TCRT_12

Chapter 12: The First Order — You Should Coax Him

Ji Qingzhou turned around and saw a young man standing at the shop entrance, dressed in a blue robe and black jacket, wearing tortoiseshell round-framed glasses.

"Having a suit made to order?" he asked, setting down the display pole.

The man was already shy by nature, and meeting Ji Qingzhou's inquiring gaze only made him more at a loss. He gave a not-so-confident "mm" and then asked, "Is it three yuan?"

"Three yuan is the base labor fee; fabric is charged separately," After Ji Qingzhou said this, he saw the man furrow his brow, looking quite hesitant.

Afraid the deal might fall through before any negotiation had even begun, he curved up the corners of his mouth and smiled at the other party in a friendly manner: "You can come in and talk it over, tell me your budget."

Having said that, he turned and went back into the shop, switching on the electric light.

Seeing this, the young man hesitated for a moment, but still followed him inside.

"I have an interview at a foreign trading company next week, and they said it would be best to have a suit ready," As he spoke, he quickly scanned the interior of the shop, confirming it was nothing more than a modest tailor's stall.

"I went and asked at several ready-made clothing shops and also browsed the department store, and the prices were all far from cheap. Even a secondhand suit at a used clothing shop starts at no less than eight yuan, so when I saw that yours is only three yuan, I thought I'd come and ask."

"So your budget is three yuan?" Ji Qingzhou raised an eyebrow in slight disbelief.

The man smiled awkwardly, tugging at the corners of his mouth: "I can add four more yuan. That's all the budget I have."

Ji Qingzhou drew a light breath and said, "Are you aware of fabric prices? Even the cheapest woolen cloth costs two jiao* per foot, and to make a full suit for someone of your height and build, you would need at least..."

*t/n; 0.2 yuan.

He quickly calculated the current ruler length and fabric width: "Seventeen feet."

The man worked out the cost of seventeen feet of fabric, and his smile became strained: "That really won't do then. I suppose I'll just have to borrow a suit to wear."

Ji Qingzhou could see the man was genuinely penniless. After a few seconds of consideration, he said straightforwardly:

"I'm not running a charity either. The labor fee is three yuan and three yuan it stays. I won't be giving you a discount just because your budget falls short. But I can get it done for you at around seven yuan.

"In other words, the fabric used certainly won't be fine quality. It may be made from homespun cloth, and it won't include a waistcoat, just the suit and shirt."

"Can homespun cloth be made into a suit?"

"It can. Linen and cotton-linen blends can both be used for suits, but given the fabric's limitations, the style will lean more casual. It certainly won't have that same structured, elegant look that woolen cloth gives. However, if the pattern and cut are good, it won't come across as shabby or inappropriate."

The man still couldn't quite believe it: "It can really be done?"

Seeing him waver like this, Ji Qingzhou figured it was his first time opening for business anyway, so he might as well offer a little goodwill: "If it can't be done, or if you're not satisfied with the result, I offer returns and refunds."

Hearing this, the man finally set his mind at ease and made up his mind: "Then I'll have it made here."

Having finally secured an order, Ji Qingzhou felt no particular joy or delight. After all, there was truly very little profit to be made from this transaction.

He flipped open the notebook used for recording customer information and looked at the young man: "Your surname, if I may?"

"My surname is He, given name Lu, the lu from white egret*," The man replied at an unhurried pace.

*t/n; bailu (白鷺 / báilù), white egret.

Ji Qingzhou uncapped his fountain pen and wrote the two characters "He Lu" in sweeping, fluid strokes on the blank page.

He then picked up the measuring tape from the table, went to close the shop door, and said to He Lu, "Take off your outer garments. I need to take your measurements."

"Oh," He Lu removed his glasses and set them carefully to one side, then took off the black mandarin jacket he was wearing, his eyes carrying a hint of nervousness as he looked toward Ji Qingzhou.

"Can you take off the robe as well?"

"I suppose I can," He Lu hesitated briefly, then undid the buttons of the robe and slipped off the blue cloth garment.

He wore nothing underneath, his upper body bare. All he had on was a pair of cotton trousers washed to a yellowish hue, the cuffs tucked into white socks, and below that a pair of black cloth shoes caked in mud.

Ji Qingzhou could see the shyness in him. Though he didn't quite understand what there was to blush about between two men with a bare torso, a customer was a customer all the same.

To help Mr. He relax a little, he ran the measuring tape over him while making casual conversation: "From the look of you, I'd say you're a student?"

"No, I have already graduated. I was previously enrolled in the science department at Hujiang University," He Lu answered in a measured, precise manner.

"A missionary school?"

"Yes, but the missionary influence was not strong. They were very welcoming toward ordinary people like us and supported us in working our way through school."

"That's a good thing. What trading company are you interviewing with?"

"Changqi Trading Company, an American steamship company."

"Sounds like the pay would be quite good."

"If I get through, the monthly salary would be at least thirty yuan, I'd say," He Lu answered. As he felt the cold measuring tape loop around his neck, he couldn't help but give a slight shudder.

"Then I wish you success in your interview," Ji Qingzhou bent down and noted the height, shoulder width, neck circumference and other measurements in his notebook, then turned back around and stretched out the tape: "Raise both arms."

He Lu obeyed, and when Ji Qingzhou reached around his waist to measure his chest circumference, his body gave another involuntary tremble.

"Are you cold?" Ji Qingzhou asked.

"I'm... I'm alright," He Lu didn't quite understand what he was shivering about. The weather was cool, but not so cold as to make one tremble.

"You're slightly hunched," While measuring the waist, Ji Qingzhou mentioned it offhandedly, then immediately corrected himself: "No need to consciously puff your chest out. Just breathe naturally."

"Oh, alright," He Lu returned to his natural posture and stared blankly at the floor.

There was a brief, relative silence, and when Ji Qingzhou drew back the measuring tape and turned to record the figures, He Lu finally couldn't hold back: "Boss, what brand of soap do you use? It smells really nice."

"Soap? I haven't used any soap," Ji Qingzhou raised an eyebrow in mild puzzlement, thinking to himself it might be the scent of his shampoo.

He let the topic go and instead instructed, "Sit on the stool and sit up straight, body relaxed."

He Lu obediently sat down on the stool, his mind wandering as he stared ahead.

Once Ji Qingzhou moved behind him to measure the rise length, no longer having to face the boss's dazzling features up close, He Lu finally relaxed somewhat.

He Lu spoke up on his own: "I can see you're quite different from other tailors. Just now at the doorway, when you turned around, I almost thought I had the wrong shop owner."

"You have quite a good eye then."

Ji Qingzhou stood up and leaned over the table, recording the last two measurements, his mouth offering a quip: "Actually, I used to be a Peking opera singer. I only recently changed trades."

"Only recently changed trades?" He Lu stared at him in surprise.

Ji Qingzhou tilted his head, caught sight of his astonished expression, and couldn't help but smile: "What's the matter, worried I might swindle your money? Don't worry, my tailoring skills are decent enough."

He Lu gave a slow, dazed nod of his head, not quite sure why, but he found himself trusting the man just like that, without much resistance.

"Alright then, put your clothes back on. Don't catch a cold."

"A, alright."

Once He Lu had dressed, Ji Qingzhou sat down at the table and opened his sketchbook, flipping to several classic suit designs he had drawn that very day. He beckoned He Lu over with a wave: "Come here, pick a style."

"Oh, sure," He Lu put on his glasses and walked over to his side. The moment he drew near, he caught that same scent again.

He stole a careful glance at the young man's waist and back beneath the white shirt, then felt as though it were an imposition and quickly averted his gaze, turning his full attention to the sketches.

After a short while, he furrowed his brow: "I... can't really tell the difference. Aren't all these lapels the same?"

Ji Qingzhou wasn't the least bit surprised by his answer: "Then I'll choose for you. Do you have any preference on color?"

He Lu thought it over for a moment and said, "Preferably something dark. Nothing too flashy."

"Alright," Ji Qingzhou set the sketchbook aside, picked up the order schedule and asked, "When is the interview?"

"The fifteenth, mid-month."

Ji Qingzhou noted the date on the schedule, and as he wrote down the number "15," he suddenly froze. It dawned on him and he looked up: "The interview is next Thursday? Today is the weekend?"

"Yes, is three days... too rushed?" He Lu's voice grew smaller and smaller as he spoke.

"Why not just come the day before the interview and have me tailor you a set of the Emperor's New Clothes?" Ji Qingzhou struggled to keep his emotions in check for a moment.

Three days to complete an entire suit!

Even if he worked without a single break aside from eating and sleeping, the time would be extremely tight.

In that moment, Ji Qingzhou was tempted to turn the order down outright. But seeing He Lu, his customer, rendered speechless by his words, his face flushed with embarrassment and guilt, he let out a helpless breath in the end: "Pay a two yuan deposit. Come pick it up by six o'clock on Wednesday."

As though afraid he might change his mind, He Lu nodded hurriedly and fished two silver coins out of his pocket, handing them over.

"Alright, off you go."

He Lu instinctively turned around, only to be met with the closed shop front. He hesitated for a moment, then turned back and asked, "Boss, what is your surname? How should I address you?"

"My surname is Ji, the ji from Ji Yun*," Ji Qingzhou replied, his tone unhurried and casual, his head still bent as he recorded He Lu's requirements.

*t/n; Ji Yun (紀昀) was a famous Chinese scholar, writer, and official who lived during the Qing Dynasty (1724–1805). He is best known for being the chief editor of the Siku Quanshu (四庫全書), one of the largest collections of books in Chinese history.

In his mind, he was already thinking ahead, noting what still needed to be done. It seemed he ought to have some name cards made, to make it easier to build up a clientele.

.

Having been held up somewhat by He Lu, by the time Ji Qingzhou had finished processing the customer's order information and closed the shop door, it was already past six-thirty.

Making it just before the sky darkened completely, Ji Qingzhou boarded a tram and made his way back to the Jie family mansion.

Dusk was hazy, and thick clouds gathered densely across the night sky.

Ji Qingzhou, satchel across his shoulder and sketchbook in hand, made his way along the broad, tree-lined avenue. When he reached the fountain pool directly in front of the Western-style house, a black Ford motor car came around from the left side of the fountain, passing right by him.

The headlights shone like two bright torches, illuminating the road ahead.

Ji Qingzhou turned his head to glance at the license plate and found it was not the Jie family's own small Ford.

Somewhat curious, he went inside and spotted Aunt Liang in the entrance foyer, so he casually asked, "Guests?"

"Two friends of Young Master Yuan's. I've just seen them out," Aunt Liang replied with a smile, then shifted the subject: "You seem to have come back a little late today, sir."

"Got held up by something. Have they all finished eating?"

"Yes. The master and Young Master Yuan have gone to the study together. However, the mistress and the others are still seated in the main dining room..."

The temperature inside was a few degrees warmer than outside. Upon entering the main hall, Ji Qingzhou took off his coat and turned toward the western corridor, heading straight for the main dining room.

Just as Aunt Liang had said, Jie Yu'an and Jie Jianshan were nowhere in the dining room. Shen Nanqi and Jie Yuchuan's family of three, however, were still seated at the dining table, chatting leisurely.

The dishes had already been cleared from the table. By the look of things, dinner had been over for quite a while.

Shen Nanqi had been telling her son and daughter-in-law about the amusing things that had happened when she took her granddaughter to the Shen family home that day. When she looked up and saw Ji Qingzhou come in through the doorway, she immediately changed her tune: "Why are you back so late? It's already dark outside. How unsafe. Be careful someone doesn't rob you."

Hearing the commotion, Jie Yuchuan also turned to look at him, teasing him warmly: "Business must be good?"

"Don't even mention it. Not a single customer all day, and then one shows up right when it's time to close."

Ji Qingzhou let out an exaggeratedly gloomy sigh, slipped off his satchel, placed it together with the sketchbook at the corner of the long dining table, then unfolded his coat and draped it over the back of the chair he usually sat in.

"Important work always has a way of turning up right when you're about to finish for the day," Jie Yuchuan chimed in, genuinely sympathetic.

"He just opened. Having any business at all is already good enough. What is there to be choosy about," Shen Nanqi remarked, then stood up: "I'll have someone heat the dishes up and bring them over. Have a little something to eat."

"Alright."

Ji Qingzhou pulled out the chair and had just been about to sit down when he heard a gentle, reproachful voice from beside him.

"Lingling, you mustn't go through other people's things without permission! Put it back quickly."

Ji Qingzhou followed her gaze and found that Jie Linglong had somehow made her way to the corner of the table without anyone noticing, and was holding his sketchbook, absorbed in looking through it with great delight.

"What a beautiful dress!"

Though she had just been scolded by her mother, Jie Linglong was quick-witted enough to immediately turn her wide, innocent eyes toward Ji Qingzhou and ask, "Cousin-uncle, may I have a look?"

"Of course," Ji Qingzhou exchanged a glance with Zhao Yanzhi and Jie Yuchuan, signaling to them that it was perfectly fine.

He then walked over to the little girl and crouched down beside her: "Which dress do you like?"

"This one!" Jie Linglong reached out and pointed to a page in the sketchbook.

The page showed a pale blue strapless princess dress, with a full, floor-length skirt and a large bow design that spread like butterfly wings.

"Can Cousin-uncle make it for me? Daddy said you're very good at making clothes and can make lots of new outfits for me to wear."

"Hey, that's not quite right," Jie Yuchuan quickly corrected her: "What Daddy said was that your cousin-uncle has opened a clothing shop. The second part was something you added yourself!"

Jie Linglong paid her father no mind at all, and kept her eyes fixed hopefully on Ji Qingzhou.

"You like this one, do you?" Ji Qingzhou took the sketchbook back and pretended to think it over: "But this is a grown-up's dress. Lingling is still too little to wear it."

Jie Linglong pouted her lips, looking a little unhappy.

"How about this," Ji Qingzhou closed the sketchbook and set it aside, coaxing the little girl: "Once Cousin-uncle has some free time in a while, I'll make you a little dress even prettier than this one. How does that sound?"

"Really?"

"Of course. People who lie to children get taken away by the police and locked up in jail."

Jie Linglong's eyes went wide as she stared at him unblinkingly. Seeing Ji Qingzhou's utterly serious and solemn expression, she believed him.

Then she leaned in and said quietly, "Thank you, Cousin-uncle. Cousin-uncle, let me tell you a secret."

Children's thoughts move quickly from one thing to the next, but Ji Qingzhou played along all the same, lowering his voice to ask, "What secret?"

Jie Linglong glanced furtively over at Jie Yuchuan and his wife, who were watching their every move, then leaned close to Ji Qingzhou's ear and said:

"You didn't come home for dinner tonight, and Little Uncle is not very happy about it. You need to go and coax him later."

"Oh?" Ji Qingzhou's eyes shifted with amusement as he smiled and asked, "He keeps a straight face all day long. How could you tell he was unhappy?"

"I just could."

"Alright then, thank you for the heads-up, Lingling."

"My name is Linglong," Jie Linglong emphasized.

Ji Qingzhou patted her head soothingly: "Got it, Lingling."

–

TL: Muji

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