"The so-called celebrity effect refers to the influence of a person who is recognized and attracts attention. Their preferences will lead to widespread imitation, and their influence is extraordinary."
"For example, when the Treasure Pavilion launched a new jade butterfly glass pearl hairpin, the daughter of the Right Prime Minister, Cui Yudie, bought one immediately. In less than ten days, almost every socialite and noblewoman in the capital had one. Although not every design was exactly the same, the way the glass pearls were paired was selling like hotcakes."
Jiang Shuyue's explanation made everything clear to Madam Su.
Her eyes lit up. "What Yue'er said has reminded me. Noble ladies do have this hobby. Whenever one young lady has a beautiful dress, other young ladies will ask the embroiderers to make one in the same style."
“My aunt is absolutely right. This is a consumer effect. The same thing will have no impact if worn by an ordinary person.”
Qiuju counted on her fingers, "It would take at least three days for several embroiderers to make a robe. If it is a complicated style, it would take at least seven or eight days."
As Qiuju calculated to the very end, her smile deepened.
"Miss, I'll go right away and try to get the business up and running by early March."
Before Jiang Shuyue could answer, Qiuju ran out like a gust of wind.
"Qiuju is still the same girl she was before she got married. She seems energetic and lively, but she is also meticulous and efficient in her work," Madam Su praised.
Everyone was busy until past noon, so naturally no one had time to cook. Madam Su asked the restaurant across the street to send over some food.
Jiang Shuyue, knowing that her aunt had no business experience, stayed with her in the shop for an extra half day.
Zhang Man and his wife were methodical in their work, meticulously recording each transaction they received, categorizing them by type.
The newly hired employees were also quick and efficient, and didn't need the manager to supervise them. Everyone worked together to keep the shop in good order.
When the restaurant staff brought the food, Zhang Man told everyone to go and eat first, while he stayed behind to watch the shop.
Taking advantage of the few pedestrians on the street, he took a broom and went to clean up the firecracker scraps in front of the shop.
As I was engrossed in sweeping the floor, a familiar voice suddenly rang out above me.
"Mandi, I've finally found you!" The voice was filled with joy.
"Brother Qingsheng! Sister-in-law, why don't you rest at home for a few more days before coming to the city?"
Zhang Man looked up and saw Qing Sheng standing in front of him with a large bundle on his shoulder.
Sister-in-law Qingsheng was holding her child, looking around the shop with wide, curious eyes.
"This fabric shop is really grand; the furniture inside doesn't look cheap at all." Sister-in-law Qingsheng, looking like she'd never seen anything like it before, only glanced at it before timidly looking away.
"Don't worry, Mandi, I've fully recovered. Miss's pills are truly miraculous. After using them, I feel refreshed and have even more energy than before."
Qing Sheng, fearing Zhang Man wouldn't believe him, puffed out his chest, his eyes bright and sparkling, looking energetic.
Zhang Man gently punched Qing Sheng in the chest. "You've come at the right time. Miss and Madam are both here. Come on, I'll take you inside to pay your respects to them."
Zhang Man led the couple into the backyard.
"Brother Qingsheng, Sister-in-law!"
Erniu put down her chopsticks and went to take the child from her wife's arms.
"You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Sit down and eat with us."
Hearing the sounds from the next room, Jiang Shuyue put down her chopsticks and looked at Madam Su.
“Aunt, it’s Qingsheng and his wife who have come. Do you need someone to stay here? If you don’t need him, I’ll put him in the restaurant. Qingsheng is an educated man, honest and reliable, and a useful person.”
Before Jiang Shuyue could finish speaking, Madam Su quickly said, "Since he and Zhang Man are from the same village, let them stay. They can look after each other."
And so, Qingsheng stayed at Jinxiufang to work. Qingsheng's wife was illiterate, and the shop happened to be short of a cook.
Like Zhang Man, the couple signed an employment contract, so that their future children could also study and take the imperial examinations.
The couple, overwhelmed with gratitude, kowtowed to Madam Su and Jiang Shuyue in thanks.
...
Inside the palace.
Upon receiving the fabric sent to the palace by Madam Su, Yonghe immediately dispatched someone to deliver it to the Imperial Wardrobe.
The Imperial Clothing Bureau has the masters' measurements, especially for the two princesses who are still growing. Their measurements are taken every three months, covering everything from dresses and shoes to socks.
Everything was recorded so that it would be convenient to make new clothes, shoes and socks for the masters.
Inside Yonghe Palace, Chang Le ate pastries, her legs swinging back and forth, looking relaxed and carefree.
Her phoenix eyes kept glancing towards the door.
Yonghe looked up from the book and caught a glimpse of her absent-minded expression.
"Who are you waiting for? Stop waiting. Today, my brother is hosting a banquet to meet foreign envoys. Sui Sui will definitely be taken there by him to see the sights. He won't be coming to play today."
Yonghe seemed to have seen through Changle's thoughts.
Chang Le sucked on her fingers, which were covered in pastry crumbs. "Your Highness is wrong. I know Sui Sui has been very busy lately. I'm waiting for Jing'er to come back and give me an answer."
"What did you make Jing'er do this time?" Yonghe's heart jumped.
With her mother away from the palace and her elder brother busy with state affairs, she often had to entertain noble ladies in the capital and also had to keep an eye on her unreliable younger sister.
She was terrified that if she were to be even slightly careless, Chang Le would cause some terrible disaster.
Seeing her elder sister's nervous expression, Chang Le burst out laughing.
"Your Highness, you're so funny. What else could I do? Of course, I sent Jing'er to the Imperial Wardrobe to urge the embroiderers to make dresses. The fabric that Madam Su sent is so beautiful, I love it."
Yonghe put down the book in his hand and pushed the handkerchief on the table toward Changle.
"With the Empress Dowager not in the palace, you've forgotten your manners again. With your carefree nature, if you don't pay attention to your posture while wearing such a beautiful dress, you won't be able to bring out its beauty."
Chang Le took the handkerchief, wiped her mouth, and said with a grin, "Your Highness always speaks in circles. Do you mean that no matter how beautiful the clothes are, if I wear them and run around the palace like a crazy girl, won't I still look like one? Is that what you mean?"
Yonghe looked at Changle with doting eyes, then shook her head helplessly. "You! Your elder sister can't do anything with you. Should we write a letter to Yannan and ask Aunt Cai to return to the palace first?"
"No need for that. Mother isn't in the palace, and I haven't caused any trouble. Please don't bother me, elder sister. I'm going to read for a while."
As Chang Le spoke, she casually picked up a book from the table and opened it. Her serious demeanor caused the palace maids serving in the hall to lower their heads and tremble like leaves.
"Ahem! Your Highness."
A palace maid, suppressing a laugh, looked up and saw that Chang Le was holding the book upside down.
The palace maid coughed twice and winked at Chang Le.
Chang Le blinked. "Are your eyes bad?"
"No, I'm fine."
When the palace maid saw Princess Yonghe looking at her, she quickly raised her hand to rub her eyes, saying, "It's probably an eyelash that fell into my eye."
Yonghe was used to seeing the people around Chang Le trying to outwit her, so he turned his gaze back to Chang Le across from him.
"Chang Le, do you know the Four Books and Five Classics by heart?"
"Ah! Why do you say that, Your Highness?"
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