Part 3
Rong Xie was surprised, unsure why the shopkeeper suddenly changed his temper and wanted to do business with him again.
Soon, the shopkeeper turned to the Old Servant, his attitude improved significantly. “Old Uncle, just now I had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai. So you are an elder from Grand Secretary Wang’s household. Offense, offense!”
Saying this, the shopkeeper vigorously promoted their shop’s fabric to the Old Servant as well, with even more enthusiasm than toward Rong Xie.
Rong Xie finally understood why the shopkeeper had suddenly changed his attitude. It turned out the shopkeeper realized the Old Servant’s background was extraordinary and came to curry favor. However, the shopkeeper’s attempts weren’t very successful; the Old Servant still ignored him.
“Young Master, look at this fabric…” The shopkeeper was awkward and turned his sales target back to Rong Xie.
Rong Xie checked; the fabric was indeed good, better than other fabric shops on this street. However, he had to consider the Old Servant’s feelings.
“This material is acceptable. There’s nothing better nearby. If Young Master wants to buy it, then buy it,” the Old Servant said as if seeing Rong Xie’s hesitation.
Rong Xie was moved and took a few more looks at the Old Servant.
“However, their tailor’s skill is poor. Young Master should do as this old slave said: buy the fabric and find someone else to cut the clothes,” the Old Servant added.
“Our tailor is also…” The shopkeeper instinctively wanted to argue, but thinking of the Old Servant’s background, he swallowed his words and smiled apologetically. “Young Master, what this Old Uncle says makes sense. He has rich experience. Why not do as he says?”
“…Alright.” Rong Xie followed the advice readily, selecting one bolt each of white, blue, and kudzu colors, and took out silver to pay the shopkeeper.
“These three bolts are still too big. Where does Young Master live? I’ll have the assistants deliver them to your residence,” the shopkeeper said.
Rong Xie had been getting a headache over how to carry such large bolts of cloth since they wouldn’t fit in his cloth bag. Since the shopkeeper offered home delivery, he naturally agreed.
“My home is in Zhuli Lane…” Halfway through, Rong Xie suddenly felt a burning gaze from the side, as if anticipating him to say his address. He turned his head slightly, and the gaze vanished.
“Zhuli Lane, which house?”
“Wait, don’t deliver to my house. It should be delivered to this Old Uncle’s place.” Rong Xie suddenly thought of it and looked at the Old Servant. “With the interruption just now, I haven’t asked for Old Uncle’s name yet.”
“Cough cough, surname is Wang. Just deliver it to the northwest corner gate of the Lanyuan Villa District,” the Old Servant said.
Both the shopkeeper and Rong Xie revealed expressions of “as expected.” Surnamed Wang meant sharing the Master’s surname. Generally, only veteran servants could receive such honor. Thinking of this, the shopkeeper’s attitude became even more proactive.
Rong Xie hadn’t expected that coming out for a trip would solve his most troublesome problem.
Three bolts of cloth could make several sets of undergarments and outer robes each. For a long time to come, he wouldn’t have to worry about lacking comfortable cloth clothes.
The clothes he wore at Huanxue Villa appeared too ostentatious among commoners. Since he planned to integrate into a new life, his clothing and attire needed to keep up.
Rong Xie felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. Gratitude toward the Old Servant surged, and he insisted on treating him to dinner and walking him back to the Lanyuan Villa District.
Unexpectedly, the Old Servant said he still had business and wouldn’t eat, but wanted to walk Rong Xie home to learn the location so he could deliver the clothes as soon as they were done.
“How can I ask you to deliver them? I should come to pick them up.” Rong Xie felt very embarrassed. The Old Servant had helped him a lot today; he hadn’t expected to meet such a warm-hearted person on his outing.
“Cough cough, Young Master speaks too heavily. That Young Master trusts this old slave is this old slave’s honor. Moreover, this old slave has no certainty when the tailor will finish the clothes. I can’t let Young Master make a wasted trip. It’s better for this old slave to deliver them,” the Old Servant said.
Helpless, Rong Xie could only agree to the Old Servant’s proposal. However, when calculating payment, he decided to give him a bit more for his trouble. On this point, the Old Servant did not decline.
Seeing it was still early, Rong Xie planned to take the Old Servant back to identify the house first, then use a transmission talisman to call Wang Mu back later.
The two walked together toward the bluestone street. Rong Xie wanted to hire a cart, but the Old Servant refused, saying the cart was too fast and he wouldn’t remember the way.
“Young Master Rong just moved here, right? Are you used to living here?” On the way, the Old Servant asked.
“I’m used to it. Actually, this isn’t my first time here. I inspected the climate and environment here in advance. I also chose a house I liked. The market is just three streets away, and there are carriages if I want to go to the Capital. Life here is very convenient,” Rong Xie smiled.
The Old Servant gave him a complicated glance, then quickly looked away.
Here… is it really that good? He couldn’t even buy suitable clothes and used rough bowls. The living conditions were far worse than Huanxue Villa. How could Rong Xie smile so naturally?
“But how did Uncle Wang know I just moved here? Actually, I wanted to ask earlier. Uncle Wang looks very familiar; have we met somewhere?” Rong Xie looked at the Old Servant in confusion.
The Old Servant’s expression stiffened, and he gave two dry coughs. “Young Master must have mistaken me for someone else. Old fellows like this old slave are everywhere in the residences of princes and dukes. Seeing Young Master buy so many pots and pans along the way, and buying so much fabric for new clothes in one go, I assumed you had just moved here and had many things to prepare.”
“So Uncle Wang noticed me long ago,” Rong Xie was slightly surprised. “Am I that conspicuous?”
“Naturally, you are conspicuous,” the Old Servant said in a muffled voice.
Shen Bingsi thought to himself, Rong Xie stands out in the crowd like a night-luminescent pearl in the dark night. Once you see the pearl, all people and things around it become unimportant background.
The two reached the entrance of Zhuli Lane and ran into a brocade-clad young master fanning himself with a folding fan.
Lu Yinglin had been lingering here for a while. He had intended to visit, but finding Rong Xie not at home, he was debating where to look for him when he saw Rong Xie walking over with an Old Servant.
The way that Old Servant looked at Rong Xie was indescribably strange. Lu Yinglin frowned slightly, puzzled for only a brief moment, before smiling, waving his fan, and greeting them: “Junior Brother Rong, where did you go? You made me search for quite a while!”
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