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“About half a month before this grain store opened, the store manager sent some grain to various households to attract customers. However, that grain wouldn’t last long, so many people were already waiting for today,” Bai Miaqing said to herself, and Shen Yu’an listened attentively.
They didn’t take a carriage and didn’t have any servants or maidservants accompanying them. They strolled along the way, adding a few small items to their hands.
When their hands were almost full with the things they had bought, the two of them finally arrived at the rouge shop that Bai Miaqing had mentioned.
The rouge shop was bustling with customers. Inside, you could see women of different charms and beauty.
As soon as Bai Miaqing pulled Shen Yu’an inside, the shop’s owner hurried over to take the bags and packages they were carrying and stored them away.
“Miss, Miss Shen!”
Bai Miaqing waved her hand, indicating that he should go about his business, and said, “Go ahead, I’ll take a look myself.”
“If you need anything, just call for me, Miss,” he said before leaving.
Shen Yu’an was pulled along by Bai Miaqing and picked up several types of rouge and face powders for the servants to wrap.
Just when their interest was at its peak, an untimely voice interrupted their laughter.
A rather sharp and sarcastic voice remarked, “Oh, isn’t this the benefactor of Zhu Zhu, dressed so shabbily and still daring to come to a place like this.”
As soon as this voice rang out, the noisy atmosphere in the shop slowly quieted down, and all the women turned to look in the direction of the voice.
The speaker was Qi Yiran, the third young lady of General Xiangnan’s residence. She had previously clashed with Shen Yu’an over a piece of clothing and received a punishment as a result.
Qi Yiran looked Shen Yu’an up and down, her eyes examining her from head to toe.
She sneered and said, “Impoverished people should not step out and embarrass themselves in public. It seems that if you don’t steal other people’s clothes, you can’t even put on decent attire when going out.”
“I did buy a few outfits for my servants this time I went out. Miss Shen, if you really can’t afford presentable clothing, I could generously donate a couple of items to you.”
Qi Yiran’s words were dripping with sarcasm, and those who didn’t know the situation couldn’t help but cast strange glances in Shen Yu’an’s direction.
Shen Yu’an was in the midst of selecting lip color, while Bai Miaqing had moved a little distance away to explore other items.
The young women in the shop, seeing Shen Yu’an’s attire that was completely out of place, treated her as if she were a beggar who had suddenly appeared before them. They collectively covered their mouths and noses and took a few steps back.
An attractive young girl who stood with Qi Yiran looked at Shen Yu’an with a disdainful expression and asked, “Third Miss, who is this?”
Qi Yiran said in an affected tone, “This, my dear, is the ~benefactor~ of my uncle’s beloved daughter! She managed to deceive a child and insisted on establishing a connection with our General’s residence.”
Due to that outfit, Qi Yiran had been forced to kneel in the ancestral hall for several days. Although her brother secretly sent her food every day, General Xiangnan would occasionally send people to inspect, and her knees had swollen.
She harbored extreme hatred towards Shen Yu’an, but by the time she was released, Shen Yu’an had already left, and she had no means to seek revenge.
Now, unexpectedly encountering her in this place, hmph!
With this statement, the people’s gaze towards Shen Yu’an became even more hostile.
The cute-looking young girl made a contemptuous noise and exclaimed loudly, “What ~benefactor~? She’s just a pauper, otherwise, why would she steal your new clothes, Yiran.”
The two of them echoed each other, causing everyone to look at Shen Yu’an with a disdainful expression.
Bai Miaqing quickly squeezed into the crowd and stood by Shen Yu’an, glaring at the others in anger, and said, “What nonsense are you all spouting? Shen Yu’an is my friend, you know.”