The Western Market was bustling with noise and excitement.
Bitao strolled from one stall to another, unable to stop for a moment.
"Lady, can this servant really buy whatever I want?"
Bitao's eyes crinkled into slits, her voice brimming with excitement.
Today, Xizixuan had sent over the profit - sharing from last month, a whopping eighty taels of silver. It was a huge sum of money.
Her lady had immediately given her eight taels, saying it was her share.
Eight taels of silver! It was equivalent to three months of her monthly allowance. She could wake up smiling in her dreams.
"Since it's your share, it's your silver. Of course, it's up to you."
Su Nansheng was also very happy. This was the first time she had earned money on her own, so it was definitely worth celebrating.
So she didn't even bother looking at the ledger and came straight to the Western Market, planning to experience what it meant to spend money like water.
But after strolling around for half an hour, they still had nothing in their hands.
"Actually, this servant doesn't really want to buy anything. It's just that now that I suddenly have so much silver in my hand, I just want to spend some of it."
Bitao clutched the money - pouch in her hand, looking quite smug.
Su Nansheng couldn't help but smile. Who wasn't like that?
"Yulinglong is just ahead. Let's go and take a look."
The craftsmen at Yulinglong were very skilled and ingenious. Even Su Hele, who was always very picky, was a regular customer there. It showed how special it was.
...
As she stepped into Yulinglong, Su Nansheng couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.
In the middle of the counter, a familiar back was standing there, looking up as Shopkeeper Wang introduced the jade hairpin in his hand. It was Su Hele.
Today, she was wearing a cream - colored silk dress embroidered with floating cloud patterns. There were clusters of bamboo leaves embroidered with silver thread on the cuffs and the hem of the skirt, making her look elegant and refined.
"Madam Su, you know our style at Yulinglong. Don't be fooled by how simple this orchid jade hairpin looks. It takes a very skilled craftsman to carve it so vividly.
Moreover, this hairpin is not made from scraps. It's carved from a whole piece of high - quality Hetian jade. Just look at how exquisite the material is."
Su Nansheng slowly walked closer and saw that the orchid on the hairpin head was indeed exquisitely carved, full of vitality.
But Su Hele shook her head.
"Shopkeeper Wang should know my requirements. The jewelry I buy not only has to be made of the best materials but also has to be personally made by your most outstanding craftsman. Only then will it suit my taste."
Shopkeeper Wang smiled politely. "But..."
"I'll take this hairpin. Put it away for me."
Su Nansheng stepped past Su Hele and stood in front of Shopkeeper Wang.
"Sure thing. I'll pack it for you right away."
Su Hele's face turned slightly cold. She glanced at Shopkeeper Wang, who was wiping the hairpin, then turned to look at Su Nansheng.
"The monthly allowance was just distributed today at home, and you're already buying things recklessly. You don't know how to be thrifty at all."
"The monthly allowance was distributed today? I left early and didn't see it."
As Su Nansheng said this, she motioned for Bitao to pay the money. She didn't want to get into an argument with her.
"Now that you've hooked up with the powerful, you still shouldn't be so extravagant. If you're ever kicked out of the Marquis's Mansion in the future, you might never be able to adapt to a poor life."
Su Hele's face was calm, but her tone was full of concern.
"Even when you were a young lady, Second Young Madam often bought jewelry at Yulinglong. Now that you've hooked up with the powerful, you still come here. You're so consistent. You'll surely be able to adapt to a poor life in the future."
"I don't..."
"How much silver?"
Su Nansheng didn't pay any more attention to Su Hele. She turned to look at Shopkeeper Wang.
Shopkeeper Wang quickly put the hairpin into a pear - wood box. "Ten taels of silver."
At this moment, a shrill female voice came from behind.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Su and her yes - woman? Oh, no, no. Now we should call them Madam Su and Concubine Su."
The woman said to herself as she quickly walked up to Su Nansheng and the others.
Looking at Zhao Qingyi's malicious smile, Su Nansheng silently rolled her eyes.
She knew that running into Su Hele was bound to bring trouble. She shouldn't have fought for this hairpin with her just now. Now it was good. She wouldn't be able to have a moment of peace.
"Miss Zhao."
Su Hele nodded slightly with her chin, as if to say hello.
Zhao Qingyi just glanced at her but ignored her. Instead, she looked at Shopkeeper Wang and nodded her chin.
"I'll take this. I'll pay three times the price."
Shopkeeper Wang looked embarrassed. "But this Miss Su..."
"Five times."
Zhao Qingyi held her head high, looking very arrogant.
Shopkeeper Wang's eyes gradually widened. He turned to look at Su Nansheng, who was smiling brightly. "Give me twenty taels, and I'll let her have it."
"Deal!"
Shopkeeper Wang was very straightforward. He immediately turned the wooden box around and handed it to Zhao Qingyi.
Zhao Qingyi stared at Su Nansheng in disbelief.
"Su Nansheng, how dare you get twenty taels for free!"
"Has Miss Zhao changed her mind? If you don't want this hairpin, I'll take it."
Su Nansheng pretended to reach for the wooden box, but Zhao Qingyi snatched it away. "Xiaolian, pay the money."
Su Nansheng happily took the twenty taels of silver from Shopkeeper Wang and said slowly.
"This is the liquidated damages. It's rightfully mine."
"You're really money - grubbing."
Zhao Qingyi stared at Su Nansheng, so angry that she twisted her nose.
Su Hele, who had been standing silently beside them, now covered her mouth and nose and looked at Su Nansheng, whispering.
"All you can smell is the stench of money."
Su Nansheng shook her head. "You can't say that about Miss Zhao. It's not nice."
Hearing this, Zhao Qingyi immediately glared at Su Hele.
"Humph, you're so high - and - mighty. You're so high - and - mighty that you even had a secret meeting with the Second Young Master of the Marquis's Mansion!"
Su Hele suddenly tightened the silk handkerchief in her hand. It had been so long, but why did she still have to bring it up?
It was all Su Nansheng's fault. She had clearly been talking about her just now.
When she turned her head, she saw that Su Nansheng had already walked to the door.
Su Hele gave Zhao Qingyi a cold look and quickly caught up with Su Nansheng.
This Zhao Qingyi was vulgar and rude. She always had to compete with her in everything. Before, Su Nansheng had helped her deal with her. Now... of course, Su Nansheng still had to help her deal with her.
"Oh, are you running away because you know you're in the wrong?"
Zhao Qingyi's mocking voice followed closely.
...
"A Sheng, why did you stir up trouble just now? It's so insidious."
Su Hele caught up with Su Nansheng in front, her voice full of dissatisfaction.
Su Nansheng stopped and raised the corner of her lips, full of sarcasm.
"Since you say I'm insidious, why did you follow me?"
Su Hele lifted her chin slightly and whispered.
"I was just afraid that you would have a fight with Miss Zhao and do something impulsive that would cause trouble."
Su Nansheng glanced at Zhao Qingyi, who had followed them, and snorted.
"She's always looked down on your false high - mindedness. She hates you. If you didn't follow me, she wouldn't follow me either. Naturally, we wouldn't have a fight."
Su Hele didn't expect her to be so straightforward. Her face stiffened, and for once, she looked serious.
Seeing this, Su Nansheng ignored her and walked straight into another jewelry shop.
But just as Su Nansheng was selecting jewelry inside, the familiar female voice rang out again.
"Oh, which one has Madam Su taken a fancy to this time?"
Su Nansheng closed her eyes for a moment and then turned around. Sure enough, she saw Su Hele standing right behind her.