Chapter 13: Browsing
Yunxia Ancient Street was a highly commercialized antique street in Zanglong City.
From afar, one could see a stretch of dark gray tiled eaves and hipped roofs.
Walking on the street, one would see vermilion doors and embroidered windows on both sides as well as lifted eaves at the top. It was as if one had traveled through time and space and went back to ancient times.
The weather was good on this day, with a temperature of around twenty degrees Celsius, so there were many people out in the streets.
Young boys and girls walked alongside each other while holding hands, chatting, enjoying the scenery, and munching on snacks. They held hands as they walked, hoping that time would pause in the current moment for them in this winter.
Many people could be seen wearing culturally distinctive costumes and taking photos with the uniquely old architecture.
"This is delicious! I want more."
"Come here! Come here! Brother, help me take a photo here."
"Xiaolu, Xiaolu, stop daydreaming! Let's try this."
Li Yunyao was already a college student and had a heavy study schedule on weekdays. Both girls spent most of their time in Liuchuan County City and rarely came to Zanglong City, so all the traveling and shopping quickly released their playful nature.
Li Pin followed behind the two as he watched them adoringly.
He rarely spent any time with his "family," but now that he did, he didn't find it boring at all.
"Xiaolu, look! The older sisters over there are so pretty!"
Li Yunyao pulled Lin Xiaolu to look at six ladies who were exquisitely dressed in traditional costumes, with light veils fluttering around. Li Yunyao's face was filled with envy as she gazed a them.
Li Pin stole a glance.
The Taibai Kingdom had been at peace for sixty years, so various industries had found themselves in a comfortable spot to develop rapidly. The entertainment industry was one such industry, and it had flourished.
To the civilians, Astral Cultivators were a rare and distant notion. The system of martial artists, however, had been in place since ancient times. The prospering martial arts scene also brought up the rise of the antique industry. Many traditional costumes had been modified and improvised with modern techniques, resulting in exquisiteness that had a breathtaking impact.
Ladies, like the ones in front of them, dressed in traditional costumes were not an uncommon sight.
It was just that the six ladies were quite pretty and were wearing clothes that were made from high-grade materials and had exquisite designs. The young ladies were a striking sight as they stood by a bridge with an ancient design, resting their hands on willow trees to pose for pictures.
Li Pin looked around and saw that a sizable traditional costume establishment had just opened.
They had six ladies dressed in fancy traditional costumes roaming around the vicinity, playing and taking photos. This was evidently a marketing tactic employed by the business to attract customers.
And judging by how Li Yunyao got worked up, it was working….
"Brother, Xiaolu, let's go in and have a look."
She got interested in the shop just like that?
Li Pin followed the two into the shop.
The price of traditional costumes fluctuated greatly depending on the materials used and how exquisite they were. Though the store in front of them looked plain and ordinary, the interior was distinctively renovated.
There were quite a few customers like Li Yunyao who had been attracted to the store.
However, all of them left the store as quickly as they came.
As for the reason….
A pink dress that combined modern and ancient elements caught Li Yunyao's eye, causing her eyes to shine with adoration. However, as soon as she lifted the price tag to take a look and saw the four digits written on it, she was so shocked she quietly began to pull on Lin Xiaolu, intending to head out of the store.
"Buy it if you like it," Li Pin said.
"No, it's too expensive! 2,688! My god!"
Li Yunyao had never bought such expensive clothes in her entire life.
The research institute where their father worked was attacked by demonic creatures ten years ago. Their father, along with dozens of people in the institute, were all killed. After the incident, the owner of the institute ran away, and the Li Family never received any compensation.
For the past ten years, the Li family had been struggling and didn't have a good life.
Of course, thanks to the help from their eldest and third uncle, they did not live in poverty.
However, due to the fact that they even received help with Li Pin's high school tuition fees from their relatives, they naturally didn't splurge on expensive daily supplies.
Their situation only improved when their elder sister, Li Yunyan, got a job and got married.
"There's no harm in buying whatever you want. I am a level-two martial artist. Do you think I can't afford two pieces of clothing?" Li Pin said.
Li Pin had seen the material and design of these clothes on the six ladies outside earlier. They were well worth their price in terms of craftsmanship and were pleasing to the eye.
The shop's management was not jacking up their prices just because of the shop's prime location or anything like that.
Li Yunyao shook her head. "That still won't do, it's too expensive."
At this moment, a young girl who had her hair up in two ponytails and air bangs—who looked smart and cute—came over. "Miss you've got a good eye! This is one of the best sets of traditional dresses we have on display. It's an improved version of the wide-sleeved pleated dress.
"We've hired designated make-up artists and hairstylists and can provide free service to every customer. Moreover, we are currently having an opening special—if you buy two sets at once, you can enjoy a 30% discount...."
Having said this, the young girl paused and looked at Li Yunyao with some marvel. "Miss you look so pretty! You have such a good figure! You could fit into all kinds of clothes no problem! If you are willing to let us take some photos of you to display in the store, I can request the store manager to sell you at half price."
Li Yunyao, who had been just about to step out of the store, stopped in her tracks. "Oh? Half price? Do I still get free makeup and styling?"
Li Yunyao glanced at the outfit.
It was really pretty… but….
She still shook her head.
Li Pin, however, smiled at the young sales staff and said, "Go ahead."
He pointed at the sets that Li Yunyao and Lin Xiaolu were eyeing and said, "Have the makeup artist make the preparations."
"Sure thing! Ladies, this way please."
Lin Xiaolu hurriedly said, "Brother… I don't need—"
"We only get the discount if we buy two sets, so obviously we get more bang for our buck if we get two," Li Pin said.
"But…"
Ding!
At this exact moment, the sound made by a text message notification came from Li Pin's cellphone.
He glanced at it.
"Perhaps you don't have an idea of how much a level-two martial artist makes a year."
He showed his phone to Li Yunyao.
With just one glance at his phone screen, Li Yunyao's eyes widened.
Your card ending with *8879 received a transfer of 1,000,000.00 yuan on 25 December at 15:31. The balance after the transaction is 1,041,073.58 yuan. (Taibai Bank)
"Wow." Li Yunyao's eyes were gleaming. "Brother...."
Li Yunyao had grown up with Li Pin as her role model. It had nothing to do with his personality and was more about how smart he had always been ever since he was young. He had always gotten high grades, and he was always praised by all their relatives.
So it could be said that Li Yunyao taking Li Pin as her role model wasn't something that she had found herself doing out of her own accord, but it was more of an idea that had been imposed upon her by her family.
However, at this moment, she really experienced the benefits of having an older brother and what it meant to be blessed.
Li Pin put away his phone and patted her head. "Go on."
"Thanks, brother! I'll get going then," Li Yunyao said joyfully, grabbing Lin Xiaolu. The two of them quickly followed the young sales staff to the dressing room on the second floor.
Li Pin watched Li Yunyao calmly as she walked away with a spring in her step. She looked very excited.
In "Li Pin's" memory, Li Yunyao had never been this close to him.
He… had done a better job than "him."
"Sir, this way please."
Another young lady who was also wearing the store's uniform came forward and led Li Pin to the side to pay the bill.
She spoke softly and gently along the way.
The cost of the purchase was 2,688 yuan.
The average monthly income in Zanglong City was only slightly over one thousand, so 2,688 was close to three months of salary for an average person.
So, when the young sales staff saw how Li Pin had made the payment so readily, she naturally showed him a gentle attitude.
Moreover, Li Pin had a temperament that was different from ordinary people. Not to mention that he was spirited, bright, and handsome.
This made the young sales staff's smile turn even more sweeter.
Just as Li Pin was about to make the payment, he sensed something and turned around to take a look.
Someone's gaze had lingered on him for a while.
Li Pin saw a lady watching Li Yunyao and Lin Xiaolu with envy in her eyes as each of them picked a set of exquisite traditional costumes before heading upstairs.
Upon noticing that Li Pin's gaze was fixated on her, the lady seemed to have been startled as she hurriedly looked away. She pulled the lady whom she was shopping with and quickly exited the store.
Li Pin thought about it and finally remembered the lady's name.
If he remembered correctly, her name seemed to be Zhang Yunxi?
This was the girl whom Fang Yubai had wanted to introduce him to her, but she ended up leaving before the food even arrived.
Li Pin was only able to recognize Zhang Yunxi because this had only happened just recently. Otherwise, if he were given another one or two months, he would've completely forgotten about her, someone who he had met only once.
This had nothing to do with having poor memory; this was just Li Pin knowing that there was a limit to a human's brain capacity. There was no meaning in wasting precious space in his memories on meaningless people.
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