Chapter 372 - 373: Going Shopping

Chapter 372: Chapter 373: Going Shopping

The moment Wenheng stepped through the door, he saw Jin Qianqian organizing her jewelry boxes.

"Why are you sorting through these?" Wenheng walked over and took a look. Many of the pieces had never even been worn.

"I prepared some jewelry for Mother before, but now that we’re in Shangjing, her collection still seems a little sparse. I want to pick out two sets for her to match with her clothes, and then I’ll take her out shopping tomorrow.

Come take a look, which set do you think is more suitable? I’m having trouble deciding."

Wenheng casually pointed to a set. "The gems on this one are a deeper color. You’ve been busy all day. You can worry about this tomorrow."

Jin Qianqian closed the jewelry box and set it aside. "I was afraid I’d get busy tomorrow and forget, so I wanted to get it ready first. I was eyeing this set too. I guess we have the same taste."

Wenheng wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "See? We’re perfectly in sync. You’ve spent the whole day looking after Mother. Isn’t it my turn now?"

Jin Qianqian turned and hugged him back. "Oh? Is this how you want me to keep you company?"

Wenheng’s gaze deepened. "What do you think...?"

...

Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected Gu Yuanshui to be so proactive. Wenheng had only just mentioned it to her this morning, and the man was already taking action.

Right after breakfast, he had taken Jiang Milie, whom Wenheng had temporarily assigned to him, and started searching all over the Capital City for a suitable location.

She had just glanced toward Gu Lehuan, but he immediately announced he was going out to visit friends.

Jin Qianqian took Li Cuicui’s arm. "Mother, it’s just the two of us today. Let me show you around Shangjing."

"Sounds good," Li Cuicui agreed readily. "I have to get a good look at the city where the Emperor lives. That way, I’ll have something to brag about to the old gals back in the village when I get home."

"...Mother, if you do that, aren’t you worried they’ll stop talking to you in the future?"

"They won’t. We all came up through hard times together. Now that life is better, they’ve all learned to be more open-minded.

Back when we were young, we might have been petty and jealous. But at our age, we just want someone to talk with, another companion."

’Some of them might still be a little competitive at heart, but when it comes to me, they don’t even bother with snide remarks anymore. With so many successful sons, what’s the point? They can’t even begin to compete.’

"That’s wonderful," Jin Qianqian said, a little envious of such a retirement. "Having friends to keep you company and chat with... No wonder you’re not impressed with our home here."

Li Cuicui looked around the courtyard. "Well, like the saying goes, be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. The older you get, the less you want to move around."

It was time for Gu Benluo to go to his lessons, and the nannies and maids were already waiting for him. He walked over and bowed to his grandmother. "Grandmother, I hope you and Mother have a wonderful time shopping. I’m off to my studies now."

"What?" Li Cuicui looked at Jin Qianqian in surprise, her eyes full of reproach. "The boy is still so little! Why is he already in school?"

"It was all my husband’s idea. I think it’s a bit early too, but you know I can’t talk him out of anything."

Wenheng: "..." ’As if you even tried.’

"You give him a good talking-to when he gets back," Li Cuicui said through gritted teeth, watching Little Douding leave. "Back home, a boy his age would still be playing in the dirt. This is just ridiculous."

"...Mother, the teacher my husband found also brought two other children who are around Luo Luo’s age. They’re mostly just learning a few things while they play together."

’There were many reasons why they had decided to get a tutor for Gu Benluo so early.’

’At his age, he would have already been in kindergarten back in the modern world.’

’Having Gu Benluo study with Mr. Cen was mostly about letting the three children play and learn together. It wouldn’t be much of a burden on him at all.’

’Besides, Little Luoluo was now exceptionally enthusiastic about going to the adjacent courtyard. Jin Qianqian barely had to worry about him; he could even keep track of the hour himself.’

"Well, that’s more like it. But you two must remember not to let such a young child get too exhausted." Li Cuicui didn’t want her seventh son and his wife to have overly high expectations and push the boy too hard.

"Of course. Luo Luo only spends half the day there. He’ll be back for lunch and a nap soon."

"That’s better. I was hoping I could take him out with us. Well, I’ll just have to buy him something to bring back." Li Cuicui patted the pouch of silver she was carrying. ’I came in such a hurry that I didn’t have time to prepare any gifts for the boy.’

Jin Qianqian joined in playfully, "Mother, you’re buying things for him, but what about me?"

"Of course, of course, everyone gets something! What do you want? You can pick it out yourself later. Mother has silver," Li Cuicui said with a laugh. "I came here ready for a big shopping spree. It’s not every day I get to come to Shangjing, and there’s a lot I need to buy.

I don’t need to get anything too expensive for my old friends back home. Just bringing them back a little something from the capital will be enough to make them happy."

Seeing the steward enter, Jin Qianqian knew the carriage was ready. She then set off with her mother-in-law to begin her tour of Shangjing.

Jin Qianqian knew her mother-in-law was curious about every corner of Shangjing, so she had the coachman drive a full circle around the outer walls of the Imperial Palace before heading into the bustling city center.

"Mother, the shop up ahead sells the same kind of silk flowers that are supplied to the Imperial Palace. The styles might not be the very latest, but the craftsmanship and quality are impeccable. They would make great gifts." As the coachman slowly pulled the carriage to the side of the road, Jin Qianqian helped Li Cuicui get ready to alight.

"Shangjing is so lively! There are people everywhere you look." The moment Li Cuicui’s feet touched the ground, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the scene.

’The shops here were so beautiful! An entire wall was filled with colorful silk flowers of every imaginable variety—it was enough to dazzle anyone.’

"Mother, let’s go inside and take a look." Jin Qianqian took Li Cuicui by the arm and was about to head in when someone called out to her.

"Second Madam Niu," Jin Qianqian said, a little surprised to run into Yu Lu, the Second Madam Niu of the Taifu Mansion, here of all places.

"Mrs. Gu, are you here to purchase silk flowers?" Niu Yushi asked, then looked at Li Cuicui. "And this is?"

"This is my mother-in-law. She just arrived in Shangjing yesterday, so I’m showing her around." Jin Qianqian had run into Second Madam Niu a few times at banquets. While they weren’t close friends, they were on friendly enough terms to chat for a bit.

"Venerable Madam, I wish you well. I am Niu Yushi, and I offer you my greetings." Niu Yushi performed a Fuli curtsy, which startled Li Cuicui so much that she hastily tried to return the gesture. "Good, well! You too! Be well!"

Niu Yushi paused for a second, though her expression didn’t change. She smiled and said, "This shop is part of my dowry. If the Venerable Madam sees anything she fancies, please, put it on my account."

Jin Qianqian suddenly recalled that Niu Yushi’s family were Imperial Merchants. ’I just never realized their business was in silk flowers,’ she thought.

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly do that. I can’t take advantage of your generosity," Li Cuicui said, waving her hands in refusal. ’Even if I don’t know all the proper etiquette,’ she thought, ’I can’t embarrass my son and daughter-in-law at a time like this.’