Chapter 62: Provocation

Ye Xin Ran felt a chill run down her spine when she heard that voice.

This body seemed particularly sensitive to it.

Back then, Ye Xin Yao had used the same tone to flaunt the fact that she had stolen the original owner’s fiance.

Talk about bad luck, bumping into her in a random shop.

Sure enough, after the voice fell, Ye Xin Yao stepped out of the store, followed by Qiao Zi Yu.

“Brother Zi Yu, didn’t I tell you it was my sister? You didn’t believe me just now.”

Ye Xin Yao’s voice was coy, hovering between complaint and flirtation.

“Are you done shopping? If so, let’s go,” Qiao Zi Yu replied impatiently.

“Brother Zi Yu, I just saw a dress I want to buy. Can you come take a look with me?”

Qiao Zi Yu looked like he wanted to refuse, but when he glanced at Xiao Huai’an and Ye Xin Ran, he inexplicably followed Ye Xin Yao back into the store.

Ye Xin Ran couldn’t be bothered with the pair. She pointed at a piece of clothing she had been eyeing and said to Xiao Huai’an, “This one, it’s sturdy and looks good. What do you think?”

For a change, Xiao Huai’an answered decisively, “Not bad. Let’s get this one.”

“Shopkeeper, how much is this outfit?” Ye Xin Ran asked.

A round-faced young man quickly approached. “Hello, miss. This outfit costs 80 coins.”

“80 coins? That’s expensive!”

Ye Xin Ran was about to haggle, but the young man added, “It’s not expensive at all! Look at the fabric, it’s cotton, but the craftsmanship is exquisite. It’s made by our best tailor.

Plus, this blue color complements your husband perfectly. He’ll look fantastic wearing it.”

The shop assistant held the outfit up to Xiao Huai’an.

Indeed, it looked amazing, so much so that Ye Xin Ran forgot to haggle.

“Have him try it on. If it fits, we’ll take it.”

“Of course!”

The shop assistant happily led Xiao Huai’an to the fitting room, even taking the three children to a bench and seating them there to wait.

As Ye Xin Ran browsed through women’s clothing, the shop assistant eagerly suggested, “Miss, you have an excellent eye for quality. Why not pick out an outfit for yourself? It could match your husband’s.”

Ye Xin Ran had already taken a liking to a cherry-red pleated skirt and said to the assistant, “Bring me that one to look at.”

“Great choice, miss! This skirt is perfect for the season. The red complements the greenery, and with your fair complexion, this will make you look stunning.”

The assistant handed the skirt to Ye Xin Ran just as Ye Xin Yao interjected, “I’ll take that skirt.”

“Miss, this skirt was spotted first by this lady. If she tries it on and finds it unsuitable, then you may consider it,” the assistant politely replied.

“That won’t do. The things I have my eyes on can’t be touched by others.”

“But…”

“But what?”

A middle-aged man descended from the second floor.

He had a pale, clean shaven face, with a hint of powder on his skin. Judging by his clothes, he was clearly of higher status than the younger assistant downstairs.

Pointing at the red skirt, he said, “This Miss Ye is a regular customer of our upper floor.
For her to even take interest in something from the first floor is already a favor to you. How dare you refuse her?”

The assistant, hearing the middle-aged man’s words, quickly wiped the sweat off his forehead and apologized profusely to Ye Xin Ran.
“Miss, perhaps you could choose another one instead.”

“Alright,” Ye Xin Ran replied without making it hard for the assistant. She then pointed to a lilac skirt and said, “Let me take a look at this one.”

The assistant hurriedly responded, “This one is lovely as well! The peonies on this skirt were all hand-embroidered by skilled seam stresses. It’s very elegant and suits someone with a dignified temperament like you.”

“I’ll take this one too!”

Before the assistant could even reach for the skirt, Ye Xin Yao interjected again.

“I’m sorry!”

The assistant immediately bowed to Ye Xin Ran with a guilty look and said, “This lady is a second-floor patron. We cannot offend her. Perhaps you could look at something else.”

“Alright then!”

As Ye Xin Ran turned around, she quietly asked the assistant, “Do you get bonuses for selling clothes?”

“No, not per piece. But if we sell more than one tael of silver’s worth in a month, the owner gives us an extra 10 coins.”

“Then I’ll help you earn those 10 coins today!”

Ye Xin Ran smiled slightly, her lips curving faintly.

Before the assistant could figure out her intent, she pointed to the most elaborate dress displayed at the top, a resplendent “Moonlight Skirt” and said, “That one is beautiful. I think it suits me well.”

“You have excellent taste, miss! That is the most expensive dress on the first floor, priced at one and a half taels of silver.

Look closely, this dress is embroidered with butterflies from top to bottom, each meticulously sewn by skilled seam stresses.

When you walk, the butterfly wings seem to flutter as though they’re alive. Wearing this, you’ll look as ethereal and enchanting as a celestial maiden!”

In truth, the dress wasn’t nearly as exquisite as the assistant made it out to be.

The butterflies looked stiff, and the pinkish hue seemed rather garish.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been relegated to the first floor.

Still, Ye Xin Ran pointed at the dress and said, “I’ll take this one…”

“I’ll take that one too!” Ye Xin Yao cut in once again.

Ye Xin Yao interrupted Ye Xin Ran before she could finish her sentence, speaking with an air of smugness:

“Elder sister, aren’t you living in the village now?
Wearing such fine clothes would only waste the seam stress’s craftsmanship.

Besides, your crippled husband just hesitated to buy a mere 20 wen outfit.
If you bought such an expensive dress, wouldn’t you be afraid of getting beaten when you return home?
Your man is so poor!”

After finishing, Ye Xin Yao covered her mouth and giggled mockingly.

Ye Xin Ran clenched her fists.

“You…”

She rolled up her sleeves, ready to slap Ye Xin Yao.

Some people with venomous tongues truly deserved to be taught a lesson.

“Madam!”

A calm voice interrupted her.

Ye Xin Ran turned to see Xiao Huai’an, now dressed in the simple blue outfit they had chosen earlier.

Despite the simplicity of the outfit, he exuded an air of elegance and dignity, making even the finely dressed Qiao Zi Yu, clad in Shu brocade, seem lack luster by comparison.

“Indeed, he’s like a living mannequin,” Ye Xin Ran thought gleefully. “He makes everything look good.”

“What’s the matter?” Xiao Huai’an asked gently.

“Nothing much,” Ye Xin Ran replied with a faint smile, acting as though she wasn’t bothered at all.
“My younger sister had trouble picking out clothes, so I helped her choose a couple. Now that we’re done, let’s go!”

She quickly paid the bill and tried to pull Xiao Huai’an toward the exit. She had no intention of letting him hear Ye Xin Yao’s spiteful remarks.

But before they could leave, another voice rang out.

“From what I saw, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Before Xiao Huai’an could speak, a woman entered the shop.

She wore a simple yet elegant light-blue dress.
Her demeanor was serene and composed, her presence exuding sophistication and grace.

“I happened to see a little of what happened from outside,” the woman began.
“It seemed to me that this young lady in the pink dress kept trying to take the clothes that another young lady had chosen. Am I correct, Zi Yu?”

“Shi Fu’s wife!”

Qiao Zi Yu exclaimed in panic, addressing the woman with a tone of both surprise and dread.