Chapter 57: A Night Out in Chang’an (Part 2)

This was a medium-sized jewelry store. Though only of medium size, its hall could accommodate hundreds of people. Unlike the foreigner-owned jewelry store in the Eastern Market, the treasures here were all hung on wooden racks on the walls. The cheaper ones cost a few hundred coins each, while the most expensive ones were only three or four guan.
It was then that Li Qing’an realized just how luxurious the Bai Cui Cup he had bought that afternoon was—yet it was still only a mid-range item. No wonder he had been the only customer in that store.
The jewelry store was packed with customers coming to choose jewelry. Young girls gathered in groups, whispering to each other, while several scholars haggled with the shop assistants, planning to buy some ornaments to take back to their wives in their hometowns.
“Xiao Lian, what do you think of me wearing this silver hairpin?” Gao Wu pinned a silver hairpin in her hair and strutted around proudly.
“Hmm! Sister Wu, I think this silver hairpin looks a bit plain. It would be better if there were two gems on it,” Xiao Lian said seriously.
Li Qing’an turned away, secretly amused. He had never seen Gao Wu wear jewelry before, and now she looked rather comical with the silver hairpin.
“What’s there to laugh at? There’s nothing funny! I’m not wearing it for you to see.”
Realizing Li Qing’an was laughing at her, Gao Wu angrily pulled out the hairpin and threw it at the shop assistant. “I want this hairpin. Also, I want these other ornaments. I want that gold hairpin and bracelet over there too. Pack them up for me.”
The shop assistant packed them up and said worriedly, “Miss, these over a dozen ornaments cost twenty guan in total. Our store makes only small profits, so we require cash payment.”
“Go ask this gentleman for the money. Xiao Lian, let’s go!”
Gao Wu stormed off with her small bag. The shop assistant hurriedly stopped Li Qing’an. “Sir, it’s twenty guan and five hundred coins in total.”
“Sister Wu, don’t get lost!” Li Qing’an called out. He quickly took out a lump of silver and handed it to the shop assistant. “This is twenty-five taels of official silver. It should be enough.”
The shop assistant was hesitant. “Sir, our small store doesn’t accept silver.”
“Then how am I supposed to pay? How can I carry over a hundred pounds of copper coins?” Li Qing’an found it extremely inconvenient to pay. He hadn’t noticed the hassle before when dealing with just thirty or fifty coins, but now that he had to pay in guan—each guan weighing six pounds—twenty guan meant 120 pounds. Was he supposed to carry a sack of money around the streets?
‘Opening several money shops or silver stores would indeed be a profitable business…’ Li Qing’an thought to himself.

“Sir, please wait a moment. I’ll go ask the owner.” The waiter was helpless; the items had already been taken, so what could he do without charging? He hurried inside with the silver and returned shortly with a bag of copper coins. “Sir, the owner has taken the silver. Here’s six guan change for you. Let me calculate it for you.” “No need,” said Li Qing’an. He grabbed the bag of money and rushed outside. Gao Wu and Xia Xiaolian were already nowhere to be seen. He checked a few more shops but still couldn’t find them. “Where on earth did these two girls go?” Li Qing’an muttered as he searched around. “Li Qing’an, is that you?” A surprised voice came from behind him. Li Qing’an turned and saw two girls standing there, one of them smiling at him. He recognized her at once—it was Du Gu Mingzhu, whom he had met this afternoon. Her strange blood-red makeup had left a deep impression on him. The girl beside her had a similar makeup: dark lips, slanted eyes, and eyebrows arching toward her temples, looking just like a fox spirit from an anime. “You can’t recognize me already?” Du Gu Mingzhu laughed. Li Qing’an smiled and said, “It’s been less than two hours. How could I not recognize you? I’m just surprised your grandfather allowed you to go out at night.” “Of course he didn’t. I snuck out.” Du Gu Mingzhu suddenly frowned. “Do you know that because of you, my sister got scolded by our grandfather and cried for a long time?” Li Qing’an shrugged. “It’s not my fault. I had no idea about it at all.” “I guess you don’t know,” Du Gu Mingzhu said with a wink. “Be honest. Do you like my sister?” “Well… that’s hard to say.” “Why hard? If you like her, say so. If not, say so too. A real man shouldn’t be so hesitant.” “Like who?” Gao Wu’s voice suddenly came from beside them. Li Qing’an slowly turned and saw Gao Wu with his hands behind his back, staring at him coldly. “Heh! Nothing. Where were you two? I’ve been looking everywhere.” “We were waiting for you outside!” Gao Wu stepped forward slowly and sneered at Li Qing’an, “Well? Won’t you introduce us?” “This is Du Gu… Du Gu Mingzhu, the granddaughter of General Du Gu.” Li Qing’an’s head suddenly started to hurt. Damn it, how could this be so coincidental!

Gao Wu glared at him fiercely before smiling at Du Gu Mingzhu and saying, “I’m Gao Wu, the daughter of the governor of Anxi. Miss Mingzhu, your makeup style is really unique! Could you teach me?”
“So you’re the daughter of Gao Xianzhi. I’ve long heard of you.”
Du Gu Mingzhu affectionately took Gao Wu’s hand and introduced her companion, saying, “This is Changsun Yun, the daughter of the Changsun family. If you’d like, come to my house tomorrow, and I’ll help you with your makeup.”
“Great! I don’t really have any friends in Chang’an. I’ll come visit you guys tomorrow.”
Li Qing’an secretly despised the false pretenses among women. When had Gao Wu ever shown interest in makeup? She always went bare-faced. Moreover, Li Qing’an noticed that women seemed to have an innate talent for acting. With Gao Wu’s boyish personality, she still managed to act convincingly and build relationships with Du Gu Mingzhu.
“Hehe! Then you two can go around together slowly! I’m going back to bed.”
Li Qing’an tried to slip away after wiping his feet, but Gao Wu said with a smile, “Qilang, I also need to go home. Could you take me there?”
She then said affectionately to Du Gu Mingzhu, “Sister Mingzhu, I’ll come to see you tomorrow. Be sure to wait for me!”
“Sis Wu, I’ll definitely wait for you. Then we’re leaving first.”
Du Gu Mingzhu held Gao Wu’s hand and winked at Li Qing’an before leaving with her companion.
……
“Qilang, I’m sorry for making you spend money today.”
On the way, Gao Wu didn’t mention Du Gu Mingzhu at all. She chatted and laughed with Li Qing’an as if nothing had happened. Since Gao Wu didn’t bring it up, Li Qing’an naturally wouldn’t dwell on it either. He said with a smile, “As long as you like it, it’s no big deal. It’s just a little money; don’t worry about it.”
After a pause, he asked Xiao Lian with a smile, “Xiao Lian, do you like that gold hairpin?”
“Thank you, sir. I really like it.”
Unlike Gao Wu, Xiao Lian had already put on the phoenix hairpin that Li Qing’an had bought for her, making her look especially beautiful.
The three of them walked for a while longer, gradually approaching Li Qing’an’s residence. Li Qing’an couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Sis Wu, where are you staying tonight?”
Gao Wu gave him a disdainful look and said, “Seeing how nervous you are, I’m obviously going home. My luggage is here with you. You can’t expect me to go home empty-handed!”
Li Qing’an forced a laugh and said, “That’s not what I meant. I didn’t know you had a home in Chang’an too.”
“Nonsense! My mother, brother, and sisters are all in Chang’an. Do you think I came to Chang’an to find you?”

The anger in Gao Wu’s heart gradually flared as she remembered that Li Qing’an had indeed gone to see the granddaughter of the Du Gu family. She felt filled with hatred—what was so attractive about that little woman who looked like a wild cat?
“Hmph!”
……