Sifang Town.
The streets were bustling with people, lively and full of prosperity.
It had been four years since Xue Zhi last stepped into Sifang Town.
Ever since she married into the Fu family and Fu Lin was taken away for military conscription, Li Honghua had feared she would become wild-hearted and never once allowed her to come into town.
Though it was said to be four years, in truth it felt like many more.
Her soul had followed the Fu family from Fu Family Village all the way to the capital in her previous life, and she had seen countless flourishing streets there.
But only now did she truly feel the liveliness for herself.
A few days earlier, she had borrowed Fu Shiyue’s paper and ink to draw several embroidery patterns and had also made a few sample pieces to sell.
These designs were all styles that had been popular in the capital during her previous life.
She first went to Huayi Pavilion, the best clothing shop in town.
The moment she entered, a shop assistant looked at her with contempt, sweeping his gaze over her from head to toe before rudely driving her away.
“Out, out, out! If you can’t afford anything, don’t come into our shop!”
Hearing this, Xue Zhi lowered her head and glanced at her clothes.
From Fu Family Village to Sifang Town was more than ten li away. To save two copper coins, she had walked the whole way, collecting mud and dust on her clothes.
Her garments were patched in many places, and indeed, she could not afford anything sold in the store.
Xue Zhi endured it and patiently said politely,
“I’m not here to buy anything. I’m here to sell something. If you would first look at my—”
Before she could finish, the assistant impatiently cut her off.
“That’s enough. We don’t need your goods here.
Hurry up and leave. Don’t interfere with our business.”
As he spoke, he even moved to physically push her out.
Seeing this, Xue Zhi turned and left.
Her original intention had been to sell her designs to Huayi Pavilion.
It was the most famous clothing shop in town, and most of its customers were wealthy officials and noble families.
If they used her patterns, they would spread quickly.
Unfortunately, that plan had clearly failed.
But it did not matter.
If Huayi Pavilion would not do, then she could go to Jinxiu Tower.
Jinxiu Tower was the second-best clothing shop in town, always competing with Huayi Pavilion.
When she arrived, there were only a few scattered customers inside.
Business was extremely quiet, completely opposite from the crowded scene at Huayi Pavilion.
The shop assistant saw her and immediately approached with a smile.
“Madam, are you here to look at clothes?
What style or color would you like?
And if those don’t suit you, we also have some cheaper fabrics available.”
Xue Zhi had not expected the assistant to be so warm that she could hardly find a chance to interrupt.
With an awkward smile, she said,
“Well… I… I’m actually here to sell something.”
The smile on the assistant’s face stiffened for a second, then quickly returned.
“Please have a seat and wait a moment. I’ll call the shopkeeper.”
Not long after, the shopkeeper came downstairs and walked over to her.
“What would you like to sell?”
Xue Zhi handed over a handkerchief and a sachet.
“Shopkeeper, I designed these patterns myself and made these finished samples.
Please take a look.”
Xue Zhi’s embroidery skills had been taught by her mother, Xue Wan, and were exceptionally fine.
Combined with the fresh new designs, they were immediately eye-catching and unique.
The shopkeeper hurriedly took the handkerchief and sachet, examining them carefully.
His eyes lit up with amazement.
“This… you designed these patterns yourself?”
On the handkerchief was embroidered a cute black-and-white little cat-like creature, holding green bamboo and chewing on it.
On the sachet, the front showed a child hugging a gold ingot.
The back had four embroidered characters meaning: Warning: Sudden Wealth Ahead.
The shopkeeper frowned slightly.
“Madam, this little cat’s appearance… it looks quite unusual. What breed is it? I’ve never seen one before.”
“That is not a cat,” Xue Zhi said calmly.
“It is a giant panda, a rare and precious beast that very few people have seen.”
“And have you seen one? Otherwise, how were you able to draw it?” he asked curiously.
Xue Zhi shook her head.
“I have not.
I merely saw a description in a book and drew it according to the text.
It also said pandas love bamboo, so I included that as well.”
Of course, she had not seen it in any book.
She had seen such designs spread through the capital in her previous life.
“And this sachet?” the shopkeeper asked again.
“The phrase means the wearer may have a chance to become wealthy in the near future.
It is like a talisman—a good omen.
It could also be changed to phrases such as Peace and Joy, May You Find Your Beloved, Blessed With a Good Marriage, and so on.
The other side can be matched with images fitting the meaning.”
She paused, then added,
“Not only that, but names or symbolic words may also be embroidered onto it.
That way, if it is ever lost, it can be more easily identified.”
The assistant standing nearby muttered in astonishment,
“It can be done like that?!
Why didn’t I think of it?”
After hearing her explanation, the shopkeeper’s eyes filled with delight and admiration.
“My name is Zheng Sanyang.
May I know Madam’s name?”
“My name is Xue Zhi.”
“So it is Madam Xue.”
The shopkeeper raised two fingers.
“I am willing to offer twenty taels of silver to buy Madam Xue’s designs and ideas.
What do you think?”
Twenty taels was already a great sum for her current situation.
But the profits these designs could bring to Jinxiu Tower would be far more than twenty taels.
Seeing that she did not respond, Zheng Sanyang added quickly,
“If Madam Xue is unwilling, then how about thirty taels?”
Xue Zhi shook her head.
“Shopkeeper Zheng, no need to rush.
I still have several more designs here.”
She then took out five additional pattern sheets.
Zheng Sanyang eagerly grabbed them and repeatedly praised them.
“These styles do not exist in the market today.
Madam Xue is truly gifted to come up with such wonderful ideas.”
His gaze toward her burned with excitement.
“How does Madam Xue wish to sell them?”
“One fifth.”
She spoke calmly.
“I am willing to provide designs for Jinxiu Tower.
But for every item sold using my patterns, I want one fifth of the profit.”
Then she added,
“I do not only draw these patterns—I also know some clothing styles.
If Shopkeeper Zheng is willing to cooperate, I can guarantee that all my future designs will be sold only to Jinxiu Tower.
What does Shopkeeper Zheng think?”
“This…”
He hesitated.
“Wouldn’t one fifth be a little too much?
Madam Xue only provides the drawings.
The production and sales are all handled by me.
Labor, rent, cloth… all of that costs money.
Could Madam Xue perhaps…”
He did not finish, but Xue Zhi already understood.
He wanted her to lower the share.
She refused to budge.
“But without my designs, you would have nothing to sell, would you?”
That single sentence left Zheng Sanyang speechless.
The two bargained for a long time.
It was the first time Zheng Sanyang had met such a sharp-tongued and determined young woman.
Once he realized he could gain no advantage, he finally agreed.
“Fine!
We’ll do it Madam Xue’s way.
I’ll draw up the contract immediately.”
“Shopkeeper Zheng is refreshingly straightforward.”
Xue Zhi smiled brightly.
The contract was made in duplicate.
After signing it, Xue Zhi left Jinxiu Tower.