Liu Qingyin looked somewhat shy and embarrassed, yet deliberately shot Su Tan a provocative glance. “Thank you, Xiao Xiao. This one is lovely.”
“Zhanggui, please wrap this up.”
Su Tan found it childish and ridiculous. She hadn’t been particularly set on that hairpin to begin with—she’d only picked it up for a closer look because the color caught her eye. Yet Song Xiao insisted on snatching it for Liu Qingyin.
Su Tan turned away and picked up a Jin Bu Yao (Golden Hairpin), but to her surprise, Song Xiao rushed over again, snatched it from her hand, and presented it to Liu Qingyin like a treasure.
“Aunt Qing, this Golden Hairpin would look beautiful on you too!”
Song Tingchen glanced toward Su Tan and noticed her expression was neither sad nor happy, completely unreadable. An inexplicable tightness gripped his chest. He turned to Liu Qingyin and said, “This hairpin is lovely. Let’s have it wrapped up too. I’ll buy it for you.”
Old Madam Song was overjoyed, as if she had finally reclaimed her dignity and vented her resentment. “Yes! This one suits Qingyin perfectly!”
“Our Qingyin is beautiful and gentle—everything looks good on her!”
Liu Qingyin’s expression grew even more delicate and shy. “In that case, I graciously accept.”
A ripple of emotion flickered in Su Tan’s eyes. She scanned the entire second floor, shook her head, and said to the Zhanggui, “I’m thinking of going to the fourth floor to have a look.”
The Zhanggui was startled but maintained his enthusiastic smile. “Of course. Please follow me, everyone.”
Old Madam Song spat in disdain. “Who does she think she’s fooling? Trying to keep up appearances despite her limitations!”
The items on the fourth floor were only for nobles and officials. By skipping the third floor and heading straight to the fourth, was Su Tan planning to live on chaff and wild herbs for the rest of the year after buying a single piece of jewelry?
Song Xiao gritted his teeth and followed.
Su Tan’s gaze fell on the Hong Yu Sui Ear Drops (Red Chalcedony Ear Drops). “These are pretty.”
Song Xiao immediately pointed at the pair of ear drops. “Aunt Qing, these would look beautiful on you too!”
Hong Ge’er’s face darkened. Whatever his aunt liked, Song Xiao would snatch and buy for Liu Qingyin. It was clear Song Xiao was deliberately trying to hurt his aunt’s feelings. “Song Xiao, enough is enough. You’re going too far.”
Song Xiao glared at him. So what if he was doing it on purpose? He simply believed that a wicked woman didn’t deserve to wear such beautiful jewelry. “This isn’t your family’s shop!”
“She hasn’t paid for it yet. I think these would look good on Aunt Qing, so I’m buying them for her. What’s wrong with that? If you have the means, why don’t you buy them for her!”
“Can you even afford them?”
Song Xiao was unapologetic. Hong Ge’er, usually calm and composed, was visibly angered. His face darkened as he prepared to lecture Song Xiao, but Su Tan stopped him, shaking her head with a faint smile.
Su Tan’s eyes shifted and landed on a jade bracelet, its entire body a translucent green glowing with a cool, serene light. Her gaze paused. “Zhanggui, please wrap this up for me.”
Song Xiao immediately shouted, “I want that one too!”
“Dad, this bracelet is so beautiful! Let’s buy it for Aunt Qing, okay!”
Song Tingchen’s eyes fell on Su Tan, only to see her frown and stare expressionlessly at Song Xiao. “Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”
“This time, I saw this bracelet first, and I was the one who said to wrap it up.”
Liu Qingyin’s face lit up with joy as she held Song Xiao’s hand. “What a beautiful bracelet! Thank you, Xiao Xiao. I love it!”
“Sister Su Tan, I could let you have all the previous items, but I really love this bracelet.”
Su Tan let out an expressionless, mocking laugh. “What, have you grown addicted to snatching others’ belongings, specifically targeting what I no longer want?”
She turned her gaze to the shopkeeper. “Shopkeeper, business should follow the principle of first come, first served, correct? I was the one who saw this bracelet first.”
The shopkeeper nodded, offering an apologetic smile to Liu Qingyin. “This bracelet was indeed spotted first by Miss Su. It rightfully belongs to her. My apologies, Miss Liu, but I cannot sell this bracelet to you.”
Liu Qingyin swayed unsteadily, her eyes reddening as she looked pleadingly at Song Tingchen, her voice choked with emotion. “Brother Tingchen, I truly like this one very much.”..”
Song Tingchen stared intently at Su Tan, then suddenly curled his lips into a faint smile, addressing the shopkeeper. “What if I offer three times the price?”
Su Tan chuckled lightly. “Song Tingchen, do you still think I’m like during the Divorce period, without a single coin to my name?”
“Shopkeeper, I offer four times.”
Watching Su Tan’s straight, unyielding posture, Gu Mingzhu felt a sharp pang of heartache. “Song Tingchen, have you no shame!”
Song Tingchen’s expression remained cold and detached. His eyes fixed on Su Tan, he parted his thin lips briefly and tossed out two curt words. “Five times.”
Su Tan raised her hands and applauded for Song Tingchen.
“General Song splurging thousands in gold—admirable.”
“Willing to pay five times the price for a single bracelet.”
Song Tingchen’s brow seemed frosted over, but seeing Su Tan’s now darkened expression, he felt the suffocating tightness in his chest ease considerably. “If Miss Su is envious, you can always find someone else to buy it for you.”
Not to mention distant examples, isn’t Prince Chen the one protecting Su Tan, treating her as an honored guest, and showing her much appreciation?
Song Mother felt a vengeful satisfaction, thinking that even a once noble lady from a high family now had a day when she was trampled underfoot. “Shopkeeper, settle the bill!”
The shopkeeper summoned two attendants.
The attendants clicked their abacuses and offered a respectful smile to Song Tingchen. “General Song, the total here is twenty-three thousand taels.”
Old Madam Song was startled, nearly biting her tongue in shock. Having known poverty and fear, how could she bear to spend so much money on such items? “Aren’t you practically robbing us!”
The shopkeeper frowned. “Old Madam Song, please watch your words. Our business has always been fair to all, young and old.”
Besides, it wasn’t originally this expensive. Who asked Song Tingchen to offer five times the price for a single jade bracelet?
Old Madam Song tugged at Liu Qingyin and Song Tingchen, trying to leave. “We don’t want it!”
“Why should we waste money like this!”
Spending twenty-three thousand taels on these pieces of jewelry—was she insane!
Liu Qingyin felt embarrassed and cornered. The price far exceeded her expectations; she didn’t like it that much, she merely wanted to take what Su Tan favored.
But to admit in front of Su Tan that she couldn’t afford it and then be mocked and ridiculed would be more unbearable than death.
Liu Qingyin struggled to maintain her composure. “I really like it. I think it’s worth it.”
Su Tan laughed outright without restraint, her eyes tinged with faint derision. “Miss Liu, better not inflate your cheeks to pretend you’re plump. If you buy this bracelet, what will you do afterward?”
“General Song, even if you can’t afford it, it’s fine. After all, twenty-three thousand taels is no small sum.”
Song Tingchen’s gaze turned icy. Over the years, he had achieved numerous military merits, receiving countless rewards from the monarch. The Song family was no longer the destitute household it once was.
Su Tan was clearly underestimating him.
“If Qingyin likes it, even if it’s not a small sum, I can still afford it.”
Song Xiao also tightened his little face and deliberately spoke loudly, “That’s right! As long as Aunt Qing likes it, even if it costs a hundred thousand taels, Father and I will buy it for her!”
Old Madam Song nearly fainted on the spot. “You—”
Song Tingchen had already calmly informed the Zhanggui that he would return to fetch the silver notes.
Gu Mingzhu felt as disgusted as if she had swallowed a fly.
She wanted to leave and spare herself the unpleasant sight, but Su Tan and Hong Ge’er quietly tugged at her sleeve.
Suddenly, Gu Mingzhu smiled. “Since I’m fortunate enough to witness such extravagance, I ought to sit down and enjoy the show. Otherwise, if we leave and someone suddenly decides not to buy, wouldn’t I miss out on a good performance?”
Old Madam Song wished she could tear Gu Mingzhu’s mouth apart, but the other woman held an official title and was a martyr’s widow—she truly didn’t dare.
Song Tingchen returned with the silver notes.
The Zhanggui wrote out a receipt and handed the item to him.
Without a second thought, Song Tingchen casually passed it to Liu Qingyin.
The moment the item was in her hands, Liu Qingyin finally felt the long-suppressed tension in her chest ease. She looked at Su Tan with a provocative and triumphant gaze.
“Sister Su Tan, thank you for reluctantly parting with what you cherished.”
Su Tan’s jewelry was hers, and so were her husband and son.
Didn’t this also signify that Su Tan’s life deserved to be trampled mercilessly under her feet?
At that moment, Hong Ge’er suddenly frowned, pursed his lips, and said, “I remember that within twelve hours, this receipt can… can be used to return the item.”
Old Madam Song immediately shot him a glare—how dare this little brat speak out of turn!
Song Xiao bit his lip, suddenly snatched the receipt from Song Tingchen’s hand, and tore it to pieces in front of Su Tan and the others.
“Father! Let’s go!”
“We’re not playing with these paupers!”
Song Tingchen’s gaze fell on Su Tan. Seeing her expression devoid of sorrow or joy, with even a faint smile at the corner of her lips, his brow suddenly twitched.
She wasn’t upset.
Instead, she was smiling.
Why was that?
But there was no time for Song Tingchen to ponder further. Song Mother’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, all traces of her earlier joy gone, and she dragged him away impatiently.
She didn’t even spare a kind look for her precious grandson or Liu Qingyin.
After the Song family had left, the Zhanggui pulled out three five-hundred-tael silver notes and handed them to Su Tan. “Miss Su, thank you.”
That Yu Zhuo, which had been sitting unsold for so long, had finally found a buyer.