CHAPTER 352: CHAPTER 179: I’LL BUY IT MYSELF (PART 2)

Shi Yumei stood still in the empty house, it was warm like spring, yet she felt recurring chills over her body.

Ren Zhixian wrapped the more than eighty taels of silver in a handkerchief and stuffed it into his clothes, then ordered Cui Bao to fetch a thick cloak, and stormed out of the Shi Mansion in a huff.

He refused to believe that without the Shi family, he, Ren Zhixian, couldn’t survive! In the vast Qingzhou City, couldn’t he buy a few decent and proper gifts?

Ren Zhixian aimlessly wandered the streets for a while, watching the bustling throng of people, and observing the brightly decorated shops draped with red lanterns and colorful ribbons, all festive and full of New Year’s spirit. A dreary and desolate feeling slowly engulfed him from within. He suddenly felt disheartened and dejected.

Soon, his feelings shifted direction, turning into boundless loathing. All because of the Shi family! Seeing him momentarily down and out, they dared to humiliate and neglect him! When he rose to success one day, he vowed to trample them all into the mud!

Rage-filled, Ren Zhixian stamped his foot and grunted, then inquired about the direction to the street famous for antiques and paintings, and hired a carriage to go there.

During the New Year, the antique and painting shops did brisk business as most customers bought items as gifts. The shops showcased their most colorful and finest quality goods prominently, inviting everyone to choose.

Ren Zhixian, still self-aware, did not enter any of the top, century-old stores, knowing the paltry sum of silver in his possession wasn’t enough to purchase even a single piece of paper! But the modest family shops seemed beneath him; he felt that lingering at their doors tarnished his dignity.

After much selection, he almost reached the end of the long street when he suddenly realized he could not go on like this and needed to choose a shop to enter.

After contemplating at the entrance for a long while, Ren Zhixian finally entered a shop called Siya Hall.

The shopkeeper, noticing Ren’s expensive clothes and cloak, hurried forward with a welcoming smile, "What would you like, sir? Our shop has everything, from the finest Four Treasures of the Study to famous paintings, sure to satisfy your needs!"

Ren Zhixian subconsciously pressed the place where he hid the silver, feeling somewhat guilty. He was inwardly frustrated and annoyed: When had he, Ren Zhixian, ever been reduced to such level where he struggled to speak when buying something? Meng County was much better! Which shop or restaurant there didn’t treat him as they would an ancestor, offering their best for him to choose and buy on credit!

Little did he know, the shops extended credit not because of his personal reputation, but because of the Shi family.

"Ahem," Ren Zhixian cleared his throat with a cough, asked slowly, "Do you have top-quality Four Treasures of the Study? Please bring a few sets for me to look at." Actually, he quite liked the painting of a maidservant arranging flowers and the brilliant plum blossoms set against snow hung on the wall, but he knew at a glance that they were expensive, certainly beyond the eighty-six taels he had.

"Okay!" the shopkeeper responded cheerfully, smiling, "May I ask if these are for personal use or as a gift?"

"As gifts," Ren Zhixian said, "Bring me some of the better ones!"

"Ah! Are these for friends? Relatives? An elder or a junior?" The shopkeeper continued smiling, "Don’t mind my prattle, sir, but I can help you choose the most suitable ones! Guaranteed to enhance your dignity!"

Initially impatient and on the edge of lashing out, Ren Zhixian was caught off-guard by the shopkeeper’s words and nodded, saying with a smile, "For a friend, pick some of the better ones!"

"Ah!" The shopkeeper smiled, "For friends, we have three levels—top, middle, and low. Shall I choose the best for you?"

Ren Zhixian wanted to ask how much the top-quality sets were, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter the words, vaguely nodding, "Is it a complete set? Including brush, ink, paper, and inkstone?"

"Yes, yes! And a gift box too! Our shop’s gift boxes are classy and upscale, you can immediately gift them. It’s convenient, affordable, and decent! Sir, please look, how about these two sets? If you’re not satisfied, we have several more styles to choose from!" As the clerk brought out two sets and placed them on the counter, the shopkeeper opened them with a flattering smile for Ren Zhixian to see.

The gift boxes, lined with gold silk and divided into four compartments just big enough for the four items, looked luxurious yet understated, perfectly suited to the refined tastes of a scholar.

From Ren Zhixian’s expression, the shopkeeper could tell that the sale was likely successful and beamed, "How about it, sir? Are you satisfied? How many sets would you like? We have different styles available!"

"Hmm, not bad, indeed not bad!" Ren Zhixian muttered vaguely, his hand resting on the counter gripping then loosening then gripping again, still unable to inquire about the price.

The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned too, eyeing him with a sidelong glance, wondering to himself if this customer could be poor? Impossible! His clothes, complexion, and whole demeanor didn’t seem like it! Or could he be a spoiled young master from a strict family? That also seemed unlikely; if he were a spoiled youth, he would frequent horse tracks and brothels, definitely not a painting shop!

"Hehe, sir, how about I wrap these up for you and have someone deliver them to your mansion later? May I know where your mansion is located?" the shopkeeper probed with a friendly smile.

Ren Zhixian’s heart leaped with joy. Indeed, once the goods were delivered to the mansion, would they not have to pay willingly? Unless they wanted to lose face!

"Deal!" Ren Zhixian said readily, "I’ll take these two sets, and pack four different sets for me to be delivered to the Shi Mansion in Qingzhou later!"

"Shi Mansion?" the shopkeeper was taken aback, hesitatingly smiled, "May I ask if you are from—"

Ren Zhixian’s expression darkened, and he snorted coldly, "What? Do I look like a swindler to you?"

"No, no! That’s not what I meant!" the shopkeeper quickly said with a laugh, "Listen to you! I just noticed you aren’t one of the three young masters from the Shi family, and you look unfamiliar, just asking, sir! No offense intended. The Shi family also owns painting and calligraphy shops, why would you—" Why would you come to our shop?

Seeing that he had no attendants with him, the shopkeeper couldn’t help but mutter to himself even more.