Chapter 145: Good Things Shouldn

Qiao Mai suddenly thought of something and said to her, "Wait a moment, I'll fetch you a few good items; once you see them you'll definitely like them."

Town Mayor Qian, seeing that the two of them had business, went straight to the old gentleman.

It's been a long time since I've eaten at her house; it's all because of my thoughts.

Qiao Mai went back to her room, closed the door and entered the space.

On the computer's shopping Platform, she bought ten different sets of Horse-face Skirts in one go; they are all thin styles, perfect for wearing now.

Each piece was packed in an Exquisite box; she carried a stack of cardboard boxes back to the front hall.

Lu, the Shopkeeper, quickly took it, "What is this?"

"Horse-face Skirt, we don't have those here."

Lu opened the box, Qiao Mai took out one piece and demonstrated it on the spot; seeing such an Exquisite skirt, Lu was overjoyed.

Her hand carefully brushed the skirt, "The workmanship, the needle points, the embroidery—my goodness, how many silver coins would be appropriate for me to sell it for?"

"Excellent, even without mentioning the embroidery and needle points, the fabric itself is hard to find."

"Never mind where it came from, is this thing good or not?"

He gestured to the two guards, "Go quickly and take it over."

When Mayor Qian left, he burst into hearty laughter.

"So pretentious!"

But Qiao Mai, with a sudden urge to get the items quickly, walked especially fast.

The two exchanged several glances and then laughed.

"If you have something, just say it."

Yuan Jiaqi felt a slight secret delight; he called her "wife", she didn't retort—great, from now on he'll call her that.

Yuan Jiaqi concealed his little thought; the two returned to the old lady's courtyard, and when Mayor Qian saw the wine jar, he immediately rose.

Qiao Mai gave her a glance, "Sell?"

"Sister, you're so kind; come, let's go back to the room and try it on."

Only then did they exit the space, moving the jar outside the door; Yuan Jiaqi stepped forward, lifted a jar and cradled it in his arms.

The couple, rarely walking alone together, Yuan Jiaqi beat a few drums, wanting to chat with Qiao Mai.

"I'll wait for you here?"

"These are summer skirts; when I go to Jingcheng for your wedding, I'll bring you two winter sets as well."

Qiao Mai smiled and handed several boxes to Miss Wang, "Take them and wear them; unlike those ten pieces, the material, pattern, and color are all different."

"She always gets on my nerves; she has everything in excess, especially the annoying men constantly clinging to her, so over the years, when she seeks me out, I help her, rarely initiating, fearing she'd bother me."

"Two jars for me, okay?"

"Have some, it's still warm."

"Eat first, then leave?"

Seeing her like that, Qiao Mai knew she was pleading for something.

Lu left, and Mayor Qian was now drinking with the old gentleman.

Qiao Mai nodded at him, entered the house, gently slipped the door into the space, and bought a hundred bottles of Mao Tai Liquor on the Platform in one go.

He only now realized that this jar of fine wine costs over a thousand taels; that servant girl is truly generous to him.

Mayor Qian turned with a pitiful look, "Qiao Niang, I'll buy you two jars of wine."

"Two whole jars? Your imagination is lovely; this wine was prepared by Qiao Niang for me, not sold outside. I love drinking it; she just gave me ten jars at once, sealed them, and I'll sip them slowly over time."

"How about purple?"

One jar held fifteen bottles; she also bought two Horse-face Skirts and two long‑sleeved white women's tops.

"Just pick a color that suits me."

"No, I still don't have enough to drink myself."

Having good wine but not continuing to drink, "Sir, I'm leaving; shall we drink together another day?"

Miss Wang stared at her with shining eyes; seeing Qiao Mai eat dumplings and fearing she was thirsty, Wang quickly poured her a glass of juice.

He shouted those two words in a small, timid voice; before he always called her Qiao Niang.

"One thousand taels per jar, two jars, two thousand taels."

Qiao Mai sat down, and Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly brought the dumplings to her.

"Then I'll take it now; later when I sell it, I'll send you silver."

Lu asked Miss Wang, "Sister Ru, how much do you think it can sell for?"

"If it's less than two thousand taels, I won't sell."

Qiao Mai, without noticing, lifted another jar of wine, tucking a few cardboard boxes under her arm.

After stepping out, the old gentleman and the old lady dared not acknowledge it.

"Then I'll sell it for three thousand taels and see if anyone buys."

When Qiao Mai passed by, the two's faces were flushed from drinking.

She found two clean jars, opened the caps, and poured the wine in.

"Oh dear, this beautiful skirt I can't bear to wear now; I'll wait until I return to Jingcheng to wear it."

"Hmm, let's go."

"Not too expensive, not too expensive; I'll buy, I'll buy, I'll buy—still not okay?"

She took it, opened it, and almost blinded her eyes.

"My items are hard to find in the world, and you still think they're pricey; I don't even want to sell them to you, not even at cost."

Mayor Qian immediately pulled out two silver notes from his pocket, "Here, here—after you finish eating, quickly move it here for me; I'll take it when I leave."

"Third sister left?"

"I originally liked the delicate ones; if it becomes a marriage, I have to wear something more modest."

"Is it a gift?"

"Haha, but I just like her this way; there's nothing I can do."

"Those skirts, give me a few as well? Ah, no, sell me a few, will you?"

"Don't be impatient; take it slowly. One day she will truly accept herself."

"The two held hands and entered the house; Qiao Mai personally taught how to wear the skirt and how to pair such a skirt with a top."

"Sister, where did you get it?"

"Look at that, really knows how to talk!"

"That's right, good stuff shouldn't be cheap."

"In a bit, after the meal I'll go back and see if there are any left. What color do you like?"

"Arriving at the Main Courtyard in the back garden, Yuan Jiaqi stopped inside the courtyard."

"Madam."

"Just then, Miss Wang came from the old lady's courtyard, calling Qiao Mai to eat, and was also very surprised upon seeing the Horse-face Skirt."

"It won't be too expensive, right?"

"If you think it's pricey, don't buy it!"

"Your family's Wine is like gold; why so expensive?"

"No, I just had a bowl of dumplings at your place, I'm full, I'm leaving."

"Servant girl, thank you!"

"Hehe, thank you, sister!"

"Don't mention it; when you're in my house, it's like your own home. Whatever good things my family has, they're all for you first; you are a hero of my family."

"Then helped her change, gave her a new hairstyle, and, like a Transformation Trick, pinned on her head the most popular hair ornaments and earrings on Earth."

"Scarcity makes things valuable; who in this world can make such a skirt, embroider such a pattern, or find such fabric?"

"The old gentleman looked at him with an air of never having seen the world, clutching his Wine tightly, fearing the guard might drop it."

"Yeah, it's almost dark; why are you staying here alone instead of leaving with her?"

"Here, sister, have some of this."

"Yuan Jiaqi quickly stood up, 'I'll go with you; you can't move the two jars yourself.'"

"Qiao Mai unceremoniously took the silver notes, ate several dumplings in one go, and finished the bowl of juice before leaving."

"One person asked her for the skirt, another for the wine. The skirt is easy to talk about; the embroidery is machine‑made, cost is low, a skirt isn't expensive. But the wine is truly not cheap; it's a world‑renowned fine wine. One jar required fifteen bottles to fill; a bottle costs the equivalent of one hundred taels of silver, so fifteen bottles total fifteen hundred taels. Selling it to him for one thousand taels, she still lost money."

"Mayor Qian took a sip of the wine, 'Sir, this wine is truly potent; where did you buy it? I'll get two jars as well?'"

"Go ahead, go ahead!"

"This outfit is truly gorgeous; how to put it—this clothing makes you look very noble and elegant, raising your temperament by a great margin. Not bad, not bad, really wonderful!"

"Miss Wang happily hugged Qiao Mai, 'Sister, thank you, the clothes are so beautiful, I love them so much.'"

"Qiao Mai pursed her lips, 'When I go to Jingcheng, just remember to treat me well.'"

"It must be!"

(End of chapter)