allonlinenovel Chapter 121 Gu Xinyi's life is not easy?
Chapter 121 Gu Xinyi's life is not easy?
Gu Hanyue was thinking about how to reconnect with Su Xiuran when she looked up and saw a familiar figure.
Gu Hanyue beckoned to the maid beside her: "Doesn't that person greeting the guests over there look familiar? I can't quite place where I've seen him before."
The maid looked in the direction Gu Hanyue was pointing and said, "Madam, isn't that a lotus flower?"
"Lotus? The girl next to Gu Xinyi? You're not mistaken?"
"Madam, I can't be mistaken, it is indeed a lotus flower."
Gu Hanyue scoffed, "Looks like Gu Xinyi's life hasn't been easy since the divorce; even her own daughter has to go out and earn money to support her."
The maid whispered in agreement, "Of course! Her divorce was a messy affair, and the Madam must have felt ashamed of her. It'll be even harder for her to remarry after the divorce."
Gu Hanyue touched the hair at her temples, and her depressed mood dissipated considerably.
"Let's go see some old acquaintances."
The maid helped Gu Hanyue to Hehua's side. Hehua's vision blurred, and she instinctively said, "Please queue up if you want custom-made clothes."
The person in front of her hadn't left, so Lotus looked up at them. The person said, "What? Pretending not to know me?"
She pursed her lips. "Never mind," she thought, "Miss said guests are always welcome." Lotus bowed slightly. "I'm sorry, Madam Lin, there are just too many people and we're too busy. Do you need custom-made clothes or are you looking at ready-made garments? I'll have someone show you around."
Gu Hanyue didn't reply but asked, "Your young lady must be having a hard time, right? You're even being sent out to do odd jobs to earn money."
Lotus was about to say something when her eyes suddenly lit up: "Yes, why don't you buy more clothes, Mrs. Lin, to support us? I'll get a two-copper-coin commission for every dress you buy."
Two coins? It seems Gu Xinyi is having a really tough time; she's even struggling to earn two coins.
Give her a couple of coins; she's her own sister after all. She really does like the clothes here; buying a set shouldn't cost much.
"Then, for the sake of our sisterly bond, I'll lend you a hand."
Lotus smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Madam."
Lotus waved her hand: "Apricot Blossom, come quickly! Madam Lin wants to help our young lady. Please take good care of her and make sure she buys the clothes she wants!"
Lotus winked at Apricot Blossom, who immediately understood: "Yes, I understand, Sister Lotus. This way, Madam Lin."
Gu Hanyue followed Xinghua as they made their selections. Gu Hanyue inquired, "What is your young lady doing? All her maids have gone out to do odd jobs, while she's hiding in her room enjoying herself?"
Xinghua glanced upstairs; the young lady was entertaining guests, not hiding away to enjoy herself.
"No, our young lady does everything herself; she's very busy."
Doing it personally?
Gu Hanyue imagined doing everything herself: chopping wood, pouring tea, changing clothes, cooking, and making pastries.
That's true, even her maids are doing odd jobs, so she has to do everything herself.
Overwhelmed by a sense of superiority, she straightened her posture, feeling more pleased than ever before.
"Since my sister is having such a hard time, buying her clothes is a way of helping her. I'll tell her all about it later."
Xinghua: "Yes, thank you, Madam."
Xinghua picked out whichever dress was the most expensive: "Wow, Madam, this dress suits you so well, it even makes your skin look fairer!"
Gu Hanyue glanced at the clothes; they were a magnificent garment, with patterns outlined in gold thread that shimmered in the sunlight.
Gu Hanyue nodded: "It really looks good, and it'll make you look good in public. How much does this dress cost?"
"Not expensive at all, eighty taels."
Gu Hanyue was taken aback. Eighty taels wasn't expensive? She was starting to doubt her decision.
"How is this expensive? With Madam Lin's wealth, she can definitely afford it. Besides, it's covered in gold thread, so if you don't like the dress anymore, you can just remove the gold thread."
"This dress looks good no matter how you look at it, and it makes you look good no matter how you wear it."
Gu Hanyue was somewhat tempted by what she heard. She decided to buy one and let Gu Xinyi see her financial situation. They were from two different worlds now, and Gu Xinyi could never afford such an expensive dress.
"Okay, I'll buy it for my sister's sake."
Xinghua smiled and said, "Hey, Miss, you've made another sale."
Xinghua smiled even more brightly, leading Gu Hanyue to the accessories section: "Madam, this dress paired with this belt is simply perfect."
The products recommended by Xinghua are all expensive.
"This...this is too expensive! Ten taels for a belt?"
"Not expensive at all. This belt is just right for the outfit. Look at all the other belts, none of them are as luxurious and opulent as this one."
Gu Hanyue thought that since she had already spent eighty taels, wouldn't it be a waste to use an unsuitable belt?
Buy it then.
"Fine, I'm only doing this for your young lady's sake."
"Yes, yes, Madam Lin is truly beautiful inside and out."
Xinghua would push expensive items to Gu Hanyue, praising her to the skies and making her feel elated.
Before she knew it, she had bought quite a lot. When she went to pay, the shopkeeper smiled broadly and said, "Thank you for your patronage, Madam. After the discount, the total is three hundred and sixty taels."
Gu Hanyue's eyes widened: "Three hundred and sixty taels? How can it be so expensive?"
Shopkeeper: "Madam, the price has already been discounted."
Gu Hanyue was starting to change her mind; over three hundred taels was a bit beyond her budget.
She felt like she hadn't bought that much!
Xinghua: "Madam, three hundred taels is really not expensive. The quality clothes you bought would cost at least five hundred taels in other stores."
Seeing this, the others said, "Madam, if you don't want it, just give it to me. If it were my size, I would take it. We didn't see this style before."
"Yes, this belt is also very nice. Madam, are you perhaps short of money?"
"You're buying clothes when you have no money?"
"The clothes here are already considered cheap compared to other stores of similar quality. What are you doing coming in if you don't have money?"
Gu Hanyue blushed awkwardly, "How could I not have money? Can't I at least ask about the price?"
Gu Hanyue took out some silver from her bosom: "Shopkeeper, check please. I was just asking about the price. Is it not allowed to ask questions in your shop?"
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Of course, madam. Here's your change. Please keep it."
Gu Hanyue finally felt she had regained some face. However, seeing how much money she had spent was still painful, even though she had already decided to reconcile with Su Xiuran.
As she was leaving, she caught a glimpse of a pale yellow figure wearing a mask helping a lady downstairs.
Lady Zhan?
Madam Zhan patted the hand of the woman beside her: "The clothes you designed are so beautiful. I am a military general, and it's really inconvenient for me to do anything with these wide sleeves. The ribbon you designed is wonderful; it's both practical and stylish."
Gu Xinyi smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, Madam. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything."
Gu Hanyue watched with envy. That was a first-rank imperial consort, and she had tried to arrange a meeting with her for a long time without success. At every banquet where the consort was present, she had to fawn over her with smiles.
I've never seen her laugh so heartily before, but why does this woman wearing a face mask look so familiar?
The maid nudged Gu Hanyue: "Madam, that looks like the eldest young lady."
Young Miss? The only person her maid would call her Young Miss is Gu Xinyi!
Why is Gu Xinyi here, and why is she on such good terms with Madam Zhan?