Chapter 78: Lucky Tailor Shop and Jinxiu Tailor Shop

Xie Zhao took the dry stack of English vocabulary sheets, a warm feeling spreading through his chest.

He also took out a cloth-wrapped enamel mug and stuffed it into Wei Qingzhi’s arms.

“Teacher, these are tea eggs.”

He waved his hand. Before Wei Qingzhi could refuse, Xie Zhao gave a shout and drove the donkey cart forward.

He turned back and shouted, “Eat them while they’re hot! Don’t let them get cold!”

Wei Qingzhi stood dazed for a moment. Only when Xie Zhao’s donkey cart had gone far did he nod blankly.

*

Ten o’clock.

Three donkey carts arrived in Hudong County.

After selling the river snails, Xie Zhao parted ways with Xie Cheng and the others.

He tied the mule next to the sesame cake shop near the city gate, paid a dime for the shopkeeper to watch it, and then headed straight for Chunshui Street.

Chunshui Street was the second main thoroughfare of Hudong County.

There was a Xinhua Bookstore here, a state-run establishment. Extending from it were a barbershop, a shoe store, and an old-fashioned photo studio.

The shops here were geared more toward daily life and practical services.

Therefore, although it was not as crowded as Hongxing Street, the people who came here were genuine customers looking to make purchases.

Xie Zhao’s destination was the best tailor shop on Chunshui Street, and indeed in all of Hudong County.

Lucky Tailor Shop.

In this era, the state had already relaxed its economic policies. As long as a business’s staff did not exceed three people, it was completely legal and compliant.

Consequently, most of the shops along this street were small, family-run mom-and-pop operations.

And Lucky Tailor Shop was also one such husband-and-wife business.

It was currently the most famous brand on the entire Chunshui Street.

It had opened just the year before last. Although it had not been around for long, its business was booming because it offered a wide variety of styles and made fashionable, attractive clothes. In just two short years, it had already absorbed two adjacent storefronts and changed its storefront sign several times.

When Xie Zhao arrived outside the tailor shop, it was at its busiest.

A noisy crowd bustled around the entrance, loudly asking about the latest, most fashionable styles.

The shop was run by an older husband and a young wife.

One look at them was enough to tell they were shrewd people.

There was a significant age gap between them, and Xie Zhao knew a bit of their backstory.

Lucky Tailor Shop was not originally from Hudong County.

They had come from elsewhere.

And the shop’s current proprietress was not the original one.

She had once been an apprentice at the original shop.

Having lost her parents at a young age, and since the elderly couple could not have children of their own, they had treated her like their own daughter.

They had taught her all their skills, holding nothing back, and raised her like a precious jewel.

Unfortunately, life was unpredictable.

Not everyone possessed a kind heart or knew how to show gratitude.

When the original wife turned fifty, the young girl was twenty.

The wife had helped find her a good match, busying herself with all the arrangements and preparing a generous dowry, all so her beloved daughter could have a grand and honorable wedding.

She had even discussed it with her husband and agreed to leave this tailor shop to her.

Unfortunately, it happened on the night before the wedding.

The original wife caught them in bed together.

Her health had already been poor. Seeing her own husband tangled in the bright red wedding sheets with the adopted daughter they had raised like a treasure, the jarring red and shocking white of it all caused a surge of blood to choke her throat.

She died that very night.

The two of them spent the night calming down before calling a doctor, who simply claimed she had died of fright.

The doctor found no trace of poison upon examination.

And so, the matter was hastily swept under the rug.

Whether their tears were genuine or fake, they hired Daoist priests and held funeral rites, making a racket with gongs and drums for three days.

Once the three days were up, unable to even wait for the first seven-day mourning period to pass, they closed the shop, traveled all the way to Hudong County, settled down, and opened Lucky Tailor Shop.

Because their craftsmanship was indeed excellent.

This was coupled with the fact that the girl was in her early twenties, eager to learn, silver-tongued, and smiled like a delicate, dewy flower.

Who wouldn’t like her?

In just two short years, their business had already eclipsed Hudong County’s established old brand, Jinxiu Tailor Shop.

Xie Zhao looked up and swept his gaze over the scene, sighing inwardly.

The contrast was stark.

He stepped forward and walked toward Lucky Tailor Shop.

Most of the people standing outside the shop were men.

Most of them had no real intention of buying clothes. It was just that the proprietress, Wang Qiushui, was so beautiful that she had stolen their souls, drawing them here just to catch a glimpse of her.

When Xie Zhao squeezed his way in, Wang Qiushui was giggling as she showed off a pattern for an eight-panel suit.

“It’s not expensive, only twenty yuan a suit. Don’t be stingy, now!”

Her sweet, coquettish voice rang out, and she covered her mouth with a chuckle. “Once the clothes are made, we at Lucky Tailor Shop will deliver them right to your door. That takes quite a bit of effort, you know!”

Someone immediately laughed and asked, “Who’s delivering them? Is it you, boss lady? If you deliver it in person, I’ll order a suit right now!”

The crowd burst into laughter.

Inside, the man who had been cutting fabric this whole time suddenly looked displeased.

Gripping a pair of shears, he glared coldly at the crowd. “Are you buying clothes or not? If not, stop crowding around!”

The crowd finally sobered up and dispersed with a few teasing remarks.

Only then did Xie Zhao step to the front.

Wang Qiushui was in high spirits, and being interrupted clearly displeased her. She turned back to glare at her husband before turning around to size Xie Zhao up from head to toe.

His clothes and pants were made of ordinary fabric, and he had nothing of value on him. She immediately grew impatient.

Just another poor guy asking about prices without buying anything.

What was the point?

“Buying clothes? How much are you looking to spend? Getting a suit made here costs at least ten yuan.”

Wang Qiushui asked, casting a glance at Xie Zhao.

Xie Zhao shook his head.

“I’m not here to buy clothes. I have a business proposal, and I wanted to see if you’d be interested in collaborating.”

As Xie Zhao spoke, he lifted the oilpaper package in his hand, preparing to open it and show them.

However, before Xie Zhao could finish, Wang Qiushui burst out laughing.

“Collaborate? What is there to collaborate on?”

She scoffed and yawned, waving her hand at Xie Zhao. “Little brother, you’re too young. I can hear you clicking your abacus beads from ten miles away! You’d better drop this idea right now. I’m not someone you can easily take advantage of!”

Xie Zhao: “…”

Well, then.

If he had still been hesitating about this partnership before, Wang Qiushui’s behavior had completely extinguished any such thoughts.

When choosing a business partner, integrity came first.

He had been foolish.

He must have lost his mind to come here in the first place.

Xie Zhao smiled and said nothing. Carrying the package wrapped in oilpaper, he turned around, preparing to head into the Jinxiu Tailor Shop across the street.

Right then, however, across the street, Cheng Gang and his brother Huzi suddenly widened their eyes!

“Hey! Xie Zhao! Damn it! This kid is slipperier than a loach!”

Cheng Gang spat, then bolted toward Xie Zhao.

Damn it.

He had been wandering around the county seat for a whole day!

If he couldn’t find him today, he was planning to post a missing person notice at the city gates!

How could this kid be so hard to find?

Heaven knew he still had to bring him back to report!

That was the second-in-command of the Tobacco Bureau. Was he supposed to make someone like that wait for him?

Who did he think he was? Did he not value his own life?

Seeing Xie Zhao now, Cheng Gang felt like he was looking at his savior. His eyes welled up, and he was on the verge of hugging him, weeping tears and snot.

“Oh, my good brother! I’ve finally found you!”

Xie Zhao only felt a dark shadow pounce on him. The next moment, he was flanked and hoisted up, his feet barely touching the ground as he was inexplicably carried away from Chunshui Street.

Xie Zhao: “…?”

Wait.

He had legs, he could walk on his own!