The rear office of the governor, unlike the solemn and dignified front courtyard, has its own elegant and serene charm. Shen Ruoxin followed the guide, Manager Zhou, through the corridor of the copycat and around the Linglong rockery. The air was filled with a faint fragrance of orchids.
Her heart was beating a little faster than usual, but her steps remained steady. The semi-old tweed sedan chair was parked outside the corner gate, in sharp contrast to the grandeur of the mansion. But her straight back did not show the slightest sign of hunchback because of this contrast.
In the main hall sat a middle-aged woman dressed in autumn lotus pattern 褙子, with pearl on her forehead. Her face was calm, but her eyes carried a sharp insight into the world. This is the legal wife of Lord Zhou, the governor of Pingjiang, Mrs. Sun.
"Commoner Shen Ruoxin has met the lady of the prefect." Shen RuOXIN CAME forward, BEHAVED PROPERLY TO PERFORM A 万福礼, THE MOVEMENT WAS smooth, NOT WITH a touch of MERCHANT 市侩气, INSTEAD EXuded scholarly family of education.
Lady Sun did not call out immediately. Her gaze lingered on her for a moment before she spoke gently, "Miss Shen Er, there's no need to be overly polite. Please bestow your seat upon me." The voice is not high, but it has an air of authority.
The maidservant brought out fragrant tea.
Lady Sun sized up Shen Ruoxin and smiled, saying, "I've long heard that the embroidery of the Splendid Pavilion is unparalleled in the prefectural city. Today, seeing Miss Shen Er, you are indeed young and promising, with an extraordinary demeanor."
This statement may seem complimentary, but it also conceals a temptation. Shen Ruoxin knew that this recluse lady of the prefect could not have been completely unaware of the rumors about her.
"Madam, your praise is too high. This commoner doesn't deserve it." Shen Ruoxin bowed and said, "It is the good fortune of the folk girls and the over a hundred embroiderers and assistants in the Splendid Pavilion that have received the madam's favor."
She did not directly respond to "young and promising", but ingeniously attributed the credit to the collective and pointed out the fact that the Jinxiu Pavilion "supported over a hundred people", calmly responding to those accusations of "showing off in public".
A glimmer of approval flashed in Mrs. Sun's eyes as she nodded. "I heard that the Jinxiu Pavilion has recently launched a 'phoenix Interwoven with Peony' screen, which is exquisitely crafted and has attracted the attention of the entire city." When Lord Zhou mentioned it by chance, I also became a little curious. She got straight to the point.
Yes. That screen was an idea that my father had during his lifetime. The folk girl, the two instructors in the pavilion, and over a dozen top embroiderers devoted their efforts to carrying on my father's will and leaving something commendable for the Suzhou embroidery technique.
Shen Ruoxin said, gesturing for A Xing to carefully present the sample of the screen she had brought.
Although the screen sample is only one foot square, its composition is grand. The peonies are elegant and noble, and the phoenix's feathers are clearly layered and lifelike. Especially the phoenix's eyes, shining with brilliance, seemed as if it were about to flap its wings and fly out in the next moment.
Lady Sun examined it carefully for a moment, her gaze lingering on the phoenix's feathers: "It's truly a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship." Just... It seems that gold and silver wires were not used?
Finally, the key point was asked.
Shen Ruoxin said calmly:
Madam Hui, the original design did indeed require gold and silver threads to outline the phoenix feathers in order to appear magnificent. It's just that recently, gold and silver threads have been hard to come by in the market. The folk girls and the instructors have repeatedly considered that it would be a pity if they were to stop working because of this.
Therefore, they boldly attempted to switch to splitting ice silk and using various similar color threads. By employing the methods of "rolling the needle" and "snatching the needle", they layer upon layer to simulate the texture of the gold and silver luster and the phoenix's feathers.
Although not as dazzling as gold and silver threads, it still has a touch of reserved elegance. Perhaps, it can better reflect the exquisite needlework of Suzhou embroidery itself.
She paused for a moment and continued, "Just as all things in the world are beautiful, being brilliant and dazzling is a kind of beauty, and so is being gentle and reserved." Although the Jinxiu Pavilion is now in a difficult situation, we believe that as long as we put our hearts into it, even with ordinary clothes and hairpins, we can still paint a splendid chapter that rivals gold and jade. This is also a bit of the sentiment that Minnu wants to express through this work.
This statement not only explains why gold and silver threads were not used (a veiled reference to Zhang Ji's suppression), but also turns the disadvantage into confidence in the craftsmanship itself and the pursuit of "reserved beauty", and more subtly reveals an indomitable spirit in the face of adversity.
Lady Sun listened quietly. The sharpness of her scrutinizing gaze gradually softened, replaced by a deeper appreciation: "Even a simple robe and a hairpin can depict a splendid chapter..." Well said.
She nodded slightly.
Miss Shen Er not only has superb embroidery skills, but also her insight and broad-mindedness are truly admirable. No wonder... Even Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Li, the magistrate, speak highly of you.
She seemed to casually mention the two wives of officials, but in fact, she was telling Shen Ruoxin: I know your "predestined" strategy. I know your core customers as well.
Shen Ruoxin understood in her heart and smiled slightly:
It is an honor for the Splendid Pavilion to have received the wrong love from the ladies. Minnu has always believed that doing business, just like being a person, emphasizes the two words "honesty".
When guests trust us and entrust their money to us, we must repay them with the best craftsmanship and sincerity. Jinxiu Pavilion has launched a "points system", also hoping that every guest who trusts us, regardless of how much they spend, can feel the sincerity of giving back.
She took the opportunity to package the two strategies of "reservation" and "points", which were regarded by the outside world as "business tools", as manifestations of "honesty" and "giving back".
After hearing this, Lady Sun picked up her teacup, took a gentle sip, and did not directly comment on the operation of the Jinxiu Pavilion anymore. Instead, she asked, "I've heard that your hall..." Have some complaints about your management of the business?
This is the most crucial test of today. The core of the rumor points to the conflict between "female merchants" and "within the family".
Shen Ruoxin felt a chill in her heart, but her face remained calm.
"Mother..." Perhaps it is more hoped that the commoner's daughter can enjoy a life of wealth and honor like an ordinary noble lady. It was just that her father passed away suddenly. The huge family business was related to the livelihoods of over a hundred people. As the eldest daughter of the Shen family, the commoner girl had no choice but to take on the responsibility.
Fortunately, there was still Uncle Wang and two instructors in the pavilion who offered their strong support. The embroiderers and their fellow apprentices also worked together with one heart, which enabled them to hold on with great effort. If we can preserve this family business, ensure that everyone has food to eat and clothes to wear, and pass on this craft well, I think... Even the father in the netherworld can rest assured. As for the others... The commoner girl dared not think too much.
Instead of directly complaining about her stepmother, she attributed everything to "responsibility" and "inheritance", placing herself behind "the family" and "the masses", keeping a very low profile, yet demonstrating a sense of responsibility and filial piety.
Mrs. Sun was silent for a moment, slowly put down the teacup, and a genuine smile appeared on her face:
What a "responsibility without shirking"! Miss Shen Er, you are fine. She stood up. "What I have to say to you today is a hundred times better than all the idle talk outside." I like this small screen very much. If the complete large screen is made, be sure to have someone inform me.
This is the statement.
Shen Ruoxin felt a huge burden lifted from her heart and respectfully said, "Yes, the commoner's daughter obeyed."
It was already dusk when I left the rear office of the prefect. Shen Ruoxin was sitting in the sedan chair on the way back. The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the gaps in the chair curtain and shone on her face, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. She knew that she had passed the test of the prefect's wife smoothly.
Mrs. Sun's attitude will undoubtedly be passed on through various channels, and it will be a fatal blow to those rumors that "female merchants are indecent".
Sure enough, in the following days, the business district of Pingjiang Prefecture was filled with undercurrents.
Have you heard? Miss Shen Er from the Splendid Pavilion has been invited by the governor's wife to appreciate the embroidery!
"Not only!" I heard that Mrs. Sun spoke highly of her!
"TSK TSK, this record was supposed to kill someone, but in the end, the person directly climbed onto the high branch of the prefect?"
The well-informed shopkeepers began to reevaluate the strength of the Splendid Pavilion and Shen Ruoxin's energy.
The owner of the largest silk shop in the east of the city, "瑞蚨祥", was full of money, twisted his carefully groped mustache, and said to the accountant beside him:
This Shen Ruoxin is no ordinary person. It seems that we underestimated her before. She managed to survive under the old fox Zhang Defa and even caught the eye of the governor's wife. Give the order. From now on, Jinxiu Pavilion will come to purchase materials. Regarding the price... Some convenience can be given appropriately.
Sun Dahe, the owner of "Guangyutong", a grain and oil business in the southern part of the city, said to his son, "You should spend more time with Wang, the shopkeeper of Jinxiu Pavilion." Although Jinxiu Pavilion may seem small at present, it has a stable path and a firm grasp of customers. In the future... It's probably unlimited. More friends are always better than more rivals.
Even the boss of the "Hengtong Money Shop", who has always been highly vigilant and controlled the majority of the money flow in the prefectural city, mentioned at an internal meeting: "Keep an eye on the transaction volume and reputation of the Jinxiu Pavilion." If necessary... Small-scale lending can be considered.
For a time, Shen Ruoxin and her Splendid Pavilion became an indispensable presence in the business community of Pingjiang Prefecture. All kinds of overt or covert attentions, tests, and even hints of goodwill began to converge.
Her reputation among the common people is no longer merely that of a struggling small workshop owner, but that of a rising "business star" with unlimited potential.
The business of Jinxiu Pavilion has also ushered in a new turning point. Not only have regular customers become more stable, but some mid-to-senior-level clients who were previously on the fence have also started to visit them proactively. The guys in the shop stand even straighter and the smiles on their faces are more genuine.
However, at the center of this subtle change, Shen Ruoxin was more clear-headed than ever.
In the dead of night, she sat alone by the lamp, reviewing her recent gains and losses.
The recognition of the governor's wife temporarily suppressed the rumors and enhanced her reputation, but the advantage brought by relying on the attitude of the upper-class figures was not stable. Once the prefect is transferred or Lady Sun's attitude changes, the Jinxiu Pavilion is very likely to be restored to its original state.
The market's attention has brought opportunities, but it also means that Jinxiu Pavilion has been placed under the spotlight, and every move it makes will be magnified. A slight mistake may attract more powerful competitors or more complicated calculations.
The "performance" of Jinxiu Pavilion has indeed refuted the rumors, but the core issue has not been resolved:
The fragility of the supply chain: The issue of gold and silver wires has only been temporarily circumvented, and the lifeline of high-end raw materials is still in the hands of others. Small-scale alliances like Xianghe Cloth Store have limited strength and are unable to truly contend with an opponent of the size of Zhang Ji.
Financial shortcoming: Although the deposit and stable sales have relieved the immediate problem, the foundation of Jinxiu Ge is still too weak compared with Zhangji, and even the established firms such as 瑞蚨祥 and Guangyutong, lacking the capital for large-scale expansion and dealing with sudden risks.
The shortage of talents: Apart from Wang Bo and the two instructors, she lacks capable subordinates who can handle business operations and management independently at a higher level. Almost all the key decisions fell on her shoulders alone.
The improvement space of core competitiveness: "Reservation" and "points" are effective marketing methods, but they are not irreplicable. The true moat of Jinxiu Pavilion ultimately depends on continuous and hard-to-imitate product innovation and craftsmanship improvement.
She rubbed her eyebrows and felt that the road ahead was still long and full of thorns. The reputation of a commoner's wealthy family is only in its infancy. There is still a long way to go before they can truly establish a firm footing and even fulfill their father's last wish.
"Zhang Ji, having suffered such a huge loss, will never let it go." " Shen Ruoxin muttered to herself in a low voice, "Zhao Babapi, with his cruel nature, what move will he play next?"