Huo Yuan brought Cai Wei directly into the VIP room on the second floor of Xuji Clothing Store, escorted by the shop assistant.
This VIP room was designed to accommodate the dignified officials, distinguished gentry, and rich merchants. The interior was uniquely elegant, with a charcoal basin fueled by Silvered Frost Charcoal radiating warmth. A delicate scent of plum blossoms danced in the air. The radiant porcelain vase on the window sill was adorned with a firm but graceful green calyx plum blossom strain waiting to bloom, a sight to behold.
Once they were seated, the shopkeeper personally served tea, conversing cordially and full of smiles with the renowned Huo Yuan. Today, Huo Yuan was in a good mood, he humbly engaged in small talk with the shopkeeper, who was greatly flattered and ecstatic.
At this moment, two shopkeepers approached, each carrying a carved lacquer tray with a few sets of finely crafted clothes for Cai Wei to select.
Among these clothes, all made from exquisite materials, Cai Wei was torn between the choices adorned in an array of colorful brocades. Suddenly, Huo Yuan picked out an edging of mink fur on the collar and sleeves of a goose-yellow beizi with embroidered hibiscus flowers and handed it over to her.
"Wei’er, the color suits you incredibly, do you like it?"
Cai Wei received it, feeling the satin smooth as water – almost ethereal. She admired the exquisite embroidery, the vibrant hibiscus flowers full of life and the fine, dense stitching and gladly complimented, "The fabric of this dress is of high quality; the embroidery is excellent, and the style is innovative. Big Brother Huo really has good taste!"
The shopkeeper hastily remarked, "This Beizi in our shop is tailored with Floating Light Brocade. The market price is one hundred and twenty taels of silver per bolt, but it’s still hard to come by. The hibiscus flowers on the beizi were personally stitched by Liu Jiu, the finest embroiderer in Yushu County. The fur trim is incredibly soft mink cub fur. It will undoubtedly be comfortable for the young lady to wear..."
He prattled extensively before finally stating, "Although this dress is good-looking, the price is slightly higher, it costs seventy taels of silver, Young Master Huo, what do you think..."
Huo Yuan indulged in a gentle laugh, looking at Cai Wei, he asked, "Wei’er, shall we buy this one?"
Cai Wei replied, "Though the dress is attractive, I’m unsure if it will fit. If it doesn’t fit, it would be futile to buy it, a waste of money!"
Even though Cai Wei was now affluent, she had previously experienced hardship, once risked her life hunting a wild boar for ten taels of silver. Therefore, she was quite thrifty with her spending. For instance, she would not purchase such expensive clothes without trying them on to ensure they fit perfectly.
Hearing her words, the shopkeeper quickly suggested: "On our premise, we have a dressing pavilion. Perhaps Miss, you could try it on, then you would know if it fits!"
With that said, he called in a maid from outside the door and commanded her to assist Cai Wei in trying on the Beizi inside the dressing pavilion."
The maid entered, picked up the dress, bowed to Cai Wei, and said, "Miss, please."
Cai Wei smiled at Huo Yuan before following the maid out.
The Dressing Pavilion of Xuji’s shop was located at the far end of the second floor, far away from the VIP room. It was a small room tastefully-decorated and tranquil. It had minimal furnishings – a dressing table, a copper mirror, a stool, and a screen.
As Cai Wei entered the room, she closed the door, took off the blood-stained pink top she was wearing and hung it on the screen. Then, she picked up the mink fur trimmed, goose-yellow Floating Light Brocade beizi, examined it and put it on.
Fortunately, the beizi fit her perfectly, neither too large nor too small, neither too loose nor too tight. The chest, waist, and hip measurements were unexpectedly spot-on, as if it were tailored just for her.