Chapter 620: Chapter 620: Can You Afford It?

The next day, Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei went out to meet the so-called president of the largest local merchant guild.

Sitting in the horse-drawn carriage, she repeatedly looked down at her own plain dress, then looked over at Mo Lingwei. He had already grown accustomed to wearing simple cloth garments.

"If we’re going to see your friend, shouldn’t we dress a little better to be more formal?"

"He’s not really a friend, more of a subordinate." Mo Lingwei toyed with his folding fan, a faint smile appearing on his handsome, jade-white face—a smile reserved only for Shen Ningning.

"Besides, we’re currently staying at the Ren Mansion and need to conceal our identities. He’s aware of this, so it’s fine. Just think of it as you accompanying me for a leisurely outing."

Hearing this, Shen Ningning relaxed a little.

But to her surprise, just as they alighted from the carriage and reached the entrance to the marketplace, they were stopped.

"Young Master, Madam, our master sent this lowly one to receive you." An obsequious voice came from outside.

Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning both stared, momentarily stunned by the spectacle before them.

A well-dressed attendant stood before them, followed by a dozen or so servants.

They lowered their heads, clasped their hands in a salute, and shouted, "Greetings, Young Master! Greetings, Madam!"

Such a grand display attracted the attention of the surrounding passersby.

Shen Ningning quickly hid behind Mo Lingwei and lowered her head.

Mo Lingwei frowned. "Didn’t your master say that I wanted to keep a low profile?"

"He did, he did. That’s why this time, he only arranged for twelve people plus this lowly one to welcome you." The lead attendant said with a placating smile. Seeing Mo Lingwei’s displeased expression, he instantly realized it was still too extravagant.

He immediately turned around and sternly reprimanded them, "All of you, back off! Don’t crowd so close!"

Then he turned back to Mo Lingwei, clasped his hands, and beamed. "Young Master, Madam, please follow this lowly one this way. Our master has booked the entire third floor of the Furong Building and is waiting for you."

As the attendant led the way, Shen Ningning lowered her voice and asked Mo Lingwei, "Didn’t you say this guild president knew we needed to hide our identities? Why did he still arrange for so many people? This is far too grand."

Mo Lingwei pressed his lips together. "When he heard I was coming, he was scared out of his wits. Then when he heard I was bringing you, he nearly knelt on the spot. He’s probably just overly excited, so this is his best attempt at being low-key, but it’s still riddled with his fear of being disrespectful."

Shen Ningning soon discovered that Mo Lingwei was right.

They had barely taken two steps before they were greeted by three maids in beautiful, resplendent clothing, who curtsied to Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei.

Mo Lingwei frowned. "And what is this for?"

The attendant said with another placating smile, "Our master heard that the Young Master’s wife has had a difficult journey and doesn’t have many suitable clothes or accessories. So, the master wanted to fulfill his duties as a host and gift Madam a few beautiful sets of clothes and jewelry."

With that, he looked at Shen Ningning. "Please go with these three maids. The Guangxiu Building is right across from the Furong Building. Madam, you can take your time choosing whatever you like. Our master has already taken care of all the expenses."

Shen Ningning was about to politely decline, but to her surprise, Mo Lingwei agreed with the idea.

"When we left, weren’t you just saying your clothes were too plain? Go pick something out. If you see anything you like, just take it. No need to be frugal."

The attendant wrung his hands and added with a fawning smile, "Yes, yes! The master said to let Madam spend as much as she pleases."

Shen Ningning silently blinked her long lashes. "Alright, then."

She followed the three maids and entered the nearby Guangxiu Building. Only after watching her go inside did Mo Lingwei turn and head to the Furong Building across the street.

The Furong Building was the largest tavern in the area, and it was expensive. Typically, only high-ranking officials and aristocrats dined there.

It had three floors. The first floor was for commoners, while the second floor had private rooms. Anyone who could book a private room at the Furong Building was already considered either rich or noble in Ling Mountain City.

But the third floor was even more special. Because of its height and excellent view, one could see all of Tianshan Mountain in the distance, its peaks capped with white snow—a delightful sight. Therefore, only the highest officials and wealthiest magnates were ever able to come up here.

From the third-floor window, one could see Shen Ningning across the street in the Guangxiu Building, picking out fabrics.

When Shen Ningning arrived, there wasn’t a single other person in the Guangxiu Building. The Shopkeeper and four female clerks responsible for assisting customers all greeted her with beaming smiles. A whole group of people was waiting on her alone.

They led her to a private room in the back and brought out countless mahogany trays. On them were jade ornaments, gold jewelry, and items crafted from silver. A moment later, a few clerks brought over the shop’s most precious and finest silks.

Shen Ningning already owned plenty of these things back in the Capital City. As she looked them over here, her eyes showed no particular sign of amazement.

The Shopkeeper was a businessman and had been specially instructed by the guild president to serve this madam well. Seeing that this lady, dressed in plain clothes, remained completely unfazed in the face of so much treasure, he knew her background was anything but ordinary.

"Madam, are you perhaps unsatisfied with these? We have even better items in the building. Would you like to see them?"

"No need, these are all quite nice." Shen Ningning thought to herself, ’I’ll just pick one or two things as a token gesture. I have far too many nice things already.’

Just then, a woman’s shouting voice came from the main hall outside.

"Where’s your Shopkeeper? Get your Shopkeeper out here! Are you trying to make a fool of us? Our Young Miss was just here and had her eye on that bolt of thousand gold silk. We only went back to get some silver, and now you’re telling us the fabric is gone?"

The voice was so loud that Shen Ningning heard it too. She lowered her gaze and saw that the very same thousand gold silk was laid out right in front of her.

It had a golden sheen, was smooth to the touch, and didn’t wrinkle. It was truly a top-grade fabric.

A troubled look crossed the Shopkeeper’s face. He tried to soothe Shen Ningning, saying, "Madam, please take a look at the jewelry for now. This lowly one will go out and handle this."

With that, he hurried out.

The four female clerks gathered around Shen Ningning, helping her try on hairpins.

Throughout this time, the arguing outside never stopped. The Shopkeeper’s apologetic voice, mixed in with the clamor, sounded utterly powerless.

The maid’s scolding voice carried in: "Sold it to someone else? Just like that, you say it’s sold to someone else, and our Young Miss made a trip for nothing? Do you have any idea who our Young Master-in-law is? Our old master wouldn’t even have to lift a finger; the Young Master-in-law alone could shut down this little shop of yours!"

The Shopkeeper grew anxious. "Young Master Zhao! Who doesn’t know of him?"

"If you know, then how dare you slight us? Tell us, who exactly did you sell that thousand gold silk to? Get it back for our Young Miss right now."

A familiar voice followed immediately. "I can offer double the price."

Shen Ningning paused in the middle of picking up a ruby bracelet.

’Is that Ren Er’s voice?’

After the lightning incident last time, Ren Er had gotten a fright and dragged her husband, Zhao Lei, away that very night.

Shen Ningning had even thought, ’She sure left in a hurry. What a shame I couldn’t scare her one more time.’

And now, what a small world for enemies, they had run into each other again.

How could the Shopkeeper possibly agree? The thousand gold silk had already been presented to the wife of that important figure in the back. How could he possibly take it back out?

But the power of the Zhao family was not something his humble shop could afford to provoke.

"Mrs. Zhao, please calm down. How about this? I’ll procure another bolt of thousand gold silk another day and have it delivered to your residence first thing."

Ren Er sat in a chair, calmly examining her fingertips. "Next time? I’m always the one who makes others wait; no one has ever dared to make me wait. Shopkeeper, I see you don’t do business honestly. I’ve already offered double the price and you still refuse. In that case, don’t blame me for having my servants smash up your shop. It’s not like you have any integrity to speak of anyway."

The maid beside her said to the household guards, "Do it!"

The Shopkeeper cried out in protest, but just then, a bright and lovely figure emerged from the inner room.

"I was wondering who was making such a big scene, threatening to smash up someone’s shop to vent their anger. So it was you, little sister Ren Er," Shen Ningning said with a wide smile.

When Ren Er saw her, her eyes went wide as if she had seen a ghost.

"What are you doing here?"

"I’m here to shop, of course."

"You?" Ren Er blurted out. "Can you even afford it?"

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