The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 121

The Third Madam, feeling uneasy, instructed her younger son, Wang Shuxu, and her eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Miao, to accompany them.

“By the way, where has Chu’er gone? She’s been out since early morning.”

Madam Miao explained, “Isn’t her father about to remarry? She went back to her maternal home to help with the wedding preparations.”

No one knew that this was merely an excuse Xie Yunchu made for herself—she had actually gone to her shop for the grand opening.

The Wang family set off, and upon reaching Copper Gong Street, the second young lady, Wang Shuqin, wanted to visit the shops for new clothes and jewelry. The fourth young lady, Wang Shuya, wished to accompany her. Wang Shuyi, afraid of being left behind alone, quickly grabbed Wang Shuya’s hand. “You can pick anything from my jewelry box later, but tonight, you must stay with me no matter what.”

Wang Shuya understood at once—Liu Zhuo was coming to see Wang Shuyi, and she was embarrassed, so she wanted company. Wang Shuya agreed.

Madam Miao could only instruct Wang Shukuang and Wang Shuxu to take the third and fourth young ladies to admire the lanterns, while she took the second young lady shopping.

By now, it was the second quarter of the hour of the Rooster, and the lanterns had just been lit.

That night, the streets were bustling with fragrant carriages and glowing lanterns stretching endlessly. Vendors pushed carts adorned with all sorts of decorative lanterns, calling out to passersby. Impoverished children set up small bamboo tables displaying colorful pastries for people to taste.

The Wang family was known for its generosity, and the Eldest Young Madam instructed the servants to buy some pastries with silver coins to distribute among the accompanying maids and guards.

The streets were packed with people, and the riverbanks were lined with row upon row of shops. Beyond the storefronts, numerous boats crowded the waterways, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and more.

Liu Zhuo, being thoughtful, chose a pavilion and invited the Wang family inside for tea and lantern viewing. Wang Shukuang and Wang Shuxu engaged in lively conversation with him, while the Wang sisters squatted on a stone platform by the water, setting lotus lanterns afloat.

Not far away, a maid was forcibly dragging a young woman toward the riverbank, pointing toward the pavilion.

“Miss, look! Your cousin is attentively hosting the Wang family. What will you do?”

Shen Xiang, draped in a plain shawl over a sapphire blue blouse, exuded a confident radiance. She scoffed. “What do you mean, ‘what will I do’? He’s courting his bride, and I’m enjoying my lanterns. What does any of this have to do with me?”

The maid forced a smile. “Your aunt has always treated you as her own. Ever since Master passed and Madam fell ill, she took you in, hoping for you to marry into the Liu family as the main wife. Now that this dream has shattered, aren’t you upset?”

Shen Xiang rolled her eyes at the night sky. “The Liu family has never thought highly of my background. I’m not a fool. If not for my aunt treating me well, I wouldn’t have bothered dealing with them at all. Enough, enough—he can marry his dainty, noble wife, and I’ll find my own ideal match. We won’t get in each other’s way.”

Sweeping her gaze over the dazzling night market, she suddenly perked up. “Wait! Do you remember that new clothing shop we passed the other day? Their garments were exquisite, and there’s nothing like them near the Liu residence. I have some spare silver on hand—let’s go buy some beautiful outfits!”

The Liu family had once been merchants, and although Shen Xiang had lost her father at a young age, she still had control over a considerable sum of wealth. She had always been extravagant in her ways.

The master and servant duo cheerfully arrived at the main street of Tongluo Street. Xie Yunchu’s shop was located at the corner of the street’s far end. Though not in the most prominent position, its display was striking. On this day, she had arranged for lion dances and dragon performances, firecrackers crackled in celebration, and people on the colorful pavilions flanking the shop tossed copper coins into the crowd, attracting many onlookers.

A young servant boy stood at the entrance, holding a pot of specially crafted silk flowers, calling out loudly, “Today, any lady who enters the shop to try on clothes will receive a silk flower as a gift.”

These silk flowers were unlike any commonly seen on the market. Their designs were unique, and each petal bore a delicate imitation of the kingfisher feather inlay technique. This novel craftsmanship intrigued many young ladies, who gathered in groups of threes and fives to enter the shop.

Once inside, they found the shop’s interior to be splendidly decorated. The space was spacious, illuminated by rows of floral lanterns. A staircase led up to the second floor, where a row of elegant private rooms awaited. Each room was adorned with an exquisite silk flower and bore poetic names such as “Spring Breeze Lingering” and “Autumn Waves Settled”, evoking a sense of romance and charm that left visitors reluctant to leave.

As soon as Shen Xiang stepped into the shop, she noticed a dispute unfolding at the entrance of one of the private rooms on the second floor.

“I was the first to pick this robe, so it should be mine!”

“What do you mean by that? Whoever pays first gets it!”

The young girl with round eyes was furious. “But I tried it first!”

“Exactly! I saw it looked good on you, so I decided to buy it.”

“……”

Her words drew a burst of laughter from the surrounding onlookers.

The round-eyed girl was on the verge of tears. “I don’t care! I want this robe! Shopkeeper, make another one for me!”

The shopkeeper smiled apologetically and raised his voice to explain, “Dear customers, please forgive us. Each style in our shop is produced in limited quantities—once sold out, there will be no restocks.”

“Are you foolish? If others want to buy it, why not make more? Just create a few more pieces, and the problem is solved. Only an idiot would refuse to make money!” The crowd murmured in astonishment.

The shopkeeper bowed repeatedly. “It’s not that we don’t want to restock, but that we simply can’t. You may not know this, but all our fabrics come from the southern seas. This gauze fabric has a limited annual production. Even if I wish to make more garments, I lack the materials to do so.”

The crowd sighed in understanding. “No wonder it’s so expensive.”

Upon hearing that the shop’s garments were limited in quantity and wouldn’t be restocked, some quick-witted customers immediately rushed into the private rooms. Without even bothering to try the clothes on, they hastily purchased anything that seemed to match their size. In no time, the counter was packed with customers waiting to check out.