Chapter 25: One of a Kind

Song Yuntang calmly hummed.

“Your analysis is quite reasonable. I will consider it carefully.”

“Consider it still?” Song Jinsheng felt like he was punching cotton. “I thought you were smart. What’s there to consider?”

“Alright.” Song Yuntang took the backpack from his shoulder. “Find a good sister-in-law for us when you have time. I know what I’m doing.”

After she finished speaking, she got onto the ox-cart parked at the village entrance.

Song Jinsheng looked at her. “Be careful on the road. Don’t go to remote places.”

“I know.”

He then instructed the ox-cart driver. “Old Man Sun, my sister will definitely be taking your ox-cart back at noon. If she’s delayed for some reason, please wait for her.”

Old Man Sun readily agreed.

“No problem. If there aren’t many people on the return trip, I can wait for an extra quarter of an hour or so.”

Song Jinsheng smiled. “Thank you, Old Man.”

Only after watching the ox-cart disappear around the corner did he turn back home.

…

This was Song Yuntang’s second time in town. She first went to the blacksmith’s shop, paid the remaining five hundred coins, and received her custom-made silver needles.

Although they were slightly different from what she expected, the blacksmith’s shop in town had done its best, and it wouldn’t affect their use.

After getting the silver needles, she carried her backpack to Chenji Cloth Shop, as Zhao Shi had instructed.

There were thirteen handkerchiefs in total. Chenji Cloth Shop bought them for eight coins each, totaling 104 coins. Song Yuntang had also seen that Chenji Cloth Shop sold the handkerchiefs for eighteen coins each, and most of the handkerchiefs on display weren’t as exquisitely embroidered as Zhao Shi’s.

The profit margin was quite large.

“Huh? Isn’t this the… fake daughter of the Lin family?” The person’s tone wasn’t very good, with a somewhat gloating tone. “What? Are you so poor now that you have to rely on selling handkerchiefs to make a living?”

Song Yuntang looked back. It was Jiang Su’rao, the daughter of the Jiang family on North Street, and her age.

The Jiang family were merchants. Among the four classes—scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant—merchants ranked last. Although the Jiang family was well-off, when Song Yuntang was in the Lin family, she could only be a minor follower.

Now that Song Yuntang was down on her luck, she naturally seized the opportunity to step on her and feel superior.

Looking at the richly dressed Jiang Su’rao, Song Yuntang frankly admitted.

“Yes, I’m indeed down on my luck now, but running around for a living every day is quite fulfilling. If Miss Jiang needs handkerchiefs, you can commission me. I guarantee they’ll be one of a kind.”

Making an enemy is easy.

But with her current situation, offending someone without knowing her place would only lead to a dead end.

It was better to take advantage of their acquaintance and exploit their value.

Jiang Su’rao didn’t expect Song Yuntang to be so adaptable. Looking at Song Yuntang, who was calm and composed, she couldn’t bring herself to dislike her.

She proudly raised her chin.

“Let me see your handkerchiefs.”

Song Yuntang picked up a handkerchief from the display case. “Here, I just delivered these. Miss Jiang can look at the embroidery. If you’re satisfied, I can design a pattern for you, but the price will be higher than those readily available outside.”

Jiang Su’rao looked at her in surprise. “You can also design patterns?”

Song Yuntang smiled. “I’m forced by life, Miss Jiang. If you’re interested, I can design the pattern first, and you can commission me after you’re satisfied.”

Where would she get the designs?

She could only draw fairly well.  A handkerchief is only a piece of cloth, so drawing unique patterns isn’t difficult.

Jiang Su’rao put down the handkerchief. “Okay, follow me.”

She took Song Yuntang to a teahouse across from Chenji Cloth Shop, ordered a pot of tea, three small snacks, and candied fruit, and asked the waiter to bring pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Song Yuntang put down her backpack, ground the ink, and then picked up her brush to start painting.

After a while, she put down her brush, and a pot of golden chrysanthemums appeared on the paper, but the most eye-catching wasn’t the chrysanthemums but the chubby cat lying under them. The cat was drawn in a combination of traditional Chinese painting and cartoon styles, looking cute and clumsy.

Although it was just a black and white ink painting, Jiang Su’rao hadn’t seen this style of cat before. She found it unique.

“Can this really be embroidered?”

Song Yuntang put the painting in her bosom. “If it can be drawn, it can naturally be embroidered, and the embroidered colors will be richer and more beautiful.”

She had confidence in Zhao Shi’s embroidery skills. After all, she had worked in the Lin family’s tailor shop.  Her painting style wasn’t complicated and shouldn’t be difficult for Zhao Shi.

“How much is one?”

Song Yuntang held up four fingers. “Forty coins each, with a minimum order of thirty.”

Jiang Su’rao’s maid, Qiuyue, said angrily, “Miss Song, you’re really asking for a lot. The handkerchiefs in the shop are only eighteen coins each, but yours are forty, and you require a minimum of thirty. Why don’t you just rob people?”

Song Yuntang smiled faintly. “If robbing wasn’t illegal, I might consider it.”

“You!” Qiuyue stomped her foot angrily. She looked at Jiang Su’rao. “Miss, there are plenty of handkerchiefs outside. Let’s not waste time here. In my opinion, she just wants to take advantage of you!”

Song Yuntang looked at Jiang Su’rao seriously. “Regardless of the complexity of the pattern and the embroidery skills required, more colored threads are needed. The patterns are designed specifically for Miss Jiang. I can guarantee that, except for Miss Jiang, they won’t appear on anyone else, except those that leave Miss Jiang’s hands.”

Everyone likes one-of-a-kind things, and Jiang Su’rao was no exception.

“Thirty handkerchiefs, how long will it take to make them?”

“I can deliver them to Miss Jiang’s house in batches, ten every half-month.”

These handkerchiefs had a slightly larger embroidered surface, so it would take time to embroider them well. To avoid not completing the task, it was safer to extend the time.

“Okay.” Jiang Su’rao agreed.

Qiuyue looked at her in surprise. “Miss, how could you agree? She’s clearly trying to rip you off!”

“I’m willing to pay for what I like. Qiuyue, pay her.” Jiang Su’rao said, standing up and walking towards the stairs.

Qiuyue, displeased, took a tael and two coins worth of silver from her waist pouch and slapped it on the table. After glaring at Song Yuntang, she angrily followed Jiang Su’rao away.

Having earned the money, Song Yuntang naturally wouldn’t argue with a little maid.

Looking at the untouched snacks on the table, she poured herself two cups of tea, ate a snack to fill her stomach, and then looked towards the stairs. “Waiter, pack these snacks for me. I’m taking them with me.”

“Yes, coming!”

The waiter was quick, and in a moment, Song Yuntang packed the three snacks into her backpack and left the teahouse.