The family drank and chatted, finishing every last bit of the food. Xiao Xuan rubbed a little belly, looking utterly content after the meal.
After dinner, Shen Moxi looked at Shen Xiao and Ye Yunjuan. "Mom, Dad, I came today because I have something to tell you." She paused and glanced at Shen Tao and Shen Yuan. "I went to see my eldest and second brothers at noon today. I rented a shop in town and want to start a small business."
Shen Xiao straightened up at that. "You rented a shop? How much did it cost?"
"The shop covers about two mu, and it has two floors. The rent is two hundred a month, payable every six months. We rented it for six months, and we've already paid," Shen Moxi said quietly.
"That expensive? Two hundred yuan a month?" Ye Yunjuan exclaimed in surprise.
"Mom, it used to be a small restaurant. It's in a good location, and it's big, with two floors, so it costs a little more," Shen Moxi said with a smile.
Shen Xiao looked at her. "Moxi, where did you get the money for the rent? What your mom and I gave you would only cover half, wouldn't it?"
"Yes. Some came from Brother Song, and I had a little saved up myself. Brother Song and I also did some part-time work in town these past two days and earned a bit. We pooled it all together, and it was just enough." Shen Moxi scratched her head after speaking. "Brother Song and I discussed it and plan to open a clothing shop first. We might not be able to manage everything ourselves, so I'd like my eldest sister-in-law and my two brothers to help me."
After hearing her out, Shen Xiao looked at Shen Tao and Shen Yuan. "What do you two think?"
Shen Tao glanced at Shen Yuan, who nodded. "Mom, Dad, we want to help our little sister. At the supply and marketing cooperative, we get the same fixed wage every month, with lots of work and too little pay. Working with our little sister offers room to grow."
Shen Xiao nodded. "As long as you've made up your minds. You're all adults, so I won't stop you. Moxi, if you run into any trouble, come back and tell your mom and me. Don't shoulder it alone."
"Yes, I will, Dad. We want to start renovating the shop tomorrow. Eldest Brother, do you know anyone who does that?" Shen Moxi nodded and turned to Shen Tao.
"The elder brother of a female coworker at our supply and marketing cooperative does that kind of work. I'll buy a few things and go see him tomorrow, and ask him to do it. We can feel more reassured with someone we know," Shen Tao said with a nod.
"Sorry for the trouble, Eldest Brother. When I get home tonight, I'll draw up a plan for the renovation. Please cover the renovation costs for now, however much they come to. I'll either pay you back later or count it as your investment, and we can share the profits," Shen Moxi told him.
"Then let's make that our share of the work. Your second brother and I will cover the renovation costs, and we can share the profits later," Shen Tao said after considering it for a while.
"All right, we'll head home now. We need to tell Uncle Song and the others, too. We haven't had a chance to tell them yet. I'll come see you tomorrow morning." Shen Moxi stood up and straightened her clothes.
"Your second brother and I will come to your place tomorrow morning. Don't come over early. Stay home and sleep a little longer." Shen Tao waved a hand.
Warmth filled Shen Moxi's heart at his words, and she nodded with a smile. "All right, I'll sleep a little longer, then. We'll wait at home and leave once you get there."
Ye Yunjuan fetched some vegetables for Shen Moxi to take home and saw her to the door. "Moxi, now that you've married into the Song family, you're their daughter-in-law. Be good to your parents-in-law, and take good care of yourself and Xiao Qi. If you have any trouble, come back and tell your dad and me. Don't shoulder it alone, understand?"
Shen Moxi took the vegetables and hugged Ye Yunjuan. "I understand, Mom. Uncle Song and Aunt Shan treat me very well. You and Dad don't need to worry."
"Old Song and his family are all good people. Your dad and I feel reassured. It's getting late, so off you go. Be careful on the way." Ye Yunjuan patted her shoulder.
Song Qi took the things from her. "Mom, don't worry. I'll take good care of Moxi."
"With you looking after Moxi, we're very reassured. We're just afraid she'll get petulant and upset you all." Ye Yunjuan nodded with a smile.
Shen Moxi stamped her foot, pretending to be angry. "You're my own mother! How can you say that about your daughter?"
"All right, off you go. Xiao Qi, ride slowly on the way." Ye Yunjuan smiled and waved.
Song Qi nodded, got on the bicycle, and took Shen Moxi home.
On the way, Shen Moxi wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his back, reflecting, "I thought I'd be nervous when I saw them, worried I might give myself away. But when I actually met them, I felt an indescribable closeness instead. Maybe that's what blood ties are. Even with a different soul, I still couldn't help wanting to be close to them."
Song Qi smiled and freed one hand to rest it over her soft hand at his waist. "From now on, you're their daughter, and they're your parents. You don't need to feel any pressure. We'll take good care of them together."
"Mm." Shen Moxi nodded and rested against his back, closing her eyes and feeling the security his warmth brought her.
Only when Song Yongjun and Huang Yushan saw the two of them return home did they breathe a sigh of relief.
"Xiao Qi, where did you go? We've been worried all evening," Huang Yushan said as she came outside.
"Mom, we went to Moxi's family home today. We forgot to tell you and made you worry," Song Qi said as he stopped the bicycle.
"As long as you're back. I said you must have gone out for something, but your mom was terribly worried," Song Yongjun said with a nod.
Shen Moxi put the vegetables in the kitchen. "I'm so sorry, Aunt Shan. We forgot to come and let you know."
"It's all right, as long as you're safe. Come inside and rest for a while." Huang Yushan waved a hand.
Once the two went inside, they told them about renting the shop that day. However, they said that the two Shen brothers had pooled the money to rent it, as their investment.
The couple said little after hearing this, only that it was fine as long as the two thought it was a good idea. They were old and lacked young people's foresight, and they weren't cut out for business. If the money wasn't enough, they should let them know.
Shen Moxi was deeply grateful to them. What had she done to deserve joining such a happy family and experiencing the warmth of home and family affection once again?
Since they didn't need to get up early for the renovation tomorrow, Shen Moxi and Song Qi washed up, returned to their room, and took out paper and pens to start designing the shop's interior. As they wrote and sketched, Song Qi offered information from time to time, and they also took inspiration from some upscale shops of the modern era in later years. After two hours, they finally finished the design.
"What a sense of accomplishment! This is my first time designing a shop. Before, I always hired professional design teams." Shen Moxi looked at the fruits of her labor and nodded in satisfaction.
The entire shop combined elegance with a vintage style, giving it a distinctly understated luxury that catered to women's little vanities and desire for face. Once they came inside and felt good, they would naturally be willing to buy themselves clothes.
The overall color scheme primarily used cool tones, accented with black ornamental ironwork, white wooden trim, and vintage wrought-iron chandeliers. She would have to buy the chandeliers from the system, then say she had asked a friend to get them from out of town.
The interior featured various lighting effects, along with two large fitting mirrors and three fitting rooms. The mirrors and the lighting in front of them also required special design, so that when people tried on clothes, both their complexions and figures would look much better, making them unable to resist paying for the clothes.
The entire shop was a simple, elegant, and highly tasteful clothing display space. In the eighties, it truly was an exceptionally high-end setup.
The storefront used an architectural style from later years, paired with gray paint and white plaster moldings to create a grand vintage look.
The entire street-facing side would consist of thickened glass walls. Once the interior lights were on, anyone looking in from outside would absolutely be drawn to the clothes inside.
Song Qi was also amazed by Shen Moxi's design drawings. So shops could be designed like this. If they could put this in their world, customers would probably wear out its threshold every day.