The shopkeeper praised the garment to the skies with extraordinary enthusiasm. Jiang Huai, unable to resist the shopkeeper’s zeal, reached out to touch it.

The fabric was indeed excellent—the inner lining of silk cotton was soft and smooth, and the outer layer of lambskin felt warm to the touch. One could imagine how cozy it would be to wear during the winter.

However, listening to the shopkeeper’s elaborate description, Jiang Huai already knew this outfit wouldn’t come cheap. Sure enough, as the shopkeeper saw his satisfied expression, he quoted the price.

Sixteen taels of silver.

Even though Jiang Huai wasn’t planning to buy clothes, he couldn’t help but gasp when he heard the price. Along his journey, he had seen land sold at four taels of silver per mu, and this one outfit was worth four mu of land!

Jiang Huai quietly withdrew his hand. Seeing that the shopkeeper was about to continue persuading him, he waved him off, saying, “Shopkeeper, I truly can’t afford this outfit. If you sincerely want to do business, bring out something that’s good but affordable. Otherwise, I’ll have to look elsewhere.”

“Winter in Anyuan Prefecture is bitterly cold, young master. You can save money elsewhere, but not on this. If you catch a cold or fall ill…” The shopkeeper tried to persuade him further. He wasn’t just trying to make a profit but also noticed Jiang Huai’s frail figure and thought he needed warm clothing.

“Shopkeeper, I appreciate your kindness, but I really don’t have the money. If I buy this outfit, I won’t have anything left for food and other necessities.” Jiang Huai acknowledged the shopkeeper’s good intentions, but his stance remained firm.

As for the cold winter, he planned to stay indoors by the fire and avoid going out as much as possible. His need for thick clothing was relatively low. Besides, if he were to buy warm clothes, he should get a larger size so both he and Xiao Jingzhao could wear it, saving some money. Next year, when he earned more, he could reconsider.

Seeing Jiang Huai’s resolute attitude, the shopkeeper didn’t press further. He put the expensive outfit away and brought out several winter garments. These clothes weren’t as brightly colored or stylish, but they were undeniably thick and warm to the touch.

“What do you think of these?” the shopkeeper asked.

Jiang Huai carefully examined and felt each piece, confirming that the quality was decent. He turned to Xiao Jingzhao behind him and asked, “Brother Wei, do you like these?”

Xiao Jingzhao thought Jiang Huai was asking for his opinion. Looking at the clothes in Jiang Huai’s hand, their dull grayish colors were far less appealing than the previous outfit. While he hadn’t thought the earlier one was particularly attractive, these were undoubtedly worse.

“They don’t look as good as the first one,” Xiao Jingzhao replied.

“Of course not. That one was custom-made. These are more common styles,” Jiang Huai explained. But seeing that Xiao Jingzhao wasn’t entirely opposed, he measured the clothes and then glanced at Xiao Jingzhao’s frame. He turned to the shopkeeper.

“Shopkeeper, do you have one in my brother’s size?” Jiang Huai asked.

The shopkeeper nodded and fetched a larger one from inside.

“Brother Wei, try it on and see if it fits,” Jiang Huai suggested.

Xiao Jingzhao frowned. They were here to buy clothes for Jiang Huai, so why was he being asked to try them on?

That thought immediately turned into a question.

“We’re trying to save money right now. One winter outfit can serve us both. If we buy a bigger size, you can wear it, and so can I. But if we buy a smaller size, I can wear it, but you can’t,” Jiang Huai explained seriously, pushing Xiao Jingzhao to try it on.

Since Xiao Jingzhao was clean, the shopkeeper didn’t mind him trying it on.

Pushed into the inner room, Xiao Jingzhao glanced at the winter garment in his hand, pursing his lips. He wanted to tell Jiang Huai that they didn’t need to be this frugal. While he didn’t have a lot of silver on him, living a modest life was still manageable.

But he had told Jiang Huai at the start that his funds were limited. If he suddenly produced more silver now, it would raise suspicion. To avoid this, he sighed and let it go.

With practiced ease, Xiao Jingzhao put on the winter garment and stepped out. The shopkeeper turned at the sound and was stunned.

The shopkeeper knew exactly what kind of garment this was—ugly in design but made of sturdy material. Its high price and unattractive appearance meant it rarely sold. Those willing to pay the price didn’t like the look, and those who didn’t mind its looks couldn’t afford it.

But somehow, Xiao Jingzhao made the outfit look elegant. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and commanding aura elevated the garment into something extraordinary. He was a walking advertisement.

The shopkeeper suddenly thought, If I let this man stand outside the shop for a while, maybe with a sign, I could probably sell the remaining stock just based on how good he looks in it.

Jiang Huai’s eyes also lit up. He hadn’t expected this plain outfit to exude such a tailored sophistication on Xiao Jingzhao. Is this what they mean by a good figure making the clothes shine?

Meeting the shopkeeper’s gaze, Xiao Jingzhao frowned slightly, then turned to Jiang Huai, only to find him staring back with equally bright eyes.

“You look great!” Jiang Huai gave him a thumbs-up.

Xiao Jingzhao glanced down at the garment but didn’t see what was so great about it. However, since Jiang Huai seemed delighted, he didn’t say anything.

Jiang Huai then asked Xiao Jingzhao about the comfort of the garment. After all, appearance wasn’t everything; if it wasn’t comfortable, it wouldn’t be suitable. Fortunately, Xiao Jingzhao found it perfectly fine.

Having confirmed the outfit’s suitability, Jiang Huai began negotiating the price. From the moment the garment was brought out, Jiang Huai noticed it wasn’t particularly new or vibrant. It had likely been made some time ago and hadn’t sold.

Since it hadn’t sold, there was room for bargaining.

“The materials and craftsmanship are excellent. At this price, it’s already a bargain. Besides, young master, you saw how dashing your elder brother looks in it,” the shopkeeper argued.

“Shopkeeper, I won’t dispute the quality of the materials and craftsmanship. They’re good, so it’s fair for this to cost more than average. But is it the garment that looks good, or is it my brother’s natural good looks and bearing? Without him, someone else might wear it and make it look even cheaper,” Jiang Huai countered, raising an eyebrow.

The shopkeeper was speechless. He knew the outfit was unattractive; that’s why it hadn’t sold. If Jiang Huai had completely criticized it, the shopkeeper might have stubbornly refused to sell it. But Jiang Huai acknowledged the quality while pointing out its flaws, making the shopkeeper hesitate.

“You see how well it suits my brother. If the price is right, we might even come back for the rest of your stock when needed,” Jiang Huai added.

This struck a chord with the shopkeeper. Selling these outfits was difficult. If he could secure a potential repeat customer, it might be worth it.

Still, he hesitated, struggling with the loss of silver.

Jiang Huai noticed his indecision. He glanced at Xiao Jingzhao, then outside at the autumn wind howling. The room seemed warmer by comparison. Later, when he went to the bathhouse, Xiao Jingzhao wouldn’t accompany him. The man looked like he had already bathed.

If Jiang Huai stayed in the bathhouse for a while—washing off dirt and letting his hair dry—Xiao Jingzhao waiting outside in the cold didn’t sit well with him.

Pulling Xiao Jingzhao aside, he asked, “Brother Wei, can people wait inside the bathhouse?”

Xiao Jingzhao shook his head. From his previous visit, it seemed people weren’t allowed to wait inside.

“I can wait outside. Don’t worry,” Xiao Jingzhao reassured him, thinking Jiang Huai was nervous about going alone.

“But the wind is strong, and your current clothes aren’t warm,” Jiang Huai replied, shaking his head.

“Brother Wei, would you mind if people stared at you for a bit?” Jiang Huai asked hesitantly.

“Stared?” Xiao Jingzhao was puzzled. How did the conversation suddenly take this turn?

“You see how the shopkeeper reacted earlier? If you’re willing to model the garment outside for a bit, he might lower the price further, and you could wait inside while I bathe,” Jiang Huai explained.

The shopkeeper, who had overheard parts of their conversation, couldn’t hold back anymore. Ignoring the awkwardness of eavesdropping, he chimed in, “If this young man is willing to stand outside wearing it for a while, I’ll reduce the price by—three, no, fifty copper coins.”

This was a significant concession. The shopkeeper was desperate to move the unsold stock.

The shopkeeper looked expectantly at Jiang Huai. It was clear that despite his youthful appearance, Jiang Huai was the decision-maker.

Jiang Huai, however, didn’t answer immediately. He glanced at Xiao Jingzhao and politely declined, “Sorry, shopkeeper. My brother isn’t comfortable with that.”

“Wait! If you think fifty coppers isn’t enough, I can go higher. We can negotiate,” the shopkeeper hurriedly interjected.

“I won’t stand outside, but I can sit inside like any other customer,” Xiao Jingzhao suddenly said. He had seen how Jiang Huai bargained over every coin earlier and, after a moment’s silence, made the compromise. Standing outside wasn’t acceptable, but sitting inside like any other customer was fine.

Before the shopkeeper could respond, Jiang Huai added, “My brother doesn’t like being stared at. If people are drawn to him, it’ll just make him uncomfortable walking around outside later. He’d need a mask.”

“People don’t need to see his face anyway. They’re just looking at the outfit,” Jiang Huai continued, adding, “If that’s not acceptable, we’ll let it go and pay full price.”

The shopkeeper hesitated, then glanced outside. Already, passersby were eyeing Xiao Jingzhao, drawn by his imposing figure. Realizing the potential marketing value of mystery, he agreed.

With this settled, Jiang Huai borrowed a set of clothes from the shopkeeper to take to the bathhouse. The shopkeeper didn’t even charge him a rental fee or ask for a deposit. After all, with Xiao Jingzhao in the store, there was little to worry about.

As Jiang Huai stepped outside, a young boy approached, carrying a bundle of smelly gray wool in his arms and peddling it to passersby.

Spotting Jiang Huai holding the winter outfit, the boy hesitated but still approached him. “Sir, want to buy some cheap wool? It’s warm and perfect for winter clothes!”

“Shoo, shoo,” the shopkeeper scolded, driving the boy away. Turning to Jiang Huai, he warned, “Young master, don’t fall for that. The wool might seem warm, but it stinks and prickles. Using it is pure misery.”

Jiang Huai didn’t argue. He had seen the wool earlier and agreed it wasn’t great, though he had some ideas on how it could be used. Pushing those thoughts aside, he headed toward the bathhouse.