The Female Supporting Role Shows Out - Chapter 103

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

Pretending not to notice the gazes of the rich ladies, Zhang Hui and Third Aunt walked into their shop step by step. They raised their hands to pick up the expensive cloth, and inadvertently waved a ray of sunglow or moonlight. Then they walked to the hall and sat down. Their tiptoes curved up, making the hemline of their dress scattered on the ground, shining brightly.

The sight from the opposite became more and more intense. Finally, someone couldn’t help but walk quickly into the shop and asked, “The two bosses, what kind of cloth do you use for these two clothes? Is there any available in the shop?”

“Oh, this is a new kind of cloth my daughter has just developed. It’s called cloud-cloth and moon-cloth. We can only produce one cloth a month. Our family doesn’t need it enough. How can we be willing to sell it to others?” Zhang Hui casually waved her hand.

“Only one piece of cloth a month?”

“This piece of cloth is as soft as a cloud and smooth as a mirror, and it feels very smooth. To make this kind of cloth, you need to pick out the thinnest and the best silk. The labor and time it takes are unimaginable to others. Just the step of selecting silk alone needs five or six weaving women to make it day and night. Do you think the yield can be high?” Zhang Hui said.

Hearing this, the lady was more and more yearning for the cloud-cloth and the moon-cloth. The quality and touch were good. She found it as soon as she came in. There was no need for others to flatter her. The quality, touch, light, and color of the new brocade from Meng Clan Embroidery Shop were several levels inferior to these two kinds of cloth. It was really a competition of good and bad!

“Can I order these two kinds of cloth? I’m willing to pay a high price for it.” the lady asked expectantly.

The ladies and debutantes who followed her all offered a high price, more than twice the highest price of the new Shujin. In less than a blink of an eye, Meng Clan Embroidery Shop was empty and the door was desolate.

Zhang Hui almost agreed. But when she thought of her daughter’s advice, she waved her hand, again and again, saying that they couldn’t book the production, because the yield couldn’t be increased. These two clothes used a total of half a piece of cloth, but it took Lin Dan more than three months. If she really received these orders in front of her, she would be exhausted? But what good would it do to Danyan Embroidery House if she didn’t take it? It could only be seen that the attraction of the clothes that could not be bought would slowly decline, and it might provoke these noble ladies, bringing trouble to the embroidery house.

In a word, they couldn’t make mass production. The cloth embroidered by women couldn’t compete with the flow-line production. Thinking of this, Zhang Hui became more and more worried. She didn’t dare to take the orders casually.

Every time Xu Qian went shopping, she would go to Danyan Embroidery House to have a seat. Occasionally, she would meet Du Ruyan and Lin Dan, and she could have a talk with them. A few days ago, the Shujin in Meng Clan Embroidery Shop was very popular. Madam Xu quickly moved to Meng Clan Embroidery Shop to buy clothes, but Xu Qian didn’t change her original intention. If she wanted to make clothes, she would only go to Danyan Embroidery House. It didn’t matter if it was new or not, and it didn’t matter if she was despised or laughed at. She didn’t chase the tide and only chose what she thought was right.

She had already become good friends with them, so she had to take care of their business.

But today, Danyan Embroidery House was very lively. Guests came from the opposite one after another, walking around Zhang Hui and Third Aunt. Xu Qian was stunned when she saw the clothes on the two. It was so beautiful. The golden-red halo shrouded Zhang Hui’s whole body, making her skin white, red, and pink. Set off by the dark blue cloth with starry light, Third Aunt looked quiet and beautiful.

The two of them were dressed in bright clothes, standing in the middle of a group of golden noblewomen and socialites. They were so eye-catching that they were attracted by them as soon as they called people in.

After hesitating for a long time, Xu Qian was about to leave quietly, but she was seen by Zhang Hui. She quickly squeezed out of the crowd and greeted Xu Qian with a smile.

“Aunt Zhang Hui, you and Third Aunt are so beautiful today. I don’t dare to recognize you,” said Xu Qian with a soft smile. She didn’t look down upon them because of their backgrounds.

Pulling the hemline of her dress, Zhang Hui said, “This is the cloth that Lin Dan just invented. It’s called cloud-cloth and moon-cloth. It’s not that we’re beautiful. It’s just that the fabric is good and can match people.”

“Cloud-cloth and moon-cloth? The two kinds of cloth are really the same as their names. I heard that they can’t be booked, right?” Said Xu Qian with a regretful expression.

“You can. I’ll write you a prescription. When Lin Dan comes back, I’ll ask her to make it for you,” said Zhang Hui cheerfully.

“Boss lady, it’s not good of you to do that!” The other ladies were anxious when they heard this. “You said that you didn’t have any goods when we wanted to reserve. Why can Miss Xu have it?”

“Who is so unkind?” Zhang Hui said in a grateful tone, “Whether my business is booming or not, Miss Xu has been only paying attention to Danyan Embroidery House from beginning to end, and is one of my regular clients. Even if our family can’t wear this kind of cloth, we have to find enough clothes to make a dress for Miss Xu. Being a person means knowing gratitude, don’t you think so?”

Everyone was speechless and their faces were full of embarrassment.

Xu Qian was touched by Zhang Hui’s words. She pursed her lips and wanted to refuse, but she accepted her kindness generously. Feeling the envious gazes from all directions, she felt very uncomfortable. In the name of measurement, she pulled Zhang Hui into the inner room.

After the two of them left, the ladies and debutantes still kept pestering Third Aunt. They said that they wanted to buy more cloth in her shop. Even if they were not regular customers, they were also important customers. Could they also buy some cloud-cloth or moon-cloth? Third Aunt didn’t dare to nod or shake her head. She could only watch them sell out all the clothes on the shelf, feeling flustered and happy.

Standing by the window, Meng Zhong looked at Third Aunt, who was wearing moonlight. His face darkened and his eyes darkened. Hearing the footsteps behind him, he immediately turned serious and asked in a soft voice, “Sisi, how is the manual?”

“There are still some things that I don’t understand.” Meng Si shook her head in frustration.

“How can you not understand it? It’s only one year since Lin Dan started to learn embroidery, but her skills have surpassed yours. I don’t know where she has learned other skills. Why are you not as good as her, a beginner?” Meng Zhong frowned.

Meng Si was too embarrassed to raise her head. Two lines of tears fell from her red eyes. No matter how reluctant she was, she had to admit that in terms of talent, Lin Dan was much better than her.

“Don’t cry. It’s my fault. I’m too anxious,” said Meng Zhong, trying to comfort her. “The book about new skills is very mysterious and difficult to understand. It’s already very good that you can understand half of it in three months. I won’t force you. Take your time. Don’t forget to contact Li Jiarong and Li Xiudian more during the study of the manual. Without the Li family, we may not be able to get the qualification of imperial business this year.”

After seeing clearly how the cloud-cloth and the moon-cloth shone brightly, Meng Zhong had lost confidence in the selection of the imperial businessmen a few months later.

“I know, Brother. I will help you,” Meng Si nodded obediently. Her eyes darkened when she looked at Danyan Embroidery House where many customers came.

—

After stabilizing the reputation of two pieces of cloth, for the time being, Lin Dan began to work hard to prepare the weaving workshop. Those Japanese women were well tamed by her. They not only studied Chinese seriously but also taught her Japanese. The two of them had smooth communication, and the efficiency of their work had been improved.

The Japanese weaving skill was inherited from a kind of “Zhuijin” at the height of the Tang Dynasty. It was known for its exquisite design, bright color, and brilliant flow. It was no worse than the cloud-cloth and moon-cloth handmade by Lin Dan. However, even if Lin Dan couldn’t recruit the girls from Japan, she would find a way to develop similar cloth by herself. It was just a matter of time. Embroidery, weaving, and brocading were originally the same, as long as she could get through one step, then she could see through it step by step.

A month later, the Japanese women, who had been tortured by hope and despair, were finally able to leave the eldest prince’s manor and move into the Lin family. They hugged each other and wept with joy. They swore to themselves that they would make the most beautiful cloth in the world for their benefactor. When Lin Dan said that she wanted to learn their weaving skills, they quickly nodded and agreed. They didn’t dare to hide anything private. Without Line Dan’s protection, they would definitely be killed!

Du Rusong and Du Ruyan also moved back to the Du Manor. They begged Lin Dan to open a small door on the wall between the two families so that they could get in and out conveniently. The two families were getting closer and closer, as close as one family.

Due to the most violent attack from the Japanese bandits on Great Zhou, the coastal regions of Min (Fujian province) and Yue (Guangdong) were lost, the people were slaughtered, and even the eldest prince almost died for his country. When the news of the war spread back to the capital city, the emperor was so angry that he decided to come to the coast in person, and his first stop was Lin’an Prefecture.

As soon as the news spread, the whole of Lin’an Prefecture was in an uproar, and all the noble families began to prepare for his arrival.

At the same time, Du Rusong and Du Ruyan were sitting opposite Lin Dan, looking worried.

“Our Majesty is going to visit Aunt Du in the Taoist temple? Is the news accurate?” Lin Dan frowned slightly.

“It’s written by him.” Du Rusong put a letter on the table. The imperial seal at the lower right corner of the letter hurt his eyes. He had thought that he would never be able to contact that person again in his life, but he didn’t expect that the person would take the initiative to meet him so soon. What did he want to do this time?

“Dandan, I want to take you up the mountain and make two new clothes for my aunt. My aunt is anxious to outdo others. She won’t let my uncle…… no, no, it’s his majesty. She certainly doesn’t want his majesty to see her embarrassed. Dandan, your skill is the best. I only believe in you.” Said Du Ruyan with red eyes. She hadn’t thought about that terrible past for a long time, but today she was aroused by this letter again.

“Okay, I’ll bring my tools with me.” Lin Dan didn’t refuse at all. For others, being tainted with the former empress was equal to being tainted with bad luck. Maybe one day she would provoke the emperor and Concubine Min and bring revenge. But she was not afraid. She only did what she was willing to do. Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com