Chapter 168: Plum Blossom Opens Five Blessings

Gu Yanshen smiled gently beside them, handed Jiang Ran a cigarette, but Jiang Ran waved it off: "Ranran, RuanRuan, then it's up to you."

"Jiaojiao is trustworthy, I trust you even more. Whatever you need me to do, or any ideas, just say."

So the task happily fell onto the young couple's shoulders.

That night, after the shop closed, Su Ruan and Jiang Ran didn't rush home but brewed tea and sat under the lamp to begin the formal discussion.

"Jiaojiao sister has a straightforward temperament and a good figure; she'll look stunning in a cheongsam," Su Ruan took out a sketchbook and began outlining lines, "but a purely traditional cheongsam might be too stiff; we need some novelty…"

Jiang Ran leaned over to look, his finger pointing at the waist line she drew: "Is it too tight here? My sister, when toasting, if she moves a bit more, don't let it rip open."

He always speaks directly.

Su Ruan, irritated, tapped the back of his hand with the tip of her pen: "Nonsense! I have a measurement! I want to place it here…"

She lightly sketched with the pen tip at the side waist.

"Use a hint of fishbone to support the line, but the fabric should be light, elastic silk gauze or soft satin, which shows the figure without constraining."

"Don't make the neckline too high," Jiang Ran said, touching his chin, unusually offering a concrete opinion, "My sister has a long neck, nice collarbones; show a bit, it's lively. But it can't be too low; the parents would nag."

He paused, eyes brightening, "By the way, Gu Da Ge will definitely wear a suit that day. Should we consider the matching? Colors, style…"

"I've thought of that," Su Ruan flipped to another page, where some fragmented ideas were scribbled, "Jiaojiao sister's cheongsam, main color in true red will be festive, but we don't need a large area of pure red."

"I want to use silver thread or light gold silk thread to embroider subtle patterns on the red base, like entwined lotus vines or cloud motifs; under the light they'll have a faint sheen, not too glaring, yet elegant."

"Gu Da Ge's suit could be deep indigo or blackish, and the tie or pocket square color can echo the embroidery threads on Jiaojiao sister's cheongsam."

Jiang Ran nodded repeatedly, "That's good! It has substance and style! What about me? As the bride's younger brother-in-law, what should I wear? Can't embarrass my sister."

He squinted his eyes.

Su Ruan smiled, teasing him on purpose, "You? Just wear anything, the bride is the most beautiful, no one will look at you."

"Hey!" Jiang Ran gave up, reaching to scratch her, "Comrade Su Ruan, this attitude is problematic! I must also be the second most handsome in the room!"

The two laughed and teased for a while, then returned to the main topic.

Finally decided: Jiang Jiaojiao's main wedding dress will be a modified cheongsam gown, and Gu Yanshen's matching outfit a dark fine-woven wool suit.

In addition, a relatively light red toasting outfit will be made for Jiang Jiaojiao.

The direction is set; next is material selection.

This task fell onto Jiang Ran.

He nearly used all his contacts, went to the Provincial Capital, asked the Chen Family in Guangzhou to keep an eye out, and finally brought back several sample pieces.

"Wife, look at this!" he displayed a piece of fabric like a treasure, its surface under the lamp shimmering with pearl-like soft luster, "Silk heavy gauze, light and draping, yet with inner resilience, just like the feeling you described!"

He then picked up a piece of red satin with a truer color and higher density, "And this, this one is from Suzhou, said to be hand‑woven by a master, color is spot‑on, sheen good, the embroidered subtle pattern will be perfect!"

Su Ruan carefully felt the fabric, sensing the texture with her fingertips, her eyes growing brighter: "These are it! Jiang Ran, you have great taste!"

"Of course!" Jiang Ran proudly lifted his chin, "It doesn't matter whose man it is."

He leaned close, lowering his voice to Su Ruan: "Help my wife with the work; can you be indifferent?"

With the material chosen, Su Ruan began drawing the formal design plans and calculating the required fabric.

Jiang Ran, holding a flexible measuring tape, took advantage of Jiang Jiaojiao's visit to the shop to inspect progress, claiming the need for precise tailoring, he kept moving her around, measuring again and again, provoking Jiang Jiaojiao to scold him.

Jiang Jiaojiao: "Jiang Ran, are you doing this on purpose? This is personal revenge!"

"Sister, don't move!" Jiang Ran squatted on the floor, measuring the skirt length, solemnly, "A millimeter off and the effect drops tenfold! This is your lifelong affair, be serious!"

Gu Yanshen watched from the side, couldn't help laughing, earning a petulant eye roll from Jiang Jiaojiao.

On the day of the official cutting, the senior craftsmen in the shop were on high alert.

Master Wang handled the primary cutting, Master Sun was responsible for the crucial pulling and shaping, and Master Ma assisted.

Su Ruan, beside them, carefully explained the design points and desired effects.

"The waist here should be clean and crisp, but not look stiff," Su Ruan pointed at the drawing, "Master Wang, what do you think of the transition here…"

"Understood, Boss Su, rest assured, leave it to me."

Master Wang put on his reading glasses, his expression solemn, as if conducting a dignified ceremony.

The scissors fell, clean and decisive.

Jiang Ran wasn't idle either; he was in charge of cutting the fabric for Gu Yanshen's suit.

Suit cutting demands precise measurements and patterns; he didn't dare take shortcuts, invited Master Sun to guide him, did the work himself, each step cautious, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Ranran, here the silk threads must be smooth, not crooked," Master Sun instructed.

"Alright, good!" Jiang Ran focused completely, the chalk line in his hand straight and even.

Su Ruan occasionally looked up, seeing Jiang Ran's expression as if facing a great opponent yet unusually serious, and couldn't help a smile at the corner of her mouth.

This usually fiery man, for his sister's wedding, actually managed to calm down and do such meticulous work.

For the embroidery part, Su Ruan originally wanted to do it herself, but the shop's embroiderer aunt proactively offered: "Boss Su, you put so much thought into the design, let me handle the embroidery! Your pattern is clear; I guarantee I'll stitch out that faint shimmering light!"

Thus, the splendid subtle patterns spread bit by bit across the red satin under the skilled fingertips of the embroiderer aunt, like quietly blossoming blessings.

The production process lasted nearly a month.

During this time, Jiang Jiaojiao came to check on the work almost every other day, watching the raw fabric gradually become the prototype of a splendid dress, thrilled beyond words.

"RuanRuan! Here! The frog button here is so beautiful! Is it a plum‑blossom button?"

Jiang Jiaojiao touched the frog button on the cheongsam inlaid with tiny pearls, unable to let go.

"Hmm, it's a good omen of 'Plum Blossom Opens Five Blessings'." Su Ruan smiled as she explained, "The button uses small freshwater pearls, not extravagant but delicate."

Gu Yanshen also came to see it once; when he saw the dark suit taking shape, its cut crisp, details exuding understated refinement, his eyes were full of surprise and gratitude.

"This... this craftsmanship is better than the one I custom‑ordered in the Provincial Capital. Thank you so much!"

Jiang Ran patted his future brother‑in‑law's shoulder, grinned, "We're one family, no need for two families' talk. I guarantee you'll be more handsome on your wedding day than my sister!"

Finally, the day of the final fitting arrived.

Jiang Jiaojiao and Gu Yanshen were invited to the VIP Room.

When Jiang Jiaojiao put on that Modified Cheongsam formal dress and stepped out, everyone held their breath.

On the vivid red base, silver‑thread embroidered winding‑lotus dark patterns glimmered subtly under the lights; the cut fit her figure perfectly, highlighting her delicate curves without losing dignity.

The neckline revealed just the right amount of an elegant neck and collarbone, and the cuffs were adorned with delicate wave edges.

As she moved, the soft Silk hem swayed gently, like a fully blossomed red lotus.

"Sister… you look truly beautiful," Jiang Ran, unusually without teasing, praised sincerely.

RuanRuan stepped forward, adjusted the Frog Button at the back of her neck, and her eyes were filled with amazement and satisfaction: "Sister Jiaojiao, this dress was made for you."

Jiang Jiaojiao looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes slightly reddening, then turned and hugged RuanRuan tightly: "RuanRuan, thank you… I love this dress so much!"

On the other side, Yan Shen changed into a suit; the deep indigo hue made him appear even more upright and refined, and the tie's color subtly echoed the embroidery threads on Jiang Jiaojiao's Cheongsam.

The two stood together, a talented gentleman and a beautiful lady, a match so striking it was hard to look away.

"Amazing!" Jiang Ran snapped his fingers, beaming with pride, "Look! This is the power of our Chongsu! My sister's brother‑in‑law should be exactly like this!"