CHAPTER 290: CHAPTER 287: STARTING A BUSINESS IN THE MODERN ERA

After burying the turtle eggs, Lin Wanwan climbed back up the mountain to the car. This place was so remote that even if the car was parked idly by the roadside, it was impossible for the traffic police uncle to come and issue a ticket.

Lin Wanwan drove leisurely, not in any hurry to return, planning to visit the mall to check the design of the double-sided embroidery display, and then buy some silk threads.

Over the years, due to the boom in online shopping and certain factors, physical businesses have been very depressed.

The vacancy rate of many malls in Yongcheng is over sixty percent; small and large shops, educational institutions, and amusement parks have all closed down one after another, leaving only luxury goods or food shops surviving stubbornly.

Lin Wanwan drove directly to Times Square, which was basically full of luxury shops, including embroidery stores where even the cheapest embroidery piece costs a few thousand, and larger screens are tens of thousands.

Arriving at the mall, she entered a shop named "Yanyu Qiaoniang" on the third floor.

Looking at the dazzling array of embroideries displayed in the store, Lin Wanwan secretly compared them with the embroideries she had seen in the Great Tang aristocratic households, and felt that these pieces, priced at thousands or tens of thousands, were quite unremarkable.

The embroideries here can’t be said to be bad; they are far better than those machine-made ones online in terms of delicacy, which isn’t in the same league, but the overall craftsmanship is too overwhelming.

Lin Wanwan found it difficult to describe precisely; the feeling was perhaps akin to how Pu Yi viewed antiques.

Pu Yi couldn’t articulate the differences between real and fake goods with the experts, but could discern the authenticity at a glance.

No other reason, just accustomed from seeing and handling many since childhood.

Now, most of the embroidery on Lin Wanwan’s clothes from the Great Tang is personally embroidered by Yun Shang, the standard of which is definitely among the best. Looking around this store, few embroideries can compare with Yun Shang’s works; her vision has gradually been trained.

Lin Wanwan paused to admire an embroidery hanging prominently in the center, the characters depicted are unmistakably from Dream of the Red Chamber. This piece is a top-notch embroidery capable of rivaling Yun Shang’s works.

The embroidery sequentially depicts Jia Yuanchun with her maid playing the zither, Jia Yingchun with her maid playing chess, Jia Tanchun with her maid writing, and Jia Xichun with her maid painting.

The colors and detail in the embroidery were vivid and lifelike, the style of the characters’ costumes is a blend of Song and Ming, mainly featuring half-sleeve robes.

"Hello, are you interested in this embroidery? This piece is the Four Springs of Red Chamber Figure Embroidery, personally embroidered by our lead embroideress, and is one of the treasures of our shop.

Our flagship store is based in Suzhou, with more than a hundred embroideresses specializing in custom embroidery for our brand. The embroideresses’ skills are passed down through generations..."

The shop assistant began rattling off the introduction to Lin Wanwan, though her eyes remained fixed on the embroidery, she listened attentively.

As she listened, the thought of opening an embroidery store suddenly popped into Lin Wanwan’s mind.

She planned to run a cross-border e-commerce store, get Gu Jingyu to operate it, and ideally set up a shop in Times Square, inviting her cousin to manage it.

The shop doesn’t have to be big; having a master is enough. Collecting embroideries from the Great Tang to sell in modern times, targeting high-end luxury, is definitely viable!

Whether the physical store makes money is beside the point; what she really needs is a physical shop location, focusing primarily on cross-border e-commerce.

Cross-border e-commerce has just taken off in Yongcheng, everything is trying to figure itself out. From tax to customs, it’s still quite vague, perfectly suited for Lin Wanwan to transport goods from the Great Tang.

After the shop assistant finished the introduction, Lin Wanwan nodded with a smile: "Please pack this picture for me, thank you."

The shop assistant smiled: "Alright, just a moment, I’ll bring over the frames for you to choose from, you can pick the one you prefer."

Lin Wanwan nodded: "Alright. Do you have a double-sided embroidery display too? Please bring it for me to choose."

"Yes, may I ask what size you need?"

"Approximately thirty centimeters wide by forty centimeters long."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

The assistant guided Lin Wanwan to a nearby Chinese-style chair to sit, and shortly returned with two books, one containing mural-frame designs, and another containing various objects like displays, screens, etc.

Lin Wanwan selected one from each, and placed an order with the assistant.

"Hello, do you need just the display, without the embroidery?"

"Yes, I have embroidery to frame."

"Alright, please wait a moment, the Four Springs of Su Embroidery with a rosewood frame is ninety-three thousand eight hundred yuan, while this single display is nine thousand yuan."

"Alright, can I pay with my phone?"

"Yes, please scan the code."

Lin Wanwan promptly opened her mobile finance app and paid, without negotiating prices at Times Square, as the understanding is clear the products sold are expensive.

"Miss, you can register for a membership card with us, where this consumption can count towards points. Annual spending of two hundred thousand can qualify you for VIP membership, enjoying a ninety-seven percent discount and priority customization privileges."

Lin Wanwan shook her head: "No need."

Having paid and obtained the receipt, Lin Wanwan immediately took the display’s finished product away; for the Four Springs picture, the store agreed to reframe and notify her for collection—member registration would include home delivery but Lin Wanwan wasn’t concerned with such minor convenience.

Preferring to avoid disclosing home address, she opted to make the trip herself.

This display, she planned to take back to the ancient times for craftsmen to use as a sample, to rebuild with small-leaf red sandalwood, while the glass part could directly be utilized.

Exiting Yanyu Qiaoniang, Lin Wanwan went straight to Times Square’s property company to inquire about store leasing matters.

However, nowadays, despite high vacancy rates in various malls, Times Square was surprisingly full, with no vacancies.

Moreover, the staff outright informed Lin Wanwan that even if there were a vacancy, entering Times Square would require inspection, and an obscure store undoubtedly wouldn’t pass.

Not every brand has the privilege to coexist with SV, Chanel, and Dior in the same mall.

Lin Wanwan hadn’t anticipated this snag, where money couldn’t even be spent.

No wonder someone is willing to buy handbags and clothes here for tens of thousands; given such preferential treatment, it’s bound to lure wealthy and middle-class consumers.

But the higher the entry threshold, the more Lin Wanwan wanted in; the consumer target group within was clueless with money to spare; leaving it behind would be a shame.

Checking the time, it was five o’clock, within half an hour to the general quitting hour.

Lin Wanwan called Gu Jingyu, inviting her out for dinner after work, intending to discuss cross-border e-commerce and recruit her.

Since Lin Wanwan rarely invited her, she naturally agreed. Lin Wanwan turned the car towards Gu Jingyu’s company. From Times Square to Gu Jingyu’s company took just thirty minutes by car.