Nanluoguxiang.

A large workbench stood in the courtyard.

On the table lay a measuring tape, fabric, and a gleaming pair of large scissors.

“That’s the scissors!”

When Xia Xiaolan brought the person over, Grandmother Yu didn’t comment on whether Sun Chungsheng resembled his ancestors, but she recognized the gleaming large scissors. One-Cut Sun’s nickname came from these scissors – while others would measure and mark fabric before cutting along outlined patterns, One-Cut Sun was different.

He would complete measurements and cutting in one fluid motion. After taking measurements and hearing requirements, he’d grab his ever-present large scissors and snip-snip at the fabric.

One-Cut Sun wasn’t cutting randomly – he was so masterful at his craft that he needed no markings. He knew exactly how much fabric to cut, never an inch too much or too little. While others calculated endlessly, none could match One-Cut Sun in conserving fabric… Though officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants didn’t need to save on fabric, they were always pleased when someone saved money for them. No one’s money grew on trees, and when others were wasteful, One-Cut Sun’s efficiency in using less fabric for the same garment became apparent over multiple orders. Those who commissioned One-Cut Sun knew the value they were getting!

Grandmother Yu’s recognition of One-Cut Sun’s inseparable scissors proved Wang Lin had found the right person.

Naturally, Grandmother Yu had ways to verify if Sun Chungsheng had inherited his ancestral skills.

She asked Sun Chungsheng to make an outfit for Xia Xiaolan as a test.

Sun Chungsheng was in his thirties, claiming to be One-Cut Sun’s eldest grandson.

The Sun family no longer lived in their original location, though they hadn’t moved far – at least they hadn’t left Beijing, or Wang Lin’s family wouldn’t have found them.

What puzzled Xia Xiaolan was that despite being One-Cut Sun’s eldest grandson and the inheritor of the family craft, Sun Chungsheng was working as a movie theater ticket seller when Wang Lin found him!

He was also timid, and lacking confidence.

His back was perpetually stooped, showing little masculinity, and he seemed to lack initiative. When Wang Lin asked him to meet President Xia, Sun Chungsheng didn’t even ask which President Xia, yet came along anyway. This wasn’t being agreeable – it was simply going with the flow! He shared a similar passive nature with the laid-back financial manager Ying Jinchuan. Xia Xiaolan felt a headache coming on – what kind of people had she been finding?

So Xia Xiaolan hadn’t held much hope.

When Grandmother Yu asked Sun Chungsheng to make clothes, he asked what kind, and she pointed at Xia Xiaolan:

“Make her a qipao, suitable for a young lady, not too tight-fitting.”

With Xia Xiaolan’s figure and face being devastatingly attractive, and still being a student, an overly form-fitting qipao indeed wouldn’t be appropriate.

After hearing the requirements, Sun Chungsheng began taking measurements – shoulder width, arm length, bust, hip, and waist measurements were all necessary.

When he first picked up the measuring tape, Sun Chungsheng appeared clumsy – considering his job as a ticket seller, he probably didn’t get many opportunities to make clothes.

But when Sun Chungsheng laid out the fabric on the table and picked up those gleaming scissors, he transformed completely!

Though still slightly stooped, his cutting was swift and decisive.

Snip, snip… After Sun Chungsheng finished cutting the fabric, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t tell what he’d accomplished, and Grandmother Yu remained silent. There was a sewing machine in the courtyard, and after hesitating briefly with the needle, Sun Chungsheng took the fabric to the machine.

Xia Xiaolan noticed Sun Chungsheng’s hands – deft and clean, with neatly trimmed nails, free of dirt and calluses.

Even most women didn’t maintain their hands so well.

“These are a tailor’s hands.”

Grandmother Yu explained:

“Tailors earn their living with their hands. The better the tailor, the more they value their hands. Working with fabric their whole lives, hangnails or calluses would snag the fabric.”

Fine fabrics were silk and satin, not the common people’s work blues or artificial ‘Dacron’ – naturally woven fabrics were delicate.

Grandmother Yu seemed to have some expectations now, and Xia Xiaolan also pulled up a stool to wait.

Sun Chungsheng cut quickly and handled the sewing machine skillfully.

Even while working as a ticket seller, he hadn’t abandoned his ancestral craft.

The machine whirred as he sewed, and then he made fabric buttons from the remaining scraps.

The qipao quickly took shape. Sun Chungsheng pressed it properly, and Grandmother Yu asked Xia Xiaolan to try it on.

Xia Xiaolan complied graciously.

Regardless, skilled craftsmen deserved respect. Having called Sun Chungsheng over unexpectedly, and him being good-natured enough to make the dress according to Grandmother Yu’s instructions, it would be too rude for Xia Xiaolan to not even try it on!

President Xia came from common origins and could relate well to the common people.

Upon changing into the dress inside, she immediately noticed subtle differences.

The qipao felt exceptionally comfortable!

She could wear all small-sized clothes, but there were variations between sizes. Different manufacturers produced clothes with different fits. Even though Chen Xiliang had designers modify details to her measurements, she hadn’t noticed before, but wearing Sun Chungsheng’s qipao made the differences immediately apparent.

The qipao reached her ankles.

The slit allowed easy movement without being revealed.

The dress was slightly loose but maintained its shape, and the shoulder and neck areas were particularly comfortable – whether walking or raising her hands to fix her hair, nothing felt constraining.

“Master Sun’s craftsmanship is excellent!”

Xia Xiaolan immediately revealed her inexperience.

After all, she had never experienced true “haute couture.”

Sun Chungsheng’s work qualified as haute couture, even surpassing the old tailor who made clothes for Liu Yong in Shangdu!

After watching her turn a few times, Grandmother Yu nodded slightly:

“He has indeed inherited some of One-Cut Sun’s true skill.”

Sun Chungsheng’s back stooped even more, his face showing embarrassment: “My grandfather passed away early, and couldn’t teach me hands-on for even two years.”

He didn’t seem to think himself particularly skilled.

Grandmother Yu’s tone, combined with her age and bearing, clearly indicated she was an old customer of One-Cut Sun who had worn his personally made clothes, naturally making Sun Chungsheng nervous.

Seeing Sun Chungsheng about to bury his head in the ground, Xia Xiaolan quickly stopped him:

“Master Sun, we’ve called you here abruptly to make clothes for my family member – that’s the primary purpose. But given your outstanding skills, have you considered returning to the Sun family’s traditional trade?”

Weren’t they going to Pengcheng for Ji Ya’s wedding? Sun Chungsheng could make clothes for her mother, and then she could bring him along to Chen Xiliang.

Xia Xiaolan saw great potential in Sun Chungsheng.

Luna needed to develop, and Chen Xiliang was always short of talent – Sun Chungsheng’s skills could help.

If nothing else, hadn’t Wang Mingming looked down on Luna as a small domestic startup brand? If Xia Xiaolan felt so comfortable in Sun Chungsheng’s qipao, surely female celebrities wouldn’t be more particular? This commoner Xia Xiaolan had been thoroughly impressed by Sun Chungsheng’s technique.

Sun Chungsheng looked up, “You want me to be a tailor?”

This person probably lacked ambition, his face clearly showing thoughts like “Don’t you know how sought-after movie ticket seller jobs are?” – making Xia Xiaolan unable to look him in the eye. Someone this simple thought he could escape from Xia Xiaolan’s grasp? Impossible!