Chapter 41 (1/2)

Lin Xiao accompanied Fei YuXing and her company to the northern part of the market. The contrast between the eastern part and the northern part was just like heaven and earth. If the owners in the eastern part can work together, the people in the northern part were simply at each other’s throat.

‘The competitiveness is crazy in this part of the market…’ Lin Xiao can’t help but thought as he watched how the owners are having both quality and price wars. Some even bickered with each other, making their potential customers avoid them. ‘Aiya… if you act like that, how can someone go over to your shop, ah!’

Lin Xiao simply followed Fei YuXing closely as they walked through the street while the falcon flew above them, occasionally resting on a roof of a building or on top of a stall. “Sister Fei, about that favor I asked earlier, I hope you won’t tell Shizun that it was from me. Since I sneaked out today, I can’t let him know,” Lin Xiao once again reminded Fei YuXing.

“Don’t worry, brother Lin. Your secret endeavor is safe with me. Father once said that if a man did not act recklessly once, then they are not a man,” Fei YuXing replied with a slight giggle. She can’t help but find Lin Xiao being cute with how he is acting currently.

‘So different from when I first met him in the mountain,’ she thought to herself as she continued to gaze at Lin Xiao.

Occasionally, they would be stopped by merchants who wanted to drag them over to their shop to look at their items. Luckily, Chang Bo was with them so whenever the merchants went overboard, all he did is give them a cold glare and lifts his hand up to his sword strapped on his waist. As soon as the merchants see this, they all quiver in fear and restrained themselves.

“Here we are!” after walking for a while, they finally arrived before a bustling store. Just looking from outside, one can already see how busy the business is.

Lin Xiao stared at the building before him, then he compared it to the other buildings nearby, then to the small stalls by the roadside. “Sister Fei, this place is the one you mention before? The items inside… are they not expensive?” Lin Xiao asked in a worried tone. The store was several times bigger than the rest, and it even has multiple floors.

He knew Fei YuXing does not have much money on her. Especially not when she lost most of her dowries. The money she has now was simply the pocket money that Xia YuanFeng had given her for the month as a small compensation for the bad experience she had during her journey to the capital.

“It’s alright, brother Lin. After all, you and Master Long saved my life. The thing that I have to get for both of you must be something that has its worth,” Fei YuXing replied.

“You’re getting one for me too?” Lin Xiao asked, feeling surprised.

“Of course, ah! If you didn’t save me at that time, who knows what my life would be by now. I might suffer a fate worse than death!” Fei YuXing said before she took Lin Xiao’s arm and dragged him inside. “Come on, let’s not waste any more time or else, the goods will be sold out!”

When they entered the store, Lin Xiao could see that they have several clothes on display. He could see the price at a glance when he went past them. ‘1 gold and 45 silver for a simple hanfu?!’ Lin Xiao can’t help but feel that the prices were being exaggerated.

Fei YuXing continued to drag Lin Xiao over and soon, they reached the third floor of the store. On this floor, Lin Xiao’s eyes almost turned blind from the price of the items on display. On the ground floor, the highest price Lin Xiao saw was only three gold pieces. But on this floor, even the cheapest one costs 10 gold pieces.

‘That is almost all of my earnings from Ping Jianyu, ah!’ Lin Xiao could only cry out in his heart as they continued to walk around.

“Brother Lin, what do you think about this jade hairpin?” Fei YuXing asked Lin Xiao as she held up a fine, jade pin with excellent craftsmanship. The design was kept very simple and yet, it still exudes the air of elegance that only nobles and royalties should have.

Lin Xiao also felt that such jade hairpin would look good on his beloved master but when he saw the price, he almost vomited blood on the spot. “Fifty gold pieces?! This store is simply outrageous with their pricing! Sister Fei, forget it. Let’s just go downstairs, ah!” Lin Xiao said.

“What are you talking about? The items on the floors below this one are all mass-produced items. They’re not good enough to be given as a present. Don’t worry about the price. Uncle Yuan gave me a lot of money when I told him I wanted to buy gifts for you and Master Long,” Fei YuXing informed Lin Xiao.

Hearing this, Lin Xiao can’t help but feel that his martial uncle is also using this chance to buy gifts for his master. “That… Sister Fei, did martial uncle also tell you to buy two items as gifts?” Lin Xiao asked.

“How did you know, brother Lin?” Fei YuXing sounded surprised that Lin Xiao knew about it.

“I just guessed. I mean, before… we were attacked at his residence so I thought that since he gave you a lot of money, he may also ask you to help him pick a gift for Shizun as a token of apology,” Lin Xiao gave out his reasoning. Of course, in his mind, he thinks differently. ‘Martial uncle… you’re so cunning. You knew Shizun won’t accept your gifts normally, so you have sister Fei help you. How ‘good’ of you, ah!’

“So, what do you think? Will Master Long like this jade hairpin?” Fei YuXing asked Lin Xiao once more, snapping Lin Xiao out of his thought.