Chapter 21: Preparing the Attire

After their meal, Xu Mo and Chen Miaoyi returned home. Xu Mo had two matters to attend to: first, to fetch some money and then go out shopping for a few things; second, to take a bar of soap and carve it into an oval shape, so that he could later demonstrate its effect during negotiations.

Chen Miaoyi brought out the money box and asked Xu Mo, “Husband, how much should I take out?”

Xu Mo glanced into the box and took out all the silver pieces, leaving only the coppers behind—about seven strings of cash, he estimated.

Chen Miaoyi quickly asked, “Husband, what are you planning to buy, taking so much money?”

With a gentle smile, Xu Mo replied, “I want to get myself some finer clothes, so I’d better bring more, just in case.”

Chen Miaoyi wanted to ask what sort of clothes could cost so much—seven strings of cash!—but in the end, she held her tongue.

Soon after, Xu Mo and Chen Miaoyi set out and soon arrived at the entrance of a grand and elegant ready-made clothing shop.

“Husband, are you really going to buy here? The things here are very expensive!” Chen Miaoyi remarked.

Xu Mo laughed, “If it weren’t expensive, I wouldn’t have come!”

With that, he took her inside.

The shop was filled with all manner of exquisite garments, dazzling Chen Miaoyi with their variety. Their plain attire made the couple stand out sharply among the other customers, drawing stares and whispers from some of the attendants.

Noticing this, Chen Miaoyi grew timid and tugged at Xu Mo’s sleeve. In a hushed voice, she said, “Husband, perhaps we should go somewhere else...”

“What’s the rush? We haven’t bought anything yet,” Xu Mo replied, utterly unconcerned with others’ opinions, and continued browsing.

After a few circuits around the shop, Xu Mo selected what he needed: a satin robe, a pair of leather boots, a jade pendant, and a rosewood box. For Chen Miaoyi, he picked a light yellow, fitted dress with a trailing hem, a fine silk handkerchief, and a pale pink embroidered sachet.

Chen Miaoyi was startled by how much he intended to buy. “Husband, do we need all of this? Isn’t it a bit much?”

“Not at all! Every item is necessary,” Xu Mo replied.

He then called over an attendant. “Please, tally these up for me—how much in all?”

The attendant nodded and began calculating with an abacus:

“Sir, the satin robe is eight hundred cash, the boots seven hundred, the jade pendant and rosewood box are each one string of cash, the dress is one string two hundred cash, the silk handkerchief is eight hundred, and the sachet is five hundred...”

With a clatter of the abacus, the attendant smiled, “Sir, the total comes to exactly six strings of cash.”

Six strings!

Chen Miaoyi was shocked by the sum. “Husband, that’s too expensive. We... we shouldn’t buy all this.” She pulled Xu Mo aside and pleaded quietly.

Xu Mo smiled, “Don’t worry, it’s only six strings of cash.”

Only six strings?

Chen Miaoyi was speechless. We haven’t even paid off our debts and here you are, squandering money again, she thought.

She couldn’t help but protest, “Husband, didn’t you say I could manage these ten strings as I wished? I don’t want to spend so much. If you must buy it, then let’s go elsewhere.”

Xu Mo smiled patiently, “Miaoyi, I know you’re afraid I’ll waste money, but I assure you, this isn’t wasteful.”

He continued, “I’m not buying these for show or to be extravagant. I need to wear them to negotiate a business deal.”

“A business deal?” Miaoyi was puzzled. Why did a business deal require such costly attire?

Xu Mo nodded earnestly. “There’s an old saying: a man is judged by his clothes, a horse by its saddle. If I go looking like I do now, no one will take me seriously. Not only will I fail to get a good price for the soap, they might even take me for a swindler and throw me out.”

Chen Miaoyi fell silent, pondering his words. She recalled how everyone in the shop had looked at them when they entered, the staff whispering, convinced they couldn’t afford anything.

Xu Mo gently took her hand. “Miaoyi, trust me. Think of this as a loan from you to me. When we sell the soap and make a profit, I’ll repay you tenfold.”

She shook her head quickly, “No, husband, that’s not what I meant...”

After a pause, she said, “If it’s for the sake of business, then... let’s buy them.”

“Thank you, my dear!” Xu Mo said with a smile.

He paid for the purchases.

“Excuse me,” Xu Mo asked the attendant, “do you have a place where guests can change?”

“Of course, please follow me,” the attendant replied, leading them to a back room.

As soon as the attendant left, Chen Miaoyi said, “Husband, you change first. I’ll wait outside.”

Xu Mo replied, “That would take too long. Let’s change together—you go behind the screen, and I’ll change here. It’ll be quick.”

Wanting to help save time, Chen Miaoyi blushed and agreed, taking her new clothes behind the screen.

Xu Mo changed swiftly, donning the robe and boots, and fastened the jade pendant at his waist.

A short while later, Chen Miaoyi emerged. “Husband, I’m done,” she said, her voice shy.

Xu Mo turned around, and was instantly captivated, forgetting even to blink.

“Husband, do... do I look alright?” she asked, her heart racing as he stared at her, her cheeks flushing.

“More than alright! You look so beautiful that not even a fairy could compare!” Xu Mo exclaimed, his gaze never leaving her.

Overwhelmed by his attention, Chen Miaoyi quickly changed the subject, pointing to the rosewood box. “Husband, what did you buy this box for?”

“Oh, that’s to hold the soap!” Xu Mo placed the soap inside the rosewood box and joked, “Like I said, a man needs fine clothes, and our money tree—soap—needs a fine box to match!”

“It’s just as they say: a man is dressed by clothes, a horse by its saddle, and soap deserves a rosewood case!”

He laughed heartily, “Not bad, not bad! It even rhymes, haha...”

His laughter was infectious, and Chen Miaoyi couldn’t help but giggle too.

Xu Mo stepped back to admire the soap in its box. “Miaoyi, look! With this rosewood case, doesn’t our soap instantly seem grand and impressive?”

“Grand and impressive?” The phrase was unfamiliar to her.

Xu Mo smiled and explained, “It means refined, elegant, and high-class... What do you think, do you get that feeling?”

Chen Miaoyi nodded happily, “I do, husband! Looking at it now, the soap seems worth more than a string of cash!”