Peaceful Jianghu - Chapter 127
Xiao Dao finally crawled out, catching his breath, "Chonghua is outrageous!"
Xiaoyue squatted to the side and laughed.
Xiao Dao rested her chin on her hand and said, "Chonghua seems to have no idea how to like you anymore. Sigh, you've found a good husband."
"Should I have him go and get all the refunds?"
"No!" Xiaodao grabbed Xiaoyue. "He bought it for you after all. He'll be unhappy if you give it back. Besides, it won't be worth much if you return it. How can we do a losing business? Let me calculate it."
As he spoke, Xiao Dao took out an exquisite gold abacus from the small bag at his waist and began to move the beads with a clattering sound.
At the door, Xue Beifan, who had just been chased away by a sour pear, had drunk his fill of water and came looking for Xiao Dao again. Upon entering, he exclaimed, "Wow, which clothing store did they get their stock from?"
After finishing manipulating the abacus beads, Xiao Dao stood up and asked Xue Beifan, "Hey, can I borrow twenty servants and ten maids from you?"
Xue Beifan nodded, curious, "What are you going to do?"
"Xiaoyue, pick out the ones you like." Xiaodao pointed to the large stack of clothes.
Xiaoyue, clutching the cloak, pointed to a small box on the bed. "I've picked them all out; none of these are needed."
"Alright!" Xiao Dao squinted his eyes, pulled Xiao Yue to the door, and draped the fox fur cloak over her shoulders.
Upon arriving at the main gate, Xiao Dao had ten servants set up a stage and hang up racks to sell clothes. The ten servants went down the mountain and shouted, "The Beihai Sect is opening its doors to sell treasures! These are all clothes that Xue Beifan likes, picked from all over the country." The remaining ten maids all chose the best-looking ones and showed off their beautiful clothes there.
Before long, the entrance to the Beihai School was packed with people.
All the young women and wives from the city came. Xue Beifan was locked in the courtyard by Xiao Dao, allowed to wander around and occasionally show his face, but he had to do so in a coy and veiled manner.
The girls who came up the mountain, of course, had ulterior motives, but being daughters of respectable and wealthy families, they couldn't very well say they were there to see the new leader of the Beihai Sect. So, one by one, they started picking out clothes. Xiao Dao had the maids keep saying that these clothes were too expensive for ordinary girls to afford, so the young ladies started arguing, rejecting the cheap ones and choosing the expensive ones instead.
Xiaoyue, wearing a fox fur robe, watched from behind. She saw Xiaodao carrying a small box and counting silver. She was collecting silver notes, while two servants were carrying a box full of silver, so heavy that they could hardly stand up straight.
In the courtyard, Xue Beifan watched in astonishment with his arms crossed, while Wang Bibo, holding a teacup, clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Oh my, she's truly the perfect choice for my Wang family's daughter-in-law!"
Xue Beifan glanced at him and pursed his lips, "She's making money for the Xue family."
The two looked at each other in the courtyard. Hao Jinfeng squatted down to the side, pondering, "My sister is really good at business!"
Just as they finished selling everything on this side, Chonghua led his men up the mountain, carrying several carts full of large and small bags and boxes.
"Xiao Dao, Xiao Dao!" Xiao Yue tugged at Xiao Dao's sleeve. "Chong Hua is back."
Xiao Dao quickly looked around, "Oh? New stock arrived again? Remember to pick some out tonight, so we can sell again tomorrow!"
Xiaoyue was both amused and exasperated. "Won't he be angry?"
Xiao Dao pursed his lips and looked at her, "Don't worry, he doesn't remember buying anything."
Sure enough, Chonghua was puzzled as he climbed the mountain, wondering what was going on with so many people. Then, he spotted Xiaoyue standing not far away. She was dressed in a white fox fur coat, looking as beautiful as a goddess descended from the heavens. The thought that this girl would now belong to him filled him with a triumphant roar. He quickly ran to Xiaoyue's side.
Seeing that he was covered in sweat, Xiaoyue reached out to wipe it off for him. Chonghua immediately looked happy. Xiaodao shook his head when he saw that he was so happy that he looked a little silly.
Chonghua happily led the group carrying gifts into the house. As they passed Xue Beifan, he said with delight, "My Xiaoyue is getting prettier and prettier!"
Xue Beifan and Wang Bibo nodded politely, "Yes, yes, you're so lucky..."
"Chonghua really didn't notice?" Xiaoyue asked Xiaodao in surprise.
“That’s right.” Xiao Dao chuckled. “When he was buying things, he wasn’t thinking about the things themselves, but about you, so naturally he wouldn’t remember what he bought.”
Xiaoyue's lips twitched slightly, her smile faint yet sweet.
Soon, all the clothes were sold out. Xiao Dao told the servants to pack up, and he and Xiao Yue went inside to count the silver. After counting, they found that they had made more than double their money.
Xiao Dao took 10% of his profits, distributed another 10% to the servants, booked a large dinner at a restaurant that evening, and gave the rest of the money to Xiao Yue.
Holding so much silver, Xiaoyue asked Xiaodao, "What should we do with it? Should we return it to Chonghua?"
"No way!" Xiao Dao said with a smile. "Isn't it the same whether you're in charge or he's in charge from now on? You can save it for him, and use the extra to buy him something."
Xiaoyue's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, she had received so many gifts from Chonghua, but hadn't bought him anything yet. With that thought, she and Xiaodao went down the mountain to the night market.
The two girls tried to keep their departure a secret from everyone, but they couldn't hide it from Xue Beifan and Chonghua. They deliberately kept it hidden, secretly following behind to see what the two girls were buying.
As night fell, Xiaodao carried a small basket and strolled through the streets with Xiaoyue. Looking at the brightly lit streets, she wondered if she should also give Xue Beifan something.
But the thought had barely crossed his mind when Xiaodao shook his head violently. Why should I give him something?!
"A knife!"
Just then, Xiaoyue called out to her from ahead, "The things in this shop are beautiful!"
Xiao Dao strolled over and saw that it was a belt shop that specialized in men's belts, as well as various accessories.
Xiaoyue picked out a few for Chonghua, and Xiaodao spotted a black belt hanging on the wall. The belt was about a hand's width wide, and the material looked to be of excellent quality. It had a black silk trim around the top and bottom, giving it a very imposing look. In the center, black jade and yellow jade were intricately carved into a pattern, making it both grand and tasteful.
The most interesting thing was the embroidery. It was also embroidered with black silk thread, and the pattern was barely visible unless you moved it. It didn't depict magnificent landscapes or dragons soaring across the seas, but rather a few partridges, a pile of rocks, and a reed bed. There seemed to be a small boat in the distance, and a lazy-looking person wearing a straw hat. It was a perfect match for that "unambitious, unreliable, and utterly uncouth" Second Young Master Xue.
By the time Xiao Dao realized what was happening, he had already taken off the belt and asked the price, "Boss, how much is this?"
"Young lady, you have a good eye. This is the best belt we have here, it's expensive." The shopkeeper looked Xiaodao up and down, then chuckled, "Is it for your sweetheart?"
Xiao Dao curled his lip, "This guy's got a sharp tongue!"
"Little Knife, one knife isn't enough, is it?"
Xiao Dao was about to haggle with the shopkeeper when Xiao Yue came over and asked, "Where's your older brother...?"