Silver didn't know what the shoes looked like, but seeing Zhao Xiaohua's eyes light up, she felt that if the price were right, pleasing the little girl wouldn't be impossible.
Even though Zhao Xiaohua hadn't explicitly asked to buy them.
But the little girl's thoughts were written all over her face.
"When we get to town, let's take a look together," Silver said.
Zhao Xiaohua nodded enthusiastically.
Silver's gaze unconsciously drifted back to Tao Hua.
Coming back to her senses, Silver was a bit surprised. She wasn't sure why, but she seemed to have a great fondness for this girl named Tao Hua. Even though before, the original interaction with Tao Hua was only because she was Zhao Xiaohua's playmate. And today was the first time she actually met her after taking over the original's persona.
So this inexplicable fondness felt so strange.
Silver couldn't quite describe this feeling.
It was as if, naturally, she should like Tao Hua and be kind to her.
If she wasn't kind to Tao Hua, it would be wrong.
Silver looked at Tao Hua again and happened to meet her wet eyes. The little girl gave Silver a sweet smile, a dimple appearing on one cheek, making her even more adorable.
Silver also smiled.
The ox cart soon arrived in town, and Ox Uncle told everyone the return time. Then he found a sheltered spot to sit down.
"Aunt Zhao, Xiaohua, let's go to the clothing shop together," Tao Hua invited Silver and Zhao Xiaohua.
Since they came to buy clothes for Zhao Xiaohua, Silver didn't refuse and walked with Mrs. Jin and her daughter to the clothing shop.
Silver was shocked by the luxury of the clothing shop.
The original persona was good at sewing and embroidery skills, so she never went to the clothing shop to buy dresses.
It's known that running a business, selling things, must be much more expensive than making them yourself.
This Linlang Pavilion is just a small town shop.
Tao Hua, wearing a dress from Linlang Pavilion, looked cute and charming, and as soon as she entered the shop, she attracted everyone's attention.
The shopkeeper behind the counter even came out to greet Mrs. Jin and Tao Hua personally.
Tao Hua sweetly expressed her intention.
The shopkeeper immediately took out a pair of embroidered shoes sewn with pearls, with satin, and beautiful patterns. The pearls were also pretty.
As soon as the shoes were taken out, they caught everyone's eyes.
They were indeed beautiful, suitable for ladies of noble families who never step out the door. Because they don't need to walk muddy roads.
But for a country girl to buy such a pair...
Zhao Xiaohua's eyes were almost glued to the shoes. So pretty, she really wanted them.
Mrs. Jin had asked the shopkeeper for the price.
Wow, three taels of silver!
Satin, pearls.
Apparently, perhaps, not expensive?
Even if there's an equivalence between items and their price, even if Silver had silver in hand, she wouldn't spend it.
What surprised Silver was that Mrs. Jin paid without even blinking.
Tao Hua happily held the shoes in her arms, sweetly saying, "Thank you, mother, I really like them."
Zhao Xiaohua looked at Silver with expectation in her eyes.
"Xiaohua, wearing these shoes, you cannot play in the fields with your friends. You can't go by the river either, because the wet mud will dirty the shoes," Silver calmly said.
Zhao Xiaohua wasn't a spoiled child.
As soon as Silver spoke, she realized that although the shoes were pretty, they weren't suitable for her.
Her mother had already promised to buy her a dress like Tao Hua's. She should be content.
"Mom is right, I don't want to be unable to go out just because of a pair of shoes," Zhao Xiaohua said.
If something beautiful can't be shown to others, what's the point?
"Xiaohua, if we wear them and be careful, they won't get dirty." Tao Hua softly spoke, "You like them so much, Aunt Zhao loves you the most. She will surely be willing to buy them for you."
"Tao Hua, I'm not like you, liking quiet things. I've been mischievous since I was little. I can't be careful. If I ruin the shoes, I would feel heartbroken. So, it's better not to buy them," laughed Zhao Xiaohua.
She perfectly demonstrated the attitude of "plump heart, wide mind" and wasn't upset about not being able to buy them.
Silver pinched the palm of her hand hard, waves of shock in her heart.
When Tao Hua said 'surely willing to buy them for you,' Silver almost took out silver to buy those shoes.
Not because she wanted to please Zhao Xiaohua.
But because Tao Hua said she wanted to buy them.
Oh my, was she bewitched?
Or was there something wrong with Tao Hua?
Silver was truly confused.
"Since you can resist not buying them, I won't say more. My mom and I have to find my uncle now, so we'll leave first." Tao Hua linked arms with Mrs. Jin and waved at Silver and Zhao Xiaohua.
After Mrs. Jin and her daughter left, Silver slowly calmed down.
Silver took a deep breath and asked the shopkeeper to bring out the outfit embroidered with peach blossoms.
The shopkeeper looked at Silver, then at Zhao Xiaohua, "Madam, is this for your daughter?"
Silver nodded.
"Then this dress is not suitable. Our clothes are meant for slender girls. Your daughter's physique is a bit too generous. Let's not mention whether she can fit in, even if she forces herself to wear it..." The shopkeeper burst out laughing, "No, no, I can't help it. Just thinking about this dress on your daughter makes me laugh."
Silver initially thought that after buying the dress, Zhao Xiaohua might be teased by her friends.
But she didn't expect that the shopkeeper of Linlang Pavilion would mock Zhao Xiaohua in front of so many people.
"Exactly, look at her, pale and chubby like a plucked fat pig. Our Linlang Pavilion's clothes on her, wouldn't that ruin our reputation?"
"A person should have self-awareness. Like that little girl just now, wearing our clothes, looked like a fairy. Such people are worthy of wearing our Linlang Pavilion clothes."
The two salesgirls blatantly echoed the shopkeeper.
Zhao Xiaohua's face flushed red, tears welling in her eyes.
She just wanted to buy a pretty dress, why did they have to mock her, what was wrong with being fat?
Silver tightly held Zhao Xiaohua's hand, "Words as ugly as theirs are always from mouth of a brute, so they don't speak human words, why bother with animals?"
"Who are you calling an animal?"
Silver replied calmly, "Of course, whoever answers must be the animal."
"You—"
Silver was tired of arguing with them, "That dress looks nice, but it's only because it has a few poorly embroidered peach blossoms. I don't know where they get the confidence to claim it as golden-clothed! Xiaohua, Mom will embroider peach blossoms ten times more lifelike for you at home. Let's see how they dare sell this dress then."
"Mom promises, the dress I make will be prettier than those in their shop!" Silver sighed, wiping Zhao Xiaohua's tears, "Come, let mom take you to buy some treats you like."
Usually, when it comes to treats, Zhao Xiaohua's eyes would definitely light up.
But today, the girl became very silent.
Although this was more or less expected by Silver, seeing the light fade from the girl's eyes still caused her heart some pain.