Chapter 182: Chapter 16 Guangqing Silver Building
"Would you like to take a look over here?" The attendant led Gu Chengyu to the counter on the left. The jewelry here was generally moderately priced, not the very expensive headpieces and jewelry.
"May I ask who the ladies of the young master’s family are? You see, these are worn by married women, and these by unmarried ladies." In ancient times, the classification of women’s jewelry was often based on whether the woman was married.
Gu Chengyu glanced at what the attendant pointed out and found that the jewelry for young girls was more delicate, crafted very intricately, but not using much gold or silver. Married women’s jewelry was more demanding, not only had to be grand, but also heavier, with more intricate engraving.
Over the past two years, Gu Chengyu had also bought some jewelry for the ladies in his family. Since coming to this ancient era, he discovered that the easiest time for a woman was before marriage. If a family provided a generous dowry when she married, she could stand tall at her husband’s home. In simple terms, it relied on her maiden family and brothers.
He tried his best to add to their dowries before they married, knowing that his eldest brother and second brother would not provide much for their daughters.
"Please show me the pearl hairpin." Gu Chengyu pointed to an orchid pearl hairpin and asked the attendant to bring it out.
The attendant was startled. This hairpin was gold! Though the pin itself was slender, it was crafted with hollow carving, and the head was inlaid with small pearls. It wasn’t cheap. But he didn’t hesitate; since the guest wanted to see it, naturally he had weighed his silver, so there was no need for him to disagree.
Gu Chengyu examined the hairpin carefully and found it very satisfactory. The orchid shape matched Gu Lan’s name and temperament perfectly. Furthermore, Da Ya would come of age in two years, and this hairpin would be just right for her.
Da Ya was a big girl now, naturally different from other nieces. Young girls were easier to choose for, usually bracelets or pearl flowers.
He selected a pair of golden bracelets for Er Ya, which didn’t have any patterns. Gu Chengyu weighed them in his hand; they added up to nearly two taels. There was no other way. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to buy prettier ones, but once, Er Ya shyly asked him if he could only buy substantial jewelry for her in the future.
At the time, Gu Chengyu was caught between laughter and tears. Which little girl doesn’t like pretty jewelry? But Er Ya preferred more practical pieces. Thinking about it later, he felt a bit sad—was it because she was scared of poverty?
For Sanya and Si Ya, he chose two pairs of thinner red gold flower earrings. Having finished shopping for the nieces, he began selecting for his mother and second sister.
Standing nearby, the attendant watched Gu Chengyu select so many items and felt a bit nervous. So many pieces would cost quite a bit of silver! How could a child so young afford to pay?
"Oh? Please show me that pearl flower." Gu Chengyu pointed to a hollow-carved peony-shaped pearl flower and addressed the attendant.
The attendant hesitated but reluctantly fetched the pearl flower.
Gu Chengyu was absorbed in looking at the pearl flower, not noticing the attendant’s hesitation. He still marveled at the craftsmanship of ancient jewelry—truly exquisite, a testament to a major store. Although it was slightly inferior to the jewelry in his space, this seemed to be middle-grade jewelry; he had yet to see the high-end items likely situated at the right-side counter!
He planned to give some of the spatial jewelry as future dowries to the Gu Family’s daughters. Actually, he had the ability to earn silver, even without using the treasures from space, to afford such luxuries.
"This pearl flower is nice; I’ll take it!" Finally, Gu Chengyu chose a red gold cloves flower hairpin for Mrs. Lv. As for his sisters-in-law, he could only apologize. He was already eight years old and couldn’t justify buying them jewelry.
Previously, when his "First-class House" pastry shop opened, it earned quite a bit of silver. Although the first month’s earnings were modest, after the reputation grew, the second month’s revenue increased significantly. His pastries weren’t cheap; even the cheaper ones were sold at forty wen per pound, while the expensive ones were priced at five silver coins each. Of course, he added quite a few medicinal ingredients to them.
The first month alone brought in over a hundred taels of silver; the following months even more. Thus, he could afford the jewelry.
"Please tally up the total; how much silver will it cost?" In fact, with all his selections, the shopkeeper had been glancing over from time to time but was occupied at the other counter.
Gu Chengyu only noticed that a few steps away, another attendant had appeared.
Were they afraid he wouldn’t be able to pay and might run away? Haha!
"Shopkeeper! This young master wants you to tally up!" When the attendant heard the request for calculating the bill, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The shopkeeper quickly ran over, leaving the other counter to an attendant.
The shopkeeper took out an abacus from the counter. "Let’s see! This hollow-carved orchid pearl hairpin is twenty-two taels silver, golden bracelets are twenty taels, earrings two pairs at eight taels, that pearl flower and flower hairpin you can have for forty-five taels, totaling ninety-five taels!"
The shopkeeper’s abacus clicked swiftly, his fingers moving so fast they were a blur. Because Gu Chengyu was buying gold jewelry, in the Dayan Dynasty, one tael of gold equaled ten taels of silver. Thus, upon calculation, it was almost equivalent to Gu Chengyu’s pastry shop’s first month’s profit. Gu Chengyu took a deep breath; it was certainly expensive!
Three older nieces; these could serve as future dowry, and no disgrace wearing them out. As for the two younger ones, he would prepare for them later!
The shopkeeper watched Gu Chengyu’s hand closely, afraid he might run upon hearing the price. Unexpectedly, Gu Chengyu calmly took out a silver note from his chest and placed it on the counter.
The shopkeeper quickly took hold of it and examined it. Sure enough, it was an authentic silver note! He was somewhat amazed; appearances can be deceiving! Who would have guessed that a person dressed so unassumingly would be a fat sheep?
The shopkeeper’s plump face was practically beaming; this was a significant customer. Though they had well-to-do ladies and girls buy jewelry here, the county was only so large, with just a few notable families. How could people shop for jewelry every day?
"Wait!" As the shopkeeper was about to take the silver note to give change, Gu Chengyu suddenly stopped him.
The shopkeeper immediately became wary and looked at him; was he planning not to buy after all?
"Shopkeeper, you run a business, is it all fixed price? You say it’s ninety-five taels just because it’s ninety-five taels?" It bothered Gu Chengyu immensely to not haggle, given how expensive it was.
"You jest; we are honest, never overpricing, and our prices are uniform. However, since you’ve bought so much, I’ll give you a discount of two taels, just as a minor concession." The shopkeeper said, looking distressed.
Would Gu Chengyu believe it? Of course not. In the end, they agreed to a discount of five taels, and he added five silk flowers, which truly pained the shopkeeper. While packing the jewelry into a box, he kept lamenting about the loss!
"Oh? It’s really Junior Brother Gu?"