Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1434 - 253, Ready-to-Wear Clothing Store (50)

"Why aren’t you drinking yet?" Yan Ruchun must not be good at drinking, her little face all but crumpled into a wilted eggplant after she finished her not-so-large glass. Seeing Lin Yuan just staring at her, forgetting to drink, Yan Ruchun reminded her with some dissatisfaction.

Lin Yuan pursed her lips. This guy, way too familiar.

But even though that thought crossed her mind, she also picked up her cup and drained the liquid inside.

Seeing her drink so heartily, without a trace of discomfort on her face, Yan Ruchun couldn’t help but praise, "Impressive tolerance!"

But Lin Yuan just smirked slyly, quite immodestly saying, "What’s this? I could drink a whole pot of this stuff and not feel a thing."

Yan Ruchun was even more astonished. A pot? Among women, that was quite remarkable.

Just as she hadn’t finished her admiration, she heard Lin Yuan continue with an irrepressible mirth in her tone, "If someone could get drunk on water, now that would be really odd."

With a burst of laughter, Yan Ruchun clutched at her chest, feeling the wine she had just swallowed gurgling to come back up.

Tian Hui also couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a laugh—this Lin Yuan was always so entertaining!

Finally regaining her composure, Yan Ruchun rubbed her chest and accused resentfully, "You did that on purpose!"

Lin Yuan pursed her lips, cockily raising an eyebrow, "It was you who clinked glasses with me without asking any questions first. Since you did, of course I had to drink! However, I haven’t said anything to you yet. Why were you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

At this, Yan Ruchun chuckled, and stopped rubbing her chest, "You have the nerve to ask? If I hadn’t been watching over here, who knows how many people would have overheard your conversation! Humph, all focused on opening a shop to make silver, yet you never notice if someone might be eavesdropping! I’ve stood here for ages, and you hadn’t even noticed!"

What Yan Ruchun said was true; Lin Yuan and Tian Hui had been so engrossed in their chat that they had forgotten this was still a palace banquet, with many people around.

Tian Hui laughed sheepishly, signaled Yan Ruchun to lower her voice, and cast a wary glance around.

Lin Yuan also chuckled awkwardly and shifted the topic, "Do you also want to join us in starting a shop? Doesn’t your family own the Drunken Immortal Tower? And as I recall, you have plenty of silver too. Couldn’t you just open whatever shop you want by yourself? Why join us?"

Yan Ruchun pursed her lips, saying, "I do have quite a bit of silver, but you must have heard, I, well, have a sharp tongue and my popularity in the Capital is not exactly great. If I opened a shop by myself, I’d surely scare the customers away. Moreover, I don’t have many available people at hand, and I find it a nuisance to manage them, so, um, you understand, right?"

So, she thought about starting a shop with them.

"Starting a shop together is fine, but you have to first let me see if you’re worth the partnership."

Lin Yuan tapped her fingers on the table. Putting aside the matter with the Second Prince, Yan Ruchun indeed would be a solid business partner, at least more suitable than Tian Hui. First off, the girl had silver, second, she was a clever and open-minded person, and on top of that, she had a father who had been in business for decades—indeed, her resources were excellent.

Tian Hui had not expected Lin Yuan to seriously consider partnering with Yan Ruchun, her eyes flickering doubtfully.

Yan Ruchun herself had not anticipated this. She had initially just meant to indirectly tell them that their conversation had been overheard.

However, since she was asked, she shared her thoughts, "Actually, I’ve been thinking about opening a ready-made clothing store."

Selling ready-made clothes?

No sooner had Yan Ruchun finished than Tian Hui couldn’t help shaking her head. The ready-to-wear clothing store might be thriving elsewhere, but it wasn’t very popular in the Capital. That was because the women from wealthy households all valued show and wanted unique attire. Therefore, they would custom-order clothes, not buy ready-made ones from shops.

Besides, there were no shortage of ready-to-wear shops in the Capital, but the real buyers were mostly from average families. Since they were ordinary families, the prospect of making a big profit was unlikely. They wouldn’t buy clothes often; usually, just having a change for the seasons was enough.

Yet, Lin Yuan had a different view from Tian Hui. Though there were many places in the Capital for ordering custom clothes, like the Red Smoke Pavilion, these clothes lacked standout features, with just minor twists on shawl collars and dress hems.

True innovation was rare. Just like the cheongsams she had custom-made for the girls at Dong Tian, many other shops couldn’t understand it.

"Miss Yan, you’re considering opening a ready-made clothing store—do you make them yourself?"

Lin Yuan ran a restaurant because she was a chef, Xiao Linshuang opened Frost Pavilion because she could concoct those medicines, and Han Huijuan wanted to start a jewelry shop because her mother could make them and she herself had lots of unique ideas.

Now Yan Ruchun proposed a ready-made clothing store. Could it be that she knew how to make clothes? But looking at her from all angles, Lin Yuan didn’t think Yan Ruchun was the sort to settle down with needle and thread to make clothes.

Just as expected, Yan Ruchun’s lips twisted awkwardly as she touched her hair and said, "Well, let’s not talk about making clothes, my embroidery is, ahem—"

She didn’t finish, but from her evasive eyes, Lin Yuan understood—this girl was as ’dexterously challenged’ as herself!

"However, though I can’t make clothes, I can draw them! I often draw pretty clothes at home and then have my maids make them. They all say my designs are attractive!"

Being able to draw was true enough, though it was unknown whether the maids really praised her or not.

Lin Yuan silently facepalmed. They hadn’t yet decided on opening a ready-made clothing store, but they agreed to check out Yan Ruchun’s clothing designs another day.

After sending Yan Ruchun off, Tian Hui expressed concern, "Yuanyuan, you aren’t truly considering partnering with her, are you? She’s the Second Prince’s cousin; if the Third Prince finds out, might he misunderstand us?"

This was also a concern for Lin Yuan, but she had more faith in Yan Ruchun’s character. If their cooperation could indeed work out, it might be worth trying.

"Ah! Princess! Princess! What’s wrong, Princess?"

Sudden frantic shouting broke the conversation between Lin Yuan and Tian Hui. The voice stood out awkwardly amidst the festive hall’s noise.