It wasn’t that Cheng Zi liked meddling in other people’s business.
She had simply taken an interest in this shop, and the child looked pitiful.
Such a small matter wasn’t even handled properly—this young shop owner really lacked experience in running a business.
It was just a small effort; she didn’t mind helping.
“What are you looking at?”
The auntie frowned even more when she saw Cheng Zi seemed about to snatch her item away.
But Cheng Zi didn’t care at all. She took the dress and smiled as she looked at the woman.
“Auntie, do you need it tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
Cheng Zi walked behind her and examined her again.
“You seem kind, Auntie. How about I help you alter it?”
Jiang Xiang immediately became alert. She thought Cheng Zi was here to cause trouble—she was timid, but not stupid.
Cheng Zi gave her a reassuring look and continued:
“I’m a designer from the Tong City Clothing Factory. My friend is getting her hair done across the street. I just happened to pass by.”
She ran her hand lightly over the fabric.
“The shop owner’s craftsmanship is really good, and the fabric is nice too. Auntie, does the skirt feel loose?”
Hearing she was from the Tong City Clothing Factory, both of them relaxed a little.
“Yes, the waist is loose and sagging. It doesn’t look right.”
“Can I see it on you?”
The woman hesitated, but eventually nodded.
Once she went into the fitting room, Cheng Zi used the leftover fabric beside the sewing machine to make a tie-belt, forming a stylish waist-cinching design. She didn’t hide it from Jiang Xiang either.
After watching for a while, Jiang Xiang finally reacted.
“Sis… are you adding a belt to the skirt?”
“Shh.” Cheng Zi glanced at the fitting room. “The auntie probably lost some weight recently. The skirt isn’t too loose—just a belt will fix it.”
Jiang Xiang, holding a baby and gently soothing it, smiled and nodded at her. The earlier caution had completely disappeared.
Soon, the woman came out after changing.
She looked a little uncomfortable. The dress was a youthful deep wine-red style, clearly different from what she usually wore.
Cheng Zi examined her carefully.
She had a well-maintained figure, full yet balanced. Though not thin, her waist was slim.
“Auntie, you take such good care of yourself. If I didn’t hear her call you auntie, I would’ve called you sister.”
As she spoke, she lightly patted the woman’s back. The woman instinctively straightened her posture, making her silhouette even better—whether from the compliment or the pat, no one could tell.
Cheng Zi bent slightly and fastened the newly made waist belt.
One wrap, one tie—the dress instantly lifted, forming elegant folds.
Looking at herself in the mirror, the woman’s eyes lit up.
Just adding a wide belt completely changed the look of the dress.
“It should be designed a bit looser like this. See how lively and elegant the shape is? It doesn’t look stiff at all.”
Cheng Zi adjusted the back as well.
“This is my exclusive design. You won’t find it anywhere else. You’re the first to wear it, Auntie.”
The woman’s smile deepened.
“You think it really looks good like this?”
Cheng Zi’s eyes were clear.
“What are you saying, Auntie? Of course it looks good. It’s a pity I don’t run a clothing store—otherwise I’d definitely make you my living advertisement. You look so good.”
The woman was completely pleased now.
“You really have skill.”
“As long as you’re satisfied.”
“Nice, very good. So… do you charge for this?”
It was obvious this woman wasn’t short of money—just a little lacking in confidence.
People like this couldn’t be approached with talk of money.
“No need. I just felt like it. It suited my eye, so I couldn’t help it.”
“Good, good. You young lady really have talent. If you made clothes, I’d definitely order from you all year round.”
Jiang Xiang looked at her with envy.
The woman didn’t waste words. After checking herself in the mirror again, she paid the remaining balance and left wearing the dress.
Before leaving, she even asked how to tie the belt.
Cheng Zi demonstrated it twice for her.
Only then did she leave satisfied.
Jiang Xiang tucked the money into her pocket, full of gratitude.
“Sister, are you here to do something? Thank you so much just now. Whatever you want, I’ll give you cost price.”
Seeing her politeness, Cheng Zi just smiled and changed the topic.
“Your baby is so cute.”
Jiang Xiang lowered her head to look at the child, her smile stiffening slightly.
“Mm… this is my niece. Very cute.”
Cheng Zi paused.
She remembered what the hair salon owner had said—about her sister…
They weren’t close, so Cheng Zi didn’t hide her purpose either. She had come to ask about the storefront. Whether she could afford it was one thing; whether she was interested was another.
“Girl, I heard your shop is for sale?”
The sudden topic shift made Jiang Xiang freeze for a moment, then she nodded subconsciously.
“It’s really nice. I quite like it.”
But Jiang Xiang shook her head first, rejecting herself.
“It’s not that good. It’s expensive.”
“Pfft.”
Cheng Zi couldn’t help laughing.
This girl was too honest—she was even criticizing herself.
Jiang Xiang blushed and bit her lip.
“30,000 yuan?”
“Mm.”
“That is quite expensive.”
“Mm.”
Cheng Zi didn’t bargain. She simply chatted casually, learning about the property situation.
Jiang Xiang was gentle in nature—whatever she was asked, she answered honestly.
They gradually got to know each other.
Jiang Xiang even asked about clothing design.
Cheng Zi gave her a few pointers, and the girl suddenly felt enlightened.
“Sister Zi, you’re amazing—you’re even better than my sister.”
Cheng Zi felt a little embarrassed by the praise.
“It’s not talent. It’s systematic learning. Just habit and thinking patterns.”
After roughly fifty minutes in the Jiang Fen clothing shop, not a single customer came in.
When she returned to the hair salon, Xia Hongjun was already surrounded by a group of people, talking excitedly.
“Zi! Come look, my hair is so pretty!”
Her shoulder-length hair was permed into fluffy waves with a middle part, giving it surprising volume.
She even had bright red lipstick on—looking like a modern fashionable woman.
“Looks good,” Cheng Zi said.
Xia Hongjun squeezed through the crowd and linked arms with her.
“This hairstyle was designed by my best friend—impressive, right? She’s a clothing designer! Super stylish!”
Cheng Zi: “……”
The salon owner chimed in as well.
“Come around often, girl. You’ve got great taste. I like you. Next time I’ll dye your hair red and give you a 50% discount.”
A group of women gathered, excited over shared interests—the place turned lively beyond imagination.
In the end, Cheng Zi used hunger as an excuse and dragged Xia Hongjun away.
Xia Hongjun had completely changed—walking with flair now, almost dancing as she moved, full of energy and joy.