The breeze of early summer, carrying a hint of warmth, sweeps through the streets and alleys of the prefectural city. However, the atmosphere inside the Jinxiu Pavilion store is not as relaxed as it is outside.
Although the efficiency at the workshop has improved and the embroiderers are full of energy, the shadow of the "poisonous thread" incident at Zhang Ji that occurred some time ago has not completely dissipated.
Most of the visitors are regular customers or individual customers who are sensitive to prices and lured by the aftereffects of previous low-price promotions. The female relatives of the gentry mansions, who truly represent the trendsetters of the prefectural city, still have ambiguous attitudes and receive few orders.
"Second Miss, this month's new 'Summer Rain Clearing' patterned landscape parapets have been inquired about by quite a few people, but the ones who actually placed orders are still the same few." " Standing behind the counter, Ah Xing looked at the slightly quiet store and reported softly to Shen Ruoxin who was checking the goods. A hint of anxiety couldn't be concealed in her tone.
Shen Ruoxin put down a stack of embroidered handkerchief in her hand and picked up one of them to examine it closely. This is the first batch of high-quality "Shanshui Pa" series completed by several first-class embroiderers under the personal guidance of Wang Xiuniang after the workshop's piece-rate system was implemented.
The superior Hangzhou silk purchased at a low price from Zhang Ji was used. The silk thread was lustrous and smooth. The scene of "summer rain just clearing up", with distant mountains like dark black and nearby water veiled in smoke, was depicted with a few strokes, creating a distant and elegant atmosphere.
The stitches are fine and even, and the color matching is light and fresh. Compared with similar products of Jinxiu Pavilion before, the fineness and charm have been significantly improved to a higher level.
"It's a good thing," Shen Ruoxin said with her fingertips gliding over the delicate embroidered surface, lost in thought. "But 'Even good wine needs to be in a deep alley.'" Not to mention that we have just gone through a storm. It is only natural for others to have doubts and be reluctant to act easily.
Wang Bo beside him also nodded in agreement: "Yes, Second Miss." Those ladies and gentlemen, when shopping, first look at the quality, second at the appearance, and third at the trend.
Although Zhang Ji has fallen into trouble now, the "bad luck" of our Jinxiu Pavilion has not been completely washed away. They are afraid that if they use our things, they will be gossiped about behind their backs.
So, having good things alone is not enough; we also need to make them "dare" to use them, "want" to use them, and even consider using our products as "elegant". A sharp glint flashed in Shen Ruoxin's eyes. "It's time to bring our 'Shanshui Pa' back into their view."
What does the second young lady mean? Both Ah Xing and Wang Bo looked at her.
Word-of-mouth needs guidance. The wind direction needs to be manufactured. Shen Ruoxin put down her handkerchief and spoke calmly, "Uncle Wang, go and draw up a list of several highly respected old ladies who have the most say in the female relatives' circle in the prefectural city, as well as several young ladies who are known for their refined taste."
Ah Xing, go and pick out the best twelve "landscape parapets" made in the workshop. They should have different patterns and be of excellent quality. Each side is equipped with a specially customized brocade box.
Is this for giving a gift? Uncle Wang hesitated a little, "Isn't it too deliberate?" Moreover, it may not be delivered to their hands. The aristocratic families had strict rules and regulations, and not everyone's rituals were accepted.
It's not all about giving gifts. Shen Ruoxin smiled slightly, with a touch of strategic confidence, "It's 'seeking advice'."
She explained, "We don't send it directly in the name of the Splendid Pavilion." "Uncle Wang, you have some old friendship with the wife of the mountain chief of 'Qingfeng Academy' in the south of the city, right?"
Wang Bo was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "We met a few times when we were young. The old lady is a well-read, sensible and very fond of elegance."
That's good. Shen Ruoxin said, "You visited the old lady in your personal capacity and said that the Brocade Pavilion has just received a new batch of fine embroidery works, and the craftsmanship has improved. I would like to ask the old lady to appreciate and offer some guidance, especially on the grasp of the landscape and artistic conception. I'm afraid it might lose its elegance. I sincerely hope that the old lady will not hesitate to give me some advice." Keep a low profile and only talk about seeking advice, not about business.
"This..." Wang Bo understood that this was an indirect endorsement of the Splendid Pavilion through the mouth of a highly respected person. Lady Qingfeng of Qingfeng Academy is widely recognized as a refined scholar. If she were willing to offer a few comments, the quality would naturally be different.
"As for the others," Shen Ruoxin looked at A Xing, "you go and find the few regular customers who have been supporting us all along, such as the wife of Li Shilang and the wife of Sun Hanlin. They have more or less connections with the others on the list."
Similarly, under the pretext of "asking them to help take a look at the new style and offer some suggestions", send the brocade box. Tell them that this is the sincere intention of the Splendid Pavilion and has no other intentions. If they think it's okay, they can take it along and enjoy it when they get together with friends in their spare time. It can also help us gain a good reputation.
"Yes, Second Miss. This method is good!" A Xing's eyes lit up. "This way, it's neither out of place nor does it give them face." If they really think something is good, they will naturally show it in their own circle.
Remember, speak earnestly and give gifts casually. Shen Ruo スキル stressed, "We are showing our sincerity and quality, not forcing them to do anything."
In the following days, Wang Bo personally visited the mountain chief's wife of Qingfeng Academy with a brocade box. Meanwhile, A Xing, through several loyal regular customers, delivered the exquisitely packaged "Landscape Handkerchief" to the target person.
At first, it did not cause a major stir immediately. Among the ladies who received the brocade boxes, some merely accepted them politely, while others did indeed open them for a closer look, secretly marveling at the improvement of the embroidery in the Brocade Pavilion, but they did not make a fuss about it.
The turning point came three days later at a small flower-viewing gathering in the back garden of the governor's office.
The governor's wife invited several familiar official relatives to enjoy the newly bloomed double-blossomed lotus. During the meal, the wife of the mountain chief of Qingfeng Academy took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the sweat. It was precisely the "early clearing of summer rain" sent by Jinxiu Pavilion.
"Hey, this handkerchief of the old lady is quite unique. The landscape embroidery here really has a touch of ink-wash and freehand style." The sharp-eyed Lady Li was the first to speak. She had also received the "gift" from the Splendid Pavilion, but had not yet found the right opportunity to take it out.
Lady Mountain Chief smiled slightly and handed over the handkerchief: "Oh?" Do you think it's good, too? This was sent to me by the Splendid Pavilion a few days ago for my guidance. Looking at it, the stitches were indeed much finer than before. The artistic conception of the mountains and waters had lost some of its artificiality and added a touch of vitality. The young are truly formidable.
These words, spoken by the mountain chief's wife, naturally carry a different weight. The several ladies present all moved closer to take a look and expressed their admiration.
It's indeed exquisite. The luster of this silk thread is also good. It's much brighter and more lustrous than the one used before.
"Look at these distant mountains. With a few strokes, they are hazy and indistinct, just like the clear sky after the rain." "
"Has the embroiderer in the Splendid Pavilion been changed or has new material been used?" It feels as if I have been reborn.
The lady of the prefect also took it over to have a look and nodded, saying, "Yes, there is indeed an advance." It seems that the recent turmoil has made them reflect deeply and focus on their work. As soon as she said this, it was equivalent to washing away the previous negative impression of the Splendid Pavilion in an imperceptible way.
Seeing this, Lady Li, the Vice Minister, also smiled and took out her landscape handkerchief with the pattern of "Autumn River Fish Hiding" from her sleeve. "It's quite a coincidence. The Brocade Pavilion also gave me one and asked me to offer some suggestions." Looking at the ripples of the autumn water, the embroidery is so vivid and lifelike.
For a while, the flower-viewing gathering almost became a tasting event for the "landscape parapets" at the Jinxiu Pavilion. Several of the most influential ladies in the female relatives' circle of the prefectural city, without coincidentally, showcased and praised the new products of Jinxiu Pavilion. This news, like having grown wings, spread rapidly within the gentry circle.
The next day, the threshold of the Splendid Pavilion was almost trampled through.
"Shopkeeper, is there still that kind of 'summer rain just clearing up' landscape handkerchief?" Give me one!
"I want someone like Mrs. Li's 'Autumn River Fish Hiding'!"
I heard that you have just released a new batch of landscape napkins, which are of excellent quality? Take it out quickly and let me have a look!
"Even if the Mountain chief's wife has promised something, it surely won't go wrong!" "
A Xing and several newly recruited assistants were so busy that they had no time to rest, but their faces were filled with excitement. The pent-up doubts and wait-and-see attitude that had accumulated before seemed to vanish overnight. Those once hesitant female relatives of the gentry families now flocked in one after another, specifically asking to purchase the "Lady's same style" landscape handkerchief.
More importantly, this trend is not confined to "Shanshui Pa". People began to re-examine the other embroiderings in the Brocade Pavilion and found that there had been significant improvements in terms of materials, workmanship and pattern design compared to before.
"This Cloud BROCADE 褙子, THE COLOR IS SO BRIGHT, THE embroidery is SO FINE..."
This double-sided embroidered screen is not cheap, but the craftsmanship is worth it!
The reputation of the Splendid Pavilion is like a lake surface caressed by the spring breeze, rippling layer upon layer again, and the momentum is even stronger than before.
In the accounting room, Uncle Wang, looking at the silver flowing in and out like a stream every day, couldn't stop smiling: "Second Miss, you're truly amazing!" With just a few cushions and a few words, we managed to save the market of our Jinxiu Pavilion! The income of these few days is almost as much as that of a month ago!
The return of profits not only alleviated the financial pressure caused by the previous low-price purchase of raw materials from Zhang Ji and the advance payment of embroiderers' wages, but more importantly, reignited the confidence of all members of Jinxiu Pavilion.
Shen Ruoxin looked at the promising situation before her, but her heart was not completely relaxed. She knew that this was only a temporary victory. The recovery of word-of-mouth has temporarily masked the hidden crisis.
"Uncle Wang, while you may be happy, the quality control at the workshop must not be relaxed." She cautioned, "It is precisely at this time that we must ensure that every item sent out is of high quality. We cannot ruin the reputation that has just been established."
"Old man understands!" Uncle Wang nodded solemnly.
"Also," Shen Ruoxin's eyes quieted down, "Ah Xing, have there been any new developments with Zhang Defa and Zhao Papi recently?"
A Xing's smile faded away and she shook her head solemnly, "It's still the same as before. I only know that they have met before. It seems that Zhang Defa borrowed a large sum of silver from Zhao Baopi."
But what exactly to do has not yet been figured out. However... The informant I placed at the old acquaintance of Zhang Ji reported that Zhang Defa has been inquiring about the channels for purchasing raw materials for our Jinxiu Pavilion recently, especially the source of the silk thread.
Shen Ruoxin's heart sank suddenly. Sure enough, Zhang Defa set his sights on her weak point! Raw materials!
At the same time, Uncle Wang also added with a worried look, "Second Miss, the workshop is pressing hard. The 'Shanshui Handkerchief' is selling too well. The inventory of the batch of top-quality Hangzhou silk and several special silk threads we bought from Zhang Ji is already running out!" On Wang Ermazi's side... Still no news at all. If we don't think of any more solutions, we'll have to hold on for at most another ten days and then we'll be out of stock!