AWB Chapter 217 [Empire] Clothing Shop
Chapter 217 [Empire] Clothing Shop
In the middle of the shop stood a simple counter, also made of worn wooden boards, on which lay some needles, thread, scissors and other tools. Behind the counter stood an elderly shopkeeper, his face weathered and his eyes revealing a hint of fatigue.
The coarse cloth clothing was crudely made. The fabric was stiff and prickly to the touch. The tailoring was also crude, with crooked lines and even frayed edges in some places. The stitching was uneven, tight in some places and sparse in others. The colors were mostly a single gray or khaki, devoid of any decoration or pattern.
A young boy beside me hurriedly put down his needlework and stood up to greet me. His face still held a childish air, but his eyes revealed a hint of understanding and cleverness. His small figure seemed a little thin in this simple clothing store.
I thought the clothes in this shop were simple enough, but when I saw what the boy was wearing, I couldn't help but be silent. The clothes he was wearing were covered in patches, which was indeed a bit too much.
The patches were of various colors, some dark grey, some light brown, making it almost impossible to tell the original color of the fabric. The patches were of various colors, some darker, some lighter, and of irregular shapes. Some had been mended many times, with dense stitches.
The boy seemed to notice my gaze, he lowered his head a little embarrassedly, and gently tugged at the corner of his clothes. A hint of shyness and embarrassment flashed in his eyes.
In comparison, those clothes that I thought were crudely made can indeed be considered presentable products.
My gaze shifted from the boy's patched clothes to the coarse men's clothing hanging on the wall and displayed on the counter. I began to choose for Bai Zhi. Looking at the somewhat crudely made clothes, I imagined how Bai Zhi would look in them. I carefully selected, trying to choose something relatively simple and elegant.
The boy watched me choose clothes and asked softly, "Sir, are you buying with money or exchanging fabrics?"
The boy's inquiry seemed a bit anxious. Looking at his serious expression, I seemed to understand that in this not-so-rich place, every transaction was particularly important.
I gently pulled at the fabric of the clothes, feeling its thickness and toughness.
I stood at the counter, looking at the boy's expectant eyes, feeling a little helpless. Naturally, I could only pay with cowrie shells. I didn't really have anything like cloth. I handed the cowrie shells to the boy, who took them carefully and counted them meticulously.
When we got home, Bai Zhi didn't take the clothes from my hands. He stared at the clothes that were torn when I was injured and started crying.
He cried pitifully, his tall, thin body trembling slightly. His nose twitched, the tip of his nose turning a deep red. The tips of his large, furry ears trembled slightly, like two young leaves swaying in the wind, fragile yet pitiable. Tears fell like beads from a broken string, wetting his face and dripping onto the ground.
Seeing him like this, I felt helpless. I reached out and gently stroked his head, trying to comfort him. The soft hair slid through my fingertips, bringing a hint of warmth.
I whispered, "Don't cry, I'm really fine. I'll be careful next time. Be obedient."