Business
After discussing it, the two began preparations, and three days later, the first sample was completed.
The fabric is a soft pink cotton yarn, an inexpensive material. It's scratch-resistant, suitable for everyday wear, and very practical.
Huang Ying first modified the sleeves of the wide-sleeved dresses worn by women in the capital to be narrower, and then modified the collars of the tight-fitting dresses worn by local women to be slightly wider. In fact, the clothing of women in the Great Zhou Dynasty was not conservative; in Jiang Yan's opinion, some of the styles were even more revealing than what modern women wore.
But the women in Taizi Town, perhaps because they had never seen such revealing clothes before, or perhaps because the people here are more conservative, wore clothes with very high necklines, as if they were deliberately trying to cover their necks completely, making them look bulky and stuffy.
By making the collars of their clothes smaller, the orioles could breathe.
Huang Ying then modified the originally loose-fitting clothes of the women in Taizi Town to be more fitted, but not completely clinging to their bodies, so that women would not feel constricted when wearing them while doing housework.
Huang Ying then altered her floor-length skirt so that it only reached her ankles. Actually, Jiang Yan was quite puzzled. Clothes are just for covering the body and for convenience. It's not like she's sitting in the palace needing someone to serve her, like the Empress Dowager or the Empress. Why are the hems of ordinary women's clothes in the Great Zhou Dynasty so long? When they walk, it looks like a snake dragging a long tail.
When the weather is nice, it's fine; it's just a bit of dirt sticking to your clothes. But if it's raining or pouring rain, those long hems of your clothes are really unbearable!
Jiang Yan was reluctant to leave Pear Blossom Residence in the past, largely because the hem of her dress was too long. It felt like a strange force was pulling her down, making it difficult for her to walk. Later, Huang Ying secretly shortened it, which made it easier for her.
Now, Huang Ying has boldly shortened the hem of her long skirts, which she believes many women will like because it will make walking and working much more convenient.
Huang Ying then embroidered some flowers in slightly darker shades of the same color on the fabric, along with subtle patterns, and added a pale yellow floral wreath around the waist that resembled a lotus leaf, instantly making an ordinary garment playful.
Jiang Yan fell in love with the dress at first sight and couldn't help but praise it repeatedly: "Huang Ying, you're a design master! This dress is almost as good as those from high-end runway shows! It's incredible!! You're definitely going to be a rich woman in the future, I'm going to stick with you!!"
Huang Ying blushed with embarrassment and said, "Sister, you're making fun of me again."
"I wasn't making fun of you! I was telling the truth! The absolute truth!! Hahaha."
Huang Ying became even more embarrassed, her head almost drooping to her chest.
Jiang Yan shook his head helplessly, "Well, how about we take it out on the street and check it out?"
"Sister, please allow me to make a second one, and then I can take it with me."
“Okay, whatever you say goes.” Jiang Yan said, glancing at Huang Ying’s sewing area, and asked, “What can I do?” Then he looked at Huang Ying and said, “We’re family now, so you can’t always do the work. Just tell me what you need me to do. I’m not good with people, but I’m hardworking. Haha.”
As Huang Ying methodically tidied the table, she smiled and said, "My job is to keep an eye on the cats, dogs, and chickens, and not let them keep chirping."
These chickens, dogs, and cats must have just left their homes and aren't used to it yet. They bark and squawk all day long, it's so noisy it's driving people crazy.
But after a while, they got used to it and automatically shut it out. However, the neighbors next door couldn't stand it anymore. They came knocking on the door early this morning with some meat bones and steamed buns. They said they heard the dogs, cats, and chickens in the yard barking so loudly that they must be hungry, and asked the neighbors to feed them.
If it weren't for the old lady who came to deliver the things having puffy eyes, dark circles, and looking so haggard as if she hadn't slept for days, Jiang Yan and Huang Ying would have really thought the old lady meant well.
"Okay! I'll definitely keep a close eye on them and make sure they stop squealing and thrashing around." Jiang Yan said, rubbing his hands together eagerly as he went to find them.
Huang Ying looked at her funny back with affection, smiled, and continued to bury herself in making clothes.
Huang Ying worked through the night until noon five days later, and made a total of three outfits. Each one was novel in design and fresh in color, which was truly refreshing.
Jiang Yan was full of praise upon seeing it.
After lunch, Jiang Yan told Huang Ying to stay home and rest while she took the clothes to the market, but Huang Ying refused. So the two of them took the clothes and went to the market together.
It just so happens that today is market day in Taizi Town, and people from the surrounding villages have also come.
When Jiang Yan and Huang Ying arrived at the market, it was so crowded that it was difficult to even squeeze in. But Jiang Yan and Huang Ying still managed to carve out a space for them.
Jiang Yan was originally ashamed to shout and sell in public, but along the way, she had experienced too many difficulties and pains, and her state of mind had changed greatly. She had come to understand the meaning of life and the meaning of living, so she shook out a bunch of clothes and shouted loudly.
"Don't miss out! Ladies, aunties, and grandmas, come and see! The latest clothes! The newest styles from the capital! Limited quantities available, first come, first served!!"
Jiang Yan was actually using Liu Ruyi's appearance, and Liu Ruyi was a lady from a prominent family. Although she didn't have the beauty to make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, she was still stunning at first glance compared to others.
So, with Liu Ruyi's beautiful appearance and Liu Ruyi's gentle voice, when she shouted, women, children, and men all gathered around, a colorful and dark mass that was almost suffocating.
Jiang Yan was shocked by the outcome and quickly backed away, but the passersby behind her had already surrounded her. Not knowing who she had bumped into, she hurriedly ran forward, but the area in front of her was already crowded with people.
However, these people were just curious and not there to cause trouble for Jiang Yan and her group, so they all stopped at a suitable location.
Jiang Yan and Huang Ying were so frightened that they hadn't even caught their breath when the old woman who came up at the front asked, "What kind of new clothes are these? Are the clothes in the capital like this? Let us see."
"Yes, I'd like to buy one if it looks good. None of the clothes I've bought are nice."
"Yes, yes, we're all sisters, so bring out your good stuff and let us see."
...
For a moment, voices of anticipation and longing rose and fell, and Jiang Yan and Huang Ying's panic gradually disappeared, and they calmed down.
"Don't rush, everyone. My sister and I only brought samples today. If you like them, you can come to my shop to buy them another day." As she spoke, Jiang Yan gave Huang Ying an encouraging look. Under everyone's curious gaze, they unfolded the clothes in their hands.
In an instant, the once noisy and bustling market fell silent, as if someone had pressed the pause button, so quiet that you could hear everyone breathing.
Jiang Yan was taken aback, wondering if something was wrong and they didn't like it.
But before they could even exchange a glance with Huang Ying, suddenly, the pause button seemed to malfunction, and a cacophony of noise rushed towards them like a swarm of bees, leaving them stunned in place.
"I want it, I want it..."
"I want one too! I want one too..."
"How much? I'll take them all!"
"Hurry up and give me the clothes! I want to buy them! I want to buy them all!"
...
The cries of people wanting to buy all the clothes drowned out all other sounds, and they all pushed their way through the crowd towards them.
Jiang Yan was terrified. She knew that if a stampede occurred at this moment, she and Huang Ying would be doomed. So she shouted with all her might, "Stop! Stop! Listen to me!!!"
The noise and commotion subsided slightly.
Jiang Yan shouted again, "Don't push! There are only three pieces of clothing here, and they are samples! If you like them, come and buy them at our shop 'Yipinge' at the market in ten days!"
But how could everyone wait until that time?
The old woman closest to Jiang Yan threw a string of coins into his arms, then, taking advantage of Jiang Yan's inattention, snatched the clothes from his hands and quickly disappeared through the crowd.
Then came the second and the third people, who seemed to appear out of nowhere. They threw some money at Huang Ying and Jiang Yan, snatched the clothes from their hands, and quickly pushed through the crowd and disappeared.
When everyone saw that Jiang Yan and the others no longer had clothes in their hands, they expressed their regret, but they refused to leave, except for the men.
Jiang Yan comforted them: "Sisters, aunts, and younger sisters, don't worry or be disappointed. We will be selling them in the shop in less than ten days. Then you can come and choose them."
"Ten days? Are you sure it's ten days? Where is the shop? We want to go and wait there as soon as possible."
As soon as one aunt asked the question, the other aunties, sisters, and younger sisters stared at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.
Jiang Yan glanced at Huang Ying and said, "Ten days. Ten days from now, it will be on this street. The shop is called 'Yipinge'. You can find it by looking for the shop name."
"You mustn't lie to us!" the old woman who asked the question said.
"No, please believe us!" Jiang Yan said sincerely, and only then did everyone begin to disperse.
Jiang Yan added, "Take it easy, everyone. Come to Yipin Pavilion in ten days to pick out the clothes you like."
Everyone should go do what they need to do now.
Jiang Yan and Huang Ying finally dared to breathe heavily and rest.
"I didn't expect so many people to like it. I thought they were going to beat us up earlier."
"Yes, sister, now we're not afraid anymore."
"Yes, as long as we have this source of income, our lives will get better," Jiang Yan imagined with hope.
Finally, for the convenience of the market in the future, Jiang Yan bought a horse-drawn carriage, but in fact, it was pulled by an ox. So now they have to raise an ox and prevent it from barking and making noise along with the chickens, cats and dogs.
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