After leaving the grain shop, the two followed the shop assistant’s directions and continued walking.
In less than two hundred meters, they saw a fabric shop called Qiao’s Cloth Shop.
They were about to walk in, but before they reached the door, the assistant standing outside stopped them.
“Go, go, go! Don’t you even look at where you’re going? Do you think you can just come in? All dirty and smelly—don’t stink up the clothes in the store!”
“Hmph, judging people by appearances. I don’t care about your shabby shop anyway.” With that, she turned and headed to the fabric shop across the street.
The assistant expected the two to argue, but to his surprise, they walked off decisively and entered the rival shop, Linglong Cloth Shop. He was stunned.
Unlike Qiao’s shop, Linglong Cloth Shop was quiet and almost empty, with only a few scattered customers. There was no assistant standing at the door.
The two walked in casually.
As soon as they entered, a gentle voice greeted them, “Welcome, honored guests. Feel free to look around.”
Following the voice, Yunxi saw a calm and graceful woman sitting by the window. Their eyes met, and they smiled at each other.
Yunxi began browsing slowly. Most of the shop’s clothing was ruqun (traditional tops and skirts). She wanted separates, a top and a bottom, for convenience when working.
After looking around, she bought a pale blue set for herself and a western-style suit for Nangong An.
Nangong An asked, “Yunxi, why only one set? Isn’t one set too little for changing?”
Yunxi pointed to some fabric nearby. “Nangong An, I didn’t find the right ones. Didn’t I buy a piece of cotton cloth to make more myself?”
At that moment, a shopkeeper busy sewing looked up and walked slowly toward Yunxi. “Little sister, what kind of clothes are you looking for? Tell me, and I’ll find them for you.”
Yunxi stared at the shopkeeper’s outfit and didn’t respond immediately.
“Shopkeeper, do you have more of that set you’re wearing? I want to buy a few sets.”
Xueli wore that type of outfit for convenience while working. Yunxi looked at her and guessed she had the same reason.
“Oh! So little sister is like me, with the same taste. I bet you’re someone who likes clean, practical clothing—efficient and decisive.”
Yunxi was flattered by the compliment and hesitated to respond. After a moment, she said, “Oh, shopkeeper sister, you speak so sweetly. But yes, this outfit is convenient.”
Just as Yunxi was about to ask about more clothes like the ones the shopkeeper was wearing, the shopkeeper spoke.
“Little sister, you seem about the same size as me. If you don’t mind, I have two finished sets I can give you.”
“Give? No, no. How much silver? I’ll buy them.” Yunxi immediately waved her hand.
Xueli glanced at the counter, saw two pieces of coarse cloth and one piece of cotton, and compromised. “Fifty taels for both.”
Yunxi knew this was a big discount. She thought for a moment, then said, “Sister, let me draw some designs for you. If you like them, make them. If not, keep them for yourself.”
“You can design clothes? That’s wonderful!” Xueli said and squatted to take out several sheets of rice paper from a drawer.
Yunxi stood quietly beside her, drawing. The more she saw, the more impressed she became.
The shop’s ruqun were low-cut. Though they didn’t expose the chest, the whole neck area was open. Yunxi’s designs covered the neck but had a hollow pattern at the chest.
After several designs, Xueli was pleased. Yunxi also drew designs for camisole pajamas, short-sleeved pajamas, and long-sleeved pajamas.
Finally, Yunxi mysteriously led Xueli to a changing cupboard and slipped her hand into the sleeve—actually handing her a thin, non-padded, wire-free inner shirt from the supermarket.
“This is a small inner shirt. Try it on.”
Xueli looked at the piece of fabric in surprise. How could this be worn?
Yunxi said, “If you don’t mind, I can show you how to put it on.”
Xueli was a shopkeeper and among women, so she didn’t hesitate. She took off her clothes, and then…
“Little sister, this is incredible! It… it puffs up like a balloon!”
Hearing this, Yunxi couldn’t help but laugh—“balloon” was an oddly fitting description.
“Since you like it, I’ll give this to you. Study it and see if you can make it. If you can, you’ll make endless silver!”
Xueli stared at the strange item. “Little sister, where did you get this?”
Yunxi didn’t mention the supermarket. She thought for a moment and said, “My father once brought a bunch of strange items from Western traders. This inner shirt was one of them.”
“Western? No wonder. Not surprising then. I’ll study it. In future, we’ll split the profits fifty-fifty,” Xueli said cheerfully.
Then she looked at Yunxi and asked, “We’ve talked so much, but who exactly are you?”
Yunxi was currently a wandering refugee and didn’t know when she would have a proper home.
“Sister, to be honest, my hometown was flooded. I fled with my parents, but got separated along the way. Now I’m planning to go north with my husband.”
“North? That’s very far. It would take at least a month, and the north is extremely cold. Can you handle it?” Xueli said.
Though she hadn’t been there, she knew the harshness. But she also sensed that this young woman would go wherever her husband went. She didn’t want to hold her back.
“Little sister, since fate has brought us together, why don’t we become sworn sisters? I’m Xueli. What should I call you?”
This sudden proposal surprised Yunxi, but she obediently said, “My surname is Yang, and my name is Yunxi. You can call me Yunxi or Xi’er.”
“I’m twenty-two, older than you. From now on, we’re sisters!” Xueli decided firmly. She liked Yunxi immediately.
Then she took a silver note for a thousand taels from her pouch and handed it to Yunxi. “You’re traveling far to the north. Take this for emergencies.”
Seeing the silver, Yunxi realized how generous this “midway sister” was—one thousand taels at once! Though startled, she didn’t need the money.
“If you don’t accept it, do you think it’s too little?” Xueli asked in mock anger.
“Not at all. I have silver,” Yunxi began, but Xueli cut her off.
“This is my gesture as your sister. Take it!”
Yunxi never expected that buying clothes could lead to gaining a sworn sister. She felt like she’d hit the jackpot.