Besides lying down, I also know a little about power struggles

Chapter 131: Rich and Idle Man
As early as when Fang Tong proposed the cooperation, Ming He guessed that she wanted to save on store and labor costs, but as Fang Tong said, no one in Beijing was doing this business of pet clothing. Maybe she could find another way to increase income for the cloth shop.

She agreed to cooperate for two reasons. First, she saw that Fang Tong was well prepared and the styles he could provide were definitely more than just these. Second, she did it for Feng Twelve's sake.

That day, Feng Twelve brought Fang Tong to Tianyixuan. Ming He saw that her master valued Fang Tong very much, and her husband Wei Baichuan also whispered to her privately that he felt that Feng Twelve treated Fang Tong differently from ordinary people.

As subordinates, they were not in a position to interfere in their master's private affairs, but with the idea of ​​establishing a good relationship, Ming He was happy to make friends with Fang Tong. Besides, this girl looked like a person with her own ideas, and she might be able to bring her more surprises.

Sure enough, when Fang Tong saw that she agreed to cooperate, he was not immediately happy, but talked with her in more depth.

"It is easier to tailor clothes for pets than for humans. Even if I can come up with a new pattern every day, I can't stop others from imitating me," Fang Tong said. "Besides, there are many talented people among the people. If we can make a lucky dress today, others can make a Qilin dress tomorrow. So this business is definitely not something that our family can do."

"Miss Fang, are you trying to remind me not to be too greedy?" Ming He was not annoyed, but looked at her with appreciation, "Don't worry, I have learned how to do business since I was young, so I naturally know that the business in the world cannot be monopolized by one company."

"It's great that Shopkeeper Ming thinks this way," Fang Tong smiled slightly, and suddenly changed his tone, "But although no one business in the world can monopolize it, Shopkeeper Ming has one more advantage than others."

Ming He heard something behind her words and became interested: "I'd like to hear more details."

"The cloth shop does business for ordinary people. It earns reputation, but the profit is not high. However, since ordinary people have novel items, I believe nobles would also like to try them." Fang Tong said, "People in the market keep cats and dogs mostly to catch mice and guard the house. At first, they just want to see the novelty and maybe buy one or two pieces of clothing for them. But the nobles are the ones who are willing to spend money on their pets."

The nobles are used to good things and do not ask for affordability; they just want something unique.

"Ming's Tianyixuan is unique in Beijing. The materials, weaving and tailoring are all unique," Fang Tong gently stroked the embroidery on the clothes. "If someone ordered a piece of clothing from your family, and she happened to be a pet lover, and used the same fabric to make a piece of clothing for her pet, wouldn't it be difficult for people to imitate?"

Nowadays, there are parent-child clothing and couple clothing, and many pet owners also customize the same clothes for their cats and dogs. Fang Tong was initially worried that the ancients would not be able to accept their pets being dressed similarly to themselves, but the last time she met Qin Shiyue, she deliberately inquired about the habits of nobles in raising pets during their chat. Only then did she learn that some people love their pets like their lives, and the eating utensils of their pets at home are the same as those of their owners. Some elegant people even named their pets according to the order of their children and nephews.

Fang Tong listened to those anecdotes and gossips and felt that he had underestimated the ancients.

For this kind of high-end customization, you don't have to do business with everyone. You just need to capture the customers who are most willing to spend money and do your best to get them.

Ming He, as a shopkeeper who has been running a business in the capital for many years, understands these people better than she does.

She pondered for a while, then slowly said, "Last time Princess Changning came to my shop, she brought a lion cat. I saw she used Impatiens to paint the cat's nails. If I give the cat a dress, Princess Changning will definitely accept it with pleasure."

Fang Tong heard that she meant to give it as a gift, not to sell it, and immediately understood: "In ancient times, Princess Shouyang wore plum blossom makeup, and people at that time rushed to imitate her. If someone saw Princess Changning's favorite wearing the same color dress as her, it might become a trend."

Ming He smiled and nodded, "The noble ladies in the capital love to compete with each other for beauty. They must have what others have. Tianyixuan always leaves some leftovers every time it makes clothes. It's not too much, but not too little. Because it has been used by customers, it can't be used to make other things. It's better to make a pet dress, which will please them more."

"What if someone doesn't have a pet?" Fang Tong asked.

"Which of these nobles doesn't play with cats and raise birds, or keep hawks and dogs?" Ming He smiled. "Not to mention other things, the royal family alone has a lot of rich and idle people. His Majesty doesn't allow them to participate in government affairs, and these people do nothing all day long. Let alone a piece of clothing, even a bite of cat food, as long as you are willing to think of a way, you can make them pay for it." Fang Tong couldn't help laughing when she heard her talk, and then she remembered that when she was a cat, Feng Twelve often bought her food from outside. So, Feng Twelve was also a sucker?
Ming He saw that her expression was different, his eyes flickered, and he suddenly said: "But His Highness the Twelfth Prince is not a rich and idle man. When he is busy, he is busier than anyone else."

When she said this, Fang Tong thought that there had been no news from Feng Twelve yet, and the smile on his face finally fell.

She asked Wei Baichuan, and the answer she got was that she didn't need to worry. She knew that this was just words of comfort. Everyone in the mansion was worried about Feng Twelve's whereabouts. Even the food cooked by Aunt Zhang no longer tasted the same as before.

Fang Tong knew that he could not help, and asking too many questions would only cause trouble to others. He could only suppress his uneasy thoughts and focus on his own work.

If she wants to gain a foothold in Dazhao and make a living for the future, she must become independent as soon as possible to make Feng Twelve's help worthwhile.

"Miss Fang, you have been very open with me and have shown me a way forward in business. Aren't you afraid that I will take your idea and turn against you?" Ming He's voice rang out, interrupting her thoughts.

Fang Tong glanced at her and shook his head slowly: "You won't."

"Why?" Ming He asked.

"Because you are the shopkeeper of Tianyixuan," Fang Tong smiled calmly, "Tianyixuan is well-known in the capital, and the most commendable thing about it is its integrity. I believe that Shopkeeper Ming will not compete with me for this petty profit."

Ming He looked at her, and his eyes gradually became strange.

"I thought you would say that you did it because of His Highness the Twelfth." She said slowly, "You are valued by His Highness. If I dare to bully you, you can just complain to him."

Fang Tong chuckled and couldn't help laughing.

"I'm not a child, so why would I complain to others all the time?" She said with bright eyes and a frank expression, "I am willing to cooperate with Shopkeeper Ming, not only because of the reputation of Tianyixuan, but also because I believe in the vision of His Majesty the Twelfth Prince in selecting people."

Ming He looked at her steadily, as if assessing the sincerity of her words.

After a long moment, she nodded: "Miss Fang is right, Your Highness has always had good taste."

Until this moment, the way she looked at Fang Tong no longer had the scrutiny of a businessman, but had a bit more of the kindness of looking at one of her own.

She was only a few years older than Fang Tong. Perhaps because she had been in business for a long time, her features were a little sharp. But at this moment, she gave Fang Tong an inexplicable feeling that the eyes of this shopkeeper Ming seemed to be full of kind care.

She looked at her in confusion, and then she heard Ming He say, "Miss Fang, do you know that His Highness has received news?"