After a while, Yu Xiaocao felt that her movements were going to be stiff, and Jiang Siniang studied her clothes thoroughly. Jiang Siniang exhaled slowly, returned to the guest seat, picked up the cup and took a sip, and said, "Master Yu, I don't know if it's convenient for me to tell my servant, who designed the clothes on your body?"
Yu Xiaocao also took a deep breath, with a stiff smile on her face, said: "Master Jiang, you are welcome, you should call me by my first name." The three words 'Master Yu' always feel like someone else is addressing you. Where is my father!"
Jiang Siniang chuckled lightly, and said, "Since Miss Yu is a cool person, I won't be too polite. How old am I? If Miss Yu doesn't mind, please call me Sister Jiang!"
"Sister Jiang, don't miss Miss Yu and Miss Yu. We are sisters, so you can call me Sister Xiaocao." Is business, and there is the slightest contempt.
Jiang Siniang's heart was completely relaxed. It is said that Mr. Yu started his business as a businessman, and he is really not like an ordinary official lady who wants to benefit from her, but looks down on people who are in business from the bottom of his heart. They also don't think about it, if there are no businessmen in this capital, they, the so-called dignitaries, will be unable to move a single step...
"Sister Jiang, I don't know what advice you can give me for your second visit?" Yu Xiaocao already had some guesses in her mind, so she asked.
Jiang Siniang smiled a little embarrassedly, and said: "Sister Xiaocao, to tell you the truth, I came this time because of the style of your clothes. It seems that you have never seen such clothes in Beijing. I don't know Where did you buy it from?"
Yu Xiaocao pursed her lips and smiled, and said: "My clothes, I originally paired them with trousers, are convenient for walking in the fields. Look at the narrow sleeves, it is more convenient for working in the fields, isn't it? But, come out to meet guests, It’s too rude to wear trousers, so someone made this pleated skirt. It’s narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, making you look slimmer, isn’t it?”
Mrs. Fang at the side laughed when she heard the words: "You are really shameless. In front of everyone who makes garments, you dare to play tricks. How can you show your improvised thing to others?"
Jiang Siniang hurriedly said: "Mrs. Fang, you are too modest! Sister Xiaocao's clothes, although there is no long gown with long sleeves and a skirt with a full crown, it is simple yet exquisite. I should have thought that the gorgeous and complicated to the extreme, would be I should refute Guizhen and go in the direction of simplicity. Sister Xiaocao opened a new design window for me and added a lot of inspiration to me. My sister is really my noble person! I don’t know my sister, so I would think of doing it Such clothes?"
Looking at the excited Jiang Siniang, Mrs. Fang smiled inwardly: Sure enough, the rumors are true, this Jiang Siniang is an idiot. It is precisely because of this kind of "idiot" that we can devote ourselves wholeheartedly and achieve everyone's success, right
"You two sisters are chatting, and I have something to do later, so I won't accompany you." Mrs. Fang saw that the little sisters were chatting speculatively, so she stopped sticking around here. The daughter made friends with everyone Jiang, so she was naturally happy to see the success, not all because of the clothes Jiang Siniang sewed by herself, but more importantly, she wanted Xiaocao to be able to meet more people and make more friends in Beijing.
Those so-called ladies from famous families in Beijing are blindly proud and look down on Xiaocao who comes from a farming family. From time to time, words mocking her own daughter flowed into her ears. For this reason, Mrs. Fang broke off relations with several families.
I don't know what those charming ladies are proud of? On weekdays, chanting sour poems, playing the plain qin, and knowing how to be a child, but the nose grows to the top of the head? They are not as good as businessmen like Jiang Siniang! At least people use their own craftsmanship and labor to bring others brocade clothes and beautiful clothes! Those daughters who are only waiting to be supported by others have not made any contribution to others, so why should they look down on others
Looking at the daughter who had a good conversation with Jiang Siniang, Mrs. Fang was very happy. Those who can appreciate the abilities of their daughters are worthy of friendship. So, for those so-called famous ladies, are their words and senses important
Jiang Siniang politely stood up with Xiaocao, watched Mrs. Fang enter the inner courtyard, then took Xiaocao's hand, and asked impatiently, "Hurry up! Where did you come up with such an idea?"
Yu Xiaocao thought about it seriously, and said: "My aunt was originally married to the mountainous area in the northeast, where there is an ethnic group called Manchu, and most of them wear clothes like mine, called 'flag outfits', not the ones who ride horses. ', but the 'flag dress' of the flag. This kind of clothes is not only simple and convenient, but also saves fabric!"
Jiang Siniang looked fascinated, and she seemed to be talking to herself: "So it's the clothes of people from other ethnic groups! I heard that the Hu people in the northwest have very distinctive clothes, and the veil covers their faces. They are very beautiful. .Have the opportunity, I really want to walk around and see the outside world, so as not to run out of inspiration... "
"That's right! Traveling thousands of miles is worse than reading thousands of books. That's the reason! I heard that some peoples in the Southwest use silver decorations to decorate their clothes, and their clothes are dyed in a special way. I also want to go to the west with our Daming fleet, it is said that the people there are fair-skinned, blond, blue-eyed, with curly hair, very interesting, right?" Yu Xiaocao has never traveled abroad in two lifetimes, although she hopes Very slim, but she still wanted to go out and see.
Jiang Siniang opened her eyes wide in surprise, covered her mouth with her hands, and said, "Blue eyes, yellow hair, or curly hair? Why... like a legendary monster. Is there really such a person?"
"Of course! Both the emperor and the king of Yangjun have traveled to the West and met foreigners. I heard that there are not only yellow-haired ones, but also red-haired ones! They look different from us, and they speak different words from us. Also I don’t know how the emperor and Yangjun Wang communicate with foreigners! The clothes of foreigners are quite different from ours. If there is a chance, you can ask the fleet to bring us some clothes for foreigners. Refer to the styles of others. !" Yu Xiaocao was a little whimsical.
However, now Daming's ocean-going ships are all managed by King Yang. As long as she asks, let alone get some clothes, Zhu Junyang is willing to bring back all the weird things in the West.
"That's great! I really want to walk around and look around..." Jiang Siniang's expression at this time was like a little girl full of longing and longing, without any feeling of the so-called weaving master.
Yu Xiaocao looked at her, and suddenly felt how happy it is to have a dream. What is her dream? Plant high-yield grains to fill the stomachs of ordinary people? Too tall, this should be the ideal of the superior, and it has nothing to do with her being a small official. Earn a lot of money so that the family can live a good life? It seems that she is really not short of money now, and the life at home is getting better and better! What is her ideal? Really need to take care of it!
Jiang Siniang calmed down, let's focus on some practical things first. She carefully asked Xiaocao about the concept of "flag clothing", but Xiaocao also knew only a little about making clothes, and she knew nothing about making clothes.
"Sister, can you draw the impression of the flag in your mind and show it to my sister?" Jiang Siniang thought it would be more intuitive.
Yu Xiaocao said with some embarrassment: "I don't know how to draw. I'm afraid that when the time comes, people won't look like people, and ghosts won't look like ghosts. I'll make my sister laugh. How about this? Let me dictate and you draw. Simpler."
The two moved to Xiaocao's yard, took the pen, ink, paper and inkstone from the outer courtyard, and Jiang Siniang's maid served to grind the ink, and Yu Xiaocao slowly introduced to her the styles of flag dresses she knew.
Yu Xiaocao is no stranger to Qing Dynasty costumes, who like to watch Qing Dynasty film and television dramas such as "The Legend of a Huan", "XX Shocking" and "That Year XX Moon Is Full".
The clothes that are as long as the feet are similar to the cheongsam of later generations, with a vest on the outside. The design of the neckline varies, there are saddle-shaped ones that cover the cheeks, some have round necklines, and some are similar to small lapels. There are several different forms of jackets, such as pipa lapel, big placket and double placket. The matching skirt or trousers are decorated with all-over printing, embroidery and pleats. The skirt edge, collar edge and sleeve edge are all decorated with techniques such as inlay, rolling, embroidery, etc., two to three fake sleeves, horseshoe cuffs...
It has to be said that Jiang Siniang is really outstanding in clothing, as long as Xiaocao can tell one thing, she can draw inferences and draw designs that are more beautiful and beautiful than Xiaocao's heart. When the unique and beautiful blueprints with different shapes came out, Jiang Siniang's girl had pride in her eyes, but also complained a little arrogantly: "Miss, if you want to use our paints to draw pictures, the effect will definitely be better."
Yu Xiaocao pointed to a picture of a knee-length blouse, decorated with large inlaid scrolls, and sometimes sixteen to twenty streamers on the skirt, and said with a smile: "This suit is worn by my godmother, it must look good! It's cold Now, you can decorate the neckline and cuffs with some fox fur, warm and beautiful... "
Jiang Siniang had accumulated several months of inspiration in her heart, and she seemed to have an outlet to draw more than a dozen pictures of unique flag decorations. Among them, some were drawn according to Xiaocao's words, and some were her own understanding and ideas, which were innovative. Each one is unique, extremely gorgeous and exquisite. Looking at the clothing pictures one after another, it is as if a set of novel and unique clothing is presented in front of you.
Looking at the design drawings one after another, Jiang Siniang felt itchy in her heart, wishing to go back immediately and turn these drawings into a set of exquisite clothes.
Hearing what Xiaocao said, Jiang Siniang said with a smile: "Sister Xiaocao really has a unique vision. I designed this dress based on Mrs. Fang's figure. Xiang'er, I will help Mrs. Fang measure the size later. In two days , make it according to the blueprint, my sister will come to visit again, when the time comes, let Mrs. Fang try to see if it fits."
Yu Xiaocao knew that her godmother had long wanted to have a dress made by Jiang Siniang herself, so she readily agreed and thanked, "Then I will thank you, sister!"