The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Found the Right Person

Yao Ziqian smiled. ”Actually, I was just about to tell you, Ms. Han, that the property your investment company is developing does have some areas that need improvement. At the school, for instance, the lotus pond is very beautiful, but it’s too deep and poses a potential hazard.”

”Fill it in halfway, and make the remaining part shallow—about half a meter deep. You can raise koi in it. It symbolizes students studying to become enlightened, like a koi leaping over the dragon’s gate. In the northeast corner, plant some asparagus fern. And once you find the Wenchang position, you can set up an array...”

Han Xiaorui listened intently. ”Alright, how about this? I’ll have someone draw up a contract for you to act as a consultant. You can mark all the areas that need Feng Shui adjustments. But don’t be in such a rush. Good work takes time.”

Yao Ziqian nodded. ”Okay! This kind of thing certainly can’t be rushed. However, there is one road that needs to be changed right away. It’ll be difficult to alter once everything else is finished...”

Han Xiaorui made a note of it and immediately called the designer to modify the road. Even if they couldn’t make major changes, they had to at least make some minor ones.

After discussing those matters, Han Xiaorui asked, ”Yao Ziqian, I have clients from Japan and Hong Kong who are looking for Fengshui Fish tanks, for both indoor and outdoor use.”

”Since they’re for export, I’m planning to commission a factory in Jingdezhen to craft them with precision. Can you design a few Fengshui Fish tanks that are both beautiful and functional, the kind that exudes a sense of profound heritage at first glance?”

Hearing this, Yao Ziqian laughed heartily. ”Well, you’ve definitely come to the right person. The Feng Shui vats my master uses for his clients were all based on designs I drew and had custom-fired.”

”The firing process was a bit crude, but I can guarantee the patterns and their symbolism are excellent. And since these are for export, I can even design them in different colors based on foreign preferences.”

”For the large Feng Shui vats meant for courtyards, we can use rustic and elegant brown earthenware. We’ll adorn them with patterns and symbols that ward off evil, making them very beautiful and tasteful—much better looking and more effective than some brick-and-mortar ponds.”

”As for the smaller, tabletop versions for indoors, we could even draw inspiration from the ’floating cups on a winding stream’ to create something with more artistic flair. I’ve had ideas like this before, but I never found a suitable place to have them fired.”

When it came to his area of expertise, Yao Ziqian was exceptionally confident, speaking with eloquence and ease.

Wu Lingling’s eyes sparkled with admiration; she clearly adored Yao Ziqian.

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Excellent. Once you create the designs, I’ll pay you a design fee.”

Yao Ziqian waved his hand. ”No need. It’s just a little something I can whip up. It’s not worth anything.”

”It’s still the fruit of your labor. If you don’t accept payment, how can I ask you for more designs in the future? Don’t be so modest. Besides, we’re earning foreigners’ money,” Han Xiaorui said with a laugh. To ensure things went smoothly, you couldn’t let people work for nothing.

Financial rewards were essential.

After this trip to Jinshan Bay, Yao Ziqian felt he had truly been accepted.

The next day, he got the keys to his shop on Antique Street.

The ground floor was the shop, the second floor was a reception room, and to the side was a small lounge with a bed, which was perfect for Yao Ziqian to live in.

Wu Lingling brought some people over to help clean the place and make the bed for Yao Ziqian.

”This is great. I don’t have to stay in a hotel tonight,” Yao Ziqian said with a smile. ”Lingling, come over whenever you’re free.”

Yao Ziqian hugged Wu Lingling without letting go, covering her with kisses.

Wu Lingling almost gave in, but she remembered her family’s instructions: ’Don’t do anything foolish before you’re married.’

’Even for a second marriage, one must be reserved and proper.’

Wu Lingling might seem outgoing and cheerful, but she was actually quite conservative and managed to hold back at the critical moment.

”Ziqian, I want to open my clothing store in our mall,” Wu Lingling said after she had calmed down, starting to discuss her business plans with him.

Yao Ziqian thought for a moment and nodded. ”That’s a good idea. It’ll be convenient for you to manage. You can just pop over to check on it. I don’t know much about this stuff, though. If there’s anything you’re not sure about, you can discuss it with Ms. Han.”

Wu Lingling nodded. ”I’ll head to the shop later and talk to Sister Xiao Rui about it. Since this will take time away from the ornamental fish store, I’ll give the store manager position to someone else so I can focus on opening the clothing store.”

Yao Ziqian smiled. ”Anyway, just do what you feel is right. You don’t have to worry about sourcing the clothes. My sister has excellent taste, I guarantee she’ll pick out great items for you.”

”Okay!” Wu Lingling beamed, full of hope for her future.

Before working at the ornamental fish store, she had been a clothing salesperson.

Wu Lingling loved fashion and enjoyed dressing up.

Opening a clothing store seemed much more interesting to Wu Lingling than running the ornamental fish store.

When Han Xiaorui came to inspect the ornamental fish store, Wu Lingling told her that she had found a good storefront in the mall and was preparing to open a clothing business, which would become her main focus.

After hearing what Yao Ziqian had said earlier, Han Xiaorui had already guessed that Wu Lingling might resign.

”You have a good eye and you’re a great talker. As long as the quality and style of the clothes are good, you can definitely make money running a clothing store.”

Wu Lingling looked a little embarrassed. ”Sister Xiao Rui, is this... is this a bad thing for me to do? After all, you arranged this job for me, and now I’m resigning. I feel like I’m letting you down after all the support you’ve given me.”

Han Xiaorui waved her hand. ”Don’t say that. We’re boss and employee, but we’re also friends and family. If you have a better opportunity, I couldn’t be happier for you. You really shouldn’t think that way.”

”And I also want to thank you for doing such a great job with the ornamental fish store and getting it established. The assistant manager can take over at any time. However, if you resign, I’ll need to buy back your shares. Of course, I’ll make sure you get a fair price.”

Wu Lingling waved her hands. ”No need to buy them back. I received a sizable dividend last year; you can just consider that a bonus. I’ll voluntarily return the shares.”

Han Xiaorui insisted. ”We had an agreement. I gave you those shares, so I should give you money of an equivalent value. On this matter, I’m making the call, so you can’t refuse. Besides, you’re opening a clothing store. Even though Yao Ziqian’s sister has connections, you still need capital, don’t you?”

Wu Lingling had used her previous dividends and salary to buy a house and a storefront, so she really didn’t have any cash on hand.

”Thank you, Boss. If there’s ever anything you need me for, just let me know,” Wu Lingling said gratefully.

”Of course. Let’s get rich together,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ”You’re opening your clothing store in Fuli Square, have you chosen a name for it yet?”

Wu Lingling shook her head. ”Not yet. Sister Xiao Rui, do you have any good suggestions?”

Han Xiaorui pointed to her own clothes. ”I’m quite fond of Hong Kong-style fashion. Right now, styles from Hong Kong and Macau are very popular on the mainland. You could call it ’Hong Kong & Macau Style.’ It’s simple and easy to remember.”

Wu Lingling’s eyes lit up. ”That’s a great name! It’s instantly memorable. I’ll just need to get a nice sign made, and then I can start stocking inventory to sell.”

Han Xiaorui thought for a moment, then said, ”Lingling, I don’t think that’s the right approach. Can you really sell clothes straight from a wholesale market in such a high-end mall?”

Wu Lingling smiled. ”Of course I can. The clothes I’m wearing right now were sent to me by Yao Ziqian’s sister, and they’re no worse than what you’d find in the mall. I’ve compared them, and the prices are much lower, too.”

Han Xiaorui chuckled softly. ”I think you should register a clothing retail company, create a brand, and print your own hang tags. You can source the clothes from the southern wholesale markets, but then you carefully iron them, trim any loose threads, put them in nicer bags and boxes, and then transport them to the mall for sale. I think that would be a much better approach, don’t you?”

Wu Lingling was stunned for a moment, then her expression turned to one of pleasant surprise. ”Sister Xiao Rui, you’re absolutely brilliant! I was just thinking about opening one store. If I do it your way and this one is a success, I could open more stores in other places.”