In the blink of an eye, summer arrived. With nothing much to do, Gu Liyue would occasionally hang out with Qin Caiyin. They usually went to the same old places. As the weather was sweltering, strolling outside was tiring, so they most often went to teahouses to drink tea, listen to stories, and enjoy music.
Since Qin Yuyin was soon to get married, she didn't have much time to accompany them.
Qin Caiyin pulled Gu Liyue and said, "There's a new and very interesting clothing store in the city. How about we go check it out?"
Gu Liyue hesitated and shook her head. "It's so stuffy and hot. What's so great about a hot clothing store?"
Qin Caiyin shook her head. "You don't know how interesting that store is. It's very spacious, and there's ice in the courtyard. The private rooms are not stuffy at all. All the clothes are in novel styles. They not only sell ready - made clothes but also have all kinds of accessories."
Gu Liyue got interested and went to the clothing store with Qin Caiyin in a carriage. When they entered, they found that the storekeeper was a middle - aged woman.
Seeing the important customers coming, the storekeeper quickly stepped forward and asked, "Ladies, do you want to reserve the whole store?"
Gu Liyue found this storekeeper very sensible and couldn't help asking curiously, "Have you worked in other stores before?"
The storekeeper nodded. "I used to be a servant on Mingzheng Street. Seeing that the two ladies have extraordinary temperaments, I knew you were not ordinary people."
Gu Liyue saw there were quite a few people in the store, so she shook her head. "No need to reserve the whole store. Just find us a private room."
They didn't go up immediately. The two girls walked hand in hand and strolled around the store. The customers here were all young girls in their teens. The store was divided into different areas. On the left were small trinkets that could be worn directly for a look. On the right were the ready - made clothes for trying on, and there were small rooms for people to go in and try.
As for the upper floor, there were private rooms for the wealthy to try on clothes.
Gu Liyue watched for a while and asked, "Does this store only serve female customers?"
The storekeeper, who didn't let others receive them but followed them personally, nodded upon hearing the question. "The boss said that ladies are noble and should not be mixed with male customers. So our store doesn't receive male customers over four years old."
Qin Caiyin asked curiously, "Why are those under four allowed?"
The storekeeper smiled. "Some women come here to shop. We can't stop them from bringing children. But if the children are too old, they may disturb other ladies, so they are not allowed in."
At that time, boys at the age of three or four should start their education, and at the latest, they would start at five. The store's rule was quite appropriate.
Gu Liyue asked again, "May I ask who the boss is?"
The storekeeper explained, "It's from the Feng family. I wonder if the lady knows about them."
Gu Liyue nodded. "I've met Mr. Feng a few times. I didn't expect the master to have such a good idea."
Hearing that the lady knew the boss, the storekeeper became even more respectful and explained, "It wasn't the master who came up with the idea. It was a former classmate of the second young master. I heard he was a missionary from the West. He came up with the idea of this clothing store and discussed it with the second young master. All the servants are women, so there's less restraint. Because I can read and am good at abacus, the second young master appreciated me and made me the storekeeper."
Gu Liyue nodded with a smile and joked with Qin Caiyin, "I've also learned how to use an abacus. If I hadn't returned home, I might have had a good place here."
Qin Caiyin burst out laughing and scolded her affectionately, "You're a proper young lady. Why would you want to be a storekeeper in a shop? You're really something."
After they strolled around for a while and were about to go to the ready - made clothes area, the storekeeper stopped them again. "Ladies, the clothes over there have been tried on by many people. Although they are washed every day, they may not be clean and tidy. There are good things on the upper floor that can't be easily tried on. Please go upstairs."
Gu Liyue and Qin Caiyin went upstairs while chatting and laughing. "This place is set up like a restaurant. It's really interesting."
Qin Caiyin nodded. "Yes. I accidentally found this great place and rushed to call you here. I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Just then, a girl's exclamation came from downstairs. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She's new and doesn't know any better. Please don't be angry, miss."
Gu Liyue subconsciously looked down and saw Aunt Miao holding clothes in her hand, but her eyes were staring straight at her.
Seeing this, the storekeeper rushed downstairs in three steps and pushed Aunt Miao inside while scolding, "How can you be so disrespectful to the customers? Step back!"
But Aunt Miao rushed up regardless and shouted, "Liyue, I'm your aunt. Liyue!"
Gu Liyue was stunned and subconsciously hid behind Qin Caiyin.
Although Qin Caiyin didn't know what was going on, she remembered her aunt's teaching that she should always protect Liyue. She immediately pointed at Aunt Miao and roared, "Who are you? Why are you randomly claiming kinship? Someone, detain her. If she dares to say another word, smash her mouth."
After saying that, without waiting for others to react, she pulled Gu Liyue upstairs.
Gu Liyue was sweating cold all over. She thought she would never see Aunt Miao in her life, but unexpectedly, they met so soon. Facing Aunt Miao, she felt inexplicably guilty, and more than that, she was panicked, panicked about those sealed - up memories.
All her former calmness crumbled at this moment.
Gu Liyue sat at the table and buried her head, crying.
Qin Caiyin was at a loss. She told all the irrelevant people to leave and immediately asked Tangyuan to send someone home to invite Young Master Gu Si. Then she returned to the table and asked with concern, "Liyue, don't scare me. Who is that person?"
Gu Liyue was trembling. It took her a long time to come to her senses and whispered, "She's my... aunt..."
"Is she really your aunt? Then..." Qin Caiyin shut up. If Liyue had a good relationship with her aunt, she wouldn't have reacted like that just now. Moreover, she had known Liyue for so long and knew that Liyue was by no means a person who despised the poor and fawned on the rich. If she had contact with her maternal relatives, why would her aunt still be working in such a store?
It took Gu Liyue a long time to take a deep breath and explain, "At that time, I had no relatives. My aunt asked me for twenty taels of silver. Otherwise, she would marry me off as a concubine at will and get twenty taels of betrothal gifts. Fortunately, I got the chance to go to the capital, so I..."
Qin Caiyin's monthly allowance was four taels. But when she went out to play, her mother would give her extra money for expenses. She didn't need to spend her own money on shopping. Her four taels were only used to buy some snacks when she went out to play occasionally. She really couldn't imagine that a person could be sold for only twenty taels.
She suddenly understood why her aunt always said she should give way to Liyue more. What a hard life Liyue had lived before!
Gu Liyue pursed her lips and said again, "I don't owe her anything. Why should I be afraid? But just now, I was really so scared... Caiyin, I want to go home..."
Qin Caiyin stroked her hand. "Okay, let's go home."
Just then, the storekeeper knocked on the door and came in with an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry to disturb the two ladies. That woman, Aunt Miao, came to work here half a month ago. At first, I thought her hands and feet were not quick enough and didn't want to hire her. But she begged and begged, saying that her family burden was heavy. I softened my heart. Ladies, don't worry. I've already driven her away."