The most common shops around Wulin Gate are silk and satin shops.

Or maybe it was because Chinese New Year was coming soon and all shops had to close after just a few days, so there were a lot of people on the streets, shoulder to shoulder, and everywhere was filled with people.

Yu Tang followed Yu Yuan closely, looking left and right at the surrounding shops, and soon saw the Sheng family's lacquerware shop.

The shop has a storefront that is eight rooms wide and a bright red sign that is as tall as a person. It looks similar to the shops next door, but the black lacquered doors are inlaid with transparent glass. In the middle of winter, other shops have thick cotton curtains, but only in their shop can you vaguely see the figures inside, making it different from others at first glance.

As she got closer, she found that the waiters in the Sheng family lacquerware shop were all handsome and all wore the same parrot green silk robes. Their backs were straight and their faces were filled with warm smiles. Seeing that Yu Tang was squeezed, a waiter took the initiative to help her block the crowd and said to her with concern: "Miss, please be careful. Did you squeeze anywhere?"

Yu Tang smiled and thanked the waiter.

The clerk, with a red face, either because he was too busy or because he was embarrassed, hurriedly welcomed her and Yu Yuan into the shop. The look of contempt that she had expected before she came did not occur.

Yu Tang thought about the guys at home who were always so cautious around others and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

After entering the shop, she found that the shop was also crowded with people. The shelves of the lacquerware shops she had seen were open, and people could touch and hold them at will. However, Sheng's shop had a counter, and all the items were placed in transparent glass cabinets. The waiter behind the counter would show the customer what they wanted to see. Only those large lacquerware, such as screens, were placed in the open space next to the Duobao Pavilion, where people could watch and enjoy them. So although there were many people in the shop, there was no need to worry about losing things.

Yu Yuan came to see it yesterday, and couldn't help but whisper to Yu Tang: "Look, their business is so good!"

Yu Tang nodded calmly.

The young man said attentively, "Sir, Miss, what do you want to buy? Do you want any recommendations? The Spring Festival is coming soon. Are you going to buy something for your elders? Or are you coming in to have a look? If you are going to give something to your elders, come here and have a look to see if there is anything suitable. If you come in and have a look, I will introduce to you what we sell. If you need anything in the future, come back to our store and have a closer look."

These guys have all been specially trained.

Yu Tang thought in his heart.

In her previous life, she had seen shop assistants like this.

It’s just that the guys in those shops aren’t as well dressed as the guys at Sheng’s lacquerware, nor are they as spirited as their guys.

Lu silk is a material that only some country gentlemen can afford to wear, but the Sheng family actually gave it to the shop assistants. They are very rich and generous, so it is no wonder that her brother is short of breath. Moreover, the Sheng family is probably the first family in Hangzhou to train shop assistants like this.

I just don't know if this method was invented by them.

In the next few years, everyone will follow suit. Even in Lin'an City, some shops have started training their employees in this way.

It seems that they are not only good at selling goods, but also have their own way of managing the shop and personnel.

Yu Tang observed secretly.

Yu Yuanyi said: "We just come here to take a look, and if there are any good things, we will buy some to take back."

The waiter glanced at Yu Tang and thought he understood their purpose. He smiled and took them to a counter selling small boxes and mirrors. The waiter squeezed in first, pointed at the Yu brothers and sisters standing nearby, and said to the waiter who was selling things, "These two guests want to see some interesting little items."

The waiter who had just brought something to a customer took a look at the two of them, then immediately turned around to get a tray, put a few small items on it, and handed it to the waiter who squeezed in, saying, "These are all new items released before the Spring Festival. See if you guys like anything. If not, I'll help you get more."

The clerk thanked them, took the tray, and squeezed out of the counter, saying politely to the two of them, "Sir and Miss, take a look and see if you like anything. These items also come in matching boxes, pen and ink boxes..."

Yu Yuan looked over there and saw that the tray contained several rouge boxes and lip balm boxes made with the "color-matching screw-in" technique. They were all small and exquisite items, glittering with jewels, very suitable for ladies of the upper class.

He took a few and looked at them carefully.

Yu Tang just glanced at it and didn't look at it again.

In her previous life, thanks to the Li family, she had seen the inlaid jewels made by the inner court, so the Sheng family's colorful ornaments were not so stunning to her.

She was looking at the customers and the staff in the shop.

There are so many waiters that almost every customer can be taken care of. If someone cannot be taken care of, someone will respond to their question. Although there are many customers in the shop and it is extremely busy, no customer is dissatisfied.

There were a wide variety of goods in the shop, ranging from small boxes for storing the three golden items to large folding screens with twelve panels. There were also a wide variety of designs, including the traditional ones such as Magu paying homage to the deceased, as well as some new designs of the Four Gentlemen of Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum. Like a painting, there were a lot of white space left, but there were also very complicated designs with no discernible meaning, like the box in his eldest brother's hand, which was made of imitation gemstones and inlaid with all kinds of pearls, shining with colorful light under the light.

This is not a shop that can be easily imitated.

Yu Tang and Yu Yuan squeezed out of the shop without buying anything, but the waiter escorted them out as attentively as he had welcomed them in. He also introduced himself and told them to look for him next time they came. If they were not satisfied with the items in the shop, he could customize them according to their requirements.

Yu Yuan smiled and thanked the waiter, and went to Gu's shop with Yu Tang. They left Sheng's shop far behind, then smiled bitterly and said to Yu Tang: "Now you know why I am depressed, right? Alas, if our shop can have one-fifth, no, one-tenth of the business of this shop, I will be satisfied."

Yu Tang smiled and encouraged Yu Yuan, saying, "Let's take it slow. Is it true that they are the only lacquerware shop in Hangzhou? Changsheng is the largest satin shop in Hangzhou. Is it true that other satin shops have no business except Changsheng?"

Yu Yuan sighed, "There is always someone above you. No matter how hard you try, you can't catch up. You can only chase after others forever. What fun is there in that?"

Yu Tang laughed out loud and encouraged his eldest cousin: "Why don't we give it a try and see if we can build a lacquerware shop that's better than the Sheng family's?"

Yu Yuan hesitated for a moment.

Yu Tang perked up, pretending to be very interested and said loudly: "Let's go and see what other lacquerware shops are selling?"

Yu Yuan looked at Yu Tang's smile, which was as gorgeous as a summer flower, and felt much better. He said with a smile, "Should we go to the Gu family shop first? I heard from Miss Gu's wet nurse that the Gu family has a lot of social events during the Chinese New Year, and his mother does not leave the house during the Chinese New Year. If we want to meet Miss Gu's wet nurse, we have to hurry. If we can't meet her today, we can only wait until after the Chinese New Year."

Didn't Yu Tang rush to the Gu family to tell them about the Li family before the Little New Year just to make both families unhappy during the New Year? If he waited until after the New Year, what would be the point?

"It doesn't matter if it's useful." Yu Tang waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "We still have an afternoon. Why don't we go to the lacquerware shops in Hangzhou first to see what they sell and which patterns sell best."

This takes too much time.

Moreover, Yu Yuan was somewhat affected by the booming business of Sheng's lacquerware shop.

"It's as if those lacquerwares are free." He muttered to himself, still feeling resentful.

Yu Tang laughed and pulled her brother into a lacquerware shop not far from the Sheng family.

There were only five or six customers scattered in the shop, and the waiter looked lazy and listless.

Yu Tang looked carefully and found that this lacquerware shop sold lacquerware of all kinds of craftsmanship, all with traditional patterns.

The Yu brothers and sisters visited several lacquerware shops in succession, and Yu Tang gradually had some impressions in his mind. It was time for lunch, and Yu Yuan suggested that they go to Yao Saner's shop at this time, and Yao Saner must treat them to lunch. Although Yao Saner's business was good, it was only enough to make a living and support his family. Yu Yuan was embarrassed to disturb him again, thinking that it was rare for Yu Tang to go out with him, so he might as well take her out to a restaurant.

He thought for a moment, then took Yu Tang to a small alley, where they found a small noodle shop with only seven or eight tables and a large group of people waiting outside. He said to Yu Tang, "Don't underestimate this noodle shop because it's very famous. It has been here for several generations. Yao Saner brought me here to eat the last time I came to Hangzhou. Their most famous dish is the bamboo shoot noodles. Try it and see if it suits your taste."

Yu Tang has loved going out since he was a child. Like all children, he always thinks that food outside tastes better than at home. Although he has grown up now, he was detained in the Li family for six or seven years in his previous life. Not only has his personality not changed with age, but he likes going out more and more.

She smiled and waited with Yu Yuan for a long time before two seats were available.

Yu Yuan skillfully ordered two bowls of bamboo shoot noodles, and whispered to Yu Tang about the lacquerware shop: "I was thinking that after the Chinese New Year, I would come to Hangzhou to live for a few days, and then stay in front of their shop to see what they sell every day..."

Although this method is stupid, it is very practical.

But her brother is getting married next March. Is he going to abandon his bride and run to Hangzhou alone?

Yu Tang felt that this was a bit unrealistic and was about to persuade Yu Yuan when he heard a familiar voice: "Boss, how long do we have to wait?"

When she looked up, she saw a boy dressed like a 17 or 18-year-old boy, holding a woman who looked to be in her early 30s, with a round face and big eyes, and who looked very kind, standing at the door of the noodle shop.

This was really easy to come by.

They actually met Gu Xi's wet nurse and her wet brother in this small noodle shop.

What’s even more coincidental is that the couple sitting opposite them had already finished their meal and were about to get up to pay the bill.

Yu Tang immediately pulled Yu Yuan's sleeve.

Yu Yuan understood and waved to Gu Xi's brother: "Brother Gu, over here!"

It was as if the two of them were together with Gu Xiruoxiong, and they had come early to reserve a seat.