The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 863 - 832: Persuade, Leave of Absence without Pay

Chapter 863: Chapter 832: Persuade, Leave of Absence without Pay

Because of her job, it was inconvenient for Jiang Lifang to wear skirts, so all of her bottoms were long pants, which felt like wearing cotton trousers in the summer.

"Mhm, Aunt, if you like them, I’ll make two more for you," Jiang Wenwen smiled, feeling affirmed whenever someone liked the clothes she made.

"I do like them, but I have to return to Nan City soon," Jiang Lifang said regretfully, as she had no time to wait.

"No problem, once they’re ready, I’ll mail them to you," Jiang Wenwen assured her, feeling like she’d taken another step closer to her goal.

At that moment, He Tiantian and Qi Xiaoyan came out.

He Tiantian’s outfit consisted of two separate pieces, a babydoll blouse with puff sleeves on top, and a knee-length skirt on the bottom. The skirt’s hem was wider because Jiang Wenwen had used a special technique to add some pleats, and the fabric’s stiffness enhanced its shape.

He Tiantian was quite surprised by such clothing but then realized that tucking the top into the skirt made it look even better.

With her tall figure, Qi Xiaoyan wore a dress made by Jiang Wenwen that hinted at a cheongsam style, but it wasn’t as tight-fitting. The dress reached mid-calf, with slits at the sides that extended up to five centimeters above the knee, all designed to appeal to contemporary tastes.

Both He Tiantian and Qi Xiaoyan wore shoes with slight heels, which accentuated the beauty of their dresses.

"Wow, it’s amazing, Wenwen, you really have a talent for tailoring," Jiang Lifang complimented, but her family wouldn’t let Wenwen become a tailor. Otherwise, with such skills, she could make a lot of money.

"Mom, making clothes isn’t called tailoring anymore, especially when someone like Wenwen designs and makes them herself—that’s called a fashion designer," He Tiantian explained. "Abroad, that’s a highly respected profession! It’s only because our country’s mindset hasn’t shifted yet that we still call it tailoring."

"Yeah, the clothes are beautiful," Qi Xiaoyan said. "Many of my classmates always want to buy attractive clothes and shoes. Foreign stuff is expensive, and going abroad isn’t easy, so they head to the wholesale market. But the craftsmanship and styles of those clothes can’t compare to what Wenwen has made."

Jiang Lifang nodded in agreement, the clothes indeed looked good, with fine stitching and no loose threads.

"It’s very good," Jiang Lifang smiled. "Wenwen, you seem to have something to say? And you guys, praising Wenwen so much seems like there’s something going on."

"Aunt, don’t be angry with my sister-in-law and Sister Xiao Yan," Jiang Wenwen said. "It’s me who wants to be a fashion designer, not an art teacher anymore. I’m tired of drawing apples, bottles, and plaster casts all day."

"But your grandparents and your parents don’t agree!" Jiang Lifang felt a bit uncomfortable, since after all, Wenwen was her niece and it wasn’t her place to interfere too much.

Jiang Wenwen, hugging Jiang Lifang’s arm, said, "Aunt, you’ve praised me for being talented and making beautiful clothes. Sister-in-law and Sister Xiao Yan are insightful and they commend me too—I truly have a talent. Besides, fashion designers are highly esteemed overseas, and our country’s views will change eventually. And Aunt, no one in our country is doing this yet. If I start now, I will be ahead of everyone else, and my achievements will surpass being just an art teacher."

Indeed, Jiang Lifang understood her niece’s words. Being an art teacher would indeed be a waste of her niece’s talent.

"Aunt, I’m begging you, please speak for me," Jiang Wenwen pleaded. "You are the esteemed grandma of the Jiang family, your word carries weight, and your grandfather, grandmother, as well as my parents, will take it seriously."

Having stayed with He Tiantian, Jiang Lifang had seen a lot of foreign clothing and often read fashion magazines, so her perspective was not ordinary.

"Hmm, okay, I’ll speak on your behalf when I visit my parents’ home to say goodbye tomorrow. Whether that will work or not is not up to me," Jiang Lifang said. "But I will do my best."

"Thank you, Aunt!" Jiang Wenwen said. "Aunt, I’ll often make clothes for you in the future, free of charge."

"Alright, I’ll do my best," said Jiang Lifang, determined not to let her niece’s talent go to waste.

With Jiang Lifang’s assurance, Jiang Wenwen felt that the matter was already half a success.

Indeed, the next day, Jiang Lifang persuaded her parents and her elder brother and sister-in-law, making her maternal family loosen up their stance.

In the end, a compromise was reached: unpaid leave from her job.

Jiang Wenwen was given three years. If she couldn’t make a name for herself as a fashion designer, she would obediently become a teacher without any objections.

Jiang Wenwen gladly accepted this. If she hadn’t achieved anything within three years, it would prove she wasn’t cut out for this industry.

Jiang Wenwen was delighted and couldn’t wait to discuss with He Tiantian where to open their store.

Qi Xiaoyan heard about the fashion design studio and was very interested.

It just so happened that she had recently received dividends sent from her parents’ family, which could be invested in this project.

So He Tiantian, with a grand gesture, invested eighty thousand and provided a venue, taking a thirty percent stake. Qi Xiaoyan invested sixty thousand, taking a twenty percent stake, and the remaining fifty percent went to Jiang Wenwen.

To support their daughter’s venture, Jiang Wenwen’s parents took out their savings of ten thousand yuan.

Jiang Wenwen initially didn’t want to take it, but her parents said that since others had put in money and provided a venue, taking such a small stake was clearly making accommodations for her, so it was necessary for her to invest some money too.

Seeing that Jiang Wenwen was determined to contribute financially, He Tiantian and Qi Xiaoyan didn’t try to dissuade her.

"Wenwen, I’ll take you to see our shop this afternoon. You can decide how to decorate and set it up," He Tiantian said, referring to the house on the street side, those five-story buildings she was planning to rent out.

He Tiantian was preparing to use three rooms: the first floor would be the hall, reception room, and space for displaying clothes and taking measurements.

The second and third floors would be used to receive VIP clients.

The fourth and fifth floors would serve as employee dormitories.

The yard in the back would be a storeroom suitable for storing fabric.

"Alright, thank you Sister-in-law, I definitely won’t let you down," Jiang Wenwen said, extremely excited, as her career was about to begin.

"No need to thank me. This one hundred and fifty thousand yuan should be enough for renovation and buying fabrics," He Tiantian stated. "Oh, and I have a business card here. Go find this person; he will decorate according to your specifications."

"Mm-hm, I’ll go take a look first and draft the design before having someone start the renovation," Jiang Wenwen said, planning to supervise on the side as it was done.

Qi Xiaoyan said with a smile, "Wenwen, go ahead and work with confidence. I’m studying at the music academy, where many female students love to look beautiful. I’ll wear elegant clothes to school, and surely many will ask about them. That way, we’ll have lots of clients."

"Mm-hm!" Jiang Wenwen said, "Once our business picks up and I’m too busy to handle it alone, I’ll find a few tailors to help out and at the same time recruit some apprentices."

"Sure, just make your own decisions," Qi Xiaoyan said. "Sister Tiantian and I will handle the promotion for you."

"Thank you, Sister-in-law and Xiao Yan," Jiang Wenwen said. She was confident in her own skills, and she had confidence in her sister-in-law and Xiao Yan as well.