There were a lot of conditions written on the note, but the most important one was to mortgage the store. The additional condition was that Mrs. Xu should continue to work in the store.
Zhu Youde looked at Mrs. Xu up and down, and then looked at several pieces of coarse cloth hanging on the wall. Although they were all coarse cloth, it was obvious that the cutting skills were very good.
"Can I take a closer look?"
Mrs. Xu did not expect that His Majesty would be interested in the clothes hanging on the wall and asked her son to take them down.
Just taking a look at it, Zhu Youde gasped. As expected, the cutting skills of these clothes were no less than those of the craftsmen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs!
Even the details far exceed those of most craftsmen.
Mrs. Xu has unique insights and techniques in tailoring!
Suddenly he remembered that Tang Huo once said that decades ago there was a craftsman in the capital who was good at tailoring and was called the best tailor in the capital. The clothes she made were so beautiful that they were robbed by nobles and even the royal family.
The late emperor also sent someone to confer an official position in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and wanted to stay in the palace to make clothes. But he was rejected. From then on, the first cut in the capital disappeared.
Zhu Youde looked at Mrs. Xu again, his heart beating faintly. Could it be such a coincidence?
He was not sure and did not ask out loud. If Mrs. Xu was really the number one hairdresser in the capital, she must have had a dispute with the late emperor. Otherwise, why would she refuse the official salary?
After pondering for a moment, Zhu Youde whispered: "Has the old lady ever heard of Tang Huo in Shangfang Mansion?"
"Mr. Tang, I have heard of him, he is a famous craftsman!" Mrs. Xu replied with a smile, and the fear just now disappeared.
"I want to develop the textile industry recently, but I lack skilled craftsmen. Maybe I can ask you to go to Shang Fang Mansion?"
The old lady's expression changed slightly and she nodded in agreement.
Xu Congjun glanced at his mother, lowered his head and said nothing.
………………………………
Shang Fang Mansion is still busy.
The two agricultural tools were almost completed, and most of the craftsmen started working on musical instruments.
Qingyu sent two more small musical instruments, which were improved by Anima and sent to production testing.
It has to be said that Anima's ability in some aspects is not as praised as Tang Huoye. With the two of them in charge of Shang Fang Mansion, they can sit back and relax.
"His Majesty!"
Anima and Tang Huo greeted them, and Zhu Youde waved his hand to indicate not to disturb the craftsman.
After an inspection, he patted Anima on the shoulder, his face full of joy and shock: "I was not wrong! You are an excellent thousand-mile horse!"
Facing the emperor's praise, Anima was so excited that he felt unprecedented respect in Daliang. Compared with the treatment in Yuezhi, Daliang was not as good as ordinary people. Especially His Majesty's encouragement made him feel at ease.
"Your Majesty, I have contacted the Yuezhi craftsmen and soldiers who fled to Daliang with me. We will be able to resist the capital in the near future."
Zhu Youde was overjoyed. Just one anima was like this. Wouldn't it take off if dozens of skilled craftsmen joined in?
Apart from the craftsmen, he also had other ideas - to appease the Yueshi people, penetrate into the interior of the Western Region, and dismantle the foundation from behind.
If two caravans from the Western Regions agree to cooperate, two moves combined into one can make a huge difference.
When the time was right, Zhu Youde gave up his position, pointed at Mrs. Xu and Xu Congjun and said, "This is the tailor I discovered, and my skills are not inferior to those of the craftsmen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Huo took two steps forward and looked carefully, showing shock: "Xu Sugu?"
Tang Huo was surprised and happy. He looked at Zhu Youde and said in disbelief: "Your Majesty, I have seen this man before. He is the tailoring inheritance of the Xu family and is known as the best tailor in the capital!"
After hearing this, everyone was stunned and looked at the excited Tang Huo.
Mrs. Xu's calm face showed a kind smile, her eyes sparkling. Xu Congjun looked at his mother who also raised the corners of her mouth and breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhu Youde verified his inner guess and squinted his eyes waiting for Tang Huo's explanation.
"Your Majesty, when Wei Chen was young, he and his eldest mother visited the Xu family and met Mrs. Xu. I mentioned to you the number one hairdresser in the capital before..."
Mrs. Xu did not refute this answer, but said with a cheerful smile: "I didn't expect that the famous Shang Fanling would still remember me."
This sentence can be considered as acknowledgment of the identity of the number one hairdresser in Beijing.
She also told the reason why she refused the late emperor's canonization and lived in seclusion.
There are three reasons.
The first is the fundamental reason. Mrs. Xu doesn’t like the fact that nobles and royal families spend huge sums of money just for a beautiful dress.
The second is the direct reason. Back then, the late emperor ignored the advice of his ministers and launched a war. Mrs. Xu’s beloved husband enlisted in the army and died in the battle. The old lady felt that the late emperor was fatuous and refused to serve.
This is also the origin of Xu Congjun’s name.
The third reason is objective factors. Mrs. Xu likes freedom and does not want to stay in a restricted palace.
After hearing the story, Zhu Youde was worried about whether Mrs. Xu would be willing to join Shang Fang Mansion. After all, he was not sure because of the late emperor.
Just as she was thinking about it, Mrs. Xu spoke again: "As a commoner, I am grateful to be appreciated by His Majesty. If you don't despise me for being old, I am willing to serve!"
As she spoke, she pointed at Xu Congjun and continued: "The dog is not talented and has not learned the essence of tailoring. If your Majesty does not dislike it, you can leave him to do whatever you want."
Xu Congjun knelt down and saluted: "The common people thank your majesty for saving your life! I am willing to serve you like a cow or a horse!"
Zhu Youde hurriedly helped him up and tried to comfort him, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face.
"Very good! Very good! With the help of the number one scissor in Beijing, I will definitely be able to push the textile industry to a new height."
"Come here, get some paper and pen, I want to draw the picture myself."
Lang Hao started to write, and everyone looked at the drawing without understanding, and could not see the meaning of His Majesty. It looked like a dress, but also like an interior.
Zhu Youde put away the wolf hair and pretended to be calm, and said seriously: "This is a decoration designed by me. Maybe Mrs. Xu understands?"
What he painted was none other than the pleated skirt from his previous life!
Mrs. Xu glanced at it but did not take action. Instead, she asked Xu Congjun to take action. In just one stick of incense, the general appearance of the cloth could be seen.
The only few tailors in Shang Fang Mansion watched on the sidelines and all exclaimed in exclamation.
Xu Congjun is too fast!
The clothing on the drawing is not difficult, but it tests the mastery of details and takes a long time. If they were asked to make it, it would take a day, but Xu Congjun could make it with just one stick of incense. I am afraid he can make it with at most two sticks of incense.
out.
Too fast, really too fast.
This is a temporary drawing drawn by His Majesty. No one has ever seen it before. Xu Congjun was able to achieve such speed for the first time.
It is enough to see his outstanding ability.
After two sticks of incense, Xu Congjun stopped and Zhu Youde was overjoyed!
A pleated skirt made of silk was born, and its appearance was almost the same as in its previous life.
"Holy hand!" Tang Huo sighed.
Zhu Youde nodded and looked at Xu Congjun. His eyes changed. He originally thought that he really didn't learn the essence, but now he understands - Mrs. Xu is being humble!
The descendant of the first tailor in Beijing is like this, so one can imagine the tailoring skills of Mrs. Xu.
He immediately appointed Xu Congjun to be in charge of textile production. As for Mrs. Xu, she had more important arrangements.
When he left Shang Fang's mansion, Zhu Youde had a brocade box in his hand, which contained a pleated skirt made of silk.
The pace back to the palace was much faster than before. He couldn't wait to see the queen in her pleated skirt...