章 79: Chapter 37: Cousin Sisters_3
The shopkeeper unveiled the red silk on the trays held by the six maids, and suddenly the room was filled with dazzling jewelry that made one's eyes swim. All young ladies love beauty, and their gaze was instantly attracted. Yueyao was no exception.
Yueyao sighed heavily deep inside as she looked at all the exquisite and beautiful jewelry. Each piece was quite valuable. The Ma Family relied solely on her uncle's income now, with the salary of a Fourth-rank official being minuscule compared to their expenses. The Ma Family was purely subsisting on their remaining assets. Such uncontrolled spending would definitely empty their coffers sooner or later.
Lady Cheng smiled and said, "Yueyao, you have just arrived. You pick first."
Ma Linlin watched Yueyao like a tiger eying its prey. Yueyao smiled and said, "As the youngest, I couldn't possibly pick first. Let's have my sisters choose first." The look in Ma Linlin's eyes was short of saying, 'You better not pick before me, or you'll have me to answer to.' Yueyao decided not to touch this source of potential trouble.
As soon as Ma Linlin heard this, without waiting for Lady Cheng to speak, she joyously said, "I'll go first." With that, she immediately stepped forward.
Among the jewelry, the most dazzling were a Red Gold Single-Phoenix Hairpin inlaid with pearls and a Crystal Lotus Flower Hairpin. These were the two items Ma Linlin chose.
After Ma Linlin had picked, it was Cheng Lizi's turn to choose. Then it was Loo Ying's turn. Loo Ying watched as Cheng Lizi took a Red Gold Hairpin in her hand, her eyes turning red.
Even Nanny Deng couldn't help but twitch the corners of her eyes at this sight, let alone Yueyao. Such a Red Gold Hairpin would cost at least two to three hundred silvers. To let a niece pick such an item, wasn't the Ma Family being overly generous considering they weren't made of silver and gold?
Loo Ying chose a Red Gold Bracelet, comparable in value to Cheng Lizi's pick. She initially wanted to choose more but, glancing over at the ranking Lady Cheng, she decisively gave up.
Finally, it was Yueyao's turn. Nanny Deng suggested Yueyao casually pick a couple of less expensive pieces of jewelry. Yuan Yao, however, did not heed the maid's words and instead carefully searched through the trays with her hand.
The shopkeeper, looking at the bracelet with pearls the size of walnut kernels on Yueyao's snow-white wrist, asked in surprise, "Miss, your bracelet is truly beautiful. Judging by the craftsmanship, it somewhat resembles the work of Master Liu Buti from Jiangnan." Not only was the craftsmanship exquisite and the bracelet shining brightly, but the walnut-sized, round pearl was also very valuable.
Initially, the shopkeeper thought Yueyao was just another guest akin to the relatives who came to the Ma Family seeking favors, like Loo Ying. Merchants tend to judge by appearance, after all. Yueyao's attire was simple; aside from a pair of pearl hairpins on her bun, she wore no other visible jewelry except for the bracelet on her wrist, which her sleeves concealed.
Yueyao intentionally revealed her bracelet. She knew all too well the gaze of these merchants; she did not want them to see her as someone who came to ask for things. She didn't have much jewelry on her, but the bracelet alone was quite valuable: "Shopkeeper, you have a keen eye. This is indeed the work of Master Liu." It was specially commissioned by Master Liu in those years.
Loo Ying was the first to inquire, "Is there a special significance to it?" She stared at the pearl, her eyes nearly bulging. She knew such large pearls were rare. And given the shopkeeper's astonished reaction, was it perhaps expensive?
Lady Cheng, familiar with the social elite for so long, naturally knew Master Liu Buti's reputation. At once, the way she looked at Yueyao changed slightly. 'This girl is doing it on purpose,' she thought.
The shopkeeper was somewhat surprised, but then, seeing Yueyao's demeanor, smiled amiably and said, "Master Liu Buti is the most renowned jewelry craftsman in Jiangnan. His carved pieces are the epitome of fine craftsmanship, every item a masterpiece. And he never replicates his designs. Many nobles in the palace wear his creations. However, this master has an odd rule; he only makes two pieces of jewelry a year, sometimes only one if the jewelry is exceptionally complex. If the limit is reached, one would have to wait until the next year. Miss, you may not be aware, but many madams and ladies in Capital City take pride in owning a piece of jewelry from Master Liu."
Yueyao smiled and said nothing. She owned four such pieces. As the shopkeeper had said, the master truly only made two a year. A saying goes 'an official in hand is better than a prefect in the bush,' and Madam Ma reserved four years in advance with him, at one piece per year. Since there was one spot left, others naturally did not resent it.
After hearing this, Ma Linlin stared at the bracelet on Yueyao's hand, then back at Yueyao. The confidence revealed in her gaze was clear to everyone present. She wanted it.
But Yueyao seemed oblivious to Ma Linlin's gaze.
Lady Cheng, exasperated by her daughter's actions, glanced at Yueyao and said, "Yueyao, it's just you left. Why don't you pick a few pieces of jewelry as well?" This girl was definitely showing off, but she couldn't understand why.
Yueyao cheerfully agreed and looked over the six trays of jewelry. Then, she chose a jade exquisite long hairpin, a Hetian white jade hollowed-out hairpin, and a pair of pearl earrings. Just when everyone thought Yueyao had made her choices, she picked out a Gold Inlaid with Pearl and Jade Soft Bracelet as well.
This bracelet was divided into six sections, with a jade ring in the center. In the middle of the ring lay a lotus-petal-shaped gold holder holding an eastern pearl. Three eastern pearls adorned each side of the jade ring, forming a "品" shape. The back of the jade ring was octagonal with a hollowed base, allowing light to pass through naturally. The design was ingenious.
The shopkeeper muttered to herself that the young lady had excellent taste. Among the jewelry here, this bracelet was the most valuable, both in terms of craftsmanship and material. Although it wasn't as unique as the bracelet on Yueyao's wrist, it was still one of a kind.
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