A Suggestion

After school, Xu Xi was about to find a place to have some snacks when Mu Qingqiang behind her asked, "Miss Xi, may I see what you wrote in class?"

Xu Xi turned around and saw Mu Qingqiang looking at her with a blank expression.

"Okay." She took out a stack of notes from her desk drawer, handed them to Mu Qingqiang, and instructed, "They're not stapled yet, don't mess them up."

"Hmm." Mu Qingqiang agreed, then glanced at the people around her. Seeing that everyone had gotten up and wasn't paying attention to them, she lowered her voice and asked, "Are you going to take the imperial examination?"

Xu Xi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

There was no class taught by Madam Cui today, so naturally, her exam results weren't announced. Mu Qingqiang's question suggests she learned of her first-place ranking through other channels.

A thought struck her, and instead of answering, she asked, "And you?"

"I will participate." Mu Qingqiang's tone was flat, but her determination was absolute.

Xu Xi was increasingly surprised.

Seeing He Yuqi looking at them curiously, Zhang Lu and Mu Qinglian were almost there. She said, "I need to ask my elders about this. It's not decided yet, so I can't answer you."

As she spoke, she nodded slightly to Mu Qingqiang and pulled Xu Xue, whose face was full of doubt, out of the classroom.

"What happened?" Xu Xue couldn't help but ask as soon as they stepped outside.

Xu Xi told her about Madam Cui's visit to her.

Xu Xue's round face scrunched up. "Participate in the imperial examination?" Remembering how hard Xu Chongwen had studied these past few years, she strongly disapproved of Xu Xi going through that ordeal. "I don't think it's necessary. What good would it do even if he passed? Could he become an official like the men?"

"I haven't thought it through yet. Let's put this aside for now and talk about it later," Xu Xi said.

Xu Xue that Xu Xi's gaze was fixed in one direction, so she turned her head in confusion and saw Xiaoru, the maidservant beside Madam Xiao, walking towards them.

"Miss Xu." Xiaoru almost ran over when she saw that the two girls had noticed her. "Our madam would like to invite you two to sit in the courtyard over there." As she spoke, she pointed in the direction she had come from.

Xu Xi was just about to have some snacks to fill her stomach. But since Madam Xiao had invited her, she had no choice but to nod and agree, "Please trouble Miss Xiaoru to lead the way."

Madam Xiao's courtyard was located behind Madam Cui's. The room allocated to her was quite spacious, which she divided into three rooms using curtains.

"Please sit down. Are you hungry? Come, try the cooking of our chef." Madam Xiao pointed to the pastries on the table.

"Thank you for your consideration, Madam. I am indeed very hungry." Xu Xi smiled and handed the pastries she was carrying to Xiaoru. "These are from our household. Please trouble Miss Xiaoru to pick them out and set them out."

The three of them sat down as host and guest, and ate some refreshments. Then Madam Xiao spoke up, saying, "The other day you mentioned opening a jewelry shop. I've already prepared the shop, and we're looking for craftsmen. I'll have to trouble you to draw more jewelry designs these days."

Xu Xi exclaimed in surprise, "So fast?"

Madam Xiao waved her hand. "It's our own shop; we can vacate it with just a word."

"..." Well, people with rich families definitely have a different tone.

Seeing the expectant look on Madam Xiao, Xu Xi couldn't help but advise, "Master, I think that when opening a jewelry store, you must have a complete range of styles, with the majority being common styles; you should also have novel styles, but you can't put them all out at once. If you put them all out at once, you'll create a sensation and attract customers to your new store in the short term, but if you can't sustain that momentum, you won't retain customers, and you'll give other jewelry stores the opportunity to imitate and copy you."

Seeing Madam Xiao's bewildered expression, seemingly not understanding why she said that, Xu Xi had to explain the plan in more detail, "When your jewelry store first opened, you created those nine novel designs as a gimmick to attract customers. For ordinary customers, you still recommended the ordinary designs. After that, you released two or three new jewelry designs every month, a steady stream of customers. This way, you could attract customers to keep coming back, and also prevent others from copying all of your jewelry store's new designs."

"You're right, I was too naive." Madam Xiao looked Xu Xi up and down and asked, "You're only fourteen or fifteen, aren't you? How come you know more than I do?"

Nanny Yun had investigated Xu Xi's background; they had also inquired with Madam Cui when they came to the academy yesterday. Madam Xiao knew Xu Xi's situation very well.

Therefore, Madam Xiao really couldn't understand how Xu Xi, who grew up in the city and the countryside, could design so many exquisite pieces of jewelry, since she probably hadn't even seen many kinds of jewelry. Moreover, judging from the way she negotiated business every day, she was incredibly experienced. She really couldn't understand how this child had grown up to be like this.

"... Ahem." Xu Xi coughed lightly, calmly making up a story, "Children from poor families mature early. The teacher comes from a wealthy family and never worries about food and clothing, so naturally he wouldn't think about these things."

The simple phrase "poor children learn to be independent early" immediately conjured up a pitiful image in the minds of Madam Xiao and Nanny Yun standing behind her. Recalling what they knew about Xu Xi's situation, their heartache for her reached its peak.

It's truly pitiful that such a noblewoman, the legitimate daughter of a marquis, was switched at birth and raised in the countryside. She had to manage household chores and find ways to earn money at such a young age.

Thinking that even after being recognized and returned to the Marquis's mansion, she would still have to run around selling jewelry designs, Madam Xiao felt even more sorry for her and couldn't help but ask, "Is the Marquis's mansion... treating you badly?"

"Not really," Xu Xi said. "The old lady and the first lady have been very good to me; they haven't skimped on my food, clothing, or shelter. It's just that I hope to be able to support myself."

Madam Xiao and Nanny Yun exchanged a glance, not believing what Xu Xi said.

Studying at the academy, besides the small tuition fee, incurs considerable expenses. It seems the Marquis's mansion doesn't provide much money beyond food, clothing, lodging, and the tuition fee. That's why this child tried to get jewelry designs drawn up and went to a jewelry store to try his luck.

If she hadn't met her, given the character of the owner and manager of the Abundant and Prosperous Pavilion, she probably wouldn't have made much money.

Considering that Xu Xi was short of money but still cared about her jewelry store and advised her to make fewer novel designs, Madam Xiao felt even more that this child was rare.

Xu Xi was unaware that Madam Xiao and Nanny Yun had imagined many tragic stories about her. Seeing that it was almost time for the afternoon break, she continued, "Besides the novel designs I gave the teacher, jewelry can actually be subtly adjusted based on existing materials. For example, a set of headdresses might seem no different to men, but we women can immediately tell that the gemstones on a particular set are more harmonious and beautiful, and the placement is also unique. This harmony and uniqueness require the skill of the designer or craftsman. This kind of jewelry isn't particularly novel, but because of its unique features, even if it's more expensive, those who like it are willing to buy it."