Chapter 17
After dinner, Ye Tianhui hurried to pay the bill. Gu Shizhang sat at the table and watched her pay the bill calmly.
This meal is not cheap. Generally, it costs only a few Hong Kong dollars at a roadside stall, but this meal costs more than 60 Hong Kong dollars.
Normally, the monthly wage for ordinary workers in Hong Kong is more than 2,000 Hong Kong dollars, so this meal costs a coolie a day's wages for working at the dock.
Ye Tianhui couldn't help but sigh. She found that if you are willing to spend money, you can eat delicious food, but if you are not willing to spend money and eat at roadside stalls, the food will not taste good, so you still have to have money.
After she paid the bill, she saw Gu Shizhang smiling at her. The smile was quite meaningful, even a bit of gloating.
Ye Tianhui raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at Gu Shizhang in confusion.
Could it be that this person let her treat him, and then just stood by and watched her pay the bill?
What kind of thinking is this...
Gu Shizhang laughed and said, "Is it too expensive? Did it cost you a lot of money?"
Ye Tianhui: "It's okay. You've been nice to me and helped me so much. I'm just treating you to a meal. It's all I should do."
Gu Shizhang smiled and said, "Come on, I'll take you home."
The two of them walked out of the restaurant.
As soon as I left the restaurant, I realized it was raining outside. The drizzle was pouring down, and the asphalt road was already shiny. It was getting late, and the street lights were on, and the sky was bleak and hazy.
Ye Tianhui looked at the rain and thought that it wasn't too heavy, so she could just rush out. The bus stop over there could block the rain, and she wouldn't get wet once she got on the bus.
Who knew that at this moment, Gu Shizhang somehow conjured up a three-fold umbrella.
Ye Tianhui looked at him in surprise: "Where did you come from?"
Gu Shizhang had only two words: "Magic."
Ye Tianhui snorted lightly: "Liar!"
Gu Shizhang pressed his thumb lightly, and the umbrella opened steadily. The big umbrella protected both of them, and they walked towards the bus stop together.
At this time, the original prosperity of the streets had dissipated a lot, and only a few pedestrians holding umbrellas were walking hurriedly on the streets.
With the lights scattered around, the whole street seemed to be covered with a layer of gauze with a hazy glow.
The two of them walked together under the umbrella. As they walked side by side, the misty raindrops fell at their feet. Ye Tianhui saw that their shoes were very close to each other.
He was wearing leather shoes and she was wearing sneakers she had recently bought.
Ye Tianhui looked at it and felt a little dazed.
If she didn't turn her head to look at the man beside her, she would feel like she was dreaming back to her hometown and would recall the past.
She still remembered that year when the Saint was still the Crown Prince, he went to inspect the border on behalf of the late Emperor, and it was she who accompanied him and protected him all the way.
It seemed like it was a night like this when they came out of the post station and unexpectedly encountered rain. She was holding an umbrella to hold it for the prince, but he took it instead.
It was a cool rainy night, and she was afraid that the prince would catch a cold, so she took off her cloak to keep him warm.
But the prince looked at her but did not take it.
She looked over in confusion, only to see darkness and displeasure in his eyes, with a hint of offense and coldness.
She didn't understand what was wrong with him at the time, and even felt that his temperament had become particularly strange since he was appointed crown prince.
She had no choice but to lower her head respectfully and remain silent.
After a long time, she finally sighed and said, "Hui Hui."
"Huihui" is her nickname, and her family has been used to calling her that since she was a child.
But after she joined the army at the age of thirteen, no one called her that anymore except her family elders.
When she heard the prince calling her like that, she was frightened.
The young and noble crown prince finally took the cloak she offered with both hands and put it on.
Later, he always looked at her with a cold and distant look.
"Miss Ye, are you cold?" A voice suddenly came from beside me, light and polite, as if it was just a casual question.
Ye Tianhui was stunned for a moment, and her thoughts were instantly pulled back to reality.
She pursed her lips mechanically, then said, "It's not cold."
Gu Shizhang looked at her silently, as if he wanted to see through her, and then he suddenly smiled.
In the cold night, she looked at his smile and her heart shrank.
As for his guess, I would become suspicious, then deny it, then become suspicious again after denying it, and this cycle would repeat over and over again.
Gu Shizhang took off his coat and handed it to her: "Put it on."
Upon hearing this, Ye Tianhui just looked at him without reacting.
Seeing that she didn't move, Gu Shizhang raised his hand and put his coat on her.
In the misty rain, the refreshing scent of a man instantly enveloped her, like the fragrance of some kind of shower gel, which smelled very comfortable.
She raised her eyelashes and looked at Gu Shizhang in the dim night, but saw that he was also looking at her with his eyes lowered, with a consistent calm expression on his face.
She met his gaze and whispered, "Why did you give me your coat?"
Gu Shizhang was silent for a few seconds before speaking: "Maybe I'm afraid you'll be cold..."
His voice was low and gentle, and Ye Tianhui shuddered when she heard it.
She took a sudden step back.
Her subconscious step back made her retreat outside the umbrella, and the cool raindrops hit her face.
Through the misty rain, she looked at him under the umbrella.
The clear-cut facial features and slightly sharp lines are so vivid and familiar.
It would have been fine when they were far away, but now he was so close, practically enveloping her, stirring up the emotional reactions buried deep within her soul.
Gu Shizhang walked over and covered her with a large umbrella, his tone somewhat helpless: "What's wrong?"
Ye Tianhui shook her head: "Nothing."
She subconsciously clutched her coat tightly. It was his, and it was warm with his scent and body temperature.
She whispered, "Let's not do it. I'm not afraid of the cold. I'll give you my coat back. I don't want to wear your coat."
Her words were a little incoherent, but she was clearly expressing her refusal.
Gu Shizhang held up the umbrella and just looked at her, and she actually seemed to be stuttering.
After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly smiled and said, "Don't be like this."
Ye Tianhui blushed a little, and felt a little embarrassed and annoyed: "What if I don't want it?"
Gu Shizhang: "It's just a coat. As a man, I should have some grace. I can't see a woman wearing thin clothes next to me. It doesn't fit my style."
As he spoke, his eyes flashed with innocence, and he smiled helplessly and said, "Can you at least give me a chance to show my gentlemanly demeanor?"
...It seems to make some sense.
Gu Shizhang coaxed in a low voice: "Let's go, otherwise it will rain heavily and we will all get wet."
Ye Tianhui: "Okay."
Gu Shizhang walked forward with her holding an umbrella.
Although the umbrella is larger than an ordinary umbrella, it is still a bit cramped for two people to share. When walking side by side, their shoulders are almost touching.
She was wearing Gu Shizhang's suit jacket, and the sleeves of the jacket would occasionally brush against his arms.
She felt that everything was very subtle.
It was clearly his suit jacket and his shirt, but now the jacket was on her and the shirt was his.
She even had the illusion that she was being hugged by him.
At this time, Gu Shizhang said, "Listen to this song. Do you like it?"
Ye Tianhui's brain paused for a moment before her attention shifted from the sleeves of her suit to her ears, and then she heard a song coming from the cafe next door.
It is a very sweet and soft voice, as ethereal as silk, with a special kind of sorrow and sadness in this rainy night.
She thought for a moment and said, "It's okay. It sounds good, very touching and sad. I've never heard such a song before."
In her previous life, she was a general with weapons and armor, and in this life, she is a female worker wrapped in blue and green clothes. Perhaps she will never be able to sing such a soft and sweet tune.
Gu Shizhang: "Do you understand?"
Ye Tianhui shook her head: "I can understand most of Cantonese now, but if it's spoken too fast, or the pronunciation of the lyrics is not clear, then I can't understand it."
Gu Shizhang: "This seems to be a song from a TV series from two years ago, sung by a recently famous female singer. It's called 'Jingjing'. Do you want to hear the lyrics?"
Ye Tianhui looked at him curiously: "You actually knew?"
Gu Shizhang: "Of course, the lyrics are about the stars in the sky. The general idea is, Jingjing, Jingjing, all alone, like a cold star in the sky, drifting alone in the vast sea of people in search of her mother."
Ye Tianhui recalled the tune: "No wonder I felt a little sad when I heard it, this is exactly me."
Gu Shizhang looked sideways at her: "Why are you alone?"
Ye Tianhui thought of her biological father, the Ye family, and the "mother" of the mainland: "I am just drifting alone in the vast sea of people."
Gu Shizhang laughed dumbly: "What nonsense are you talking about? I think you are the luckiest person in the world."
Ye Tianhui: "How could that be!"
At this time, a gust of wind blew, cool and moist. Gu Shizhang slightly turned sideways and blocked it without leaving a trace.
Then he said, "You've only been in Hong Kong for a few days, and you've already made friends. Are the people having dinner with you today your friends from mainland China? You two know each other very well."
Ye Tianhui: "I think he's a friend from mainland China. I wouldn't say we're that close, but we've only met a few times."
Gu Shizhang: "Oh, not familiar with him? You even invited him to dinner."
Ye Tianhui looked at him suspiciously, thinking that he was a bit petty.
She then said, "That's because he did me a favor. Besides, we're both from the mainland and have met before. It's nice for us to be friends and help each other out. Isn't that great?" "I treated him to a meal, and it only cost ten Hong Kong dollars for the two of us. I treated you to a meal, and it cost sixty Hong Kong dollars!"
She pronounced the number "60 Hong Kong dollars" very clearly, and then said, "That's totally different. The money I used to treat you to a meal could have been used to treat him to ten meals!"
Gu Shizhang smiled and said, "Then I'm getting a great deal."
Ye Tianhui: "You have to remember that for me, money is the only criterion for measuring friendship."
Gu Shizhang thought thoughtfully: "Then my friendship is worth sixty Hong Kong dollars."
************
Arriving at Ye Tianhui's residence, Gu Shizhang took a look and saw the old buildings in a dilapidated state. From afar, he could see clothes hanging out to dry in the sun in each house and temporary kitchens built in the corridors. There was even a small hut made of canvas under the building. Next to the hut, an old man was squatting next to the garbage, eating with a bowl in his hand.
In the misty drizzle, people could be heard talking animatedly, playing mahjong, and discussing horse racing downstairs.
There was also the sound of an old lady arguing with someone, cursing in Cantonese at a deafening sound.
Gu Shizhang: "Are you used to living here?"
Ye Tianhui: "It's good, he's a nice person and treats me very well."
Ever since she beat up that gangster, everyone who saw her called her "girl" affectionately. Even the prostitutes looked at her with admiration, and the old ladies who rented houses there were so enthusiastic that they wanted to bring her food.
Gu Shizhang nodded: "Which floor do you live on?"
Ye Tianhui: "Seventh floor."
Gu Shizhang: "Do you want me to take you upstairs?"
Ye Tianhui quickly shook her head: "No, there are too many people here, if anyone makes any movement, everyone will know."
Gu Shizhang: "Oh?"
Ye Tianhui: "If you send me home, they will definitely misunderstand."
Gu Shizhang asked, "What's the misunderstanding?"
Ye Tianhui wanted to say that she misunderstood that I was dating, but she also realized that it was a bit ambiguous to say so.
She looked away and said lightly, "Maybe she misunderstood me as a prostitute."
Gu Shizhang was startled for a moment, then bowed his head slightly and gritted his teeth, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Ye Tianhui smiled and asked, "How are you going back?"
Gu Shizhang: "I'll take the bus, it should be very convenient."
Ye Tianhui was about to take off her coat, but Gu Shizhang raised his hand, and his slender hand landed steadily on Ye Tianhui's shoulder, stopping his movement.
Ye Tianhui looked at him puzzledly.
Gu Shizhang: "It's cold now, it's easy to catch a cold, don't be disgusted, wear it first, and return it to me when you buy a new coat."
Ye Tianhui: "Aren't you cold?"
Gu Shizhang: "Nothing, I'm not cold. I'll give you the coat, and I'll take the umbrella back."
Seeing this, Ye Tianhui was not polite: "Okay, if it doesn't rain tomorrow, I will go shopping for clothes and return them to you after I buy them."
Gu Shizhang nodded: "If you have any ideas about the lottery, you can tell me and I can help you analyze it."
Ye Tianhui smiled: "Okay, I'll ask you for advice when the time comes, otherwise I really don't know what to do."
Gu Shizhang: "As for job opportunities, I will help you find out."
Ye Tianhui: “Yeah!”
Gu Shizhang: "Then I'm leaving?"
Ye Tianhui smiled and said, "Be careful on the road!"
Gu Shizhang: "I think your place is a bit chaotic. You go upstairs first. I'll watch you go upstairs."
Ye Tianhui nodded, said goodbye to Gu Shizhang again, then quickly ran into the house and went upstairs.
Gu Shizhang stood there, watching Ye Tianhui raise her hands, protecting her head with both hands, and rushing into the corridor.
There seemed to be a couple kissing passionately under the eaves nearby, but she ignored it, as if she didn't see it.
When she rushed into the corridor, he could no longer see her.
His gaze slowly moved upwards and slowly fell on the seventh floor.
On a hazy rainy night, with the help of the faint light, he could see a row of open corridors on the seventh floor. The corridors were crowded with makeshift stoves, where the tenants cooked their meals.
He saw that many rooms had lights on, but only two or three bedrooms were dark. He just didn't know which one she lived in.
He held the umbrella and watched silently. When another gust of wind blew, he saw a figure appear in the corridor on the seventh floor, and the figure seemed to wave at him.
He smiled and waved at her.
Following the rain, the two waved goodbye, and he made a gesture to leave, and she closed the door.
After the door closed, the light quickly came on.
The slightly dim light seemed peaceful and warm in the misty rain.
Amid the dripping rain, Gu Shizhang stared at the lamp silently for a long time, until the lamp went out, and then he finally turned around.
He walked out of the alley and saw a low-key business car parked in the rain and fog.
A man in a suit and tie was waiting in front of the car, holding an umbrella.
The other person lowered his head and respectfully stepped forward to hold an umbrella for Gu Shizhang.
Gu Shizhang nodded expressionlessly and got into the car.
*************
After careful study and consideration, Ye Tianhui started betting again. This time she wanted to bet one thousand Hong Kong dollars, so that she could have three thousand Hong Kong dollars left for living expenses, which was considered quite generous.
Even if the one thousand Hong Kong dollars was gone forever, she would not be left destitute.
After studying the projects she was about to bet on, she took the HK$1,000 and divided it into ten parts, betting HK$200 at each betting station, all according to the strategy she had formulated.
She went to ten betting stations in this way. Fortunately, there are betting stations everywhere in Hong Kong, which is very convenient, otherwise she would not be able to run to them all.
Holding a large stack of lottery tickets, she put them away and went to the streets of Mong Kok. It was already late when she arrived, but the night market here had just begun. The streets under the neon lights were at their busiest, with shops lining the streets and crowds of people. It was said that this place was the city that never sleeps in Hong Kong.
But the clothes here are really too flashy, exaggerated leather jackets, fancy Hawaiian shirts, and wide shoulder clothes. Ye Tianhui couldn't accept it for a while.
It is not easy for people to break through themselves. She couldn't imagine herself wearing such clothes.
Finally, she picked out two nice-style sweaters, a women's suit jacket, and three pairs of trousers. These clothes were not cheap, costing her more than 100 Hong Kong dollars, but Ye Tianhui felt that with these clothes, she could get by for a while.
After returning home, she washed all her newly bought clothes and also washed Gu Shizhang's coat, thinking of returning it to him later.
Gu Shizhang also quickly replied to Ye Tianhui. He contacted the Hong Kong Pentium Stables, which was invested by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Foundation. It was built seven or eight years ago and is the largest stable other than the Happy Valley Racecourse.
Gu Shizhang said, "Actually, compared to the stables at the clubhouse in Happy Valley, this place was built in recent years, so the standards for breeding and training thoroughbred horses are higher and more complete. They're practically identical to the highest standards currently available in the UK. Some wealthy people in Hong Kong already train their racehorses at the Pentium Stables. If you go there, you should be able to learn a lot."
Ye Tianhui was naturally a little excited when she heard this: "That's great, are you sure you can go? Is it settled?"
Gu Shizhang looked at her excited expression and said with a smile: "Don't be too happy too soon. I just introduced you to an opportunity. Whether it will succeed or not depends on you."
Ye Tianhui: "What do you mean?"
Gu Shizhang: "You need to take an exam. You can only enter after passing the exam."
Ye Tianhui was speechless for a moment: "Another exam? Why do we have to take exams everywhere? What are we testing on?"
Gu Shizhang: "Physical fitness test and language."
Ye Tianhui frowned when she heard the words.
She is not good at English and her Cantonese is not good either. She can never compare with the local people in Hong Kong in this aspect.
Gu Shizhang: "The physical fitness test includes eight items, including cardiopulmonary function, balance, hand-eye coordination, flexibility, and grip strength. Height and weight are also taken into consideration."
He glanced at her and said, "You're thinner, so it should be fine."
Ye Tianhui: "Is there a weight requirement?"
Gu Shizhang said, "Although you're applying for the position of stable assistant, they hope that the employees they recruit have greater flexibility, so they will meet the standards of jockeys. Jockeys have weight requirements."
Ye Tianhui understood. Through the previous rules about handicap, she roughly understood that the horse's weight was also a key factor in the competition. From this, it can be inferred that the weight of the jockey is of course also a major deciding factor.
Especially in this kind of short-distance competition, where the inherent physical advantages of the participating horses are eliminated by carrying weight, if the rider weighs a few pounds more, it can almost drag down a good horse.
She thought for a moment and said, "I think I should be fine with these physical tests, and my weight should be within a reasonable range. If that doesn't work, I can control it a little and make adjustments. But what about the language test?"
Gu Shizhang looked at Ye Tianhui with a smile: "Of course it's English."
Ye Tianhui: "English?"
She was a little confused: "He's just a jockey, isn't he just riding a horse? Why is he taking an English test? Horses can't understand English!"
Gu Shizhang: "Horse racing originated in Britain, so jockeys who don't know English will lose out on opportunities. Of course, you could consider this a disadvantage or a prejudice, but they do test English anyway."
He looked at her with a smile and asked, "How is your English?"
Ye Tianhui was a little depressed: "Not very good..."
She said helplessly, "We also study English, but I've never been very good at it. Our English teacher isn't very good either, and the school doesn't really pay much attention to it."
Gu Shizhang: "That won't work. You have to be able to speak everyday language, otherwise you won't be able to pass the test and you won't be able to succeed in the application."
Ye Tianhui: "So difficult..."
It turns out that it’s not that easy to survive in Hong Kong.
Gu Shizhang: "You can't be so discouraged. You should at least prepare well and cram at the last minute. Maybe you can pass."
Ye Tianhui puffed out her cheeks and said helplessly, "What should I do? Will you teach me? Didn't you get a certificate in the UK and have been to South Africa? You must be very good at English, right?"
Gu Shizhang listened and smiled. "My English may not be that good, but I have no problem with daily conversations and equestrian terminology. After all, I've been exposed to it in an environment like that at the horse farm. But if you don't want to learn, then forget it."
Seeing his slightly indifferent expression, Ye Tianhui hurriedly said, "Then teach me, at least so that I can pass the test."
Gu Shizhang: "Oh, you really want to learn? It's not easy to learn, and I'm very strict."
Ye Tianhui: "What else... I want to find someone to teach me, but there's no one to teach me. I only know someone as good as you."
Gu Shizhang raised his eyebrows slightly: "Really?"
Ye Tianhui was sincere and serious, almost swearing to the heavens: "Really! You are the best!"
Gu Shizhang suddenly smiled, his dark eyes full of interest: "Okay, then I'll teach you English, but you have to treat me to dinner again tomorrow."
Ye Tianhui: "Okay."
Gu Shizhang: "I see you're a little reluctant, right?"
Ye Tianhui: "No, not at all."
She felt that Gu Shizhang was a very scheming person, but there was nothing she could do as she really needed his help.
She had no choice but to say: "I'm not unwilling, I'm just a little reluctant, after all, I'm poor!"
Gu Shizhang looked at her frowning face, which looked very worried and heartbroken, and smiled: "Didn't you win some money?"
Ye Tianhui muttered, "I won, but I'm also afraid that I'll lose later!"
She held her chin and said helplessly, "I see you have high standards for food. You spend dozens of Hong Kong dollars on a single meal. Wouldn't I be running out of money very quickly?"
Gu Shizhang smiled and said, "Look how worried you are."
Ye Tianhui blushed slightly and snorted, "You know how a penny can make a hero fall? Even if I have a lot of kung fu skills, can I still steal or rob? I don't have much of a job!"
Gu Shizhang coaxed him, "Actually, you don't have to worry. I've inquired about it. Although their treatment is average, employees eat for free inside, so as long as you can successfully get in, you won't have to worry about food and drink."
Ye Tianhui: "Really?"
Gu Shizhang nodded: "They are very strict in selecting employees. Not just anyone can go. The selected employees are also well trained and naturally have various preferential benefits."
Ye Tianhui: "That would be great!"
She knew that the food in places like this was probably much higher-end than what she ate at street vendors, and higher-end food was always delicious.
Gu Shizhang smiled and said, "Let's go to a nearby park and find a quiet place. I'll teach you spoken English first."
**************
Gu Shizhang has a nice voice and speaks fluent English.
Ye Tianhui didn't understand English very well, but she knew he had a good accent.
His teaching attitude was quite good. He did not laugh at her unbearably poor and stiff English. He patiently taught her to speak English and carefully corrected her incorrect pronunciation.
After going over a dozen English sentences four or five times, Ye Tianhui was finally able to cope with it. Gu Shizhang then taught her English related to equestrianism, such as rein, gieth and saddle. Of course, he also taught her some relevant knowledge about equestrianism and some English actions, such as heels down, shoulders back and half halt.
These words were not easy for Ye Tianhui, but fortunately she still knew some of the words, so it was not difficult to remember them based on this. However, the pronunciation and ease of use required Gu Shizhang to teach her slowly.
Gu Shizhang taught her for a whole afternoon before she finally felt a little better.
Gu Shizhang then gave her a radio: "You can receive some English radio programs. You can listen to them when you have nothing to do."
Ye Tianhui: "Okay."
Gu Shizhang smiled and said, "I learned a lot today. Let's go and have dinner."
Ye Tianhui: "What to eat?"
Gu Shizhang tilted his head and looked at her with his dark eyes: "It depends on what you want to eat."
He added with a smile, "I'll treat you."
Ye Tianhui hurriedly said, "No, no! You've helped me so much, as long as I still have money to eat, I'll treat you!"
Gu Shizhang: "I'll treat you this time, otherwise I'm afraid my net worth of 60 Hong Kong dollars will drop by several limits."
********
As expected, Gu Shizhang got the recommendation assessment opportunity. He gave Ye Tianhui a training invitation letter, which detailed the things that needed to be prepared, and then he left.
From what he said, the jockeys are very busy with the recent horse racing competition. He didn't have much work to do recently so it was just a day off, but now he probably has to work overtime.
Ye Tianhui naturally understood and said that she could go.
Before leaving, Gu Shizhang stopped again and looked at Ye Tianhui.
Ye Tianhui: "Hmm?"
Gu Shizhang looked at her with a smile and said implicitly, "I just got paid this month and have some money on hand. If you need anything, I can lend it to you temporarily without charging you interest."
Ye Tianhui smiled and said, "No need, I think it's enough for me to spend!"
Gu Shizhang reminded: "Please take a look at the notes on this document. You still need to prepare some clothes."
Ye Tianhui: "Okay, I'll see. I'll do whatever they tell me to do!"
Gu Shizhang glanced at her and said nothing more before leaving.
After Gu Shizhang left, Ye Tianhui opened the interview notice and took a look. There was a booklet in it that gave a detailed introduction to the Pentium Horse Farm, as well as an analysis of the job content and prospects of her position. It also mentioned the content of the assessment she would undergo and introduced a list of items that should be prepared.
Ye Tianhui took a look and found out that breeches, riding boots, tops and non-slip and sun-proof gloves were needed. She also mentioned that if there were no special requirements, helmets were not required, as the stable would provide helmets for the interviewees.
She looked at the list and felt helpless for a moment. If a poor person couldn't afford these things, wouldn't he not even be eligible to take the exam?
So those who can go to this kind of horse farm to take the interview exam must have some connections and not be short of money, right?
But in order to get in, she had no choice but to buy it.
She took the list, took the bus to the mall, and went to the equestrian counters. It turned out that all of them were very expensive. An ordinary-looking polo shirt cost one or two hundred Hong Kong dollars, or even several hundred Hong Kong dollars!
It’s so deceptive…
Ye Tianhui studied it and decided that there was no other way but to buy the breeches and boots, but she could replace the gloves and top with ordinary gloves and a similar style ordinary T-shirt, which could save some money.
She bought a few items that were on sale, and finally it was her turn to look at riding boots.
These riding boots are the biggest and most expensive. She first visited a brand store here that looked very famous, thinking that she would learn about them first, and then choose a pair with good value for money.
The clerk didn't pay much attention to her because she was dressed in ordinary clothes. When she opened her mouth to ask him questions, he spoke in mainland Chinese dialect and still had a smile on his face, but that smile clearly showed tolerance and contempt.
Ye Tianhui understood this and ignored it. She was just looking around anyway and couldn't expect too much. No one introduced her, so she would just look around on her own. As long as they didn't kick her out, it would be fine.
She soon discovered that these riding boots also came in a wide variety. Not to mention the styles, there were many different materials. For example, leggings were divided into leather and cloth, and riding boots were divided into pure leather and leather. If both leggings and riding boots were made of real leather, the price would be very expensive.
Because this is a well-known brand, the leather is very good and the styles are also beautiful.
Ye Tianhui saw a girl next to her trying it on, and she looked really heroic after putting it on.
She thought that when she had money she would buy one like this.
In fact, she also had to wear boots when riding horses in her previous life, and they were made of top-quality leather, a tribute bestowed by the emperor. As for the workmanship, it was the fine craftsmanship cultivated by her family, and they were comfortable to wear.
But now those are just thoughts, things are different now.
As I was watching, I saw a few customers coming, and suddenly I heard the waiters become enthusiastic, with a bit of flattery in their words.
Ye Tianhui looked over and happened to see Ye Wenyin.
There were four or five people in the group. They were Ye Wenyin and her friend. Both of them were dressed gorgeously and fashionably, and there were two or three maid-like figures following behind them.
The waiters respectfully invited Ye Wenyin and her group to the VIP area nearby. It seemed that Ye Wenyin had ordered two sets of riding boots from this store, and she came here specifically to try them on.
At this time, the waiter took out two sets of riding boots and introduced them to Ye Wenyin enthusiastically: "This is purely handmade, using top-grade Nile crocodile leather. Miss Ye, take a look here——"
The waiter explained how comfortable and luxurious these riding boots were, and how their comfort and support were unmatched by ordinary riding boots.
As she was speaking, Ye Wenyin raised her eyes and happened to see Ye Tianhui.
She looked at Ye Tianhui in surprise: "Why are you here like this?"
Her voice was soft and slow, with a hint of surprise.
When she said this, the waiter next to her was good at observing people's words and expressions. Naturally, he realized what Ye Wenyin meant, and hurriedly explained with a smile: "This lady just came to take a look, she is not our guest."
Another waiter came forward and asked, "Miss, is there anything else you need?"
Although he spoke politely, his tone was very clear, he wanted to drive Ye Tianhui away. He obviously felt that Ye Tianhui was a bit shabby and it would be an eyesore if she stayed here.
Upon hearing this, Ye Tianhui wanted to leave immediately. After all, she really didn't plan to spend money to buy anything, and there was no point in being despised here for nothing.
Who knew Ye Wenyin would smile and call out to Ye Tianhui: "Did you eat the snacks I gave you that day?"
When she said this, the waiters nearby were a little surprised. They didn't expect that Ye Wenyin actually knew Ye Tianhui.
Ye Tianhui looked at Ye Wenyin's smiling face and said, "Thank you, Miss Ye. It's delicious."
Ye Wenyin nodded and said, "You like riding horses, do you want to buy some riding boots?"
Ye Tianhui also said: "I do plan to buy one, but the ones here are too expensive, I can't afford it, so I just came to take a look and broaden my horizons. I thought I would buy one somewhere else later."
Seeing this, Ye Wenyin sighed and said to her companions, "She is from the mainland. It's rare that someone who grew up in a place like the mainland knows equestrianism. I think it's not easy."
Several female companions and maids nearby, as well as several customers from nearby shops, all looked at Ye Tianhui curiously.
They all had some knowledge. When they saw a person, they would first look at the clothes and the materials and workmanship. They could tell at a glance that Ye Tianhui's clothes were cheap, even worse than the clothes of the Ye family's maid.
Sympathy welled up in everyone's eyes. One of the women asked curiously, "Are you guys not getting enough to eat in the interior? Have you ever seen a horse before?"
The other female companion said, "There shouldn't be any. How can there be horses in the mainland?"
Everyone thought the same and laughed. Ye Wenyin smiled and said, "A few days ago, I saw on TV that it was really not easy for these mainlanders to come here. I mentioned it to my second aunt, and with her approval, I donated some clothes to the squatter camp. It can be considered as doing my part."
Everyone listened and laughed, "Wen Yin, you have such a kind temper. No wonder everyone says so well about you."
Ye Wenyin looked at Ye Tianhui and said with a gentle smile, "If you like riding but can't afford riding boots, I can give you a pair of riding clothes and boots. Although they are my own, they are good ones and definitely better than those cheap ones you can buy outside."
Seeing this, the waiter smiled and complimented, "Ms. Ye is such a kind person! Your riding boots are all custom-made from us. They are all good. It is our honor to have a customer like you."
As she spoke, she looked at Ye Tianhui: "Why don't you thank Miss Ye quickly?"
Ye Tianhui has never been able to refuse other people's kindness.
She doesn't care about self-esteem, doesn't have the sensitivity of the poor, and doesn't have much moral sense. She will never despise something given to her by others out of kindness. As long as she needs it, she will accept it all and be grateful.
However, she still felt a little subtle discomfort with everyone's discussion.
It was as if I were a monkey that jumped out from the mountains. Everyone looked at me as if I were an alien, some with curiosity, some with pity, some with condescending charity, and I openly and loudly displayed my kindness in front of everyone.
Everyone was looking at her, as if waiting to see her say thank you, waiting for her to burst into tears of gratitude and accept the old riding boots given by Miss Ye.
She became a little rebellious.
She chuckled and said, "Of course we've seen horses in the mainland. With such a vast territory and abundant resources, how could there not be horses? It's just that we don't race horses. As for boots, we naturally wear them."
She looked at the carefully tailored handmade crocodile boots beside her and smiled, "We just don't wear those."
When she said this, everyone looked at each other with subtle expressions on their faces.
A female companion beside him said with a smile: "No way, what are you wearing? Are you going to ride a horse in straw sandals?"
Straw sandals?
Everyone became curious and asked what straw sandals were, and then they all laughed together.
Ye Wenyin didn't laugh. She looked at Ye Tianhui inquiringly, then said, "There's no need to laugh, everyone. It's just pitiful."
At this time, other people also looked over. After all, it was quite rare to see a northern girl in a shopping mall like this, and everyone was curious to watch the fun.
As everyone was looking at her like a monkey, Ye Tianhui said, "For riding boots, we use either cowhide or sheepskin. If you're just riding for fun, you wear sheepskin boots. Sheepskin is soft and light, and comfortable to wear. But if you're riding for a long time, you wear cowhide boots. Cowhide is strong, wear-resistant, and durable."
Everyone was a little surprised when they heard this, but she seemed to understand it very well.
Ye Wenyin frowned slightly and stared at her closely.
Ye Tianhui felt Ye Wenyin's special attention to her.
She continued with a smile, "Horseback riding is a skill, not a beauty pageant, nor is it some fancy trick. It's naturally durable and practical. Of course, not everyone understands this. For example, some people with better financial conditions don't know what horseback riding is, or even don't know how to ride at all. They just pay attention to details, like using silk or other expensive materials, thinking they're superior, but in reality, it's just fancy stuff. Those shoes will break after a few days. Saying she's here to ride is more like pretending."
When she said this, everyone's faces changed slightly. After all, her words instantly offended everyone, from customers like Ye Wenyin to the waiters in the store, and even those who were watching the fun nearby, all of them were implicitly belittled by her.
One of Ye Wenyin's female companions curled her lips and said with amusement, "She's just a northern girl. What does she know? Yet she comes here to act pretentiously. If you can't afford it, just say so directly. Why bother? Who will laugh at you?"
The waiter also said, "Do you know what Nile crocodile leather is? It's a crocodile from Africa. This leather is specially supplied to Hermès luggage. Have you seen it? Do you know what Hermès is?"
Ye Tianhui said coldly, "I really don't know what Nile crocodile skin is, but I know that it's not suitable for making riding boots."
This made everyone laugh: "Do you understand? This is high-end custom-made!"
Ye Wenyin looked at Ye Tianhui who was talking so eloquently, without saying a word, and just watched silently from the side.
Ye Tianhui glanced at the riding boots and said, "This Nile crocodile leather has fine grain and a bright, translucent finish. It really looks beautiful. This kind of leather would be perfect for making beautiful shoes for everyday wear. However, this Nile crocodile leather is too fragile and cracks easily. It's easy to crack due to friction during daily riding."
She smiled and said, "Think about it. You're riding a horse, and suddenly your shoe breaks. Wouldn't you feel ashamed? It's like using a golden hoe to farm. You think you're being extravagant and beautiful, but in reality, it's all show and no use. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell you're an amateur."
When she said this, the girls present were naturally very angry. Seeing this, Ye Wenyin persuaded them, "Forget it, let's not bother with her. Don't pay any attention to it. It's better to have less trouble than more."
However, Ye Wenyin's good temper made the girls even more indignant. One of them even stepped forward and asked, "What do you know? You told me that Nile crocodile leather will crack?"
The two waiters naturally felt greatly insulted. "You're slandering our product! This is premium Nile crocodile leather, the same material Hermès uses. This leather is five times stronger than cowhide. How could it crack?"
Ye Tianhui: "Oh, do you believe it? If you pull on it, the boots will split apart."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
