A lifetime of maintaining a life of wealth, never worrying about food or drink.
Meng Zhaojun glared at the shopkeeper, her tone slightly hostile as she spoke, "What? Just because your master is here, and sees that I am young, does he not comply with orders?"
The shopkeeper felt aggrieved!
He was just a worker, after all! The little master hadn’t said a word, did they expect him to cover the cost of the jewelry himself?
Although he was a worker with a high salary, if the jewelry he presented was too poor, the other party would complain. If he presented fine jewelry, perhaps it could cost him several months of wages just to pay for it.
His eyes shifted, what kind of customer was this? He had never seen such a person as a shopkeeper.
To him, this forceful demand was just a joke!
"Miss Meng, congratulations on your family’s promotion. Are you here to buy some valuable jewelry to take back to the Capital? Surely Mrs. Meng and your father have given Miss Meng money to buy even more and better jewelry. Not to speak of anything else, but our store offers good value for money; the same jewelry would be impossible to find at this price in the Capital," the shopkeeper flattered and sweet-talked.
Meng Zhaojun no longer looked at him, talking to a servant was just a waste of breath. Whether she could get jewelry without paying, and buying good jewelry for several taels, all depended on Tang Shunyan; what others said didn’t matter.
"Tang Shunyan, I’m about to leave. Aren’t you going to give me a gift before I go?" she boldly and directly asked for something in a way that Tang Shunyan had never experienced with other girls, and even the shopkeeper, despite having met many people, would usually subtly hint at wanting jewelry in exchange for purchases.
They would put it tactfully and not in such a direct way, this was as good as saying you don’t give unless I ask you to, and you must give.
Tang Shunyan helplessly tapped his finger on the table, a gesture not to ask the shopkeeper to serve tea, but to bring something out.
The shopkeeper got the hint from the young master and turned to leave, but he was also shrewd. After contemplating the young master’s expression, he quickly made a decision.
His right hand searched in a hidden compartment, bringing out a piece of jewelry suitable for a girl like Meng Zhaojun to wear. Of course, the box contained only one item.
When the shopkeeper brought the box in and everyone saw how small the box was in his hand, they all guessed there was only one thing inside.
The shopkeeper placed the box on the table and introduced the jewelry inside to everyone.
"Little master, Lady Meng, this is a new model from our shop, a hairpin adorned with a ruby."
Meng Zhaojun heard it was a ruby and actually liked jewelry , because in her past life, she particularly favored jewelry made of rubies, such as necklace pendants.
Meng Zhaojun had thought about buying a necklace, but since coming to this store, the jewelry she had seen or seen worn by others didn’t seem very special.
The people of ancient times seemed to glorify the head more. Necklaces, which couldn’t easily be seen by others, were not known whether worn or not.
Bracelets, earrings, forehead chains—these were what people wore to show off.
Meng Zhaojun, being the County Magistrate’s daughter, would of course have such jewelry. Every year on her birthday, people would send valuable gifts, including jewelry.
But she never wore jewelry on her neck, preferring warm jade. According to the saying "men wear Guanyin, women wear Buddha," what she wore on her neck wasn’t just a ring of jade. It represented a Buddha venerated during this era, not The Buddha. This Buddha had an unfamiliar image.
According to a local legend, there was a living Buddha who had ascended to heaven. In many places in Nanyue Country, one could find temples dedicated to this Buddha.
People who believed in the Buddha thought that where there was a Buddha, there would be blessings. They believed this would bring peace and prudence to the people, bountiful harvests, and a prosperous country with happy citizens.
Meng Zhaojun picked up the box and opened it, seeing a large red gemstone at the top of the hairpin, with long strands of shiny white pearls and gold intertwined.
With one look, Meng Zhaojun fell in love with the hairpin, no matter if it was worth a fortune. Today, she was determined to have this gift.
"Bring me a mirror, help me..."
Liang Chen quickly took a mirror out of his pack, and carefully held the sparkling hairpin. As a woman, she too appreciated such beautiful jewelry, but her status did not allow her to own it.
With envy and jealousy in her heart, she could only look and touch, satisfying her vanity.