Lin Yue's "Yue Jin Pavilion" has become famous in the city, with customers coming to buy handicrafts every day. But Lin Yue's sight is not limited to this small shop in front of him.
One day, when she was sorting out the accounts, she found that although many dignitaries were generous and bought a large number of high-end handicrafts, ordinary people were discouraged by the prices.
"It would be wonderful if we could make some inexpensive, yet exquisite items so that more people could enjoy this beauty," Lin Yue muttered to herself, and a new business idea emerged in her mind. So, Lin Yue led the girls in the shop and began to research the use of more affordable materials to make handicrafts.
They experimented with using ordinary cotton fabrics instead of Shu brocade, cleverly splicing scraps of fabric to create simple yet beautiful handkerchiefs and bags. Lin Yue also incorporated popular elements of everyday life into traditional embroidery patterns, such as children playing and street juggling, imbuing these small items with a touch of everyday life.
As soon as the new product was launched, it quickly set off a buying frenzy among ordinary people, and the door of "Yue Jin Ge" was almost broken down. One day, Lin Yue was busy guiding the girls to make a new batch of affordable handicrafts when an old man with extraordinary clothes came into the store.
He scanned the shop with keen eyes and walked straight up to Lin Yue. "Young lady, I'm the owner of Jinxiu Hang in Beijing. I've heard your craftsmanship at Yuejin Pavilion is remarkable, so I've come here specially," the old man said in a steady, powerful voice. Lin Yue was startled. Jinxiu Hang was a nationally renowned large-scale trading company, specializing in a wide range of high-end silk fabrics and handicrafts, with branches throughout Beijing and even across the country.
"Thank you for your kind words, shopkeeper. Our small shop is just trying to survive in this city." Lin Yue responded modestly, but secretly guessed the old man's intention.
The old man smiled faintly and continued, "I see that the items you have here are both exquisitely crafted and cater to the tastes of different classes. They are quite rare. I'm interested in collaborating with you to promote the handicrafts of 'Yue Jin Ge' to branches of 'Jin Xiu Xing' nationwide. What do you think?"
Lin Yue widened her eyes, unable to believe her ears. This was the opportunity she had always dreamed of, which would allow her work to reach a wider world.
"However, cooperation requires compliance with the rules of Jinxiuhang. Sufficient goods must be provided on time and in the correct quantity each month, and the production process and style must be reviewed by us," the old man added. Lin Yue pondered for a moment, realizing that this could be a way to promote Yuejin Pavilion nationwide. She gritted her teeth and agreed, "Don't worry, boss. I'll do my best."
The two immediately finalized the details of the cooperation and agreed to sign the contract three days later. In the following days, Lin Yue and the girls worked day and night, designing new styles and training new techniques, striving to achieve the high standards of "Jinxiuxing".
Lin Yue also plans to incorporate her knowledge of pharmacology into a new batch of handicrafts. She remembered that when she made sachets before, herbs such as mugwort and mint were very effective in repelling mosquitoes and refreshing the mind. So she thought about cleverly sewing the dried powder of these herbs into the interlayer of the cloth bag, or embroidering some plant patterns with medicinal value on the edge of the handkerchief, such as honeysuckle and perilla, which can not only serve as decoration, but also be beneficial to human health in daily use.
However, the night before the contract was signed, an accident happened.
The girl in the store who was in charge of keeping the design drawings came running over in a panic and told Lin Yue that a batch of newly designed handicraft drawings were missing.
Lin Yue's head buzzed. These drawings embodied many days of hard work. If they were lost, not only would they be unable to complete the contract on time, but they might also be held accountable by Jinxiuxing. Lin Yue suppressed her panic and carefully inquired about the situation.
It turned out that the girl in charge of keeping the drawings had locked the drawings in the cabinet when she left the shop in the evening. But when she came back to check, the cabinet had been pried open and the drawings were missing.
Lin Yue looked around the store and spotted several unfamiliar footprints near the back door. It was clear someone had sneaked in and stolen the blueprints. "Could it be that one of my colleagues is jealous and deliberately doing something bad?" Lin Yue was furious and anxious, but she didn't have time to complain. She immediately ordered the girls to keep the news secret while she began searching the store for any clues.
Just when Lin Yue was extremely anxious, he suddenly remembered a friend named Ah Fu whom he had met at the market a few days ago. Ah Fu was good at tracking and investigating, and he was a righteous man.
Lin Yue quickly sent for Ah Fu's help. Upon hearing this, Ah Fu patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, Miss Lin, I will help you recover the blueprints." Ah Fu followed the footprints, while Lin Yue waited anxiously in the shop. The minutes ticked by, each moment feeling like a year. Late at night, Ah Fu finally returned, holding the recovered blueprints. Lin Yue's eyes welled up as she thanked him profusely.
Ah Fu panted and said, "Miss Lin, these blueprints were found in an abandoned house in the south of the city. The people who stole the blueprints seemed to be hired, but they had already fled when I went there."
Lin Yue clenched his fists and secretly made a note of the account. The most urgent task now was to complete the contract.
Three days later, Lin Yue arrived on time to sign the contract with the owner of Jinxiuhang, bringing her carefully prepared handicrafts and complete blueprints. She prominently displayed samples incorporating pharmacological knowledge, explaining in detail the hidden honeysuckle powder surrounding the handkerchief's embroidery, which could dispel wind-heat with a sniff; and the mugwort powder layered within the cloth wrapping, which could ward off evil spirits and ward off foul odors while carried.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's eyes filled with admiration, and he became even more optimistic about the prospects for cooperation. "Miss Lin, I've heard you're quite knowledgeable about pharmacology. This handicraft incorporating pharmacology is quite a novel idea." The old man stroked his beard, his eyes penetrating with thought. "However, the application of pharmacology to objects is quite demanding. If you're not careful, accidents could happen."
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