Yunxiang Pavilion is the largest ready-to-wear clothing store in Shengjing.
When Shen Hua arrived, the outside was already filled with magnificent carriages.
As Shen Hua walked in, the sharp-witted clerks brightened upon seeing a mink fur coat, bustling over to greet her.
Complints tumbled out one after another.
"I see it’s Miss Shen’s first ti at Yunxiang Pavilion. Please watch your step."
"Our store’s clothing designs are the most fashionable. You won’t find a second one in all of Shengjing. May I ask if Miss Shen is shopping for herself? I would be glad to offer you so advice."
Shen Hua was accustod to this kind of attentiveness. She looked around and saw that many won and girls were adorned with luxurious silk clothes and pearl hairpins, a sweet fragrance wafting through the air, accompanied by their delicate complaints.
Her gaze shifted upwards.
The clerk hastily spoke, "The second floor has even finer clothes, and the third floor has top-grade fabrics and unique designs that absolutely won’t clash with any other girl; the Commander’s wife from the Governor Mansion is up there right now."
"However, the store has its rules. To go upstairs to the second floor, custors must spend at least one hundred taels, and for the third floor, at least one thousand taels."
And Shen Hua, having never shopped at Yunxiang Pavilion before, naturally does not qualify.
"Miss Shen could first have a look on the first floor; we’ve just received so new arrivals..." the clerk tried to sell with effort.
The girl softly spoke, "I want to go to the third floor."
The clerk replied, "Miss Shen, please take a look at this piece in my hand, it would really complent your complexion. ..."
Shen Hua’s eyes sparkled sharply: "To the third floor."
The clerk rubbed his hands together, "Miss Shen, please don’t make it difficult for ."
Shen Hua insisted, "To the third floor."
The clerk, "..."
Shen Hua insistently repeated, "The third floor."
She naturally wanted the best!!!
And she also wanted the best for Yicui and the others!
She was wealthy.
The clerk, "You... "
Mrs. Wang pulled out several silver notes of five hundred taels each from her bosom, waving them in front of the clerk.
Shen Hua: "Now, may I go up to the third floor?"
"..."
Indeed, there were no few nobles wishing to access the third floor of Yunxiang Pavilion, but most of them counted by the household. That is to say, within a single residence, no matter how many Madam and Misses there were, as long as the total spending t the requirent, that was the ladder to the upper floor.
The reputation of their store was built on this principle.
Unique clothes—who doesn’t want them? The well-known families were especially yearning.
If they wanted them, they had to show real willing to spend.
Not to ntion, even Yan Mi on the upper floor was only able to go up by using the Commander’s na from the Governor Mansion.
But right now...
After confirming the determination in the custor’s eyes, indeed she was a valuable custor willing to spend money.
The clerk dared not delay, quickly went to get the Shopkeeper. After pondering for a mont, the Shopkeeper personally attended to her and welcod Shen Hua to the third floor, treating her like the God of Wealth.
As they ascended higher, the commotion from the lower floors beca more faint and the conversations between the girls upstairs beca audible.
"Yingying, should we call your sixth sister up here?"
A gentle and soft voice, making Shen Hua feel utterly relaxed.
The treatnt on the third floor was the best; with refreshnts, comfortable seats, and everything needed. Yan Mi picked out the clothes she wanted and sat down to taste the tea.
"What for? I ca to accompany Sister Yan, and she’s just intruding unnecessarily. A concubine daughter also shalessly following along," Wei Yingying said, her resentnt evident.
She is the youngest daughter of the Minister of Ministry of Industry, a lady of great prestige, and she usually dislikes standing with concubine daughters, fearing a loss of her status.
"She used to be very perceptive and rarely approached . I don’t know what’s gotten into her today."
Yan Mi smiled softly, "Your Mama is busy finding you a husband. She’s also at the age suitable for marriage. Once your marriage is settled, it will be her turn, so your sister should indeed put effort into her appearance."
Wei Yingying was disdainful.
"Born a concubine’s daughter, what is she fussing over? She’s to marry a bastard anyway."
Being a concubine’s child, if she marries well, it brings honor to her mother’s family. It’s about connecting with a household of equal standing, understanding the benefits at stake.
If it were any other lady of the household, to show magnanimity, they would always prepare a set of jewelry for the concubine daughter.
But the Minister’s Wife is the type who can’t stand others flourishing and is prone to jealousy. How could she bear to give any subsidy?
Whereas Wei Yingying is pampered and, like her mother, has a narrow, petty mind; she was displeased taking Wei Zhuzhu out in the first place and certainly wouldn’t spend silver on her.
Wei Zhuzhu could go to the first floor of shops, seems like she’s resigned to spend her own money.
Third floor’s myriad skirts dazzle the eyes, surely not on the sa level as the first floor.’
Shen Hua’s legs are weary, she doesn’t spare the two chatting ladies a glance and finds the nearest chair to sit down.
She slumps bonelessly in the chair, making the graceful postures of Yan Mi and Yingying even more pronounced in contrast.
"Miss Shen, please have a cup of tea to soothe your throat. If selecting is troubleso, why not tell us what styles you like, what patterns, and what colors, and I shall cater to your request," the Shopkeeper offers with a smile.
Shen Hua is in no rush, intending to rest first.
Thus, one sees the plump girl lazily instructing the two servants behind her.
"Go pick your favorites, two sets each, so you can change often in daily wear. Don’t think of saving money."
"Right, Nanny Cheng, rember to pick sothing for Ningzhu and Cheng Gui as well."
Shen Hua has always been generous with those around her. This generosity wasn’t her first; Yicui joyfully bent in a respectful bow, "Madam is the best."
Saying so, she took the flustered Nanny Cheng, who could hardly grasp what was happening, away with her.
Nanny Cheng’s legs were weak; in utter confusion, she said, "But isn’t this too precious? Wouldn’t it be a waste to wear it while doing rough work?"
Yicui retorted, "If it weren’t precious, the Madam wouldn’t gift it."
"You and I, wearing the dresses bought by the Madam, should serve her diligently. She will be happy to see us in them," Yicui reasoned.
The Shopkeeper’s smile cracks in an instant.
The garnts on the third floor were coveted by daughters of officials ranking fifth or higher, looking desperately each ti they visited, but reluctant to buy more.
Yet here is one who buys them for her servants?
Is this sothing a person does?
She almost doubted whether the clothes on the third floor were cheap goods.
Not just her, even Yan Mi gave Shen Hua an additional glance, unable to restrain her surprise.
Wei Yingying’s brows were even more tightly furrowed.
She was embarrassed by her scanty purse, here only to keep Yan Mi company and feast her eyes conveniently.
Wasn’t Shen Hua buying clothes for her servants a slap in her face? How could Wei Yingying be happy about it? So, her gaze towards Shen Hua beca veiled.
Even that concubine daughter downstairs is more agreeable to the eye!
Girls from families of fifth-rank and above officials in Shengjing, she knew them all. Yet she had never seen this generous lady before her.
Especially the mink she was wrapped in...
Shen Hua confidently returned the gaze without a hint of timidity.
Noticing Wei Yingying’s eyes sizing up her belly, the girl said with a delayed ’Ah’, quite perfunctorily, "Don’t bother looking, it’s two months along."
Shen Hua changed to a more comfortable position and continued to slump, "Be a bit nicer to ; I’m not known for a good temper."
Wei Yingying’s anger mixed with laughter. She abruptly stood up and asked from a superior position, "Do you know who my Daddy is?"
"What do I care who he is?"
"You offend , yet do you not know to leave so leeway so that we may et without awkwardness in the future?"
"I’m about to die, will we et in hell then?"
"..."
Shen Hua pondered seriously for a mont, then reasoned with her.
"No matter how prestigious your Daddy is, he surely doesn’t have a say over matters in the underworld."
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