Xiao Yunying went to the silver jewelry section and picked out a small silver lock. Three small silver bells hung from the bottom of the lock, and a gentle shake could produce a soft sound.

The shop assistant seized the opportunity to introduce the product: "Young lady, you have excellent taste. This silver lock is our best-selling item recently. The blank space in the middle can be engraved."

How much is one?

The shopkeeper explained in detail: "This silver lock is solid, weighing a solid three ounces. With the silver bell, and taking into account the cost of the fire and the labor, it's three ounces and two mace each."

The price is reasonable, and Xiao Yunying can accept it: "Are there four?"

"some."

"Give me four."

The shop assistant brought out the same silver lock for her to choose from, and then brought over paper and pen: "What words would you like engraved, young lady?"

Xiao Yunying picked four: "I'll write them myself."

Morning, sun, dawn, core.

"These four words."

"The young lady's handwriting is quite good, but this character..."

Xiao Yunying realized that she had written in simplified Chinese characters.

How do you write these four characters in traditional Chinese?

Never mind, I can't remember one: "Let's just carve it like this."

"Okay, would you like a silver necklace, young lady?"

"Wear it close to your body; a silver necklace is out of the question, it'll feel uncomfortable."

The waiter said, "Then I'll braid it with red string for the girl."

"Okay, thank you."

Xiao Yunying handed the silver lock to the shop assistant, picked out two pairs of silver clove earrings for herself, and returned to the gold jewelry section: "Have you chosen?"

Xiao Yunbai said, "I've made my choice."

Xiao Yunying glanced at what they had chosen and rolled her eyes.

Each of the three people held a pair of tiny golden lilacs, which looked exceptionally miniature in their large hands.

"Second brother, didn't you say you wouldn't be polite? If you're going to be polite, then pick this one. Father and Mother are already so old. Wearing this gold lilac that only young girls wear is dangerous. If Mother's eyesight is even a little worse, she won't be able to find it if it falls on the ground."

The waiter next to him couldn't help but laugh. Xiao Shan Hai blushed and put down the golden lilac: "How about I pick a bigger one?"

Xiao Yunying knew they were reluctant to spend money: "Father, I don't need you to pick them out. Eldest brother, second brother, quickly put the things down, I'll do it myself."

Xiao Yunying chose three gold hairpins of roughly the same weight: one in the shape of auspicious clouds, one in the shape of plum blossoms, and one in the shape of peach blossoms.

Each gold hairpin weighs about eight taels. Based on the conversion rate of one tael of gold to ten taels of silver, plus the cost of fire and craftsmanship, each hairpin costs eighty-five taels, which is slightly more expensive than silver ornaments.

Not long after, the silver lock was retrieved. The engravings were clear, and the woven red rope was just like modern ones. Several buckles were tied on both sides to secure the silver lock, and the other side was a pull cord that could be enlarged or reduced.

Xiao Yunying took everything to the counter to pay, and adhering to her fine tradition of "always bargaining when buying things," she asked the shopkeeper to give her the two pairs of silver cloves.

After packing the jewelry she bought into several boxes, Xiao Yunying returned to Jinxiu Pavilion with her belongings. Cheng Yue was having two shop assistants load cloth onto an oxcart.

"You're back so soon."

"I bought a hairpin for my mother and my two sisters-in-law."

Cheng Yue found a hemp rope and tied the wine jar and the cloth together to prevent them from getting upside down on the way: "Alright, I've got everything ready for you."

Xiao Yunying went in and paid the money: "Thank you very much. Next time I come, I'll invite you to my house for a housewarming party."

"I'm waiting, I'll get angry if you forget me again."

"Okay, I'll write it on my forehead when I get back."

The two said goodbye with laughter and conversation. Xiao Shanhai let Xiao Yunying sit on the oxcart, and he pulled the oxcart towards the city gate.

"Girl, slowly turn around and look, see if anyone is following us."

Should I slowly turn around? If someone is following me, they'll definitely become alert and hide.

Xiao Yunying acted unpredictably, suddenly turning her head to look behind her.

Seeing the alleyway not far away, Ling Qi and several Chen family servants were holding two people down on the ground. One of them was dressed like the manager of the Zhenxiu Pavilion.

Ling Qi didn't have time to drag them away, so he could only bite the bullet and nod to Xiao Yunying as a sign of respect.

Xiao Yunying roughly guessed why Ling Qi was following them, and waved to him with a smile.

"It's alright, Father. It's Young Master Chen's servant. He's probably here to protect us. The manager of the Zhenxiu Pavilion was with us, and he pinned him to the ground."

Xiao Shan Hai glanced back and said meaningfully, "Young Master Chen is a nice guy, he seems to care about you a lot..."

Xiao Yunying fiddled with the silver lock in the box: "He is a very good person. Don't let his status as a young master from a wealthy family fool you. He has no arrogant or domineering air about him. The phrase 'beautiful inside and out' can also be used to describe him."

Beautiful? Isn't that a word used to describe women?

How did you two meet?

"I met him when I went to his house to deliver snow fungus. We hadn't known each other for very long."

"He's already this concerned about you after knowing you for only a short time?"

Xiao Yunying straightened the red string and closed the box: "So he is kind-hearted. It's a pity that he seems to be in poor health. He has been taking medicine and his appetite has been ruined. When I sent him snow fungus last time, I taught his chef a few dishes. He should be thanking me today."

"I see."

Xiao Shan Hai looked his daughter over and realized she didn't seem to have any such intentions, which put his mind at ease.