The shopkeeper introduced it warmly. “Madam has a good eye. This is our shop’s newest design — thirty taels of silver.”
Song Yinuo shook her head. “That’s too expensive.”
“Can it be cheaper? Twenty taels. If that works, I’ll buy it.” Shen Yunzhi weighed the bracelet in her hand — it wasn’t heavy.
“Just look at the craftsmanship, and the detailing on the pattern. This is first-rate quality. If it weren’t for Madam’s pleasant demeanor, I wouldn’t even sell it for thirty.”
“Twenty-five at most. Otherwise, forget it.”
Shen Yunzhi turned as if to leave.
The shopkeeper quickly relented. “Fine, fine — twenty-five it is. Do come again in the future.”
He carefully wrapped the bracelet in a box.
While waiting, Shen Yunzhi noticed a familiar hairpin displayed nearby — identical to the one her mother-in-law used to wear.
When Su Huaijin had gone off to join the army, her mother-in-law, fearing he would suffer on the long journey, had pawned her silver hairpin.
She had regretted it for a long time. Only later did Shen Yunzhi learn that it had been passed down from her mother-in-law’s own mother.
“I’ll take this hairpin too.”
Shen Yunzhi bought it without hesitation. Her mother-in-law would surely be happy to receive it.
If she was buying for her mother-in-law, she should buy something for her sister-in-law as well. For all these years, they had helped support the eldest branch of the family.
After looking around, she chose a pair of silver earrings for Liu Lihua.
Then she went to the cloth shop and bought several bolts of fabric — enough to make new clothes for Father-in-law, Su Second Brother, and the children.
She also purchased snacks for the children, along with rice, flour, and oil.
She even considered buying chickens and ducks to raise at home, but she simply couldn’t carry any more and reluctantly gave up.
Sure enough, buying things was the most satisfying feeling of all.
In a secluded spot, Shen Yunzhi sent the bracelet through the pendant to Song Yinuo.
“The craftsmanship on this bracelet is even better than I imagined!” Song Yinuo slipped it onto her wrist, grinning from ear to ear.
Infected by her excitement, Shen Yunzhi found herself smiling too.
When she returned home carrying a pile of goods, Liu Lihua hurried to take them, muttering, “You bought so much — are we not planning to live properly anymore?”
But she couldn’t hide the smile on her face.
“If we’ve earned money, we should treat ourselves a little better.” Shen Yunzhi handed her a bolt of fabric. “See if you like this. If not, go exchange it.”
“For me?” Liu Lihua shook her head quickly. “No, no, I have clothes to wear. Keep your money. Besides, you already pay me wages every day.”
“When the business first started, you didn’t complain about earning little and kept helping me. I’m grateful. Now that we’re making money, from now on everyone’s wage will increase to fifty wen a day.”
Helping had been out of goodwill — but once money was coming in, she couldn’t let them lose out.
“We’re family. No need to split hairs,” Liu Lihua protested.
“Take it. If you don’t, I’ll hire someone else.”
Unable to refuse any longer, Liu Lihua accepted it. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
Eldest Sister-in-law truly wasn’t the same anymore.
Shen Yunzhi then returned to her room and handed a hairpin to her mother-in-law.
“This is a gift I bought for you.”
Old Madam Su was about to refuse — but the moment she saw it, her eyes reddened.
This… this was the very hairpin she had once pawned.
She had thought she would never see it again in this lifetime.