Since Shen Xiu had to take care of the business of Nishang Embroidery Studio, she spent most of her time there.
On this day, she had something to discuss with Fan Guangzu, so she came to Jinxin Embroidery Square early in the morning.
Fan Guangzu was counting the goods in his inventory. When he looked up, he saw Shen Xiu and quickly dropped the booklet and said, "Ms. Shen, you came just in time. I was just wanting to discuss something with you."
"What a coincidence." Shen Xiu said with a smile: "I came here today to discuss things with you, Shopkeeper Fan. But what I said is not urgent, so Shopkeeper Fan should talk to you first!"
Fan Guangzu said: "It's not a big deal. It's just that the price of silk and satin this year is higher than in previous years. I calculated that one foot of plain satin costs three taels of silver. A large embroidery costs just the cloth." Dozens of taels of silver."
"Our embroidery shop is like this, and other embroidery shops are like this too. I heard that Manfang embroidery shop has already increased its prices. A small embroidery used to cost only ten taels of silver, but now it has increased to fifteen taels."
Fan Guangzu said: "Ms. Shen, do you think we should raise the price?"
Shen Xiudao: "Actually, the matter I want to talk about is also related to the increase in the price of silk and satin."
Fan Guangzu then acted as if he was all ears.
Shen Xiudao: "Some time ago, a classmate of my husband-in-law went to Fucheng. When the classmate came back, he said that there is a kind of fine cotton cloth in the provincial capital, which is dense, fine and clean, no worse than ordinary silk and satin, and this fine cotton cloth is The nobles in the capital also like to wear them."
"So I thought we could try to use this fine cotton to make embroidered clothes for sale. What does Shopkeeper Fan think of my idea?"
Fan Guangzu thought for a moment and said, "But I have never seen this fine cotton cloth, and I don't know the quality of this fine cotton cloth."
Shen Xiudao: "I have sent people to buy this fine cotton cloth. If the quality of this fine cotton cloth is good, I plan to use this fine cotton cloth to make jackets."
Fan Guangzu smiled but said nothing. He still felt that no matter how good the fine cotton was, it was not as good as silk.
Although he didn't say what was in his heart, Shen Xiuguang could tell from his expression that he actually did not agree with using fine cotton to make clothes.
This was expected by Shen Xiu. Fan Guangzu was not a courageous person to begin with, so it was reasonable for him to have such an idea.
Since Fan Guangzu was unwilling to use fine cotton to make clothes, Shen Xiu focused on the Nishang Embroidery Workshop as originally planned.
When she returned to Nishang Embroidery Workshop, she called Guo Abacus over.
"Ms. Shen, what do you want from me?" Guo Abacus asked.
Shen Xiudao: "Last time I asked you to persuade Wen Xiu Niang to come to our embroidery workshop. You did a good job in this matter. Now I will give you one more thing. If you do this well, I will promote you to The shopkeeper of the Embroidery Shop."
Guo Abacus has wanted to be the shopkeeper for a long time. When he heard what Shen Xiu said, he suppressed the excitement in his heart and said, "Ms. Shen, just tell me what the matter is, and I will try my best to do it."
Shen Xiudao: "This matter is easy to say and difficult to say. I know that there is a batch of silk in Yuquan Temple. I don't care what method you use. In short, you can find a way to buy it for me. As long as you complete this matter, I will wait for you to come back. , you are the shopkeeper of Nishang Embroidery Shop."
There was actually silk in Yuquan Temple. Guo Abacus immediately understood, "I'll go there right away."
Shen Xiudao: "Don't leave in a hurry. Before you go to Yuquan Temple, go to the accounting office to pay ten taels of silver. As the saying goes, it's easier to do things if you have money."
After Guo Abacus left, Shen Xiu called Wen Xiu Niang and several embroidery ladies over again.
"Who among you can mend paintings and embroider?"
Shen Xiu looked at the several embroiderers and saw that they all shook their heads.
Shen Xiu continued to ask: "What about cut-and-paste embroidery and high embroidery?"
The other embroidery ladies still shook their heads, but only Wen embroidery lady said: "I can do a little bit of cut and paste embroidery, but not advanced embroidery."
Shen Xiudao: "Okay, I understand. From tomorrow on, I will teach you patchwork embroidery and clipping embroidery. After you learn patchwork embroidery and clipping embroidery, we will start making some embroidered clothes with fine cotton."
Several embroiderers looked at each other in confusion. They could easily understand using silk and satin to make embroidered clothes, but they had never heard of using fine cotton to make embroidered clothes.
Shen Xiu saw the looks on their faces, but didn't explain much and just let them go about the work at hand.
Wen Xiu Niang had already left with several other embroidery ladies, but when she was halfway there, she suddenly came back.
"Ms. Shen, who came up with the idea of using fine cotton to make embroidered clothes?"
In response to her question, Shen Xiu replied calmly: "I came up with this idea."
Wen Xiu Niang originally thought that this was Guo Abacus's idea and wanted to persuade Shen Xiu. Now that she heard that this was Shen Xiu's own idea, she didn't know what to say.
Shen Xiu saw this in her eyes and said, "Mother Wen Xiu can say whatever she wants. I ask myself whether I can listen to what others say."
Only then did Wen Xiu Niang speak up: "Ms. Shen, I only know that those wealthy families in Fucheng are the most honorable. The fabrics they use to make their clothes are all the best silks and satins."
In order not to offend Shen Xiu, Wen Xiu Niang spoke tactfully.
"I also know that muslin is more comfortable to wear than silk and satin, but wealthy people are more concerned with respectability than comfort."
Shen Xiu smiled slightly and said: "I already understand what Mrs. Wen Xiu means. Let's do this. When the fine cotton cloth is bought from the provincial capital, I will make an embroidered dress myself. If you all think that no one will buy this embroidered dress, then I will Give up the idea. What do you think?"
Of course Wen Xiu Niang would not object. She felt that Shen Xiu had listened to her suggestion, so she came up with this suggestion.
Shen Xiu waited in the embroidery workshop until evening, but did not wait for Guo Abacus to come back. It seemed that the silk matter was more difficult than she thought.
The reason why Shen Xiu didn't mention this matter directly to Master Huizhen at Yuquan Temple was that he had already borrowed mulberry leaves and silkworm seeds, and he would feel bad about borrowing any more. Secondly, the monks in the temple were already used to using silk to keep warm. , I guess they won’t agree to transfer the silk in their hands.
Now that this matter has been handed over to Guo Abacus, Shen Xiu no longer thinks about it. If he can't even solve this problem, then Shen Xiu will have to think carefully about the choice of the shop owner of Nishang Embroidery Workshop.
When the last ray of light on the horizon was about to dissipate, Shen Xiu returned to her home.
Rou Niang was the first to greet her, "Mrs. Shen, there is a girl named Caixia at home. She said she is from the Meng Mansion."
Shen Xiu remembered what Miss Jiu said before she left. She originally thought Caixia would come soon, but she didn't expect it would take so long.
"Bring her here and let me see her." Shen Xiudao said, "She was not reluctant when she came!"
Rou Niang said: "You can't tell if you don't want to. It's just that your face looks a little uncomfortable, as if you just fell ill."