Lin's Clothing Shop
Lin Yun was engrossed in designing new clothing styles when she suddenly heard a commotion outside the door.
She looked up and saw a magnificent carriage parked in front of the shop. The curtain was lifted, revealing a familiar face—Xie Yu.
"Young Master Xie?" Lin Yun was somewhat surprised and quickly put down her pen to greet him.
Xie Yu smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Miss Lin, I apologize for disturbing you."
Lin Yun returned the greeting: "Thank you for your hospitality, young master. Please come in."
Xie Yu gestured to his attendant to bring out an exquisite wooden box and handed it to Lin Yun: "This is the share of the design from last time, totaling fifty taels of silver. I was busy with other matters and it was delayed for a few days. I hope you will forgive me, Miss."
Lin Yun was stunned. She had only offered to solve her immediate problem, but she never expected that the other party would actually send her a share of the profits.
She took the wooden box and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Young Master Xie, you flatter me. I had almost forgotten about this."
Xie Yu smiled and said, "Businessmen value integrity, and I will not shortchange you on the amount due."
Lin Yun led Xie Yu into the inner room and instructed someone to make tea.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xie Yu looked around and exclaimed, "Miss Lin's shop is now very famous, even attracting customers from our Jinxiufang."
Lin Yun said modestly, "Thank you for your kind words, young master. It's just a small matter, how could it be compared to Jinxiufang?"
Xie Yu shook her head: "You're too modest, young lady. I'm even more impressed with this membership system idea."
Lin Yun smiled but didn't reply.
She vaguely sensed that Xie Yu's purpose in coming here was not simply to deliver the share of the silver.
Sure enough, after a moment of contemplation, Xie Yu said, "Actually, besides giving you a share of the profits, there is another matter I would like to discuss with you today."
Lin Yun raised her eyes: "Please speak, Young Master Xie."
Xie Yu looked directly into her eyes and said sincerely, "I would like to cooperate with you, Miss. Jinxiufang has many branches in the capital and has no shortage of resources and connections. If you are willing, we can join forces to expand Lin's Clothing Shop's business."
Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat. Xie Yu's proposal was indeed tempting; Jinxiufang's background and strength far surpassed that of her small shop. However, cooperation meant relinquishing some control, something she needed to carefully consider.
Seeing Lin Yun remain silent, Xie Yu added, "Miss, you don't need to answer immediately. We can discuss any conditions you may have."
Lin Yun nodded: "I appreciate your sincerity, Young Master Xie. However, this matter is of great importance, and I need some time to consider it."
Xie Yu laughed heartily: "That's only right. Then I'll await your good news, young lady."
After seeing Xie Yu off, Lin Yun stood alone in the courtyard, gazing absently at the sunset.
The success of the membership system brought her a taste of success, but it also brought new challenges. Now, even business leaders like Xie Yu are actively seeking her out. She needs to carefully consider how to proceed in the future.
After seeing Xie Yu off, Lin Yun returned to the inner room and gently opened the exquisite wooden box.
Fifty taels of silver were neatly stacked on the red silk, gleaming brightly, and their heavy weight warmed her heart.
She put the silver into the cabinet, but didn't feel relieved. Xie Yu's suggestion weighed on her mind like a stone.
“Cooperation…” Lin Yun murmured softly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the teacup.
Jinxiufang's resources and background were indeed tempting, but she also knew that once she joined forces with Xie Yu, Lin's Clothing Shop's independence would cease to exist. Would her painstakingly built shop gradually become an appendage of Jinxiufang?
Just as she was deep in thought, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Her maid, Xiao Tao, rushed in, her face showing panic: "Miss, something terrible has happened! A customer just said that a new clothing store has opened on West Street, and not only are their styles similar to ours, but their prices are also 30% lower!"
Lin Yun frowned: "When did this happen?"
"Just these last two days," Xiao Tao said indignantly, "they're clearly targeting us on purpose!"
Lin Yun's heart sank. The success of the membership system had attracted the covetous eyes of competitors, and now someone was openly imitating it. She took a deep breath, suppressing her unease, and said to Xiao Tao, "Don't panic. Go and buy a piece of clothing from that shop. Let me see what's going on."
Xiao Tao nodded in agreement and turned to leave.
Lin's Clothing Shop
As night fell, Lin Yun sat alone under the lamp, carefully examining the dress Xiao Tao had brought back. The stitching was rough, the fabric cheap, but the style was indeed seven or eight parts similar to her own design. She sneered, "A clumsy imitation."
Xiao Tao said indignantly, "Miss, we can't just let this go! They're robbing us outright!"
Lin Yun put down the clothes, pondered for a moment, and said, "A price war is not good for us. Lin's Clothing Shop is positioned as mid-to-high-end. If we blindly lower prices, we will lose our original customers."
"What should we do then?" Xiaotao asked anxiously.
A determined glint flashed in Lin Yun's eyes: "Since they're copying our designs, we'll make sure they never catch up."
She picked up a pen and quickly sketched several new designs on the paper. "These are the designs for the next season, and we'll start production tomorrow. Also, please inform our members that we will be holding a new product tasting event in three days, which is open only to members."
Xiao Tao's eyes lit up: "Miss, are you trying to retain customers with the new product?"
Lin Yun nodded: "Not only that, I also want to make imitators understand that the core of Lin's Clothing Shop has never been the style, but the creativity and quality."
---
Jinxiufang Xie Mansion
Xie Yu sat in his study, toying with a jade pendant in his hand, his expression calm. The steward walked in quietly and whispered, "Young Master, we've found out who's behind that new shop on West Street."
"Oh?" Xie Yu raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"
“It’s Chen Yu, the young master of Chen’s Cloth Shop,” the steward replied. “I heard he’s envious of Lin’s business and has poached a few embroiderers from her business.”
Xie Yu chuckled lightly: "Chen Yu? He's nothing but a clown." He put down the jade pendant, a cold glint in his eyes. "Go, cause some trouble for Chen's Cloth Shop. Don't let them have too much free time."
The butler understood and bowed as he withdrew.
Xie Yu got up and walked to the window, gazing at the distant lights, and murmured, "Lin Yun, don't let me down..."
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