Chapter 212: Quarrel

Disclaimer: 

1. This is an unofficial translation and no permission has been obtained from the author/ official publisher. It may be taken down if the author/official publisher requests. 

2. This is a fan work and the interpretation represents only the translator’s personal views without any input from the author. 

3. No permission has been granted to use, publish, upload and/or copy this translation to any other site except for Second Life Translations.

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They re-entered the carriage – Xiuxiu had already left – then they waved Liu Tao and Xiuxiu goodbye and continued on their journey. 

Shi Cheng saw that Liu Xu’er still had a small smear of pastry at the edge of her lips and quickly helped her clean it off. He smiled and said to her, “Tomorrow, I am dead. All of your brothers are going to do their best to drink me under the table.”

Liu Xu’er covered her mouth and smiled, “Didn’t you just tell them to bring it on?”

Young Master Xing smiled, “Haha, this is just something you have to go through!”

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Dkdt Ssdtasdt tsv vbl ayal nbydnl vs prlyj wr. Fbl kxxlekyvlzu pyke, “Kwpv esd’v eakdj!”

Fbk Ubldt ynvle yp vbswtb bl byed’v blyae. Tl vwadle vs zssj yv Zswdt Yypvla Dkdt yde ypjle, “Dkdt tl, usw’hl clld vbaswtb vbkp clqsal. Ps usw byhl ydu plnalv vs tlvvkdt rypv kv?”

Zswdt Yypvla Dkdt oyp y ayvbla pvayktbvqsaoyae rlapsd – bl eked’v dsvknl vbyv bkp pkpvla bye fwpv vakle vs rwzz y zkvvzl vaknj. Tl pxkzle yde pyke, “Ebyv plnalv nswze R rsppkczu byhl? Kwpv eakdj! Mbkp kp dsv vbl pyxl yp obld svblap vsypv usw, obld ydu sq uswa kd-zyop rypp usw y eakdj, fwpv poyzzso kv! Psd’v lhld vau vs rwpb kv sqq, sa lzpl, oyvnb swv!”

Fbk Ubldt qasodle yde pktble twpvkzu.&dcpr;

Nkw Dw’la nshlale bla xswvb yde zywtble. Fbl vss oypd’v lhld csvblakdt vs zssj yv yd ypbld qynle Dkdt Ssdtasdt.&dcpr;

Dkdt Ssdtasdt oyp hlau hlmle cu vbl pkvwyvksd! Fbk Ubldt byed’v lhld tzydnle yv bla yzz eyu!

Mbl nyaakytl nsdvkdwle sd yblye qsa y obkzl clqsal yaakhkdt yv Fbk Ubldt’p flolzzlau pvsal. Mbl xydytla oyp pvydekdt yv vbl essaoyu, pxkzkdt yde wpblakdt vos osxld kdvs vbl pvsal obld vblka nyaakytl pvsrrle kd qasdv sq vbl pvsal. Ebld vbl xydytla aykple bkp blye yde pyo vblka sodla’p nyaakytl swvpkel, bl awpble qsaoyae – wdyoyal sq vbl twlpvp kd vbl nyaakytl – vs bydezl vbl bsaplp. Tl pxkzle yde pyke, “Zswdt Yypvla kp blal!”

Fbk Ubldt oyp pvwnj. Jwv kd ydu nypl, pkdnl vblu olal blal vs lmrzsal, kv pbswze dsv xyvvla kq vblu olal vs ts kdvs vbl pvsal. Fs bl tsv esod, pxkzle yde oyhle Zswdt Yypvla Dkdt esod yp olzz. Vskdvkdt vs vbl pvsal, bl pxkzle yde pyke, “Mbkp kp xu pvsal, es usw oydv vs blye kd yde byhl y zssj?”

Young Master Xing was naturally very eager. He immediately nodded, “Sure!”

The manager hadn’t known there were guests in the carriage, but since they had come down from the carriage, he obviously wouldn’t say anything. Instead, he immediately rushed to usher the guests in. 

Xing Rongrong was very unhappy, but when she heard that they had come to Shi Cheng’s store, she still lifted the curtain for a look. When she saw that it was a jewellery store, her heart was delighted and all her earlier anger disappeared. Since they were at a jewellery store, then she should at least get a piece or two! She smiled faintly to herself. 

Shi Cheng held out his hand to help Liu Xu’er down. He smiled and said, “Come down and have a look. There were a few new arrivals recently. See if you like any of them.”

Liu Xu’er nodded her head and supported herself down. Then she started to subconsciously turn and look at Xing Rongrong, but Shi Cheng had already pulled her into the store, “This time, we had more gold jewellery. I know that you don’t really like that, but you should still pick a few of your favourite pieces to match with your outfits.”

Liu Xu’er went along with him. The manager bowed in greeting to Liu Xu’er. “Young Madam! You came too!”

Liu Xu’er smiled and nodded, “That’s right.”

The store manager showed them to the second floor, and sat down behind the counter. Then he smiled and said softly to Shi Cheng, “Two of the Gu family’s Young Madams are next door. They too have just arrived.”

Shi Cheng nodded his head. This was the place that guests would rest and select jewellery. They used screens to partition off two or three little private areas, but the screens only blocked their vision. They would still be able to clearly hear everything going on behind the screen. 

He waved his hand and said, “Go and attend to them. Find an assistant to help us.”

For the manager to personally assist them was what most big households wanted. It was a symbol of prestige, a way of showing that their family was a cut above the rest. 

The manager nodded his head and agreed. After he went out, the store assistants immediately came forward and poured them all some tea before asking what they wanted to see. Shi Cheng then said, “Bring a few of the new items over.”

The store assistant nodded and hurried off. Shi Cheng smiled and looked at Liu Xu’er, while Liu Xu’er didn’t even spare a glance for the again ashen faced Xing Rongrong. 

Young Master Xing stood at the railing and looked down at the store. He smiled and said, “Not bad – the store is really in very good order. Even in Hanzhong city, you won’t find many stores as well laid out as here! You must have… invested quite a lot of money, right?”

Shi Cheng smiled and stood up. He went to his side, before looking down, “It was an average amount. It wasn’t invested all at once, it was expanded slowly.”

As the two of them talked in front, Liu Xu’er sat at the back, drinking some tea and listening to the two Young Madams from the Gu family talk about the jewellery. Right at that moment, they heard a store assistant call out a greeting, “Oh my! Isn’t this the First Young Madam from the Hanlin family?! Please head upstairs!”

Liu Xu’er was stunned. She looked and saw Shi Cheng turn to glance at her. 

There were some noises from their side – the sound of chairs being moved – before someone  sat down and was served some tea. Then the store assistant smiled and asked, “First Young Madam, what type of jewellery would you like to see?”

The First Young Madam’s voice was impatient, “Where is your manager?”

The assistant’s voice was apologetic, “I am so sorry, the store manager is assisting other guests right now. Would you like me to call the second manager over?”

The First Young Madam must’ve taken the wrong medicine that morning. With a shout, she said, “No way! Call your manager over!”

Shi Cheng had already stopped speaking, and was paying attention to what was going on at their side. The two Young Madams from the Gu family had also stopped their discussion. After a pause, Liu Xu’er heard the Gu family’s Young Madam say, “Oh, The Hanlin family’s conduct really isn’t ordinary! What? Aren’t the Hanlin family supposed to be scholarly? How is it that you don’t even understand the principle of first come, first served?”

In her insistence to be served by the store manager, the First Young Madam had unintentionally offended the Gu family’s Young Madams. 

The First Young Madam paused for a moment. When she heard the sound of moving chairs, she finally forced a smile and responded, “It turns out to be the two Young Madams from the Gu Family… The both of you are here?”

One of the two Young Madam’s was clearly more cutting. She coldly snorted and said, “Of course we’re here. After all, we can still afford to come to these types of places and can still manage to buy the things in stores like these. But I’m not sure what the First Young Madam from the Hanlin family is here for? Are you still able to buy the jewellery sold here?”

The other Young Madam covered her lips and smiled, “Even if they can’t buy the jewellery, they can sell jewellery… Maybe she’s trying to return the  jewellery she bought the day before that she wore to a function yesterday!”

The first one immediately smiled and clapped her hands, “That’s true! That is indeed a possibility!” In a voice filled with sympathy, she spoke to the silent store manager, “ Store manager, you might have to be dealing with some trouble today! How do you deal with a customer like this?! If you accept the jewellery back, would your young master get angry?”

The store manager smiled and said, “The two Young Madam’s really like to joke.”

Liu Xu’er knew without seeing it firsthand, that the Young Madam’s face would definitely be very ugly!

The store manager had gone over to soothe the Hanlin Young Madam, “First Young Madam, why don’t we come over here… Second manager? Come over quickly and greet the First Young Madam! Bring her some tea, and bring the new jewellery over for her to have a look…..”

As he spoke, the First Young Madam couldn’t hold back her anger and started to point at the two women from the Gu family, saying, “You two shouldn’t be so proud of yourselves! Just a nouveau riche family, you should mind your reputation!”

“Oh, and what kind of reputation are you still trying to maintain?! Everyone in Feng town…. No! Even the major families in Hanzhong city should all be aware of the Hanlin family’s financial situation? Things are already this way, can you still continue to hold on? Let’s see how much longer you can continue for!”

“Don’t be so proud of yourself! There will definitely be a day when the Hanlin family recovers back to its former glory. At that time, I look forward to seeing how you grovel!” The First Young Madam was so angry, she was trembling. 

The two women from the Gu family were not to be outdone. One immediately smiled and said, “That’s right! Then let’s continue to wait! I am still young, I should still be able to witness that moment in my lifetime right?”

“Not necessarily! Even if you can wait, there are others who can’t!” The other madam giggled and said. 

Liu Xu’er was a bit embarrassed sitting there. This First Young Madam…. Hurry and leave! How was quarrelling with others openly creating a good reputation for herself? The more she quarrelled, the more embarrassing she became!

First Young Master Xing had already seen Shi Cheng’s eye gaze. He asked if Shi Cheng, as the young owner, needed to go over and mediate the situation. Shi Cheng only shook his head, signalling that there was no need. Instead he went to sit by Liu Xu’er’s side, and softly whispered into her ear, “The Hanlin family might indeed be here to return jewellery. There has already been an instance of this happening.”

Liu Xu’er shook her head and asked in a small voice, “You let her return it?”

“The first time, the store manager didn’t know and the First Young Madam made a scene, so the store manager allowed it. There would naturally not be a second time! There’s no way we would accept a return. If they want to sell it back to us, we will examine it for signs of wear first before deciding if we would accept it.” Shi Cheng said. 

In the time they were speaking, the Hanlin family’s First Young Madam had already witnessed the store’s resolve for herself. No matter how she argued, she couldn’t beat the two people sent against her. So in a huff, she turned and went back down the stairs. The store manager jogged forward. At the top of the stairs, he stood still, “First Young Madam, take care! Assistant, quickly, show the First Young Madam out!”

Downstairs, the assistant immediately smiled and went forward to send the First Young Madam off. Liu Xu’er sat still and watched the store’s main doors. With just a glance, she could see that the First Young Madam was nearly crazy with rage. She rushed out of the store and boarded a small sedan chair. Then she left. 

The two Young Madam’s from the Gu family covered their mouths. They said to the store manager, “We weren’t wrong were we? Did she buy it the day before, and is now trying to make trouble to return the jewellery? The Rong family’s jewellery store up the street has already had that happen to them three times! The store manager is now very unhappy whenever he sees her!”

The store manager just gave an ambiguous smile and quickly turned the topic back to jewellery. The two Young Madams of the Gu family gossiped a bit about the Hanlin family before again turning their attention back to choosing jewellery.