Chapter 235: New Business, New Mission
Jian Xingxia immediately escorted the two guests to the west wing and called Lin Sanniang over to take their measurements.
Lin Sanniang used a soft measuring tape to take each girl’s dimensions, while Jian Xingxia recorded them in a little notebook.
The two girls, who had arrived wearing Hanfu themselves, couldn’t help but ask, “Manor Owner, is this really custom handmade? The Hanfu I’m wearing from [Brand Name] retails for 699 yuan mass-produced…”
For custom handmade tailoring, the price would usually be several times higher.
Jian Xingxia smiled and replied, “Yes, if the guest requests it, we can make it completely custom handmade. As for our ready-to-wear pieces, apart from the major seams which are done on a sewing machine, the rest is actually handcrafted too.”
Jian Xingxia had already thought it through. This work would be perfect to outsource to Lin Sanniang’s sisters back in her world.
Her only slight worry was that Sanniang’s monthly wage was only six hundred yuan. If she gave all the work to her sisters, Sanniang’s own earnings would decrease.
However, since business had come knocking on her door, Jian Xingxia decided to accept it first.
After all, what she considered a bad deal might not seem that way to Sanniang and her sisters.
Since she was not in their shoes, she couldn’t fully comprehend their hardships. Leaving the decision in the hands of Lin Sanniang and her sisters might be the better choice.
Once the measurements were complete, the two girls specified their requirements.
“I want a set exactly like the one that little sister was wearing just now. She looked absolutely stunning in it! And as someone who’s been in the Hanfu community for so many years, I can guarantee there’s no ready-to-wear version like that on the market!”
Jian Xingxia couldn’t help but praise her for her excellent taste.
And wasn’t it true? That was a pure, authentic design from the Great Liang Dynasty. Trying to find a ready-to-wear version of it in the modern world would be next to impossible.
The other girl spoke up with a hint of bashfulness, “Could I custom order a set of the new-Chinese-style Hanfu like the one you’re wearing, Manor Owner? I think your outfit looks lovely, and it’s something that can be worn for daily life too.”
Jian Xingxia was wearing a three-piece set. Her top consisted of a moon-white, long-sleeved shirt with a standing collar worn as an undergarment. The cuffs were cinched, and a ring of greenish-leaf lotuses was embroidered along the collar and cuffs.
Over it, she wore a pale green beizi vest modified into half-sleeves, which exposed half of the undergarment’s sleeves. The frog closures could be fastened or left open.
It was perfectly suited for the mountains, where it was shaded and breezy yet hot under the blazing sun.
When the wind blew, the beizi could be fastened to serve as a half-sleeve jacket, and when it got hot, it could be left open. The fabric wasn’t thick, making it cool and comfortable to wear.
Below, she wore a pair of verdant green balloon trousers. The cuffs featured fringed tie-strings that draped over her insteps, perfectly serving to keep out mosquito and insect bites.
The outfit Jian Xingxia was wearing had also been crafted for her by Lin Sanniang and her sisters.
Seeing that the guest liked it, Jian Xingxia agreed immediately.
The guest selected her preferred color and fabric, and adjusted a few details.
To celebrate a successful launch, Jian Xingxia offered a discount: “Tell you what, since you two are the very first to custom order clothing, I won’t charge you extra. I’ll give it to you at the ready-to-wear price—588 yuan a set. How does that sound?”
The two girls were overjoyed. “Really? A custom order at the ready-to-wear price?”
Jian Xingxia smiled and said, “Yes! You’re the first to support our custom line, so it wouldn’t make sense not to give you a special discount.”
The two girls thanked her repeatedly and paid a deposit of 288 yuan.
Jian Xingxia actually felt a bit self-conscious in her heart. She had originally only intended to sell them for 588 yuan anyway.
Even though they were uniquely handcrafted pieces, she was, after all, a dirt-poor Manor Owner who usually bought cheap Hanfu for a few dozen yuan on Pinduoduo.
Earning this money made her feel rather embarrassed.
Just as Jian Xingxia accepted the money and Sanniang escorted the guests out, the system sent a notification—
[Congratulations to the Manor Owner for expanding into a new business line. Given that the current manor level is low and workforce is limited, it cannot satisfy further business demands. Business Mission Six is now issued—]
[Manor Business Mission Six: Sell three sets of clothing within 24 hours (limited to products manufactured by the manor). Current progress: 0/3. Upon success, the corresponding business module will be unlocked within the existing manor facilities.]
Jian Xingxia: !!!
At it again!
She had to sell a Hanfu outfit just to trigger the mission, but before the mission was triggered, any Hanfu sold wouldn’t count toward the mission progress.
Great. Even though she had just sold two sets, Jian Xingxia still had to sell another three sets within the next 24 hours.
Now, the leisurely Manor Owner was no longer at leisure. She began fluttering around the guests like a social butterfly, working the crowd with all her might.
Not only did she flutter about herself, but she also dragged Tao Ya, Lin Sanniang, Shaoyin, and even Ah Feng along to mingle with everyone.
And it had to be said, beautiful women truly held sway. Ruan Xiang didn’t want to interact with people, so she didn’t come out.
But Shaoyin was gorgeous. Dressed in yesterday’s Hanfu with green gauze over a white base, she stood beside Jian Xingxia like one of a pair of sister flowers.
Even though the outfit Shaoyin wore was merely a mass-produced item bought online for a few dozen yuan, it ended up attracting the attention of even more tourists.
Several girls came over to ask for the link.
Jian Xingxia lied through her teeth, “This was made by ourselves. If you like it, dear guests, you can take a look at our manor’s custom ancient garments service…”
Jian Xingxia wasn’t entirely lying either.
Shaoyin’s clothing had indeed been purchased online, but Lin Sanniang had washed it in the washing machine and altered the ill-fitting areas.
For instance, the original cheap Hanfu had a low neckline—a style acceptable to modern people. But before Shaoyin arrived, Lin Sanniang had worried that subsequent women might dislike revealing attire, so she used fabric of the same color to patch up a piece over the chest, adding embroidery and piping. It looked much better than the original.
Furthermore, to make it easier to work, Shaoyin had tied up her sleeves with silk ribbons, rolling them past her elbows.
And because she wasn’t accustomed to wearing a skirt directly, she had added a pair of underpants beneath it…
All things considered, Jian Xingxia told herself with a thick face that she wasn’t completely lying.
The advertising effect of a beautiful woman was outstanding; two sets of the clothing Shaoyin wore were sold immediately.
The guests loved it and only requested a few minor modifications. Jian Xingxia charged them the ready-to-wear price of 588 yuan as a promotional activity for the day.
One of Lin Sanniang’s outfits was sold as well.
The guest loved the rustic, substantive feel of her attire. Although it didn’t look as eye-catching as Shaoyin’s or Jian Xingxia’s garments—with its somewhat plain color and almost no embroidery—it looked exactly like the unremarkable attire of a woman from an old period television drama.
A thorn hairpin and a cloth skirt, devoid of overly vibrant colors, yet it actually carried a stronger atmosphere of antiquity.
Jian Xingxia smiled so wide her mouth couldn’t close. “That’ll be 588.”
Afterward, she found an empty corner, preparing to check and collect her mission rewards with pure delight.
It was rare for the system to give such a straightforward mission for once, and Jian Xingxia chuckled happily.
Yet, when she reached the secluded spot and opened the virtual panel, Jian Xingxia was dumbfounded.
“Progress is 0? What’s going on!”
