Chapter 45 Stare so hard you can see a hole
While the Marquis's mansion was in chaos due to Shen Linhui's injury, Shen You focused all her attention on the soon-to-open Ruyi Embroidery Building.
August 12th, early autumn, the sky is high and the air is crisp.
It is auspicious to open a business.
That day, Ruyi Embroidery Building opened its doors early, and Bao Yunxiu and all the embroiderers wore the patterns they had embroidered themselves in the building.
The needlework is so fine that whether it's a scene or an object, everything is lifelike.
Shen You spent money to hire a variety show troupe, and soon a large crowd gathered in front of the embroidered tower.
People were eager to watch the excitement, and cheers and applause filled the air.
Bao Yunxiu had been practicing her speaking skills in this kind of situation every day for the past few days, and now they finally came in handy.
After the acrobatic performance, a long string of firecrackers went off, and the red silk on the plaque of Ruyi Embroidery Building was removed.
Looking at the crowd that had formed several layers around her, Bao Yunxiu couldn't help but feel excited and nervous.
But more than anything, there was joy.
I am delighted that a different life awaits me, delighted that I can make a living with my skills, and delighted by the mutual support among the women in this boudoir.
Beneath this joy lay a deep sense of gratitude towards Shen You.
She subconsciously looked up and gazed at the second floor of the embroidered building.
Shen You did not appear as the owner of Ruyi Embroidery Pavilion, but she must have come on such an important day as the opening of the pavilion.
I am sitting on the second floor of the embroidered building, looking out the window at the lively scene at the entrance.
Bao Yunxiu's smile widened. She cleared her throat and announced loudly, "Today is the grand opening of Ruyi Embroidery Shop. The first fifty customers who enter the shop to make a purchase will receive a beautiful small gift. Quantities are limited, first come, first served."
As soon as he finished speaking, many people in the crowd were already itching to make a move.
"Madam, I want the same embroidery pattern as the one you're wearing. Do you have any more?"
Bao Yunxiu smiled and said, "Of course."
"I'd like to pick out an auspicious pattern for my mother, do you have any?"
"Of course."
"I want a floral and bird pattern."
"I want the willow branch pattern."
"......"
Bao Yunxiu's smile deepened. She turned to the side and gestured for them to come in, her voice exceptionally clear, "Distinguished guests, please come in!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone rushed in excitedly.
The opening of Ruyi Embroidery Building attracted many people, which also boosted the business of several teahouses and snack shops next to the building.
The shopkeepers were all friendly, and in no time, Ruyi Embroidery Building became the liveliest place in the East Market.
Meanwhile, in the private room on the second floor of Ruyi Embroidery Building.
The windows facing the street were half-closed, drowning out most of the hustle and bustle of the street outside. All that could be heard inside were the indistinct sounds of laughter and conversation.
Shen You, dressed in a smoky purple dress, with elegant features and a slender figure, sat at a round table with a cup of tea beside her.
Green Ivy stood curiously by the window, looking down, and said with a smile, "Girl, you're really amazing!"
Shen You holds the assets left by her mother and grandmother, including many shops, but those are all existing assets. Only Ruyi Embroidery Building is something she built from scratch, bit by bit.
"The girl is really clever; she knew to use a juggling troupe to attract everyone's attention first."
"And it has also boosted the business of the surrounding shops. I saw those shopkeepers smiling from ear to ear."
Today, Ruyi Embroidery Building opened, so it was a bit lively and noisy. The comings and goings of people inevitably disturbed the neighbors.
In business, harmony brings wealth, especially when it comes to neighbors.
Shen You had considered these issues beforehand and discussed them in detail with Bao Yunxiu, who then spoke with the shopkeepers in advance. Therefore, even though the firecrackers were going off loudly today, the surrounding shops didn't say anything.
"If this continues, will the embroidery shop be able to make a lot of money every day?"
After saying that, she held her hands together, as if she had already imagined the wonderful scene of making a fortune every day.
Wisteria raised her hand and gently pinched her cheek. "I didn't expect you to be such a little money-grubber."
Green Ivy pouted, "I'm not greedy, I'm just happy for you, Miss."
The two maids were joking around, and Shen You watched them play while drinking tea.
Little did they know, across from the Ruyi Embroidery Building, a deep and unsettling gaze was always fixed on this place.
——
The second floor of Biluxuan.
Chu Xiao, dressed in a dark brocade robe with gold thread, sat in a private seat with his long legs casually spread out.
Those dark eyes were fixed on the window of the private room on the second floor of the Ruyi Embroidery Building across the street.
Mu Geng followed his gaze curiously and couldn't help but whisper, "My lord, Miss Shen's window is half-closed."
From this angle, you can't see Miss Shen's face at all.
His gaze was so intense it almost bore a hole through the paper on the window.
Upon hearing this, Chu Xiao remained motionless, but his gaze shifted slightly to the bustling scene in front of the Ruyi Embroidery Building.
He stared at it for an unknown amount of time before the melancholy between his brows finally dissipated slightly.
He knew she wanted to open a brothel so that more women could have a skill to support themselves.
This was an idea she had never expressed, and now that it had come true, he was genuinely happy for her.
That night in the courtyard, the two of them almost parted on bad terms.
Several days passed, and his leg injury had almost healed, but the two were unable to see each other again.
Qi Jincheng was right. When facing the woman you love, you have to put aside your pride, be thick-skinned, and take care of her in everything you do in order to have any chance of winning her back.
Thinking of this, Chu Xiao instructed, "Have someone pack more food from the restaurant and send it through the back door of the embroidery building."
Upon hearing this, Mu Geng immediately understood what he meant, quickly agreed, and pushed open the door to give instructions to those outside.
However, in just a short while, the lively sounds from the streets outside changed.
Chu Xiao looked down and saw two or three old women at the entrance of the embroidered building, waving sachets and crying.
"Help! Everyone, look at this unscrupulous shop!"
"Oh dear, my poor grandson, he was pricked with a needle for no reason and he's still too scared to speak."
"There are silver needles hidden in the sachets in this Ruyi Embroidery Building! Have you all lost your conscience?!"
The old woman sat on the ground and wailed, though she couldn't shed a single tear, her wailing was very loud.
Several old women who appeared to be with her chimed in, "Everyone, please don't come to this store to buy anything again!"
"Everyone, look! Everyone, look!"
"The sachets in Ruyi Embroidery House are hiding silver needles! Isn't that going to kill someone?!"
A crowd gathered around, and the whispers and pointing grew louder and louder.
Some customers in the shop even turned around and left after hearing what these old women said.
Bao Yunxiu was furious. She stood at the door, holding up her skirt, and shouted, "Don't make false accusations!"
"Our embroiderers must not leave their silver needles in the sachets!"
"What slander! Come and see for yourself, the silver needles on this sachet are still clearly connected by thread!"
"Everyone, please be the judge! This heartless merchant!"
"I need to report this to the authorities! I want to report this to the authorities!"
The argument below grew increasingly heated. Bao Yunxiu had never seen such a scene before. Although she tried her best to explain, she couldn't withstand the barrage of words from the unreasonable old women, who seemed to want to drown her with their spittle.
Chu Xiao stood by the window, and with a quick glance, he spotted a middle-aged man hidden among the onlookers.
He stared intently at the old women, while the old woman lying on the ground would occasionally glance up at them.
The two made eye contact.
They're clearly in cahoots.
Seeing that Bao Yunxiu was so disturbed that she could barely speak, Mu Geng asked worriedly, "My lord, aren't you going to help Miss Shen?"
It is obvious that the sachet containing the silver needles was deliberately made by someone.
Less than half a day after Ruyi Embroidery Building opened, they came to cause trouble, clearly because the business was too good and had displeased their competitors.
If the matter were reported to the authorities, the Jingzhao Prefecture might eventually clear the Embroidery Pavilion's name. However, the Jingzhao Prefecture also follows established procedures for handling cases. If the matter is delayed for even two or three days, the Embroidery Pavilion's business will be ruined.
That colleague must have come with that in mind.
However, Shen You was not in a position to directly intervene, and Bao Yunxiu was clearly struggling to handle the situation, so Mu Geng asked Chu Xiao if he should take action.
"My lord, should we inform the Prefectural Governor first?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Xiao shook his head and said, "No need."
"Why...?" Mu Geng asked, puzzled.
Chu Xiao said confidently, "I trust her; she can handle it."
It can be handled well without the help of others.
Mu Geng knew that he had his own reasons for saying that, but the noise downstairs continued. Just as the scene was about to become more chaotic, a group of constables from the Jingzhao Prefecture arrived, wielding large swords and pushing through the crowd.
"Make way, everyone!"
The old woman lying on the ground was a little stunned to see the constables arrive so quickly. She subconsciously looked for the middle-aged man's gaze, but he avoided her eyes.
At the same time, an embroiderer came out of the house, stood behind Bao Yunxiu, and whispered a few words to her.
After listening with her eyes lowered, Bao Yunxiu's expression was no longer as flustered as before.
"Did someone report a crime here?"
Before the constable could even finish his question, the old woman was interrupted by Bao Yunxiu, who said, "Yes."
She gave a slight curtsy and said, "Sir, these ladies have accused my embroidery shop of hiding silver needles in its sachets. Please investigate this matter thoroughly."
"You..." The old woman was surprised that it was someone from Ruyi Embroidery Pavilion who reported the case. She wanted to curse, but the constable glared at her and she could only swallow her anger.
"You tell me," the constable said, pointing the hilt of his sword at Bao Yunxiu, "what happened?"
Bao Yunxiu recounted everything that had just happened, adding at the end, "Everything I have said is true. Today is the opening of my shop, and many people present can testify to this."
"You're talking nonsense! It's clearly a dishonest merchant hiding silver needles in the sachet."
The old woman couldn't hold back and cursed back. She then eagerly handed the "evidence" to the constable, saying, "Sir, look, this sachet was bought at Ruyi Embroidery Shop, only two hours ago."
The sachet in the old woman's hand was of a beautiful color and embroidered with lucky bamboo, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.
At this moment, at the joint of the lucky bamboo, there is a short green thread, one end of which is connected to the sachet and the other end to the bottom of the silver needle. The head of the silver needle has already pierced into the sachet, almost completely submerged.
The constable asked Bao Yunxiu, "Was this sachet sold from your embroidery shop?"
Bao Yunxiu took the sachet and examined it, then nodded in agreement, "This sachet is indeed from Ruyi Embroidery Pavilion, but..."
"Look!" the old woman interrupted her impatiently, "She admitted it herself!"
Bao Yunxiu ignored her. Remembering what Shen You had told her, she calmed herself down and continued, "But these individual silver needles and silk threads are not from Ruyi Embroidery Pavilion."
"Words are no proof, you...!"
“Who says I have no evidence?” Bao Yunxiu looked at the constable again. “I would like to trouble you, sir, to send someone inside with me to retrieve the evidence.”
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