Early the next morning, a government officer called Pei Shu’er over. Seeing the officers unloading horse carts, Pei Shu’er knew they were going out to procure supplies today.
Lu Qing said, "Pei Shu’er, you’re strong. Join us in procuring supplies today."
Pei Shu’er nodded with a smile and slipped ten taels of silver into Lu Qing’s hand.
Lu Qing had a handsome and upright appearance, the type that was evidently incorruptible at first glance.
Yet he also knew that too much purity leaves no room for pragmatism. If he didn’t accept, it would imply that those who did were not reasonable people.
So he did not refuse and accepted the money.
There were three government officers accompanying everyone, and Pei Shu’er had never interacted with them. At this moment, she smiled and nodded at them.
She looked at those accompanying her.
Lin Yu, herself, and a stranger with a dark face, along with a chubby man.
Lin Yu had a friendly smile on his face: "This opportunity was really hard to come by."
He was known for his strength in the military and had some connections with Lu Qing, which allowed him to join.
Pei Shu’er smiled and nodded. She had spent ten taels of silver and previously saved someone.
Once in the bustling street, the officers called everyone over to pay a deposit.
Pei Shu’er knew in her heart that this money was likely a bribe for the officers, just with a more dignified excuse.
Everyone was not new to being exiled, so they naturally understood these unwritten rules.
The officers asked for five taels of silver.
Five taels of silver could fill up these horse carts.
But if they didn’t want the opportunity, many others did.
Besides, offending the officers meant there were plenty of opportunities for them to be put on the spot.
The dark-faced man was unwilling but painfully took out five taels of silver.
Pei Shu’er, the fat man, and Lin Yu all had slight smiles.
When they arrived at the place, the officers coldly warned.
"I advise you not to think of running away. We have already notified the city. If a stranger is encountered, they’ll be apprehended immediately."
"And don’t think about running. Your families all have some influence. If you run, your family’s political career will be affected."
"Once you reach the place of exile, you still have a chance to return to the Capital by military merit. If you run, you’ll spend your life like a gutter rat, unseen."
Everyone remembered these words.
But now, Pei Shu’er just wanted some free time to buy things, so she could store them in her space and buy more.
But Pei Shu’er never found an opportunity.
Seeing the second day approaching, Pei Shu’er found the three officers and handed each ten taels of silver with a smile.
Seeing the three’s expressions warm, Pei Shu’er spoke with a smile.
"Lords, I have some things that a lady needs to buy. Could you please grant me four hours? I’ll definitely return to help the lords carry things later."
With silver, everything was negotiable.
The officer tossed the silver in his hand and advised, "Fine, go ahead, but, again, you better think carefully if you plan to run."
"Your father is the Minister of Rites. If you go to the exile place, your father has ways to bring you back. If you run, you’ll spend your life in hiding."
Pei Shu’er wanted to laugh in her heart, thinking her father likely forgot she existed.
She nodded with a smile, "Lords, I know. That’s why I’ve been obedient along the way."
Considering the silver and the Minister of Rites, the officers didn’t make things difficult for Pei Shu’er.
Not to mention, Pei Shu’er wouldn’t run. Even if she did, they could collude and report her dead, and the boss wouldn’t blame them.
Pei Shu’er was allowed to leave and immediately ran to the city to buy things.
This was the town closest to Gulan Mountain, with no other place to replenish supplies.
She first rented a larger house, then a horse cart, and began buying things all the way.
She bought candy and Cloud Cake for children. Anything different from the fabrics in her space was purchased, along with cosmetics.
She instructed the delivery of larger items to her rented house.
She exchanged a hundred taels silver note from Tang Zan and three thousand taels silver note of hers into small silver pieces at the bank, even some copper coins.
This made bribing people easier without attracting attention.
She also bought ancient foods, pork, beef, vegetables, potatoes, rice, noodles, and even iron pots and cooking utensils.
After sweeping through a whole street, Pei Shu’er found she bought everything she could.
Shop owners were delighted to see the veiled girl, her buying frenzy akin to locusts, leaving hardly anything untouched.
She also bought several fox fur coats, cotton-padded clothes, and footwear for both children and adults, emptying a store.
She bought several blankets and the same for ready-to-wear garments.
She purchased some simple and unadorned jewelry.
By then, there was nothing more to buy.
Her space held most items already, and ancient goods lacked the variety of modern ones.
She stored most in her space, with a few in a bundle as tall as herself.
Carrying it on her shoulder looked like a moving hill.
The frail Pei Shu’er became less noticeable.
The officers opened Pei Shu’er’s bundle for inspection, only to find it tightly packed with various items.
An officer said, "Our cart is full and can’t take more."
Hearing this, Pei Shu’er knew money was expected.
She slipped five taels of silver to each officer.
"I’ll just place it on top of the cart, thank you for your generosity, lords."
The officers reluctantly nodded.
The three in the cart looked at Pei Shu’er in surprise, not having thought about buying things before sticking with the officers.
Only until this moment did they regret it.
When Pei Shu’er brought everything back, everyone was stunned by the enormous bundle.
Three of the families watched Pei Shu’er, resembling someone carrying a small mountain. Liu Xu tapped Tang Zan.
"Zan’er, go help your wife with her things."
Tang Zan rested against a stone wall, pretending to nap. Hearing Liu Xu’s voice, he turned to Pei Shu’er.
He saw the small figure under the massive bundle and raised an eyebrow.
Nevertheless, he got up, limping over.
He truly found it difficult dealing with this woman; she should’ve bought less if her strength was limited.
Approaching, Tang Zan halted.
Lin Yu already took the bundle from Pei Shu’er’s hands.
"Let me do it, Miss Pei."
When speaking to Pei Shu’er, he lowered his eyes slightly, as if not daring to look directly at her.
Yet Lin Yu’s gaze would involuntarily drift towards her.