After the start of summer, Shen Qing loaded the goods of the two merchants from Guangzhou and Fujian onto the ship, and his days finally became less busy.

The burlap sacks that Boss Lu wanted were simple to make and required little technical skill, so she simply handed them over to the factory workers to handle.

She needs to focus her energy on more challenging businesses.

Currently, the down jacket business is stable, rayon is not booming, and the only product with room for growth is that warehouse full of real silk.

For the past two days, Shen Qing has been sleeping in pajamas made of Gao family silk every night, knowing their excellent quality.

She's not short of money now, so she wants to make a good use of the Gao family's silk brand!

But how to conduct marketing is a question.

The Gao family's silk was made entirely from the finest raw silk, making it extremely expensive and unaffordable for most ordinary people. In previous years, the Gao family's silk was sold to the Qing court, but in recent years, the Qing court's treasury had been depleted and its budget had been significantly reduced. Since the Gao family had no powerful backers or connections in the Qing court, they were naturally replaced by someone else.

Later, they turned to the mass market, but ordinary people couldn't afford such expensive silk, which led to the company being dragged down by overstock.

Therefore, if the Gao family wants to sell their silk, they can't rely on Jiangzhou itself; they still have to go to places with many wealthy people.

For example, places like Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Shen Qing recalled that when she last strolled around Nanjing Road in Shanghai, many shop owners said that there were still wealthy people who bought genuine silk.

Shanghai not only had wealthy locals, but also foreigners active in the concessions. These people were rich, knew how to enjoy life, and were the main consumers of fine silk.

There are at least dozens of silk shops in Shanghai. How can the Gao family's silk stand out from the crowd?

Shen Qing spent those days pondering this question.

She reflected on how modern luxury brands do marketing.

In addition to design and quality, we also sell services.

Customized services, differentiated services.

Everyone has the same level of quality; the rest depends on whose service is better and who can retain customers.

Shen Qing knew perfectly well what kind of service the silk products targeted at most women.

She immediately called on Jiang Shen and Lao Xu to go to Shanghai together.

Hearing that she wanted to find a three-story villa, Old Xu advised, "Actually, when you come to Shanghai, you can stay at Mr. Cheng's house. He said that when you come to Shanghai, that is your home."

Shen Qing smiled but didn't say anything.

This time is not the same as that time.

Last Mid-Autumn Festival, Cheng Zhiwen made passionate advances towards her, and naturally he was happy for her to stay at his place.

Currently, the two have only met once a year, during the Chinese New Year. It's questionable whether he even remembers her now, so how could he possibly take what he said on a whim seriously?

Who knows, he might already be seeking pleasure from another woman, and that villa might be occupied by another girl.

Shen Qingcai did not stay at his place.

She wants to sever all ties with Cheng Zhiwen!

Thinking of this, Shen Qing lifted the curtain and said to Jiang Shen and Lao Xu, who were sitting in the front of the carriage, "From now on, I will pay your wages. Don't accept any wages from Mr. Cheng in the future."

Old Xu and Jiang Shen exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Shen Qing then said, "Go to the vicinity of Nanjing Road."

Old Xu asked, "Are you going to buy clothes?"

Nanjing Road is the most bustling commercial street in Shanghai.

"No, I want to rent a villa nearby!"

All the clothing and fabric shops in Shanghai were gathered on Nanjing Road, where there was a dense flow of people. If you wanted to quickly let Shanghai's rich people know about the Gao family's silk, the first choice would be the area around Nanjing Road.

The carriage sped towards Nanjing Road.

Shen Qing pulled back the curtain and looked outside.

In the distance, there is a flat and wide road, with two-story houses on both sides. People come and go on the road, making it very lively.

That was Nanjing Road, just as bustling as Shen Qing remembered it.

The carriage sped forward, getting closer and closer to Nanjing Road, when suddenly a three-story villa sped past Shen Qing.

She snapped out of her daze and called out, "Old Xu, stop the car!"

Old Xu hurriedly pulled on the reins, and the horse neighed and stopped abruptly.

Shen Qing jumped out of the car.

This is a beige three-story French-style house, with a black iron gate at the entrance.

Shen Qing stepped forward and knocked on the iron gate.

No one responded.

Old Xu stood back and looked around, then said, "It seems like no one lives here; all the windows are closed."

Couldn't resist?

That would be even better!

Before Shen Qing could give the order, Jiang Shen had already leaped over the wall.

Shen Qing and Lao Xu were waiting outside.

She observed her surroundings.

If you turn right from the villa, you'll reach the shopping street in less than 50 meters. Everyone who wants to buy something has to pass by this villa.

Surrounded by towering sycamore trees, the area offers cool and comfortable shade, making it a perfect spot for people to cool off after shopping in the summer.

We'll set up a small counter selling coffee and herbal tea at the garden entrance, both to sell drinks and to attract people into the villa to see the silk.

A rare and quiet location amidst the hustle and bustle.

Most importantly, the villa has three floors, which perfectly matches Shen Qing's vision.

She asked Old Xu, "How much do you think it would cost to rent a villa like this?"

Old Xu used to frequently travel to Shanghai with Cheng Zhiwen, so he might have some idea about these things.

Old Xu thought for a moment and said, "It should be around a hundred taels a month."

Shen Qingsong sighed, "It's not much, I can afford it."

She has a little money now, and her monthly expenses of about a hundred taels of silver are nothing to her.

Just then, Jiang Shen climbed out from inside.

"Mr. Shen, there's no one inside. The doors are all closed, and there's dust everywhere. It's definitely not a place that anyone lives here."

Shen Qing asked in confusion, "Why don't you live in such a big house?"

Old Xu said, "Judging from the architectural style, this house was probably built by foreigners. It's vacant now, so the owner may have returned to his own country."

Shen Qing nodded and immediately instructed, "Take me back to the factory first, then you find out where the owner of this villa is now. I want to talk to him."

Back at the factory, Lao Xu and Jiang Shen immediately went to take care of some business.

Shen Qing inspects the work in the workshop.

As evening fell, Lao Xu and Jiang Shen returned.

They learned that the villa's owner was currently in Japan.

Shen Qing decided to go to Japan.

Old Xu and Jiang Shen were both puzzled and advised her not to go overseas just to rent a villa.

Shen Qing insisted.

They've been to Britain, a round trip that takes three months, so what's a half-month round trip to Japan?

She didn't explain to them why she insisted on going to Japan or renting this villa.

Because they cannot foresee the success of this model, they do not understand it.

But a hundred years later, she witnessed countless luxury brands succeed in Europe using this model, and they replicated it in Shanghai, achieving similar success.

Shen Qing was determined to make the Gao family's silk business a success.

Rayon and down jackets are products made to make quick money and get out of trouble, while high-quality materials like real silk are worth developing in the long run. She even wants to take Jiangzhou silk abroad and let the world know how excellent Chinese silk is!

But real silk is not as coarse as rayon or down; it is delicate and high-end, and it needs to be made slowly and meticulously before the world can recognize it.

Therefore, Shen Qing believed that the Gao family's silk was worth a trip to Japan for her!

Seeing her determination, Lao Xu and Jiang Shen decided not to try to stop her any further.

After nightfall, Jiang Shen went to see Cheng Zhiwen.