It was so hot that the boy waved his sleeves in front of his face to fan himself. There was not even a tea shop or restaurant on the street. He could only stand in the corner and watch the idlers gambling.
As the name suggests, Tonglou Street is full of messy grocery stores, which cannot be compared with Yinlou Street and Jinlou Street across the street.
That street is filled with gold and silver shops, embroidery shops, rouge and gouache, and luxuriously decorated restaurants and tea shops. It is the place where wealthy women love to go.
They only took a look at it from the car. The street was so bare that there wasn't even a Caijuancai building. They didn't even stop for a moment, let alone go into the Xucheng Linglongfang store to take a look.
Except when the ladies from the Zhai family came to support the business when it first opened, there were no more customers.
Can this store continue to open?
It won't take a few days before it's time to run to the young master.
The young man didn't bother to look any further. He was in so much pain that he couldn't even drink a sip of tea, so he went back to guard the young master and beware of her coming.
At the end of the day, the sun goes down and the heat on the street dissipates, but there are still not many people.
In Linglongfang, Qingzhi stretched from behind the counter.
Not only were there no customers in the store, but there were only a few samples on the shelves, making it very empty and deserted.
Suddenly a carriage stopped outside the door, and a young girl walked in with her maid.
"Miss Zhai Si." Qing Zhi hurriedly stood up and greeted her with a smile, "Why are you here?" He called after him in a loud voice, "Miss, Miss Zhai Si is here."
The fourth lady of the Zhai family is about the same age as Qixing. She has a cheerful personality and is the girl who talks to Qixing the most.
"I came over to take a look on my way to the banquet." Miss Zhai Si said, looking around and frowning slightly, "Has there been no business?"
Qixing heard the sound from the back hall and came in. He said with a smile: "I just finished your business. I sent ten sets of shawls to my home. Are you satisfied with them?"
Miss Zhai Si took her hand and gave each other a brief salute.
"The few shawls we sisters have are not enough to support the shop." She said, "How about I take you to a few shops that you are familiar with?"
Qixing smiled and thanked him: "How can I ask you to come to my door to beg for business on my behalf? Besides, favors do not bring long-term business."
Also, as an unmarried girl, the only occasions she could go to were some girls' gatherings. The girls had bad tempers and couldn't really decide how much they spent on food and clothing. Miss Zhai Si comforted her and said, "Your craftsmanship is very good.
Yes, it’s just that this is the capital, and there are too many people with good skills and greater reputations. You are new and young, so it will inevitably be difficult and you will have to endure it for a long time."
Although I was amazed by people at the Zhai family banquet, most of those marvels were due to the scene at that time. Rich families either had their own embroiderers, or they only liked to use embroidery products from famous embroidery shops in the capital.
It is difficult for a young man from out of town to open a new embroidery shop to get big business immediately.
Qixing said with a smile: "I don't want to get big business, I just want to do some small business."
What kind of small business? Handkerchiefs, towels, belts, shoe uppers and other accessories? Those businesses are even more difficult to do. The aristocratic ladies are more picky, and it is cumbersome and hard to do, and they cannot buy them at a high price.
"Small doesn't mean objects." Qixing said, "It means the audience."
Miss Zhai Si wanted to say something else, but Qixing stopped her.
"Thank you for your concern, but since I dare to open this store, I am prepared in my heart."
After that, he took out a round fan from the shelf on the counter.
"If you please use my things more, you can help me attract business."
Miss Zhai Si looked at the round fan in her hand, which was made of azure gauze, simple embroidery, and a lifelike butterfly. It looked good, but...
"How much does a fan cost?" She looked at the counter, "Are there any more expensive ones?"
Qixing smiled: "A businessman never wants a penny too little. Moreover, when I become famous, a fan can be sold very expensively."
Now that he has become famous, he still doesn’t know how many years it will take, let alone whether he can survive until that day. The girl who came from the country is a bit naive after all. Miss Zhai Si didn’t say any more, and warned: "It will last forever."
We can't help with the business, but if you can't turn it around for a while, you must tell me."
Qixing saluted again: "Miss Zhai Si, I will keep your kindness in my heart."
What can an embroiderer do if she remembers her kindness? The most she can do is make some good embroidery for her. Miss Zhai Si pursed her lips and smiled. Helping the weak was as easy as taking a look at her on the way home.
"You go about your business." She smiled, shook her fan, yawned and said goodbye.
Qixing and Qing Pheasant saw each other off outside the door, watching the Zhai family's carriage stagger away. Dusk fell on the street, and other shops began to open their doors.
There is little business in Tonglou Street during the day, and there is no night market at night.
"Miss, shall we close the door as well?" Qing Zhi asked happily.
A store clerk nearby who was closing his shop looked a little surprised when he heard this. Linglongfang had no business every day, but he was still so happy when it closed every day?
"I asked Aunt Guo just now. We will have vegetable noodle soup and fried fish tonight."
"Not bad, I was just craving for vegetable noodle soup."
"Hehe, miss, you like to eat whatever Aunt Guo does."
The master and the servant here talked about eating and drinking and closed the door. The waiter over there shook his head and said, "You can eat whatever you want. After a few months of losses, I'm afraid I won't be able to afford anything and I'll be hungry."
However, the master and servant who had closed the door had just turned on the indoor lights and laid out the food when there was a knock on the secret door.
Qixing walked over and opened it, and Gao Xiaoliu walked out.
"I've met the leader." He bowed respectfully.
Qixing nodded.
"This month's account book has been delivered." Gao Xiaoliu said, "Please take a look at it, head."
Qixing said to Qing Pheasant: "Bring the food in." He walked inside first.
Qing Pheasant answered and picked up the food and followed him.
After walking through the narrow passage, we quickly came to a dark room. There were already four people waiting in the dark room. When Qixing came in, they all saluted hurriedly.
"I've met the leader."
Qixing nodded, sat down first, and then raised his hand to signal: "Sit."
Several people thanked them and then sat down.
"Master, these are the accounting books of the financial hall."
"This is the wealth sent from various places this month."
"These are some rare treasures for the master to take a look at."
As he spoke, several boxes placed in the room were opened, revealing thick account books and dazzling jewelry.
Qing Zhi only felt that his vision was blurry, but now that his embroidery skills were improved and his hands were very steady, he placed the tray on the table, placed the food, and quietly retreated.
"...The master's orders have been conveyed everywhere."
"Support each other, each do their best, pass on skills and teach, and respond to complaints and requests."
"... Now there are responses from all over the country, vowing to obey the orders of the leader, bring benefit to the world, and eliminate harm to the world."
Qing Pheasant closed the secret door, blocking out the sound.
The room was quiet, Qing Zhi turned on the lights one by one, then sat in front of the embroidery frame, looked at the embroidery that the lady had previously embroidered, and then began to fly the stitches, while raising his ears and alerting the surroundings.
The feeling is the same as in Xucheng before.
It's just that the lady is surrounded by more than just Mr. Wei and Shopkeeper Lu, and the discussion is not just about whether the Lu family is making things difficult for them, whether they kill people and set fires, but about the world's benefits and the world's harm.
…
…
"Miss Qixing, actually I think you should leave the capital." After the others resigned, Gao Xiaoliu stayed and said softly, "Anyway, you have been chosen as the leader, and regardless of what my father and Liu Yan have planned,
You are the leader, so you might as well hide yourself and recharge your batteries and see what they can do."
Qixing smiled: "I don't want to hide."
Gao Xiaoliu was a little helpless. Although he had just met, he had a close friendship with Miss Qixing, so he knew very well what a brave person she was.
Danger never scares her.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Qixing looked at him: "I want Momen to be known to the world, loved by the world, and known to the world."