Re-embroidering life

After Meng Xiu Niang left, the crisis for Shui Xiu Fang did not end, but had just begun.

More than a dozen embroiderers left with her. The embroidery workshop's orders were already scheduled for three months later. If the goods could not be delivered by then, not only would the workshop face double compensation for the deposit, but also a complete collapse of its reputation.

The water embroidery technique has been fully leaked, and many embroiderers in Zhenluofang have learned it. How will the Water Embroidery Workshop be able to gain a foothold in Echeng and even Jiangxia in the future?

Meng Xiu Niang violated the written contract and sued her. Would the owner of Zhenluofang interfere? Even if she won, the loss of Shuixiufang would never be recovered.

Shui Qinghua knew that she had no time to be sad, and she had to do everything in her power to save herself.

The first person to ask for help was naturally Shopkeeper Wang.

He pondered for a moment and sighed, "When I transferred Meng Xiu Niang to Shui Xiu Fang, it was certainly to test you, but it was also to give her a chance to learn new techniques. I hoped that you two could join forces and create something new. I didn't expect that she would go astray. Is the owner of Zhen Luo Fang easy to deal with? I'm afraid that she will end up with nothing."

The owner of Zhenluofang is surnamed Luo, a famous dandy in Echeng County. He has always bullied and bullied people in Echeng because his sister married into the Huang family. If it weren't for the fact that Siyifang was rich and powerful, and the Chuxiu Pavilion was a century-old family with deep roots, he would have been impatient to be the third in the embroidery industry in Echeng. It just so happened that a Shuixiufang came. It had no foundation, but it was gaining momentum and snatched nearly half of the business in the market. The owner Luo naturally had to take action to dampen his prestige, otherwise what status would he have in the world of Echeng in the future?

Shui Qinghua felt something was wrong: "Shuixiufang is not without foundation. It has two big backers, Siyifang and Chuxiuge. I don't believe that the Luo family has no scruples."

Shopkeeper Wang laughed, "So he was just testing us this time, just a little fight. If our two families take action, he will be more cautious towards Water Embroidery Workshop in the future. If he doesn't take action, it means that Water Embroidery Workshop is not a concern, and he can use whatever means he wants in the future. Regardless of success or failure, the only person who was killed is Meng Xiu Niang, and his Zhenluo Workshop will not be harmed at all."

It turned out that Meng Xiu Niang was just a pawn who could be abandoned at any time. Shui Qinghua couldn't help but sigh. She asked: "So does Shopkeeper Wang plan to make a move or not? Don't forget that Si Yi Fang holds 30% of the business shares."

Shopkeeper Wang continued to laugh: "In theory, Si Yi Fang should lend you a group of embroiderers, but Si Yi Fang can't do without people, and these embroiderers don't have your skills. You might as well ask Mr. Ye, they have a wide network of contacts in Chu and it's easy to transfer people. In addition, if the skills are leaked, what will Shui Xiu Fang do in the future? Mr. Shui needs to think of more ways."

Shui Qinghua was not surprised by Manager Wang's attitude. After being together for such a long time, she was already used to his character of not releasing the eagle until she saw the rabbit.

She found Ye Jincheng again. Ye Jincheng was wearing a black brocade robe today, and he looked solemn and murderous. His obsidian eyes were full of sarcasm, and he sneered, "Mr. Shui was so proud of himself, but he didn't expect a basin of cold water to pour down on his head!"

"Indeed not." Shui Qinghua answered honestly.

"Business is like this. You can never let your guard down or get carried away. Business is like a battlefield. When the wind is favorable, you must beware of others eyeing you covetously. When the wind is unfavorable, you must grit your teeth and survive first."

"Yes." Shui Qinghua bowed solemnly.

Ye Jincheng's expression eased a little: "What advice did Manager Wang give you?"

"You suggested that I come to you." Shui Qinghua was helpless.

"Hahaha!" Ye Jincheng laughed. After a while, he straightened his face and said, "You are the actual operator of Shuixiufang. You have to figure out the embroidery and the techniques yourself. I can't help you. I can help you with the lawsuit. The Ye family is not someone who can be bullied by anyone in Echeng. A concubine's brother, humph!" A trace of disdain flashed across his handsome face.

Shui Qinghua bowed again and thanked him sincerely. Ye Jincheng felt that this was not enough and continued to remind her: "You have to be steady when doing business. It's good to have ideas, but you have to judge the situation and not be too aggressive. You have to think about it. Do you want to be the only one and trample all other embroidery workshops under your feet, or be the leader and lead other embroidery workshops to grow together? This determines your way of doing things."

"I understand. My daughter has reminded me of this before."

"Your daughter?" Ye Jincheng raised his eyebrows in surprise: "How old is your daughter?"

"Just turned one year old."

Ye Jincheng opened his eyes wide and stared at Shui Qinghua: "Are you laughing at me?"

Shui Qinghua shook her hands repeatedly: "No, no, I'm telling the truth."

Looking at Ye Jincheng's angry expression, she felt aggrieved. What she said was really true!

After running around all day, Shui Qinghua returned home and sat in the room like an old monk in meditation. He did not move until it was time to light the lights.

"Qinghua," Ji Zimo came in with a candle, "what's wrong with you?"

Seeing Ji Zimo, Shui Qinghua's nose felt sore, and the strength she had maintained for the whole day collapsed. She sobbed and told the story again.

Ji Zimo stroked her hair and thought for a moment: "I don't understand the technique, but embroiderer, I have an idea for you. You can consider becoming a refugee."

"Refugees?" Shui Qinghua broke free from Ji Zimo's arms and looked at him in confusion.

"Yes. They are a group of refugees who drifted to Jiangxia after the last flood in Qianzhou. Most of them lost their land, their relatives died, and many of them never went back and settled down in Jiangxia. Some women had no means of livelihood and made a living by doing laundry and mending for others. You can send your fourth sister's husband to ask if there are any good embroiderers. You can recruit them. They will definitely cherish this job more than ordinary embroiderers." Ji Zimo analyzed for her.

The more Shui Qinghua thought about it, the more feasible it seemed to her, and a look of joy gradually appeared on her face.

Two days later, Dou Jianzhi brought a young woman in her twenties to Shui Qinghua. The woman was pretty, named Xiaohuan. All her family members had died, and she and her brother had drifted to Jiangxia.

"Mr. Shui, I have been learning needlework since I was young, and I think my embroidery skills are pretty good. This is the sachet I embroidered in the past. I kept it close to my body so it didn't get washed away by the water. It is also the only thing I brought out from home." Xiaohuan's eyes turned red as she spoke.

Shui Qinghua took her sachet. It was old, the color had faded, and the fabric was sparse, but the magpie embroidered on it was still lifelike. Shui Qinghua nodded secretly and asked her gently, "Are you willing to work at Shuixiufang?"

"I am willing to do it, no matter how much it costs!"

"Why?"

Xiao Huan looked at Shui Qing Hua with gratitude: "When we first came to Jiangxia, we were naked and embarrassed to see people. Fortunately, a kind-hearted person gave each of us a piece of silk cloth to cover our bodies. I can recognize words and saw Shui Xiu Fang written on the shed. That kind-hearted person is Mr. Shui!"

Shui Qinghua didn't expect the answer to be like this. No one reported her good deed of donating clothes to the court, and she didn't get any reward. She didn't care at first, but she didn't expect that one day, a long time later, she would suddenly get a real reward.

"Okay, if you have any sisters who are willing to come to Shui Xiufang, bring them to see me." Shui Qinghua said with a smile.