Transmigration: A Farm Girl's Brocade-Chapter 91 - Different_1
Chapter 91: Chapter 91 Different_1
Chapter 91: Chapter 91 Different_1
Most of the Flower Market consisted of temporary open-air stalls, with about a dozen storefronts. Qian Yixiu stopped Lady Wu from entering the first flower shop and continued walking forward. Lady Wu said, “Your great uncle and Second Grandpa’s Gypsophila were bought from this very shop.”
“That’s all the more reason not to sell our flowers here,” Qian Yixiu responded.
Considering the aggressive Lady Wang and the unreasonable Lady Tang, Lady Wu no longer felt like entering the shop.
Qian Yixiu led them straight to the innermost shop of the Flower Market. Named Fragrant Pavilion, this flower shop did business as far as the provincial capital, with Boss Fu being both the owner and shopkeeper. He was a decent man, with a businessman’s shrewdness and some discernment, and relatively more honest.
The Fragrant Pavilion was a large and imposing establishment with six-panel storefronts. The ground floor was filled with various potted plants, and many hanging orchids were suspended in the air. The shelves and table tops were adorned with elegant Tray arrangements, and there were also many Gypsophila.
Following her granddaughter’s instructions, Lady Wu said that they were looking for the shopkeeper to discuss business. A shop assistant led them to the back yard and pointed to a slightly portly middle-aged man, saying, “This is our Boss Fu.”
Then, smiling at the man, he said, “Boss Fu, they’re here to discuss a business deal with you.”
At that moment, Boss Fu was fussing with a potted plant. Hearing this, he straightened up with a smile and said, “What kind of business?” His face was all smiles.
Lady Wu set down her basket and carefully took out two orchid pots from inside. One pot had petals white with a hue of red, like delicate butterflies perched on the leaves. The other had pure yellow flowers, large and richly fragrant.
A flash of delight passed through Boss Fu’s eyes. He crouched down to examine the orchids for a good while before looking up and asking, “These two pots of orchids are not bad. How much are you hoping to sell them for?”
Lady Wu really wasn’t in a position to decide. She looked at Qian Yixiu and asked, “Yixiu, what do you think?”
Qian Yixiu crisply said, “Having come all this way, we can see that this shop is the best and largest in the Flower Market. This is all thanks to Boss Fu’s management skills and discernment. These orchids were dug up by us in the deep mountains. We believe Boss Fu knows the goods and will offer a fair price.”
Boss Fu pointed at her and laughed, “This child, this child sure knows how to talk.”
A person who was quietly selecting flowers nearby also turned around and laughed, saying, “Brother Fu, this kid has praised you to the skies. If the price you offer is too low, it would seem like you can’t appreciate the goods.”
Qian Yixiu took one look at the man and realized that he was someone important—the manager of Wuxi Teahouse. Today really was an incredible coincidence.
Qian Yixiu had frequented Wuxi Teahouse many times in her ghostly state; it was the tea merchant she most wished to collaborate with, bar none. Meeting the general manager of her favored company for the first time, Qian Yixiu immediately perked up, determined to leave him with a good impression.
Shopkeeper Cui, having examined the two pots of orchids and nodding in approval, asked, “If your family can venture into the deep mountains to dig up flowers, you must have more than just these two pots. Do you have any better ones?”
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Boss Fu was displeased and said, “Now look here, Brother Cui, are you trying to poach from me? And right in front of my face at that. Such behavior isn’t becoming of a businessman.”
Shopkeeper Cui laughed, “As you know, my young master is soon to return to Capital City. I want to collect a few rare and exquisite flowers to take to the girl in Capital City who loves flowers.”
Qian Yixiu then subtly turned to Shopkeeper Cui and gave him a wink. Understanding, Shopkeeper Cui chuckled and said, “Alright, alright. My mistake. Please continue your discussion.”
Boss Fu pondered for a moment and said, “These two pots of flowers, though they’re growing well and look attractive, aren’t really of an extremely rare variety. I’ll offer sixty taels of silver, how about that?”
A look that said, be grateful for how high I’m offering, see how generous I am.
Lady Wu indeed burst into a smile, never having dreamed that the wildflowers she hadn’t spent a penny on could be so valuable. Even though Qian Sangui had mentioned a few times that these flowers could fetch a good price, she’d have been thrilled to sell them for ten taels of silver. She was just about to agree when Qian Yijin quietly tugged at her. Lady Wu then cleverly restrained her smile and asked Qian Yixiu, “Yixiu, what do you think?”
Qian Yixiu didn’t answer but asked Qian Yijin while holding his hand, “What does brother think?”
Seeing his sister’s trust in him, Qian Yijin immediately swelled with pride, puffed out his little chest, and said, “Boss Fu, these two pots of flowers were dug up in the deep mountains, not cultivated by ourselves. Mountain orchids absorb the essence of the sun and the moon and dine on the wind and dew. Not only is their color more vivid, but their fragrance is also richer, earning them the name ‘Solitary Orchids in Empty Ravines’… Isn’t it… a bit more?”
Shopkeeper Cui laughed heartily again and said, “This kid, he really is a clever one.” Then turning to Lady Wu, he said, “Big sister here has done a fine job teaching her grandchildren, both are so precocious.”
Lady Wu said somewhat nervously, “Your praise is too kind, sir.”
Boss Fu thought for a while, then said to the two siblings, “Alright, I’ll add ten more taels. That’s all I can do. I have to leave some room for profit.”
Qian Yixiu said, “Add twenty more taels. Otherwise, we’ll just have to take our business to a different flower shop.”
Boss Fu gritted his teeth, “Done! These two kids are better at raising the price than adults.”
Selling these two pots of orchids for eighty taels was enough.
In order to make a little more money, and to show off in front of Shopkeeper Cui, Qian Yixiu further proposed to Boss Fu, “Our home is at the foot of the mountains, where, aside from winter, flowers bloom everywhere in spring, summer, and autumn, with a succession of different flowers blossoming. When I am free, I also experiment with different flower arrangements…”
Observing the variety of flower arrangements around, Qian Yixiu continued, “It is often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While many people prefer arrangements that are simple, refreshing, and elegant, others might favor those that are bold, passionate, and opulent. I wish to create a different style of arrangement for Boss Fu, one that if you find pleasing, you may reward me accordingly. But if it doesn’t meet your standards, then let it be as if I’m brandishing a big sword in front of General Guan or showing off my axe before Master Lu’s door.”
Qian Yixiu’s words once again amused Boss Fu and Shopkeeper Cui. Shopkeeper Cui said with a laugh, “Alright, I’ll be the witness. If the arrangement is good and Boss Fu refuses to pay, I won’t accept it either,” looking quite familiar with Boss Fu.
Boss Fu stroked his thin beard and nodded in agreement, but he secretly doubted. With the variety and differing styles of Tray arrangements in his shop, could there really be something different? He wasn’t convinced. However, this clever young girl with her quick wit might just be able to create an unusual arrangement after all.
Lady Wu, on the other hand, was frightened and quickly said to Boss Fu, “Rural children are wild, unaware of fear. Please don’t take offense, Boss Fu.”
She then glared at Qian Yixiu and said, “Yixiu, this is not a place where you can speak rashly. If you waste these good flowers, we can’t afford the loss. Apologize to Boss Fu right now.”
Boss Fu waved his hand, “Don’t worry, sister. I can afford to waste a few flowers,” and pointing at Shopkeeper Cui, he said, “Shopkeeper Cui here can be my witness.”
In her previous life, Qian Yixiu had worked many years at a union. Whenever there was a factory anniversary or a major event, they would buy flower arrangements to decorate the venue. Therefore, she was more familiar with Western-style grand arrangements, and not as well-versed with the minimalist fresh style of traditional Chinese arrangements.
This time, she wanted to show them a Western style of flower arrangement.
