"Uncle Yu, I really like this decorating style. Since I'm only selling ten or so styles of gowns, these small private rooms separated by screens are perfect for displaying one gown each."
Leng Ruoli said, naturally placing her index finger to her lips as if in thought.
"Oh, so that means you can display nine gowns on each side."
Zhou Baiyu nodded.
"Uncle Yu, for the first batch of gowns, I plan to make ten sets, to first gauge the reaction of the noble ladies in the capital."
At this point, Leng Ruoli voiced her thoughts.
"Mmm, that's a good idea. Li'er, you truly are a business genius, just like your mother."
Zhou Baiyu looked at Leng Ruoli's face, which bore an eight-tenths resemblance to Xia Wan'er's, and felt immense joy.
"Uncle Yu, I came to see you today because I wanted you to look at the gown design drafts I've drawn."
"Of course, I'm very curious to see what kind of gowns you're going to sell."
Zhou Baiyu said with a chuckle, then invited Leng Ruoli to sit at a resting table outside the balcony.
Subsequently, Leng Ruoli took out a large roll of drawings from her wide sleeves and placed it on the table.
Leng Ruoli casually picked up a design draft and opened it for Zhou Baiyu to see.
After Zhou Baiyu finished looking at the first design draft, he proceeded to look at the second, third, and fourth... He meticulously examined every single design draft by Leng Ruoli.
At the same time, he couldn't stop praising her. The gowns designed by Leng Ruoli were not only elegant and luxurious but also exceptionally novel and unconventional. Even as a man, he found himself falling in love with these gowns, let alone the beauty-conscious noble ladies. He truly wondered how Li'er's little head came up with all this.
"Li'er, if you make finished products of all these designs, I estimate they won't be enough to sell," Zhou Baiyu said with certainty.
"Uncle Yu, isn't that a bit exaggerated?"
Leng Ruoli didn't quite believe him, as many of her gown designs incorporated elements of modern fashion design. She was actually worried that people from this era might not accept them.
"Li'er, I can make a bet with you. These gowns you've designed will definitely be a massive hit," Zhou Baiyu said, looking at Leng Ruoli and patting his chest with conviction.
"If that happens, I'll personally cook for you, Uncle Yu."
Leng Ruoli was amused by Zhou Baiyu's expression.
"Alright, it's a deal. You can't go back on your word! I've heard about your excellent cooking for a long time, but I haven't had the chance to try your dishes yet," Zhou Baiyu teased.
"Alright, alright. If my gown shop sells exceptionally well in the first three days of its opening, I'll cook something delicious for you."
Leng Ruoli readily agreed to Zhou Baiyu's small request.
Afterward, the two chatted about other topics for a while. Leng Ruoli then left the Moon Beauty boutique and took a carriage to her Jinxiu Ge ready-to-wear shop.
Upon seeing Leng Ruoli enter the shop, the staff of Jinxiu Ge greeted her with great joy.
"Wangfei, you finally have some time to visit us. We all miss you very much," Shi Zhenghe chuckled, revealing a row of pearly white teeth.
"Heh heh, really? Actually, I miss you all too," Leng Ruoli smiled at everyone. Then, Leng Ruoli asked, "Zhenghe, has Jinxiu Ge's business been good lately?"
"Wangfei, Jinxiu Ge's business is booming! Several ready-to-wear styles are frequently sold out, and many customers have ordered custom-made sets."
Shi Zhenghe became so animated when talking about the shop's business that he gesticulated wildly and spoke incessantly.
"Zhenghe, I've come today because I want you to make ten different styles of clothing. However, I don't plan to sell these ten garments in Jinxiu Ge. Instead, they will be sold on the second floor of the Moon Beauty accessories shop."
Leng Ruoli spoke to Shi Zhenghe earnestly.
"Certainly, Wangfei. The Moon Beauty accessories shop is located in the heart of the bustling city, with a better geographical location than our current Jinxiu Ge. If our ready-to-wear garments can be sold there, they will definitely sell even better than the clothes sold in our current shop."
Shi Zhenghe wholeheartedly agreed with Leng Ruoli's plan after hearing her words.
Leng Ruoli was slightly surprised by Shi Zhenghe's response. She had been a little worried that Zhenghe might be displeased with her decision, but she hadn't expected him to have such a broad perspective. This made Leng Ruoli admire him even more.
"Zhenghe, I've brought the design drafts for those ten garments today. See if it's possible to create finished products of these styles."
With that, Leng Ruoli placed the gown design drafts she was holding in front of Shi Zhenghe and spread them out.
Shi Zhenghe was once again amazed when he saw Leng Ruoli's clothing sketches.
"Wangfei, what do you call these styles of ready-to-wear garments?"
"Gowns. These are high-end gowns I've specifically designed for the noble ladies in the capital."
"Wangfei, if these styles are made into finished garments, they will be absolutely stunning," Shi Zhenghe exclaimed dramatically.
"Then, do you have the confidence to create gowns of these styles?" Leng Ruoli was most concerned about this.
"Wangfei, I can try, but I can't guarantee that I'll be able to make the finished garments as beautiful as the design drafts," Shi Zhenghe replied truthfully.
"Then, try making one style of gown first. After I've seen it, you can proceed to make the remaining nine finished garments," Leng Ruoli said after a moment of thought.
"Alright, Wangfei. It's settled. Leave me a sketch for now. If I can successfully make one style of finished gown, I'll try to make the rest as well," Shi Zhenghe said with a beaming smile. He resolved to do his utmost, select the best fabrics, and create exquisite finished gowns, ensuring he wouldn't disappoint the Wangfei.
Shi Zhenghe thought to himself.
Subsequently, Leng Ruoli readily left a sketch with Shi Zhenghe for him to practice with. Following that, Leng Ruoli chatted with Shi Zhenghe for a while longer. Then, Shi Zhenghe accompanied Leng Ruoli on a tour of the shop and suddenly noticed that Mei Yue'e was not present.
Thus, Leng Ruoli inquired with concern, "Zhenghe, why don't I see Mei Yue'e in the shop today?"
"Alas, Wangfei, you wouldn't know. Yue'e had just started working at Jinxiu Ge this morning when a servant from the Mei Manor called her back."
Shi Zhenghe spoke of Mei Yue'e with evident concern.
"Didn't Mei Yue'e sever ties with the Mei Manor? Why would someone from the Mei Manor still ask her to return? There must be some scheme behind this," Leng Ruoli speculated.
However, just as she finished speaking, Mei Yue'e returned to Jinxiu Ge with a face swollen purple.
Upon seeing Mei Yue'e's swollen face, Leng Ruoli and Shi Zhenghe immediately frowned.
"Yue'e, why is your face so swollen?" Leng Ruoli asked with concern.
"It's nothing, Wangfei. That ugly woman just slapped my face twice, and I slapped her back," Mei Yue'e replied with a tragic smile.
Hearing Mei Yue'e's words, Leng Ruoli and Shi Zhenghe felt it inappropriate to interfere in her affairs.
Leng Ruoli could only take out an anti-inflammatory and de-swelling ointment from her sleeve pocket and hand it to her.