Chapter 222: The Road to High Office 22

Chapter 222: The Road to High Office 22

Bang!

On the tenth day of the twelfth month of the seventeenth year of Sheng’an, the sound of firecrackers filled the air as Cheng Ge Er’s clothing store officially opened for business.

Following the precedent of the semi-self-service model from the Brocade Embroidery Workshop, Cheng Ge Er’s store also adopted a semi-self-service approach, allowing customers to browse freely while still receiving assistance when needed.

Except for the undergarments of young women and men, which were stacked in display cabinets, other items like fox furs, capes, and jackets were either hung on racks or displayed on mannequins. The exquisite and unique embroidery attracted many young men and women, who couldn’t help but step inside to take a look.

Cheng Ge Er’s marketing strategy was based on Xu Zeping’s suggestions. Xu Zeping, hailing from a later era, although not a fan of shopping, had still seen enough to have some ideas.

At first, Cheng Ge Er was quite frightened by the wooden mannequins. Qingyun’s craftsmanship was so excellent that the carved mannequins looked almost real, and one could easily get startled in the dark.

However, once the fear was overcome, Cheng Ge Er could view them calmly. These mannequins, dressed in jackets and fox furs, could pass as first-rate beauties when viewed from behind.

To manage the goods effectively, he made them two sizes larger according to the mannequin sizes, which corresponded to what Pingping called S, M, and L sizes, with the mannequins wearing the smallest S size.

As for matching shoes, the pairs on the mannequins served as samples, and any other preferred ones had to be custom-made.

Over the years of managing the embroidery workshop, Cheng Ge Er had also come to understand the consumer potential of the people in Qingshui Town. Therefore, when selecting fabrics, he used 70% common cotton, 20% high-quality fine cotton, and reserved 10% for luxurious materials like satin, silk, and gauze.

The luxurious capes, cloaks, and fox furs were few and far between, only a few pieces.

Fortunately, with the prosperous business of the Brocade Embroidery Workshop, Cheng Ge Er had gotten to know many fabric business owners, allowing him to procure goods piecemeal for his clothing store, unlike most clothing stores that bought in bulk.

Cheng Ge Er had to admit that this was thanks to the influence of the Xu Family.

When Cheng Ge Er left the Brocade Embroidery Workshop, he brought along three embroiderers, whose assistance was crucial for the successful production of garments.

Typically, Cheng Ge Er was responsible for designing the clothing patterns and samples, while the three embroiderers each sewed garments of a specific size.

Since the customers at the clothing store were mostly young men and ladies, Xu Zeping didn’t linger too long. After giving a congratulatory gift for the opening and exchanging a few words with Cheng Ge Er, he left.

Xu Zerou and Xu Linshi, however, had no such reservations. They browsed and tried on outfits, with Cheng Ge Er accompanying them and offering combination suggestions from time to time.

It must be said that the love of beauty was innate in young men and women. Xu Zerou and Xu Linshi tried on outfits for an entire morning, eventually leaving with armloads of packages.

Of course, they insisted on paying, but Cheng Ge Er pretended to be angry and refused.

Xu Zerou gave Cheng Ge Er a stern look: “Even between family, we need to keep things straight!”

Cheng Ge Er obediently replied, “Sis, think of this as a little bribe. And since I’m bribing you, naturally, I want to ask a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Sis, don’t you enjoy attending banquets?” Cheng Ge Er’s eyes sparkled as he quickly calculated in his mind, “I want you to wear the most beautiful and luxurious clothes to the banquet hosted by the county magistrate’s wife. When the time comes...”

Xu Zerou understood and tapped Cheng Ge Er on the forehead: “You’re such a little schemer.”

Cheng Ge Er smiled, “Sis, remember to mention that we offer custom-made designs here.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll do as you say.”

After seeing Xu Zerou and Xu Linshi off in separate carriages, Cheng Ge Er returned to the shop with a light step and took over Xia Tian’s task of ringing up the purchases for these fashion lovers.

Xia Tian finally got a break and helped the embroiderers assist the customers.

After returning to the town, Xu Zeping suddenly realized that the New Year gifts for Jiangnan had not been prepared. Fortunately, the New Year gifts for Mr. Cen had been entrusted to his elder brother and others to take with them, which saved him some trouble.

Thinking of the smoked chickens and rabbit he had prepared in Jiangping Village, he came up with an idea for the Jiangnan New Year gifts.

He returned to Jiangping Village, packed the smoked rabbits and chickens, and then went to Heluo County to send these items through the postal station.

Fortunately, there hadn’t been any heavy snowfall this year to block the roads; otherwise, he would have been worried about the New Year gifts being delayed.

After all this hustle and bustle, it was time to prepare the New Year gifts for his teacher.

Regarding the New Year gifts for Liu Huaizhi, the Xu family had always prepared generous gifts. Even though Xu Zeli and Xu Zeping each made their own preparations, Xu Linshi never missed a year.

However, this year, Xu Linshi entrusted the preparation of the New Year gifts to Cheng Ge Er. She sent a servant to invite Cheng Ge Er to the Xu residence.

Originally, Xu Linshi wasn’t in such a hurry to have Cheng Ge Er manage these matters, but this changed after receiving a letter from Xu Zeli the previous day.

As Xu Songshan read the letter aloud, his eyes held joy, and the contents of the letter brought both surprise and happiness to Xu Songshan and his wife.

The letter mentioned that Minister Su of the Ministry of Punishments was considering a marriage alliance with their family. This match was arranged by the eldest disciple, Li Chengxue. If all goes well, once Xu Zeli passes the imperial exams, the Minister of Punishments would arrange the marriage on the day the imperial edict is issued.

The Minister of Punishments is a high-ranking official of the second rank. If the eldest son could marry the esteemed young master of the Su family, his future prospects would be excellent!

A marriage arranged on the day of the imperial edict would be a wonderful story to tell.

The eldest son intended to aim for a top-three position in the exams. Xu Zeli had discussed this with Xu Songshan, so he naturally understood the eldest son’s aspirations.

A top-three position in the exams would allow entry into the Hanlin Academy as an official.

Officials in the Hanlin Academy were highly respected. If he performed well, it was even possible to become a Grand Secretary in the future!

Once appointed to the Hanlin Academy, it would be necessary to reside in Shang Jing for a long time.

In their past life, Xu Songshan and his wife had been reluctant to go to Shang Jing because of their troublesome younger son. They feared he might cause trouble in the capital and implicate the eldest son.

In this life, Xu Zeli had expressed in his letter that he hoped they would come to Shang Jing to host his wedding and reunite as a family.

For the eldest son’s wedding, Xu Songshan and his wife would definitely need to go to Shang Jing to preside over it.

As the eldest son of the Xu family, how could Xu Songshan and his wife let Xu Zeli suffer any grievances?

But living in Shang Jing?

Xu Songshan and his wife exchanged a glance. They weren’t particularly keen on the idea for two reasons: first, they were accustomed to the peaceful and leisurely life in Qingshui Town.

Second, they believed it was important to have roots in their hometown. Otherwise, if the eldest son and his family returned in the future, they would have nowhere to stay.

Therefore, due to Xu Zeli’s letter, Xu Linshi felt that it was important for Cheng Ge Er to start managing household affairs as soon as possible.

In the future, whether the youngest son served as an official in the capital or was appointed to a local position, Cheng Ge Er would need to competently manage the household in his absence.

Moreover, with the youngest son’s talent, if everything went smoothly, he would likely pass the imperial exams in the next spring session.

After passing the exams, the two young people could be married.

After the marriage, Cheng Ge Er could accompany the youngest son to his official posting.

With this timeline in mind, Xu Linshi suddenly felt that time was a bit tight.

Although Cheng Ge Er and Xiao Rou had been taught by Madam Jiang for many years, managing household affairs was still quite intricate. Xiao Rou had spent more than a year learning from Xu Linshi before she fully grasped it.

Accounting isn't hard to learn, but what is difficult to grasp is the etiquette of social interactions. And all social interactions require financial support to maintain.

My elder brother's wife said that in the first two years after she followed him to his post, she had a lot of headaches dealing with these trivial matters.

As parents, it's inevitable to worry.

Thinking about the eldest's wedding, Xu Linshi had no choice but to start calculating the family's finances with Xu Songshan. Real estate in Shang Jing is sky-high, and they probably wouldn't be able to afford a proper residence for the eldest there.

The only thing they could do was ensure the betrothal gifts didn't embarrass them.

Although in recent years, their family's income had been quite good: first, the teahouse, which profited nicely from the elder brother-in-law's promotions.

Then there was the embroidery workshop. With the two brothers successively passing the imperial examinations, the status of the Xu Family's second branch had risen to the gentry class. The embroidery workshop's business naturally expanded. What was once only small-scale, budget sales now included high-end custom orders for official families.

This brought in significant revenue from time to time, with an apparent annual income of about a thousand taels of silver.

But the expenses were also considerable: the land properties under the eldest and youngest's names, the dowry prepared for the second son, Cheng Ge Er... Balancing all this, Xu Linshi only had about a thousand taels of silver available for use.

A thousand taels would be more than enough to manage betrothal gifts in Heluo County or even Yongan Prefecture, but it wouldn't suffice when compared upward. For instance, not long ago, the prefect of Hua Lake married off his daughter with a dowry of sixty-four poles... How could they compare with the noble son of a Shang Jing Minister?

They couldn't possibly ask the bride's family to reduce their dowry to match ours, could they?

If word got out, we'd be the laughingstock.

Xu Linshi suddenly felt a headache from the prestigious status of the in-laws.

Xu Songshan walked behind Xu Linshi and gently massaged her head: "Xi Niang, don't worry too much. We can discuss this with the eldest and try to gather more silver, aiming for two thousand taels."

"How could I not worry? Our son will be an official in the capital in the future. If our betrothal gift is too small, other officials might laugh at our son for trying to climb the social ranks through connections!" Xu Linshi said with some irritation. "Only you, a heartless father, can eat and sleep well."

Xu Songshan was nearly at his wit's end after being scolded like that.

Seeing his wife's anxious expression, he sighed: "Since Minister Su has intentions of marrying into our family, he must have inquired about our situation. As long as we show sincerity, they won't blame us."

Minister Su sees potential in our son's future.

Cheng Ge Er glanced at the ledger in his hands, which was densely filled with records of families the Xu family needed to exchange gifts with.

Families that received gifts during festivals included Pingping's maternal family, the elder branch of the Xu family, Mr. Liu's family, the Zhong family, and the newly added Mr. Cen.

Next were families to whom they sent gifts during major holidays but not minor ones, such as the Li family of Li Chengxue and the Ouyang family of Ouyang Xu...

Then there were families to whom they sent gifts only once a year...

After reading the contents of these booklets, Cheng Ge Er was relieved that the Xu family's network wasn't complicated. Apart from blood relatives, most were Pingping's teachers and friends.

His aunt intended to familiarize Cheng Ge Er with these families first. This year, they would also prepare Mr. Liu's festival gifts. If there were no accidents, next year, Cheng Ge Er would start managing the festival gifts for families related to Xu Zeping's side.

He rubbed his temples. He realized he needed to train a manager for the embroidery workshop next year; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to handle both ends alone.

Suddenly, he found himself missing Sister Luoniang.

He tapped the table, and Xia Tian, sensing his need, brought over a steaming bowl of tea: "Young master, are you thirsty?"