There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Fallen Republican Era Young Lady X The Overseas-Educated Paternal Aunt

Father Jiang’s words were not a whim. Shanghai stood at the center of Far Eastern trends, where new-age men and women had already discarded traditional clothing and embraced Western wear. For a time, foreign goods flourished, and business opportunities emerged.

Domestic fabrics were no less in quality than Western ones. However, because the styles were imitations of Western dresses, they always carried a subtle sense of inferiority. Father Jiang, with his shrewd eye, immediately saw the brilliance of Ruan Jiyun’s design—the combination of Chinese and Western elements was indeed more suited to the physique of Chinese people and might find a market.

Just as he was about to speak further, Jiang Peifeng preemptively answered for Ruan Jiyun: “Father, instead of just buying the design sketch, why not make a sample garment and display it in the window? The effect would be much more obvious.”

She smiled as she looped her arm through Father Jiang’s: “I saw you do the same thing last time when you bought designs from that professor at the Academy of Fine Arts…”

Father Jiang was always indulgent toward his children. He laughed and said: “You are the best at planning for your Sister Ruan. Then let’s do as you say and make a sample!”

Jiang Peifeng was satisfied. Over the years of interacting with Ruan Jiyun, she had discovered that she was actually a very intelligent girl. It was only due to long-term suppression by her relatives and an inferiority complex about her female identity that she displayed a natural timidity.

If she could have an experience that allowed her to realize her own worth, then perhaps Ruan Jiyun could regain her confidence. The garment shop business was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for this.

While they discussed it convincingly, Ruan Jiyun was filled with unease. She hesitated and said: “I just sketched it casually… it’s not worth the effort to make a sample. If it doesn’t sell, I won’t have helped at all, and I’ll even cause Uncle to lose money.”

Seeing her start to self-deprecate again, Jiang Peifeng immediately encouraged her: “Why wouldn’t it sell? Didn’t that mother and daughter just order one? Sister Ruan, don’t underestimate yourself. I’m sure this dress will be a hit!”

Her gaze was full of sincerity. Looking at her, Ruan Jiyun couldn’t help but smile: “I’m not as amazing as you say, Peifeng.”

“It doesn’t matter what you say. This is your first design, Yunniang, so we’re making a sample,” Father Jiang concluded decisively. “I saw how much Mrs. Mo and her daughter liked the dress, which proves that you did a truly good job.”

Ruan Jiyun blushed and lowered her head at the praise, while Jiang Peifeng added fuel to the fire: “When it sells, Father, remember to give Sister Ruan a commission.”

“How can we even talk about that!” Ruan Jiyun was so startled by her that she almost jumped up: “I don’t need the money… If I can help Uncle Jiang even a little, I’ll be very satisfied.”

Father Jiang, however, nodded happily to her: “Peifeng is right, Yunniang. If it sells well, you will be helping me greatly, so taking the money is necessary.”

After this matter was decided, Father Jiang hosted a lavish Western dinner for his children and Ruan Jiyun at the International Hotel.

For a period afterward, Ruan Jiyun was busy with the entrance exams for the girls’ mission school. She had already self-studied the junior high content with Jiang Peifeng at home. Now that her mourning period was over, Father Jiang encouraged her to go to school to broaden her horizons if she wished.

The Jiang family had one son and one daughter, both educated in new-style schools since childhood. Jiang Zhiyu was currently preparing to apply for studies abroad, while Jiang Peifeng and Ruan Jiyun planned to attend the girls’ mission high school first.

“The mission school has French courses. Sister Ruan, if you are interested in fashion design, France is the world’s fashion capital. We’ll go check it out then,” Jiang Peifeng planned for her. “The fashion colleges in Paris are world-renowned.”

While listening to her, Ruan Jiyun kept writing, memorizing vocabulary. Since she started reading and writing, she had gradually read most of the books in Jiang Peifeng’s bookcase over the past few years, and she began to form new understandings.

Many of those books were translations from foreign countries. It turned out that in this world, women could write books and pass on their thoughts; it turned out that in many places, women existed not just for marriage and childbearing, but also pursued something called “independent will.”

Ruan Jiyun was still very vague about “independence.” She only understood that women were not inferior to men. Those things that were “rebellious” in her original mindset were actually being done by people, and they weren’t considered evil for doing so.

She now felt that studying was such a wonderful thing. It allowed one to learn about the changes happening in the world without leaving the house. Places that were once strange and distant no longer seemed so unreachable.

If it were a few years ago, she would never have believed that she would not only study but also learn a foreign language. She vaguely remembered that her cousins from her uncles’ houses, who had also spent a fortune on schooling, weren’t learning to read as quickly as she was!

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but smile.

What surprised her even more was that the Western dress she designed was quickly becoming popular among high school girls across Shanghai.

Mo Ruyin, accompanied by several classmates, confidently walked into the Jiang family’s garment shop. The small mole at the corner of her mouth, highlighted by her smile, made her look even more sweetly charming. When the attendant stepped forward to greet them, Mo Ruyin said with a hint of pride: “We want to see the Fenghua Dress.”

The Fenghua Dress (Splendor Dress) was the name of the dress Ruan Jiyun designed, a name that suddenly came to her when Father Jiang asked for it.

Feng (Splendor) was the feng in Fenghua Zhengmao (in the prime of one’s life), and also the feng in Jiang Peifeng. A dress that was in the prime of youth and budding elegance deserved this matching beautiful name.

The girls had already chosen their preferred fabric colors. Now, seeing the attendant bring out the sample, they couldn’t wait to try it on. The neckline design of this dress perfectly concealed a girl’s underdeveloped figure, while the cinched waist accentuated a slender curve, adding a touch of subtle beauty that Western dresses lacked.

Mo Ruyin, with her novel-styled dress, had been the center of attention among her classmates. The young girl was not secretive and generously shared the purchase location with her best friends.

And naturally, those friends had their own sisters and relatives. Word spread rapidly, and soon many curious female customers who were short on cash but still wanted a Western-style dress walked through the doors of the Jiang Garment Shop.

It was currently June, and many schools were holding graduation balls, mimicking Western customs. The reputation of the Fenghua Dress spread through these dances, attracting many girls who were watching their wallets but still desired a foreign-style dress.

Father Jiang did not anticipate the dress’s high popularity. When he reviewed the accounts at the end of the month, he stroked his beard and smiled slightly, looking at the significantly higher-than-usual order volume in the ledger.

His dearly departed Brother Ruan was a shrewd businessman, but unfortunately, his relatives were too much of a burden, causing him to lose his family business. Now, Ruan Jiyun seemed to have inherited her father’s talent, gradually showing her capability.

When he returned home that day, he personally handed a packet of silver dollars to Ruan Jiyun: “This month alone, your Fenghua Dress had seventy orders. Based on the commission rate, you should receive thirty-five silver dollars. I’ll add a bonus to round it up, giving you a total of forty silver dollars.”

This figure greatly exceeded Ruan Jiyun’s expectations. She nervously stood up from her chair: “I just drew it casually! I can’t take this much…”

She genuinely refused, but Father Jiang was not in a hurry to pressure her. He waved his hand kindly, indicating for her to sit down: “I knew you would say that… Yunniang, I am a businessman. Business is business. You genuinely helped the shop, so this money is what you deserve.”

He personally pushed the paper packet toward Ruan Jiyun: “The most valuable thing in this world is often an idea. Since your father entrusted you to me, I’ll take the liberty of deciding for you.”

Ruan Jiyun had always been very respectful of Father Jiang. Although he also grew up in an old-style family, he had a rare drive for a man of his background, expanding the business in just over a decade. He also held a respectful attitude toward her trivial matters, which Ruan Jiyun greatly appreciated.

With this in mind, she made up her mind and said: “Then I thank you for your kindness, Uncle Jiang, but I cannot accept this money… Please don’t worry. I lived in confusion for the first sixteen years of my life. Only after reading books with Peifeng did I gain a little unprecedented insight. If you won’t laugh at me, this money… I would like to ask you to use it to hire a teacher for me. I want to learn painting.”

“That’s no trouble at all!” Father Jiang was even more approving: “Since you have ambition, I will naturally help you. Leave the teacher to me. As for the money, you keep it as is—painting materials are not cheap.”

Ruan Jiyun refused repeatedly, but eventually accepted the money. Father Jiang would never agree to having his children’s education fees self-funded. Within a few days, he personally found a French teacher for Ruan Jiyun, reportedly the daughter of an impoverished noble family, who would come to the house weekly to teach painting lessons.

The Jiang siblings bought gifts to celebrate. Jiang Zhiyu bought a set of imported paints and brushes, while Jiang Peifeng prepared an easel and drawing paper. The easel was specially made to Ruan Jiyun’s height, with cloud patterns delicately carved into the edges, clearly showing careful consideration.

Ruan Jiyun kept all these thoughtful gestures in her heart. Since the Jiang siblings covered all the art supplies, the money she earned naturally remained unused. After much deliberation, she finally came up with a good idea.

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month was the birthday of the Jiang siblings. The two were four years apart but shared the same birthday. Since it was a small birthday, there was no grand celebration. Father Jiang arranged a private dinner at the Xinghua Restaurant, intending to have a family reunion meal after they finished school in the evening.

Ruan Jiyun and Jiang Peifeng had surprisingly similar tastes, especially a fondness for sweets. The osmanthus cake and lotus seed paste pastry at the Xinghua Restaurant were famous in Shanghai, so these exquisite desserts were naturally included in the banquet.

The current Ruan Jiyun was much improved compared to a few years ago. Since entering the mission school, she had interacted with many girls her age, most of whom came from open and equal families and were full of confidence in their speech. As the saying goes, proximity to vermilion makes one red. After spending time with her peers, Ruan Jiyun gradually shed her timidity and self-doubt, becoming more cheerful.

Jiang Peifeng habitually served her a bean curd skin roll. Although Ruan Jiyun was a year older than her, Jiang Peifeng felt in her soul that the little white flower needed protection, and this habit of feeding her naturally remained.

Ruan Jiyun ate heartily, cheeks puffed out. When the tea was served, she pulled out the prepared paper box from behind her.

“Uncle Jiang gave me the commission money a while ago…” She lowered her eyes. “I thought about it, and I wanted to offer a humble gift to celebrate Peifeng and Brother Jiang’s birthday.”

She handed the gifts to the two of them as she spoke. Jiang Peifeng’s gift was a very large box. When opened, it seemed to fill the room with light—it was a sky-blue satin dress.

“This is the Fenghua Dress I designed…” Ruan Jiyun still couldn’t help but blush when she spoke. “I asked the shop’s tailor to choose the most expensive fabric and inlaid these South Sea pearl buttons…”

The dress was meticulously crafted. The collar and hem were embellished with rich lace, and the most striking feature was the row of golden South Sea pearl buttons. The pearls were full of luster, each one carefully selected, indicating a high value.

Jiang Peifeng, who was accustomed to fine things from childhood, couldn’t help but touch the dress with emotion: “These pearls are not cheap… Sister Ruan, you must have spent all your money on this dress, didn’t you?”

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