The final day of my monotonous work has arrived and with an appointment to get my final sizing for my suits, this Friday will certainly be the best in a while. While I was in the shower and getting dressed for work, I had a bit of a pep in my step, and totally didn’t do that narcissistic thing where I imagined myself in a mirror with my new suits on. I would not be that self-absorbed in wearing a suit, would I? Can’t I just prefer the business look of a suit rather than feeling an updraft on my thighs.

After a few unnecessary minutes spent looking into mirrors, I eventually got ready, and headed to work. For the last time in a while, I had to wade through that little bit of the super busy corridor. When I arrived in the office, there was a nice little gathering of the few people who I had talked with, all gathered at my office door. Since I had only been here a couple weeks, I wasn’t expecting much, and even what I got as far as a “going away” event was more than I expected. It must have been the reputation I was building. The Head Secretary and Head Lead were there, along with the other secretary who was assigned to the same department as me, were there to give me congratulations on stepping up. A couple of the other random office workers who did food and drink runs, along with general document retrieval also congratulated me, but I am pretty sure they were just there to live vicariously through me.

We all had a good chat about my move to the new project, where I had to be extra cautious about describing what the project was, simply describing it was a project to build a bigger ship than the Zhou Clan’s traditional ships. In the end, our little group had a solid ten minutes of light conversation before getting to work. I was reminded to finish all my outboarding procedures to ensure trackability of any changes I have made, as well as leaving any security passes on my desk for the Head Secretary to collect. I had a badge with a Qi signature that allowed me to access the drawer of the filing cabinet accessible for the Leads and the Head Secretary, as well as one that allowed me to open the door to get into the office room.

It was an otherwise simple work day, managing to finish my work a little early again. I spent a few extra minutes ensuring I left the desk decluttered and clean before leaving a little before noon. I made one last round to a few people in the office thanking them for their kind words before leaving to my room. There I changed into a set of more casual but still “Young Master” clothes, before heading out of the Zhou compound with my guards. Along the way we find some street food, enjoying some delicious grilled fish and vegetable skewers. Right after finishing our food, Zhonglei and Baoli, along with their guards come up to us.

“Hey Mingzie, I hear you got some fancy new clothes being commissioned and Baoli here was curious what they would end up looking like” Zhonglei says, before Baoli quickly smacks the back of his head, glaring at him. “I mean, being an important figure in this city’s fashion, she was needing me to escort her to the evaluation of the clothes”.

Not wanting to get between these two, I just ignore the obviously weird sibling dynamic these two have, and motion them forward so we can walk to Pianxin’s store. Along the way, I show them the the sketches of the ties I have made while explaining their general purposes in the outfits. Zhonglei was only curious if it would help him be more of a “dad” I chuckled a bit at the joke, telling him there was a whole category of “work dad” jokes involving a suit. Baoli glared the whole time, making it seem like she’s supposed to be policing this behavior.

When we finally arrive at Pianxin’s, the desk clerk immediately yells “He’s here Mom”, immediately I hear stuff in the back start crashing, chaos starting as she comes sprinting to the front desk of the shop. Before I am able to get a word in, Pianxin begins speaking rapidly, too fast for me to understand everything, but I manage to understand the designs came out much better than she thought. She eventually slowed down enough, that in between gasps for breath, she said that this would be what made her store truly shine. After that, she motioned for her son to bring out the suits while she looked over the sketches for the tie, for which I explain it was generally a basic shape, with much of the design variety being based on whether it had a few different types of patterns, or was just a single color.

With the suits finally brought out, I was definitely happy with what I saw, telling Pianxin as much. While I was getting the last minute fittings done on the suits, Baoli was asking me questions about when this would be worn and the types of styles it would be done in.

“Well it’s largely a formal outfit, and while it can be worn in more casual manners, it’s typically a business outfit or for other formal events such as a weddings or funerals”, motioning Zhonglei closer, “I know white is associated with death here, but it’s the go to color for the dress shirt” then continuing on, “A black blazer, which is the coat, along with a white dress shirt is the general outfit that is worn, but as you’ll notice the blazer and the dress shirt can be many colors”. I then describe how the administrative staff could easily wear a black blazer and blue dress shirt instead of a white dress shirt. The conversation dissolves into when certain styles might be worn, the dress etiquette, and other things. I didn’t know a lot of the answers to these things, just the little stuff I learned from my parents and the little things I picked up when I’ve seen them in public, but lacking knowledge in the minutiae that she was mainly wanting to know.

When it came time to pay for everything, she offered a twenty percent discount on the commissions on the premise I’d wear things out, the idea I’d give exposure for her business and point customers her way. I agreed with this, especially when I glanced over at Baoli, who was arguing with Zhonglei, trying to get him to agree to stay for a preliminary fitting. Baoli ended up getting a couple suits ordered for Zhonglei, sticking with the European style suit, along with the fancier suit style I had commissioned, opting for blue blazers and black dress shirts. I also ordered a few ties, a plain cotton red tie, a fancy blue silk tie with this cool pattern, a plain black silk tie, as well as cotton silk tie.

Pianxin seemed very happy with the additional business, and with the way my new job will go, along with whatever Baoli has planned, I wouldn’t be surprised if she stays busy for a long time. I took my new purchases along with me, leaving the siblings squabbling over the torture Baoli is subjecting Zhonglei to while she ponders this new fashion shift she expects to happen. As I left the store, I had the biggest smile on my face, clutching my new clothes like they were my preciouses.