"Second brother, what do you think?"
Feng Jin Yao asked, holding the jade pendant in her hand. This item was so precious that it was undoubtedly the Qiao family's heirloom. It was detestable that her third aunt had not only tricked it out but also pawned it as a dead mortgage.
"The Bai family will not take responsibility for this. After I investigate the whole matter, I will definitely make third aunt give an explanation!"
The Bai family's reputation in Dongdu City had always been good. It had not been long since Madam Shen returned, and she had already caused quite a few jokes. Her daughter was also a troublemaker. Although he was an outsider, he had heard many glorious deeds about this "legitimate daughter" of the Bai family.
Madam Shen, still unaware that her whereabouts had been exposed, was smugly thinking that this trip had been worthwhile.
Three thousand taels, a full three thousand taels. The banknotes were now lying in her embrace, and her back no longer hurt as much. The New Year festival no longer felt gloomy. She felt as if she had been enlightened, her mood exceptionally good.
She hurried back to Bai Si Han's courtyard. As soon as she entered, she saw her sitting listlessly on a stool, idly embroidering with a handkerchief.
Embroidery was not her forte, but embroidering a handkerchief with a pattern was not difficult.
Since the Wei family's banquet last time, she had not had the chance to step out of the Bai family's door, let alone attend any lively events to show off. Naturally, her mood was unhappy.
Dong Qing, serving by her side, was careful, fearing that any slight dissatisfaction from Bai Si Han would implicate her.
Seeing Madam Shen arrive with a beaming smile, she was somewhat puzzled.
"Han'er, come quickly, Mother wants to see."
These days, Madam Shen had been resting in bed and had not appeared much. Today, she came with a happy expression. Bai Si Han asked curiously, "Why has Mother come? It's freezing cold, don't hurt yourself. If there's anything important, just send someone to call your daughter."
Madam Shen sat beside her with a smile. Dong Qing placed a soft cushion on the stool, and the wound did not hurt as much.
"Didn't you fancy something from Zhenbao Zhai? Tomorrow, no, today, let's go. We've been in Dongdu City for quite some time, and we haven't gone out for a stroll yet, right?"
Bai Si Han's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "Mother..." She brightened for a moment, then her expression dimmed. "But where will we get the money? The jewelry and accessories from Zhenbao Zhai, any one of them costs dozens of taels of silver. My father's monthly allowance is all spent, and aren't you also short of money?"
Hearing her daughter speak so sensibly, Madam Shen affectionately stroked her hair. She only wore a plain silver hairpin, which she had brought from Qiongzhou. Thinking of the elaborate attire of the noble ladies at the banquet some days ago, Madam Shen felt even more heartache.
"Don't worry, Mother has money. You just pick whatever you like."
"Really?"
"Really!"
With a confirmed reply, Bai Si Han no longer cared where the money came from. She immediately put on her shoes and socks, draped her cloak, and happily linked arms with Madam Shen, heading out.
As they walked, she confirmed again, "Mother, can I really choose?"
"Of course. My daughter is so beautiful, how can she not have some decent jewelry? The festival is also approaching, and the people visiting the Bai family are all important figures. Even if you can't attend the banquet, just dress yourself up charmingly. If someone comes to visit, go to your eldest aunt's room and serve them well. If you catch the eye of some noble lady, wouldn't that be a great leap forward?"
The Prince Kang's mansion was too high to reach? It didn't matter, other places would do.
In the vast Dongdu City, there were prince's mansions and marquis's mansions. There would always be discerning people who would take a liking to her daughter.
Didn't the bitch from the eldest branch have no children?
Let Han'er flaunt herself in front of her every day and anger her to death!
If Madam Lin disagreed, she would cry and complain to her father-in-law to secure a future for her daughter.
The mother and daughter got into the carriage and headed straight for Zhenbao Zhai.
Zhenbao Zhai catered to noble customers, so its facade was naturally magnificent and grand. The shop had three floors, and the items on each higher floor became more expensive. Some even only had designs, requiring a deposit and a wait for the craftsman to complete the work before they could be obtained.
As soon as they entered, the dazzling array of goods made Madam Shen and her daughter's eyes blur. The shop assistant noticed their greedy expressions and, seeing their attire, assumed they were not customers who could afford the goods. Therefore, although their enthusiasm was present, it was not sincere.
Bai Si Han's eyes were filled with these beautiful jewelry and accessories, and she paid no attention to the shop assistant's thoughts.
"Quickly, bring out all your best items, this young lady wants to see them."
"Yes, honored guest, please come inside."
Although the shop assistant was a bit snobbish, Dongdu City was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. His snobbery would not be easily revealed. He arranged for tea to be served and brought several boxes from the first and second floors for Madam Shen and her daughter to choose from.
The sapphire blue enamel pearl hairpin, the pearl and jade tassel, the butterfly-patterned jade hairpin. After opening a few sets, Madam Shen was not very pleased. These items were far inferior to those sent by Princess Wen Yi last time, so she said with a stern face.
"What shoddy goods are you trying to pass off on us? Do you think this old lady can't afford them?"
With that, she took out a thousand-tael banknote from her embrace and slapped it on the table, startling Bai Si Han so much that she almost spilled her tea.
Seeing the money, the shop assistant's politeness turned into genuine respect. He immediately slapped himself twice and quickly apologized to them.
"Oh dear, this humble one's eyes were poor and did not recognize you as noble guests. Please proceed upstairs. The good items are all on the third floor, and I guarantee you'll like them at first sight!"
Madam Shen felt much more at ease seeing him groveling.
Bai Si Han also benefited from this. Money really talked in this day and age.
The mother and daughter went up to the third floor. The shop assistant stopped at the door and was replaced by a man dressed as a shopkeeper who greeted them obsequiously.
"Honored guests, please come in. Whether you want ready-made items or custom orders, as long as you can name it, our Zhenbao Zhai will fulfill it."
With that, he pushed open the door to the third-floor private room. Upon entering, they saw a set of low-key yet luxurious rosewood cabinets. On top of them were placed several exquisite porcelain vases, with red-hearted sandalwood plum blossoms inserted. If not for the guide, the two of them would have thought they had stumbled into a study.
Bai Si Han was getting impatient, seeing no good items.
"Shopkeeper? Where are your goods? I don't see them."
The man heard this and knew that this mother and daughter were first-time visitors. He said with a gentle smile, "Miss, please don't worry. Just come closer and take a look."
They saw that the surface of the rosewood cabinets was not wood but extremely rare colored glaze. This served as a tabletop, reflecting the treasures inside, making them even more dazzling.
What cleverness, what skill, no wonder it attracted so many noble ladies here.
Madam Shen secretly took a breath, suppressing the hint of smugness in her heart, fearing that her unsophisticated appearance would be seen as a joke by the shopkeeper. Thus, she put on a noble demeanor.
"Take out the items. Looking at this thing gives me a headache."
"Yes."