that they. They are invited to celebrate an old lady’s birthday, and they will be paid twice the money we promised them, so they turned us down.”
Aunt Yang said.
After thinking for a while, Qu Moying asked, “Isn’t there any other theatrical troupe?”
“I’ve seen other theatrical troupes, but they are unavailable that day. Except those, there are indeed some available theatrical troupes, but they are small and unknown troupes. Even if we invited them, I don’t think anyone would come to see their performance, and people might even look down on our shop!”
Aunt Yang said, feeling quite embarrassed.
The opening day of a shop was so important that it would affect the future business of the shop. If the shop was considered to be a cheap and low one, how could it attract noble ladies?
Qu Moying was silent for a moment. She frowned. It was really tricky because there was not much time left.
Yu Dong suggested, “Lady, since we can’t invite a theatrical troupe, we can think of another way. A theatrical troupe is not a must for the opening ceremony.”
Qu Moying asked casually, “Is there any other way?”
“I have no idea right now!” Yu Dong said awkwardly. Despite his suggestion, he really couldn’t think of any good idea at this moment.
Qu Moying pursed her lips and asked, “When will the shop next door open?”
“In the next few days. Now they have almost finished the reorganization. They used to sell fine goods, and they just need to adjust the personnel. There is nothing else. I heard that Earl Ling’an’s legitimate wife came over once, and she hired a new group of staff. The shop should be able to open in the next few days.”
Aunt Yang said.
These past few days, she had been on good terms with the shopkeeper of the shop next door, who was also retained. After all, the shop was under the ex-Crown Princess before. Even if Ji Youran wanted to do anything to the shop, she could only do it in the past few days. Therefore, she barely did anything to the shop, and the shop was easier to reorganize than Yue’s Clothing Pavilion.
They were old acquaintances, so they could talk things out casually. They even sympathized each other.
Both shops almost became someone else’s belongings, and they were nearly dismissed, or even if they were retained, they were expected to have a hard time doing their jobs.
Qu Moying asked, “What are their plan for their opening ceremony?”
“I heard that they have invited a theatrical troupe. But they are going to hold the opening ceremony one day earlier than us. Their business will start tomorrow. I have asked about their theatrical troupe. They are also unavailable the day after tomorrow.”
Biting the corner of her lips, Qu Moying thought for a while and said, “If there is really no theatrical troupe, forget about it. But we still have to set up a stage. We can prepare some games or give away some small gifts to attract people.”
“What… What exactly should we do?” Aunt Yang was puzzled. She had never heard of such a way for starting business.
“I will design some games tomorrow. We can set up games like the pitch-pot game, and we can give the participants some small gifts. The gifts could be embroidery handkerchiefs, sachets, fans, and so on…” Qu Moying paused for a moment and suddenly asked, “Are there any particularly exquisite clothes? The ready-made ones!”
Hearing Qu Moying’s question, Aunt Yang suddenly thought of something. She patted her leg and said, “Yes… there are a few very beautiful ones sent from the South. They should have been made by the South’s embroideresses. I’ve asked about them. Old Lady Yue specially sent them to you.”
She turned around and ordered a shop assistant to fetch a box.
Two shop assistants quickly carried a wooden box over.
Aunt Yang took out a key from her pocket and said, “Fourth Lady, I asked someone to go to Qu Mansion to report to you before, but you didn’t come here these days. These few days, I was so busy that I forgot about it. This was especially given to you by Old Lady Yue. She said that there were exquisite clothes inside. I have never opened it.”
As she spoke, she presented the key.
Yu Dong went forward to take it. He walked to the box, opened it, and found that there were several brocade boxes in different sizes inside.
Aunt Yang helped take them out and placed them on the table one by one. She opened the brocade boxes, and a few exquisite embroidery items appeared in front of them.
Not only was Aunt Yang amazed as she stared at the clothes, but even a person like Yu Dong, who did not like embroidery, looked at them with a face full of surprise and appreciation.
These items were really too beautiful. In particular, there were two sets of gorgeous clothes inside. They weren’t of the luxurious type. Their colors weren’t gaudy, and the embroidery patterns weren’t too stylish. However, they looked gorgeous and valuable. People would like them at first sight.
“Fourth Lady, when I went to the South that day, I deliberately placed your clothing measurements in the letter you gave to Old Lady Yue. As expected, she made two sets of beautiful clothes for you.” Aunt Yang said with a smile. She knew that Old Lady Yue loved Little Yue very much, so she would definitely love Qu Moying, Little Yue’s daughter.
Qu Moying and Old Lady Yue had not contacted each other for so many years only because Qu Moying had never contacted her. Now that they got in touch again, Aunt Yang felt that Old Lady Yue would definitely be extremely happy. That was why she took liberties to do such a thing. However, she still apologized to Qu Moying. No matter what, she didn’t get Qu Moying’s permission at that time.
Aunt Yang said, “Fourth Lady, I beg for your forgiveness! I promise I won’t do it again. In the future, I will definitely follow your orders. If I act against your will, I am willing to be punished!”
Qu Moying was a little unhappy in the beginning. However, seeing Aunt Yang’s sincere and panicked expression, she knew that Aunt Yang really knew that she was wrong. Only then did she look slightly better. She said indifferently, “Don’t do it again!”
“Don’t worry, Fourth Lady. This is the last time. If I do such a wrong thing again, I will punish myself even if you don’t punish me!” Aunt Yang replied in all seriousness. She heaved a heavy sigh of relief. She was really worried that Qu Moying would be angry!
