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56 The Rich Man

When the city gate could be seen from a distance, it was already dark. Yusu held a lantern and rode up to meet them. With a car and more than a dozen horses, he passed through several brightly lit and lively streets and turned into a spacious In the alley, the car entered a very grand-looking courtyard gate and stopped behind the screen wall. Several women came up to meet them, put down their pedals, and opened the curtains.

Yushu got out of the car first, and then carefully helped Li Yan down. Li Yan got out of the car and turned his head to look around.

"This is the Xiaomingyuan Inn." Yusu took half a step forward, bowed slightly and smiled, "I told you to stop in Nanyang City for a few more days, and prepare all the manpower, cars, and other things that the girl will need on the way before starting. "

Li Yan hummed and followed the old woman inside.

Passing through a not-so-small garden, several women stopped in front of a small courtyard surrounded by low undulating parapet walls. Four or five middle-aged women in the courtyard came out to welcome them, standing on both sides of the courtyard gate with their hands down. He turned aside and let in Li Yan and Yushu, leading them along the small corridor and into the upper room.

The lights in the upper room were brightly lit, and the warm wind with a strong fragrance was blowing towards his face. Li Yan sighed comfortably.

The hot water in the clean room was ready, and several middle-aged servants were quick to change the hot water several times. Li Yan took a comfortable bath and came out to change his clothes. The food has been delivered, together with a hot pot , filled the table.

After dinner, the servant woman reported to Li Yan, and brought a tall and thin old doctor in. She checked the pulse carefully, looked at the wound, and prescribed a prescription. After a short while, she brought the medicine in, and Yushu gave it to Li Yan. Medicine was smeared on several wounds on his body that still had scabs that hadn't faded away, and Li Yan's sleepy eyelids clenched.

Li Yan's pillow was dark and sweet, and he slept until he scored three strokes the next day. When he woke up, he felt comfortable all over his body. The pain and fatigue of these days were all taken away by this sleep.

Just after breakfast, the maid came in with jade millet and reported through the curtain: "Girl, I asked if the girl is feeling better. If she feels better, I will accompany the girl to buy some things."

"It's much better, let's go now?" Li Yan stood up.

"Yes, my master is waiting outside." Yusu moved her hands aside, waited for Li Yan to come out, and then followed her.

Outside the courtyard gate, Pei Qing was wearing an indigo gown, standing under a plum tree, looking up at a pair of chirping birds on the tree with great interest.

Li Yan stood on the steps, looking slightly sideways at Pei Qing.She had seen him many times, but this was the first time she had looked at him so seriously, the first time she had seen him as a young man—a young, very good-looking young man, this was the first time.

The two birds jumped up and flew away suddenly. Pei Qing turned his head, met Li Yan's gaze, and showed a bright smile, "Let's go."

Li Yan went down the steps, Pei Qing watched her coming, turned around, and walked forward side by side with her, "Go to the tailor shop first, pick out the clothes, and then pick out some hairpins."

Li Yan hummed, feeling a strange feeling in his heart.No wonder, this was the first time she was accompanied by a young man to buy clothes and jewelry, and he paid for it.

Pei Qing led Li Yan through the garden, then through an alley with high walls on both sides, and after turning a corner, he arrived at a wide street full of people and bustle.

Pei Qing turned sideways slightly, and protected Li Yan as he crossed the street and entered a brightly painted shop in red and colorful across the street.

A middle-aged steward hurried up to meet him, Yusu greeted him and said a few words, the middle-aged steward hurriedly called two women in silk dresses over, one in front and the other in the back, showing great hospitality He led Li Yan and Pei Qing into a very spacious compartment.

"This girl looks strange." The mother-in-law smiled and chatted with Li Yan, "Coming to the small room for the first time? I have to trouble the girl. I have to measure the girl first. The girl is here, and the eldest sister is also here. This way please.”

The mother-in-law let Li Yan and Yushu behind the curtain, and several embroiderers carefully measured the size and sketched the shape of the feet. After a full quarter of an hour, the measurement was completed.

Li Yan came out from behind the curtain, and Pei Qing sat on the chair above, sipping tea. When he saw Li Yan coming out, he stood up and motioned to the long table next to him that was full of silks and furs, "You are afraid of the cold, Da Mao?" Make a few more clothes, these mink furs are passable, let them make you two cloaks, these silver foxes are also good, both cloaks and jackets are good.”

Li Yan's hand brushed over the silky furs, and the two women had already shaken off the silks and satins, "These sables are dark in color, and they can be suppressed most when paired with big red indigo. Miss, look at these." How about a piece of silk tapestry with dark patterns? This material looks old-fashioned, but in fact, the upper body is the most flattering, the girl is born so well, this material is really more juicy than water onions..."

The two women were selling around Li Yan with great enthusiasm. Li Yan was a little dizzy. What were the tapestry, brocade, feathers, yarn and gold nylons used for?
"Two mink fur cloaks match these two tapestry materials." Pei Qing, who was standing behind Li Yan, spoke, "The silver fox uses brocade. Make a few of each of these materials and let the embroiderer look at the matching. .”

Li Yan stared at the dozens of bolts of silk and satin placed on the long case, making one for each...

"Yes, yes, yes!" The two wives smiled, agreed and bent their knees non-stop. This deal is worth a year's hard work.

Li Yan followed Pei Qing out of the tailor shop, stood at the door of the shop, looked back at the two women who were still bending their knees, feeling a little dazed.

"Tired?" Pei Qing looked at Li Yan, who was in a daze, and asked with concern.

"No, I was wondering how many clothes I made."

Pei Qing laughed, "Why do you want to do this? If you're not tired, let's walk there in just half a quarter of an hour." Pei Qing motioned Li Yan to move forward. Li Yan lowered his head, a little worried. What's the use of all these money and favors? return?What should I do if I can’t pay it back?
Pei Qing glanced at Li Yan who was stunned all the way, then looked back at Yushu who was following behind, and then looked at Li Yan, following Li Yan's pace, he stopped talking.

"Here it is." Passing by an alley, seeing that Li Yan was about to walk there in a daze, Pei Qing put his hand on Li Yan's shoulder, and gently pushed her into the alley.

Entering through a small door in the alley, this jewelry shop is like a courtyard of some family. The shopkeeper let Pei Qing and Li Yan enter a flower hall. The boxes, big and small, filled up the long case in no time. The pearls and jade in the box were shining softly but dazzlingly, and all kinds of red gold jewelry were piled up together.

Li Yan stood beside the long case, dazzled to the point of numbness.

The most valuable jewelry she ever owned was a cornflower sapphire ring of just over one carat. Any of the ones in front of her were probably worth more than her ring.

　It's great to have money, and there's another chapter to fill in tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)