Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 043

Chapter 43: Promotion

An Zhi wore the latest Shu brocade dress, a water-smoke colored skirt embroidered with lotus flowers. She was going to visit the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion. Today was the birthday of Li Wan, the eldest daughter of Li Sihui’s elder brother and Madam An’s nominal granddaughter.

She wore Shu brocade so that she could go out and promote herself.

Binglu handed the pearl earrings to her young lady and praised her, “Miss, you are becoming more and more beautiful. The Shu brocade is expensive but not gaudy, which perfectly reflects your temperament.”

An Zhi was also very satisfied with her clothes. They were beautiful and looked expensive, but not tacky. They were most suitable for those ladies who loved to show off their knowledge of culture.

The noble ladies in the capital were well fed and well-dressed. Apart from the household chores in the inner courtyard, they generally had plenty of time to kill. Some went to the theatre, some learned women’s crafts, and most of them talked about food and clothing. Rich people inevitably loved to compare.

“Let’s go. It’s time to pay our respects to the Madam.” After putting on her earrings, An Zhi looked at her flawless makeup in the bronze mirror, then stood up and walked out with satisfaction.

When they arrived at the main room, Xi’er was fanning Meng Jie. It was just the beginning of summer, so the room was not too hot.

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“I also received Li Wan’s invitation.” Meng Jie rubbed her temple with one hand. “But I have a headache today, so I won’t go with you. Please help me send the gift.”

It was just an ordinary birthday for the youngest daughter, and there was no big banquet to entertain guests. It was just an excuse to get everyone together on the occasion of the birthday, so it didn’t matter much whether Meng Jie went or not.

An Zhi said yes, and then said with concern: “If Madam feels unwell, please go see a doctor, otherwise Father will be very distressed.”

Meng Jie sneered, “You’re not that delicate. You should get out of here soon. It won’t be good if you’re late.”

An Zhi said yes and took Binglu out of the main house.

When she almost reached the door, Pei Yu was already waiting for her wearing a mask.

After getting on the carriage, An Zhi was in no hurry to leave. She first instructed Pei Yu, “Once we get to Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, follow the driver and do whatever he says. Don’t move around without permission.”

Through the black mask, An Zhi could only see Pei Yu’s slightly ferocious eyes. This must be something he didn’t want to do, but he brought this upon himself.

She didn’t know at this moment that Pei Yu was stunned just now because he was amazed by her dress today, and didn’t think about whether he would be harassed when he arrived at the Marquis Mansion.

In the carriage, An Zhi leaned against the cushions and closed her eyes to rest. She would have to stay alert to fight when she got to the Weiyuan Marquis’ residence.

In fact, her relationship with Li Wan was just average, and one could even say that they disliked each other a little. It was only because of Madam An that the two families interacted with each other, and it was all a formality.

After arriving at Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, An Zhi first went to pay her respects to Madam An, and then met Madam Yun, the first wife of the Li family, before going to the reception room to meet Li Wan.

Li Wan was dressed in light red today. She looked like Yun, with an oval face and cherry lips. She was a pretty beauty, and the ladies around her were all praising her beauty.

A fourteen-year-old girl naturally likes to hear nice words. Li Wan was in a good mood after being praised. She said a few polite words. Then she heard someone shout “Ah”. Everyone turned around to look for someone, and finally stopped at An Zhi who came in.

“She looks so beautiful today.” A lady standing next to Li Wan praised.

Li Wan also looked at An Zhi. Her cousin was indeed beautiful, and she couldn’t help but tighten the handkerchief in her hand.

Lin Shuyao and Hao Dongmei, who were in the pavilion not far away, both glared at An Zhi.

“Sister Lin, she is dressed so beautifully today. Isn’t this stealing the show?” Hao Dongmei deliberately provoked the conversation, speaking loudly so that everyone around could hear.

Lin Shuyao did not respond to Hao Dongmei’s words. She did not want to be used as a tool by Hao Dongmei, but she was also cursing An Zhi as a vixen in her heart.

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All An Zhi wanted was for everyone to notice her outfit. She smiled and greeted Li Wan, “Wanwan, you look so beautiful today.”

“It’s not as good as my cousin’s.” Li Wan said politely, “Why haven’t I seen this kind of fabric and style before?”

An Zhixin thought, here it comes.

“It was made by a new shop that I discovered by chance. I think it’s very beautiful. It uses Shu brocade, a specialty brocade from Bashu. I thought it was beautiful, so I made two new sets of clothes and gave them to you, Wanwan, as a birthday gift.” An Zhi was very familiar with speaking politely.

When Li Wan heard that An Zhi had prepared one for her as well, her initial unhappiness was mostly relieved. She pulled An Zhi aside and talked to her for a few words, but stopped talking when she saw Li Sihui coming.

Li Sihui was Li Wan’s aunt, but she was four years younger than Li Wan. Most of the time, she had to give in to Li Wan because Li Wan’s father inherited the title and she was just a younger aunt.

“Hello, Auntie.” Li Wan and Li Sihui smiled but did not bow. “Since Auntie is here, you and Cousin should chat more. I will go and greet the other guests.”

Li Sihui nodded, and after Li Wan left, she cursed her softly for being fake, and was then patted on the shoulder by An Zhi.

An Zhi saw that many people were still looking at her. She was afraid that Li Sihui’s words would be heard by others, so she hurriedly reminded this ancestor not to talk nonsense.

Li Sihui pouted. She just couldn’t stand Li Wan’s fake look. But with so many people coming today, she couldn’t really cause trouble. Instead, she praised An Zhi’s beauty. “Cousin, your dress is so beautiful. I’ve never seen such beautiful silk before. It must have cost a lot of money, right?”

“Not bad.” An Zhi did her silk business not under her own name, but under the identity of Master An. Even to Li Sihui, she couldn’t tell the truth at this moment. She repeated what she had said to Li Wan and said, “I’ve also prepared two pieces of Shu brocade for you. They’re all in your favorite colors. You can have them cut and made into new clothes.”

It was definitely not enough for An Zhi to wear it for promotion alone, so she gave it to Li Sihui and Li Wan to ask them to help with the promotion.

“Then I thank you, cousin.” Li Sihui looked at An Zhi with a smile and paused, “But, where did you get these clothes tailored?”

“It’s a new shop called Shuiyun Studio.” An Zhi’s Shuiyun Studio already had a sign hanging, just waiting to officially open in two days. “You can go back in a few days. They’ve just finished decorating it, so many things aren’t ready yet.”

“Okay, I’ll go to Shuiyun Studio to make new clothes when the time comes. It’s summer now and my mother also wants to make clothes for me.” Li Sihui said with a smile.

At this time, several other girls came to inquire about An Zhi’s clothes. For the sake of her store performance, An Zhi patiently and kindly promoted them over and over again.

By the time she sat down at her table at noon, her throat felt a little uncomfortable.

After lunch, An Zhi was pulled by Li Sihui to her courtyard.

Arriving at the quiet courtyard, Li Sihui patted her face and said, “I’m so tired! My face is almost frozen from smiling. If my mother hadn’t told me to sit in the front, I wouldn’t want to support Li Wan.”

“She is your niece after all. If you have a bad temper, my aunt will be easily gossiped about.” An Zhi sighed. It was said that being a stepmother was difficult. This was the truth. Madam An was younger than the current Marquis Weiyuan. How could she make her step-son and step-daughter truly convinced, not to mention the step-granddaughter who was another level away.

Li Sihui also knew this, so she suppressed her displeasure and went, “You saw it today. Although Li Wan called me aunt, she didn’t show any courtesy at all. She used to be blind to others, and now she’s even more arrogant.”

“Why?” An Zhi asked.