Chapter 463: Chapter 463

Shen Hua got up unusually early and went to Chun’s Embroidery Workshop. She held the grey and silly Daidai, feeding it cherries. As usual, she first made a round to the old embroiderers’ area.

She glanced at the progress, which was much faster than expected.

"The days are getting hotter. The contract we signed for the exhibition initially gave us ample time; there’s no need to rush . These past days when I was not around, you have not taken any days off. After lunch, everyone go home and rest."

This statement caused quite a stir.

"Madam is considerate of us, but we don’t take advantage of that to slack off. The orders are many, so it is proper to finish them early."

"That’s right, to rush the orders, our embroidery workshop’s storefront hasn’t even opened for business yet, and it has been delayed for quite a while. We were even thinking of not taking a break for these few months, to make some extra embroideries in our free time to sell at the storefront, lest the customers who come to buy embroideries leave empty-handed."

Shen Hua rubbed Daidai’s fluffy head as she casually spoke.

"I never planned on opening for business."

"How can this be acceptable?"

Shen Hua: "This time, the orders we took from the exhibition are numerous, and the high prices set are sufficient. The reputation I wished for has completely spread through this occasion."

"After completing the orders on the contracts with various companies, it’s not too late to open the store then. Scarcity increases value. In future exhibitions, Chun’s Embroidery Workshop will still participate, but will only accept orders from Yifeng Hall."

In previous years, besides Yifeng Hall’s business, Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop would also sell to wealthy merchants if the price was right.

With embroideries dispersed across various places, they established a reputation in major shops, even though each piece of embroidery has a beautiful emblem at the corner. But those who don’t understand embroideries, having bought them, only find them exquisite and wouldn’t know of Shen Family’s Embroidery Workshop.

The money from the deceitful trader Yangyang must be held tightly in one’s hands.

Avoid the middlemen making a profit from the price differential.

The embroidery workshop is hers, and so is Yifeng Hall. The silver from her own embroideries naturally still goes into her own pocket.

Only in this way can the embroideries appear increasingly precious and rare.

If one wants to buy, they can only go to Shengjing or Fengzhou.

If the opportunity arises, after peace spreads throughout the land, branch outlets can be opened in other cities.

That would be the real glory, surpassing the time when Mama was still present.

These thoughts, she never expressed aloud.

Seeing that the crowd had more to say, the girl waved her hands and, pretending to be profound and experienced, walked out.

At the old embroiderers’ area, the girl was very indulgent, but upon reaching the new embroiderers’ area, she handed the rabbit over to Ningzhu and strode inside.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you."

"These past days, Aunt Sun hasn’t been coming by, so I’ve been personally watching over you."

The girl found a spot to sit at the entrance, her rose-red lips curving upwards, tapping a ruler in her hand: "Before I left for Hui State last time, I had Aunt Sun arrange some coursework for you all. By now, each one of you should have the starter book on Su Embroidery that my Mama personally compiled."

"Who will be the first to come forward for me to quiz? The scope is set for the first forty pages. For those who pass, there will be rewards; for those who don’t..."

Her expression suddenly turned cold, and she let out a sneering laugh: "Haha."

An oppressive aura enveloped the room.

Many of the embroiderers’ faces changed color.

"Manager... Manager Sun did not mention anything about an examination."

Yicui frowned: "Manager Sun’s teaching has always followed that textbook. Just yesterday, Madam inquired about it herself; it happened to coincide with learning up to page forty."

Someone spoke to the beautifully made-up girl: "Embroidery techniques are somewhat similar to one another, so we learn quickly. The techniques taught, we have roughly grasped. But to be quizzed without preparation is really unexpected. Perhaps another day?"

Shen Hua admired her courage.

She looked over as if she had heard a joke, scrutinizing her.

"I said today is the day."

"That book is full of embroidery techniques and skills. Do you really think I gave it to you casually? If it were put out there, do you realize how priceless it is? How many embroidery workshops would love to learn it secretly?"

"I am aware that what you learned before was not Su Embroidery, but now that you are here, you should discard all previous knowledge and start from scratch."

"What does ’roughly grasped’ mean? The old embroiderers next door, each one of them can recite it by heart. The reason I decide to do a random check is that I don’t think it’s necessary to be rigid."

When her face turned cold, she was still extremely intimidating.

Soon, an embroiderer stepped forward.

"I don’t need to be quizzed; I can recite it."

Shen Hua looked over and saw it was the same Xiu’er as before.

The girl paused knocking the ruler in her hand.

She nodded with reserved approval.

Xiu’er was quite nervous, especially with so many eyes on her. At first, she stumbled through her words, but upon seeing that Shen Hua was not intently watching her, just casually biting into a cleaned peach, she breathed a sigh of relief and recited more smoothly and fluently.

After Xiu’er had recited the last character, Shen Hua also finished her peach.

Xiu’er: "Madam, what is the reward?"

Shen Hua leisurely responded: "Oh."

"Take away the rabbit, go to the east chamber and use the embroidery technique you’ve just recited to figure out how to embroider on your own."

Xiu’er: ...What an unconventional reward.

Shen Hua asked casually: "Did Manager Sun make you recite that?"

"No... not at all, I barely understand embroidery, and my skills are far less than the other sisters. I always get confused when I don’t listen to the lecture. Hearing that Madam could recite that book fluently at the age of eight, I thought I should learn from you."

Shen Hua’s indifferent gaze fell on the embroidery lady from just now. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

"It seems Manager Sun hasn’t been playing favorites."

This remark made many feel ashamed.

Soon, they began lining up one by one.

Quite a few talented embroidery ladies, in fact, remembered it rather well. They just skimmed through the book, vaguely memorized the content, and even if recitation wasn’t word-perfect and they might miss some techniques, it was still satisfactory to Shen Hua.

In the end, only eight people remained.

Shen Hua slowly stood up.

"Yicui, supervise their recitation here."

Shen Hua looked at them, her eyes clear.

"You all joined the embroidery workshop around the same time and were taught by the same master. Now they have moved on to the east chamber, while you are left here to contemplate. You have already lost."

"Remember it by today, and you can still catch up. Otherwise, you’ll fall far behind."

"The workshop does not sustain those who are of no use."

Having said this, she went to the east chamber.

Just opposite was where the old embroiderers were, and the new embroidery ladies instinctively lightened their steps when they came over, as if afraid to disturb them. After entering, they also made no noise.

The east chamber was already prepared with needles, threads, and the necessary equipment for embroidery.

There was also an oddly placed Imperial Concubine’s Couch.

Everyone was puzzled.

Until Shen Hua entered.

The woman surveyed the room and, familiar with her surroundings, removed her shoes and socks and climbed onto the Imperial Concubine’s Couch.

She lay motionless, her demeanor a stark contrast to her prior sternness.

The woman thought of something and took a parcel from the concubine’s couch. It was sent by Wei Yingying, containing a book she claimed to have won from Ji Huo, now unavailable on the market.

Shen Hua, eager to learn, opened the first page.

Elegant characters leaped from the page, striking and bright.

"Arrogant Heir’s Little Wife"

Shen Hua, who only loved operas: ???

She thought Wei Yingying really had to send over all kinds of junk.

She also wondered, how could Ji Huo, a grown man, enjoy such frivolous material!

As she looked with disdain at the first page.

The woman fell into deep contemplation.

Indeed, she was destined to be one of the Four People Gang.