Chapter 315 – Each With Her Own Axe To Grind
Chapter 315 Each with Her Own Axe to Grind
In addition to these two sets of clothes, the other small embroidery items were also excellent. They were embroidered in ways different from those in the capital. Thanks to the characteristics of the South, they were especially delicate and attractive compared with the embroidery items in the capital.
Qu Moying pointed at a purple peony embroidery piece and said, “Give this away as the top prize.”
Aunt Yang said reluctantly, “Fourth Lady, such a beautiful embroidery item can be regarded as the most precious goods in ordinary stores!”
Unlike the normal peony embroidery works, this peony embroidery was big and the embroidered peony was the famous purple peony, which was far more beautiful and outstanding than ordinary ones.
Such a big piece of embroidery works could be made into a set of table screens.
Qu Moying pondered for a moment and said, “It doesn’t matter. We need to have a good start. Since the prize is a peony embroidery item, the game should feature peony drawing. The one who draws the best peony could get this grand gift.” The pitch-pot game was just for fun. They could prepare many small gifts like handkerchiefs and sachets, and the shop had quite a few of them, but there was only one big peony embroidery.
“Announce the winner of the top prize on the evening of the Qixi Festival. All the peony paintings submitted before five o’clock on the afternoon of the Qixi festival will be eligible for the competition. Let the customers choose the best painting on that day. The best painter will have this embroidery.”
Since the opening day of Yue’s Clothing Pavilion was only one day before the Qixi Festival, she decided to take advantage of the festival to give the shop a sensational start.
“Fourth Lady, this is a good idea!” Aunt Yang could be considered sort of a businesswoman with rich experience. Hearing Qu Moying’s idea, she was surprised. She quickly understood what Qu Moying wanted to do and couldn’t help but praise her.
If the sensation of the opening event could continue to the next day, their shop might become a very popular shop. After all, many people liked this kind of purple peony embroidery, so there must be many people coming to join in the fun.
“Make some beautiful lamps. It’s best to hang some riddles under the lamps. Anyone who can answer ten riddles on the Qixi Festival could get small gifts like a handkerchief, sachet, and so on. Make them with the five-color brocade that we just got from the South. In the first three days after the opening, offer a 20 percent discount for all the items.”
Qu Moying smiled faintly with a sense of confidence, which was quite reassuring. Aunt Yang had originally been in a mess because of the theatrical troupe. Now that she saw Qu Moying’s smile, she immediately calmed down. She felt her heart filled with confidence in Qu Moying and composure despite her fragile look.
Qu Moying was more reassuring even than the previous madam to her.
Then, the two of them discussed the details. On the day of the shop’s opening ceremony, more men than women might be attracted, but the purple peony embroidery would definitely attract the attention of many women. The day after the opening ceremony was the Qixi Festival. On this day, almost all the women would come out for fun at night, and needless to say, there would be men accompanying the women.
There must be a lot of people coming over, and the safety of personnel in front of the shop must be heeded.
Business in the first three days would definitely be great. Nevertheless, Aunt Yang knew the quality of the embroidery was the key to ensuring a booming business for the long term.
Fortunately, Aunt Yang had made a lot of preparations during this period of time. The embroideresses she hired were all very proficient. Moreover, there were two embroideresses from the South who mastered different embroidery skills, and they could cope with the upcoming orders. There was also plenty of five-color brocade. Aunt Yang had checked every piece of it before, and each piece was of high quality. It could be seen that Yue Family in the South had also spent a lot of effort.
With this batch of five-color brocade, plus the exquisite embroidery skills and the unique way to attract people, Aunt Yang believed that the business of this shop would definitely be better and more prosperous than before.
She unconsciously raised her voice because of excitement.
“Fourth Lady, I will get someone to make some handkerchiefs, sachets, and fan covers as prizes.” Aunt Yang said excitedly, feeling her whole body full of strength.
Qu Moying nodded with a smile as she watched Aunt Yang leave to handle the matters.
“Moying, the materials in your shop are really beautiful!” Qu Xuexin came down from upstairs, her eyes full of surprise. She originally thought that Qu Moying was ignorant and would at most sell some common materials, of which she didn’t even know how to judge their quality. Unexpectedly, the materials she saw upstairs were beautiful and exquisite. Even she had never seen them before. Those embroidery edges and sachets were also pleasing to the eye.
Qu Moying smiled and said, “They are all for the opening event. The shop depends on them to attract customers. Eldest Sister, if you like them, I will give a few of them to you after everything is settled.”
Qu Xuexin was rendered speechless. She did want to ask for the materials. Now that Qu Moying had said so, she could not say such words anymore.
“Moying, you must be joking. They are goods in your shop. How could I just casually take them? I saw a kind of extremely beautiful brocade here. I heard that it comes from the South, and it is rare even in the South. Can you sell some to me now? I want to make a set of clothes.”
Qu Xuexin said softly and politely, which lived up to her identity as First Lady Qu.
With an embarrassed look on her face, Qu Moying said, “Eldest Sister, I do want to give it to you, but these goods are not mine yet. Yue Family’s people still have to check the goods. Only after that will these goods belong to me, it won’t take long. After they check them, I will give you a piece first.”
The smile on Qu Xuexin’s face froze. It could be seen that she was very unhappy, but she still said gently, “If it is inconvenient for you, then forget it.”
There was already a hint of anger in her words.
Qu Xuexin thought Qu Moying should give in. It was just a piece of cloth, and it was not a big deal. It wouldn’t matter if Qu Moying gave it to her first because Qu Moying was the owner of the shop, and Yue Family was her maternal grandparents’ family.
“Thank you for your understanding, Eldest Sister!” Qu Moying smiled as if she did not sense the anger in Qu Xuexin’s words. Hearing that, Qu Xuexin felt even more annoyed, but she did not show it on her face. She still acted like a considerate sister. “We are sisters. You don’t have to thank me.”
But she uttered those words a lot more reluctantly and looked less enthusiastic.
Qu Moying stood up as if she did not notice the coldness in Qu Xuexin’s words at all. She pointed outside and said, “Eldest Sister, let’s go out for a walk!”
She had to go to the entrance of the shop to decide where to set up the stage.
Although Qu Xuexin was annoyed, she could not show it on her face. She nodded and followed Qu Moying outside. Standing in the middle of Yue’s Gold Pavilion and Yue’s Clothing Pavilion and looking around, Qu Moying suddenly thought of an idea. She immediately asked the shop assistant to call Aunt Yang over. She pointed at Yue’s Gold Pavilion and said, “Aunt Yang, we can jointly set up a stage with their shop.”
Aunt Yang was in a good mood today. Hearing Qu Moying’s idea, she felt that Qu Moying was so intelligent. She laughed loudly and gave Qu Moying a thumbs up. “Fourth Lady, it’s a good idea! Why didn’t I think of it before?”
But then she thought of another problem and hurriedly said to Qu Moying, “Fourth Lady, I’m afraid that the shopkeeper of this shop can’t make the decision. You have to talk to their boss.”
Yue’s Gold Pavilion belonged to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s first branch now.
Qu Moying nodded. “I will handle this matter.”
She had long wanted to go to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion to take a look, and now she got a good opportunity. Her eyes darkened. Since Ji Youran had suffered such a big loss, she would definitely not easily give in. Ji Youran had endured for so many years. Now that she had gained power, how could she let someone take away her fruit of victory?
Since Yue’s Gold Pavilion and Yue’s Clothing Pavilion were adjacent to each other, she and Earl Ling’an Mansion were even more closely connected, or rather, she and Ji Youran were even more closely connected.
In her last life, her family had all died at the hands of the Crown Prince and Ji Youran. In this life, her status was much lower than theirs, but now she had a chance.
“Moying, what are you talking about?” Qu Xuexin did not understand for a moment. She had not heard the discussion between Qu Moying and Aunt Yang before.
Qu Moying said to Qu Xuexin with a smile, “We are talking about the opening event. I might have to discuss with Earl Ling’an’s Mansion later. Eldest Sister, I will go to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion to see Madam Duan later. Please suit yourself.”
Of course, she did not believe that Qu Xuexin really followed her out for a walk. If Qu Xuexin had any plans, she hoped that Qu Xuexin would make a move as soon as possible so that she could see through her. If Qu Xuexin made a move on the Qixi Festival, she might fall into her trap because she would be too busy to deal with her that day.
Qu Xuexin rolled her eyes and said gently, “I have nothing to do anyway. Let’s go together!”
Qu Moying said in an embarrassed manner, “I don’t think it’s a good idea… It’s already rash for me to go there alone. If you go with me, others will think Qu Mansion’s ladies lack etiquette.”
Qu Xuexin suggested, “Then… let’s go tomorrow. Let’s first submit our name cards to inform Madam Duan of our visit tomorrow.”
“But it’s about the opening of the shop, and I can’t wait any longer!” Qu Moying said helplessly, “Eldest Sister, don’t worry. I will be fine. Madam Duan has a good relationship with me, and she won’t be displeased if I go there alone. She told me to visit her as often as I can when I’m free.”
Qu Xuexin gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly. She really wanted to slap Qu Moying. With those words, Qu Moying meant that it was impolite for her to go too.
However, she couldn’t find a proper reason to retort.
She gritted her teeth and revealed a smile. “Okay, Moying, just go. I am not in a hurry to go back now. I will go to the street and see if there is anything to buy.”
Since Qu Moying didn’t want her to follow her, she would go and make her own arrangement now. County Lady Jingyu’s people should be ready for action. She would ask her maid to send a message later.
That day, she sent a maid to ask about the letter. County Lady Jingyu said nothing serious was written in the letter, and she asked her to rest assured.
After agreeing on the place to meet, they parted happily. Qu Moying got on the carriage with Yu Dong and headed to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion. Qu Xuexin went on the streets with her maid. She and Qu Moying had made an appointment to go home together later. They would meet in the biggest tea shop on Zhengyang Street. The one who arrived first would just wait there, and they would return home together.
Watching Qu Moying walk away, Qu Xuexin sneered and turned to leave. She skillfully turned to a street where there was a shop owned by Liu Jingyu…
