The crowd: "..."
They couldn't help but sigh at how generous Zhou Baiyu was.
"Thank you, Uncle Yu. I don't need anything for now," Leng Ruoli immediately declined.
"Haha, Li'er, you don't need to be polite with Uncle Yu. And to the two sisters-in-law, this lady, and this young girl, if you fancy any of the accessories in my shop, just pack them up and take them. I won't charge you," Zhou Baiyu said generously.
"Really, boss? Then I won't be polite," Bai Yuxuan asked, her clear eyes darting around.
"Of course, it's true."
Zhou Baiyu chuckled heartily again.
"Afu, take a few people and bring out our shop's most prized possessions and all the new accessories. Let Li'er and everyone else choose."
Zhou Baiyu glanced at Afu, a servant standing by, and instructed.
"Yes, Owner!" Afu bowed respectfully with his hands clasped. He then exited the room.
"Uncle Yu, you don't have to do this. We brought money with us. If we like something, we'll pay for it. If you keep doing this, we won't dare to visit your accessory shop anymore," Leng Ruoli said helplessly.
"How can that be? This is your first time visiting my shop, so you must take a gift back with you. Otherwise, I'll be angry," Zhou Baiyu said, deliberately putting on a stern face.
"Alright, Uncle Yu, you're rich, so we'll go along with you! It's your gift anyway, might as well not refuse it." Leng Ruoli smiled faintly, spread her hands, and shrugged.
"That's more like it!"
With that, Afu entered the room with several shop assistants carrying trays. The trays were covered with red cloth, so no one could see what accessories they were carrying.
Once Afu and the others entered the room and stood in a line, Zhou Baiyu immediately told Afu to quickly lift the red cloths from the trays.
Afu complied, one by one. In a short while, all the red cloths on the trays were lifted.
Then, the glittering accessories on the trays were revealed to everyone. These head ornaments included: kingfisher feather and pearl hairpins, a six-piece set of gemstone-encrusted gold hair ornaments, filigree gold peacock hairpins inlaid with sapphires and jade, floral-style hairpins, lily hairpins inlaid with gemstones and butterflies, and yingluo... a total of over twenty kinds.
There were also bracelets: white jade inlaid with gold bracelets, gold bracelets, white jade bracelets, Wenjin bracelets... totaling over ten pairs.
There were also necklaces and various styles of earrings, all looking exquisitely beautiful, which immediately astonished everyone.
However, what caught their eyes the most were the golden shoes inlaid with sparkling, crystal-clear diamonds, radiating dazzling light.
"Uncle Yu, where did you get these shoes?" Leng Ruoli asked, pointing at the pair of high-heeled shoes on the tray, her face full of shock.
"These are called high-heeled shoes. Twenty years ago, I specifically went to the Western Regions to make these shoes, and it took me two years to find a craftsman to forge them. It's a pity..." Zhou Baiyu explained briefly, but then suddenly stopped.
"Uncle Yu, how did you know they were called high-heeled shoes? And how did you get that goldsmith to make them?"
Leng Ruoli asked Zhou Baiyu two questions consecutively.
"I accidentally saw your mother drawing the design for these shoes. Then, I asked your mother what kind of shoes they were, and she told me she was drawing high-heeled shoes. Seeing her staring blankly at the design she had drawn, I searched everywhere for someone to make these shoes. To do so, I crossed the vast desert and went to the Western Regions to find someone who could make them. Unfortunately, your mother will never be able to wear these shoes in this lifetime."
Zhou Baiyu spoke with a sorrowful expression, his eyes turning red as he said these words.
He couldn't understand how heaven could bear to let such an outstanding and kind woman as Wan'er have such a short life.
An Shi and Jiang Shi, who were sitting in the room, also felt bad upon hearing Zhou Baiyu's words. Especially An Shi and Jiang Shi, when they were young, they were very close with their sister-in-law, Xia Wan'er. They both married into the Xia family through Xia Wan'er's arrangement. No one expected their sister-in-law to pass away so early.
"Alas... Uncle Yu, the past is the past. We who are alive must continue to look forward," Leng Ruoli comforted him.
"Yes, Baiyu. Her spirit in heaven wouldn't want to see you like this," An Shi also comforted him.
Zhou Baiyu nodded slightly upon hearing Leng Ruoli and An Shi's words.
"Mmm-hmm, I understand. You don't need to worry about me."
"Li'er, why don't you take these high-heeled shoes down and try them on? These shoes have been made for so long, and I haven't had anyone try them on yet. I've never seen a woman walk in high heels, so I'm very curious how a woman wearing these shoes will walk," Zhou Baiyu said curiously.
"These shoes were made for my mother, but you're letting me wear them first. That's not quite right, is it?" Leng Ruoli said, declining.
"It's fine. Even if these shoes were made for your mother, since she is no longer here, her daughter is the most suitable person to wear them," Zhou Baiyu said with a smile.
"Alright then, I'll try them."
Then, Zhou Baiyu had Afu place the crystal-inlaid golden high-heeled shoes at Leng Ruoli's feet. Leng Ruoli took off her embroidered shoes, slid her feet into the high heels, and the size was perfect.
So, Leng Ruoli stood up and took a few steps in the high heels, immediately stunning everyone.
"Second cousin-in-law, when you wear these high-heeled shoes, you gain a bit more of a dignified and noble aura, and you give off a refreshing and ethereal feeling. Your figure also becomes graceful and captivating," Bai Yuxuan described with exaggerated expression.
"Yes! Li'er, these high-heeled shoes really enhance one's temperament. They even make Great Auntie want to have a pair. Hehe..." An Shi chuckled.
"Do Great Auntie and Little Auntie both want these shoes?"
Leng Ruoli smiled, dazzling everyone.
In that bright and brilliant smile, as radiant as the prosperous summer day, was an unparalleled elegance that held the worldly affections of three thousand realms.
"Mmm-hmm~"
The female relatives in the room nodded eagerly.
"I have the sample for these high-heeled shoes. I'll have someone make a pair for each of you another day," Leng Ruoli said with a gentle smile.
"Li'er, since you can wear these high-heeled shoes, take this pair of crystal-inlaid golden high-heeled shoes with you. Your mother is gone, and I have no use for these shoes," Zhou Baiyu said with a sigh.
"Alright, Uncle Yu, then I won't be polite," Leng Ruoli playfully blinked her clear, bright black and white eyes.
In fact, Leng Ruoli took the high-heeled shoes not because of their price, but to prevent Zhou Baiyu from being saddened every time he saw them.
Afterward, Zhou Baiyu quickly invited An Shi, Jiang Shi, Madam Su, and Bai Yuxuan to choose accessories.