On a sunny afternoon, sunlight filtered through the glass windows and fell onto the coffee table in the activity room of the military district courtyard.
Pan Yun was wearing a brand new camel-colored knitted cardigan with a classic dark blue woolen coat on the outside. She looked particularly energetic and had a rare sense of fashion.
She held a cup of hot tea and looked at the old sisters sitting together with a smile.
"Panyun, your outfit is so fashionable! This sweater looks so warm, and the stitching is so dense. Where did you buy it?"
Retired Mr. Li pushed up his glasses and asked curiously.
Pan Yun's heart was filled with joy, but on the surface he pretended to be calm, gently stroking the sleeve of his sweater:
"Hey, where can I buy it? My hometown Qingyang, they insisted it was cold and asked them to make a few pieces from the factory in the south and send them over. I said, 'I'll send it to you,' but they insisted. This kid..."
There was a hint of showing off in his tone.
"Oh! Are you working in the Qingyang factory?" Aunt Zhang next to her came closer to take a look and touched the material of the clothes.
"Is it that sweater that's so popular in the department store? My daughter's been nagging about it for ages, but she's been lining up and hasn't been able to buy it! And this sweater? The style is really wrong. It's knitted like the ones we have here, so bulky and heavy."
"Is it okay?" Pan Yun stood up and turned around slightly. "I also think this kid is messing around, but it's quite comfortable to wear and fits well."
Throughout the afternoon tea time, Panyun was almost the focus.
While playing cards, she kept her ears perked up and her eyes busy, carefully observing her sisters' reactions to her outfit and memorizing them silently in her mind.
After the card game was over, Pan Yun hurried home and happened to run into Lu Qingyang and Chen Mo.
"Mom, did you have fun today?" Shen Mo asked with a smile.
"Happy! I have something to tell you!" Panyun took off her clothes, hung them up carefully, and took her son to start "reporting work":
"Qingyang, several old sisters have praised your clothing making skills today!" She first set the tone, then changed the subject and began to pass on "first-hand intelligence":
"Well, the little girl from Old Wang's family, the one who studies painting, said your dress is really good, except that the buttons are not those round Western-style buttons. She thinks it would be more unique and tasteful if you changed them to more Chinese-style buttons, perhaps with the same color material. I think what she said makes sense."
Lu Qingyang listened carefully and nodded: "Button...it's indeed an idea. We can try making a small series."
Panyun felt even more excited after receiving the affirmation. "And there's Old Mrs. Li, the one with a bit of hearing loss. She touched her coat pocket and said, 'Panyun, this pocket is so nice, but it's a little shallow. I'm always worried my reading glasses and silk key ring will fall out.' Listen, we have to consider practical matters, too, right?"
Shen Mo smiled at the side: "Mom, you observe very carefully. Grandma Li is right. You really need to pay attention to the depth of your pockets."
"And more," Panyun lowered her voice, as if sharing some important secret. "Several of them asked me about this sweater. They all said the color is beautiful and makes me look young. They also asked if there is a brighter color? For example... purple? They said it's the end of the year, and wearing a bright color is festive!"
Lu Qingyang quickly took out the notebook he carried with him and wrote it down: "Purple... well, camel and navy are more stable. I want to add some brighter colors to cater to the New Year atmosphere. Mom, your information is too heavy!"
Receiving his son's affirmation, Pan Yun felt that he had completed his mission extremely satisfactorily. He smiled brightly and felt extremely proud.
"You guys chat, you guys talk about business, I'll go see if Aunt Liu needs help!" She walked towards the kitchen contentedly, her steps much lighter than usual.
Lu Qingyang suddenly remembered that the clothing brand did not have an official brand name yet.
"Xiao Mo, what do you think our clothes should be called?"
Shen Mo shook her head: "I don't care about these things, as long as the clothes are comfortable to wear."
"It also has an easy-to-remember name. Look at the signs on the field. A good name makes it easy to remember."
He rubbed his temples. "I think a lot, and I think they are all good enough."
Suddenly, Lu Qingyang raised his head, his eyes lit up: "Jasmine... How about Jasmine? Jasmine brand clothing is easy to remember and sounds good."
Chen Mo paused, her face slightly flushed: "Use my name? This is so appropriate..."
The more Lu Qingyang thought about it, the better he thought this idea was. "How is it suitable? Jasmine has a delicate and elegant fragrance, bold yet memorable. It perfectly matches the style of our clothes, which are exaggerated but durable, emphasizing quality and detail. And it's because of you that I'm thinking of making clothes."
At this moment, Panyun came out of the kitchen and overheard the last few words of Xiao's conversation. She immediately chimed in, "Jasmine? That's a nice name! Fresh and elegant, and easy to remember."
Shen Mo was still a little hesitant: "Mom, this is too personal..."
"It's better to be personalized!" Pan Yun wiped her apron and sat down next to Chen Mo. "A name with a story is something that touches people. Look at those time-honored brands, which one doesn't have a story behind it?"
Lu Qingyang nodded: "Mom is right, and jasmine is elegant but not vulgar, it has a refreshing fragrance in spring and summer, and in autumn-"
He pointed to the camel-colored sweater on his mother and said, "Just like our clothes, they are suitable for all seasons."
Shen Mo finally smiled and nodded: "Okay, since you all think so."
Pan Yun clapped her hands happily, "It's settled! Jasmine brand! I can show it off to my old sisters at the tea party tomorrow!"
After a while, Panyun was back in the spotlight.
"Panyun, the color of this sweater is so beautiful! Is it a new one in your family?" Aunt Zhang asked while touching the purple sweater.
Panyun nodded with a smile: "Oh, our Jasmine brand New Year series."
"Jasmine brand? Want to give it a name?" Several old sisters immediately gathered around.
"Oh," Panyun said with pride, "My son named his daughter-in-law after her, saying that her efforts deserved this honor."
Old Wang's daughter's eyes lit up. "Jasmine... sounds so nice! Simple and elegant. Auntie, can I help you design the logo? I think a simple jasmine flower would be a good choice."
Panyun was pleasantly surprised: "That's great, Qingyang just said he was looking for someone to draw it for him!"
Mrs. Li also came over and said, "Panyun, last time you said you had deep pockets, do you have any this time?"
Panyun expertly showed off the deep pockets on the side of the sweater. "Feel it, Sister Li. Is it deep enough? I added a layer of lining to keep your reading glasses from falling out."
"Great, great! That's very thoughtful!" Mrs. Li nodded repeatedly. "I also want to buy one for my daughter. Panyun, can you please ask Qingyang to save one for me?"
"No problem, we're neighbors. If you want it, you can go to the department store and buy it. I guess they'll be putting up a sign in a few days."
"So amazing, even in the department store."
After the tea party, Panyun hurried home with a smile on his face.
Lu Qingyang and Shen Mo were discussing the production of the first batch of signs in the living room. When they saw their mother come back, they asked in unison, "Mom, how was the day?"
Panyun, before she even had time to take off her clothes, was eager to share the good news: "My sisters all said the name 'Jasmine' is nice and easy to remember! Old Wang's daughter even helped us design the logo! Old Li's wife said she'd buy it for her daughter..."
The department store was bustling with people, and the newly hung "Jasmine Brand" sign stood out prominently. The simple outline of the jasmine flower was elegant and unique, a true masterpiece of the Wang family's daughter. The words "Jasmine Brand Clothing" were written delicately but lacked strength.
There were already quite a few people gathered in front of the counter.
Several salespeople were busy in the store early in the morning.
Panyun Lu Qingyang and the others stood at the door, watching how many people stopped to watch.
"Oh, is this the 'Jasmine Brand'? Panyun, it's so hard for us to find it!" Aunt Zhang's voice could be heard from far away. She was seen walking towards us excitedly through the crowd with a few old sisters.
"Lao Zhang, you guys are really here!" Pan Yun greeted him with surprise. She was wearing the new purple sweater, which made her face look particularly rosy.
"Well! Pan Yun has been talking about you for several days. Shall we come and show our support?" Old Mrs. Li also smiled. She approached the counter and immediately fell in love with the navy blue dress with deep pockets.
"This is it! Panyun, quickly get me one, let my daughter try it on! This pocket... let me feel it, oh my, it's really deep, now I feel relieved!"
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