Chapter 29
The maid looked around with worry in her eyes.
The woman who was called Miss had her attention completely captured by the shop’s furnishings, thus she was reluctant to leave.
She had never seen such a beautiful shop before, as even her own room could not compare to it.
The lamps hanging overhead were actually made of glass petals shaped into flowers.
Were there such skilled craftsmen in the capital? She had never heard of any, which puzzled her greatly.
She developed the desire to purchase them, along with the glass hairpins on the shelves and the multi-treasure bracelets.
The clothes worn by the woman in this shop were also unusual, and the color of her lip rouge was remarkable.
Even the finest cosmetics shops in the capital could not produce such a color!
“Call your shopkeeper out.” The woman spoke with arrogance.
“I am the shopkeeper.” Shen You replied while taking a sip of her coffee.
The woman saw her calm and composed manner, which caused anger to build in her heart.
Whenever she visited other shops, from the shopkeeper down to the assistants, everyone would bow and nod with smiling faces to welcome her, hoping to curry her favor.
Merchants held low status, so who would dare to sit while serving her?
The maid understood her mistress’s expression, therefore she cleared her throat and said, “My Miss’s surname is Zhao, and she is a daughter of a marquis household.”
There was only one Zhao marquis household in the capital, so after hearing this title, the shopkeeper should understand her position.
Zhao Wanyi flicked her sleeves and waited for the shopkeeper to serve tea and bring out fine goods for her selection eagerly.
Instead, she saw the other party remain unchanged in expression, only smiling in response and asking, “What would you like to buy? Everything on the shelves can be taken down for viewing.”
“You—” This meant she was expected to take things down herself? Zhao Wanyi opened her mouth, but restrained herself in the end.
Asking about the items was more important first.
“How much silver does your lip rouge cost? And this one as well.”
Zhao Wanyi had the maid take down all the accessories that caught her eye while saying, “This one looks good, and this one is also beautiful.”
Finally, there were two uniquely shaped, small and exquisite bottles.
“What is contained in these glass bottles?”
“Perfume.” Shen You replied, omitting the words “free sample”.
She took one over, opened the cap, and sprayed it into the air, whereupon a rich floral fragrance spread everywhere.
Zhao Wanyi’s eyes widened with delight as she shouted, “How fragrant!”
“The two have different scents.” Shen You let her smell the other bottle as well.
“Are there more? I want them all!”
Such small bottles would not last long, and she wanted to monopolize this unique fragrance.
“Currently there are only these two.” The full-size bottle upstairs was a limited edition, and Shen You was reluctant to bring it out.
Unless the price was increased.
Zhao Wanyi nodded with restraint, saying, “When there are new ones in the future, deliver them directly to the marquis household, and you will not lack reward silver.”
“Also send all these items and the lip rouge, plus those lamps from your shop.”
Shen You frowned slightly, “This shop’s rule is no delivery service. All business here is conducted with immediate payment and immediate goods exchange.”
“What is wrong with you? When told to deliver, just deliver. Where do such rules come from? My Miss taking a liking to your shop’s items is your good fortune.” The maid scolded crisply.
High-ranking households always had goods delivered to their doors for selection, and shops that were chosen for regular deliveries were too happy to comply.
Offending families like theirs would make it impossible to conduct business in the capital!
The shopkeeper’s attitude showed she did not know what was good for her.
Shen You propped her chin lazily and said, “These are my shop’s rules. If you can accept them, buy. If you cannot accept them, then go out and turn left.”
Zhao Wanyi took two deep breaths. According to her nature, she should have thrown down a silver note, smashed the items, then waited for the other party to come to the residence to apologize.
However, looking at the items that had been taken down, she was reluctant to part with them.
“Also, this shop doesn’t accept silver notes, only gold and silver, or bartering with goods.”
Hearing Shen You’s unhurried voice, Zhao Wanyi’s motion of taking out the silver note paused, and her face showed even more displeasure.
Before she could speak, Shen You began calculating the cost:
“These two bottles of perfume cost 100 taels, the bracelet and glass hairpin cost 100 taels. For lip rouge, I only have one new piece left, and the color is somewhat different from what I used today. I can bring it down for you to see in a moment, and if you want it, it will also be 100 taels.”
The items were expensive, as 100 taels for lip rouge could be called an astronomical price.
However, this wasn’t what made Zhao Wanyi’s expression freeze, but rather, who would carry so many silver ingots when going out to worship at a temple?!
“The lamp cannot be sold.” Shen You added.
“Why can’t it be sold?” Zhao Wanyi pressed.
“There is only one piece, so it is not for sale, and even if you buy it, you can’t use it.”
Shen You couldn’t explain the principles inside to ancient people clearly. What’s more what if someone didn’t believe in the danger and placed candles on it to light, or poured lamp oil on it, causing an explosion?
Just as Zhao Wanyi was instructing the maid to go out and find attendants to quickly exchange for silver, Shen You had already gone upstairs to bring down that new lipstick.
Then she opened the paper box and demonstrated how to use it once.
When Zhao Wanyi saw the beautiful lipstick case before her, plus the paste inside, she loved it beyond measure.
If she could use the lip rouge and perfume from this place at the banquet being held for the crown prince’s return to the capital, who could overshadow her?
“This can’t be tried unless you are certain that you will buy it.” Shen You stopped her motion.
Zhao Wanyi laughed, “Do you think I can’t afford it?”
“That’s not the case, but lip rouge is used on lips, and Miss wouldn’t want what she purchases to have been touched by others.” Shen You replied.
“When will you have this color that you are using? Are there other colors?” Zhao Wanyi persisted.
“There are.”
Shen You took out three lipsticks that she had brought down together, “All these colors are available, but not until three days later.”
“The color I am using now is rather rare, so if you want it, trade the hairpin from your head for it.”
Limited popular styles weren’t easy to buy at counters now, and online flagship stores were also out of stock, so one could only pay extra to find purchasing agents.
Therefore, selling it at a higher price was quite reasonable.
Zhao Wanyi’s expression changed again, “I can trade other hair ornaments with you, or pay double the price.”
To dare ask for palace items from her. She could see that this woman didn’t want to live.
Shen You said, “Then find a craftsman who can make this kind of hairpin, have him use the same technique to make me a simple style, and tell me the manufacturing method.”
“That is possible.” Zhao Wanyi nodded, “but you have to promise me that you won’t sell this color to others, and you also can’t use it yourself.”
“I can refrain from selling it to others, but asking me not to use it myself is not acceptable.”
Shen You, as a modern person, couldn’t get used to this kind of superiority complex that ancient privileged classes had toward her.
Zhao Wanyi was also quite angered, however she really wanted these items, so she could only compromise first.
The maid came with the freshly exchanged silver, her expression somewhat strange, but she looked at Shen You and ultimately didn’t dare say anything.
After the transaction was completed, when leaving the shop, Zhao Wanyi glanced at that chandelier from the corner of her eye, and her heart still felt blocked.
She, a dignified marquis household daughter, had asked to buy something, yet this woman actually said it wasn’t for sale?
However, she also realized that this woman wasn’t afraid of offending the marquis household, so perhaps there was someone backing her?
Even so, how could a merchant woman who showed her face in public deserve to use the same things as her!
A trace of disdain flashed in Zhao Wanyi’s eyes, but when she saw the multi-treasure bracelet she had just put on her wrist, she couldn’t help but marvel.
She didn’t know what kind of string was used, but it could actually contract and would not fall off when worn on the wrist.
The items in the shop were indeed good.
If only she could have all the items in her own hands.