"Sister Wenqing, they're all talking about us!" Baohong went to the market and came back in a huff, running up to Wenqing to complain.
Wen Qing, who was cutting khaki fabric with scissors, turned around and asked, "Who is it?"
"Everyone in the whole county is talking about it." Bao Hong was so angry that her face turned red.
"What did you say?" Wen Qing put down the scissors, picked up a piece of white chalk, and, using a wooden ruler, drew a straight, thin white line on the dark khaki cloth.
"They say, they say we can't compete with the tailor shop across the street, that business is getting worse and worse, and that you, Sister Wenqing, are too young and can't manage the business, so Aunt Xiao's tailor shop is bound to close down sooner or later. Sister Wenqing, we're clearly transforming, not closing down!" Bao Hong said angrily, "They're talking nonsense!"
Wen Qing put down the chalk and ruler, turned her head and asked, "So you had a fight with someone?"
“Hmm.” Bao Hong said, sounding rather aggrieved.
Wen Qing smiled.
"Sister Wenqing, what are you laughing at?" Baohong asked, puzzled. "Others are criticizing us, and you're still laughing."
Wen Qing still smiled: "So now everyone in Wangcheng County knows that there is a tailor named Wen Qing in Wangcheng County?"
Bao Hong nodded: "Mm."
Wen Qing laughed: "I'm happy that they say I'm too young to handle the situation."
Why?
Wen Qing picked up the scissors again and leisurely cut the dark khaki fabric, saying, "Bao Hong, let me ask you, under what circumstances do you think the goods in the consignment store cannot be sold?"
Bao Hong blurted out, "The expensive ones won't sell!"
Wen Qing shook her head: "No, rich people will buy it."
“Inferior quality ones won’t sell!” Bao Hong said again.
Wen Qing shook her head again: "That's not right either. Some people will be greedy for cheap deals, so there will still be people who buy."
"What is that?" Bao Hong couldn't figure it out.
Wen Qing lowered her head and continued working: "Think about it carefully, and when you come up with the answer, tell me, and I'll explain it to you."
Bao Hong scratched her head.
"Wen Qing, do you think this is okay?" At this moment, Aunt Xiao was holding up a pair of dark khaki pants. The style of the pants was one that Wen Qing had just made, and Aunt Xiao had never seen it before.
In Aunt Xiao's mind, there is only one style of women's pants: side slits with hidden buttons. No matter how the two pant legs are changed, they are all pretty much the same. The more fashionable ones are side slits with visible buttons, like the clothes that Wen Qing designed for Tang Quan Garment Factory before. One of them had side slits and looked very fashionable.
As a result, today Wenqing made a pair of trousers with a front slit. Instead of snap buttons, she used the zipper that they had been buying at the city market for seven cents a pair yesterday, and it was high-waisted.
Leaving aside zippers and high waists, the front slit... the front slit! In this era, only men's clothing had front slits. If a woman went out wearing pants with front slits, she would definitely be drowned in spittle.
But Wen Qing insisted on doing this, and even wanted to recruit the ten tailors who had applied and were waiting to be hired to make this batch of clothes. This, this... Aunt Xiao couldn't accept it.
Wen Qing took the dark khaki pants and said with a smile, "Hmm, not bad. I'll go try them on." With that, Wen Qing went to the backyard.
Bao Hong stared intently at the khaki high-waisted pants until Wen Qing was out of sight, then she said, "These pants are quite nice."
"Beautiful?" Aunt Xiao didn't think it was beautiful at all.
"Yes, it looks good."
A short while later, Wen Qing returned wearing dark khaki high-waisted pants.
Wen Qing was wearing a homemade beige shirt, a casual and loose style with a wide hem. She tucked the hem into her dark khaki high-waisted trousers, which immediately accentuated her slender waist. From her waist down were her straight legs, which extended all the way to her calves before the trousers' hemline flared out slightly, creating a wide-legged style that made Wen Qing's legs appear even straighter and thinner.
Bao Hong was immediately captivated. The first time she saw Wen Qing, she thought Wen Qing was exceptionally beautiful. She often thought to herself, "If I were half as beautiful as Sister Wen Qing, no, even just a tiny fraction of her beauty, I would gladly go a year without eating white flour." But seeing Wen Qing dressed like this, even as a girl, she was mesmerized by Wen Qing's beauty.
Aunt Xiao was also amazed.
The ten tailors who were initially not very optimistic about the khaki trousers with a front slit all thought the trousers looked good, but if they were actually side-slit trousers, they would not look good at all!
"Is it pretty?" Wen Qing stepped forward and asked them with a smile.
"Wen Qing, it's beautiful!" Bao Hong exclaimed first.
"Boss, it looks great!" the ten tailors said in unison.
Wen Qing looked at Aunt Xiao and asked, "Aunt Xiao, what do you think?"
Aunt Xiao nodded: "It's especially beautiful."
Upon hearing this, Wen Qing smiled, her whole demeanor brightening. She looked at everyone and said, "Alright, let's go with this one! Make five hundred of them first."
As soon as Wen Qing finished speaking, Aunt Xiao quickly came over, grabbed Wen Qing, and pulled her aside, saying, "Wen Qing, the pants are nice, but the front slit is too embarrassing. No one will dare to buy them."
Wen Qing laughed: "If we don't expose it, who will know?"
"But it's too embarrassing. Only men wear clothes with front slits," Aunt Xiao said again. "It's embarrassing for women to wear them."
Wen Qing said, "Aunt Xiao, I remember a couple of years ago, all the unmarried girls here wore two braids, two big braids. If a girl wore a ponytail, she would be pointed at and accused of being indecent and vain. She might even get a beating when she got home. But look, now on the streets, everyone is wearing ponytails. Not only has everyone accepted it, but everyone likes it."
"That's different."
"Aunt Xiao's era is evolving, and so are her clothes."
Although Aunt Xiao thought Wen Qing's words made sense, she still felt it was inappropriate: "You can't make 500 at once, that's too many. What if you can't sell them?" Aunt Xiao said worriedly, "You have to take it slow in business."
Wen Qing not only didn't dislike Aunt Xiao's words, but was also grateful that she was thinking of her. She still smiled and said, "Aunt Xiao, I know your concerns, but on the other hand, the risk is high and the reward is high. I want to give it a try. If the pants sell well this time, 'Feng Qing' can become well-known in the clothing industry. They will come to us by word of mouth instead of me bringing clothes to them. And we won't only have Zhang Xiuying and her two families as customers. I really want to test where the bottom line of this market is. I also want to know how far I can go and how high I can climb with my own brain."
Aunt Xiao looked at Wen Qing and remembered the Wen Qing of the past. Wen Qing used to come to her shop to buy a piece of cloth and would still give her a fee for her work. The difference was that Wen Qing would bring fine threads of various colors and make clothes herself. The clothes she made were very beautiful. At that time, she secretly thought that if Wen Qing was willing to make clothes for people, no tailor in Wangcheng County could be more sought after than Wen Qing.
As it turns out, Wen Qing's strength completely exceeded her expectations. Now, Wen Qing's daring and adventurous spirit have shown her a different side of Wen Qing. She is also an independent woman who relies on her own strength and doesn't care about her in-laws' opinions. Compared with the young Wen Qing, she is nothing at all. Wen Qing's far-sighted vision, her ability to be flexible and resilient, and her outstanding hard skills are beyond her reach. She not only admires her but also has a deeper respect for her.
"Okay, then five hundred!" Aunt Xiao finally made up her mind to give it a try with Wen Qing. There's no such thing as a business without risk. Only by doing what others can't do can you get what others can't get.
"Aunt Xiao, thank you for your support!" Wen Qing smiled, and then prepared to have another ten tailors make khaki pants. However, of the ten people notified in advance, only five showed up within the allotted time.
"Aren't the other five people coming?" Aunt Xiao asked.
The five tailors didn't know.
Bao Hong whispered, "It's probably because everyone is influenced by the rumors that our shop has closed down, so they won't get paid if they come to work, or they won't get paid even if they work."
Bao Hong spoke for everyone. The five tailors did think so, as did many others in the county, including Zhang Fangfang.
Zhang Fangfang had received the news early on. Taking advantage of her aunt going to play mahjong with Liang Wenhua and her uncle going to play chess with Ji Yousheng, she also found Ji Ningzhi.
Since being humiliated and injured at Aunt Xiao's tailor shop yesterday, Ji Ningzhi has been lying in her room without eating or drinking. Thinking about the humiliation she has suffered in the past few days, she feels that life is meaningless and even has suicidal thoughts. However, she is too cowardly, and the thought of suicide only frightens her into a cold sweat before she dismisses it.
"Ning Zhi." Zhang Fangfang knocked on the door.
Ji Ningzhi ignored it
Zhang Fangfang pushed open the door herself, carrying a package of spicy pig's trotters wrapped in oil paper and a porcelain jar of chicken soup, and came in: "Ning Zhi."
As soon as Zhang Fangfang entered, Ji Ningzhi smelled a mouthwatering aroma of meat. She swallowed hard and said impatiently, "What are you doing here?" She was still angry with Zhang Fangfang because it was Zhang Fangfang who said that Wen Qing had hidden Ji Yanjun.
Zhang Fangfang placed the pig's trotters and chicken soup on the table, walked up to Ji Ningzhi and said, "Ningzhi, I'm sorry."
Ji Ningzhi turned around, her back to Zhang Fangfang, ignoring her.
Zhang Fangfang lifted the mosquito net over Ji Ningzhi's bed and said, "Ningzhi, don't be angry with me. I really didn't know Yanjun went to the coast. I clearly saw him go to see Wen Qing that day. Who knew he went to the coast without even telling you or Auntie?"
Ji Ningzhi remained silent as usual.
Zhang Fangfang glanced at it and said, "Didn't you say you liked the dress with the ruffled collar that I was wearing? I happened to be in the city buying some, so I bought you a set."
Did you buy her a set?
Ji Ningzhi reacted slightly.
Zhang Fangfang continued, "Guess who I ran into while I was buying clothes?"
Ji Ningzhi's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately thought of Li Chuanli.
Sure enough, Zhang Fangfang said the next second, "I ran into Li Chuanli, and he asked you about it."
"What are you asking me?" Ji Ningzhi sat up abruptly, asking with great enthusiasm.
Zhang Fangfang smiled and said, "He asked you why you haven't been to class these past few days. He said it's okay if you failed the test once, and that you should do well on the test."
"Really? He really said that?" Ji Ningzhi asked excitedly.
Zhang Fangfang nodded: "Really."
"What else? What else? What else did he say?" Ji Ningzhi asked anxiously.
"He also said that once you go to school, he will take you to see a movie."
Upon hearing this, Ji Ningzhi smiled.
"Alright, look at the clothes I bought for you." Zhang Fangfang took out a green top with a lotus leaf collar and white capri pants, which immediately attracted Ji Ningzhi's attention.
Ji Ningzhi was immediately delighted.
Zhang Fangfang asked, "Are you still angry with me?"
Ji Ningzhi said, "I forgot."
“I love you just the way you are.” Zhang Fangfang reached out and poked Ji Ningzhi’s cheek, then said, “Here, I brought you some spicy pig’s trotters and chicken soup. I heard from your aunt that you haven’t eaten all day.”
"Yeah, it's all because of Wen Qing," Ji Ningzhi said fiercely.
"Actually, this is also my fault. I didn't figure out the truth."
“It’s not your fault, it’s Wen Qing’s fault. But it’s all over now, Wen Qing isn’t marrying my brother anymore, so it has nothing to do with me anymore. I can’t be bothered with her anyway,” Ji Ningzhi said.
Zhang Fangfang glanced at Ji Ningzhi and said with a smile, "That's right. Although she was injured and criticized, at least she got rid of Wen Qing, that clingy person."
Upon being accused of hurting someone, Ji Ningzhi immediately became furious: "She's the last person who should mess with me. If she doesn't get me, I'll make her pay!"
"By the way," Zhang Fangfang changed the subject, "did you know? Wen Qing's Aunt Xiao's tailor shop, the storefront was torn down, I heard it went out of business."
"It went bankrupt? That's great!" Ji Ningzhi cheered as she ate a pig's trotter.
"Everyone says so, so my tailor shop business will be even better now."
"You have a tailor shop?" Ji Ningzhi asked curiously, "You have a tailor shop?"
"The tailor shop across from Aunt Xiao's tailor shop is the one I own."
Ji Ningzhi was dumbfounded: "Sister Fangfang, you're still a student, and you're already making so much money. You're amazing! I admire you so much!"
"I'll take you to see it tomorrow, and we'll also make some clothes for your aunt and uncle." Zhang Fangfang paused for a moment, "And make a suit for your brother too."
“Okay, my brother will definitely like it,” Ji Ningzhi said, already thinking about what style of clothes would look good and planning to go to Zhang Fangfang’s shop to have one made tomorrow.
Seeing that Ji Ningzhi had returned to normal and that Liang Wenhua was as affectionate as usual towards her, Zhang Fangfang politely left the Ji family.
After leaving the Ji family's house, she didn't avoid Aunt Xiao's tailor shop as she used to. Instead, she walked directly past Aunt Xiao's shop. Seeing that the shopfront was gone and the storefront was filled with sewing machines being moved around, with no one working, she felt a sense of satisfaction. She thought to herself, "Didn't you deliver goods to the city yesterday? You've been slapped in the face today, haven't you? Your business is failing now, isn't it?"
Zhang Fangfang sneered, just in time to catch a glimpse of Wen Qing. When Wen Qing looked up and saw her, she smiled faintly, without any jealousy or hatred, but rather like an old friend. This surprised Zhang Fangfang greatly, but Wen Qing was always like this, laughing and joking as she pleased. Zhang Fangfang didn't take it seriously, still maintaining her gentle and magnanimous demeanor, smiled at Wen Qing, and then returned to her tailor shop, waiting for Aunt Xiao's tailor shop to go bankrupt and for Wen Qing to go back to the countryside.
Ignoring the pessimistic public opinion, Wen Qing bought the vacant house next to Aunt Xiao's tailor shop for three hundred yuan. In one day, she combined the two rooms, rearranged them, and had twenty loose-fitting cotton long-sleeved shirts and twenty pairs of dark khaki pants made into sets to hang in the shop.
It wasn't until the sun was setting that Wen Qing rode his bicycle back to Shuiwan Village along the dirt road.
The next morning, Wen Qing, wearing a beige casual shirt and dark khaki pants, pushed his bicycle and went to the county town with Yao Shiling, Wen Liang, and Wen Peng.
"Big sister, you look so beautiful!" Wen Peng kept looking at Wen Qing, because Wen Qing had drawn her eyebrows and applied light lipstick today, making her even more beautiful than before.
Yao Shiling disapproved of Wen Qing's slit pants. If Wen Liang and Wen Peng hadn't persuaded her, she would have made Wen Qing take his pants off.
However, although Yao Shiling agreed to let Wen Qing wear it, she was reluctant and didn't say much along the way.
"Big sister, why are we all wearing new clothes?" Wen Peng asked.
"Because my sister's shop is newly opened today, you all want to help her shop increase its popularity. I'll treat you to something good to eat later," Wen Qing said with a smile.
Opening for business?
Yao Shiling, Wen Liang, and Wen Peng thought they could just set off some firecrackers, but when they arrived at Aunt Xiao's tailor shop, it was deserted and there wasn't even a signboard. They also overheard passersby saying that Aunt Xiao's tailor shop had closed down.
It went bankrupt?
Yao Shiling, Wen Liang, and Wen Peng were all startled.
"Why aren't Aunt Xiao and Bao Hong here?" Yao Shiling asked, extremely worried, but Wen Qing seemed unhurried and confident.
In the tailor shop across the street, Zhang Fangfang and the shop assistant looked over here. The storefront sign had been taken down for more than a day. Now it was time to pack up and leave. They probably hadn't settled the money for those ten sewing machines yet.
Zhang Fangfang waited quietly for Wen Qing to leave.
Just then, Bao Hong ran over, panting, "Sister Wen Qing, I'm here, I'm here!"
"What's here?" Yao Shiling asked.
Wen Liang and Wen Peng were curious.
Just then, a string of firecrackers went off on the road. A small car, led by a distinctive-looking vehicle, slowly drove up, followed by another unusual car, and finally a light truck. On the truck were ten sewing machines neatly arranged, with two stainless steel signboards in front of them. Above the signboards were four exquisitely written characters: "Fengqing Garment Manufacturing." The characters "Fengqing" were particularly unique, something not found in the county town.
Before the firecrackers had stopped, three cars pulled up in front of Wen Qing, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.
Even Zhang Fangfang, who had been waiting for Wen Qing to pack up and leave, couldn't help but stand up. She watched as an older man and a younger man got out of the car, dressed smartly and smiling, and went up to shake hands with Wen Qing. They had flowers, red silk, a sewing machine from the truck, and the words "Feng Qing Clothing" on it. She felt a wave of dizziness.
"Fangfang, Fangfang." Zhang Fangfang's aunt quickly helped Zhang Fangfang up.
Zhang Fangfang stared intently at the opposite side. Only now did she realize that Aunt Xiao's tailor shop had closed down, but it had reappeared as the more upscale "Fengqing Garment Shop." Aunt Xiao was someone else's name, and Fengqing was named after Wen Qing.
Who spread the rumor that Aunt Xiao's tailor shop has closed down? How could such a rumor be circulating?
Zhang Fangfang looked up at the opposite side, and Wen Qing looked at her at the same time, giving her a faint smile. Zhang Fangfang was stunned, her brain went blank. Damn it! The rumors of the company's closure must have been spread by Wen Qing herself. She used the incident of the Ji family causing trouble to precisely choose this point to transform her business, and then, as if afraid that people wouldn't know, she first badmouthed herself. It's human nature to like hearing about other people's tragic stories, and so, the rumors spread like wildfire until everyone knew about Wen Qing.
Then now, she has people set up a stage, like a glamorous transformation, giving everyone a psychological and visual impact, creating a strong contrast in the hearts of the masses. If her clothes are a little more distinctive, the masses will spread the word about the event, and without her even leaving the house, a large number of people will come to order the clothes.
When Zhang Fangfang thought about it, she almost fainted from anger. Wen Qing, Wen Qing, Feng Qing Clothing, Feng Qing Clothing, Feng Qing... Why does it sound so familiar?
Zhang Fangfang remembered the clothes she was wearing. She couldn't look at the collar, so she turned around to face her aunt.
"Fangfang, what's wrong?"
Zhang Fangfang ignored her, reached over the collar of her aunt's clothes, and found a small blue cloth strip on the collar, with the words "Feng Qing" embroidered on it.
So, so, all those clothes she went to great lengths to buy at high prices, those clothes she cherished and carefully kept and ironed, were made by Wen Qing!
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