Lin Yun was exhausted after staying up all night.
Dozens of design drawings were scattered on the table, each stroke reflecting her hard work.
The new product tasting event is in three days, and she must ensure that every piece of clothing will catch the members' eye.
"Miss, you haven't slept all night, you should rest." Xiao Tao came in carrying a cup of hot tea, her eyes full of worry.
Lin Yun rubbed her aching temples, took the teacup and sipped it. The warm tea, with its faint jasmine fragrance, soothed her tense nerves slightly.
"It's alright, we can finish revising this design." She picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and added a few flowing cloud patterns to the cuffs, instantly making the whole garment more lively.
Xiao Tao hesitated for a moment, then finally whispered, "Uncle Liu just said that the shop on West Street lowered its prices again today, and even sent someone to our shop to attract customers..."
Lin Yun paused, and the ink spread a small shadow on the rice paper.
She put down her pen, her expression calm: "Don't worry about it. Our customers value quality, not a few cents difference in price."
Even so, she knew in her heart that Chen Yu's move was clearly intended to force her into the quagmire of a price war.
If we ignore it, we will inevitably lose some customers; if we lower the price, it will damage the reputation of Lin's Clothing Shop.
She sighed softly, her gaze falling on the membership list on the corner of the table—thankfully, there were still these loyal customers.
While eating breakfast, Lin's mother placed a piece of green vegetable in Lin Yun's bowl with her chopsticks, her brows furrowed: "Yun'er, I heard that a new shop opened on West Street, and it's specifically targeting us. Our business has declined quite a bit these past few days. Is there anything we can do?"
Before Lin Yun could answer, her elder brother Lin Feng slammed down his chopsticks and said angrily, "That Chen Yu, relying on his family's money, not only poached our embroiderers, but now he's openly copying our designs! If it weren't for my younger sister stopping me, I would have taken people to tear down his shop long ago!"
"Nonsense!" Lin's father coughed twice, his face turning pale. "We are legitimate businessmen, how can we imitate the behavior of thugs?"
He turned to Lin Yun, his tone softening, "Yun'er, you've always been resourceful. How do you plan to handle this?"
Lin Yun put down her chopsticks and said softly, "Don't worry, Mom and Dad, I've prepared the new products and will hold a tasting event in three days. As for Chen Ji..." Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the porcelain bowl, "As long as the members' hearts are still with us, no one else can stir up any trouble."
Lin's mother was filled with worry: "But what if Chen Yu uses some underhanded methods..."
"He dares!" Lin Feng slammed his hand on the table and stood up, but was stopped by a look from Lin Yun.
“Big brother,” she said softly but firmly, “our confidence comes from our clothes, not our fists.”
She turned to her parents and smiled, "Besides, I've already asked Uncle Liu to hire two more guards to take turns on night watch, so nothing will happen."
Mr. Lin nodded, his eyes full of relief: "It's good that you know what's going on."
Back in her room, Lin Yun tried to catch up on her sleep, but couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
Outside the window, the shadows of the trees swayed gently, and a night breeze occasionally rustled through them. She put on her coat, got up, and pushed open half of the window, gazing towards West Street in the distance—where the lights were scattered, and the signboard of "Chen's Clothing" could be faintly seen gleaming coldly in the morning light.
“Chen Yu…” she murmured the name, and rumors about him surfaced in her mind: the young master of Chen’s Cloth Shop, in his early twenties, with a handsome appearance, but a vindictive person.
In his early years, he was sued by the victim for forcibly taking a woman, but he eventually settled the case with money.
Such people, if truly pushed to the limit, are definitely not to be trifled with, unless you slap them to death. But they don't have that power now. This is the downside of living in ancient times: without power, the more profitable a business is, the less likely you are to hold onto it.
She gripped the window frame tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white. She realized it had been a while since she'd visited her third brother, and decided to find some time to go see him. If he could pass the imperial examinations and achieve some success, at least he wouldn't be so easily manipulated.
---
Xie Mansion Study
Xie Yu leaned back on the rosewood couch, toying with a mutton-fat jade pendant in his hand. The steward stood to the side with his head bowed and reported in a low voice: "Chen Yu seems to have secretly contacted a few thugs, and seems to be planning to cause trouble on the day of the appraisal event."
"Fool." Xie Yu sneered, twirling the jade pendant between his fingers. "He blames others for his own incompetence. If he dares to ruin my plans, I'll take his life."
He got up and walked to the window, looking in the direction of Lin's Clothing Shop, his eyes darkening. "New product tasting event... she's quite composed."
The steward tentatively suggested, "Young master, would you like to take action? We only need to cut off Chen's Cloth Shop's supply for three months, and I guarantee that Chen Yu will come begging for mercy on his knees."
Xie Yu shook his head, a playful smile playing on his lips: "No rush, things won't be that simple."
Things handed to him on a silver platter are worthless; he has to wait for Lin Yun to come and beg him. Turning around, he took a ledger from the bookshelf and said calmly, "Have someone keep an eye on things. If Chen Yu really dares to use force... it's not too late to take action then."
The butler understood immediately and bowed as he withdrew.
Xie Yu opened the ledger, but his gaze fell on the design drawing of Lin Yun in the interlayer—a long dress with wide sleeves, the hem of which was adorned with tiny apricot blossoms, just like the one she wore when he first met her.
He sighed softly and began to sing a little tune: "This romance is so fickle—it's just cruel to the butterflies in the play..."
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