The house was rented, the sewing machine was borrowed from Aunt Fang's house, and scissors, an iron, and loose threads were Zhao Mingyue's biggest investments. Zhao Mingyue was the only owner of the shop; Shen Xuyue, as the owner's support, couldn't handle a needle and could only help with threading. He was useful for heavy lifting, though. However, for a garment manufacturing shop, apart from the sewing machine they initially brought in, there weren't many heavy items.
Zhao Mingyue's clothing store was quite different from later clothing stores. Apart from stocking some plain-colored fabrics for linings, she had no other fabrics; all the fabrics were provided by the customers themselves. It wasn't that Zhao Mingyue didn't want to stock them—having fabrics would have increased her profit margin—but these weren't market economies, and Zhao Mingyue didn't have the ability to buy large quantities of fabric. She had no money, and even less fabric ration coupons, so she could only earn a small processing fee.
Before the shop even opened, she had already received several orders, all from referrals by her teacher's wife. These included two cheongsams, three skirts, and two outfits. So, as soon as the shop opened, she was busy.
Shen Xuyue came in from outside, carrying a pot of plum juice: "Mingyue, have some plum juice."
Zhao Mingyue stopped what she was doing. It was really unbearable to work in this kind of weather. It was too hot, and she was sweating all the time. This was a tiled house in a courtyard, and it was already this hot. If it were a single-story house, it would be like a steamer.
She washed her hands and came over. Shen Xuyue had already poured the plum juice. She picked up the bowl and touched it: "Is it still chilled?"
"Yeah, I got it from Aunt Fang's house." Shen Xuyue chuckled. It wasn't far from Uncle Song's house, and Shen Xuyue often went there, bringing food and drinks with him.
Zhao Mingyue looked at Shen Xuyue and said, "Isn't this a bit unfair? You're always eating and drinking for free."
Shen Xuyue said, "It's alright, I'm helping out at her house every day with the hard work. Besides, you made them a few clothes too, so we're just repaying her."
Zhao Mingyue took a sip of the plum juice and felt every pore on her body open up; it felt so good. Shen Xuyue also took a sip and sighed contentedly, "So refreshing!"
Zhao Mingyue looked at Shen Xuyue and said apologetically, "Xuyue, I didn't even ask you what your plans were for the summer vacation."
Shen Xuyue smiled at Zhao Mingyue: "I don't have any other plans. I was originally thinking of going to climb Mount Tai and go to Qingdao to see the sea with you. But since you've already made your plans, I've rearranged mine. A professor in our department is doing an environmental survey, and I've signed up. I might have to go out to do the survey in a few days. I estimate it will take about a month. Will it be okay if you're all alone in Beijing?"
Zhao Mingyue looked at Shen Xuyue: "Where are you going to conduct the investigation? How many people are going?"
Shen Xuyue said, "We might go to some cities in Liaoning, Hebei, and Shandong with relatively developed heavy industries. There will be about four or five of us with the teachers. It's an official business trip, and the school will provide subsidies, so don't worry."
"Then you need to be careful out there, and don't overwork yourself. When are you leaving?" Zhao Mingyue looked at him with some concern. Going out to do research in this weather would definitely give him a severe sunburn.
Shen Xuyue said, "The day after tomorrow."
"Have you packed everything?"
"It's almost done. You'll be staying here tonight. Although the security is good, you still need to be careful. Check the doors and windows before you go to bed. If you encounter any difficulties, ask Aunt Fang and Xiao Rui for help. Don't try to handle it all alone," Shen Xuyue carefully instructed Zhao Mingyue. Zhao Mingyue didn't live at the school; she stayed directly at the shop. There was a small side room there where she slept at night, which also served as a changing room for the guests.
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "I know." She didn't expect them to have to part ways so soon; this was probably the longest they had ever been apart since they got together.
Shen Xuyue said, "I'll write to you. Don't eat so carelessly. I'll talk to the landlady and ask her to give me ten yuan a month so I can eat at her place." The house they rented only cost ten yuan a month, which was quite cheap.
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Okay. Take good care of yourself while you're away, eat well and get plenty of rest."
"Yes, I will."
Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment and then said, "When you go to test those wastewater and mineral wastes, you must protect yourself."
Shen Xuyue laughed and said, "I understand all of this, so don't worry. Our teacher is a professional."
Zhao Mingyue was somewhat reluctant to part, and felt a little guilty: "I'm sorry, Xuyue. Let's go on a trip again during the winter vacation, okay?"
Shen Xuyue smiled and nodded: "Okay, that's fine."
Sure enough, within two days, Shen Xuyue boarded a train heading north, heading straight for Shenyang. Zhao Mingyue, alone in Beijing with few familiar friends, suddenly felt a little empty. But thankfully, she had things to do; once she got busy, that slight unease was pushed away.
Zhao Mingyue charges ten yuan to make a cheongsam, while charging one yuan to make an ordinary dress or top. The price difference is huge. She can make three or four ordinary clothes a day, while a cheongsam takes at least three days to complete. Making cheongsams is the most time-consuming and expensive, but it's actually the least profitable. Zhao Mingyue prefers to make other things. The easiest to make are trousers; as long as the cut is good and the stitching is done, they're fine, and they have fewer buttons. Tops are more troublesome because they need to have some design elements, such as the collar, placket, sleeves, and hem, to make them unique. This way, people will buy them; otherwise, if they're just like everyone else, who will come to her shop?
There are many patterns for skirts, but for convenience, Zhao Mingyue only designed four patterns, drew them on paper, and offered them to customers for reference. Sometimes, there were finished products still in the store that hadn't been picked up yet, so she could use them as a reference. By deciding on the patterns, she didn't have to spend too much time thinking about them, and if there were too many patterns, others would copy them all at once, and she would have no advantage.
Just as Zhao Mingyue had predicted, business was quite good. Because the clothes were made, and people wore them, it created an advertising effect; acquaintances would inquire where they were made, leading to a steady stream of customers. Of course, many ready-made clothing stores also copied Zhao Mingyue's designs, something she couldn't stop, as it wasn't her original creation. Moreover, her manpower was limited; she only had two hands and simply couldn't meet everyone's needs. Her orders were already overwhelming.
Zhao Mingyue hired her landlady to help her with chores like sewing on buttons, buttonholes, and trimming loose threads. She was paid one cent per garment, whether it was pants, skirts, or tops. Zhao Mingyue didn't make complicated designs; with the landlady handling the details, she could finish about ten garments a day, earning the landlady one dollar a day – more profitable than making cardboard boxes at home. After finishing these tasks, the landlady could continue making cardboard boxes and doing her housework, without interfering with anything, and with extra income, Zhao Mingyue was happy to do it all.
The landlady, surnamed Cao, was a very warm and welcoming old lady. Zhao Mingyue rented her house, bringing in a few dozen yuan more income for them each month, which was certainly a good thing. Moreover, Zhao Mingyue was a college student—beautiful, polite, and easy to get along with—so Cao enjoyed working for her. Zhao Mingyue also had company; while working, she could occasionally listen to Cao's chatter, making her feel less lonely.
That day, Aunt Cao was busy in the backyard, and Zhao Mingyue was also busy when she heard someone knocking on the door: "Excuse me, is the boss home?"
As Zhao Mingyue looked up from her sewing machine, she saw Song Xiaorui leaning against the doorway, wearing the dress she had made for her, looking like a fairy. She excitedly called out, "Sister Xiaorui, please come in! What brings you here?"
Song Xiaorui stepped into the room and said, "Oh, it looks quite impressive." This was her first time in her own shop. She had been busy with exams and working overtime for a while, and she had finally managed to find some free time.
Zhao Mingyue pulled Song Xiaorui in, saying, "Sister Xiaorui, please have a seat. What brings you here today?" She then went to pour Song Xiaorui some water.
Song Xiaorui laughed and said, "You're so busy you've forgotten everything. Today is Sunday, a day off. You seem very busy. Are all the fabrics here for making clothes? Don't you have any days off?"
Zhao Mingyue looked at the fabrics on the shelf and smiled helplessly: "There are no rest days anymore. The orders are booked until August. Everyone is eager to wear new clothes, and I'm busy working overtime to finish them."
"Why don't you take on an apprentice to help you?" Song Xiaorui asked her.
Zhao Mingyue said, "Making clothes is something you can't learn in a short time. I'm not going to run the shop long-term, so where would I find apprentices willing to come and learn?" Aunt Cao had originally thought that Zhao Mingyue's business was so good and the clothes she made were so beautiful, so she wanted her daughter to come and learn from her. But when she heard that Zhao Mingyue would only work until the end of the summer vacation, she knew that she definitely wouldn't be able to learn in such a short time, so she gave up the idea.
“It’s not good for you to be so busy all by yourself. If it’s hard to find apprentices, then find a skilled worker,” Song Xiaorui said.
Zhao Mingyue said, "Yeah, I'd like to too, but I don't know anyone here. I'm all alone, and I don't know anyone well, so it doesn't seem very reliable."
Song Xiaorui nodded, "That makes sense." She drank some water, rested for a while, and then started wandering around the room. The room was filled with clothes made by Zhao Mingyue, both finished and unfinished. Looking at a completed purple cheongsam, Song Xiaorui exclaimed in surprise, "Mingyue, you can make cheongsams?"
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "That's right. Sister Xiaorui, do you like wearing cheongsams? If you do, I can do something for you."
Song Xiaorui touched the cheongsam, examining its workmanship closely: "It's so beautifully made. Did you really make it?"
“Yes. Sister Xiaorui’s figure is perfect for wearing cheongsams. You are tall and have long legs, but your frame isn’t particularly large or thin, so you’ll definitely look good in one,” Zhao Mingyue said with a smile.
Song Xiaorui blushed a little at the compliment. She touched her hair and said, "Really? But I've never worn one before. I usually wear a military uniform to work, so I don't need it. I feel embarrassed."
Zhao Mingyue said, "How about this, Sister Xiaorui, I'll make you a red cheongsam so you can wear it when you get married, okay?"
Song Xiaorui blushed even more: "I'm not even close to getting married yet."
"Didn't Xu Yue say he already has news about your boyfriend? He's coming back at the end of the year, aren't you going to get married then?" Zhao Mingyue laughed.
Song Xiaorui smiled shyly and said, "I don't know either, and it's so cold, why would I wear a cheongsam?"
“We also have cheongsams for winter. How about this, if you really decide to get married, I’ll make you a dress, okay?” Zhao Mingyue said.
Looking at Zhao Mingyue's cooking, Song Xiaorui saw that it was indeed very good, so she nodded and said, "Then thank you in advance."
"It's settled then."
Song Xiaorui spent an afternoon with Zhao Mingyue, watching as her hands seemed to possess magic, cutting pieces of fabric into strips, piecing them together to form a complete garment, and folding scraps of fabric and sewing them into decorative lace, which became embellishments on the clothes.
Song Xiaorui exclaimed, "Mingyue, Xiaoxu is so lucky to have found such a skillful and clever wife like you."
Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "Sister Xiaorui, don't joke around. I'm not his wife yet."
"What, you haven't thought about marrying him? Has he never mentioned it to you?" Song Xiaorui asked.
Zhao Mingyue paused for a moment: "I have thought about it, and he has said it too, but no one can predict the future. I'll just let nature take its course. You can't force marriage."
Song Xiaorui reached out and gently removed a loose thread from her hair: "It's rare that you've thought things through so clearly. But I think you two will definitely be together. It might not be as smooth as we imagine, but we shouldn't give up easily."
Zhao Mingyue nodded, "I definitely will." Zhao Mingyue knew that Shen Xuyue's parents hadn't shown up yet. Judging from Shen Xuyue's marriage to Wu Jie in his previous life, his family must be very traditional, and his parents' authority was considerable. Their plans might not go smoothly. But Zhao Mingyue didn't intend to give up so easily; she was determined to fight for it.
Song Xiaorui said, "Let me give you a heads-up first. My Uncle Shen and his wife have always been strict with their children since they were young, and Xiaoxu has always been very filial and obedient. They might not be the easiest to talk to. But my mom and I support you both. A girl as good as you is more than a match for Xiaoxu, so don't give up easily. Keep going!"
Zhao Mingyue thought to herself, "Just as I expected." She breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "Okay."
Song Xiaorui said, "I believe Xiaoxu will definitely stick to his guns. If he's willing to give up such a treasure like you, I will definitely help you find a better man than him, and make him regret it."
Zhao Mingyue couldn't help but laugh.
That evening, Zhao Mingyue invited Song Xiaorui to dinner. Song Xiaorui insisted on paying herself, but Zhao Mingyue said, "Sister Xiaorui, I can earn money now, and I earn just as much as you do every day. Let me treat you this once."
Song Xiaorui laughed: "Alright then, you can treat. You're richer than me now. Hey, tell me secretly, how much money do you make in a day?"
Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment: "After deducting all costs, I can usually make two or three yuan." This was a conservative estimate. Song Xiaorui said: "That's not much. How many clothes can you make in a day?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "If I only make skirts, I can make five or six sets a day. I prefer making skirts. Although I have to do some lace and patterns, it's still fast. I can earn one yuan per skirt. But if I make cheongsams, it takes at least three days. A cheongsam costs ten yuan. So I actually prefer to make ordinary skirts."
Song Xiaorui looked like she suddenly understood: "Are there many people who make cheongsams?"
"It's alright. After all, making cheongsams is expensive, and there are few opportunities to wear them. Only people who really like them and have plenty of money will make them. I'm happy to have some free time," Zhao Mingyue said.
Song Xiaorui said, "I'll go back and promote your business, and I'll get all my friends and colleagues to have their clothes made here. Can you make all kinds of clothes?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "Pretty much. I can also make men's suits, but the fabric is hard to find now, and fewer people wear suits." Suits won't become popular until the early 1980s, so it will take another two years.
Song Xiaorui nodded: "Okay, I'll go back and talk to everyone. Why don't you take a break from everything and come visit me? I see you're always busy with your head down, it must be hard for you. Anyway, there's no specific delivery date, so take a break now and then. You can never earn all the money in the world."
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Okay, I'll take one day off a week too."
"A balance between work and rest is the right approach."
After Song Xiaorui returned home, she indeed brought several friends over to have clothes made. Everyone came because of Song Xiaorui, but they were all somewhat surprised when they saw the clothes Zhao Mingyue had made. Even though they were well-traveled and knowledgeable, they hadn't necessarily seen so many fashionable styles before; after all, Zhao Mingyue had created some timeless pieces.
On Saturday, Zhao Mingyue finally gave herself a day off. She posted a note on the door: "This shop is closed for one day. Please come tomorrow for custom orders and clothing pickups. We apologize." As she closed the door, Zhao Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief. Running a business is really not easy. Generally speaking, being your own boss is much more free than working for someone else, but you don't have the same freedom in terms of time as an office worker. You practically work all year round.
Zhao Mingyue visited Song Xiaorui and had lunch together. In the afternoon, she went back to school to visit Mao Jianlan. Mao Jianlan had applied to stay at the school and was looking for work in Beijing, staying at the school at night. Zhao Mingyue knew that she had found a temporary job at a factory run by a local government office. Later, Zhao Mingyue got busy and didn't have time to go back to see her.
With summer vacation on, the school was nearly deserted, feeling somewhat unfamiliar. The ground, untouched by footsteps, was covered in tenacious little grasses that had sprouted again. Zhao Mingyue wasn't very confident she'd run into Mao Jianlan, since it was during working hours. However, if she wasn't there, she'd stay in the dorm until evening, at least saying hello before leaving when Mao Jianlan returned.
When Zhao Mingyue arrived at the dormitory, she found that the door was locked from the inside, which meant that Mao Jianlan should be in the dormitory. She knocked on the door: "Jianlan, open the door, I'm back."
But no one answered from inside. Zhao Mingyue peeked through the gap in the curtains but couldn't see any movement. So she pounded on the door again: "Jianlan, open the door! Are you in there?"
Then a dull thud came from inside the house, and something fell to the ground. Zhao Mingyue sensed something was wrong: "Jianlan, are you in there? Open the door! Say something!"
There were more noises coming from inside, like groans. Zhao Mingyue panicked. What was wrong with Mao Jianlan? Without thinking, she took a step back and kicked the door open with a loud bang. Perhaps she should be thankful the door was old and not sturdy enough. Zhao Mingyue rushed in and was shocked: "Jianlan, what happened to you?" Mao Jianlan lay on the floor, her hair disheveled and her face deathly pale. Her lips were bloodless; she must have fallen off the bed. There was a puddle of filth beside the bed.
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