Design Drawing

Now that Xu Yongyi and the Madam Xie family had brought it up, she naturally wanted to go along with it, but she couldn't agree too readily. With a slightly embarrassed look on her face, she said, "This... this isn't appropriate, is it?"

"What's wrong with that? You're from a wealthy family, that's why the manager values your drawing. Once he decides you're a fraud, no matter how good your drawing is, no one will believe you. If a bad reputation gets back to the academy, how will you continue your studies?" Xu Yongyi said.

Upon hearing that it would affect her studies, Madam Xie became anxious and patted Xu Xi's arm, saying, "Listen to your uncle, you're not allowed to do anything reckless."

"Then I'll have to trouble Auntie and Xiaoxue." Xu Xi still looked embarrassed.

"What's there to feel aggrieved about? You silly child," Madam Xie scolded.

Xu Xi looked at her apologetically. "Then when we go into the jewelry store, I'll trouble Aunt and Xiaoxue to stand behind me."

This was also a subtle reminder that if they were to play the role of servants, they could only stand behind their mistress; servants were not allowed to sit. It also prevented the two from being exposed once they entered the jewelry store.

Madam Xie nodded. "Don't worry, I know what to do."

"Mother, how did you know?" Xu Xue asked curiously.

"Your fifth grandmother used to be a maid in a wealthy family, don't you remember? She often tells us about the rules and regulations they followed when they were maids."

Xu Xue suddenly realized what was going on and remembered what Fifth Grandmother had said. She nodded and said, "I know what to do in a moment." Turning to Xu Xi, she said, "Sister, don't worry."

The county town was not large, and the silver shop was not far from the academy. As they were talking, the mule cart stopped not far from the silver shop.

Xu Yongyi instructed the mule cart to wait for them there, then followed the three to the entrance of the jewelry store. He nodded to the doorman before saying to Xu Xi, "Miss, I'll wait for you here."

Before Xu Xi could speak, Madam Xie adopted a domineering, stern look and said to Xu Yongyi, "You stay here and don't go drinking again. Miss will be down in a bit. If I can't find you, I'll report you to the old lady and have you skinned alive."

Xu Xue almost burst out laughing, and quickly hid behind Xu Xi, desperately trying to hold it in, though her shoulders were still twitching.

Madam Xie slapped her on the back. "What kind of behavior is this? No manners at all!"

Xu Xi was also struggling to suppress her laughter, but she still kept a straight face and said to Madam Xie, "Alright, Mama Xie, you should say less. Let's go in." With that, she went in first.

There were already some waiters waiting nearby.

The clerk at the jewelry store had a keen eye; just by looking at Xu Xi's attire, he knew she was a big spender. Therefore, seeing Xu Xi walk in, he quickly and obsequiously greeted her, "Miss, please come upstairs."

Xu Xi didn't say anything, followed him upstairs, and said, "I want to see your manager."

Her demeanor only reinforced the shop assistant's belief that he wasn't mistaken; she was definitely a noblewoman from a wealthy family. Although he didn't understand why this noblewoman wouldn't go to a jewelry store in the capital to buy jewelry, but instead came to their county town, it didn't stop him from leading Xu Xi to the reception hall for distinguished guests, instructing the shop assistant to serve tea, and then quickly going to invite the manager.

The shopkeeper was a plump middle-aged man surnamed Huang, who smiled like a Maitreya Buddha: "What would you like to see, young lady?"

Xu Xi had already considered how to market her designs.

She sat there, not even getting up when the shopkeeper arrived. She picked up the tea the young waiter had poured for her, took a small sip, frowned slightly, then put the teacup down and looked at the shopkeeper, saying, "I can design jewelry and would like to establish a long-term partnership with your jewelry store."

Shopkeeper Huang thought Xu Xi had come to buy jewelry, and was about to sit down and promote the store's newly launched jewelry when he heard Xu Xi's words.

His smile froze on his face.

Both Madam Xie and Xu Xue became nervous, fearing that Shopkeeper Huang would get angry at Xu Xi.

However, they were overthinking it. Shopkeeper Huang was a businessman; even if he had something on his mind, he wouldn't show it on his face, much less speak ill of others.

He relaxed, leaned back in his chair, and said with a smile to Xu Xi, "Does the young lady have any jewelry designs ready? May I take a look first?"

Xu Xi took out a flat brocade box from his sleeve, opened it, took out a folded piece of paper, and handed it to Shopkeeper Huang.

Shopkeeper Huang took the paper, opened it, and read it carefully.

Xu Xue stood behind Xu Xi, not far from Shopkeeper Huang. Seeing the young shop assistant standing in the corner of the room being attracted by the voices outside, she quickly peeked over and looked at the paper. She found that it was the bracelet design that Xu Xi had drawn at the Xu Family that day. However, it had been modified. Not only were the dimensions added, Xu Xi had also drawn some small details on the side.

Seeing this, Madam Xie quickly tugged at her and glared at her. Xu Xue pursed her lips, stood up straight, and dared not look around anymore.

When Shopkeeper Huang opened the paper, he didn't think much of it.

Xu Xi looked quite young. Although she was well-dressed and seemed to be from a respectable family, what kind of knowledge could someone like that have? Many noblewomen have worn jewelry their whole lives, and all they know is whether the jewelry is new or not, and whether it looks good or not. It would be impossible for them to design a new piece of jewelry. They need knowledge, talent, broad experience, and a clever mind, among other things.

Leaving aside wealthy ladies and young misses, even he, who had spent his entire life as a jewelry store manager and had handled countless pieces of jewelry, would be in a difficult position to design a few novel styles.

But when he opened the paper and saw what was drawn on it, he involuntarily sat up straight, and his expression became serious.

A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

Shopkeeper Huang has been a manager his whole life; just by looking at this diagram, he can tell Xu Xi is professional or not.

People who haven't studied design tend to draw in a style that's either meticulous or freehand, essentially painting for aesthetic appreciation. But design drawings created for craftsmen are quite different; they need to be three-dimensional, with dimensions and enlarged illustrations of small details.

Xu Xi's design drawing is a professional one, and upon closer inspection, it is even better drawn, easier to understand, and more detailed than those other designs.

Moreover, this design is absolutely brilliant.

After seeing the bracelet design in the picture, Shopkeeper Huang became excited and asked Xu Xi, "Miss, how did you come up with this bracelet design? It's so novel!"

His eyes were still glued to the drawing, unwilling to look away. "This little bird is drawn so vividly. If a bracelet were made in this style, I wonder how popular it would be."

Xu Xi smiled slightly, "This is just one of the styles I designed."

Shopkeeper Huang's eyes lit up immediately, and he finally looked up from the drawings. "Does the young lady mean you have other designs?"