Three bedrooms
The Song Emperor's birthday was approaching, and Cao Jiao called the shop assistants from "Jinlufang" and "Diancuilou" to prepare to select clothes and jewelry to be worn on the state banquet.
"Jinlufang" is the largest garment workshop in the capital, and it is also Jin Linlin's dowry shop!
"Diancuilou" is the most fashionable jewelry store in Beijing.
The two sisters-in-law and Aunt Zi sat on the stone bench in the yard, leisurely sipping tea and admiring the flowers.
The sun was already high in the sky when several shop assistants came in carrying large boxes, bowing and nodding as they said, "Madam, these are the new jewelry from 'Dian Cui Lou'." They looked back and saw that the shop assistants' booth was filled with a dazzling array of jewelry.
Hairpins, hairpins, step-shaking ornaments, earrings, waist ornaments, necklaces, etc., all kinds of them, sparkling brightly in the sun.
The guy over there also said cleverly:
"Madam, this is the new material that Jinlufang has brought from the south. Please take a look and see which one you like."
The spacious yard was packed with things. Jin Linlin happily put down her teacup:
"This 'Jinlufang' is my dowry shop. The clothes that my aunt and Jiaojiao wear to the state banquet are my responsibility." After saying this, she puffed out her chest with a proud look on her face.
Cao Jiao covered her mouth and laughed secretly, looking at Jin Linlin's little appearance, which seemed so funny.
Aunt Zi smiled and put down the tea bowl. She picked out an exquisite headband with a crabapple flower pattern and a beautiful peacock hairpin, and said:
"I don't attend banquets, so I don't have much choice. I've been traveling a lot these past few years, and I've always been wrapped in cloth. It's a bit strange to suddenly wear these."
Then she looked at the fabric: a moon-white piece of material, faintly embroidered with bamboo, and smooth to the touch.
"This is called Rain Silk Brocade," the waiter introduced. "It's very cool to wear in the summer."
Another piece of pomegranate red cloth was embroidered with a chubby doll playing among the flowers. She gently ran her fingers across the cloth, thinking to herself: Zisong will look good in this.
Finally, she picked out two pieces of cloth and a piece of gray-blue cloth for her casual clothes. When the clerk was packing them, he said, "Madam, you have a good eye. These pieces of cloth are just right for us now."
She smiled slightly and said nothing, but she was thinking in her heart: I was most comfortable when I was out there making a living. Unfortunately, I am old now and my body does not allow me to go out anymore.
At that moment, Cao Jiao was rummaging through a pile of jewelry when her hand suddenly stopped at a pair of ruby earrings. They were a dazzling red, like a burning flame. She picked them up, put them on her ears, and looked at herself in the bronze mirror beside her. She instantly became radiant and charming.
Jin Linlin looked at it, a hint of joy in her eyes, and said slowly:
"Jiaojiao looks truly stunning in these earrings." Cao Jiao smiled slightly, put down the earrings, and said in a deep voice, "Although these earrings are beautiful, they are too conspicuous. It's better to be low-key at a state banquet."
Then, she began to choose clothes, and finally settled on a light blue moonlit dress embroidered with delicate orchids, which was fresh and elegant.
Seeing this, Jin Linlin hurriedly said, "The state banquet will last for three days. You must wear formal attire on the first day, but you can dress more casually on the second and third days. You can choose two more sets."
Cao Jiao frowned slightly and said, "It's summer now, so it's appropriate to wear light and refreshing clothes. So I chose a purple chest-length skirt and a silk gauze jacket skirt."
Jin Linlin picked and chose, and finally chose a light yellow brocade robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns, which was very luxurious.
She looked pleased and said, "If I wear this gown at a state banquet, I will surely outshine all the other beauties." Then she went to pick out some jewelry.
She picked up a kingfisher hairpin inlaid with emeralds and gently shook it. The gems on the hairpin sparkled with a charming light. "This hairpin matches my robe perfectly," Jin Linlin said with a satisfied smile.
At this moment, a clerk took out a small box and carefully opened it, revealing a pearl necklace. The pearls were round and plump, emitting a soft luster.
"Madam, this is a new South Sea pearl necklace we just bought. It's very precious," the clerk said respectfully. Cao Jiao's eyes lit up, and she put it on her neck, instantly adding a touch of nobility.
Jin Linlin was delighted when she saw them, but when she thought about how much she had already chosen, she had to hold back. Finally, the three of them had chosen their clothes and jewelry for the state banquet, and the staff had carefully packed them.
The two sisters-in-law and Aunt Zi all found these beautiful things very pleasing to the eye.
Everyone then stopped and started packing up the things they had chosen.
The guy packed up the remaining things, put them in the box, and slowly backed out.
After Jin Linlin handed the jewelry and clothes to Qiuyu, she saw the small poisonous insect slowly flying over and landing on her hand.
"Chong Chong, why are you here?"
The little insect lay obediently on her palm, as if saying, "I'm hungry."
Aunt Zi frowned:
"Girl, this Gu worm is raised with blood and flesh. Those vicious Gu masters will even use their own blood or flesh to raise it in order to control the Gu worm. Even ordinary Gu worms are raised with the blood and flesh of other animals."
Aunt Zi gritted her teeth:
"Don't get emotional with it. It'll go looking for its owner sooner or later. If it can't find its owner, it'll suck your blood. Don't be stupid."
Jin Linlin was frightened:
"Ah? Using your own blood? This little creature looks so cute, yet you have to feed it in such a cruel way? Then why is it pestering me? I didn't feed it with blood."
"I don't know about that. Its owner is your man's enemy. Don't trust this little guy too much."
Jin Linlin nodded and said she understood.
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