Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 154 Noble Women
Xi Yaoer is going to follow Xiong Guiyuan to attend an afternoon tea party among aristocratic ladies.

Xi Yaoer came to the upper city to see Xiong Guiyuan today. She was wearing a new dress that she had made herself, but it still did not pass Xiong Guiyuan's standards, so she asked her maid to go out and buy a new cheongsam.

You can tell whether something is good or not by just wearing it.

Standing in front of the mirror, Xi Yaoer touched the material on her body and felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

Both the material and the workmanship were completely different from the one he had before.

She didn't ask the price, she didn't dare to ask, and it would only make her depressed.

The maid helped Xiyaoer to tie her hair up, and Xiong Guiyuan picked out a simple and elegant hairpin and put it on Xiyaoer.

Xiong Guiyuan explained carefully, "These noble ladies may appear cheerful and cheerful on the surface, but they're actually quite scheming. It's best not to be too flamboyant when you first meet them, or they'll accuse you of showing off. So even when it comes to your attire, you need to be careful."

Xi Yaoer responded softly: "Yeah."

Xiong Guiyuan said, "Try it on to see if it fits."

The maid brought the high heels and knelt down to help Xiyao put them on.

Xiong Guiyuan continued, "You have no experience, so it's inevitable that you're not used to this kind of situation. Let me teach you a trick."

"Listen more, talk less, don't interrupt. If someone talks to you, reply with a smile. Keep your demeanor up, and others will naturally look up to you."

Xiyaoer stood up and took two steps. When she turned around, Xiong Guiyuan had already taken out three velvet boxes and handed them to her.

"There are three people coming today."

"Liujintang Jewelry Store, Fancheng Branch Owner, Zhou Yazhen."

"Li Wanshu, granddaughter of the great scholar Li Mao."

"Maritime Administration Port Management Section, Section Chief's wife, Ke Mengyang."

Xiong Guiyuan opened the three boxes one by one and introduced them.

"Zhou Yazhen has seen a lot of gold, silver, and jewelry, so she doesn't appreciate these. Instead, she has a special liking for rare and uncommon items. Therefore, this peep show that can be played with at any time is the most suitable gift for meeting her."

Xi Yaoer took it and looked at it.

This is a palm-sized square box with a wooden body, decorated with exquisite jewel inlays. There is a hole in the middle for the eyes to look through, and a pick next to it.

Xi Yaoer leaned closer and saw that the box contained a vivid natural landscape, but it was in black and white.

Xiong Guiyuan helped her press the dial, and the scene in front of Xiyaoer's eyes flashed and turned into another scene.

She was amazed: "Such a small object can be a world of its own?"

Xiong Guiyuan smiled and said, "It's not surprising. I just put a few photos in there, using the principle of a magnifying glass... Never mind. Just remember that this is for Zhou Yazhen."

Xi Yaoer was a little reluctant to let go, and carefully stroked the peep show: "This must be very valuable."

Xiong Guiyuan stopped explaining and opened the second box. "This is for Li Wanshu. Influenced by her grandfather, Li Wanshu is good at calligraphy and considers herself noble and cultured, so giving her this pen is exactly what she likes."

Fountain pens are not uncommon, and Xiyao couldn't tell the value of the one in front of her, so she nodded and passed it by.

Xiong Guiyuan opened the third box and said, "The last one is Ke Mengyang. This woman is actually the easiest to deal with. As long as it's valuable, she will accept anything."

Inside the box was a beautiful diamond necklace.

Xi Yaoer swallowed her saliva, her voice dry: "These... are all given to me as a gift. Isn't it too expensive?"

Xiong Guiyuan replied, "I'm a businessman. What I spend on you today, I can earn back from Father Feng later."

These words were neither pretentious nor arrogant, but made Xi Yaoer feel much better.

……

After packing up, the two of them left on time. "Whose house are we going to today?"

In the carriage, Xi Yaoer started to ask.

Xiong Guiyuan smiled and replied, "It's not anyone's house. We're gathering outside today."

"Mei Xiang Dim Sum House."

Hearing a familiar word, Xiyaoer quickly answered: "I know, the last time you sent it -"

Her voice stopped abruptly and she felt embarrassed - the box of pastries was clearly given to Feng Xiuhu by Xiong Guiyuan, but it ended up in her mouth.

Xiong Guiyuan smiled slightly, unconcerned. "It tastes pretty good, right? This dim sum restaurant is very famous in Shangcheng District, and the owner is a friend of mine."

Xi Yaoer asked curiously, "Then this shop must be of very high quality, right?"

Xiong Guiyuan thought for a moment and said, "I can only say it's okay. At most, it's quite stylish, but it's definitely not a luxurious place."

Xi Yaoer didn't understand this. She thought that the place where nobles gathered must be a magnificent place.

Xiong Guiyuan saw her doubts and explained, "Actually, the proprietress of this restaurant is not an ordinary person either."

"Her name is Zheng Sumei, the youngest daughter of the Director of the Education Department. Her status shouldn't have meant she was out in the spotlight doing business, but due to some issues, she fell out with her family and ended up trying to make a living."

"I have a good relationship with her, and many of the noble ladies in the city are also familiar with her, so I often come to take care of the business. Of course, her dim sum skills are also very good, so the business is booming."

Xi Yaoer nodded thoughtfully, it turned out that the noble man also had troubles.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the destination.

Xiyaoer took a few deep breaths, reviewed the etiquette taught by Xiong Guiyuan in her mind, and then got out of the car with a serious expression.

What comes into view is a two-story red brick building in Western style, located on a street shaded by maple trees.

There is a small garden in front of the shop and a terrace on the second floor with a round table and armchairs in the middle, with a few guests sitting here and there.

Xiyaoer sniffed, and the air was filled with the aroma of cream.

In the garden, a guest at one of the tables stood up and waved over: "Yuanyuan!"

Xiong Guiyuan smiled and waved in response, then whispered to Xiyaoer, "This is Ke Mengyang. The one reading on her left is Li Wanshu, and the one looking in the mirror on her right is Zhou Yazhen."

"Ke Mengyang isn't a shrewd person, but because her husband is a powerful official in the Maritime Affairs Bureau, everyone is happy to flatter her."

Xiong Guiyuan took Xiyao'er's arm and walked over with her smiling.

Inside the shop, Zheng Sumei, who was wearing an apron and gloves and was obviously the owner, came out and greeted Xiong Guiyuan with a smile: "Guiyuan, you came at the right time. I have researched a few new dim sum and brought them to you to try."

Xiong Guiyuan joked, "If it doesn't taste good, I won't show any mercy."

Zheng Sumei glanced at her and said, "Just wait."

Xi Yaoer followed Xiong Guiyuan's instructions, listened more, watched more, and didn't interrupt.

She noticed the difference between Zheng Sumei and the other noble ladies present.

Zheng Sumei wore no makeup on her face, and her temperament was not aristocratic—to put it bluntly, she looked older.

"Whose lady is this? She looks unfamiliar."

A voice from the side interrupted Xi Yaoer's thoughts.

PS: Many things are secret to the outside world, but in the right circle, they are just topics of conversation.

　Continue to ask for monthly tickets.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)