Lu Ying's expression softened a bit, and she shoved the hairpin into Jiang San Niang's hand, saying, "Then it's yours!"
He moved swiftly and decisively, handing her the hairpin as if he had gotten rid of a troublesome person, and strode away.
Jiang San Niang glanced at his back, but her curiosity remained focused on the hairpin. It was just a silver hairpin with a slender body, intricately carved with patterns, and a round ruby set in it. The hairpin was smooth and bright, with several tassels hanging down, swaying slightly in the wind.
This hairpin looks like it was made with care. He must love his sister very much, right? Jiang San Niang pursed her lips and carefully inserted the hairpin into her hair.
Lu Ying's voice rang in Jiang San Niang's ears again. Jiang San Niang was startled and turned her head sharply. Lu Ying's gaze fell on the hairpin in Jiang San Niang's hair, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
"What's up?"
Lu Ying was holding a bucket filled with hot water, which was steaming. He put the bucket on the ground and said casually, "It's cold, don't take cold showers. Get some rest!"
After saying that, he left again, as if he had never been there.
As soon as Lu Ying left, Bai Nuo came out. She stepped into the courtyard and saw Lu Ying's retreating figure and Jiang San Niang standing there. She couldn't help but ask, "What were you talking about?"
Bai Nuo's words were like a fine needle, a needle that threatened to pop a bubble. Jiang San Niang quickly gathered the bubble back into her arms, shook her head, and said casually, "No, it's cold, and the water is cold too. I just asked him to help carry a bucket of hot water. Is Master Hu asleep?"
Bai Nuo looked down and saw a bucket of hot water on the ground. Without thinking much of it, she sat down on the stool and said, "Isn't that right? It's only mid-August, and it's already so cold."
In my past life, even long after the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was still incredibly hot. It's true that a better environment makes a difference in climate.
Jiang San Niang also sat down and silently crossed the water.
Bai Nuo handed her the washed bowl, and as she turned her head, she inadvertently noticed the hairpin in Jiang San Niang's hair. She asked in confusion, "Sister San Niang, when did you get this hairpin? I didn't see you wearing it while we were eating."
Jiang San Niang's heart was pounding like a deer's, and she said somewhat flusteredly, "No, I was wearing it just now, you just didn't notice."
Yeah?
Bai Nuo thought to herself with doubt, racking her brain to recall what happened that afternoon. She really hadn't noticed Jiang San Niang. Maybe she was mistaken. "Oh!"
Jiang San Niang was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
The next morning, after having breakfast at the Bai family's house, the group took a carriage to the town, some returning to the cloth shop and others to the Duobao Pavilion.
At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), Duobaoge opened its doors on time, and soon welcomed its first customer.
"You've arrived?" Qinghe greeted them familiarly, asking with a smile, "Would you like something? Please come in and have a seat!"
It wasn't just one person who came, but several, all five of them women. Qinghe glanced at them and saw that they were all dressed very well, so her smile became even more genuine. If all five of them bought something, her commission would be enormous.
Starting last month, Miss Bai gave her a commission system; the more she sold, the more money she would get. Miss Bai called this a commission, so Qinghe worked extra hard.
“I…” one of the women spoke up, “I’m here to see your manager, could you ask her to come out for a moment?”
The woman stood in front of the five people. She was quite pretty, with her hair styled in a married woman's bun. She was about twenty years old and the petite of the five. She wore a red peony-patterned jacket with a diagonal opening, a white silk skirt, and a white belt tied in the middle. The skirt just covered her feet, revealing the tips of her white shoes.
The woman's face was slightly pale, and she wore no makeup or jewelry. Her plain appearance made her look somewhat fragile and easily broken. Qinghe calmly sized up the group and said with a smile, "Please come in, everyone. I'll go and call the manager."
Qinghe ushered everyone into the hall, served them tea, and said with a smile, "Please wait a moment, everyone." Then she quickly went upstairs, whispered a few words in Bai Nuo's ear, and Bai Nuo frowned at her, "Are they all downstairs now?"
Qinghe nodded.
"Here's what you're doing. Go and call Second Master and Lu Ying over here. I'll handle things here!"
Qinghe nodded, and the two of them went downstairs one after the other.
Upon entering the hall, Bai Nuo greeted them with a smile, "Greetings, everyone. I am the manager here!"
While Bai Nuo was speaking, Qinghe secretly slipped out from behind him, but before she had taken more than a few steps, she was stopped by a tall woman.
The woman was not only tall, but also had a deep, somewhat hoarse voice. She pointed at Qinghe's retreating figure and called out, "Hey, where are you going?"
Qinghe stopped abruptly, one foot even stepping over the threshold, looking at the woman with some unease. Bai Nuo, however, didn't seem to mind, waving Qinghe away before explaining with a smile, "Oh, my aunt is here, but my brother isn't home. I asked her to go find my brother and bring him back to entertain my aunt."
Since they had already said that, the woman felt embarrassed to say anything more. Bai Nuo looked at them and smiled, "My little maid isn't here, but I can introduce you to someone. What would you like?"
"What do you have here? Show it to me first!" the woman who spoke first exclaimed.
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