The weather was fine today, and Zhu Jiayu, who rarely had anything to do, took Lüzheng out.
She hadn't forgotten what she wanted to do when she came to Heling.
Besides vying for the Qiu family's resources and Song Jiangmei as an ally, she was more concerned about whether the Zhu family's embroidery workshop could open a branch here.
If possible, the Zhu family would not only have an extra source of income, but she would also have an extra source of information.
If the world situation is a network, then information is the node connecting each line. Whoever has more information will have more initiative in the future.
"Have you been in contact with Manager Liao recently?" Zhu Jiayu asked Lüzheng as the two walked.
Lvzheng nodded: "Manager Liao just sent a letter yesterday. The new products produced by the embroidery workshop this month have been counted according to the proportion you mentioned, and they should be on their way now."
Zhu Jiayu nodded, turned around, lifted the beaded curtain, and walked into a clothing store.
This was already the fifth clothing store they had visited.
Unlike the women of Suiping who preferred dark-colored dresses, the women of Heling City favored light colors in their clothing for an elegant and understated look. Their patterns also emphasized elegance; for example, designs like snow-covered bamboo branches or rain-drenched pear blossoms were particularly popular.
Fortunately, Zhu Jiayu had already figured out this pattern from the daily clothing of the Qiu family women, and had specifically instructed Manager Liao to make sure that the dresses sent over, apart from keeping the stitching and thread selection the same, also had to be "elegant" in color and pattern.
Manager Liao is steady and reliable. Although he has been complacent and lacks ambition in recent years, he has never made a mistake in the tasks entrusted to him by Zhu Jiayu. Zhu Jiayu trusts him completely.
She had looked at the clothes in this clothing shop and had a general idea of what to buy, so she turned to go to the next shop, but was stopped by someone: "Miss Zhu, why did you come in such a hurry? Is it possible that there is not a single dress in my shop that you like?"
Zhu Jiayu turned around and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw a girl in a moon-white dress standing upstairs, looking down at her.
The girl's bodice, cuffs, and hem were embroidered with oleander patterns in pinkish-purple silk thread. The branches and leaves were intertwined, and the flowers were delicate. The silk thread must have been soaked in boiling water with sage added. Under the sunlight, it shimmered with a soft, faint luster, not overpowering, but eye-catching.
Zhu Jiayu's gaze shifted upwards, and upon seeing her exquisite features, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "What a beautiful woman!"
The woman had strong brow bones, a high nose bridge, and a thin face. Her eyes looked over with a cold gaze that carried a hint of unfathomable chill. Yet, she was also perfectly proportioned; any addition or subtraction would have diminished her charm and allure.
After a moment of distraction, Zhu Jiayu regained her composure and cast a questioning look at the waiter beside her.
The waiter quickly replied, "That's our boss."
Zhu Jiayu nodded, then looked up again at the cold-faced girl upstairs: "You know me?"
The girl came downstairs and walked up to her: "Miss Zhu, who made quite a splash at the Wei family not long ago, I know you're not surprised."
She looked around and said, "I heard that Miss Zhu also runs an embroidery workshop in Suiping. It seems that the dresses in my shop are not as good as those in Miss Zhu's embroidery workshop, which is why Miss Zhu left empty-handed."
As she spoke, she was also secretly observing Zhu Jiayu. She had heard of Zhu Jiayu long before, even before the incident involving the Wei family had caused a stir.
That happened in March. One of her shop assistants went to Suiping City to deliver an order for a customer. When he returned, she overheard him telling others that a female boss had emerged in Suiping City, whose methods were ruthless and efficient, and who was no less capable than her own boss.
From that time on, she secretly kept the name Zhu Jiayu in her heart and always wanted to find an opportunity to meet her. However, Zhu Jiayu was not only a businesswoman, but also a cousin of the Qiu family, who frequented high-class households, so she could not easily meet her.
Fortunately, she finally got to see him. But she didn't expect Zhu Jiayu to leave after only browsing the shop twice. How could she sit still now? That's why she called out to her earlier.
"My name is Gu Heguang, Miss Zhu, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Zhu Jiayu smiled slightly: "Miss Gu, the clothes are very nice, but I think that pleasing to the eye is more important than being nice. Perhaps it's just not meant to be today. Maybe next time I come, your store will have a dress that I like."
Upon hearing this, Gu Heguang pursed her lips. Although she still didn't smile much, she did look a little more relaxed. She nodded and said, "See you next time."
"See you next time," Zhu Jiayu said with a smile, then turned and left the shop.
She wasn't stupid. She could tell that Gu Heguang was hostile towards her. The reason she didn't argue with her was because she felt that the Zhu family's embroidery workshop would inevitably open in Heling City in the future. Without a solid foundation, it was better to avoid making enemies.
Moreover, Gu Heguang's hostility towards her wasn't deep; he simply treated her as a competitor. Zhu Jiayu thought there was no need to be too confrontational.
"Find some time later and inquire about this Miss Gu," Zhu Jiayu instructed after walking for a while.
Green Kite quickly agreed, then cautiously asked, "Miss, shall we go?"
Zhu Jiayu calculated that there were more than 30 clothing shops in the city. At their pace of visiting five shops a day, they could finish visiting them in seven days, so there was no need to rush today.
She waved her hand: "Go back, leave tomorrow."
"Ah..." Green Kite followed Zhu Jiayu with a bitter face, half-dead.
The two returned to the Qiu residence and headed towards Chunshan Residence from the front courtyard, but were stopped halfway by a servant of Qiu Weiming: "Miss, Master has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come this way."
Zhu Jiayu was slightly surprised, but she didn't show it. She just kept a calm expression and said to Lüzheng, "In that case, you should go back first."
Lu Zheng curtsied and withdrew, while Zhu Jiayu and the servant headed towards the pavilion where Qiu Weiming was.
Qiu Weiming was sitting on a stone bench, with a stone table in front of him with a chessboard. No chess pieces had been placed on the board yet, but two sets of black and white pieces were already placed on either side, clearly waiting for someone to play chess with him.
Needless to say, this person was Zhu Jiayu.
She walked over and sat down opposite Qiu Weiming: "Is Uncle waiting for me to play chess?"
Qiu Weiming smiled and nodded: "Your mother learned chess from me from a young age, and by the time she was sixteen, she could defeat me completely. Although she didn't have the chance to teach you, I think your talent in this game is inherited from hers. Why don't you play a game with your uncle?"
Zhu Jiayu paused for a moment, then looked up and said innocently, "But Uncle, I don't know how to play chess."
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