Chapter 34
It was mid-winter, and the weather was unusually cold. Mingyue Residence was heated by an underfloor dragon, so it wasn’t cold, but the moment one stepped out, one would shiver.
Last night, she had gotten Xie Yao’s verbal agreement. Yuli could finally, without his constraints, do some things she wanted to do.
But besides making pastries, she had no other ideas for the time being. She called for Jingyu to arrange for an outing. She decided to go to the market to find business opportunities.
The weather was freezing. She wore several layers of clothes, a silk jacket, and a thick cloak before going out. The courtyard, which had not yet flourished, was a bit desolate. The flower trees planted in autumn had not had time to bloom before winter came, but they had been kept warm and fertilized before winter.
Yuli believed that as long as they survived this winter, the flowers would bloom in the spring, and her courtyard would surely be a delightful sight.
Yuli went out to the West Market. The foot traffic here was the largest, and she could see the most diverse consumer profiles.
Yuli sat in the carriage, holding a hand warmer, and waited by the memorial archway. As usual, she first admired the young ladies coming and going.
Although it was the feudal ancient times, this era was not as conservative as the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was common for women to travel in groups or with their brothers or husbands.
Most of the young ladies who came to the West Market were like her on her first visit, all meticulously dressed.
The current trend was for glamorous makeup. The young ladies wore high chignons, adorned with hairpins and rings, painted their eyebrows, and dotted their foreheads with flower patterns. They were graceful and beautiful.
In the summer, Yuli had been dazzled. In the winter, the young ladies wore thicker clothes, which did not show off their figures, and the color of their faces seemed a little duller.
Yuli compared them carefully and found that they were still wearing heavy makeup, but many of them did not have the large, fresh flowers of summer as a foil, making them look less brilliant.
And few of them wore silk flowers. Yuli also had silk flowers. She had asked the price when she had visited a jewelry shop before. The good ones were extremely expensive, and the inferior ones were not eye-catching enough. And the current styles of silk flowers were relatively simple, and the colors were not very rich. Most of them were pink and red, unlike in the summer, when there were flowers of all colors.
Yuli immediately thought of what business to do.
In her past life, short videos were too developed. Her hobbies were very diverse. For a while, there was a revival of intangible cultural heritage, and she had watched many exquisite intangible cultural heritage production videos. Among them, the one that looked beautiful and not so difficult was velvet flowers.
She had even bought a kit to play with and had made something that looked quite decent. But after the novelty wore off, she didn’t do it anymore. She had to work and couldn’t compete with those skilled video bloggers. After that, she could only watch others constantly innovate and be amazed.
Yuli spent the whole day in the West Market, collecting a large pile of tools and materials. Her cheeks were red from the wind outside. It was already dusk when she returned to the residence.
She had just put the things in the study when Xie Yao returned. The weather was cold, and he didn’t let her go to meet him. Seeing her still chilly face, he held it to warm it. “So eager to start a career.”
Yuli let him hold her and said with a smile, “I’ve thought of a great idea. I’m going to make something that doesn’t exist in this world. Just wait and see me get rich!”
Xie Yao smiled and pinched her cheek. “What do you want to buy when you get rich?”
Yuli: “Of course, a house.”
“If you want a house, I’ll buy it for you,” Xie Yao said, staring at her.
Yuli paused, pulled his hand away, and held it. “I want one that is completely my own, one that I can be the master of.”
Xie Yao held her wrist and pulled her closer. “Are you thinking of leaving Mingyue Residence one day?”
Yuli sensed that the air had frozen for a moment. She was a little nervous, but this time she did not choose to back down. “Yes, the future is so long. If you annoy me, I’ll run away from home and go to my own house, and lock you out.”
Yuli sensed that Xie Yao’s palm had tightened and then loosened. Finally, he said, “Then your house will have to have the highest walls.”
There was a faint smile in Xie Yao’s eyes.
Seeing that he would even joke with her, Yuli smiled even more brightly than him. “I’ll buy one according to that standard.”
Even the highest imperial palace walls in the world could not stop him. But Xie Yao didn’t mind humoring her a little.
Yuli was right. Their days were still long. He had a new identity that she needed to get used to. If everything went smoothly, she wouldn’t need to know his past; she just needed to be the empress.
At that time, what was a small house? The entire world could be shared with him.
For the next few days, Yuli stayed in the study every day, tinkering with her new gadget. Xie Yao would occasionally go and have a look.
The study was filled with all kinds of silk threads and metal wires, including gold, silver, copper, and iron, as well as scissors, irons, fish glue, and other things. It was unclear what she was making.
Yuli was very serious. When Xuemi wanted to get on the table, she was mercilessly carried down.
Xie Yao stood by her side without leaving and only got a perfunctory kiss.
A few days later, Yuli finally finished her seclusion and went out early in the morning with a red velvet flower in the shape of a peony. To prevent Xie Yao from interfering, she didn’t even tell Jingyu where she was going and went straight to the street with the jewelry shops in the city.
She visited almost every shop, but she only observed and didn’t buy. Instead, she took a fancy to a craftsman who made silk flowers and two craftsmen who did filigree work.
She planned to poach them with a high salary while their shopkeeper was not around. But because they were all men, and seeing that Yuli was dressed richly and had an otherworldly appearance, although their eyes lit up when they saw her velvet flower, they still politely refused after a few words.
“The flower the young lady wants to make may indeed be unique in this world, but this old man has been doing this for many years and has established a reputation in this industry. I don’t want to change careers.”
Or, “The young lady’s shop hasn’t opened yet. This flower is indeed beautiful, but who can guarantee that it will sell.”
Another said directly, “Is the young lady married? Seeing that you are also from a wealthy family, why bother to compete in this kind of business? Even if you do succeed, the monthly profit may not even be enough to buy that cloak of yours.”
After hitting a wall all day, Yuli felt a little aggrieved. Her velvet flower was so beautiful, almost lifelike. Besides her skills not being particularly exquisite and not making it perfectly, such a flower should have a huge market.
These people looked down on her product just because they looked down on her. Pedantic! Pathetic!
She would definitely make them regret it!
Yuli decided to open the shop first.
That would require money, and the initial investment would be huge. Although the cost of the silk thread for the velvet flowers was lower than that of silk cloth, the rent and hiring people were the major expenses.
Yuli took out the gold ingots that Xie Yao had given her.
He had given them all to her. It was not too much to use a little. She would just make it up in the future when she earned it.
Before choosing a shop, the most important thing was talent.
Her shop was just starting. No matter how small the scale, she needed a shopkeeper, an accountant, and most importantly, a craftsman who could make good velvet flowers, and even surpass her.
Yuli went to those jewelry shops for several days in a row. Not to mention the master craftsmen, she couldn’t even poach an apprentice. She was a little worried. She would occasionally show it in Mingyue Residence, and Xie Yao would look at her and ask if she had encountered any difficulties.
At this time, Yuli would immediately cheer up. What were such small problems? She could do it.
The next day, Yuli went to the slave market.
Previously, she had been repulsed by the slave markets that sold people. How could people be priced? And it was officially permitted, with complete laws.
It was only after she went to the slave market that she found that the people who were sold were not as miserable as she had imagined.
Except for those who were being sold for the first time, the rest were very calm. For them, being sold once was like changing masters.
Buyers usually bought them for practical labor needs. Although they treated them as inferior, they would not really treat them like livestock and beat or scold them. After all, people have joys, sorrows, and emotions. Even if they were slaves, after buying them, one had to communicate with them on a human level.
But Yuli saw a woman using a ruler to measure a little girl’s height and waist, and then carefully examining her teeth and appearance. She was clearly quite satisfied, but she still pretended to be disgusted and bargained with the owner.
Yuli still couldn’t stand it.
“This girl’s father was once a craftsman in the Ministry of Works. He was killed by a stone while working. Her mother was in a hurry to remarry and sold her. She has read books and knows some of her father’s skills. If you don’t want her for ten taels, then let’s not talk,” the slave market owner said, stroking his goatee, calm and composed.
The woman: “I’m buying her to be a child bride for my son. It’s enough for her to know how to do laundry, cook, and have children. I don’t need her for that many things.”
“Then you go and look over there. They are from the countryside, more affordable.”
The woman looked down on those few and didn’t want to spend so much money. She turned and began to find fault with the young girl. “Look at her, she’s like a mute gourd, doesn’t say a word. She probably doesn’t know any etiquette. A big family wouldn’t want her as a maid. Her looks are only average, not pretty enough to be a concubine…”
Hearing this, Yuli was already a little indignant.
But she saw the owner tugging at his beard, and he actually seemed to be wavering.
Yuli put down her teacup and stood up. “Shopkeeper, ten taels, I’ll take her.”
She had been quietly sipping tea in a private room. The shopkeeper had not yet had time to attend to her. Hearing her words, he nodded and bowed, about to agree.
The young girl looked at her, and a trace of light flashed in her dull eyes.
But the woman was anxious. “Ten taels it is. I was here first.”
Yuli: “Then I’ll offer twelve taels.”
The woman was silent this time.
The shopkeeper immediately smiled at Yuli, left the woman, and came to her side. Jingyu calmly moved a little closer to Yuli, keeping the person at a distance.
Yuli put on the air of a wealthy person. “Are there any other little girls? Bring them all for me to see.”
The shopkeeper’s face was wreathed in smiles. He looked at Yuli, and a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes. “Seeing that the Mistress is of extraordinary birth, this girl is indeed a mute gourd. She has been here for many days and hasn’t shown a smiling face. This humble one has better ones. Let’s forget about this one; she is not worthy of the Mistress’s status.”
Yuli secretly cursed this person but remained impassive on the surface.
“Mistress, Mistress!” the young girl suddenly ran over. Jingyu was greatly alarmed, but she saw that she had only knelt down to Yuli.
“This humble girl can write and do accounts, can carve and paint. Although I am not skilled in laundry, cooking, and needlework, I can learn. This humble girl learns things very quickly. This humble girl is willing to follow the Mistress. I beg the Mistress to buy me,” she said, and kowtowed heavily to Yuli.
Both the owner and the woman were stunned. Yuli quickly helped her up.
“Alright, alright, I’m in need of someone who can write and do accounts,” Yuli said with a smile.
Large teardrops immediately rolled down the young girl’s eyes.
Yuli suppressed her heartache and turned to the owner. “It’s settled at twelve taels. Give me the indenture contract.”
The owner hesitated.
Yuli: “I will be buying many more people in the future. If you have others like her, keep them for me. As long as I am satisfied, the price is negotiable.”
Yuli painted a big picture, but she was dressed richly and looked the part. The owner readily agreed.
“What’s your name?” Yuli turned to the young girl.
“Please give me a name, Mistress.”
“Just use your original name.”
“This humble girl is Liu Zhile,” the young girl said.
It was a beautiful name with a rich meaning. Yuli praised, “A good name.”
Zhile finally managed a tearful smile. “My father gave it to me.”
It seemed her father had been very good to her when he was alive. Fathers were also worlds apart.
Yuli brought Zhile back to the Xie Residence and asked about her family situation, which was similar to what the slave market owner had said.
Seeing that Xie Yao would be back soon, she had to settle her down first. Both were sold by their families before the age of fourteen. Xiyun naturally felt closer to her and wanted to keep her in her own room.
But Jingyu disagreed. “Zhile is a girl from a good family, but she is new here after all. It’s better for me to take her to familiarize herself with the affairs of the residence, in case any mistakes are made that would displease the Mistress and the Young Master.”
Hearing the beginning, Xiyun still wanted to object, but when she heard the words “Young Master,” she fell silent.
It was also the first time Yuli had heard her openly bring up Xie Yao. She knew that Jingyu was meticulous and not a person without a sense of propriety. The matter was probably not that simple, so she agreed.
After Xie Yao returned at night, he personally met Zhile. The next day, after getting the details of her background from the shadow guards, he handed her over to Yuli.
When Jingyu brought Zhile back, she had a relaxed smile on her face and was much closer to her than yesterday. Yuli guessed that she had passed Xie Yao’s test.
But seeing that Zhile had not become cautious, she let him be.
Zhile’s so-called ability to learn things quickly greatly exceeded Yuli’s expectations. She taught her how to make a velvet flower once, and she could replicate it. Yuli thought she had done a decent job, but Zhile’s was more realistic and lively.
For the same flower shape and petals of the same size, the curve she pinched was just more natural.
Yuli remembered that she had said she could paint and carve, and immediately arranged for her to demonstrate.
She pursed her lips and, with a thin brush, quickly drew a picture of flowers and birds. Before it was colored, it was already so delicate that it seemed about to leap off the paper.
Compared to Yuli, who had started halfway, it was like the difference between clouds and mud.
Yuli suppressed her surprise and had someone go to the kitchen to find a carving knife and a radish, and had Zhile carve a flower.
“Carve your best, the one that can best show your skills,” Yuli said.
Zhile solemnly agreed and found a corner to start.
Yuli was making velvet flowers on the side, occasionally checking her progress. She watched as she carved a snow-white dragon from the forearm-length radish.
The white dragon soared through the clouds, lifelike, as if about to take flight.
Zhile had fine beads of sweat on her forehead. She pursed her lips. “Before, this humble servant used wood. This radish is too soft and not easy to shape. If the Mistress gives me more time, this humble servant can carve it even better.”
Yuli could see that she was very confident in her skills. Perhaps she had been proud of it before, but because of her circumstances, her spirit had been worn down. Although there was a bright light in her eyes, her fingers were twisting the hem of her dress.
Yuli asked softly, “Did your father teach you this? What did he do?”
Zhile: “He carved beams and pillars, and painted for the beams and caisson ceilings. He taught me to carve and paint since I was a child.”
So it was a skill learned from childhood. Yuli broke into a big smile. She had found a treasure!
“Zhile. Have you ever thought of being a craftsman like your father, carving beams and painting buildings?” Yuli asked her solemnly.
Zhile was taken aback and nodded. “I have. Father once promised to take me with him when I grew a little older, but my mother wouldn’t let me.”
“Then do you resent your mother?” Yuli asked, feeling as if she were the ruthless HR person in an interview.
Zhile pursed her lips. “When my father was alive, he traveled all over the country to build houses, and would be gone for a year at a time. She supported the family all by herself. It was not easy…”
She began to cry as she spoke.
She was resentful, but she also knew her mother’s difficulties.
Yuli’s eyes also turned red. A thirteen-year-old girl, in the modern era, would be in middle school, in her rebellious and chuunibyou phase. She hadn’t expected her to be so sensible.
Yuli took her hand and patted it. She cried even louder.
Yuli sighed, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to her. She walked to the side and waited for her to cry for a while before walking back.
“Let’s not talk about the past. I plan to start a business, and I need your talents. I’ll hire you as a craftsman. Will you follow me and make velvet flowers?”
Yuli had previously said she would be an accountant. Zhile had thought her skills would be wasted. Hearing this, especially the word “talents,” made her heart come alive. Zhile was both surprised and happy, and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
“I’ll pay you the market rate. But you’re still young. I’ll keep your indenture contract for now. When you grow up and have earned enough money from me to be self-reliant, I’ll grant you your freedom. How about it?”
Zhile had no concept of what Yuli was saying for the time being, but she trusted Yuli completely and agreed without hesitation.
Yuli didn’t say much more. Everything would have to wait until her shop opened and she had earned some money.
Yuli had found a treasure at the slave market and was no longer repulsed by the place. But after going a few more times, she didn’t find another girl like Zhile.
They were either illiterate, or had some talent and looks, but would rather be sold to a wealthier family as a concubine than work as a clerk in her shop.
During this period, Yuli chose a shop and paid a deposit. Zhile also quickly made a velvet flower that was stunning enough.
The design was from Yuli’s creativity, but the fact that she could make it perfectly and lifelike was purely her skill.
However, because the colors of the silk threads in this era were not very rich, it had not yet reached the highest level of the king of kings among modern video bloggers.
Yuli named the shop “Huayan Fang.”
She thought of a marketing idea that required making a most eye-catching velvet flower. In the few days before the opening, she ran around the various shops in the capital that sold silk threads, looking for the most suitable colors.
Silk threads were usually sold in ready-made clothing shops or fabric stores. Yuli searched for a long time and found a shop that specialized in selling silk threads.
Seeing the rich variety of silk threads hanging on the shelves like a color card, Yuli was overjoyed. She carefully examined them from red to black and finally chose a roll of blue-purple silk thread.
She was engrossed in her looking. The shopkeeper had been standing behind the counter. Seeing her pick up the silk thread, he raised an eyebrow and came over to greet her.
Yuli asked the price and then secretly asked Jingyu. Jingyu was in charge of the Xie Residence’s expenses and was very familiar with the prices of many items on the market.
Jingyu indicated that the price was reasonable. Yuli chose a few more colors and paid without another word.
Walking out of the shop, she looked back at the shop’s name, “Wanse Fang.” It was indeed worthy of its name. She would come here to stock up in the future.
Yuli planned to go back and have Zhile make a velvet flower to see the effect first, and then come and talk to the owner about a long-term cooperation. She turned and left with Xiyun and Jingyu.
By the window on the second floor, a tall and slender man watched them go.
The shopkeeper came upstairs. “Young Master…”
“I saw,” the man said. The scholar’s robe he was wearing was the same color as the roll of silk thread Yuli had chosen.
It was a color that was both blue and purple, with a lustrous sheen. At the time, most people loved lake blue and deep purple. This blue-purple was one of the colors he had carefully mixed, but it had never sold very well.
Chu Hong straightened his cuffs and smiled. “Good taste.”