Chapter Summaries

Shen Moxi and Song Qi prepared the clothing shop for its opening, dealing with a forgotten need for change and choosing outfits to model for customers. After dressing and styling themselves, they joined Shen Tao and the others downstairs as the opening time approached.

• Shen Moxi and Song Qi checked the shop and realized they had forgotten to prepare change, so Song Qi rode out to exchange money.
• Shen Moxi gave Shen Tao and the others outfits to change into so they could model the clothes for customers.
• Shen Moxi dressed in a red dress, styled Song Qi's hair, and admired how they looked together.
• Shen Tao, Shen Yuan, and Xiao Xuan admired Shen Moxi and Song Qi when they came out, then Shen Moxi urged everyone downstairs before opening time.

Shen Moxi opened Reluctant to Part with Clothes with a festive launch, and the shop quickly drew a crowd of eager customers. As sales began to boom, the chapter ended with the first customer unfolding her prize-draw slip.

• Shen Moxi assigned Shen Tao to handle payments and accounts and instructed the other staff to give customers duplicate receipts.
• Shen Tao lit the opening firecrackers, and Shen Moxi welcomed the crowd into the shop.
• Customers praised the shop’s decor, prices, and clothing as they streamed in and began buying outfits.
• Shen Moxi helped a young woman choose a dress and apricot-colored heels, then guided her to Shen Tao to pay fifty-five yuan.
• The young woman drew a prize slip and began to unfold it.

Shen Moxi’s shop drew a busy crowd, and customers bought coordinated outfits and children’s clothes. The day ended with an unexpected commission from Sun Xibai, who asked Shen Moxi to design costumes for her performing arts troupe’s upcoming show.

• A young woman won a pair of stockings in Shen Moxi’s shop drawing, and her fashionable outfit inspired other customers to shop and try on clothes.
• Wang Xiaoxia cooked lunch while Shen Yuan watched the shop, and Shen Moxi and the others took turns eating and resting.
• Customers returned in the afternoon to buy children’s clothes and gifts, with Shen Moxi helping families choose outfits for their children.
• Sun Xibai, head of a performing arts troupe, asked Shen Moxi to design costumes for a women’s chorus and a dance performance scheduled in two months.
• Sun Xibai described the acts and requested neat, beautiful, distinctive gowns with full skirts, while Shen Moxi asked about the dance’s choreography and props.

Shen Moxi designed a custom performance outfit for Sun Xibai and helped her choose clothes at the shop. After Sun Xibai left, Shen Moxi sketched fashionable new styles to expand the shop’s selection and planned to make a test batch that night.

• Shen Moxi took Sun Xibai’s measurements and agreed to make her a performance outfit for a fitting.
• Sun Xibai bought two dresses, heels, and stockings, accepted a sun hat as a gift, and promised to recommend the shop to her friends.
• After Sun Xibai left, Shen Moxi considered current fashion trends and decided the shop needed bell-bottoms, wide-leg trousers, batwing tops, and lightweight sun-protection trench coats.
• Shen Moxi sketched several trouser and batwing-top styles and planned to make a small batch that night.
• Song Qi brought Shen Moxi water and praised her designs and the shop’s sales.

Shen Moxi taught Shen Yuan and Wang Xiaoxia how to coordinate outfits, then stocked the kitchen with ingredients and snacks before cooking a lavish dinner for the family. The chapter ended with everyone celebrating the shop’s successful opening and hoping to earn more money.

• Shen Moxi taught Shen Yuan and Wang Xiaoxia basic rules for coordinating clothes while the shop was quiet.
• Shen Moxi added her new clothing designs to the workshop and cooked five dishes for dinner.
• Shen Moxi used the system to stock the fridge with meat, vegetables, dry goods, cooking supplies, and snacks for Xiao Xuan.
• Shen Moxi served the family a feast, and Wang Xiaoxia resolved to work hard so Xiao Xuan could eat and dress well.
• Shen Moxi opened orange drinks, and the family toasted the shop’s successful opening and their hopes of making money.

Shen Moxi designed two performance outfits and arranged for Xiao Tao to process her livestock and make donkey-hide gelatin cakes. She shared beef jerky with the others, planned a visit home for Shen Yuan, and chose a speaker for the shop.

• Shen Moxi sketched a red choir dress and a scarlet-and-yellow phoenix dance dress, then sent both designs to the workshop.
• Shen Moxi asked Xiao Tao to process her livestock, make donkey-hide gelatin cakes from the donkey hides, and store the meat.
• Shen Moxi brought beef jerky downstairs, shared it with Shen Tao, Shen Yuan, Shen Zhixuan, Song Qi, and Wang Xiaoxia, and arranged for Shen Yuan to take supplies to their parents the next day.
• Shen Moxi and Song Qi agreed that music might attract customers, and Shen Moxi selected a retro-style speaker for the shop.

Shen Moxi set up a radio in the shop and delivered two performance costumes to Sun Xibai’s troupe. Sun Xibai and the performers loved the designs, and they planned to visit Shen Moxi’s shop.

• Shen Moxi and Song Qi listened to music together, and the next morning Song Qi installed the speaker in the shop.
• Shen Moxi prepared breakfast for the family while Wang Xiaoxia cleaned and helped care for Xiao Xuan.
• Shen Moxi told Shen Tao and Shen Yuan she was taking the costumes to Sun Xibai, then cycled to the performing arts troupe.
• Shen Moxi showed Sun Xibai and the other performers the two outfits she had made, and they praised the designs.
• Shen Moxi gave the performers her shop’s address and told them about the promotion, and they agreed to visit after work.

Shen Moxi’s performance costumes impressed Sun Xibai and the arts troupe, who asked her to make more. As she left with Sun Xibai, Shen Moxi arranged to sell embroidered pictures and fine tea to Director Liu, who wanted a gift for his son’s new superior.

• Sun Xibai tried on Shen Moxi’s two performance costumes, and the arts troupe praised them and gave Shen Moxi their measurements for more.
• Sun Xibai welcomed Shen Moxi as a friend and invited her to her birthday, while Shen Moxi shared that she was getting married next month.
• Sun Xibai and Shen Moxi met Director Liu, who explained that he wanted to win favor with his son’s new superior to help his son’s promotion.
• Shen Moxi offered to show Director Liu embroidered pictures and fine tea from a friend, and he agreed to meet her the next day.
• Sun Xibai told Shen Moxi that Director Liu could afford three or four thousand, leaving Shen Moxi confident he would accept the price.

Shen Moxi sold Zhang Yongcai two bags of Mountain City Milk Powder and considered using her system to supply more goods through Shen Tao’s connections. Back at the shop, she made milk and a large meal for Xiao Xuan, then used the system to prepare thin pancakes on an electric griddle.

• Shen Moxi heard Zhang Yongcai worrying that he could not buy Mountain City Milk Powder, so she used the system to obtain four bags.
• Shen Moxi sold Zhang Yongcai two bags for eight yuan and told him he could find her at her clothing store if he needed more.
• Shen Moxi returned to the busy shop and considered asking Shen Tao about supplying the cooperative with goods.
• Shen Moxi made Xiao Xuan a cup of milk and prepared rice porridge, several meat dishes, vegetables, and thin pancakes.
• Shen Moxi stored the electric griddle away after cooking, while Xiao Tao silently reacted to her self-praise.

Shen Moxi planned to sell several embroidered pictures and discussed a new resale business with Shen Tao, who agreed to introduce her to the supply and marketing cooperative’s boss. After serving customers at the clothing shop, she arranged for lights to be installed by its sign.

• After dinner, Shen Moxi showed Song Qi an embroidered Great Wall picture and planned to take several embroidered works to prospective buyers the next day.
• Shen Moxi asked Shen Tao about his connections at the supply and marketing cooperative and proposed reselling scarce goods through a partnership.
• Shen Tao agreed to take Shen Moxi to meet the cooperative’s boss the following afternoon, and she decided to bring a carton of Scattered Flowers cigarettes as a gift.
• A woman and her daughter visited Shen Moxi’s shop, where Shen Moxi picked out two outfits that pleased them.
• After the customers left, Shen Moxi bought two large light bulbs and had Song Qi install them beside the shop sign.