Chapter 24
Not long after, Mrs. Li came back from entertaining the distinguished guests.
At this time, Mrs. Li's daughter Li Xin also came out holding Fu Rong's hand. She was a very good-looking girl who was nearly 1.6 meters tall. She looked very similar to her mother, Mrs. Li, who was from Mingyan's. . Especially when she walked in elegantly wearing a red dress, people's eyes lit up.
Li Xin heard the maid say that Fu Wenyu had arrived, so he pulled Fu Rong out quickly.
Because she had a doubt that she needed to ask Fu Wenyu for confirmation, so as soon as she sat down she asked: "Brother Fu, I heard from Sister Rong that this kind of fluffy velvet flower that looks like the Yangzhou Tongcao flower is what you read in the book. of."
"Can the book still be found?"
"Yes," Fu Wenyu returned from his thoughts and answered calmly, saying what he believed. "But unfortunately, the book disappeared when I looked for it last time. It must have been bought by someone."
"Who bought it?"
Li Xin asked keenly: "My mother said she wanted to cooperate with Aunt Zhou."
"The method of making velvet flowers you see is simpler than what I learned, and it is easier to make than Yangzhou Tongcao flowers. It does not require drying Tongcao. In this way, not only does it not take long, but also there is no need to use Precious isinglass. But if the person who bought the book is from Liuzhou, then this business will need to be reconsidered. "
This girl is so smart.
Fu Wenyu secretly lamented that most people would only think of pity at this time, otherwise they could learn more techniques from books, such as the previous
Zhou and Fu Rong. But she has already thought of potential competitors, and feels that if someone from Liuzhou buys it, then the velvet flower cooperative business must be carefully considered.
This means that you should not invest too much to avoid losing money later.
Well, he had always been curious about how the silk threads on the flat velvet flowers were stuck together. It turned out that they used isinglass. He had heard of isinglass. It was a natural glue boiled from fish bladders. It was widely used in different fields in ancient times. The production process was very complicated and the price was not cheap. Compared with the flat version that requires the use of isinglass and the production process is more complicated, the furry version only requires two copper wires and is indeed cheaper.
These thoughts flashed through Fu Wenyu's mind.
Facing Li Xin, who was so smart and perceptive, he replied cautiously: "I don't know who bought it. It was last year, and it took too long."
Before Li Xin could show his disappointed expression, Fu Wenyu said the answer he had thought of, "But when I sent the remaining story books to the bookstore yesterday, I asked by the way, and the clerk there said he was a foreigner."
Li Xin looked happy, "Are you a foreigner?"
Fu Wenyu nodded, "Yes."
He pretended to think, "The man said that the man bought a lot of books at that time. When the shopkeeper saw that he bought too much, he packed some unsold books in the store and gave them to the man. Although he didn't know what I was talking about. No, but those piles of books were all given out at that time, so he still remembers them now.”
Not everything he said was a lie.
In the memory of the original owner, there was indeed such a foreigner last year, and there was indeed such a story about buying and giving books, but the pile of books that were given away did not include the one he mentioned. This was mentioned by Zhang Er in a casual conversation when he went to the bookshop one time.
The probability that Li Xin would go to the bookstore to confirm this kind of thing was very small, so Fu Wenyu had no pressure to compile it.
Selling to outsiders, this answer should dispel her concerns.
Sure enough, Li Xin's eyes lit up after hearing this.
She turned to look at Madam Li and said happily: "Mom, Brother Fu said that the book was bought by a foreigner, so we don't have to worry about a second shop selling velvet flowers appearing in Liuzhou City."
Li Xin stood up and walked happily to Mrs. Li and Mrs. Zhou, "Mom, Aunt Zhou, although the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, there is Double Ninth Festival, the whole winter without flowers, and the New Year. Let's make more preparations now. Some velvet flowers will definitely make a lot of money during the Chinese New Year!”
Madam Li was embarrassed, glared at her daughter and said, "You are the only one who can say it."
"Don't be surprised, Sister Zhou, my daughter has been spoiled by me since she was a child. Other people's young ladies like playing music, chess, poetry and books, but she likes doing business, and she keeps coming up with ideas one after another."
"It really gives me a headache."
Zhou smiled and said, "I still envy you."
"Wen Yu and Rong'er have been doing this since they were young, especially Wen Yu. When he was at home, he would hold books all day long and ignore others. It's only now that things are getting better."
The past she was talking about was of course when Fu Qingshan was still here.
Thinking of this, she felt sad again.
Fortunately, Mrs. Li quickly changed the subject, "I think this business should be handled as we just discussed. You do it and I will sell it, but it won't be enough just the three of you. I think we have to find someone else." Some people will come. Well, let’s find those embroiderers who often come to the shop to find work.”
"I know a few of them. They all have good moral character and are strict with their mouths."
Having opened a silk and satin shop, she felt that intelligence and talent were secondary to making this thing. Good conduct must come first. Otherwise, this novel way of making velvet flowers would have spread throughout the streets within two days.
Seeing this, Fu Wenyu hurriedly said: "Auntie, I have an idea."
He explained the modern assembly line model and suggested that it could be done in batches. That is to say, some people are responsible for combing the silk threads, and some people are responsible for making various small fluff sticks of different sizes and colors. Finally, a few aesthetically pleasing and trustworthy people will trim, splice, and fix them into shape.
This way, the confidentiality can be kept to the greatest extent.
In addition to the velvet flowers worn on the head, some flower crowns, wreaths, ornaments, etc. can also be made. Especially the ornaments made to look like real flowers, which are probably liked by wealthy people.
This is also what he saw in those modern documentaries and interviews.
"This is good!"
Li Xin was the first to react. As soon as Fu Wenyu finished speaking, she said: "Mother, Aunt Zhou, let's do it this way. Each person makes one, not only can we make more, but people outside can't easily see through it. In winter, a velvet flower ornament will not be disrespectful even if it is placed in the main hall."
Madam Li thought this was not bad, so she turned sideways and looked at Zhou.
And Zhou nodded, "Let's do it as Wenyu said."
So the matter was settled.
Madam Li was generous in doing things. Even though the Li family had a favor to the Fu family, they wrote the contract in detail and did not take advantage of the cooperation. In the end, both parties signed and sealed, and agreed to share the profits equally.
As for the part that Zhou and Fu Rong brought here today, which had already been made, of course they sold it. The Double Ninth Festival will be here soon, and chrysanthemums are popular in the whole of September and October, so this batch of velvet flowers will not be sold out.
At this time, Fu Wenyu and others learned that the price of velvet flowers is more expensive than simple embroidered purses, handkerchiefs, etc. So the last big bag was sold for more than ten taels of silver, which was several times more than their previous embroidery.
They originally planned to pay the money back to the Li family first. After all, when Fu Wenyu was sick before, the Li family helped to invite doctors and help to get medicine, and also gave a sum of money. Neither Zhou nor Fu Wenyu could do the thing of not paying back the money.
However, Li Niangzi and Li Xin both refused.
The final result of the discussion was to deduct the money from the share of velvet flowers in the future, and they would take the money back first. Considering that his family would have to build a house later, Fu Wenyu agreed.
When leaving the Li family, the three were very surprised.