Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 508 - 506

Chapter 508: Chapter 506

"Why don’t you come in and select, Miss Rui’an? It’s crowded here, and we can avoid any disturbance. I will bring some fabric samples for you to look at," Madam Liu lifted the curtain and invited Xiao’er inside.

Xiao’er nodded.

As tea was being brewed, Madam Liu personally brought the best fabric samples from the cloth shop.

"These fabrics are all new this year, just arrived this morning. I’ve just finished sorting them and was planning to display the samples and post announcements first thing tomorrow. You have come at just the right time, Miss Rui’an. If you’d come any earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to show you the complete collection," Madam Liu explained.

"That just proves these new fabrics and I are fated to be together. Remember to give me a good price when you do the calculations," Xiao’er chuckled upon hearing this.

"Of course! With your beauty and grace, Miss Rui’an, I hope you’ll stun everyone at the banquet wearing clothes made from our shop’s fabric. That would surely bring prosperity to my business!"

A few years ago, the Nichang Pavillion also sold ready-made clothes, but it was not their main business. After Xiao’er’s clothing store opened, the profit from selling ready-made clothes in the Pavillion decreased. Therefore, Madam Liu decided to stop selling clothes and only sell fabric. She also cooperated with Xiao’er’s clothing store by supplying fabric to them, which has actually increased her annual income by more than a thousand silver taels compared to the past.

"Madam Liu surely has a way with words. Rest assured, if there is a banquet, I will definitely wear clothes made from your shop’s fabric to amaze everyone."

"I sincerely thank you for that, Miss Rui’an!" Madam Liu replied joyfully.

"No need to thank me, it’s inevitable," Xiao’er joked. "I purchase all my clothing fabric from you, so if I don’t wear clothes made from your fabrics to the banquet, what else could I possibly wear? My bare skin?"

"Bare skin?" Madam Liu was momentarily puzzled by the meaning of that phrase.

"Just running around naked!" Xiao’er winked at her playfully.

Running naked? Does that mean not wearing clothes? Madam Liu wanted to spit out her tea but forced herself to gulp it down, ending up choking. Even though she had wide experience dealing with people from all walks of life, she was still caught off guard by Xiao’er’s bold remarks.

"Did I scare you, Madam Liu? My sincerest apologies." It was just a playful joke, why make such a fuss about it? Xiao’er suddenly felt peeved.

"It’s nothing, Miss Rui’an. You’re candid and straightforward. I just lack... worldly experience", Madam Liu waved her hand, finally catching her breath.

Neither the elderly, women, nor children she knew have ever dared to utter the word ’naked’ so directly.

Xiao’er stopped teasing her and started to choose her fabric, asking Madam Liu for her opinions and advice meanwhile.

Seeing this, Madam Liu sighed with relief. She was genuinely worried that Xiao’er, who would never be content until she had made a startling remark, might provoke her to spit out her tea again.

When talking about fabrics, Madam Liu could wax eloquent about the collection in her shop.

Under Madam Liu’s persuasive influence, Xiao’er ended up buying several bolts of Tianluo ice silk, along with a few bolts of premium brocade and cloud yarn.

Thus, fabrics for her family’s summer clothes were settled upon.

"When you deliver the fabric to the villa, Madam Liu, please bring some samples along for my sister to choose from. It’s time to decide on the fabric for the summer clothes in our shop," Xiao’er added.

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu obliged immediately.

Madam Liu saw Xiao’er off, promising: "Take care on your way, Miss Rui’an. I will send someone to deliver the fabrics to your villa shortly."

Xiao’er nodded.

Next to Nichang Pavilion was an embroidery shop. As Xiao’er walked out of the pavilion, she heard a familiar voice.

"Boss, how much can I get for this lace and handkerchief?"

"Five coins for the lace, the handkerchief..."

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao’er looked over and sure enough, it was Du Yijin.

Despite her wearing a veil and despite the long time they did not see each other, Xiao’er recognized her instantly.

If a confrontation was unavoidable, Xiao’er should not have hidden in the coffin shop a while ago. It was such an ill-omened place!

But considering Du Yijin’s visit to the pawnshop followed by her selling embroidery, Xiao’er couldn’t help but wonder how desperately Du needed silver.

Remembering her family’s situation, Xiao’er began to understand better.

When Du Yijin heard Madam Liu’s words, she also glanced over. Seeing that miss Rui’an was looking right at her, she quickly turned her head away to avoid Xiao’er’s gaze, even though she was veiled. Simultaneously, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

To think that she, a noble lady, would have to resort to selling lace and handkerchiefs to make ends meet. How could she not be embarrassed?

Knowing that Du Yijin did not want her identity to be revealed, Xiao’er withdrew her gaze and strolled away from the store, as if nothing had happened.

Once she was at a distance, she told Yang Liu: "Please invite Miss Du to the Four Seasons Restaurant. Tell her I need her help with something."

Yang Liu nodded.

The Four Seasons Restaurant was not far ahead, Xiao’er walked over there while Yang Liu went to find Du Yijin.

Not long later, Yang Liu brought Du Yijin.

Xiao’er stood up.

Du Yijin offered Xiao’er a bow.

Miss Du, there’s no need for formalities, please have a seat," Xiao’er urged.

After she sat down, Du Yijin finally asked, "What do you need me for, Miss Rui’an?"

Xiao’er nodded, her gaze firmly fixed on Du Yijin’s, "Miss Du, are you in need of silver?"

Xiao’er’s question was sincere and straightforward, without a hint of condescension, which made it impossible to take offense. It seemed just like a casual expression of concern.

Realizing that she was being overly secretive earlier, Du admitted straightforwardly: "Yes, I do."

Xiao’er knew the situation at Du’s home, so she did not ask why. Instead, she asked if a certain villa in the suburbs belonged to Du.

Upon hearing this, Du couldn’t help but change her expression. That villa was the only dowry left by her mother.

She has sold the jewelry left her today.

She was desperate for cash to pay for her older brother’s education and her younger brother’s medical expenses.

Life was tough with a wasteful stepmother in the house.

Du refused to sell the villa in the suburbs. Her stepmother did not know of it, and her elder brother relied on the annual income from the villa to pay for his tuition.

Only if her brother became a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations, could their lives take a turn for the better.

"Miss Rui’an, I will not sell that villa." Even though selling it would provide her with a large sum of silver, she didn’t know where the silver would eventually end up.

"Don’t worry, Miss Du, let me finish. I am not someone who would take advantage of others’ misery. I am not interested in buying your villa. I am simply proposing a cooperation that would make your villa generate more silver," Xiao’er explained.

Du let out a sigh of relief. As long as she doesn’t have to sell the villa, it’s fine, "I don’t think you’re taking advantage of me, Miss Rui’an, it’s just that the villa means a lot to me. But I do want to make more silver. How do you propose we cooperate?"

Being without silver, it felt as if she was unable to make a move!

Xiao’er shared her ideas with Du.

The more Du listened to her, the more amazed she became, "Is that really possible?"