Chapter 516 | Chapter 517 | Chapter 518
Chapter 516: Wearing Her Own Brand’s Clothes; Mother-Daughter Outfits
Sheng Wanyan had specific requirements for the clothing store employees: they had to be females between 18 and 25 years old, articulate, and easygoing.
Sheng Wanyan clearly listed the wages and benefits in the posting: a base monthly salary of 30 yuan, plus a 1-dime commission per item sold. It was exactly the same compensation plan as the one in Rongcheng, ensuring no discrepancies.
Once Mother Sheng learned about this, she naturally took charge of the interviews for her.
No one was more experienced than her when it came to garment making. Furthermore, picking out honest, hard-working older aunts who harbored no ill intentions was her absolute forte. As for the young girls, her years of life experience allowed her to read them like a book. She knew every neighbor in the surrounding area like the back of her hand and had heard bits and pieces of every old piece of gossip.
Mother Sheng took this matter deeply to heart. In her eyes, her daughter’s business ventures were the most important things in the world!
It didn’t take long for Mother Sheng to recruit five older aunts and three suitable young girls for her. Sheng Wanyan then went over the employment contracts with them.
Of the five aunts, one or two lived right in this block, while the other three lived nearby. Their sewing skills were top-notch, having all been personally tested by Mother Sheng.
Mother Sheng had also thoroughly questioned the three clothing store employees to understand their backgrounds. One was a young girl who had just turned 18, a high school graduate who had just entered the workforce. The other two were already married with several children at home, making them exceptionally resilient and hardworking.
Sheng Wanyan met with all of them and explained the store’s rules and expectations.
“The clothing store will open in half a month. This half-month will consist of paid training, during which you must gain a solid understanding of how to coordinate each style and match colors.”
Sheng Wanyan maintained a thoroughly professional demeanor. In her eyes, work was work; there was no room for playing favors or mixing personal relations.
The three girls grew instantly excited upon hearing the phrase paid training. Getting normal wages just to undergo training was something they hadn’t even dared to dream about.
“While on duty, you will need to wear the store’s clothes, which will be provided free of charge. You must always remain patient with the customers.”
“Resignations require one month’s advance notice.”
“Working hours are split into two shifts arranged on a rotating schedule. You will take turns taking a one-and-a-half-hour lunch break, and you will receive four days off each month.”
“The morning shift is from 9 AM to 6 PM, and the evening shift is from 11 AM to 8 PM.”
“The morning shift is responsible for cleaning, and the evening shift must similarly tidy up before closing.”
“Are there any questions?”
The three girls nodded in unison. These points had already been discussed during the initial interviews, so they were fully aware.
“Since there are no issues, you may report for work tomorrow.”
“If you have any questions about the training materials I provide, you can ask me during the lunch break.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Sheng Wanyan had honorably become the boss of three young women. Truth be told, it had been quite a while since she last experienced this feeling.
Sheng Wanyan threw herself into a hectic routine, skipping her midday rests to shuttle between the clothing store and the small workshop.
Production officially kicked off at the workshop. Once the aunts learned about the commission structure, each of them acted as if they had been pumped with adrenaline. These aunts were incredibly nimble, and after getting a feel for the patterns, they quickly picked up the pace.
Sheng Wanyan placed a heavy emphasis on quality and workmanship. If one wanted to build a lasting manufacturing business, these areas were critical; any defect could easily damage the brand’s credibility.
Sheng Wanyan picked up a piece of clothing made by one of the aunts to inspect it. She was always strict and carried an imposing air when she worked, which allowed the aunts to see the true nature of their employer. They truly hadn’t expected such a young girl to be so remarkably capable.
How is she already married? Why couldn’t she be my own daughter-in-law?
“Boss, is there a problem with this one?” one aunt asked rather anxiously. She was highly confident in her sewing skills, but after being scrutinized by Sheng Wanyan for so long, her heart couldn’t help but thump nervously.
“The workmanship is excellent.”
The aunt let out a breath of relief, but then Sheng Wanyan added, “Just make sure all the loose threads are trimmed clean.”
“Ah! Yes, right away.”
The aunts hurriedly checked for loose threads, neatly trimming off everything that needed handling. This job paid well and was close to home, so everyone cherished it deeply, terrified of losing it over a careless mistake.
Sheng Wanyan inspected all their work. Among the five aunts, the oldest was 60 and the youngest was 35, all famously honest and diligent workers.
After finishing her inspection, Sheng Wanyan headed to the clothing store. The moment she left, the workshop erupted into chatter.
“My goodness, the boss is so young, yet she’s so intimidating.”
“Exactly. When she keeps a straight face like that, it scares me half to death. I didn’t even dare to speak loudly.”
“She’s the boss, after all. How could she not look imposing?”
“True indeed. No wonder she’s the one running a business; she really carries the aura of a leader.”
“You can say that again. The pay is high and the benefits are great. The boss might look terrifying, but she treats us exceptionally well in all practical matters.”
“Who else gets to work like us, blowing two electric fans all day long?”
As soon as these words came out, everyone nodded in agreement. It was absolutely true; even the big state factories didn’t offer this kind of treatment. Working here meant high wages and sheer comfort, and the boss would bring snacks and drinks from time to time, adding a bit of joy to break up the monotony. Though their employer carried a heavy presence, her treatment of them left absolutely nothing to be desired. Whenever they casually mentioned it back home, their neighbors would be green with envy.
Sheng Wanyan checked the time and headed straight back to school for her classes. After half a month of running around, the clothing store was finally ready for its grand opening!
Time quickly flew to mid-May, leaving Gu Tingxiao with only two days before he had to return to Bingcheng.
People walking the streets of the Capital had shed their heavy cotton coats, changing into lighter apparel. The May weather in the Capital brought a gentle breeze, making a stroll down the road incredibly pleasant. Sheng Wanyan loved this kind of weather best.
Sheng Wanyan intentionally chose Saturday for the grand opening, as Saturday was the day the general store saw the highest volume of university students.
Sheng Wanyan changed into her own brand’s clothing: a milk-white, V-neck long-sleeve top. The hem of the shirt flared slightly into a subtle trumpet shape, and the sleeves were made of a delicate, semi-transparent chiffon fabric. For her bottom half, she wore a pair of figure-flattering black flare pants that made her long legs look perfectly straight, paired with a versatile pair of white sneakers.
When Yi Yi saw her transformed mother, her big eyes widened, filled with absolute adoration.
“Pretty~”
Yi Yi was so stunned that the doll in her hand clattered to the floor, her gaze glued entirely to her mother.
“Mama prepared a matching set for Yi Yi too. Let Mama change you into it, okay?”
“Okay!”
Sheng Wanyan naturally wouldn’t leave her own child out; mother-daughter outfits were an absolute must! The store also carried a small selection of children’s clothes in matching styles, though the quantity wasn’t large. After all, in this era, very few people were willing to spend this kind of money on a little girl.
Sheng Wanyan changed Yi Yi into the matching outfit, tied her hair into neat little double buns, and pinned a small pearl hairclip on each side.
The mother and daughter looked exactly like a pair of sisters. When they walked out of the room hand-in-hand, Gu Tingxiao couldn’t take his eyes off them. He had always known his wife was beautiful, but when she truly dressed up, it gave off an entirely breathtaking feeling.
Chapter 517: The Clothing Store’s First Day of Opening
It was as if she were enveloped in a layer of light, exceptionally dazzling.
Sheng Wanyan took Yi Yi and spun around in front of him, looking at him with an expectant face.
“Does it look good?”
“It looks good, very good.”
Gu Tingxiao stared straight at her, unable to pull his gaze away for even a split second.
“I’m asking you if the clothes look good, not me.”
Sheng Wanyan crossed her arms and looked at him. Why did this man always answer a question with a completely different answer?
“The clothes look good, but the person wearing them looks even better.”
Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan couldn’t help the corners of her mouth from curving upward. She would simply take it as this man praising her.
“Of course.”
After thinking about it, Sheng Wanyan gave herself a side fishtail braid resting on her right side and clipped a matching pearl hairpin by her left ear, giving her a highly artistic and elegant aura.
Seeing this, Gu Tingxiao still went to fetch a milk-white knit cardigan for Yi Yi to put on. It was embroidered with little cherries, ensuring she wouldn’t catch a cold when they went out to play.
“Let’s go, time to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.”
Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao each held one of Yi Yi’s hands and walked outside. Yi Yi was overjoyed; wearing her new clothes made her feel as though she had won a grand prize, and she marched outward with her head held high and chest puffed out.
When they arrived at the clothing store, many customers who had originally come to shop at the general store stopped to look curiously.
Soon, the three employees inside walked out wearing the store’s clothes, and the strings of firecrackers were lit, crackling loudly.
As the boss, Sheng Wanyan still had to step up to take charge and say a few words.
“Hello, everyone! Welcome to our clothing store!”
“The clothes in our store are all independently designed by us! We have dresses, tops, and pants!”
“The outfits on these three employees and myself are all from our shop. Everyone is welcome to come inside and browse!”
“Today is the clothing store’s first day of business. Any customer who comes to buy clothes within our opening week will receive a flat 12% discount along with a small gift!”
“For purchases exceeding 100 yuan, we will also throw in a free canvas tote bag!”
The moment Sheng Wanyan finished speaking, the crowd grew ecstatic. They had fallen in love with the clothes the women were wearing at very first glance.
They had just been wondering where they could buy them, and it turned out they were original designs from this very clothing store.
The three employees were all wearing different styles: one had a one-piece dress, one had a skirt, and the other wore a distinct style of pants. Coordinated together, it was an absolute feast for the eyes, and the colors were incredibly striking.
Sheng Wanyan didn’t waste any more time; opening the doors to do business was the most important thing.
With that, the store officially opened! The curious and eager onlookers all flooded inside.
As soon as they entered, the three employees greeted them with warm, welcoming smiles, enthusiastically calling out:
“Welcome!”
The customers were caught off guard by this. After all, store clerks in this era were notoriously haughty and arrogant; when had they ever encountered anyone so incredibly polite?
“Please feel free to look around and pick out whatever you like.”
“We have fitting rooms right over here. Everyone can try them on for free and only buy if they fit well.”
As the employees introduced the setup, the crowd grew intensely interested upon hearing that they could try the clothes on for free before making a purchase.
“Can we really try them on?”
“Yeah! Is that for real?”
The customers asked eagerly, and the three salesgirls explained with faces full of smiles.
“Yes, we have fitting rooms right here. You can absolutely try them on.”
“We also assist with coordinating outfits and color matching. If you need anything at all, just call for us.”
“Really? Then put together an outfit for me.”
A fair-skinned and highly voluptuous woman put forth the request. The salesgirl immediately turned her smile up to a full hundred and twenty percent and began styling her.
“You have a full, curvaceous figure that exudes femininity, so you are perfectly suited for this cinched-waist dress of ours.”
“This particular dress features a V-neck design, which can visually elongate the neckline, making a person look much more slender.”
“The hemline is designed with an asymmetrical cut, so whether you pair it with leather flats, boots, or sneakers, it will look exceptionally fitting.”
Following the salesgirl’s thorough explanation, the woman’s eyes shone with absolute liking. She held the dress up in front the mirror to gauge it against herself.
“You have a beautiful, fair complexion, so you look good in any color.”
“We have quite a few other styles in the shop that would suit you wonderfully as well.”
“Please feel free to look around. If there’s anything you like, you can try it on over here.”
The salesgirl’s smile was perfectly poised. The woman nodded, now deeply curious about the other styles of clothing in the shop.
“Alright, then I’ll browse a bit more and try them all on together in a moment.”
“Understood. If you need anything, just call for me.”
Sheng Wanyan stood to one side explaining things to the customers. Seeing how exceptionally capable and at ease the three employees were, her heart settled with relief.
It seemed that the half-month of training hadn’t gone to waste; at the very least, they were highly familiar with the shop’s clothing coordination and color theory.
“My skin is quite dark, so I don’t think this dress suits me.”
Hearing this, Sheng Wanyan looked over. Standing ahead was a dark-skinned and rather lean woman, holding a long, casual-style dress in her hands.
Sheng Wanyan scanned the clothes in the shop, walked over, and picked out a form-fitting red knit top along with a black skirt made of suit fabric that fell just below the knee.
“Hello, you could try this outfit.”
“Red brings out a fair glow in skin tones, and paired with this black suit-fabric skirt, the overall look will be exceptionally elegant and noble.”
The woman felt her heart stir as she looked at the clothes in Sheng Wanyan’s hands. She smiled, placed the dress she was holding back onto the rack, and accepted the matching set.
Walking over to the mirror to hold it against herself, the vibrant red color instantly made her originally dull skin tone look much brighter.
“This knit top features a V-neck design, and the sleeves are relatively loose so they won’t feel restrictive when you’re doing chores.”
“The waist is tailored to fit snugly while the hem flares out slightly, which is excellent for accentuating our waistline.”
“Your waist is so slender; it’s perfect for showing off.”
Hearing this, the woman looked at herself in the full-length mirror. She was a person fast approaching forty and the mother of several children.
She had spent her life looking after the kids and taking care of her parents-in-law. Her body had lost its shape after giving birth, and following a string of continuous pregnancies, she had actually thinned down significantly to her current state.
Yet thinning down like this only made her look as though she were ill, completely lacking vitality, and her complexion was a sallow yellow.
“Won’t this color be… a bit too bright?”
“I’m a person who’s almost forty years old, after all.”
Although the woman voiced these reservations, the absolute adoration for the outfit in her eyes was incredibly prominent.
“You’re almost forty?”
Sheng Wanyan looked at her with feigned surprise, immediately launching into her sugar-coated compliment mode.
“If you hadn’t said so, I never would have guessed. I honestly thought you were only in your early thirties.”
Hearing these words, the woman’s face instantly filled with a radiant smile, the corners of her mouth stretching so wide they couldn’t come down.
“Oh, stop it! I’m turning forty next year.”
“I’m a mother of five children already, how could I possibly be as young as you say?”
The woman laughed so hard she couldn’t close her mouth. Sheng Wanyan looked at her with a gentle smile in her eyes, though in her heart, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the women of this era.
As a woman, even wearing a slightly brighter color required such cautious hesitation.
When women ought to be like flowers, blooming beautifully and vibrantly, with a unique beauty appropriate for every stage of life.
“You’ve given birth to five children, yet you’ve managed to maintain such a slender figure. If you tell anyone outside, they’ll absolutely die of envy.”
Chapter 518: The Eve of Gu Tingxiao’s Departure from the Capital
“Sister, as women, we spend the better half of our lives bustling and working hard. There is absolutely nothing wrong with treating ourselves a little better.”
Hearing her words, the woman’s body stiffened slightly. A tumultuous wave of emotion surged in her heart, and she let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“You’re right! Bustling around for the better half of my life…” Why shouldn’t she be allowed to wear a red piece of clothing?
“I’ll try it on.”
The woman took the clothes and entered the fitting room. When she came out and looked in the mirror, she could barely recognize herself.
Sheng Wanyan walked over with a smile and helped her adjust the outfit.
“It looks beautiful.”
The woman was highly satisfied, and Sheng Wanyan nodded with a smile. As long as a person wore the right clothes that suited them, their temperament would instantly elevate by several notches.
“Does your store have any other styles that would suit me?”
“I’ll take them all.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded with a smile and went to gather several matching sets that would bring out a fair glow in her skin tone and flatter her frame. Although this customer was lean, it was precisely because of her slenderness that she was perfectly suited for many form-fitting clothes.
In this era, there were no cosmetics. If there were, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she would look like a completely transformed person.
“Is that your daughter over there? Do you also sell children’s clothes here?”
“Yes, we carry children’s sizes here as well.”
Hearing this, the woman smiled. When she had some free time later on, she could bring her granddaughter over for a browse.
The clothing store was hectically busy, and Sheng Wanyan spent the entire day cooped up there. Gu Tingxiao took Yi Yi back home to cook dinner.
“Take this water flask to your mother.”
Yi Yi nodded, staring at him. Is Daddy not going?
“Can Yi Yi complete this task all by herself?”
“Yi Yi cannot~”
Yi Yi rejected the idea without even stopping to think, leaving Gu Tingxiao absolutely no room to persuade her.
Gu Tingxiao: “……”
Nevertheless, Gu Tingxiao still hoped she could try stepping out of the house alone. He was returning to Bingcheng in two days, and by then, only his wife and Yi Yi would be left here. If Yi Yi could navigate her way to the clothing store or the general store by herself, it would be much more convenient in case anything ever cropped up at home.
“Yi Yi, Daddy is returning to Bingcheng in two days.”
“Can Yi Yi and Mama wait here for Daddy to come back?”
“Yup~”
Yi Yi had known about this for a while; Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao had given her plenty of preventative warnings early on.
“When the time comes, Mama will have to take care of Yi Yi all by herself, and she has to go out to earn money, which is very exhausting.”
“If Yi Yi learns the way to the general store and the clothing store, you can help deliver water and meals to Mama in the future.”
“I know the way~”
Yi Yi shot back at him. She knew the way perfectly well; she just hadn’t walked it by herself before.
“Yi Yi, Daddy won’t be around then. Can you help me take good care of Mama?”
Gu Tingxiao crouched down to look at her at eye level. Yi Yi balled her little fists and nodded.
“Okay~”
“Then can you go deliver the water to Mama by yourself?”
Yi Yi: “……” You’ve already put it that way, can I still say no?
Clutching the water flask with great difficulty, Yi Yi took her first steps out of the main gate, turning back to look at her old father.
Gu Tingxiao waved his hand at her. Yi Yi let out a sigh and began walking according to her memory.
Gu Tingxiao watched the direction she left in, and after a brief moment, he followed out as well.
Yi Yi kicked the pebbles on the road as she walked along, completely oblivious to the fact that an anxious old father was tailing her from behind.
There was only one main road here, so Yi Yi didn’t need to do any deep thinking at all. She just had to turn right outside the door and walk straight for 300 meters to arrive.
Stepping into the clothing store all by herself while clutching the water flask, she pattered over to clamp herself around Sheng Wanyan’s thigh and immediately began lodging her complaint.
“Yi Yi? Where’s Daddy?”
“Hmph~ Daddy is a baddie!”
Sheng Wanyan carried her outside, and only after a thorough round of questioning did she understand the dramatic grievances between the father and daughter.
“Our Yi Yi is so amazing, you can already recognize the way to come find Mama all by yourself.”
“It’s… it’s just so-so……”
Hearing herself being praised, Yi Yi instantly forgot her old father’s heartlessness. She turned her head away rather shyly.
How could Sheng Wanyan not understand Gu Tingxiao’s intentions? The old man was just terrified of what might happen at home once he returned to Bingcheng and wasn’t around.
“Mama~ Drink water.”
Sheng Wanyan took several big gulps, lest she waste her daughter’s thoughtful efforts.
“Can Yi Yi lead Mama back home?”
“Mama doesn’t remember the way anymore.”
Hearing this, Yi Yi instantly became highly spirited. Holding her mother’s hand, she embarked on the journey home.
“Mama~ Walk straight.”
“Walk and walk, look! Big tree.”
“One gate, two gates, arrived~”
Yi Yi taught her how to recognize the path as they walked along, and Sheng Wanyan listened to her explanations with endless patience. The little girl actually remembered all the reference points; there were even some chaotic doodles she had drawn on the lower section of the wall near their house.
Good heavens, she hadn’t even noticed them before. When on earth did she draw those?!
Did Gu Tingxiao notice them???
When they stepped back inside the house, Gu Tingxiao was already sitting in the living room. Needless to say, the man had scaled the wall to get back first. All his tactical skills for dealing with enemies had been deployed right at home to engage in a battle of wits and courage against his own daughter.
Upon returning home, Yi Yi approached her old father with immense pride. After receiving her old father’s praise, she triumphantly performed a full split right on the spot.
Gu Tingxiao’s mouth twitched slightly. Ever since this girl started going to dance classes, she would strike all sorts of bizarre poses every time she came home.
Gu Tingxiao made sure to get everything around the house sorted out during these last two days. He re-greased the bicycle chain, filled the water vat to the brim, and washed, dried, and neatly folded all the dirty laundry.
In the end, he turned out to be the one who was most reluctant to part, while Sheng Wanyan and Yi Yi didn’t feel any overly dramatic sorrow yet.
Very quickly, the day for Gu Tingxiao to return to Bingcheng arrived. Early in the morning, Sheng Wanyan got up to prepare food for his journey.
“Wife, sleep a bit longer.”
“I’m up. Should we wake Yi Yi up?”
Gu Tingxiao would be leaving shortly. If they didn’t wake Yi Yi up now, the next time they saw each other would be several months later.
“No, let’s avoid the tears.”
If Yi Yi started crying, his wife would have to spend ages coaxing her, and there was no need to create extra trouble for his wife.
Although Yi Yi was noticeably closer to Sheng Wanyan, in her heart, she deeply admired and looked up to Gu Tingxiao as her father. Moreover, Gu Tingxiao had been the one looking after her during this recent period; it was impossible for her not to rely on him. Children always knew who treated them well.
“Then we won’t wake her.”
Sheng Wanyan didn’t want Yi Yi to cry either. Having the house filled with the heavy atmosphere of a depressing departure was stifling. Especially the helpless wailing of a child, begging and pleading for their parents not to leave, would linger like a thorn in a parent’s heart.
Sheng Wanyan prepared a generous amount of meat. The weather was currently quite pleasant, so the food wouldn’t spoil easily.
“Wife, don’t work yourself too hard.”
“There’s no rush with the clothing store and the general store. Take things slow, and don’t place too much pressure on yourself.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. She currently had no plans to expand any further; she definitely wouldn’t be able to manage so many things entirely on her own. For now, having two storefronts to rake in profits was enough, and it wouldn’t be too late to develop further once Xu Guihua graduated.
“Take good care of yourself and Yi Yi. Wait for me to come back.”
“Don’t worry, Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom are all here.”
With Mother Sheng around, Gu Tingxiao could feel a bit more at ease in his heart, but not having a reliable man anchored at home still left him harboring a tinge of worry.
