Chapter 117 A Living Billboard! The Ladies Are Going Crazy for It!
A week later, Sister-in-law Sun came to the "Wu Se" studio again to pick up the clothes.
The moment she stepped out of the fitting room, the whole room fell silent.
Zhou Nianci and the two old tailors were all stunned.
Is the woman in front of me still the same timid and submissive Sister-in-law Sun, wearing faded old clothes?
The deep blue dress seemed to have a magical power, cleverly concealing any excess weight on her body.
The crisp fabric and precise tailoring made her appear tall and slender.
The silver magnolia blossoms on her collar and cuffs shimmered with a subtle yet luxurious light under the lamp, making her face seem to glow.
Most importantly, it's about temperament!
It was an unprecedented confidence and composure emanating from within.
"Oh my god...is this me?"
Looking at herself in the mirror, Sister-in-law Sun covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes instantly reddening.
She never knew she could be so beautiful.
"Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!" Zhou Nianci exclaimed sincerely. "Sister-in-law, if you go out now, who would dare say you're just a country bumpkin? You'd clearly look like the wife of a leader from some organization!"
Jiang Wu smiled and stepped forward, then took out a pair of small silver magnolia earrings from the jewelry box and put them on her herself.
"Okay, now it's perfect."
After seeing Sister-in-law Sun off, Jiang Wu and Zhou Nianci both breathed a sigh of relief.
They knew that their first order had been placed.
For the next few days, they waited anxiously for news.
Finally, on the afternoon of the day after the commendation ceremony, Sister-in-law Sun practically rushed into the studio.
"Little Wu! Zhou!"
As soon as she entered the door, she excitedly hugged Jiang Wu, babbling incoherently.
"It's done! It's done! It's a huge success!"
She pulled Jiang Wu down to sit, her face flushed with excitement, and began to recount everything that had happened yesterday.
"You didn't see it! When I walked onto the stage with my husband, everyone in the audience gasped in amazement!"
"My palms were sweating from nervousness, but the thought of wearing the clothes you made for me made me straighten up involuntarily!"
“My husband, Lao Sun, is usually as dull as a block of wood, but yesterday, in front of everyone, he held my hand tightly, and the light in his eyes was brighter than any medal he received!”
As Sister-in-law Sun spoke, tears streamed down her face again; this time, they were tears of happiness.
"After the meeting, many family members of leaders from other units came up to me and asked where I got my clothes made, saying they were so elegant!"
"I told them our 'Wu Se' name and address!"
"And another thing! Several family members from our military region who went to the meeting were stunned when they saw me, and they immediately asked me if I was still taking jobs!"
Sister-in-law Sun acted like a dedicated salesperson, giving all the credit to Jiang Wu.
She took a thick envelope out of her pocket and stuffed it into Jiang Wu's hand.
"Girl, this is the balance I owe you, and... and this is a little something from me! You must accept it!"
"If it weren't for you, I would never have known that I could live such a dignified life!"
Jiang Wu couldn't refuse, so she accepted the remaining balance.
Thanks to the promotion by Sister Sun, who is a "living advertisement", the reputation of "Wu Se" has been thoroughly established.
As expected.
Starting from the second day, the threshold of the "Wu Se" studio was almost worn down by the crowds.
Ladies who came from far and wide were drawn by its reputation.
Some of them were "new friends" that Sister-in-law Sun met at the commendation meeting.
More often, however, were the family members of officers in the compound who had previously been observing the situation.
"Little Wu! I want one too! I'm going back to my parents' house next month, so I need to look presentable!"
"Me! Me! My son has a parent-teacher conference, and I have to get dressed too! I can't let my child down!"
"I heard that Sister Sun's outfit only cost a little over a hundred yuan? Such a nice and classy dress, much cheaper than in the department store!"
For a time, taking measurements, selecting materials, and finalizing designs became the busiest scenes in the studio every day.
Jiang Wu also demonstrated her amazing talent and energy.
She can quickly create the most suitable design solution in her mind based on each person's body shape, temperament and occasion without much thought.
A tall, slender, and aloof university professor's wife arrived.
Jiang Wu then designed a beige cotton and linen suit for her, paired with a light gray long vest, exuding intellect and scholarly charm.
A petite and lively young military wife arrived.
Jiang Wu then designed a pale yellow high-waisted dress for her, with delicate pleats on the hem, making her look like a spring fairy, playful and cute.
An elderly, somewhat overweight retired cadre's family member arrived.
Jiang Wu then made her a loose, comfortable yet luxurious Tang suit sweater using dark-colored heavy silk, allowing her to maintain comfort while still exuding the elegance and poise of an elder.
Every garment that leaves the "Wu Se" collection is like a custom-made work of art.
They not only perfectly flatter the wearer's figure, but also precisely highlight their unique temperament.
"Wearing clothes made by Xiaowu makes me feel like I'm walking on air!"
"That's right! My husband's eyes have been looking at me differently lately!"
"Now, in our compound, anyone who doesn't have a 'Wuse' outfit is embarrassed to go out to a party!"
Word of mouth spread rapidly among these women.
"Wu Se" Studio is no longer a simple tailor shop.
It has become a "magic house" that can make people more beautiful and confident.
It has become a new, understated yet luxurious social calling card within the capital's elite circles.
Owning a custom-made "Wu Se" piece has become a symbol of status and taste.
With orders piling up, the two old tailors were so busy they barely had time to breathe.
Jiang Wu had to hire two more experienced mentors at high salaries just to barely manage the situation.
Zhou Nianci fully utilized her management and social skills.
She managed the studio's accounts, personnel, and client reception in an orderly manner.
The two best friends work together seamlessly, one focusing on internal design and production, and the other on external operations and management.
That afternoon, a new guest came to the studio.
She was a woman in her thirties, wearing a blue work uniform from a state-owned clothing factory. She had an ordinary appearance, but her eyes were very bright and lively.
"Excuse me, is this the 'Wu Se' studio?" She greeted me with a broad smile as soon as she entered, appearing exceptionally enthusiastic.
"Yes, hello." Zhou Nianci greeted her politely. "Are you looking to have clothes made?"
"Oh dear, there's no rush to make clothes." The woman waved her hand, but her eyes scanned the room like radar.
When she saw the stylish sample garments on the hanger, her eyes lit up with amazement.
"My name is Liu Ping, and I'm a purchasing agent from Dongfeng Garment Factory in our city," the woman introduced herself familiarly. "I'm here today mainly to learn from you!"
"I've heard that your clothes are well-made and stylish, and seeing them today, I can confirm that they truly live up to their reputation!"
Liu Ping picked up a sample garment, examined it from all angles, and exclaimed in amazement.
"Wow, this design is so ingenious! How was the collar cut? How can it fit so perfectly?"
"And what about the cuffs? How were those tiny pleats finished? Did you use any special stitching techniques?"
As she asked, she tried to gesture with her hands to indicate the size of the clothes, as if she was estimating something.
Her questions all focused on the most crucial technical aspects.
Zhou Nianci listened from the side, her brows furrowing unconsciously.
This person doesn't seem like a customer who came to have clothes made; he seems more like a spy who came to gather business secrets.
“Comrade, these are all internal designs of our studio, and it’s not convenient to disclose them.” Zhou Nianci interrupted her tactfully.
"Oh dear, what are you saying!" Liu Ping laughed nonchalantly. "We're all serving the people! We should exchange ideas and make progress together! You have such great designs, you should promote them so that more women can wear beautiful clothes!"
Her words sounded so righteous that Zhou Nianci didn't know what to say next.
At this moment, Jiang Wu came out from the inner room.
When Liu Ping saw Jiang Wu, her eyes lit up even more, and she immediately went to greet her.
"You must be Designer Jiang? I've heard so much about you! I've heard so much about you!"
She warmly grasped Jiang Wu's hand, "Your design is truly ingenious! Could you tell us about your design philosophy? Let us veteran designers from state-owned factories broaden our horizons!"
Faced with Liu Ping's excessive enthusiasm, Jiang Wu simply smiled faintly.
She subtly withdrew her hand and calmly said, "My design philosophy is very simple, just four words."
"Play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses."
"If Comrade Liu is really interested in design, he can start by studying human anatomy."
After Jiang Wu finished speaking, she ignored her and turned to attend to her own business.
Liu Ping encountered a setback, neither too firm nor too soft, and her smile became somewhat stiff.
She looked around the studio for a long time, but when she realized she couldn't get any useful information out of it, she reluctantly took her leave.
Watching her departing figure, Zhou Nianci walked to Jiang Wu's side and whispered.
"Xiao Wu, something's not right with this woman."
"Every question she asked revolved around the pattern and craftsmanship, which is not something that ordinary customers would care about."
"She's definitely here to learn from me!"
Jiang Wu looked out the window as Liu Ping's figure disappeared at the entrance of the alley.
She smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. It's normal for people to come and learn from our business."
"Besides, even if she learns our design, she won't be able to replicate it."
Jiang Wu's tone was full of strong confidence.
The core of her designs lies in her precise grasp of different body types and temperaments, which is an insight based on the soul and consciousness.
It's not just a few novel designs.
Seeing her so confident, Zhou Nianci, though still feeling somewhat uneasy, didn't say anything more.
She thought that the matter was over and done with.
However, they all underestimated the shamelessness of some people in this era, as well as the terrifying production and copying capabilities of state-owned factories.
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