Chapter 14 Her embroidery fame spread throughout the capital, her elegant reputation resounding throughout Bianliang. ...
Within three days of the publication of "Shuyu Ji," the literary world of Bianjing (Kaifeng) had reached the point where paper was scarce in Luoyang. Golden words and jade phrases spread like the east wind along the riverbank, filling the willows along the Bian River. The five characters "Huayunge Custom-Made" also gained fame and became a popular topic of conversation.
Just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM) that day, outside the vermilion doors of Huayun Pavilion, carriages were speeding and crowds were thronging, completely blocking the entire Quyuan Street.
After Su Jinxiu finished entertaining several wealthy customers, it was already past noon.
She finished recording the last order at the rosewood ledger when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from the front yard. She rushed forward to greet them.
Several servants in blue robes struggled to squeeze through the crowd, carrying a half-person-high box made of golden nanmu wood. The box was lacquered and shiny, sealed with vermilion brocade paper, and stamped with the seal of the Shen family's business. It was clearly a rare treasure.
Upon seeing Su Jinxiu, the head servant bowed and said loudly, "May I ask if you are Madam Su? I am here on the orders of the Imperial Merchant Shen Mansion to deliver the newly tribute Yun brocade from Jiangnan." He then added, "My mistress instructed that, apart from making five outfits, the rest of this Yun brocade will be given to you as a bonus, so that you can finish your clothes before the Qixi Festival and show off your elegance at the moon-viewing banquet."
Linlang, the embroiderer who was always on good terms with Su Jinxiu, came over and smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits: "Jinxiu, this is great! You've led Huayun Pavilion to soar to new heights!"
Su Jinxiu originally only wanted to take advantage of the trend and get a few more orders, but she did not expect it to become so popular. The orders for mulberry paper piled up on the table were already overflowing.
The power of influencer marketing should not be underestimated.
Just as he was about to return to the front hall to sort out the orders, Xie Hongying's voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Qiao Niang! Qiao Niang!"
Su Jinxiu looked up from the pile of orders that was about a foot high and saw him entering from outside the door in a black and gold brocade robe, looking dashing and spirited. His hair was neatly styled and his black belt hung down to his shoulders, showing that he had carefully groomed himself.
“My mother sent me to order autumn clothes for the whole household, as well as some miscellaneous embroidered items. The list is here.” He handed over a plain note, and four servants in blue robes stepped forward, each carrying a gilded brocade box.
Su Jinxiu reached out and opened a box. The box was full of gleaming silver ingots, so dazzling that it made one's eyes dizzy. She quickly looked up and said, "I don't need so many. One box is enough for what I need. No matter how rich your family is, it didn't grow on trees. Take the rest back."
Xie Hongying chuckled inwardly. His family's businesses spanned the north and south, and his wealth was indeed abundant. However, he simply waved his hand and said, "Your skills are worthy of it."
Su Jinxiu remained adamant about not accepting more, leaving Xie Hongying with no choice but to compromise: "In that case, we'll keep it with you for now. We'll deduct the cost from any future clothing orders made by the Xie family."
She suddenly remembered that Xie Hongying was now good friends with Wen Shiqin, and hurriedly asked, "Have you seen Aqin these past few days?"
Xie Hongying pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head and said, "Now that you mention it, I realize I haven't seen him for many days, and I wonder what he's been busy with."
Su Jinxiu's anticipation vanished in an instant, and she responded softly, "Fine."
Afterwards, Xie Hongying chatted idly, telling interesting stories from the capital, but Su Jinxiu was absent-minded and only responded absentmindedly. After finally persuading him to take back the remaining silver and see him to the door, she hurried back to the front hall of Huayun Pavilion.
Laughter and chatter filled Huayun Pavilion as the embroiderers put down their needles and thread from their frames and gathered around the accounting table to help with arranging and counting orders. Even Manshu, usually the most composed and steady, couldn't help but tap the order sheet and chuckle, "Judging by this, you'll probably be busy until midnight every day from now on. But being able to work with such fine materials makes me very happy."
Only Danli, the embroiderer in the corner, glanced at the scene. Upon seeing this, she scoffed, threw her needle and thread onto the frame, turned and left, leaving behind the words, "She just got in through connections. She really thinks she's so capable."
Su Jinxiu pretended not to hear. She had never gotten along with Danli and didn't want to spoil everyone's fun. She simply raised her hand and said, "Never mind anything else, deciding on the pattern is the most important thing."
"These... they've all already paid half a deposit." She was sorting through the orders when she suddenly realized what was going on and grabbed Linlang's sleeve, saying urgently, "Linlang! Quickly have someone hang a wooden sign at the door saying 'Temporarily Closed for Orders'!"
Linlang was smiling as she checked the ledgers when she heard this and raised an eyebrow: "It's only just started to get lively, why are you already putting up signs?"
"If this continues, even if I were the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, I wouldn't be able to finish embroidering them all!" Su Jinxiu said anxiously, pointing to the pile of orders. "Just the Shen family's orders alone will take a month to embroider. If we add up the rest, it might delay the work we've already done, and we can't afford to waste their money!"
Seeing that Su Jinxiu was sweating profusely with anxiety, Linlang smiled and agreed, then led the shop assistant to hang up the sign. Su Jinxiu finally breathed a sigh of relief, carrying the lacquer box containing the deposit, and hurried back to the new independent embroidery room that An Chisu had prepared for her. She placed the lacquer box on the table, and as she counted the silver ingots and loose silver, they made a clear, ringing sound.
The hundred taels of silver, converted from the chest of newly made tribute brocade from Jiangnan belonging to the Shen family, plus the loose silver from scattered orders, amounted to nearly two hundred taels.
This was her first real pot of gold, enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for more than ten years.
Every silver ingot in this box was proof that she had a firm foothold, but her first thought was to tell Wen Shiqin that she felt the joy was less intense without him to share it with her.
Although he always left notes every day, such as "Keep honey-fried kumquats warm on the stove" or "It's going to rain today, don't forget to bring an umbrella," he never showed his face.
Was he really in a hurry as the note said, or was he deliberately avoiding her?
Su Jinxiu suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her mind, found the lacquered square box, carefully placed more than a hundred taels of silver into the box, and carried it to An Chisu's embroidery room on the second floor of Huayun Pavilion.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw An Chisu, dressed in a crimson lace dress, raising her hand to gather the corners of her sleeves, about to leave. The pearls in her hair swayed and trembled as she moved. Seeing her, An Chisu's eyes curved into crescents: "Jinxiu, you look radiant with joy!" Her gaze swept over the box An Chisu was carrying, and she pressed, "What's this?"
Su Jinxiu lifted the lid of the box, and the hundred taels of silver gleamed in the sunlight. She said sincerely, "Sister Chisu, here is a hundred taels of silver. If it weren't for you taking me into the embroidery workshop that day, I would still be doing odd jobs. It is also because of your kindness that I was able to meet Yusheng and have the income I have today. You are my benefactor, so you must accept this silver."
Looking at her sincere expression, An Chisu was even more delighted. This girl not only had superb embroidery skills, but was also exceptionally loyal and affectionate. She smiled and sighed, "I really didn't misjudge you. You are so polite and affectionate. No wonder Ying Bumei thinks of you every day and forgets to eat and sleep for you."
Su Jinxiu's smile vanished instantly upon hearing the words "Ying Bumei." Seeing this, An Chisu changed the subject: "Huayun Pavilion's business is booming, but I'm overwhelmed with琐事 (trivial matters) and can't manage everything properly. Jinxiu, would you be willing to take on the role of deputy manager and oversee the scheduling of embroidery work and order management?"
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu was so shocked that she opened her mouth in astonishment. After a long while, she stammered, "I...I'm afraid I'm not up to the task. After all, I haven't been in the cabinet for very long, and I'm afraid I won't be able to win people's respect..."
“You are the most suitable.” An Chisu interrupted her, her tone firm. “Your embroidery skills are unparalleled in the pavilion, and your character and conduct are respected by everyone. This matter cannot be left to anyone else.”
Su Jinxiu's orders were overflowing with profits, and she accepted the position of deputy manager. The embroiderers surrounded her to congratulate her, and Linlang was overjoyed, her eyebrows practically dancing with delight. She stepped forward, tugged at Su Jinxiu's sleeve, and said with a touch of innocent excitement, "Jinxiu, you're amazing! With you in charge of Huayun Pavilion, it's sure to be even more prosperous! Come on, I'll treat you to some soup dumplings at Hongji's at the end of the alley. Their chicken soup dumplings are so delicious!"
Su Jinxiu was touched by Linlang's enthusiasm. Even though she was the one who benefited, Linlang was the one who insisted on treating her. She smiled and nodded, "It's my treat. I'll take everyone to Fanlou for a drink later."
"Fanlou?" The embroiderers immediately surrounded her with joy, calling out "Second Master." Su Jinxiu's ears burned from their calls, but she waved her hand generously and said, "Just order whatever you like later."
The vermilion gates of Fanlou opened, revealing a coffered ceiling inside painted with soaring cranes amidst clouds, and lanterns hanging under the eaves illuminating the entire hall with vibrant colors. Attendants, all dressed in short blue robes, came and went, and the sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from the private rooms, mingling with the mellow aroma of aged wine, making one dizzy with enchantment.
The embroiderers clutched the hems of their coarse cloth skirts, their steps becoming lighter. Gazing at the inscriptions by famous figures hanging on the wall, they whispered in amazement at the grandeur of this premier restaurant in the capital. Ordinary street taverns never had such a spectacle; even the floor tiles were finely ground clay bricks, so shiny they could reflect one's image.
Su Jinxiu led everyone up the stairs to the second floor, chose a private room by the window, and called over the waiter to announce the menu.
"Ladies, please feel free to order. Today, there are no restrictions on price."
After the waiter left, Su Jinxiu smiled and discussed with them, "From now on, I will distribute all the custom orders at Huayun Pavilion as I can, and add bonuses on top of the monthly salary, so that everyone will have plenty of money."
The embroiderers immediately beamed with joy and praised her for her kindness.
As they were talking, Su Jinxiu suddenly saw a figure standing in the corridor downstairs. The figure was as slender as a pine tree, and his profile was as delicate as carved jade. His brow bone was clearly defined, and he even resembled Wen Shiqin somewhat.
Her heart tightened, and the few glasses of light wine she had just drunk instantly sobered her up. She quickly rubbed her eyes and looked again, but there were only diners coming and going, and not a single familiar figure in sight.
The laughter of the embroiderers around her began again. "You said you wanted to buy a piece of floral fabric for your younger siblings," one said, "I said I wanted to save money to buy a silver hairpin." Their lively chatter was filled with warmth. Su Jinxiu suppressed her inner turmoil and joined their conversation with a smile.
After the banquet, she paid the bill and led the smiling girls slowly towards Huayun Pavilion in the twilight.
It's wonderful that life is always full of hope.
After everyone's laughter subsided, Su Jinxiu returned to Xiuxiang. As she approached the gate, she felt a mix of trepidation and longing for home. Deep in her heart lingered a hope that even she found absurd: that she might bump into that figure when she opened the courtyard gate.
Su Jinxiu's heart skipped a beat, and she called out urgently, "Aqin..."
With no one answering, she searched the entire courtyard again, from the front yard planted with pomegranates to the west wing piled with embroidery frames, and even under the old locust tree where he often sat, only fallen leaves remained on the stone bench.
The surprise just now was like a paper lantern that had been punctured, leaving only a cold, desolate mess.
She stood frozen in front of his door, then gently pushed it open. There lay a blue cloth bundle, its edges still dusty, indicating that he had returned and left in haste.
Su Jinxiu suppressed the emptiness that welled up in her heart and reached out to move his bundle a little further in so that it wouldn't slip off.
As soon as the corner of the fabric was touched, a small object slid out from the gap.
It is a hairpin used to express feelings.
The hairpin is adorned with a pomegranate blossom with clustered pearls, and the petals of the pith paper still retain a faint blush of rouge. Young women in Bianjing often used such small items to convey their feelings. Although the pith paper flower is not as beautiful as a real flower, it can last a long time and hides unspoken pure thoughts.
Su Jinxiu picked it up and examined it closely. There was a tiny "楹" character engraved on the end of the hairpin, which she wondered was someone's maiden name.
A note from the author:
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