When she came to town yesterday, she had already scouted it out. There were three tailor shops in total, the slightly larger one being across from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
The other two were at opposite ends of the town.
Jiang Shiyue didn't go directly to the shop. Instead, she bought a pile of cosmetics, jewelry, and a pair of shoes from the mall.
First, she changed her clothes, then put on makeup, and finally, she hid her suitcase and bicycle.
After all, what she was about to do was an act of Speculation and Profiteering.
Her top was a red shirt with white polka dots, and she wore a green skirt.
Around her neck was a pearl necklace, and she wore a pair of pearl stud earrings. Coupled with the beauty mark she had deliberately placed by her eye, a pearl-handled bag in her hand, and a pair of block-heeled sandals on her feet, she looked utterly noble.
Because the shop was across from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, besides the owner and his wife, there were also two employees doing odd jobs.
Seeing Jiang Shiyue stride in, the owner, who was calculating accounts, had his eyes light up. He immediately went up to greet her. "Ma'am, are you looking to buy fabric?"
Jiang Shiyue nodded. "Yes, I'm just browsing."
She didn't state her purpose right away. After all, if she revealed her intentions from the get-go, she would probably be chased out.
One had to know that private businesses and Speculation and Profiteering were not allowed at this time. Getting caught meant you'd be eating Peanuts.
But it was precisely because it wasn't allowed that the profits were so great.
As the saying goes, the bold die from overeating, while the timid starve to death.
If you wanted to make money, you had to be bold.
Jiang Shiyue pretended to look around for a long time before frowning and speaking with some dissatisfaction, "Sir, are these the only patterns you have for your fabrics?"
"Don't be fooled by the selection. This is already the most complete collection in the entire town. Even the Supply and Marketing Cooperative doesn't have as many styles as we do."
Jiang Shiyue shook her head and said with some disappointment, "I heard people say your shop had many styles, so I wanted to come and see if it was true. I didn't expect it to be such a letdown."
After speaking, she glanced disdainfully at the ready-made clothes on the side. "Never mind the fabric, even the finished garments are nothing special."
Although the owner was a little unhappy to hear this, seeing Jiang Shiyue's attire, he knew the woman before him was likely no ordinary person, probably from the city or out of town.
After all, he had never seen clothes like the ones Jiang Shiyue was wearing.
The style was novel, and the material indeed looked much better than what was in his shop.
But his wife was displeased by these words. Especially when she saw Jiang Shiyue's face and her husband's eyes, which looked like they were glued to Jiang Shiyue, she immediately rushed over, pulled her husband behind her, and said with a sour face, "If you're buying, then buy. If not, then stop your nonsense and get out."
Seeing the disgust in the owner's wife's eyes, Jiang Shiyue couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Fine, I'll leave."
In any case, she wouldn't be the one to regret it later.
She had originally thought that since the shop was opposite the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, business should be good, and a partnership could be very profitable.
But judging by the owner's wife's character, this shop probably wouldn't last long.
Just as Jiang Shiyue was about to leave, a young woman who was picking out fabric in the shop walked over and grabbed her by the wrist, saying a little sheepishly, "Ma'am, wait a moment. Where did you buy the clothes you're wearing?"
Jiang Shiyue stopped, meeting the woman's amazed gaze and the owner's wife's murderous glare. "Why don't we talk outside?"
The woman hesitated for a moment. Just as she was about to nod, the owner's wife blocked her way. "What's this, are you trying to steal my business?"
Jiang Shiyue resisted the urge to roll her eyes and spoke with clear logic, "First, I am not trying to steal your business. Second, this young lady took the initiative to ask me where I bought my clothes. Third, your shop has neither the fabric for my outfit nor this style. Where does this talk of 'stealing business' come from?"
The woman immediately chimed in, "Exactly! I just came in to look. If I don't see anything I like, you're not going to let me leave? Or is this how you do business, anyone who comes in must buy something before they can go?"
The owner's wife's face flushed red and then turned pale. The owner immediately stepped out from behind her, shot her a glare, and said with an apologetic smile, "That's not what we meant. We never force anyone to buy. It's all up to personal choice."
This stupid woman. He had lost so many customers because of her, yet she still hadn't learned to restrain herself.
If it weren't for the shop's location across from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, it would have long been unable to make ends meet, let alone have the money to hire workers.
Jiang Shiyue didn't want to deal with the owner any longer and simply said calmly, "So, can we leave now?"
"Yes, yes, of course you can."
As soon as he finished speaking, just as Jiang Shiyue was about to step out the door, she heard the owner ask again, "But I'm also very curious, ma'am, where did you buy your clothes?"
Jiang Shiyue took the woman's hand. "Sorry, that's not convenient to disclose."
If she had any thoughts of collaborating before, now, because of the owner's wife, she just wanted to escape.
After all, partnering with someone like that would only lead to a world of trouble.
Once outside, the woman looked at Jiang Shiyue with an expression full of admiration. "Wow, you're really amazing!"
She glanced back at the owner and his wife, who were arguing at the doorway, and couldn't help but complain, "You have no idea, that owner's wife can be really nasty sometimes. She doesn't even look at what her husband looks like. Every time a woman talks to him for a few extra seconds, she acts like we're trying to seduce him and doesn't hold back with her words."
She clicked her tongue. "And yet, their shop is the only one in town with a wide variety of fabric patterns. Otherwise, who would even come here!"
Seeing Jiang Shiyue remain silent, the woman scratched her head in embarrassment. "Am I talking too much?"
Jiang Shiyue let out a light laugh. "Not at all. You're very cute."
It reminded her of her friend back in the modern era, who was also a chatterbox. Whenever they were together, she would gossip about others, her mouth never stopping.
Being called cute, the woman's face flushed red.
Finally, she extended her hand. "My name is Xia Yao, and I work at the post office."
Jiang Shiyue was a little surprised. She hadn't expected a random passerby she met to work at the post office. She immediately shook her hand back. "I'm a housewife. You can just call me Yueyue."
Xia Yao's attire was very characteristic of the era: a floral print shirt, navy blue work pants, a pair of cloth shoes, and her hair in two braids. When she smiled, she had dimples.
Xia Yao was taken aback. "You're married already at such a young age?"
After all, Jiang Shiyue looked to be only eighteen or nineteen. She was truly curious what kind of man was able to marry her.