Chapter 648: Walking with the Same Side [Thanks! Thanks again! 37k words owed]

Looking at the servants standing at the entrance of each tent on the first floor, Gu Tingyi said with a smile:

"I have to say, Madam Wu's mind is truly clever."

"Last year, the business of the Li family jewelry shop was good, and this year there are so many shops."

Pinlan, who had lively eyes on the side, hesitated: "Third Sister Gu, I've come here many times to play polo before; these tents should be those of high-ranking and noble families in the capital, right!"

"If they are opened as shops today, wouldn't these families mind?"

Hearing Pinlan's question, Chai Zhengzheng and the others around laughed one after another.

Pinlan looked at them in confusion.

Gu Tingyi said: "Sister Pinlan, these families naturally won't mind! Because those who can come in and put things in these tents are mostly relatives of these families."

"Oh! Hehe." Pinlan smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

Looking at Pinlan's hearty and generous appearance, everyone laughed again.

After walking a short distance,

in front of a certain family's tent on the first floor, Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady took Minglan's hand and said while stepping onto the steps: "Let's go! Let's go into this one and take a look."

The several managing mamas standing at the entrance saw this group of noble young ladies, hurriedly bowed and greeted them, the smiles in their eyes almost overflowing.

Being able to stand at the entrance of the tent, they naturally had the ability to see; the status of this group of noble young ladies who had not yet married was not low.

Everyone entered the tent,

and began to check the things inside.

Rulan, who was walking in the back, looked around at the rows of treasure cabinets displaying various materials, jewelry, tea sets, spices, and jade stones placed in the tent, and said to the managing mama, "Wow! You have so many things here!"

"Thank you for the praise, Young Lady!" one of the managing mamas in the tent said with a smile.

Seeing Mo Lan, who had walked forward quickly as soon as she entered the tent, curled her lips in some disgust after hearing Rulan's words.

Looking at Gu Tingyi and Chai Zhengzheng in front, whose eyes were unclear and who were smiling at each other, Seeing Mo Lan turned her head and glared at Rulan with a somewhat blaming look.

As it happened, this look was seen by Rulan.

Seeing this, Rulan walked forward a few steps angrily, arrived beside Seeing Mo Lan, and said in a low voice: "Fourth Sister, what do you mean by looking at me like that?"

Seeing Mo Lan took a deep breath, leaned into Rulan's ear, and while looking at the few people in front, said in a low voice: "What do I mean? The face of our Sheng family is about to be lost by you!"

"Fourth Sister, what nonsense are you talking about! When did I lose our family's face!" Rulan frowned and said.

Seeing Mo Lan curled her lips and said in a low voice: "Normally, the shops that can enter today's chrysanthemum appreciation meeting must choose boutique items for people to pick! Don't you look at the quality of the things in this tent?"

The two were talking while continuing to walk behind the others.

Listening to Seeing Mo Lan's words, Rulan looked at the jade stones in the treasure cabinet and touched the displayed materials a few times, saying: "These things are, are okay!"

Seeing Mo Lan curled her lips and said in a low voice: "I don't know which family's tent this is! It looks like there are many things, but there are no boutique items! It's hard to say if this family received silver benefits for these things to enter the tent in the field."

"Hmph!" Looking at Rulan's silent appearance, Seeing Mo Lan hummed triumphantly.

"I, I just hadn't seen clearly just now!" Rulan argued.

Sure enough,

the several noble young ladies strolled around the tent, and although they checked several items, they didn't buy a single thing until they left.

Watching the noble young ladies leave the tent, the several managing mamas at the entrance looked at each other helplessly.

"Ah! The tent of the Duke of Lian's mansion, why is it open at this time?"

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady pointed to the tent in front, where the maid and mama were lifting the tent curtain, and shouted.

Everyone looked at each other, and Gu Tingyi smiled: "Let's go, let's hurry over and take a look!"

Saying this, everyone hurriedly quickened their pace and walked toward the Lu family tent.

It wasn't just them walking toward the Lu family tent; the noble young ladies upstairs and downstairs who saw it also gathered around one after another.

Last year after the Double Ninth Festival,

many noble young ladies discovered that the exquisite jewelry bought in the tents at the chrysanthemum appreciation meeting that day only had the same style in the Li family jewelry shop two months later.

They were works by great gold and silver craftsmen of the Great Zhou and the former Bai Gao; being able to buy them for the first time made them look good when attending gatherings, and they could also be used as dowry to be kept at the bottom of the box in the future.

Entering the Lu family tent,

everyone's maids were left outside.

Just like before, the tent was filled with treasure cabinets.

The difference was that the categories in these treasure cabinets were not very complex.

They were all exquisite gold and silver jewelry of various colors, either inlaid with gemstones or decorated with ivory and tortoiseshell.

"Wow!"

Just upon entering, the young ladies couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.

Looking at the things in the treasure cabinets, they were all unable to move their feet.

Gu Tingyi looked at the Lu family managing mama accompanying everyone and smiled: "This mama, it looks like there is more jewelry this year than last year!"

The Lu family managing mama nodded with a smile: "Young lady is right! These are all specially crafted by great craftsmen for today's chrysanthemum appreciation meeting according to Madam Wu's instructions."

"Many jewelry styles might only appear in the chrysanthemum appreciation meeting, and some might only be crafted as one set!"

"Oh?"

Listening to the Lu family mama's words, the young ladies in the tent all showed surprise.

"There are more things this year; is it still the same as last year, where one person can only buy one piece?" Chai Zhengzheng asked with a smile.

"Returning to young lady, yes! One person can only buy one piece!" the Lu family mama replied.

"Then, if there is a style I take a fancy to, can I ask the great craftsman to craft another set?" Chai Zhengzheng continued to ask.

"Young lady, that is naturally possible!"

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng smiled.

While speaking,

everyone strolled around the tent.

Minglan was beside Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady, and together with Pinlan, was clicking her tongue while looking at the jewelry placed in the exquisite wooden boxes.

Listening to the Lu family mama answering the price inquiries of several noble young ladies, she sighed with some helplessness.

Whether it was Chai Zhengzheng or Gu Tingyi, their families were extremely wealthy.

Two noble young ladies didn't even look at some relatively ordinary jewelry; the jewelry they inquired about was mostly something that made people's livers tremble just hearing the price.

But for some reason, the two noble young ladies only inquired about the price and didn't buy them on the spot.

Subsequently, the Fifth Young Lady pulled Gu Tingyi to the side to consult about jewelry.

Rulan and Seeing Mo Lan, who were walking in the back, also continued to walk inside.

Chai Zhengzheng, who remained in the back, glanced at Minglan, who was standing before a gold bracelet, and walked over.

"Like it?"

Chai Zhengzheng said softly with a smile.

Minglan tilted her head to look at Chai Zhengzheng, nodded, and smiled: "I like it; looking at its style, it's somewhat similar to the silver bracelet my mother wears."

"Didn't bring enough money?" Chai Zhengzheng asked.

Minglan shook her head: "It's not that I don't have enough, it's that I didn't bring it."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and said: "If you take a fancy to it, I'll buy it for you first! You can return it to me when you have time."

Minglan scratched her cheek, shook her head, and said: "Sister Chai, let's forget it! My entire net worth would only be enough to buy this one bracelet."

After Chai Zhengzheng finished listening, she was stunned for a moment, thought about it, and nodded with a smile: "Alright. Let's go, let's go see something else."

Chai Zhengzheng understood; Minglan was a concubine's daughter in the family, with a grandmother and a legitimate mother; buying things only for her own mother was really somewhat unreasonable in terms of etiquette.

Although Minglan didn't make a move, Seeing Mo Lan and Rulan took a fancy to two pieces of jewelry one after another, asked the Lu family mama to wrap them up, and went to the entrance of the tent to pay.

Gu Tingyi helped Meng Jie'er buy a pair of earrings; the very bottom of the earrings was decorated with an extremely exquisite small gold bell, which jingled slightly when shaken.

Pinlan had originally picked out a gold hairpin beside Chai Zhengzheng.

But listening to the conversation between Minglan and Chai Zhengzheng, after some hesitation, Pinlan still put the gold hairpin back.

Chai Zhengzheng, who noticed Pinlan's movements, had a smile appear on her face and continued to stroll inside.

Chai Zhengzheng walked and looked,

suddenly,

her gaze froze, and she saw an exquisite longevity lock that used plenty of materials.

"It saves me from going to the gold and silver shop to buy one," Chai Zhengzheng said to herself.

Subsequently, Chai Zhengzheng waved to the Lu family mama.

Everyone strolled around and returned to the entrance of the tent.

Pinlan, who had empty hands, looked at the five-colored head rope braided with gold thread hanging on the side of the entrance and hurriedly stepped forward to ask the price with a smile.

After asking the price clearly, Pinlan pulled Minglan over, took out her own money, and bought a very long head rope.

"Cut this head rope into four sections! One for each of us four."

Pinlan said standing at the entrance.

Hearing this, Rulan, who had already finished buying things, looked at the things in Xique's hands, then looked at Minglan, who had empty hands, pursed her lips, and said: "I don't need mine! Give it."

Seeing Mo Lan looked at the things held by the maid beside her and also nodded with a smile: "Fifth Sister is right, let mine be given to Sixth Sister."

"Thank you, two sisters!" Minglan bowed in a salute to thank them.

Listening to the conversation of the Sheng family young ladies,

the other young ladies, mamas, maids, and servants waiting outside the door talked in low voices for a few sentences.

When Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady, Chai Zhengzheng, and the others came out of the tent, the young ladies of each family bowed and nodded with smiles one after another.

Chai Zhengzheng and the others naturally returned the salute and talked.

Standing outside the Lu family tent,

Gu Tingyi looked at the things held by the maid beside Seeing Mo Lan and smiled: "Sister Seeing Mo Lan, the things you bought, I think they will definitely look good hanging around the veil hat."

The unnaturalness on Seeing Mo Lan's face flashed by. Looking at Chai Zhengzheng and the others who were nodding, she nodded with a smile and said: "Sister Tingyi is right."

Everyone went to stroll around other families, bought some other things, and then returned to the second floor.

On the second floor,

"The young ladies are back."

The maid beside the screen said with a smile.

Hualan sat beside the ladies and official wives with a smile on her face, looking toward the screen.

After seeing the accessories brought back by Seeing Mo Lan and Rulan, and then looking at Pinlan and Minglan who were talking and laughing, the smile on Hualan's face faded a lot, and her eyes narrowed slightly.

After talking for a while,

Mama Liu appeared beside the screen,

bowed in a salute to everyone sitting there with a smile, and said: "Ladies, the Da Niangzi invites the several young ladies to go over."

Madam Bai and the others nodded with smiles one after another.

Hualan also stood up, bowed in a salute, and took her leave with a smile.

When Hualan took the several Lan sisters and walked out, a hearty laughter of young men came from downstairs.

Rulan looked downstairs to watch the excitement and smiled: "It's the brothers who are back."

After finishing speaking with a smile, Rulan looked at Hualan's expression beside her and said in confusion: "Eldest Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Hualan glanced at Rulan and said nothing, just walking toward where Wang Ruofu was on her own.

Downstairs,

Qi Heng was grabbing Changbai's sleeve with a smile on his face.

Gu Tingye on the side waved his hand at Changbai with a smile and said: "Changbai, just go for a walk in the flowers with Fifth Brother and Yuanruo!"

Changbai shook his head with a smile: "I'm not going; what's there to walk about."

Xu Zaijing walked forward, put his arm around Changbai's shoulder, and smiled: "Changbai, let's go! Just treat it as going to appreciate flowers."

Changbai said: "Then why didn't you call Pei Erge."

Gu Tingye straightened his chest and said proudly: "I'm engaged! I'm just here to join in the fun today."

"Pei Erge, let's go, let's go!" Changfeng said, pushing Changbai's waist and back, and they walked toward the small paths among the flowers together.

Walking in the small paths among the flowers,

the scent was vaguely permeating the air,

Changbai no longer needed to be pushed or pulled, walking in front while talking with Qi Heng.

Changfeng walked beside Xu Zaijing, poking his head to look at the wooden building on the second floor every two steps.

"Changfeng, what are you looking at?"

Xu Zaijing asked with a smile.

As soon as these words were spoken,

Changbai, who was walking in front, turned his head to look over.

Seeing Changfeng didn't speak, Changbai turned his head and continued walking.

After Changbai turned his head, Changfeng said in a low voice beside Xu Zaijing: "Fifth Brother Xu, Pei Erge Gu said your eyesight is good; you look at that second floor and see if there are any young ladies from other families beside Mother."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing's interest instantly soared, and he glanced toward that side while walking.

A moment later, Xu Zaijing shook his head: "There are no young ladies from other families beside Auntie; only Eldest Sister Hualan is talking."

"Oh..."

Changfeng nodded with some disappointment.

"How is it, is Auntie wanting to look at a match for Changbai today?" Xu Zaijing smiled.

Changfeng looked at the wooden building again with a smile: "Right! Said it's a young lady from the Feng family."

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile and said: "I think it's unlikely."

The few of them talked while walking along the small path for more than half the way.

Changfeng still looked at the second floor from time to time.

The noon sun was somewhat dazzling.

On the second floor by the field,

behind a screen,

the layout was somewhat similar to that of Chai Zhengzheng and the others.

Madam Hai was talking with several official wives under a large umbrella.

Hai Chaoyun and several young ladies were sitting under another large umbrella, with maids Miss Zhu Jian and Baoxiu standing by the railing.

After covering her mouth with a round fan and saying a few words to her companions, a maid by the railing said: "Young lady, the young master of the Duke of Qi's mansion and his friends are walking over!"

Hearing this,

the young ladies beside Hai Chaoyun looked at each other and stood up one after another, walking to the railing.

Everyone used round fans to shade the sun above their heads and looked at the people walking among the flowers downstairs.

"Where are they?"

Someone asked.

The maid pointed to Xu Zaijing and the others among the flowers and said: "Young lady, there!"

At this time,

not only on Hai Chaoyun's side,

but also next door, separated by a screen, many official wives and noble young ladies also looked at the situation around them after hearing the movement.

Several noble young ladies had already followed their mothers and elders to gather at the railing to look down.

It was indeed against the rules for one or two noble young ladies to look at people like this,

but a group of noble young ladies looking like this was just joining in the fun, becoming "the law does not punish the masses."

Looking at the many young ladies on the second floor, Liang Han hurriedly straightened his clothes and walked with his chest out and head high.

Changfeng, who was beside Xu Zaijing, looked up at the ladies and young ladies on the second floor, and feeling the many gazes, didn't know why, but he started walking with the same side while walking.

Seeing this, the noble young ladies pointed and gestured,

"Hahahaha!"

The noble young ladies covered their mouths and noses with round fans and laughed crisply.

Changfeng's face was burning red with shame. Listening to the surrounding laughter, he hurriedly hid to one side of Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing felt the gazes looking over from upstairs, cupped his hands with a calm smile, and after scanning the second floor, was about to speak,

suddenly,

"Sigh, sigh!" Liang Han's slightly panicked voice came.

"Haha!"

The laughter of the ladies and noble young ladies upstairs grew louder.

Xu Zaijing tilted his head to look and saw Liang Han only looking at the second floor, not being careful and walking between two pots of flowers, and after being bumped by the flower pot, he fell into the flower bushes.

On the second floor,

looking at Xu Zaijing and Changbai, who were covering their foreheads with their hands and looking puzzled and embarrassed,

Hai Chaoyun also couldn't help but laugh.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 649 =====