Transmigration: A Farm Girl's Brocade

Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Selling Embroidery Products_1

Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Selling Embroidery Products_1

On Tongan Street, there were more embroidery shops, study rooms, and tea houses, and they were of a higher class. It wasn’t like the other major streets with unending hawking, it was comparatively peaceful.

The merchants here were all very capable, with shops that were all either two or three stories tall, in a row of green brick and black tile, with red carved doors and windows.

Upon entering the Jiusi Embroidery Building, there were large items including room dividers, screen inserts, and wall paintings, and small items such as fans, handkerchiefs, and accessories. Dazzling to the eyes, they gleamed with radiant luster.

Lady Wu approached the counter and took out two pieces of embroidery. A middle-aged woman, who looked to be the shopkeeper, couldn’t contain her amazement at the embroidery and exclaimed repeatedly, “Wow, the craftsmanship is truly excellent. This is Su embroidery, and the technique seems to be the water ripple needle of the Su school heritage. Nowadays, there are very few who can do this technique.”

Qian Yixiu didn’t join the conversation. Given the good reputation of this shop, plus the fact that they certainly wanted her mother-in-law’s embroidery work, they wouldn’t push down the price.

As expected, the female shopkeeper then said, “It’s just that the satin and embroidery thread are a bit inferior, which is a shame. I’ll give elder sister a fair price, five taels of silver for the two pieces of embroidery, how about that?”

First, she mentioned the inferiority of the satin and Lady Wu thought she wouldn’t be offered much money. But hearing that she was to be given five taels of silver for two small pieces of embroidery, she was surprised beyond measure and immediately smiled and nodded her head, “Alright, alright, thank you Shopkeeper Jin.”

The female shopkeeper replied with a smile, “My surname is Jin. Elder sister can call me Shopkeeper Jin or Sister Jin, it’s all fine.”

Shopkeeper Jin looked down at the embroidery and said with regret, “If the satin were a bit more exquisite, it could definitely fetch a good price. But with satin this cheap, wealthy families are not willing to use it. With such great embroidery skills, I am unwilling to sell it for a low price, so I can only put it in the shop as a display model.” She then asked, “This fine work, did it come from elder sister’s own hand?”

Lady Wu shook her head and said, “Not me, it was done by my daughter-in-law.”

Shopkeeper Jin proposed with a smile, “Then how about this? From now on, elder sister’s daughter-in-law works exclusively for our Jiusi Silk Embroidery Workshop. We will provide the plain silk satin and embroidery materials for free, and your daughter-in-law will be paid for her labor. Rest assured, we won’t shortchange you. Five small embroidery pieces each month or one medium piece, larger pieces can be further discussed at a later time. We’ll give her ten taels of silver per month, how about that?”

My word, the monthly income was far more than their entire family’s total income for two years. Overjoyed, Lady Wu nodded her head quickly and said, “Sure, sure, thank you Shopkeeper Jin for the opportunity.”

“That’s not acceptable,” Nuonuo, Qian Yixiu, murmured.

Her beautiful mother, how could she work for an embroidery shop as an embroideress. Selling embroidery was one thing, but being an embroideress was another. Moreover, having her mother embroider items for sale was just a temporary measure, and once their family situation improved, they would definitely not let her do such things.

“Why not?” Lady Wu asked, somewhat perplexed, “Wasn’t it you who asked your mother to sell embroidery?”

Qian Yijin thought the same and, tugging at Lady Wu’s clothes, said, “Ma, listen to little sister.”

Shopkeeper Jin’s mouth twitched slightly, and she smiled, “Elder sister’s children really are… quite opinionated…”

Qian Yixiu pretended not to understand Shopkeeper Jin’s sarcasm. She still wanted to continue to cooperate with the Jiusi Embroidery Building, after all, its strength and reputation were quite good.

She stood on tiptoes and said to Shopkeeper Jin, “The thing is, my mother isn’t in good health and can’t overexert herself. When she is well, she can do some embroidery work, and when she isn’t, she cannot. If the price is right, we will buy good quality satin and embroidery materials from your shop in the future, and the embroidered goods will be sold only to your shop in Xishan County.”

After listening, Shopkeeper Jin thought it also feasible and said with a smile, “Fine, we offer the fairest and most reasonable prices. Your mother’s embroidery will be sold exclusively to us, and the price can be negotiated.” After pausing for a moment, she said to Lady Wu, “Elder sister, if your daughter-in-law is willing to teach us this water ripple needle technique, I can offer you a reward of one hundred taels of silver.”

Lady Wu was initially delighted, but thinking about Cheng Yue, who couldn’t speak clearly and was also afraid of strangers, she realized it was impossible to teach any apprentices and therefore directly refused.

Even if Lady Wu hadn’t refused, Qian Yixiu would have declined as well. How could her dear mother serve as a master in the Embroidery Building? Besides, they weren’t poor now and didn’t need to earn that money.

Qian Yixiu then spent two taels of silver on ten feet of white plain silk satin and several dozen spools of the finest embroidery thread from the shop.

Shopkeeper Jin smiled and said, “This is the preferential price for you. If sold at the market price, this plain silk satin and embroidery thread would cost more than this. When you embroider something nice in the future, be sure to sell it to our Embroidery Building.”

Qian Yixiu nodded and replied, “Rest assured, Shopkeeper Jin. If my mother embroiders any fine pieces, we will definitely come here to sell.”

Lady Wu was initially upset about spending the two taels of silver, but after hearing Shopkeeper Jin’s words, she felt somewhat better.

They weren’t far from the Zhang family, so after leaving the embroidery shop, they walked directly to the Zhang residence. On the way, they ran into a peddler, and Qian Yixiu bought a pellet drum for Monkey Brother. He was sure to make a fuss if the promise wasn’t kept.

Qian Yeejin said, “Buy two more for Benben and Tiaotiao. If we only buy for Monkey Brother, Dashan will be upset.”

Lady Wu was reluctant and chided, “The dogs don’t understand anything. Why waste money on them?”

Qian Yixiu felt that her little brother was right; the dogs at home were also very sensitive. She then pestered Lady Wu to buy two more. Lady Wu sighed deeply at spending the undue nine coins but had no way to refuse the two children.

Upon reaching the side gate of the Zhang family, they once again asked the gatekeeper granny for an audience with Miss Ah Zhu. When Ah Zhu arrived and saw them, carrying two jars of sweet fermented rice, she exclaimed, “Oh my, Old Lady Zhang and Lady Zhang were just saying today how much they appreciate Qian’s craftsmanship and how delicious the fermented rice is.”

Humbly, Lady Wu replied, “The country products are rather crude, but if Old Lady Zhang and Lady Zhang like them, we’ve brought two more jars to show our filial respect to them.”

Ah Zhu had a young maid take the jars and said with a smile, “Please wait in the guest room, and I will go and inform Old Lady Zhang and Lady Zhang.” She then asked, pointing at Qian Yeejin, “And who might this young brother be?”

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“He is my brother,” Qian Yixiu said.

Qian Yeejin said cheerfully, “Hello, Sister Ah Zhu.”

Ah Zhu nodded with a smile and left, while a granny led them to a chamber near the side door to wait.

After a while, Ah Zhu came back smiling and said, “Old Lady Zhang and Lady Zhang invite you over for a chat.”

On the way, Ah Zhu, holding Qian Yixiu’s little hand, said, “Old Lady Zhang loves to hear interesting stories from the countryside. Xiuer, do tell her some, and make her happy.”

Lady Wu felt a profound sentiment in her heart. Every time she came to deliver things, she also sought an audience with Ah Zhu. Whenever Ah Zhu accepted the offerings and sent some gifts back, she would send Lady Wu away. However, when her granddaughter came, Old Lady Zhang wanted to meet them in person. It was true what the head of the household said—though the children were small, they were clever and endearing. The old couple was simply waiting to enjoy the blessings the children would bring.

Ah Zhu led them along a corridor, through several small courtyards, to reach a big one. The courtyard was a quadrangle, filled with a riot of colorful blossoms and fragrant air—Old Lady Zhang’s courtyard.