Chapter 30
“Miss, there is something wrong with this shop!”
After leaving the door, the maid Xiang He dared to speak.
“When I came back from exchanging silver just now, I originally had a servant follow along, but when entering the door—”
She looked back with some fear, “I came in, but the people behind couldn’t push the shop door open no matter what.”
Hearing this, Zhao Wanyi’s face also showed traces of doubt.
She seemed to have never seen such a shop here before.
However, compared to the shop’s origins, she was more concerned about whether the items she bought had any problems.
As soon as Zhao Wanyi returned home, she immediately had a trusted nanny come once to inspect all the items.
Then she had Xiang He test the lip rouge first.
Of course, she wouldn’t let a maid use it directly, dirtying her own things, so she instead found a clean handkerchief, wiped some of the paste, and then had her apply it.
Xiang He was also afraid, because what woman didn’t care about her appearance? What’s more if her face was ruined, then the rest of her life would also be ruined too.
However facing Zhao Wanyi’s urging gaze, Xiang He could only take the handkerchief with trepidation.
Soon, the lip rouge was applied.
Looking at Xiang He’s lips that were gorgeous and alluring, yet also showing moist luster, Zhao Wanyi was greatly delighted in her heart.
This item was indeed good, and she saw no side effects, plus it had a faint fragrance when smelled.
“Remove it now.” Zhao Wanyi glanced at Xiang He.
“Yes.” Xiang He felt somewhat reluctant in her heart, but she didn’t dare hesitate and immediately used the handkerchief to wipe the lip rouge clean.
Only then did Zhao Wanyi withdraw her gaze with satisfaction.
Lip rouge worth 100 taels, unique in all the capital, and trying it was already an honor. Did she still want to wear it out?
“Miss, are the items sold by that shop from the Western Regions?”
The nanny said, “I have heard before that Western Region spices are hard to obtain.”
Zhao Wanyi thought this was indeed possible, as it had been many years since merchants from the Western Regions had come to the capital.
That female shopkeeper had some ability, actually being able to obtain a whole room of rare items.
Yet thinking of the furnishings in that shop that she loved so much, that the merchant woman possessed things that even she didn’t have, her heart became increasingly vexed.
Zhao Wanyi also sent people to investigate the origins of that shop, but naturally found nothing, not even locating the shop itself.
“She said there would be new lip rouge in three days, so I will go look again then.”
Zhao Wanyi sat before the bronze mirror, quietly admiring, “Where these items were bought from, not a single word must be revealed.”
She didn’t want others to also find that shop, as the items were already rare, and it was enough for her to use them alone.
As for the shopkeeper, she was still useful for now.
**
Shen You closed the door and counted the money again, and looking at the neatly stacked gold and silver ingots, her mood became bright and cheerful.
There were also antiques in the storage compartment. Every few days, she would take out two pieces to appreciate and play with, then put them back.
She asked a counter salesperson on her phone and was told that the autumn limited color was indeed not easy to buy, but that the other varieties were available.
Shen You could only find purchasing agents with authentic goods in stock to place orders, asking for the fastest delivery.
For the remaining two pieces, she would go to the counter tomorrow, mainly for points and complimentary samples.
Shen You calculated an account.
The hair ornaments that Miss Zhao bought today were both glass hairpins, with beautiful colors and lively petal shapes.
In ancient times, they would absolutely be eye-catching existences, but when she bought them, each cost only a few dozen yuan.
There was also the multi-treasure bracelet, which cost thirty yuan with free shipping.
Selling three items for 100 taels of silver, Shen You felt that it was acceptable and quite conscientious.
She sent Gu Shaoyu a message: “There is some progress on that antique restoration matter of yours.”
A voice message came back immediately: “Really? Can it be fixed within two days?”
Shen You said rather speechlessly, “Casual fixing might work in two days, but for proper restoration, just figuring out the technique would take more than two days.”
“Would paying more work?”
“This really is not about money.”
Gu Shaoyu said pitifully, “Alright then, about when should I send the item over?”
“Around three or four days, and I will send you a message then.”
Gu Shaoyu finally felt somewhat relieved, as Shen You’s cautious attitude of only naming a price when certain she could solve the problem made him feel reliable.
Unlike another person he had asked, who had casually quoted a price, but then followed with the statement that they couldn’t guarantee that it could be restored to its original state.
*
Shen You made herself some dumplings, paired with sauced beef and papaya strips bought from the supermarket.
Then after solving dinner simply, she put on a movie and took tools from the drawer.
That dragonfly hairpin was already repaired, and she planned to imitate a museum artifact hairpin, which was also practice.
Of course, the museum collection used jade and gemstones, while hers was much cheaper.
She spent two or three hundred yuan online on pink crystal and natural stones, plus flower petals carved from shells.
After completion, placed in ancient times where there were no machine carvings and it was difficult to make such regular materials, it would also be very valuable!
The next two days, Shen You spent receiving packages and practicing.
On the day she went to the counter to get lipstick, she also bought several bottles of makeup remover, plus some cosmetics and perfume.
She also made a trip to the supermarket, buying several large bags of items at once.
Soon, the agreed time arrived.
Zhao Wanyi brought people and came to the shop impatiently, and when entering, she specifically found two strong women to hold the door, wanting them to come in together behind her.
Who knew that even using all their strength, they couldn’t prevent the wooden door from closing automatically.
The two women looked at each other helplessly and could only wait outside with worry, as the Miss had instructed that they absolutely must not interfere with her shopping.
Zhao Wanyi saw that the people behind hadn’t followed, but instead felt this was also good.
This shop’s business was very secretive, so others wouldn’t easily find it either.
“This is what you wanted.” Zhao Wanyi gave Xiang He a look, and Xiang He immediately brought out a wooden box.
Shen You opened it and saw it used the same manufacturing method, though the specifications were somewhat inferior.
There were also several sheets of paper in the box, with the method written on them.
“Apart from my Miss, probably few people in the capital could accomplish this.” Xiang He said proudly.
That craftsman in the capital wasn’t someone that just anyone could hire, and getting him to reveal his signature technique cost a great deal of money.
“Let me verify the goods.”
Shen You took out things she had prepared long ago and made the most intricate connecting part of the entire hairpin on the spot.
Seeing this, Zhao Wanyi’s expression was displeased, “I am a dignified marquis household daughter. Would I really use fake goods to buy things!”
Her personally coming to shop was already giving this woman great face.
The maid was about to speak when Shen You brought them a tray:
“Anyone who comes to the shop for transactions must verify goods, or you can look at other items first.”
Zhao Wanyi snorted coldly and walked toward the wooden shelves, taking down the two bottles of perfume that had been newly placed.
There was also a pair of hairpins, more exquisite than the glass hairpins she had bought before, shaped like complete three-dimensional night-blooming cereus flowers that were crystal clear.
No matter how much money, she had to buy them today!
Shen You’s speed here wasn’t slow, as she originally had only a few key difficult problems left unsolved, and she only needed to confirm that this method was correct, not make it too refined.
The most lengthy process in antique restoration was when techniques were lost and had to be slowly explored and restored, while she now was equivalent to directly obtaining the correct answer.