"Shu'er, what do you think of this one?" Just then, Shen Yanxi walked up to Shen Jinshu with a piece of clothing, interrupting her thoughts.
Shen Jinshu snapped out of her daze, glanced casually at the clothes in Shen Yanxi's hand, and immediately said something flattering, "Fourth Brother has such good taste, I like anything you pick."
Her eyes darted around, and she set her sights on Song Zhiyu. "Fourth Brother, let's pick out a few outfits for Second Sister too."
Before Shen Yanxi could refuse, she continued, "The family recognition banquet is in a few days. At that time, all the guests coming to the manor will be nobles from prominent families in the capital. I'm afraid that your clothes, Second Sister, are not presentable enough."
Shen Yanxi was instantly enraged. He was a hot-tempered man and could be easily provoked by Shen Jinshu. "She is already a low-class person, and she used such despicable means to force the Marquis's Mansion to acknowledge her identity. Why should I give her any face?"
"No matter what, Second Sister is still Fourth Brother's sister. Fourth Brother bought me so many clothes, it wouldn't be right to favor one over the other." Shen Jinshu gently shook Shen Yanxi's sleeve and playfully scolded him.
Shen Yanxi snorted coldly, "I never acknowledged her identity."
However, he did not refute Shen Jinshu's words. The family reunion banquet was already a done deal, and the invitations had already been sent out. No matter how much he resisted, it would be useless.
Rather than letting Song Zhiyu lose face at the family reunion banquet and make outsiders think that the family had mistreated her, it would be better to reward her with a few clothes. This would not only save face for the family but also make up for Shu'er's damaged reputation.
It's a win-win situation, so why not?
After thinking it through, Shen Yanxi crossed his arms, raised the corners of his eyes slightly, and spoke with an air of condescension, "Go and pick out a couple of outfits yourself. Don't let others think that the Marquis's mansion has really fallen so low that it can't even afford a few decent clothes."
"I knew Fourth Brother was the best! Second Sister, quickly pick out a few clothes you like as a gift for our first meeting." Shen Jinshu said with a beaming smile.
Song Zhiyu glanced at her with a detached look, "With this money, you might as well keep it to buy a coffin later."
I've heard that the businesses in those shops in the east of the city are seeing increasingly dismal revenue; I'm afraid it won't be long before they can't even pay their workers' wages.
With Shen Feng's meager salary, he simply couldn't support the entire large Marquis's mansion. He relied entirely on a few shops in the east of the city to maintain daily expenses.
Not to mention that the people in the Marquis's mansion are used to a life of luxury. Whether it's the bird's nest soup that the old lady has to serve every day, or the banquets that the women of the Marquis's mansion often attend, or the jewelry they purchase, it all depends on money.
It's hard to go from extravagance to frugality. How can someone who has always spent money like water get used to a life where they have to calculate how much money they spend every day?
Shen Yanxi's expression suddenly changed. Song Zhiyu was right. The shops that used to be the most profitable had been struggling ever since Song Zhiyu left, and their income was far from enough to cover the various expenses of the Marquis's mansion.
Furthermore, after the news of Shen Jinxiu's exile to Liangzhou came out, Third Aunt seemed to have gone mad and no longer cared about the shop at all.
If he hadn't overheard his father and third brother's conversation a couple of days ago, he wouldn't have known that the Marquis's mansion was already struggling to make ends meet.
But no matter how much the Marquis's mansion had declined, it was none of Song Zhiyu's business. His father and third brother were still alive, and he believed that these difficulties were only temporary.
The Marquis's mansion is such a behemoth that not just anyone can shake its foundations.
Song Zhiyu really thinks the Marquis's mansion can't function without her? What a joke!
Once they overcome this difficulty, and once Shu'er marries Prince Li in style, the Marquis's mansion will surely rise again.
He was still the same arrogant and extravagant fourth young master of the Marquis's mansion.
Thinking of this, Shen Yanxi's expression quickly improved, revealing a hint of smugness. He didn't forget to sarcastically remark, "Shu'er, don't listen to her nonsense. She probably can't afford anything here."
"The Feather Robe Pavilion has such low entry requirements now; they let just anyone in."
He tapped the table with his hand, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Manager, this person can't afford the clothes from Yushang Pavilion, yet she's still lingering here. She's really an eyesore. Why don't you hurry up and kick her out?"
"If she offends someone important and it affects your shop's business, that wouldn't be good."
The shopkeeper glanced at Song Zhiyu discreetly and noticed that her attire was simple and her clothes did not appear to be made of any expensive material. He figured it was just a young woman's vanity at play.
He had seen all sorts of people at the Feathered Robe Pavilion, mostly poor, penniless men who came to see the clothes but couldn't afford them.
If it weren't for orders from above not to treat guests differently, he wouldn't even want these people to enter the door, lest they be tainted with bad luck.
Yu Chang Ge was the premier clothing store in the capital, frequented by prominent figures and dignitaries. Not just anyone could do business with them.
The shopkeeper's eyes darted around, and he gestured for Song Zhiyu to leave, his words carrying a deliberate but unintentional sense of belittling, "Miss, if you can't afford the clothes, please leave now."
"The shop is too busy; we're afraid we can't serve you. Turn right as you exit; there's a regular clothing store there, perfect for someone like you."
"What kind of person am I, shopkeeper? How about you tell me? Openly kicking out customers, does your boss know about these things you've done?" Song Zhiyu smiled instead of getting angry, standing straight in front of the three people, neither humble nor arrogant, showing no embarrassment at being targeted.
The shopkeeper chuckled coldly. He didn't think his boss, who was far away in the north, would have time to concern himself with such trivial matters. "Hmph, even if my boss knew, he would agree with my approach."
"If you don't leave soon, young lady, I'll have to send someone to escort you out. Then you'll be the one who loses face."
"Fourth Brother, this isn't right, Second Sister..." Shen Jinshu couldn't help but tug at Shen Yanxi's sleeve, full of reluctance.
"Shu'er, you're just too kind. Kindness is often taken advantage of. If you had been a little more assertive, Father and Grandmother wouldn't have agreed to Song Zhiyu's request to reveal his identity."
"This is just a small lesson for her, so don't worry about it." Shen Yan patted Shen Jinshu's hand gently and continued to look up at Song Zhiyu's joke.
"Song Zhiyu, if you kneel down and beg me now, maybe I'll be in a good mood and help you. Being thrown out of Yushang Pavilion won't look good. Do you really want to continue going against me?"
He wanted to suppress Song Zhiyu as much as possible, crush her pride, and make her understand that without the protection of the Marquis's mansion, she was nothing.
Only by continuing to please them as before, keeping to her place, and not making any more mistakes, could she survive in this vast capital city.
"Kneel down and beg you? What, you've forgotten the pain once the wound heals? Your knees have healed so quickly?" Song Zhiyu's casual remark silenced Shen Yanxi.
Clearly, he had also recalled that less-than-pleasant memory, and his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com