Chapter 97: The Worries of the Northern Frontier

Xiao He reported the shop's profits and the popularity of these styles to Jun Zijin. Looking at the busy and orderly shop, Jun Zijin felt filled with gratification.

Jun Zijin nodded, her gaze sweeping across the shop. She walked over to a winter garment and reached out to touch the soft fabric:

"When were these winter clothes put on the shelves?" Jun Zijin asked.

"They were only put out yesterday, Young Lady," Xiao He replied with a smile. "You have been busy these days and didn't send any design drafts. Seeing the weather turn cold, I took the liberty of putting out a batch of winter wear. However, although these winter clothes are seasonal and business is not bad, it is still a few percent lower than the autumn clothes you designed."

Jun Zijin nodded in approval; Xiao He was indeed cut out for business and was growing extremely fast.

"Xiao He, I will send someone to bring you the winter design drafts tomorrow. Urge the tailors to make them quickly, pay them a bit more, and we will put them on the shelves for sale one after another in the next few days," Jun Zijin instructed.

She calculated inwardly. These clothes were designs she had created a few months ago, each incorporating elements of 21st-century fashion. She had originally worried that these styles might be too avant-garde, but now it seemed her worries were entirely unnecessary.

"Young Lady, look, this red autumn dress is the most popular one," Xiao He said, pointing to a red long dress.

"Those young ladies all say that wearing this dress makes one look noble and elegant."

Jun Zijin smiled, feeling secretly proud. This red long dress was one of her proudest works; the design inspiration came from the red plum blossoms that had bloomed early in the Aoxue Courtyard that day—elegant and aloof. Jun Zijin gently stroked the hem of the dress, recalling the stunning feeling of seeing the red plum blossoms with Quan Aoyu back then. Thinking of that person, the corners of Jun Zijin's mouth could not help but lift.

"Xiao He, change this dress to a thicker fabric, add a circle of white fur to the collar and cuffs, and make it into a winter garment. It will look like red plum blossoms blooming in the pristine white snow; it will surely be spectacular."

Xiao He’s eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly:

"Young Lady is truly brilliant. With such a change, it will surely outshine everyone at the winter banquet."

Jun Zijin nodded and was about to speak when she saw a fast horse galloping from afar, the person on the horse looking heroic and spirited. It was actually Quan Aoyu. Jun Zijin's heart gave a sudden leap. Quan Aoyu dismounted and walked quickly to Jun Zijin, his eyes full of concern:

"I heard there was a disturbance at your residence, and I was worried something might have happened to you, so I came to check." Quan Aoyu's voice was low and warm, as if it could dispel the winter chill.

Jun Zijin felt a warmth in her heart, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly as she chided, "Why be so reckless?" Her voice was soft, carrying a trace of helplessness, yet it could not hide the joy in her heart.

The two looked at each other and smiled, as if everything around them no longer existed. Fallen leaves drifted between them, as if adding a touch of romance to this moment.

A trace of worry flashed in Quan Aoyu's eyes, but it did not escape Jun Zijin's notice. Her gaze dimmed slightly as she asked softly, "Have you encountered some trouble?"

Quan Aoyu frowned slightly: "The cold winter has come early this year; I fear it will be difficult to supply the soldiers in the Northern Frontier with winter gear to keep out the cold."

Zijin’s brows furrowed slightly, her heart already understanding Quan Aoyu's worry. He was concerned for the soldiers far away. In this era, cotton was scarce, and because there was no cotton ginning technology like in later generations, the cotton seeds were not cleaned out thoroughly, making a cotton-padded coat weigh over ten pounds while still not being warm. Furthermore, the efficiency of making such coats was extremely low, and it was indeed impossible to finish them in time. The cold wind of the Northern Frontier was like a knife; if the soldiers did not have enough warm clothing, they would likely be unable to withstand this sudden, severe cold, and the consequences would be unimaginable. Jun Zijin especially missed the warm and lightweight down jackets of the later generations.

She sighed softly and looked at Quan Aoyu with a firm gaze:

"Leave this matter to me. I will have a batch of down jackets made as quickly as possible and sent to the Northern Frontier."

Jun Zijin then began to explain what a down jacket was:

"Down is the plumage of ducks and geese without the quills. As long as there are enough ducks and geese, filling them is not difficult. Because down can trap more air, it won't clump even with long-term use, keeping it fluffy. It is far better at keeping out the cold than cotton-padded clothes and is also lighter. A two-pound down jacket is enough to equal the warmth of ten cotton-padded ones."

Quan Aoyu nodded slightly, a flash of realization in his eyes. After a moment of thought, he understood the ingenuity of it. He looked at Jun Zijin with admiration, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth:

"Sometimes I really want to crack open your little head to see what exactly is inside." As he spoke, he reached out to touch her head, his movements gentle and doting. "Hmm, you seem to have grown a bit taller."

Jun Zijin swatted his hand away and glared at him chidingly: "Stop messing around, we still have serious business to attend to."

The two could not afford to laugh and play, and continued to calculate the logistics for the soon-to-be-produced down jackets.

A look of worry appeared in Quan Aoyu's eyes: "There are still 20,000 soldiers without winter clothes. Time is tight; how can you finish this alone?"

The refugee camps in Jingcheng flashed through Jun Zijin's mind. She smiled slightly, a flash of craftiness in her eyes: "It won't be just me. We will hire workers, including beggars and refugees. We will divide the labor: one side will rush to make the outer shells, while we collect clean and dry feathers throughout the city and surrounding areas to fill them. Additionally, we will send the processing methods to the cities along the route and arrange for them to work on it as well, and we will collect the finished goods as we travel. At the same time, we must arrange for people to purchase the duck and goose meat that cannot be processed, so that the poultry farmers have no worries. The collected meat will be handled properly."

Jun Zijin's arrangements were extremely clever and comprehensive; her resourcefulness made Quan Aoyu feel nothing but admiration and respect.

No sooner said than done, Jun Zijin immediately summoned the embroiderers, craftsmen, and refugees in the city. As for the shop's business, it was just a matter of earning some silver, so she arranged for Xiao He to handle it; that red dress could be modified and put on the shelves first, while the design drafts could be put aside for later.

When the people heard that the Princess Qingping, who worked for the country and the people, was making winter clothes for the soldiers in the Northern Frontier, everyone responded one after another, full of drive.

Jun Zijin divided everyone into several small groups, arranging each task in an orderly manner. The embroiderers were responsible for cutting and sewing the outer fabric, their techniques skillful as needles and thread danced in their hands; the craftsmen built special tools for processing the feathers, and the refugees were responsible for collecting and initially sorting the feathers. Although the people were tired, every face was filled with hope and gratitude.

Especially the refugees—Princess Qingping not only sent them hot steamed buns and meat buns as food but also paid them wages. They no longer had to go hungry, nor did they have to worry about not surviving this year's cold winter. Looking at their own children gnawing on hot meat buns with happy faces, they felt incomparably satisfied. They firmly believed that only by completing the task better and faster could they repay the kindness Princess Qingping had shown them.

At the Jun residence, Qingyu was wearing the clothes Jun Zijin had specifically bestowed upon her today. She stood before a bronze mirror, carefully examining her makeup. She gently pursed the rouge on her lips, tidied the stray hairs at her temples, and a charming smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

Jun Zhihao looked decent on the surface, but in reality, he was a lecher. He had only been back at the residence for a few months, and he had already taken three maidservants into his room, all of whom were very young. Jun Zhengyuan had no concubines, and his heart was likely already unable to hold back. Although Lady Li was a tigress and Jun Zhengming usually didn't provoke her, once a man became serious, what could Lady Li do? Even though Lady Li still had a loud-mouthed daughter on her side, how could an unmarried daughter manage her father's private affairs? And it would be even harder to manage after she was married off.

Qingyu pondered for a long time and decided to set her target on Jun Zhengyuan. As long as she successfully entered the second branch, even if Lady Li was a tigress, she would be able to pull out Lady Li's teeth one by one.