Chapter 366: An Unexpected Old Acquaintance

When Old Huang saw Gu Fei arrive, he quickly stood up. "You’re too kind. I’m just making a living, that’s all."

Gu Fei smiled. "I’m here today to buy some clothes."

Old Huang said readily, "Please, Miss, choose whatever you like."

"I’d like to see some wedding attire."

Old Huang stared at Gu Fei in surprise. "This—who’s getting married?"

Gu Fei smiled. "It’s Lan Zhi. She’s getting married."

For some reason, Old Huang let out a sigh of relief. "Come with me, Miss. I’ll take you upstairs to choose."

The two went upstairs, where Old Huang had an assistant bring out several wedding outfits for Gu Fei to inspect. Gu Fei thought they were all lovely, but finally settled on a long outer jacket of scarlet embroidery silk with a pattern of a hundred butterflies flitting among flowers. Underneath was a matching scarlet silk-gauze bodice and skirt.

’It’s not that I don’t want Lan Zhi to choose for herself,’ she thought. ’But she’s even more frugal than I am these days. If I let her choose, she’d definitely pick something made of cotton just because it’s cheap.’

After the clothes were chosen, Old Huang said tactfully, "Miss Lan Zhi is living at your home now, correct? Just give me the address, and I’ll have a seamstress go measure her for the fitting."

Gu Fei gave him the address and also picked out a red wedding veil.

Then she selected two sets of clothes for each of the four seasons, four sets of silk and satin undergarments, several brocade duvet covers, and a few cloth towels for washing her face and feet.

Without Gu Fei even having to ask, Old Huang volunteered, "I’ll have the seamstresses and needlewomen prioritize your items over the next few days. I guarantee we won’t cause any delays."

Even with Old Huang charging her only his cost price, all these items came to about one hundred taels of silver.

With the clothes taken care of, Gu Fei hit the streets to buy more things.

At the carpenter’s shop, she bought a bathtub, a foot basin, and a brass washbasin that came with a wooden stand.

She bought a red-lacquered chamber pot and a pair of water buckets.

She also bought a vanity box, which came with combs and fine-toothed combs inside.

She paid the silver and had the Shopkeeper deliver everything to the inn.

Next, she went to the porcelain shop and bought sugar jars, tea caddies, a tea set, and a complete set of bowls and plates.

Then, Gu Fei went to her own Rouge Shop. She got a full set of the best rouge, face powder, black eyebrow pigment, lip color, moisturizing oils for the face and hands, and osmanthus oil for the hair. She didn’t need to pay with silver; it would just be put on her account.

After that, she went to the silver building.

Although Gu Fei had the golden phoenix hairpin she acquired yesterday, it was far too dazzling. ’Lan Zhi would never wear something like this,’ she thought.

There were also some gems and jades that Xiao Yu had sent over, including two pearl necklaces, but they were also too eye-catching and not suitable.

Gu Fei had just stepped into the silver building when Manager Zhang came to greet her. "Welcome, Proprietor."

Gu Fei smiled. "You can get back to your work. I’m just here to pick out some everyday gold and silver jewelry. Just have a clerk help me, that’ll be fine."

As if Manager Zhang would dare to leave. He stayed by Gu Fei’s side. "Let me help you choose, Proprietor."

Gu Fei first chose a set of silver jewelry, then moved over to the gold pieces.

At that moment, a woman sitting by the window examining gold jewelry saw Gu Fei enter, and her eyes widened in astonishment, filled with disbelief. The next second, she frantically raised the round fan in her hand, covering most of her face.

The silver building was large, and there were quite a few other customers in the shop at the time. Gu Fei hadn’t noticed them when she came in. With her back to the woman, she simply focused on selecting gold jewelry.

She planned to buy a set each for her mother, her sister-in-law, and Lan Zhi.

Gu Fei didn’t pick anything too flashy. ’When it comes to gold jewelry, a good, heavy weight is best,’ she thought.

After selecting the jewelry, Gu Fei and Manager Zhang went upstairs. She planned to give Manager Zhang the golden hairpin and other gems she had on hand to sell for her.

The moment Gu Fei went upstairs, the woman by the window finally lowered her round fan. She turned to the clerk waiting on her and asked, "That young lady from just now—which family is she from? To pick out so much jewelry all at once!"