Chapter 28: Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder

Zhen Mi'er scanned the neatly hung robes, eventually selecting a snow-white, straight-collared gown. The fabric had an excellent drape, cinched at the waist with a wide belt featuring moon-white auspicious cloud patterns.

Upon learning that they could try the clothes on before purchasing, Zhen Mi'er, finding it improper to enter the men's fitting area on the second floor, asked a shop assistant to help Gu Tingzhi upstairs to change into the robe.

Gu Tingzhi listened well to Zhen Mi'er, following the assistant upstairs with a docile air. While they waited, Gu Qinghe and Su Hehua arrived. Gu Qinghe had taken a fancy to a verdant, misty-green pleated skirt and a matching smoke-patterned blouse. She had already changed into them; the color made her skin look fairer, and her naturally slender figure appeared even more delicate, her waist seemingly no wider than a handful.

Zhen Mi'er praised her repeatedly: "Qinghe, you look absolutely stunning in that."

"You have no idea," Su Hehua teased. "I kept telling her how good she looked, but she wouldn't believe me until you saw it and agreed to pay."

As the three women discussed the highlights of the dress, they were suddenly interrupted by audible gasps from those around them. Not knowing what had happened, they turned to look in the direction of everyone's gaze.

The man stood tall and slender, clad in white with dark hair. Beneath his moderately thick, sword-like brows, his narrow eyes were as gentle as a babbling spring, warm as a breeze. His nose was straight and elegant, and his lips, neither too thick nor too thin, were pale in color. When the corners of his mouth curled slightly, his gentle temperament was even more pronounced.

As he descended the stairs step by step, his tied hair and the hem of his robe swayed with his movement, making him appear like a deity descending to earth. His skin was fair, and as he blinked, his eyes seemed to shimmer with a thousand shades of brilliance, leaving everyone in a daze.

Zhen Mi'er had always known her husband was handsome, but she had never realized he could be this breathtaking—stunning enough to captivate the gaze of everyone present.

Gu Qinghe and Su Hehua sighed, thinking that the saying "clothes make the man" was indeed true.

When Gu Tingzhi approached, Zhen Mi'er couldn't help but praise him: "Husband, you look truly handsome."

Gu Tingzhi tilted his head, his eyes crinkling into smiles. "Manman looks beautiful too."

Gu Qinghe joked, "Then, Third Brother, do you think I look better, or does Third Sister-in-law?" She spun around to show off her new outfit.

Gu Tingzhi looked her over carefully from head to toe, then gave a dead-serious verdict: "Manman looks better."

Gu Qinghe: "..."

Su Hehua burst out laughing, finding their interaction delightful. "Qinghe, you don't understand—beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In your Third Brother's eyes, no woman in the world could ever compare to your Third Sister-in-law."

Gu Tingzhi nodded as if this were a grave truth, and Zhen Mi'er blushed deeply at their teasing.

The other customers in the clothing store, whose initial admiration had turned to surprise upon realizing the handsome man was not quite right in the head, shook their heads in pity. However, they immediately asked the shopkeeper for the same style of robe Gu Tingzhi was wearing, paying for them readily. The shopkeeper was so delighted his face wrinkled with joy.

Because Gu Tingzhi had unwittingly brought the shop a great profit, the shopkeeper was generous, giving them a fifty-percent discount on both Gu Tingzhi’s robe and Gu Qinghe’s outfit.

Having saved half the money, Zhen Mi'er was quite happy. She carefully carried Gu Tingzhi’s old clothes, and the group visited a fabric store, a pastry shop, a grain store, and a deli in succession. By the time they finished, their hands were full of goods.

When they arrived at the agreed meeting spot, Gu Qingsong had not yet arrived. They had been shopping for two hours and were famished, so they sat down at a wonton stall at the edge of town, ordering a bowl of fresh meat wontons each to eat while they waited.

As for Gu Qingsong, after Zhen Mi'er and the others left, he had continued selling for another two hours. Seeing the time, he realized it wouldn't be worth coming back to town just to sell the remaining hundred pounds of sweet potatoes, so he sold them all at a low price to another vegetable merchant.

This merchant sold various leafy greens but no sweet potatoes. Seeing that Gu Qingsong’s sweet potatoes were large, fresh, and clearly just dug from the earth, and finding the price reasonable, he bought the entire lot without hesitation.

After packing up his stall, Gu Qingsong hurriedly drove the ox cart to the edge of town.

Seeing him arrive, Zhen Mi'er asked with concern, "Big Brother, have you had lunch? Would you like a bowl of wontons?"

Gu Qingsong shook his head. "I ate a pancake. I'm not hungry."

It was already two-thirty in the afternoon, and not daring to delay further, they loaded everything onto the ox cart and headed back to the village.

When they reached home, Zhou and Gu Lizong learned that Gu Qingbai had gone to the county seat.

Zhou was moved to tears. "It seems the heavens have finally opened their eyes! Our family’s life will surely get better and better."

Gu Lizong paced the main hall, unable to calm his excitement. Black bears were treasures from head to toe; the paws, gall, skin, bones, and meat could all be used in medicine. Black bears were incredibly rare in the market, if not nonexistent, as they were fierce, and those who dared to hunt them often lost their own lives in the process.

Gu Lizong knew that black bear paws fetched an exorbitant price at the market, while the other parts sold for less. Since their family had obtained two black bears, he wondered how much silver Erlang would bring back.

...

Gu Qingbai was currently on his way back to the village.

After parting ways with his elder brother and third sister earlier, he had driven the carriage to the county seat without stopping. The weather was clear, and since he was using a carriage, he arrived by one o'clock in the afternoon.

He dragged the black bears to the East Market, where the wealthy lived and servants from large households often came to purchase supplies at fixed times.

The market was crowded, and the two black bears were enough to draw a massive crowd. Soon, he and his catch were surrounded three layers deep by curious townspeople, who let out waves of gasps.

"Seeing is believing; this bear truly looks fierce."

"Few people can catch such a wild beast. This young man is extraordinary. Not only did he kill one, but he caught one alive!"

The crowd pointed at the black bear, which was trussed up like a bundle of rice dumplings, in shock and awe.

"Indeed, indeed. I've lived a long time and have never seen anyone capture a black bear alive."

"My cousin's wife's mother's brother's daughter's son was killed by a black bear! My family is terrified even at the mention of them!"

"I wonder how much silver these two bears will sell for! This young man is going to make a fortune."

"Yes, yes. With this money, the whole family won't have to worry about food or drink for years to come."