The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

"Look, how much fine fabric do you need to make these five new clothes with different styles and colors?"

Chen Xi's eyes were full of anticipation, and her words were concise but full of affection that could not be ignored.

The shopkeeper's gaze unconsciously lingered on the young girl in front of him, and her clear eyes flashed with a determination that should not be underestimated.

Although the girl only mentioned five pieces of clothing, this was undoubtedly a considerable expense in the eyes of the shopkeeper.

His eyes swept across Chen Xi's old clothes that were full of time marks and patches, and he couldn't help but wonder.

Does this seemingly ordinary girl really want to complete this lucrative transaction, or is she just looking for a moment of fun in this bustling shop and teasing me, the elderly shopkeeper?

"Boss, did you pay attention to the matter I just asked you about?"

There was a steadiness and persistence in her words that was beyond her age.

The shopkeeper seemed to be suddenly called back from a distant dream. His eyes, which had become sharp from being accustomed to measuring people's hearts and the value of goods, flashed a trace of surprise at this moment, which was soon replaced by a new respect.

He quickly organized his thoughts, completely suppressed the contempt that had just been revealed, and began to carefully examine the fabric that Chen Xi had requested.

I quickly calculated the required size of each piece of clothing in my mind, taking into account the inevitable loss during cutting and the quality requirements of the fabric.

Finally, he gave a well-thought-out estimate: "Well, according to your description, the production of these five pieces of clothing will require about two rolls of high-quality cloth, and the total cost is estimated to be around twelve taels of silver."

After hearing this, Chen Xi frowned slightly, and the instantaneous change in her expression seemed as if she was quickly weighing something in her mind.

Then, she showed a shrewd and elegant negotiation posture. Her words were polite, but revealed a sharp edge that could not be ignored: "Shopkeeper, you see, I am not ordering one or two pieces, but five at once. The quantity is already considerable. I wonder if you can give me, a small customer, a little discount, for example, ten taels of silver in round numbers, how about that?"

The shopkeeper originally thought that this was just a naive idea that the little girl had on a whim, and was about to use the usual excuses to politely decline. However, unexpectedly, there was no sign of joking on Chen Xi's face. Her seriousness and persistence clearly told everyone that this was her serious proposal.

"Okay, considering your sincerity and determination, I will take this business. But according to the rules of our store, all transactions must be settled in cash, and no credit will be accepted."

When Chen Xi heard the shopkeeper's promise, a confident and satisfied smile appeared on his lips. He answered concisely and forcefully, full of determination: "Deal, I can pay all the money today. As for the clothes, please prepare them within a few days, and I will come to pick them up then."

After saying that, she calmly took out a heavy bag of silver from her bosom. The crisp sound of the metal collision was particularly loud in the quiet shop, and the shopkeeper's eyes were full of shock and disbelief.

The shopkeeper took the silver bag with both hands. The heavy weight of the silver ingots not only pressed on his hands, but also felt like a hammer hitting his heart.

Besides being surprised, I was more in disbelief.

This seemingly ordinary girl actually has such a straightforward approach and deep financial resources.

At this moment, the shopkeeper's attitude changed dramatically. The previous neglect and contempt were instantly replaced by humility and enthusiasm.

He nodded and agreed repeatedly, fearing that any carelessness in his service would make this suddenly appearing big customer unhappy.

"It will only take three days. I will personally supervise and ensure that the new clothes are exquisite. When the time comes, I will fold them carefully and wrap them with the finest silk. You will feel our care and meticulousness when you come directly to your door."

Before leaving, Chen Xi carefully explained the body size and preferences of each family member, not leaving out any detail. His meticulous attention to detail filled the small tailor shop with a warm atmosphere.

Then, she slowly walked out of the tailor shop. The sunlight shone through the quaint streets and alleys onto her shoulders, adding a bit of warmth to this daily shopping trip.

Turning the corner, she stopped in front of a busy pork stall.

"Boss, give me some fresh pork ribs and pig intestines. How much do you think they cost?"

Chen Xi's voice was gentle and clear, with anticipation for the food.

The stall owner was a weathered but energetic old man who recognized this regular customer at a glance.

His eyes instantly became friendly and warm, and a big smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He responded in a loud voice: "Hey, why are you saying this? These are just ordinary ingredients, not worth asking for money. Even if I give them to you, I just hope that you can patronize my shop more often in the future, which is the greatest support for me."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xi showed an awkward yet polite smile on his face. He knew that not everyone could be so generous, and gratitude welled up in his heart.

In order to make the stall owner less embarrassed, she had an idea and picked out a large piece of fat and lean pork belly from the chopping board next to her, intending to put it back into her magical space ring to enjoy slowly later.

This space is Chen Xi's treasure, and it can always solve many inconveniences for her inadvertently.

"Thank you so much for your kindness, but I can't take your things for free. I'll take the ribs, but I still have to settle the bill for the rest." Chen Xi's words were full of persistence, and at the same time, they conveyed respect for the stall owner's life.

After a round of polite shoving and pushing, Chen Xi finally paid all the fees according to the market price, thanked the stall owner, and then set off on his way home.

Her figure gradually faded away and blended into the bustling crowd, while the pork stall owner stood there, watching her, feeling a bit curious and speculative.

"Although Chen Xi is dressed simply, his words and deeds reveal an extraordinary temperament. He is obviously not from a wealthy family, so how can he easily buy meat every day? In this small town, ordinary people rarely have meat for every meal. They are either financially constrained or live a simple life. Chen Xi's behavior is indeed a bit unusual."

However, for stall owners, as long as it can boost their business, everything else seems less important.

On the way home, Chen Xi had already started thinking about cooking the newly purchased ingredients.

The spare ribs and large intestines turned into a pot of fragrant braised food in his mind. She suddenly had an idea and decided not only to braise these but also to add a chicken and half a duck to cook together, making the pot of braised food more colorful. This would not only satisfy her pursuit of delicious food, but also look decent when entertaining friends.