Step by step, a gentle breeze leads to a smooth path

Chapter 233 International Stage

Binbin slept soundly, so everyone was relieved. After dinner, they chatted for a long time, and then Tingnan urged her grandmother and the others to go and rest, as it was a really cold winter night.

After the old and young had all gone to sleep, only the three siblings remained, warming themselves by the firewood pile. Tingnan added some charcoal and took out a few sweet potatoes, burying them in the stove.

They chatted about their recent situations. Zheng Ruidong will be taking the high school entrance exam next summer. "Ting Nan, how's the No. 1 High School in the city?"

"Great! The campus is huge, and the teachers are very knowledgeable. Would you like to go?"

"I don't really want to anymore, and of course, I wouldn't be able to get in with my grades!"

"Hmph, at least you know your place." Zheng Xiangqian wasn't afraid of offending his younger brother at all; that's how the brothers had always gotten along.

Rui Dong glanced at his brother, unusually not refuting him. "Little sister, do you remember what Teacher Zuo mentioned about the fashion designers in their area? Men, women, and children, right? There must be schools that specialize in fashion design, right? To be honest, I haven't had any systematic training in making clothes, and I haven't made any progress. What do you think, me going to Shanghai to take a look?"

"Of course! Young man, you've witnessed the huge changes in clothing design. Take my godfather's factory for example. At first, it mainly produced workers' uniforms, which were characterized by being durable and dirt-resistant, plus having many pockets, not much design, and limited colors. So when your design is unique and the color scheme is rich, it will attract a lot of attention."

Now that people's living conditions have improved, they not only pay attention to durability and dirt resistance, but also comfort, aesthetics, and suitability to their overall image and temperament.

You can see from fashion magazines that designs are becoming increasingly diverse. For example, Taiwanese women combine elegant Chinese design with international fashion trends; American style is simple, practical, and fashionable with a strong urban feel; while European and American styles emphasize luxury, refinement, and grandeur. These different design styles are all worth learning from and drawing inspiration from.

"Hey bro, you know, my godfather told me the government has introduced policies to support and encourage businesses and designers to innovate and experiment. At the same time, more and more brands are appearing on the market, and my godfather says the competition is getting fiercer. It's great that you thought of going out and seeing what's going on."

Zheng Xiangqian was somewhat surprised: "Ting Nan, you also know about clothing?"

"Of course, my brother is a fashion designer, so I have to pay attention to this area."

Zheng Ruidong seized the opportunity to complain: "Hmph, I told you you don't care about me, all you do is flatter your red bricks all day long."

"I...I'm not...I have a low level of education and I don't like reading..." Zheng Xiangqian scratched the back of his head.

Zheng Ruidong didn't say anything more. He understood that his older brother was busy every day for the sake of the whole family, and he didn't really resent him; he was just saying it.

Nan said, "Little brother, just focus on finishing your third year of junior high and try your best to get good grades. Of course, we can also contact Teacher Zuo in advance to ask about the situation on their end."

But, buddy, you need to think this through carefully. Ask yourself: What exactly do you want to learn in Shanghai? What kind of person do you want to be after you graduate? A pure designer, or an entrepreneur? If you want to start a business, you'll need to study finance and management. If you want to expand your clothing market, or even go abroad, you'll need to learn English and other skills, right?

"Ting Nan, what you're saying seems to be getting more and more complicated. I hadn't thought about it before." Zheng Ruidong's grades were average, and his fashion design career was entirely driven by interest and talent.

"It's not too late to think about it now. We all need to set lofty goals. Without lofty goals, why go far away? You should know that the deeper the foundation, the taller the building. You can't just study to design clothes; knowledge is interconnected. For example, if you don't understand 'Chinese style,' how can you design this style? And how can you represent your country on the international stage?"

"International?" Zheng Ruidong was a little surprised. Could he really step onto the international stage?