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墨書 Inktalez
The Black Rain continued for two days before finally stopping. After the rain, the sky cleared, but instead of warming up, it became even colder. On the entire street, aside from the Tavern which was still doing reasonably well, even the brothels had become quite deserted. As for Xing Ruyi's Ruyi Workshop, it was even more desolate, with hardly anyone visiting.
With no customers, the days felt increasingly anxious. What was even more frustrating was that dead fox; ever since it took her embroidered shoes, she hadn't seen a trace of it again. A person without companionship feels lonely, and without the fox, Xing Ruyi felt even lonelier.
Lazily picking up some herbs and flowers, she lay down on the counter and refused to move.
“Ruyi is really enjoying herself; such a good day, yet she's lying on the counter napping. Does she not want to do business anymore?” A somewhat harsh voice made Xing Ruyi frown involuntarily. Half-opening her eyes to take a look, she saw that it was Bitao standing in front of the counter.
This girl looked different from the last time she came; her cheeks were rounder and, complemented by her peach-colored outfit, her complexion appeared even rosier. However, her words were still somewhat sharp, making them uncomfortable to hear. Still, a guest is a guest; no matter how uncomfortable it was, one had to greet them with a smile.
“Is that Peach Blossom Girl? How come it's sunny today?”
“Ruyi really knows how to talk. Just running this shop selling Rouge and Face Powder seems beneath you. If it were me, I would open a restaurant like Tavern. With your charm, how could business not thrive?” While speaking, Bitao walked around in front of the counter, pointing at various items in the display: “I want that box of Rouge, and also that one. And please prepare some more of that jade-like ointment from last time. Also, I want some for myself; the ingredients must be top quality. Just improving my skin isn't enough; I need to become even more beautiful.”
As she spoke, three silver ingots were slapped down onto the counter. With the silver received, Xing Ruyi naturally smiled brightly, and her spirits lifted considerably.
“Peach Blossom Girl is truly generous; let me guess.” Xing Ruyi looked up and down at Bitao: “Your clothes are different now; what you're wearing on your head and hanging on your body are also new. It must be that Peach Blossom Girl has caught Madam Ru's favor and received some new gifts?”
“She?” Bitao snorted coldly but did not put on a stern face.
“This jeweled flower sachet was given by the Second Lady, and as for this fabric for your outfit, it was provided by our family’s second master—handcrafted from the Luoyang Embroidery Workshop. This is not something an ordinary person can afford to wear.”
"I can tell just by looking at the material, the craftsmanship, and the style that this is not something from a common household," Xing Ruyi praised repeatedly. "It's from the Luoyang Embroidery Workshop, right? I've heard that many of the Empress's garments are made by them. Truly, only the wealthy or noble can afford such things."
"That's right," Bitao replied with a raised eyebrow. "Alright, enough small talk. You should hurry and get what I need. I have other matters to attend to, and I can't afford any delays."
"The Rouge is readily available, like the Jade Cream. It won't take much time to prepare. However, the last batch I gave to the young lady was quite a lot; it should last about two months. Why do you need to restock so soon? Has another lady taken a liking to the Jade Cream?" After saying this, Xing Ruyi added, "Peach Blossom Girl, please don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to pry; it's just that beauty products need to be tailored for different individuals."
"It’s still Madam Ru’s choice," Bitao yawned. "You used it last time, and since the Jade Cream can be used for both cleansing and bathing, it has been used more frequently. But we have plenty of silver; we’re not short on money for Rouge and Face Powder. Now hurry up and get what I need; I'm pressed for time."
Although Xing Ruyi smiled on the surface, there was a hint of coldness in her eyes.
"Jade Cream is easy to procure, but as for what Peach Blossom Girl wants, it might take some time to prepare properly."
"What do you mean?" Bitao's expression darkened.
"Peach Blossom Girl, please don’t misunderstand. What I mean is that your skin is already so good that using ordinary products might not yield any noticeable results. To find something truly effective will naturally take some time. If Peach Blossom Girl cannot wait, you may take your silver back. Ruyi Workshop only deals in genuine products; we will not sell anything that cannot satisfy the young lady."
Her reasoning was sound and included compliments towards Bitao, who felt pleased but didn’t want to press further. Her own items could wait a little longer, so she poured herself some tea and drank quietly. Xing Ruyi didn’t mind; after taking a few boxes of Rouge that Bitao requested, she headed to the kitchen.
This time she didn’t take long and soon returned with a Porcelain Bottle. "This Jade Cream is indeed a good product, but using too much isn’t advisable. In my opinion, this bottle should be enough for the young lady. If it’s not sufficient, she can come back in a few days when she retrieves her items and take some more then."
Bitao furrowed her brow slightly but said nothing as she got up to leave.
As she turned back to the counter, she noticed a pile of familiar white objects. Her eyes suddenly narrowed as she grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it across the room. "You dead fox! You finally know how to come back!"
"Ugh, you're really worked up. How about a cup of Chrysanthemum tea to cool down?" White Fox glanced sideways, remaining still as the teacup flew past, brushing against its snowy white fur.
"Where are my shoes?" Xing Ruyi said angrily, grabbing White Fox's tail.
"Why do you ask for shoes as soon as we meet?" White Fox replied, its fox-like mouth taking the opportunity to kiss Xing Ruyi's hand a few times.
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