Chapter 4: Drunken Beauty Luo

  Name: Jie Chi

  Gender: Male

  Age: Looks like twenty-something

  Occupation: Velvet shop owner

  Address: No. 33, Bomei Village, Nanshundun

  "Phoenix feathers, flying horse wings, adult unicorn horns, take a look at the treasures of Shennongjia!"

  "Don't miss out when you walk by! Our store has just received three new Undines. Look at their beautiful faces and silky long hair. Buy one home and you'll never look at ordinary goods again!"

  "Jewels of jewels, the genuine article from Bohai State, good stuff that can't even be found in museums ~"

  The market in the wilderness is brightly lit, with people crowded together, all sorts of goods on display, and vendors calling out to customers. Although it appears to be an ordinary market on the surface, set against the dark blue sky and the howling wind in the wilderness, there is a sense of eeriness and otherworldliness.

  "Madam..." The old butler, who had been following closely behind the mistress, finally couldn't help but speak up. Having served the Leng family for decades, he was all too familiar with Madam's temperament - once she set her mind on something, she would stop at nothing to achieve it! He knew that as a servant, he shouldn't be speaking out of turn, but the more they walked through the market, the more uneasy he felt. Even an old hand like him thought it was unwise, and Madam Leng seemed determined to get her way, no matter what...

  "We're here." Mrs. Leng stopped her rapid pace and elegantly raised her head to look at the store in front of her.

  Mrs. Leng is just over fifty this year, but thanks to her good maintenance, she looks no more than thirty-five or six, with smooth and elastic skin, only a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth that are not noticeable unless you look closely. Her figure has become slightly plump, but due to her tall stature and the fitting black silk cheongsam with peony patterns, it's not too obvious, and can even be described as elegant and refined. A pair of slender legs paired with white satin shoes, along with a set of pearl necklace and earrings, her hair neatly tied up, exuding an air of nobility and elegance, yet also possessing a hint of majesty, extremely eye-catching. That kind of aura is probably only cultivated by generations of illustrious families.

  "Welcome to Jianchi Silk, feel free to look around." The young shopkeeper, dressed in a refined blue long shirt, greeted with a nod and then lowered his head to count the accounts. His slender white fingers moved quickly on the abacus, making a clicking sound.

  This young man is so rude! The old steward had a bad impression of the young shop owner from the start. Doing business without any business sense, when customers come to the door, they just greet them briefly and then ignore them. To say that Suzhou's Leng family is a famous silk merchant in the country, any of their specialty stores under their flag are more atmospheric than this small silk store. Thinking that this young man has eyes but doesn't recognize Mount Tai, the old steward's anger flared up.

  Just as he was about to make his move, he caught a glimpse of Mrs. Leng's seemingly unintentional glance, which conveyed her meaning and intention. The old steward lowered his hands and retreated back to his original position.

  Mrs. Leng casually flipped through the room's silk, gauze, crepe, tulle, habotai, lawn, voile... Although small, it was complete with all five internal organs, and even she couldn't help but marvel at how rich this small silk warehouse was, enough to surpass the warehouses of her own Leng family. However, despite the richness of the collection, there was nothing she wanted.

  "Excuse me, sir, does your store have any other goods?" Madam Leng smiled and asked. Her smile was a noble one, carrying an unmatched air of pride and elegance.

  "What does the lady want?" The young shopkeeper asked, putting down his account book.

  "To be honest with you, sir, my son is getting married next month. As a mother-in-law to be, I'd like to make some new clothes for my future daughter-in-law as a gift when we first meet. Do you have any suitable fabrics here? Don't worry about the price, just bring whatever you think is good."

  The shopkeeper thought for a moment, then slowly said: "There is indeed such a horse, please follow me to the inner hall to take a look." After finishing speaking, he lifted up the curtain of the inner hall and waited for Madame to come over.

  "Wait for me here." Madam Leng ordered the butler in a loud voice, nodded slightly and walked through the curtain door.

  The curtain falls, separating two worlds.

  "Is that fabric really available here?" Mrs. Leng asked in a trembling voice, and as she entered the inner room, she seemed to have changed into another person, with her dignified demeanor still intact but now accompanied by an air of anxious haste.

  The young shop owner poured a cup of clear tea in front of her and opened the red wooden cabinet to take out an object wrapped in cowhide paper, which she unwrapped layer by layer.

  "Look, madam!"

  The last layer of cowhide paper was shed, and what appeared before Mrs. Leng's eyes was a magnificent brocade with seven-color light, on which were embroidered hundred flowers, peacocks, auspicious grass, clouds, cranes, peacock feathers, crane wings, blooming flowers, lush greenery, some moving, some still, all lifelike and breathtakingly beautiful. Mrs. Leng was stunned for a moment, speechless, and it took her a long time to ask: "Can this fabric really fulfill my heart's desire?"

  The young shopkeeper smiled slightly and quickly wrapped the colorful satin in layer upon layer of kraft paper: "That's natural, what the lady wants, what the lady wishes, just wait for this fabric to be worn on her body to come true. Bomei Collection has never disappointed customers, please take it." The thick kraft paper was handed over to Madame Leng's hands, and she felt a weight in her hands, but her heart seemed to feel lighter.

  "May I ask how much you want for it?" Madam Leng opened her purse and pulled out a checkbook.

  "It's rare to see the renowned Mrs. Leng, the mistress of the Leng household, and our humble shop is already honored by your presence; how could we possibly dare to accept payment from you?"

  Mrs. Leng raised the corner of her mouth: "A wise man doesn't speak in riddles, which businessman is willing to lose money? Do you want the order from my Leng family or do you want fame and power, or do you have other intentions?"

  The shopkeeper still smiled, bowed deeply and said: "Madam Leng, I am not joking. This piece of fabric is only a junior's filial piety to you, and I absolutely dare not accept any money from you."

  Mrs. Leng was silent for a moment, then took out her pen and scribbled something on the checkbook, tore it off and pressed it under the teacup, picked up the fabric and turned to leave.

  The young shopkeeper pulled out a thin sheet of paper, shook his head and casually threw it into the trash can. The check had Mrs. Leng's signature on it, but the amount column was blank...

  "Boss, I'd like to buy a few feet of cloth." A plainly dressed woman called out timidly from the doorway.

  "Here!" The curtain was lifted and he went out into the outer hall.

  On the cold TV screen, a host with no expression is reporting the news: "At around 3 pm today, a bizarre case of spontaneous combustion occurred at the Leng family home. The deceased was Leng Gang's newlywed wife, Luo Yujuan. Leng Gang was also injured while trying to save his wife and died from severe injuries on the way to the hospital. The head of the Leng family, Leng Songqing, has been hospitalized for treatment. According to experts, Luo Yujuan's spontaneous combustion may be related to the chemical composition of her clothing. Experts warn that due to the dry weather, attention should be paid to chemical fiber products... The Chinese silk industry will face a major reorganization..."

  Cool sunlight filters through the iron grille and sprinkles into the small room, barely bringing a hint of warmth.

  "Madam, it's time for dinner." The little nurse in pink pushed open the door, carrying a tray and medicine box.

  Leng Song Qingdie sat on the edge of the bed, her hair disheveled and her clothes in disarray. Layer upon layer of silk fabric was wrapped around her body and hands, piling up like a silk doll. She sat quietly amidst the colorful brocade, her eyes vacant, a hint of a smile on her lips. That smile still held its nobility, but it had lost all vitality.

  The nurse shook her head, put down the tray and quietly closed the door as she left.

  "Just now, my dear... " She stroked the fabric in her hand and whispered softly, "Mom is here with you, Mom loves you the most, Mom will always be with you, no one can take away my dear, no one can..."