Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 157: Cutthroat Competition

When Wei Shi saw Chen Shi and heard that she would be staying with them from now on, she was overjoyed. “Perfect timing!” she exclaimed, pulling Chen Shi aside. “There are so many things I’m unsure about, and I have no one to ask for advice. Now that you’re here, I finally have someone to discuss things with.”

Liu Yu vaguely heard her mother-in-law’s voice from the back and hurried out to greet her. Upon seeing Chen Shi, she happily called out, “Mother!” The two women chatted, and when Liu Yu learned that Chen Shi would be staying with them permanently, she was quite pleased.

Soon after, Lu Shuang also came by, followed by Ge An and his younger sister, Xiaoya, who greeted Liu Yu warmly.

The arrival of Ge An and Xiaoya was an unexpected delight for Liu Yu. She hadn’t seen Ge An in a long time and noticed that he had grown a bit taller and looked healthier. Smiling, she ruffled his hair and started to head toward the backyard to fetch some snacks for the children.

Ge An politely declined, instead taking the opportunity to look around the Ruyi Embroidery Workshop.

He had heard that Liu Yu had opened an embroidery workshop in the county, and seeing it in person filled him with excitement.

Ge An was clever, and he paid special attention to Liu Yu, who had been so kind to him and his sister. Although he lived in Changfeng Town, he had managed to gather some information about her through subtle inquiries.

In just a few months, their lives had changed dramatically. Liu Yu’s days had improved, and thanks to her, Ge An and his sister were no longer begging on the streets, unsure if they’d have a meal from one day to the next.

After chatting for a bit, Ge An took Xiaoya back to the fabric shop across the street, while Lu Shuang clung to Liu Yu’s arm. “Sister-in-law, can I learn how to make clothes from you? I’ll help out with the chores.”

Lu Shuang wasn’t particularly skilled at needlework, but she loved being around Liu Yu. During her previous stay in the county, she would spend every day at the embroidery workshop, doing simple tasks. Now that it was decided she’d be staying longer, the first thing she asked Liu Yu was if she could continue helping out.

Liu Yu chuckled, “Of course! You’re more than welcome.”

~

The women of the Lu family were genuinely happy after moving to Anyi County.

Qin Shi was busy taking care of the children, but she mostly stayed in the back courtyard of the fabric shop. Chen Shi also spent much of her time helping with the grandchildren, though she often spent part of the day at the embroidery workshop with Wei Shi.

As for Lu Shuang, she practically lived at the workshop during the day.

Wei Shi had hired a woman to help with washing clothes and cooking, so aside from buying groceries in the morning, she didn’t have much to do in the kitchen.

Liu Yu, having taken a long break due to her upcoming wedding, found herself back at the workshop, not only catching up on orders but also preparing goods for Cui Erniang. She was so busy that she barely had time for a midday break and often ended up staying at the Liu family’s home for lunch. Lu Shuang, who frequently worked alongside her, was often invited to join them. Lu Shuang was so content with her new routine that she hardly missed her old life.

As for Liu Yanqing, he usually had lunch at the yamen, while Liu Yanping, Liu Yanan, and Lu Chengxiao were busy traveling around. They were not only collecting cotton fabric but also planning a trip to the Zhejiang area after Lu Chengxiao moved into his new home.

They were also looking for business opportunities. As Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping put it, “Sometimes money is right under your nose, it just depends on whether you can spot it.” Having tasted the success of selling fabric, the three were curious about what other goods were abundant in the region. Lately, they had been traveling to nearby counties and only returned every few days.

So, it wasn’t unusual for Lu Shuang to spend a lot of time at the Liu family’s home. The two families were close, and with the three Liu brothers often away, there was no need to worry about appearances.

Lu Shuang’s frequent visits to the embroidery workshop, under Liu Yu’s guidance, were also something Lu Xun was happy to see. He had prepared a shop as part of Lu Shuang’s dowry, and she would eventually need to learn how to manage it. Who better to learn from than her sister-in-law Liu Yu?

Even though Liu Yu wasn’t running a fabric shop, her cleverness was something that would greatly benefit her daughter if she could learn even a fraction of it.

And indeed, Lu Xun’s approach was spot on.

For years, Lu Shuang had never shown interest in the family business. But now, spending every day with Liu Yu, she was beginning to find joy in it. Watching as fabric was cut by Liu Yu, transformed into garments by embroiderers and seamstresses, then sold in the shop where they were admired and purchased—this whole process gave her a strong sense of accomplishment.

The two women were often together so Liu Yu and Wei Shi didn’t shy away from discussing business matters in front of Lu Shuang. As a result, Lu Shuang gradually absorbed some knowledge, such as the fact that every business faces competition.

On the sixth morning after arriving in the county, Lu Shuang didn’t follow Liu Yu to the embroidery workshop as usual. Instead, she spent half the morning strolling through the streets, visiting all the fabric and embroidery shops in Anyi County.

During this outing, Lu Shuang made a significant discovery.

An embroidery shop in Anyi County was copying designs from the Ruyi Embroidery Workshop.

Since Lu Shuang rarely visited the county, few people there knew she was the daughter of Lufeng’s fabric shop owner. Most of the time, when she was at the embroidery workshop, she stayed in the cutting room with Liu Yu, so even fewer people knew of her connection to the Ruyi Embroidery Workshop.

When Lu Shuang visited the shops, they all assumed she was a potential customer and treated her with the utmost courtesy. This warm reception opened her eyes.

~

At the Ruyi Embroidery Workshop, Liu Yu and Mrs. Zhang had just launched new designs and were discussing display and pricing with Wei Shi when Lu Shuang returned, carrying a small fabric bundle.

Usually a vibrant and lively girl, she was now so angry that her cheeks were puffed out like a pufferfish.

Coincidentally, Chen Shi was also at the workshop, having finished her own errands. Spotting her daughter, she exclaimed, “What’s wrong? You’ve been out all morning, and now you’ve come back upset?”

Lu Shuang walked over to where Wei Shi and the others were standing, placed the bundle on the counter, and said, “I’m angry, Mother. Third Sister-in-law’s designs have been heavily copied by the An Ji Embroidery Shop.”

Everyone turned to look at Lu Shuang, even Mrs. Zhang, who was hanging clothes nearby, came over upon hearing this.

Wei Shi and Chen Shi both looked concerned. “What happened?” they asked.

Lu Shuang opened the bundle and said, “Since I’ve been spending a lot of time at the workshop lately, I thought last night that I should check out the other embroidery shops. And that’s when I found this.”

When she unwrapped the fabric bundle, Chen Shi, Wei Shi, Liu Yu, and Mrs. Zhang all peered inside. As Lu Shuang pulled out and unfolded the garment, their expressions darkened.

Lu Shuang’s face also showed displeasure as she said, “Just among the styles I recognized, the An Ji Embroidery Shop copied at least seven or eight designs. This particular one, I saw being made a few days ago, so I bought it right away. They’re selling it for 1,200 wen per set. Third Sister-in-law, take a look.”

1,200 wen per set?

Liu Yu and Wei Shi exchanged a glance.

This particular design was Liu Yu’s creation, and it was priced at 1,300 wen per set at the Ruyi Embroidery Workshop. An Ji selling it for 1,200 wen?

Such pricing seemed like a direct challenge to Ruyi Embroidery Workshop.

Liu Yu furrowed her brows. Why did this design stand out to Lu Shuang? Because it was an excellent design, and Lu Shuang had followed its creation closely, even trying it on when it was first made, and she loved it.

This garment had only been on the shelves for four days, and including custom sizes, only five sets were made. Because of its great design, it sold out quickly, completely selling out by the day before yesterday.

In just two months, Ruyi Embroidery Workshop had gained some reputation in Anyi County, partly because of its excellent designs and partly because they didn’t produce too many of the same style, ensuring a degree of exclusivity. Customers who bought from Ruyi Embroidery Workshop rarely had to worry about wearing the same outfit as someone else.

This outfit was both attractive and sold well; all five sets were gone within three days. But now, it turns out that they’ve stopped selling at Ruyi Embroidery Workshop because another shop copied their designs.

Wei Shi pressed her lips together, her expression grim.

Liu Yu took the garment in hand and examined it closely. The fabric was identical, and just by looking at the hem and sleeves, she could tell that the pattern was nearly perfect.

The distinguishing feature of this outfit was in the skirt. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but it looked stunning when worn and in motion. To be sure, Liu Yu asked Lu Shuang to put on the outfit so she could see.

Lu Shuang obediently went into the changing room, and when she came out wearing the outfit, Liu Yu, Wei Shi, and Mrs. Zhang examined it carefully. Their expressions turned serious after they had a good look.

It was almost identical!

If An Ji didn’t have a highly skilled tailor, they must have bought one of their outfits, taken it apart, and copied the pattern exactly.

An Ji had been in business in Anyi County for over ten years. If they had a good tailor, they wouldn’t have waited until now to copy Liu Yu’s designs. So, it was likely the latter.

Same fabric, same pattern, but they were selling it for 100 wen less than Ruyi Embroidery Workshop.

Liu Yu and Wei Shi’s pricing wasn’t particularly high, and now An Ji was not only copying their designs but also engaging in malicious competition.

Liu Yu asked Lu Shuang, “How many sets of this outfit did they have on display?”

Lu Shuang had already taken note. “Two sets, but they changed the embroidery and color scheme and made two more. They’ve copied quite a few designs. You can’t see them from outside, but as soon as you enter the shop, they’re displayed in the most prominent spots.”

This was a clear sign that An Ji knew they were copying and didn’t dare to display them openly.

Liu Yu understood. An Ji must have bought one of their outfits, taken it apart, and made the copies. This still required some effort and cost. If An Ji didn’t sell enough, it wouldn’t be worth it. Those two sets were probably just samples; the original pattern was likely still in An Ji’s cutting room, and they were probably planning to reproduce seven or eight more sets, if not more.

Seeing Liu Yu’s stern expression, Lu Shuang fumed, “Third Sister-in-law, you have no idea how shameless An Ji’s shopkeeper is. She didn’t recognize me and was completely unfiltered in her words. She wasn’t just selling the outfit; she was putting down our Ruyi Embroidery Workshop, saying that this exact same outfit is sold at our shop for 1,300 wen, but they’re selling it for 100 wen less.”

Stealing the pattern and then criticizing the original—Lu Shuang was so angry she almost threw the outfit in the shopkeeper’s face.

Wei Shi gritted her teeth in anger. She knew An Ji; before they opened the embroidery workshop, she had bought clothes from there. But this kind of behavior was just shameless.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Yu asked, “Auntie, do you remember who bought this outfit from our shop?”

Wei Shi nodded. “I remember. We only sold five, and it’s only been a few days, so I can still recall.”

“Then, Auntie, think carefully. Among those five customers, is there anyone who has bought a lot from us, say ten different designs? They’d be considered a regular customer.”

With this prompt, Wei Shi thought for a moment and said, “Yes, one of the five is a girl around fifteen or sixteen who has bought quite a bit recently, though only five designs, not ten.”

Lu Shuang chimed in, “I saw that some of the copied designs at An Ji’s were for women.”

So, they had sent two buyers.

Wei Shi was furious. “I’m not sure who the woman is, but I remember that girl’s face. I won’t sell her any more clothes next time.”

Liu Yu pursed her lips and said, “No need. If she wants to buy, sell her as much as she wants.”

Wei Shi, Chen Shi, Mrs. Zhang, and Lu Shuang: “???”

“You’re going to sell even though you know she’s copying our designs?”

Liu Yu replied, “Sell, why not? The plan I had in mind needs to move faster now. Since they’re copying us, I’ll scale up production. I want to see whether it’s more profitable for them to produce a few scattered copies or for me to produce in bulk.”

With a dozen or so sets per design, An Ji must be getting exhausted copying them. Right now, they’re the only ones copying, and by lowering their prices, they can steal some of Ruyi Embroidery Workshop’s business. But if other shops start carrying these designs, and each only needs to order a few sets, constantly introducing new styles, then An Ji won’t make any profit without mass-producing them. Liu Yu was curious to see if the shopkeeper at An Ji could keep up with the copying.

Among those present, only Mrs. Zhang was unaware of Liu Yu’s plan to mass-produce ready-made garments; Chen Shi, Wei Shi, and Lu Shuang were all in on it.

Lu Shuang’s eyes lit up. “Third Sister-in-law, have you figured out how to do it?”

“Almost. I’ll figure it out as I go,” Liu Yu said with a smile, then turned to Wei Shi and asked, “Auntie, can you give me the recent size records I asked you to keep?”

Although Wei Shi didn’t yet know exactly what Liu Yu was planning, the anxiety and anger she’d felt over An Ji copying their designs subsided significantly. Liu Yu usually made the decisions for the shop, so if she said she could handle it, Wei Shi was confident that it would be taken care of.

She bent down, retrieved a notebook specifically used for recording customer measurements for custom orders from the cabinet, and handed it to Liu Yu.

Liu Yu flipped through the book. Although it hadn’t been in use for long and only contained data for a few dozen people, it was enough for her initial reference.

“Auntie, you can keep busy with the shop; I’ll go back and think this over,” Liu Yu said, ready to head to the cutting room with the notebook in hand. Suddenly, she remembered something and handed the outfit to Lu Shuang, along with two taels of silver from her purse. Smiling, she said, “I need to thank you for what you did today. Consider this outfit a gift from your third sister-in-law.”

Lu Shuang was momentarily stunned but then grinned, “I do like this outfit, but there’s no way I’m wearing something made by An Ji. You don’t need to pay me, third sister-in-law; I’ll just return the outfit.”

Wei Shi was taken aback, while Chen Shi chuckled and said, “That’s right, we don’t wear anything made by An Ji. I’ll go with you to return it.”

She wanted to make sure her daughter wasn’t taken advantage of.

But Lu Shuang quickly waved her hands, “No need, Mom. If you go, she’ll figure out who I am. I can handle this on my own.”

Chen Shi and Wei Shi were still a bit uneasy, but Liu Yu looked at Lu Shuang and asked, “Are you sure you can handle it?”

Lu Shuang patted her chest confidently, “Absolutely! Don’t worry; it’s broad daylight. What could she possibly do to me?”

Wei Shi was still a little concerned, but Chen Shi felt a shift in her thoughts. She hadn’t raised her children to be too sheltered, and it wasn’t wrong for a girl to be a bit tough. Thinking this way, she decided to let Lu Shuang handle it herself and said, “Alright, go ahead. But if the shopkeeper at An Ji really gets unreasonable, there’s no need to hide your identity. They’re the ones copying designs, so we have nothing to fear by confronting them. If needed, you can even mention your brother Yanqing’s name.”

Lu Feng’s Cloth Shop wasn’t without some standing in Anyi County now, and although Liu Yanqing was just a constable, business people generally avoided offending those connected to the authorities.

Even the shopkeeper at An Ji would have to think twice.

Lu Shuang smiled, packed up the outfit, and was ready to leave.

Wei Shi asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to go with her to keep an eye on things?”

Chen Shi waved her hand and said, “No need. She’s fifteen now, and there will be many more paths she’ll need to walk on her own in the future. Let her go.”

Wei Shi considered this and realized it made sense. Though she was still a bit worried, she reminded herself that business people aren’t criminals, and she had handled returns and exchanges herself over the past two months. It was a common occurrence, usually handled politely and professionally, so she let it go.

Liu Yu smiled, thinking that her mother-in-law’s approach to raising children was actually excellent. A young girl shouldn’t be overly protected; it was important for her to learn to handle some things on her own. She patted Lu Shuang on the shoulder and said, “Go on. Later, I’ll make you an even prettier outfit.”

Lu Shuang was delighted, “It’s a deal then!”

“It’s a deal. I’ll make one just for you, not for sale in the shop. It’ll be one of a kind!”

Lu Shuang was overjoyed and hugged Liu Yu tightly, exclaiming, “Third sister-in-law, you’re the best!”

She then excitedly headed off with the bundle to return the outfit.

Chen Shi, who was watching from the side, couldn’t help but laugh.

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