Re-embroidering life

Shui Minghua explained the reason for going to the capital: "I am alone and have no ties. I have long wanted to travel around the world, but it is always unsafe for a woman to be alone. I don't have to worry about this if I go with you."

It was very reasonable and in line with the eldest sister's personality. Shui Qinghua even thought it was incredible that her eldest sister could stay in Yuquan Town for more than 20 years, considering her unruly and unrestrained personality.

Shui Qinghua was worried that taking the children to Beijing would delay their studies, so she had nothing to worry about with her elder sister, a female teacher, accompanying her. They hit it off immediately.

At dinner that day, the couple announced to the children that the whole family would go to Beijing in three months, and the aunt would go with them. Ji Fei was already over eight years old and was full of curiosity about the outside world. She cheered and jumped for joy after hearing this. Ji Rui didn't react much. She concentrated on eating. She didn't have any snacks, and she had to eat until her stomach was full at every meal. Ji Wei, who was one and a half years old, gnawed the chicken leg in her hand, and her saliva couldn't help but flow onto the chicken leg, chin, and then drip onto her little hand. She seemed to be troubled by this, frowning and looking disgusted. Ji Fei said with some impatience: "Is there a river in your mouth?" While gently using a small handkerchief to help her wipe away the saliva again and again.

Shui Qinghua silently watched the interaction between the three sisters, feeling warm in her heart. She and Ji Zimo were too busy, and the only time the family could get together was at dinner time. They never insisted on not talking while eating or sleeping, and laughter was common.

"Dad, Mom, I don't want to study with Master Zhu anymore," said Ji Fei.

Shui Qinghua raised her eyebrows in confusion. Ever since Dong Yajing returned to Beijing, Ji Zimo had spent a lot of effort to hire another female teacher, who came from a poor scholarly family.

"She only knows how to recite, talking about women's precepts and virtues all day long. Aunt Dong doesn't talk about these, and neither does my great aunt." Ji Fei said angrily.

Shui Qinghua smiled. The girls of the Shui family were either unmarried at an advanced age or doing business outside. Female precepts and female virtues? She did very well in her previous life, but she didn't have a good ending.

"If you don't like it, don't read it. Go to daddy's study and read by yourself. If you don't understand, ask daddy." Ji Zimo said.

"Thank you, Dad! Mom, I want to work in the water embroidery workshop." Fei'er said.

Shui Qinghua was really surprised: "Are you interested in this?"

"Well," Fei'er nodded, "I think doing business is much more interesting than studying. I want to learn from my fourth uncle."

The couple looked at each other, and Ji Zimo winked. Shui Qinghua coughed and said, "You should study hard at your age. It's not too late to learn business when you grow up."

Ji Fei said: "I am not taking the imperial examination, so I don't need to read so many books. I prefer to do accounting."

Shui Qinghua thought for a moment and said, "Mother has recently encountered a difficult problem. If you can come up with an idea, I will allow you to go. There was a top embroiderer in the embroidery workshop before. She told me that no matter how good she was, she was just an embroiderer. When she got old and couldn't move, how would she make a living? So she wanted to be the boss, but not everyone can be the boss."

Although she and Meng Xiu Niang fell out, this question has always been on Shui Qinghua's mind. For an embroiderer, this is a very realistic problem. Being a craftsman means you have to work hard to make a living, and you can't rest for a day.

Ji Fei was stunned by the question and bit her lower lip without saying anything.

Shui Qinghua didn't expect a child to have any ideas, she just wanted her to give up when she saw difficulties.

Ji Wei put down the chicken leg, crawled to Ji Fei's side, and whispered something into her ear. Ji Fei's eyes lit up: "Mom, give me a few days, I will find a way."

The couple watched Ji Wei's actions and had their own thoughts in their minds.

Shui Qinghua quickly forgot about it. She only had three months to set up the embroidery workshop, and she wanted to make eight-petal flowers a day. The first batch of new silk threads had already been used in the Shui Xiufang. The embroidery products were several times more delicate than before. What's more, the colors were more distinct and showed different lusters under different lights. If it was embroidery before, it is now more like a handicraft.

The new embroidery products attracted exclamations as soon as they were put on the shelves. Soon, the embroidery products on the shelves of Siyifang and Chuxiuge also reached a similar level of exquisiteness.

Now other embroidery workshops are collectively getting restless. After seeing other embroidery works, they just want to throw away their own.

Zhenluofang launched a batch of natural embroidery products a while ago, which were about 80% of the quality of Shuixiufang and sold at a slightly lower price than Shuixiufang, making a lot of money. Now no one wants this batch of goods, and customers are flocking to order new embroidery products from Shuixiufang. The quality has improved a lot, but if they don’t raise the price, who else should they order?

Other embroidery workshops sent people to inquire and finally found out that Siyifang, Chuxiuge and Shuixiufang had jointly opened a silk thread dyeing workshop! Suddenly, the thresholds of dyeing workshops were trampled down, and embroidery workshops not only in Echeng County but also in the prefectural capital flocked to buy new silk threads.

Ye Jincheng asked Shui Qinghua: "Will you sell it?"

Shui Qinghua found it a little funny: "Boss Ye has always had only one criterion for measuring business: whether it makes money or not. Do you still need to ask me this?"

Ye Jincheng smiled: "You made the new silk thread, so of course I have to ask you. I calculated that this business can not only make money, but also make a lot of money. As long as we control the skills and formula and don't let them out, everyone who opens an embroidery workshop in the future will use our silk thread!"

"Of course I will sell them. I won't raise the price of my embroidery products. I make up for it by selling silk threads. Besides, you asked me whether I want to be the only one and trample other embroidery workshops under my feet, or be the leader and lead other embroidery workshops to grow together. I choose the latter." Shui Qinghua laughed at herself: "I wanted to open a successful embroidery workshop, but I didn't expect it to suffer a heavy blow. Instead, the supporting dyeing workshop became very popular."

Ye Jincheng was not surprised by her choice. "You have to be patient. Silk thread can be bought by anyone, but not everyone can embroider exquisite handicrafts, and not everyone can change the pattern every six months."

"This really doesn't sound like something Mr. Ye would say." Every time they met, Ye Jincheng was sarcastic and mocking to her. Only when the sun rose in the west could she hear such heartwarming words.

"In fact, it's a bit of a waste to use new silk thread on ordinary embroidery. Your Furong Garden embroidery can truly bring out the advantages of the new silk thread." Ye Jincheng ignored the thorn in her words and got back to talking about business.

"Yes, I have thought of it a long time ago. I am embroidering a group of famous paintings from the previous dynasties. The first one, "Huaxi Yuyin Tu", will be completed within three months."

"Oh? Do you want me to help you find a buyer?" Ye Jincheng became interested. The thought of the famous paintings embroidered with new silk threads made him fascinated.

"No need. Furong Garden embroidery is the pearl among embroidery products. Its buyers are not in Jiangxia." Shui Qinghua said confidently, "Its buyers are in the capital, where dignitaries gather."

She had already thought about it. "Huaxi Yuyin Tu" would be given to the third prince's wife as a wedding gift. Furong Garden embroidery would directly establish a good reputation in the circle of royal relatives. This was her ambition.