Chapter 38 Towards a New Starting Point in Life
The news that Su Hexi's new product launch would be held at the highly anticipated "Home Flavors" restaurant, which had just gone through a divorce storm, attracted widespread attention as soon as it was released.
The location itself was both topical and groundbreaking. No fancy showroom, no brightly lit catwalk, just a greasy, dated streetside restaurant with a touch of everyday life. This surprised and intrigued everyone who heard about it.
Previously, Sun Moju’s divorce incident caused a lot of uproar in the city. Everyone knew about this “audacious” proprietress who dared to file for divorce, and also remembered the name “Home Flavor Small Dishes”.
In the following time, Su Hexi focused on preparing for the show.
She took a tape measure to measure Sun Moju's size. Sun Moju was so stiff that she didn't know where to put it. She stammered nervously, "Sister, what are you doing?"
Su Hexi continued to measure the size without any concern, "I'll make you a beautiful skirt."
Sun Moju's eyes filled with tears of excitement. "Can I wear those beautiful dresses too?"
She watched Su Hexi training the models rigorously every day. She was very envious and wanted to join, but she knew her own limitations and whether she was qualified, so she never asked. Unexpectedly, Su Hexi took the initiative to make a beautiful dress for her.
After Su Hexi took the measurements, she handed a piece of paper to Sun Moju, "On the day of the show, just say what I wrote on it. Remember to memorize it."
Sun Moju wanted to cooperate, but she was very worried and felt inferior. "I can't read..."
Su Hexi paused for a moment, then smiled encouragingly: "It's okay, I'll teach you how to recognize it."
After Su Hexi prepared everything, the Winter Solstice show arrived.
On the winter solstice, the wind was biting cold, but the sun was exceptionally bright, as if it had specially lit the spotlight for this unique show.
Today, people flocked to the event with all kinds of attitudes. There were fashion lovers who were really looking forward to Su Hexi's designs, neighbors who sympathized with Sun Moju, and a large number of people who came purely to watch the fun, and even with scrutiny and questioning eyes.
The restaurant entrance and street-facing windows were packed with people.
Inside the store, the originally greasy tables and chairs were wiped clean, but there were only a few of them, and only a few were left.
Those who could confidently walk in and sit down at these simple tables and chairs were mostly well-dressed and self-assured young ladies or ladies from wealthy families, who seemed to appreciate this art of "rebellion" better. Others mostly crowded at the back and outside the windows, craning their necks.
The music that started playing was not a passionate symphony, but a soothing and powerful piano piece, flowing through the borrowed old speakers.
The first person to appear was not a professional model, but the boss lady Sun Moju!
When the kitchen curtain was lifted and Sun Moju walked out, all the noisy discussions instantly disappeared, replaced by gasps and astonished looks!
She wasn't wearing everyday clothes, but a pure white wedding dress that was simple in style yet incredibly holy! The veil gently covered her graying hair, and the sunlight shone on her through the window, as if giving her a soft halo.
A wedding dress symbolizes the starting point of happiness, carrying all the hopes for a better life. And now, wearing this wedding dress, she's not walking towards a man, but towards the starting point of her own new life! She's marrying herself, solemnly promising to love herself from now on!
Her steps were not at all like the catwalk or stage presence of a professional model; they were even a little clumsy and nervous. But she took each step with utmost seriousness and stability.
From the greasy kitchen door to the slightly messy hall, and then to a temporarily cleared space, each of her steps seemed to be treading on the difficult and bumpy road of her life over the past forty years, heavy but incomparably firm.
She stood still, raised her head, and looked at the crowd below the stage and outside the window. Seeing those eyes that were either surprised, envious, or puzzled, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. Her voice was choked but unusually clear:
"Thank you... Thank you everyone for coming to 'Home Flavors' today. I... My life has never been so dazzling and glorious as it is today... I'm very grateful to Miss Su Hexi. It was she who allowed me to wear such a beautiful dress and gave me the opportunity... to stand in front of everyone and speak."
She raised her hand and gently stroked the fabric of her white wedding dress. Tears flowed even harder, but she smiled. "Before I met her, I thought I'd never be able to wear such a beautiful dress in my life. I didn't dare face myself. I would be a shrew with no ambition, being beaten and scolded all my life... I never thought I would be where I am today... I really... thank her so much!"
The audience was silent, and many female audience members had tears in their eyes. Sun Moju's sobbing touched the softest and most suppressed part of their hearts.
She took a deep breath, tried to calm down, and continued, following the script that Su Hexi had taught her word for word, combining it with her own feelings:
"Sister Su taught me that it's never too late to change ourselves! No matter how old you are! No matter how bad your situation is! As long as you still have goals in your heart and the life you want to live! No matter how long or difficult the road is, you must keep going step by step!"
Sun Moju wiped away her tears, her voice suddenly rising. Using all her strength, she shouted out the words Su Hexi had taught her, which she had memorized deeply, "When water reaches its lowest point, it becomes scenery; when people reach their lowest point, they are reborn! It's never too late to change yourself!"
After the words fell, there was a brief silence, and then the scene broke out into deafening applause!
Especially the ordinary women who were watching, they clapped hard with tears in their eyes.
Sun Moju's words were like a ray of light, illuminating their world bound by various family trivialities, social prejudices, and self-doubt.
They envied, they admired, and something dormant deep in their hearts seemed to be awakened.
Amidst applause and tears, Sun Moju covered her mouth and left the stage excitedly.
Then, the rhythm of the music changed slightly.
The curtain of the kitchen was lifted again, and the real models walked out one by one.
What they wear are no longer those unattainable luxury dresses from the first show, but more everyday and practical clothes that are equally full of design sense and power!
The materials may be ordinary, but the tailoring is neat and the details are ingenious.
There are smart off-the-shoulder sweaters paired with wide-leg pants, cool long trench coats, elegant yet energetic dresses, and even workwear-style suits made of durable fabrics but full of silhouettes...
These clothes seem to be announcing to everyone:
Fashion is not out of reach. Beauty and freedom belong to every woman! My clothes, I wear them however I want! Pursuing fashion, pursuing beauty, pursuing freedom... are our birthrights!
Even if it's just the most ordinary, worn cotton-padded jacket, as long as you wear it with confidence, it has its own unique beauty and its own shining point! At any time, in any situation, we should not belittle ourselves and lose our original nature of pursuing beauty and self-pursuit!
The models wore confident smiles on their faces. They might not be professional, but they walked with determination and pride, like warriors in battle robes. What they showcased was not just clothes, but an attitude, a declaration of breaking free from shackles and embracing oneself.
The atmosphere at the scene reached a climax. The wealthy ladies sitting in the front rows began to whisper among themselves, inquiring about the prices and ordering methods of the clothes. Meanwhile, the ordinary women watching had their eyes gleaming with desire and eagerness to try them on—it seemed as if these clothes could be theirs too! This kind of beauty and confidence seemed within their reach!
Su Hexi stood in the corner, looking at everything in front of her, looking at the unprecedented glow on Sun Moju's face, looking at the ignited eyes of the women in the audience, she knew that the purpose of her "show" had been achieved.
But she felt that it was not enough and she wanted to add more fuel to the fire!
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