What kind of person was Zhu Cunji, really? He was the sort of man who had never learned the meaning of restraint when it came to money, especially where his wife was concerned. The moment she showed even the slightest interest, he did not hesitate in the least and waved his hand grandly, declaring with complete confidence, "Buy them. Buy all of them. One of every color."
His wife's eyes immediately lit up, her joy written plainly on her face.
Standing beside them, Madam Lian Guoshi quietly turned her gaze toward her husband. She did not say a single word, yet the meaning behind that glance was so clear that it left no room for misunderstanding. Whatever other women possessed, she absolutely could not be without.
Lian Guoshi felt a wave of helpless embarrassment rise in his chest, and after a brief inner struggle, he could only surrender. "Fine," he said with a sigh. "Buy them. We'll take one of every color as well."
Madam Lian Guoshi was instantly delighted.
With both women now in high spirits, the moment the news broadcast ended, the two households set off briskly toward the Xi'an branch of the Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory.
However, as soon as they reached the street corner where the shop was located, they sensed that something was very wrong. The entire road ahead was packed so tightly that it was impossible to see the ground, nothing but a dense sea of heads stretching forward.
The entrance to the Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory was already completely surrounded by people. Those closest to the door were all stretching their arms forward, silver ingots clutched tightly in their hands as they shouted at the top of their lungs, "I want a yellow one!"
"I want a red one!"
"I want two!"
Inside the shop, a salesclerk with sweat pouring down his face raised his voice desperately. "Please don't rush. Line up properly. Everyone, line up!"
Both women sucked in a sharp breath of cold air at the sight. "It's this popular? We're too late. This is bad. We're really too late."
Given their noble status, there was no possibility that either of them could force their way through such a crowd. In the end, they had no choice but to send their maids and servants to join the line on their behalf.
Within the domain of Dao Xuan Tianzun, no one dared to rely on their background to bully others. Even servants from princely residences and governor's mansions behaved with extreme caution, terrified that the slightest misconduct might provoke the wrath of Dao Xuan Tianzun. As a result, they could only obediently queue up alongside common citizens like everyone else.
Thus, the already astonishingly long line continued to grow, snaking out from the shop entrance, around the street corner, turning into another road, and stretching on so far that its end could not be seen at all.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, just as the maids from both households were finally about to reach the storefront, a large banner was suddenly unfurled inside the shop.
"Out of Stock. Store Closed for Several Days. Please Await Restocking."
The maids from both families cried out in despair, "Aaaah!"
Behind them, the crowd that was still queuing let out a unified howl of anguish. "Aaaah!"
Those who had waited for half the day only to end up empty-handed instantly erupted in fury. The crowd surged forward, pounding violently on the shop doors until the entire street echoed with noise and chaos.
That very evening, several households belonging to high-ranking officials and nobles experienced sudden outbreaks of so-called domestic disputes. Wives who were usually gentle, virtuous, and obedient completely lost their composure, smashing flowerpots as they vented their anger.
"Even concubines in other households have those wool sweaters, yet I, the principal wife, have none. Am I really not even as good as a concubine now? How am I supposed to show my face in Xi'an? Wuwuwu, I can't go on living. I might as well hang myself."
What followed was the exhausted and panicked voice of the husband. "Stop making such a scene. What will the neighbors think? Give me a few days. I promise I will get them for you."
While wool sweaters were being snatched up like wildfire in Xi'an, a very different scene was unfolding in Luoyang, inside the Luoyang branch of the Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory.
Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, a man weighing a full three hundred catties, stood in the middle of the shop, staring blankly at the completely empty shelves with an expression of profound sorrow.
The shopkeeper approached him with a courteous smile. "Is there anything I can assist you with, Your Royal Highness Prince Fu?"
"Out of stock?" Zhu Changxun muttered resentfully. "My Princess Consort complained all night long and didn't let me sleep for a moment. My head feels like it's about to split open."
The shopkeeper spread his hands helplessly. "We truly are out of stock. All our goods are transported directly from Gao Family Village by large steam trains, and restocking only happens every few days. We really did not expect them to sell out this quickly, so the inventory was insufficient. Please be patient, Your Royal Highness, and wait a few more days."
Prince Fu looked utterly aggrieved. "Wait a few more days? One night was enough to nearly drive me insane. What am I supposed to do now?"
The shopkeeper laughed inwardly. Who told you to be so fat? Women stay with you for your wealth, not for your looks. If you were handsome, you could smooth things over with a few sweet words and a confident smile, even without a wool sweater.
Prince Fu continued, "And it's not just for my Princess Consort. I need one for myself as well. But with my build…"
At three hundred catties, Prince Fu was far beyond the standard sizes. Ordinary wool sweaters simply could not accommodate his frame.
The shopkeeper chuckled knowingly. "Your Royal Highness, your physique is no problem at all. I can arrange for the original factory to custom-make several wool sweaters specifically for you."
Prince Fu's eyes immediately lit up. "Excellent. Truly excellent."
In truth, Prince Fu had no shortage of servants capable of making wool sweaters. However, anything produced by his own household lacked one crucial detail. It did not carry the Warm and Sleepy Textile Factory brand.
And without that brand, no matter how well-made the garment was, it was meaningless. Prestige was everything.
Prince Fu let out a sly laugh. "Shopkeeper, these custom-made sweaters should be unique, correct? No one else wearing the same pattern?"
"Of course," the shopkeeper replied smoothly. "All custom orders feature exclusive designs. How about this: I'll commission a skilled scholar to design a special pattern for you, incorporating the character 'Fu' to represent blessing and fortune. The meaning will be auspicious, and everyone will immediately recognize it as a Prince Fu exclusive. I guarantee you will be the only person in the entire world wearing such a design."
Prince Fu was overjoyed. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect."
The shopkeeper then lowered his voice slightly. "However, Your Royal Highness, such a bespoke design naturally comes with a price."
"I understand," Prince Fu said without hesitation. "Just tell me how much."
The shopkeeper raised five fingers.
"Fifty taels?" Prince Fu guessed.
"Five hundred taels for one," the shopkeeper corrected calmly.
Prince Fu froze on the spot.
Just as anger was about to erupt, the shopkeeper leaned closer and whispered, "When you wear this out, people will certainly ask about the price. If you name a low figure, would that truly reflect your status?"
Prince Fu paused, considering the words. He's right. If I say it only cost a few dozen taels, how would that distinguish me from ordinary people?
"Still, five hundred taels is too expensive," Prince Fu said reluctantly.
The shopkeeper smiled. "We are only quoting five hundred taels. We will give you a fifty percent discount, so you will actually pay two hundred and fifty taels per piece. However, when others ask, you can confidently say it cost five hundred taels. Our store will also publicly announce that Prince Fu commissioned high-end custom products priced at five hundred taels each. No one will know the real price."
Prince Fu's face broke into a broad grin. "Shopkeeper, you are truly brilliant."
"Our goal is to serve every customer well," the shopkeeper replied with a smile.
Prince Fu wasted no more words. He turned to Zheng Gonggong and ordered, "Pay. One of every color."
Zheng Gonggong produced a small box filled with gold and handed it over solemnly. "This is the payment for the custom wool sweaters. Please ensure everything is handled with the utmost care."
The shopkeeper accepted the box, his smile blooming like a flower.