After a simple rebirth

It turned out that her father was really free, and it just so happened that his friend did business in Rongcheng, so they went to Rongcheng on Saturday, and her mother went along too.

Fu Ying... OK, it's a done deal.

Fu Ying had no choice but to go back and tell Fu Yu that they were going to Rongcheng to buy clothes at the weekend. Fu Yu was now very relieved about Fu Ying, so she readily agreed and returned 500 to her. Fu Ying only wanted to take 300, and she would pay the difference from her own piggy bank.

But Fu Yu still gave her five hundred, and Fu Ying accepted it, preparing to return the extra money.

I'm still a student now, and Chen Lu's family will definitely not let me pay for food and accommodation. The money I brought was for clothes and some spare money.

Fu Ying made up her mind that if she could pay for it herself, she would do so. If not, she would buy something suitable and find a chance to repay her family.

Fu Ying also packed some things in her schoolbag in case she had to stay overnight there. In fact, it was not realistic to go back and forth in one day. It would take four or five hours to go there, and it was too tiring to drive there. Moreover, if their family was delayed by something, she, who was a freeloader, could not ask them to take her back first, so she could only make do with other people's time.

On Saturday morning, Fu Ying went directly to the downstairs of Chen Lu's house. Before long, Chen Lu's family was ready.

Chen Lu's mother sat in the passenger seat, while Chen Lu and Fu Ying sat in the back seat with their schoolbags.

Compared to the city and Spring City, Rongcheng is not really far away, the roads are easy to drive, and there are highways. Chen Lu chatted with Fu Ying as soon as she got in the car. Her father occasionally asked Fu Ying questions, and Fu Ying simply answered them. Chen Lu was tired of chatting and finally wanted to sleep. Fu Ying also fell asleep, and when she woke up, she had arrived.

When leading a tour group in the previous life, Fu Ying had been to Rongcheng once, so she still had some impression of Rongcheng.

But after all, it was work, not a personal trip. There happened to be a picky old man in the group who kept complaining about all kinds of things. Fu Ying appeased him while reporting the situation to the company, which made Fu Ying lose interest in the trip.

In addition, it has been more than ten years since then, so Fu Ying really has no impression of it, so this can be regarded as her first time to visit Rongcheng.

The expressway passed through the tall buildings of Rongcheng. They got off the expressway and went straight to a restaurant to have lunch. To be honest, when Fu Ying arrived in Sichuan and Chongqing, she wanted to eat hotpot, but she didn't dare to ask for it, so she just followed the arrangements.

For lunch, they ordered Sichuan cuisine, boiled fish, spicy chicken and other famous dishes. Fu Ying was ecstatic inside, but she ate quietly on the surface.

After the meal, Chen Lu’s father dropped them off near Kuanzhai Alley and let them cross the overpass to stroll around on their own while he went out to play with his friends.

The three of them started strolling around. Chen Lu wanted to try some snacks, but Fu Ying wasn't very interested. She had just finished her meal, and everything she saw was expensive and had a lot of additives. She only bought some Bobo Chicken.

As many people have always said, the more famous a place is, the more commercialized it is. The same is true for Kuanzhai Alley. It has too many signs of renovation and most of the items are popular. So after visiting several stores, Fu Ying couldn't find the clothes she wanted.

Chen Lu's mother also looked down on them, so she called Chen Lu's father and asked him to come and take them to Jinli.

Fu Ying had never been to Jinli before. She and Chen Lu looked around but didn't buy a cheongsam because it cost more than 500 yuan. Fu Ying and her friends didn't want to be cheated. They didn't like it much in the first place, and it was so expensive, so they didn't even want to bargain and just left.

I did buy accessories. Fu Ying bought a hairpin, which she gave to Wang Ruiya after the performance. Chen Lu bought a hairpin, the kind with plastic decals, which looks good even if you don't look closely. I also bought an oil-paper umbrella and a fan with a green base, and the props were complete.

Next to Jinli is the Wuhou Temple, and the two of them walked around while carrying their things. Fu Ying was considerate enough to take a lot of photos for Chen Lu and her daughter, using Chen Lu's mother's phone. Of course, there were also photos of Fu Ying and Chen Lu.

When Chen Lu's father heard that they couldn't find a suitable one, he asked his friend, and his friend recommended going to Shuyuan Street, where there were many cheongsam shops.

The few of them moved around again, and before they met the right cheongsam, Fu Ying first saw the ancient costume she had imagined. It was not the popular Tang Dynasty double-breasted skirt, but a cross-collared, wide-sleeved skirt in the style of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

The clothes were worn on a mannequin and displayed in the window. Fu Ying fell in love with them at first sight.

The clothes are all blue from the skirt to the outer garment, but the color gradually deepens from the inside to the outside. The outer garment made of spinning material is the darkest blue. The whole dress is natural, just like the lyrics, "The blue is waiting for the rain and I am waiting for you".

In her heart, she wanted Chen Lu to wear it, and she thought it would suit Cheng Lu better, but she still had to try it on to be sure.

Chen Lu went in, changed her clothes and came out. The moment she came out, fireworks went off in Fu Ying's mind. This was the style and feeling she wanted.

Fu Ying stepped forward and tied up Chen Lu's long hair slightly, took out a thin strand of hair near her ear, inserted a hairpin, and opened an oil-paper umbrella for her. When she stepped back, her whole temperament was more in line with the style.

Chen Lu looked in the mirror as soon as Fu Ying finished. She was surprised by the effect. Fu Ying was also looking at her.

The sky-blue dress makes Chen Lu look quiet and elegant, and the cross-neckline makes her already fair and slender neck look even longer. Even without makeup, Chen Lu has the temperament of an intellectual and elegant lady from ancient times.

"Wow! This dress is so beautiful!" Chen Lu looked at herself in the mirror carefully. She lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, and the person in the mirror also lifted her skirt slightly. This was a scene she had never imagined.

"Lulu, this dress suits you very well. You will definitely amaze the audience when you go on stage." Chen Lu's mother couldn't help but say.

Fu Ying was also very satisfied. Even if she didn't find a suitable one herself, Chen Lu's one was enough to make a good show.

But she was not too excited, she just spoke with a little hesitation.

"Chen Lu, this dress is nice, but you won't be able to wear it after the performance. I don't know how much it costs. If it's too expensive, it's like spending a lot of money on a disposable item."

After Fu Ying finished speaking, she looked at Chen Lu's mother, hoping that she understood what she meant.

"Ah, but we haven't seen anything more suitable. Isn't this one great?" Chen Lu wondered.

Fu Ying quickly pulled Chen Lu, shouting in her heart, "Sister, stop ruining my show!"

Fortunately, Chen Lu’s mother is experienced and understands what Fu Ying means.

"Yes, Lulu, your classmate is right. Although you have to spend your own pocket money to buy it, Mom knows that it is not easy for you to save some money. Let's take a look at the price first and buy it if it is suitable. If it is not suitable, we can just wear the school uniform to perform, and the school will definitely not say anything."

Chen Lu was about to speak when Fu Ying tugged at her sleeve again and she stopped talking.

A lady who was not sure whether she was the store manager or the boss came over to answer the call.

"Oh, don't worry, our clothes are definitely of good quality and not expensive. Nowadays, many clothes are made by machines, but our ancient costumes are handmade, which is very rare.

Sister, don't worry. After your daughter's school anniversary performance, she can wear it when traveling to places like Jinli or the Forbidden City. It will be very nice to take photos. I will definitely not let you wear it only once and then throw it away."

"No matter how beautiful it is, you can't wear the same outfit every day. Just tell me how much it costs. I'll check it for my daughter first."

Mothers are the best at bargaining and won’t let the boss talk them into paying the bill just because of a few words.

"Look, our ancient costumes are all a set, otherwise they wouldn't look so good, this kind of clothes is most popular among little girls.

We meet by chance today. I am very happy to see your daughter dressed so beautifully. Such a pretty little fairy is like a living advertisement.

How about this, originally the whole set costs 500 yuan, and this coat alone costs more than 100 yuan. Since you want the whole set, I will give it to you at the cheapest price, 350 yuan. This is the cheapest on the whole street. You can go ask if there is any cheaper than mine with the same quality on this street!"

Chen Lu’s mother started bargaining.

"Madam boss, I'm telling you sincerely, you can tell, we are not locals, we are from Jiucheng, we are all from the same hometown. My husband and I often go to Rongcheng for business. This time we brought our two children to buy clothes. My husband went to park the car.

We are not tourists who know nothing. Tourists buy things in Jinli. Don’t quote me the tourist price. It’s not that expensive.”

Chen Lu's mother introduced herself, and the boss lady also answered with a smile,

"Oh, so you are from Jiucheng. I was wondering why your accent sounds so much like that. You are indeed from the same hometown. My hometown is not far from Jiucheng, too. It's very close.

How about this, for the sake of being from the same hometown, can you make it 50 yuan cheaper, yuan, yuan? If it’s any lower, I’ll lose money, I can’t even get this price for the goods.”

"Hey, boss lady, you are selling the goods. I thought you had a professional craftsman who made them yourself and sold them?"

Fu Ying pretended not to understand and asked the boss. In her heart, she was thinking that since they were selling the goods, the price could be negotiated, and the boss would make money if the price was reduced to 200.

Chen Lu's mother immediately responded.

"Oh, fellow villager, so you also go to the factory to get the goods. Then this price is not honest enough. People say that when fellow villagers meet, their eyes are filled with tears. You can't quote a higher price just because I am from the same village!"

"Oh, how can that be possible? I'm really being honest. I'll give you another 10 bucks off. I'll sell this piece to you even if it costs me 10 bucks. How do you think?"

"Boss, my daughter is going to wear this for her school's anniversary performance. If it works well, her school will definitely ask us if they need to buy clothes in the future. We will definitely recommend your store, right? You need to offer a lower price."

The boss pretended to be hesitant, gritted his teeth,

"250, round it up to an even number. Take a look and if it's suitable, I'll pack it for you right away. Girl, remember to recommend my store later. My store has been open on Shuyuan Street for more than ten years. It's a time-honored brand and is absolutely reliable."

Fu Ying and Chen Lu listened to the two adults bargaining while checking the clothes. Fu Ying mainly looked at the stitching to see if there was anything inappropriate because it would be too late to change them when she returned.

Chen Lu whispered about the bargaining between the two people, saying that her mother loved bargaining with the boss when buying clothes.

Fu Ying smiled and said of course she wanted it. She was also good at bargaining. Otherwise, it would be a big rip-off to buy such expensive clothes that she would not know how many times she would wear.

Chen Lu's mother was hesitant and seemed to agree to the price. Fu Ying felt that there was still room for lowering the price, so she could only interrupt to see if she could help save some more money.

"Then why not 230? 250 doesn't sound good. If our classmates ask us how much we paid for it and we say 250, we'll be laughed at! 240 is unlucky, so 230 is more suitable."

Chen Lu's mother also understands,

"Yes, 230 is the most suitable. It is a round number and sounds good."

The lady boss refused bitterly.

"Sister, this won't do. I'm really losing money. I'm losing tens of dollars on this piece of clothing. If I lose money on every piece of clothing, I really can't keep my store open!"

"Hey, she said she finally found something suitable. My daughter finally saved up two hundred dollars, and I was thinking of paying the remaining thirty myself. I guess forget it."

Then she immediately said to Chen Lu,

"Lulu, take it off. Let's look at other stores. You should save as much money as possible."

Chen Lu obediently prepared to go into the fitting room to take off her clothes, and Fu Ying pretended to help her.

"Hey, hey, hey, alright, alright, since this little sister is so sensible and uses her own pocket money, I'll give it to her even at a loss, just this one order!

Two student sisters, please remember to help me promote me to your school. I have a lot of choices here. If a group of people come to buy together, I will definitely give you a fair price. "

Fu Ying and her husband nodded obediently, and Chen Lu's mother happily took out the money.

Fu Ying asked Chen Lu,

"Do you want to continue wearing these clothes while shopping, or change back into your own clothes?"

Chen Lu was a little confused.

"Ah, is it inappropriate for me to go out dressed like this? It's weird, isn't it?"

"It's not strange. Think about it, we are tourists. Isn't it normal for tourists to wear ancient costumes to visit this kind of old street? I asked because I was worried that you would be cold. This dress looks good but it won't keep you warm."

Chen Lu thought about it and decided to go out like this. If it got cold, she could put on a down jacket outside. Fu Ying looked at her feet. The skirt was long enough, so it was hard to tell what she was wearing underneath. Fu Ying asked her to wear pants to keep warm and look good.

The three of them left the store and next looked for Fu Ying's clothes.

While helping Chen Lu take pictures on the road, Fu Ying suddenly thought, no wonder she always felt that this outfit was a little familiar, isn't this the outfit of Prince Shen in "Journey to the West", the only difference is that Sister Zhao's lining is white, while Chen Lu's is light blue, Fu Ying just didn't remember it at the moment.

This was just an accident. I've already given the money, so let it be.

When they were almost at the end of the street, they entered another store that specialized in cheongsams. They looked like they were handmade, unlike the previous stores that had many styles and repeated colors that were obviously wholesaled. The store was not big, and there were not many clothes, but each one was unique, simple but with a special feeling of tailoring.

Fu Ying was a little worried about her wallet. She hoped that she didn't fancy it and didn't feel that it was the one she wanted. Otherwise, she would still miss it even if she couldn't afford it.

A young lady came over and asked them what type they needed. Since it was Fu Ying who was buying it, she didn't want to spend too much time and told the clerk directly,

"I want a cyan cheongsam with medium-length sleeves, preferably one that matches this fan."

Normally people buy clothes first and then accessories, but it was Fu Ying who found the right fan first.

After listening to her, the young lady went to get the right ones, while Fu Ying and the others took their time to look at them. After a while, she brought five pieces over, and Fu Ying removed the two pieces with too many patterns, leaving three for trial.

In fact, she had already taken a fancy to one of them, but she still tried all three. Influenced by the primacy effect, she still thought that one looked the best.

That was a traditional Republic of China cheongsam, with the right lapel covering the left, reaching a little below the calf, with the slit just above the knee, and the sleeves not too long, about three-quarter length.

Fu Ying changed back into the cheongsam and looked at her empty wrist. The thought of missing a bracelet suddenly crossed her mind.

Chen Lu also thinks this one is the best.

Fu Ying looked in the mirror. Her whole body was green, but if you look closely, you can see dark patterns of white flowers, which makes her look low-key and luxurious. She waved the fan in her hand slightly, and the style of the Republic of China came to her face.

Fu Ying, who is in her second year of high school, has basically completed her growth. Her height has increased by 10 centimeters, and she looks even taller in this cheongsam. Although her frame is a little bigger, it makes her look more curvy. What's rare is that this cheongsam fits her perfectly but is not tight.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is Fu Ying’s dream cheongsam.