Chapter 21 - Chastity Belt (1/2)
Ruan Zhu frowned as she tried to remember. Pointing at him, she said: “Liu……Liu Ruins……” She was pretty sure that was his name.
With a face full of black lines, the man in white was hard-pressed to say: “Miss Qin, you have made a mistake. This one is Liu Fei Xu, not Liu Ruins. Just the other day, Miss had praised this one by saying the man was like the name, outstanding talents faintly discernible with a flying appearance. How could Miss have forgotten so quickly?”
“Oh, I apologize. This one’s memory is not very good.” Ruan Zhu embarrassingly apologized. To be honest, it wasn’t that her memory was bad. If she ran into matters that she took into her heart, she would remember. But as for him, she was too lazy and disinclined to spend time remembering his name.
The manager promptly came over and bowed in greeting: “Young Master, you’ve arrived. As it turns out, Young Master is acquainted with this Miss. This little one’s eyes have gone bad. May the two personages enter the adjacent room for a seat. This little one has received several taels of good Wuyi tea. Why not enjoy some tea while having a chat?”
“So Mister Liu was actually this shop’s young owner. This one has failed to greet you.” Liu Fei Xu being Ming Xiang Cui Yu’s young boss really went against her expectations of him. She had originally thought of him as a man that abandoned himself to a life of pleasure, one that relied on the road paved by his forefathers. To think that he was actually the same as her hubby–a rich second generation, who would naturally have many assets yet he relied on his own two hands to create a business, earning professional success and becoming a young entrepreneur.
Ruan Zhu was well-taught. Despite feeling disdainful in her heart, her outward appearance remained peaceful.
“That’s right but this one does not deserve your greeting. My father, Master Meng, appointed me to take care of this shop. Meeting Miss Qin is too coincidental, did Miss come to see the wares?” Liu Fei Xu advanced a few steps, a smiling expression on his face. His pair of peach blossom eyes once again shone with an enticing light. They were filled with vigor, shining brightly, making the black of his pupil contrast nicely with the white of his eyes. Especially when he was feeling affectionate or passionate, his eyes appeared to flash like precious stones. No wonder women would take note of him and become attracted.
Being a newlywed, Ruan Zhu’s heart was full of deep affection for her hubby Yun Shi Yi.
As for other men, they were not waves capable of startling a pond of water so it would be truly difficult for them to enter her heart. Thus, there’s no need to talk about a flirtatious man that she looked down upon. Even if he was as outstanding as the Oscar’s film emperor, what of it?
Of course, if she could link arms with the Oscar’s film emperor to window shop and have something to eat, it would be essential for her to do this to satisfy her vanity! Ruan Zhu thought this way, immeasurably self-satisfied.
“Wow!” From her ear came the sound of a woman’s shriek. Turning her head, it turned out other female customers had exclaimed upon seeing Mister Peacock. As if they had found a rare curio, obsession was apparent in their eyes.
Lu Fei Xu saw that these female’s appearances could be regarded as pretty with their heads covered with pearl and jade ornaments. The distance between them was not too close yet a whiff of their cosmetics entered his nose. He wrinkled his brows but it was instantly concealed. With a shallow laugh: “These Misses who have come to this lowly shop, please look around as you wish. If Misses see a product you like, no matter if it is custom-made or a ready-to-wear product, do not hesitate to call for Manager Yu.” Saying to here, he paused slightly before calling out in a loud voice: “Assistant, come and greet these customers.”
Ruan Zhu was astounded. Mister Peacock was not entirely worthless. Using a young master’s identity to establish a presence in Ming Xiang Cui Yu, it wouldn’t do to not have an ounce of ability to conduct business and trick people. Especially in the ancient period, when each clan had their own business techniques and all family members greedily waited in the background for a chance to have a share of the profits.
A few love-stricken women proceeded to walk over with the intention of chatting while sticking next to him. With one meaningful glance from Liu Fei Xu toward the shop’s assistant, the latter had several men that were carefully selected to work at Ming Xiang Cui Yu come out. Several pretty boys promptly moved forward to greet the customers with crisp and melodic voices.
The customs of Tian Chu followed those of the Tang dynasty. The customary ‘males and females should not touch hands when giving or receiving things’ did not seem as strict as it was in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Upon seeing that the boys were very cute, the obsessive women followed them in choosing pieces they liked.
Ruan Zhu watched them and subsequently increased her knowledge. If one has a beautiful face, one would be very popular no matter where one went. No wonder Koreans would rather eat salted vegetables every day and to save money to afford plastic surgery! Fortunately, her present appearance did not let down the people of this area.
“Miss Qin?” Liu Fei Xu blinked his peach blossom eyes and displayed his most dazzling smile: “Which piece do you like? How about I give you half off?”
“I have already paid the deposit so there is no need to trouble you. I still have a few matters to do. Xiao Feng, didn’t you say there were still a few shops that were quite good? Let’s go for a stroll?” Ruan Zhu hurriedly changed the topic. If there was no Xiao Feng accompanying her, she would still have to chat with this Mister Peacock and stop his thoughts. That situation reaching Yun Shi Yi’s ears would not be good. It didn’t matter if this current world’s trend was one woman with multiple husbands, or that a woman accepting more concubines would only be supported, not opposed, by the principal husband. They had only been married for a few days so for the wife to already have an affair would inevitably cause the husband to feel unwell. She felt it was beneath her to do this sort of thing.
He has given her 100% of his love so she ought to repay him with 99% of her feelings. Her past life was empty so now that she has received love in this world, she would not let go of it. Valuable jewels were expensive, but finding a sincere man was priceless.
“Ai, Miss is leaving yet again?” Liu Fei Xu watched as the shadow of the delicate and charming lady left the entrance of Ming Xiang Cui Yu, feeling surprised and out of sorts. He had previously believed himself to be very popular with women. Why, ever since he came of age, the number of matchmakers that came to his residence to try to arrange his marriage was enough to break the entrance. How was it that when it came to her, it wasn’t effective?
“Come here.” Gloomy, Liu Fei Xu beckoned Manager Yu over.
“Young Master, what is the issue?”
“Look at my face to see if it’s dirty. Or is it that I didn’t coordinate my outfit well today?” Liu Fei Xu brushed his hair, “Is my hair messy?”
Manager Yu carefully looked at his young master: “Everything is exceptionally well. Young Master’s face is clean, clothes are tidy, head is meticulously brushed with not one hair out of place. Young Master is a giant among men, a jade tree[a]. How many men in Lan Zhou could compare?”
Being a subordinate meant one had to guess at their master’s meaning and should flatter when the time called to do so. By praising their bosses til the latter was dizzy, money would also come their way. This was the reason why Manager Yu had remained at Ming Xiang Cui Yu for so long as he was exceptionally good at boot-licking and reading the situation.
Liu Fei Xu did not believe him and took out a small copper mirror from his sleeve, turning it right and left. Feeling pleased with his current appearance, he put down the copper mirror and asked, puzzled: “As a matter of fact, aren’t I very good looking? How could she ignore me?”
“Whom?” Manager Yu remembered the Miss that had custom-ordered some pieces. Suddenly realizing what his young master meant, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. Young Master truly believed himself to be an exceptional man without compare and all of the women in this world ought to surround and revolve around him. If this matter was not related to him, Manager Yu would not say anything but even his own daughter could not look at any other man besides his Young Master. But in consideration of his livelihood, Manager Yu did not dare to express his thoughts as there was still a large household depending on him to support them.
Ruan Zhu led her group of male attendants in exiting Ming Xiang Cui Yu and wanted to directly return home. Passing by a whole row of unremarkable shopfronts, she was stopped by a woman. The woman’s appearance was rather comical–clothing all wrinkled and the material was half new, half old. On her arm hung various chains or belts made out of metal or leather, resulting in all sorts of strange styles. They looked like iron chains, but also didn’t. One could say it was a belt but it also wasn’t exactly a belt. The woman’s wares were something that she had actually never seen before.
Ruan Zhu went to look closer at the things that hung from her arm, but even after staring for a while, was unable to make out what it was.
The woman’s eyes brightened as she curtsied. Laughing happily, she said: “With one look, it’s clear this Little Sister has been brought up strictly. If you’re unwilling to tolerate your husbands being even the tiniest bit errant, how about buying one or two of these for your husbands to wear? I’ll give you a little discount–the leather ones are fifty coppers. The metal ones are harder to manufacture but the craftsmanship is very good. Those are originally sold for two hundred coppers, but since Little Sister is buying them with sincerity, I’ll only charge you one hundred and eighty coppers.”
Ruan Zhu pointed at those belts and blankly asked: “What is this?”