TCRT_06
Chapter 6: Fashion Shop — Generosity is a Man's Best Camouflage
When the mechanical clock on the counter just passed eight o'clock, Jie Yu'an was awakened by a series of 'buzzing' vibrations.
Consciousness gradually recovered in the haze, and the background sounds of gargling and water flowing gradually became clear. His brain took a few seconds to react before realizing it was his newly wed 'wife' washing up.
Slightly opening his eyelids, his eyes were still met with a void of darkness, unable to distinguish between day or night.
Only the persistent neuralgic pain from the back of his head to his ear root reminded him that he was not in a dream.
Footsteps sounded from the bathroom, and Jie Yu'an propped himself up on his arm, preparing to sit up, when he suddenly discovered that his left palm and even the area around his elbow were sunk into a piece of soft bedding.
Jie Yu'an was stunned for a moment, then nonchalantly withdrew his hand.
"Awake?"
After finishing his grooming, Ji Qingzhou rolled up his water-dampened sleeves as he stepped out and saw Jie Yu'an sitting on the bed with disheveled black hair, seemingly about to get up.
"Mm," Jie Yu'an responded and asked calmly, "What time is it?"
"Not late, just eight o'clock," Ji Qingzhou walked to the window, drew open the curtains, and opened the window for ventilation.
Suddenly, his lips curled up, and he turned to look at Jie Yu'an and said:
"I must say, your sleeping posture is really quite shocking. You touched me seven or eight times throughout the night. If I hadn't seen you sleeping so soundly, I would have suspected you of sexual harassment."
Upon hearing this, Jie Yu'an suddenly realized that as a light sleeper, he had actually slept quite well last night—he hadn't woken up once, nor had he had any nightmares.
He fumbled to pick up the black gauze band at the edge of the pillow and wound it around his eyes, speaking without changing his expression: "Later, have A' You prepare an empty room. You can move over there."
"There's no need for that. The old madam will just call me back if I move, so why bother going through the trouble."
Ji Qingzhou pouted, feeling deflated by Jie Yu'an's calm response.
After thinking for a few seconds, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and suggested: "How about this, to ensure both our sleep quality, let's set a rule. You cross the line once, you give me a dollar, and I'll do the same. What do you say, want to bet?"
"This is my bed," Jie Yu'an tried to make him face the facts.
"Two days ago it was your bed, but now that's not necessarily the case," Ji Qingzhou sat down on the edge of what was his half of the bed: "If our relationship goes to court, let alone your bed, I'd get half of your assets."
"Which law protects our marriage?"
"So you can just renege on your debt? The esteemed young master of the Jie family, a former colonel and commander, being so irresponsible?"
Jie Yu'an fell silent, remaining quiet for a full ten seconds.
Just as Ji Qingzhou was about to give up on the topic, finding it tedious, Jie Yu'an suddenly reached out and pulled open the drawer of the bedside cabinet, taking out a black wooden box.
The box was unlocked, and he directly lifted the lid, counted out eight silver dollars*, and placed them on the half of the bed with thick bedding, signaling his willingness to accept the bet and pay up.
*t/n; In Republican-era China, 1 silver dollar (大洋, dà yáng) was roughly equivalent to 0.72 taels of silver. So, 1 silver dollar ≈ 1 yuan during that period.
"You're really giving it?" Ji Qingzhou was somewhat surprised to see this.
Actually, he had only meant to use the opportunity to mock the person's varying sleeping postures, never expecting to actually get money from his pocket.
But since the other party had already given it, Ji Qingzhou accepted it as a form of spiritual compensation and offered a compliment: "Young Master Jie is truly generous!"
Although Ji Qingzhou wasn't very familiar with the Republican era's currency system, he was aware that silver dollars at this time had strong purchasing power, so his compliment to Jie Yu'an was delivered with genuine sincerity.
Jie Yu'an paid him no mind and put the box back in its place, seemingly completely unconcerned about his private funds being exposed.
After receiving the money, when Ji Qingzhou looked at Jie Yu'an again, he suddenly felt that he wasn't so detestable after all.
Indeed, generosity is a man's best camouflage.
Shortly after, feeling curious, he picked up one of the silver dollars and held it up to his eyes to examine it, discovering that its face bore an eagle with a snake in its beak, leading him to guess that this was likely the Mexican eagle dollar¹ that was in circulation at the time.
Eight dollars— this was the first sum of money he had received in the Republican era, and he needed to keep it safe.
If by tomorrow he had offended Young Master Jie too much and was thrown out, this would be his lifeline.
Ji Qingzhou carefully placed the eight silver dollars into the compartment of his crossbody bag, and after Jie Yu'an finished washing up, he fulfilled his duty as a guide and brought him to the walk-in closet to select clothes.
Perhaps because Chinese-style clothing had strong versatility and didn't have high size requirements, the clothes newly made for Jie Yu'an by the Jie family were all long robes and horse jackets, with colors mostly subdued, rarely featuring bright tones or piping².
Ji Qingzhou carefully selected for a while, and finally, from among the many folded garments, he chose an artemisia-green long shirt with subtle patterns, paired with a duck-blue soft satin sleeveless jacket as an overcoat for the morning.
Underneath was a pair of thin silk white-toned long pants with a drawstring³.
Probably because he was certain that Jie Yu'an wouldn't dare play any tricks in this regard, when Ji Qingzhou handed him the clothes, Jie Yu'an asked nothing and directly took them, closing the door of the inner changing room to change.
After Jie Yu'an finished dressing and came out, Ji Qingzhou adjusted his shoulder line and neckline for him, then stepped back, his gaze sweeping up and down several times before he nodded with a satisfied smile on his face.
Who could have imagined it?
Just the day before, he had only stood before an old photograph of Qiu Wenxin's former residence and silently regretted it, and in the blink of an eye, this model was now standing before him for him to dress!
What did this say?
Don't casually make wishes to the heavens; you can never be sure in what twisted manner he will fulfill your wishes!
Ji Qingzhou sighed to himself, turned around and walked out the door: "Let's go, time for breakfast."
.
After breakfast, Ji Qingzhou set out as planned with Shen Nanqi to go to a clothing store for made-to-measure tailoring.
The vehicle they took today was an American-imported Chevrolet sedan.
After getting in the car, Shen Nanqi removed his hat, and while using his right hand, which was wearing black gloves, to smooth down the hair at his temples, he turned his head to offer commentary on Ji Qingzhou's attire.
"You're dressed quite well today, rather fashionable, though a bit lacking in formality."
Because he had been criticized too harshly the previous day, Ji Qingzhou had made a slight effort with his appearance today, wearing a dark green silk shirt and white-toned relaxed-fit casual trousers.
The shirt had a loose cut, and even though he had buttoned up all the buttons at the collar and tied a thin gray-black diagonal striped tie, it still looked loose and baggy, not like someone proper.
There was no way around it; the clothes in his suitcase were mostly too casual, and he really had nothing else to pair them with. What he was wearing today was already one of only two options he could wear in this era.
As for the clothes left behind by Ji Yunqing, those wrinkled coarse linen long shirts, he didn't even want to try them on.
"As for being fashionable, I can't compare to you, Madam. When I saw you in the restaurant just now, it truly opened my eyes," Ji Qingzhou replied, half politely and half sincerely.
Perhaps because she was going out for social occasions, Shen Nanqi had specially applied eyebrow makeup and lipstick today, and was wearing a well-tailored long-sleeved shirt and a gray fine-checked A-line skirt that reached down to her ankles, with a deep gray wool felt cloche hat on her head.
Her shirt was made of chiffon, with white lace trim on the collar, and the soft, luminous quality of the pale white fabric was perfectly suited to the pearl necklace and earrings she wore⁴.
Madam Shen's elegant and luxurious qipao and vest from yesterday were still imprinted in his mind, and today she had suddenly changed into Western-style attire. When Ji Qingzhou saw her for the first time, he was indeed momentarily dazed.
"There's nothing fashionable about it, these clothes were made two years ago and are long out of style."
"Classics are always fashionable, and besides, you have a good figure and excellent bearing. The simpler the style of clothing, the more beautiful and elegant it appears on you."
"You certainly know how to talk," Shen Nanqi was pleased by the flattery and said with a smile, "When we get to the shop later, let Master Yan make you several more sets."
"Is Master Yan the tailor you arranged beforehand?" Ji Qingzhou expressed genuine interest.
"He's far more than just a tailor; in Western clothing, he's an artist," Shen Nanqi offered casually, and seeing his curiosity, she provided a detailed introduction.
"You've been in Shanghai for some time now, so you must have heard of Yuxiang Fashion Company. It's the first Western suit shop opened by a Chinese person in Shanghai and also the largest one. Master Yan is the owner of Yuxiang.
"Master Yan is now at an age when he knows the mandate of heaven, and he's been making clothes for over thirty years. In Shanghai's tailoring circles, he's known as a master craftsman with solid skills. Not only is his experience rich, but his cutting and tailoring techniques for Western wear are superb. Even foreigners seek him out by reputation, lining up to have him make their clothes for them..."
Yuxiang Fashion Company was located on Jing'an Temple Road, not far from the Jie residence.
Ji Qingzhou felt as though he had just gotten in the car and hadn't even exchanged a few words with Shen Nanqi before the car had already arrived at the clothing store's entrance.
Just as Shen Nanqi had said, Yuxiang Fashion Shop was indeed impressive, with the storefront facing the street spanning over a dozen units, featuring an eye-catching sign and bright display windows.
After getting out of the car, the driver hurried ahead of them and pushed open the coffee-colored shop door with embedded glass.
In the crisp ringing of the bell behind the door, Ji Qingzhou followed Shen Nanqi into the shop.
"Oh my, Madam Jie, you're finally here!"
As soon as they entered, the shop assistant at the counter came forward warmly, "The boss knew you were coming and specially cleared his schedule this morning to wait for you upstairs! Come, I'll show the two of you up."
The assistant said this while smiling at Ji Qingzhou, politely leading the way ahead.
The staircase was located in the northwest corner of the shop, and as Ji Qingzhou followed the assistant through the shop, he took in a general survey of the surroundings, his heart containing a hint of surprise.
The shop was even grander than he had imagined, with complete facilities in all respects and sufficient staff— it could practically be called a small factory.
In the display windows along the street hung the latest styles of Western dresses, while deeper inside the shop were placed several cutting tables, pressing tables, sewing machines, and the like.
The fabric selection was also quite comprehensive. Silk, linen, cotton, leather, wool, domestic and imported, various materials and patterns, all kinds stored in rows against the walls.
Several master craftsmen along with their apprentices were busy moving about around the tables, and such a clothing shop truly exceeded Ji Qingzhou's imagination.
Carrying a complex tangle of emotions, Ji Qingzhou went up to the second floor with Shen Nanqi.
The environment on the second floor was much the same as the first, with cutting tables, sewing machines, suspended fabrics, and stacked cut pieces everywhere.
The air was filled with tiny fibers, and the atmosphere was somewhat stuffy.
Following the assistant through the common area and around a six-panel folding screen, they arrived at the boss's private work area.
"Madam Jie, you're here, it's been so long since we've seen each other!"
Master Yan was a middle-aged man approaching fifty, with closely cropped hair, wearing a simple gray long robe and a brown apron over it. The pockets of the apron held various small tailoring tools, and at first glance he looked like an ordinary tailor.
Upon seeing his distinguished guests arrive, he immediately set down his work and greeted them with a beaming smile: "You've come at the perfect time, I just received two sets of new French-style dresses this morning. Let me show them to you for your opinion."
"I'm quite flexible, as long as there are clothes to wear,"
Shen Nanqi smiled calmly, turned to glance at Ji Qingzhou, and introduced him to the boss: "This is my grand-nephew Ji Qingzhou. He just arrived in Shanghai and didn't bring many clothes, so he's come specially to have you make him several sets."
"Oh, Mr. Ji," Master Yan was very courteous, extending his hand to shake Ji Qingzhou's, "it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Yan Weiliang."
"Pleased to meet you," Ji Qingzhou curved the corners of his mouth slightly and shook his hand.
"Mr. Ji is truly a man of distinguished appearance!" After withdrawing his hand, Yan Weiliang examined Ji Qingzhou for a moment with a peaceful gaze.
Suddenly, he made an exaggerated clicking sound with his tongue and turned to Shen Nanqi: "Madam Jie, you're truly so kind to me. With your nephew's build and looks, he'd look good even in a burlap sack!"
"Master Yan, if you say so, wouldn't Qingzhou become a living advertisement for Yuxiang once he wears your clothes?"
Shen Nanqi placed her handbag on the tea table by the window and, as she walked toward the fabric selection area, spoke in a teasing tone: "Should I then ask you for some advertising fees?"
Master Yan laughed heartily: "That's exactly right."
With that, he pulled out a measuring tape from his apron pocket, walked over to Ji Qingzhou's side, and began taking his measurements.
"Are all of these new stock?" Shen Nanqi asked, standing before the wool fabrics arranged in rows along the shelves.
Master Yan looked up and replied: "Yes, pure wool barathea and twill, just ordered from John & Company."
Shen Nanqi nodded slowly, pointing her index finger at several fabrics: "This black diagonal twill, dark blue, off-white, and camel color, make him one well-fitted suit in each color, and you decide on the style."
Upon hearing this, Master Yan immediately gave his assistant a meaningful look.
The young man wearing small round glasses, upon seeing this, quickly grabbed his notebook and ran over to Shen Nanqi's side to note down the fabrics she had selected.
"And these few as well, deep gray, deep blue check, and black stripe, make one suit in each for my son. This black one is barathea, right? Make one formal dress suit from it. I'll give you his measurements later."
"Mr. Yuchuan?" Master Yan, squatting down to measure Ji Qingzhou's ankle circumference, replied with a smile: "I just took his measurements last month and have the records. Don't tell me he's put on weight recently?"
"Not Yuchuan, it's our Yu'an. He just came back yesterday."
"Oh right, I heard about that," the boss's smile became more restrained, and his voice softened, "How is he doing?"
"He's recovering quite well. At this point, it's already a blessing that his life was spared," Shen Nanqi spoke in a light, matter-of-fact tone, walking toward the fabric selection area on the other side.
After Ji Qingzhou finished having his measurements taken, she beckoned to him: "Come over and see what fabric you'd like for your shirts."
Ji Qingzhou walked over, and just as he was about to select shirt fabric, he saw Shen Nanqi stop in front of a batch of vividly colored silk fabrics and pause to admire a piece of silk crepe with an off-white base color printed with light brown lozenge interlocking auspicious patterns.
A woman's love for beautiful things cannot be hidden, and Ji Qingzhou noticed that her eyes were now shining.
"Do you like this?" he asked.
"It's too delicate, not very suitable for me," Shen Nanqi's tone was calm, as if she were merely glancing casually, yet her gaze betrayed a hint of regret.
"What if it were made into a qipao?" Ji Qingzhou suggested, "It should suit you."
"A qipao?" Shen Nanqi raised her eyebrow slightly and gave a soft laugh, "I might have dared to try it twenty years ago, but now? How could fabric like this be worn as a robe? People would laugh at me."
"It's not what you're thinking," Ji Qingzhou understood her thoughts.
After arriving in Shanghai from Suzhou yesterday, he had been observing people's clothing and attire the entire way.
In Ji Qingzhou's impression, the most typical Republican-era women's clothing was nothing more than two types— qipao and civilized new dress.
Yet throughout his journey yesterday, while he had seen some civilized new dresses with upper jacket and lower skirt, he hadn't seen any women wearing qipao, and if any did, it was like the straight long robes worn by men.
Otherwise, it was the kind of qipao vest that Shen Nanqi had worn the day before, but that was also worn as an outer layer over a jacket, with a loose fit and no curves to speak of.
Clearly, this was not yet the era when qipao would become fashionable.
Ji Qingzhou examined the fabric carefully, noting that while the pattern was intricate, because it was a crepe-type silk fabric, its luster was relatively soft.
If made into a long qipao, its dignified and elegant style would balance out the fabric's vivid colors, and it wouldn't appear overly coquettish or age-inappropriate for everyday wear.
Since Shen Nanqi liked it, there was no harm in giving it a try.
With this thought, Ji Qingzhou turned around and gave the bespectacled assistant a warm smile, saying: "Young man, might I borrow some paper and pen?"
—
A/N;
1). Mexican Silver Dollar (墨西哥鹰洋)
The Mexican Silver Dollar is a silver coin minted after Mexico's independence in 1821, also known as "Mexican Silver" or "Eagle Dollar," and was officially issued in 1823. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican period, the Mexican Silver Dollar had the highest circulation volume among foreign silver dollars in China, accounting for about one-third of the total foreign currency circulating in China in 1910. Its stable fineness made it the primary currency in many southern provinces. Before 1919, foreign banks in Shanghai used it as the standard for banknote exchange. During the period of the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base Area, the Red Army Mint began counterfeiting Eagle Dollars in 1928 and stamped them with the character for 'worker'. Later, the Central Mint continued casting these coins to alleviate economic blockades, and they remained in circulation until the period of the Soviet areas.
2). 'the clothes newly made for Jie Yu'an by the Jie family were all long robes and horse jackets, with colors mostly subdued, rarely featuring bright tones or piping'. The following are dresses generated by AI based on the description for reference:
3). 'an artemisia-green long shirt with subtle patterns, paired with a duck-blue soft satin sleeveless jacket as an overcoat for the morning. Underneath was a pair of thin silk white-toned long pants with a drawstring'. The following are a dress generated by AI based on the description for reference:
4). 'Shen Nanqi had specially applied eyebrow makeup and lipstick today, and was wearing a well-tailored long-sleeved shirt and a gray fine-checked A-line skirt that reached down to her ankles, with a deep gray wool felt cloche hat on her head. Her shirt was made of chiffon, with white lace trim on the collar, and the soft, luminous quality of the pale white fabric was perfectly suited to the pearl necklace and earrings she wore'. The following are a dress generated by AI based on the description for reference:
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