Chapter 438 - Handmade Soap (1/2)

“You’d be treating me like an outsider if you’re too courteous! If it wasn’t for you, I’d have already been exhausted and my inspiration would’ve run out. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely treat you well! Exquisite Garments will sponsor all of you and Lady Fang’s future clothes! I’ll personally make a set of clothes for you and Lady Fang every season, and I’ll give you 20 percent of the profits from the Qi­style attires. Don’t refuse me, or else I’ll throw these designs into the brazier!”

If Jiang Siniang was not a determined person, she would not have come out despite all the pressure and taken over the Exquisite Garments that was about to close up operations. She also would not have been able to successfully establish her reputation along with Exquisite Garments through her skills and hard work.

Jiang Siniang had initially planned to find the person who designed Official Yu’s clothes and subsequently buy off the drawings and designs. However, she hadn’t expected that she would connect so well with the designer, Yu Xiaocao, and they even became sisters of a different surname.

She had always put emphasis on integrity when she did her business, and reciprocity when she interacted with others. As the older sister, she most definitely would not take her younger sister for granted. Not only did she promise to personally create Xiaocao and Lady Fang’s clothes, she had also considered Xiaocao’s designs and ideas as an important element and decided to share her profits with her at the end of the year.

With the Yu Family’s current conditions, Xiaocao didn’t care whether she got the profits or not. However, she felt Jiang Siniang’s insistence, so she was not courteous with her, “I’ll unabashedly accept Older Sister’s gift, then.”

Only now did Jiang Siniang’s face light up with joy as she stood up and said, “I’ll return now—I still have to sort out these drawings and write up a profit-sharing agreement, which Xiang’er will send over to you later.”

Yu Xiaocao wanted to have her stay for lunch, but she tactfully declined under the pretense of having things to do back in Exquisite Garments. Xiaocao did not insist, and called the servants to prepare a basket containing a few watermelons and cantaloupes for her to bring home.

Once they were in their horse carriage, Xiang’er happily put aside the watermelons and cantaloupes and said, “Mistress, Miss Yu is quite generous—even just these watermelons are worth over a hundred taels! The fruits and vegetables store owned by Imperial Prince Jing sells a medium-sized watermelon for ten taels each, and we wouldn’t necessarily be able to get one even at this price! Not to mention that they’re sold in limited numbers—fifty watermelons and thirty cantaloupes a day…”

She paused, then tried to stifle her laughter as she gossiped, “I heard Duke Wei was holding a birthday banquet, and in order to have a plate of fruits for each table, he had his servants queue up since the middle of the night. It so happened that his rival, Imperial Prince Rong, also wanted to hold a feast. The two of them nearly fought to buy the fruits! The melons and fruits produced in the greenhouse of Royal Prince Yang’s farmstead is like a chicken that lays golden eggs.”

“Then do you know who is the one that made growing vegetables, fruits and melons possible during winter?” Jiang Siniang asked without lifting her head as she flipped through the drawings in her hand.

“How could I not know? Who in this capital doesn’t know of Official Yu that works in agriculture under the Ministry of Revenue? Not only can she cultivate high-yielding crops, but she also made it possible to grow produce out of season! In the future, the people of the capital will be able to enjoy these delicacies! Who would’ve known that all of this is actually the result of the contribution of a smart yet gentle girl in her teens?” Xiang’er’s face was filled with envy and admiration as she said this.

“Younger Sister Xiaocao isn’t only talented in agriculture, but she’s also gifted in culinary. It’s been said that many of the best-selling dishes of Zhenxiu Restaurant are her creations. Her medical prowess should also be praised. She’d even successfully treated the little prince’s illness!” Jiang Siniang couldn’t help but feel in awe as she thought about the girl who was only several years younger than her and yet had already possessed such capabilities.

Xiang’er’s eyes lit up as she held her face in her hands and dazedly breathed, “Official Yu looks only about eleven or twelve years old, yet she’s so knowledgeable and proficient. Could it be that she’s a genius?”

Jiang Siniang could not bear to move her gaze away from the pieces of designs, and she loathed that she could not immediately turn these drawings into pieces of clothing. She could imagine the sensation these extraordinary designs would cause in the capital!

She agreeably nodded to Xiang’er’s words. Simply from the words of her relative, Younger Sister Xiaocao was able to identify the many special elements of the designs and had servants make an eye-catching outfit out of it. If Younger Sister Xiaocao would only spend a little more time on her drawing skills, it would only be a matter of time before she would have to surrender the title of ‘Great Ming Dynasty’s Master of Embroidery’.

When Jiang Siniang returned to her residence, she immediately began work on making Qi-style attires throughout the day, and she was so immersed in making the clothes that she even forgot to sleep and eat. After she left the Fang Estate, Yu Xiaocao returned to the inner courtyard. She climbed and lay lazily atop a cushioned seat that was placed next to a heated wall. By her side, Lady Fang silently listened to Hechun’s animated prattles.

“Madam, you don’t know how amazing the young miss is! With just a few simple sentences, she was able to let Modiste Jiang sincerely treat her like her sister! This servant was also amazed when Young Miss described the Qi-style attire. Although it was only in black and white, the designs that Modiste Jiang made based on Young Miss’s descriptions were enough to make people long for it. I’m filled with pride whenever I think that the Qi-style clothing that will be the trend among those well-bred ladies of the capital all came from Young Miss!” Hechun was only a fourteen-year-old girl after all, she took it as a form of pride to be serving such a talented young miss, so her words were full of energy and filled with admiration.

Yu Xiaocao only smiled, “That’s because Older Sister Jiang is amazing. She’s capable of sublimating and refining my thoughts and words into something better. She is the true talent in the world of fashion!”

Hechun agreed with this statement, but she still felt that her own young miss was better, “Modiste Jiang also said that, if it weren’t for Young Miss that gave her a spark of inspiration, she would never be able to design outfits that are so unique and beautiful. Young Miss had made a great contribution to her!”

Linglong, who was usually solemn and serious, also chipped in, “To have Modiste Jiang’s sincere friendship, our young miss is definitely the first among the capital’s young ladies!”