Chapter 29

Chapter 29

But Jiang Yiyan also knew that at this gathering, she would be representing Wen Mochuan's reputation. No matter what, she couldn't dress as casually as she would at home, wearing clothes that cost only a few hundred.

It wasn't about competing with others, but in such settings, even if you didn't compare yourself to others, they would still look at you through the lens of comparison. She understood the principle of dressing appropriately for the occasion.

Therefore, to consider Wen Mochuan's status and reputation, Jiang Yiyan felt that the outfit she wore to the event should be something presentable.

However, if she continued to wear these high-end brands, there was no need to buy anything new. Any dress from her closet would do; why waste money unnecessarily?

After some hesitation, Jiang Yiyan shook her head and declined: "Never mind, let's not buy anything." She explained to Wen Mochuan, "There are so many clothes at home; I'll just choose something suitable for the occasion."

The current wife had not only changed her style but also her spending habits.

Wen Mochuan looked at her, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses deep and intriguing.

"Given your recent outfits seem different from before, are you sure you want to wear one of your old dresses to the event?" Wen Mochuan asked straightforwardly.

Jiang Yiyan fell silent for a moment.

Indeed, her style was completely different from the original body's. Although the closet was filled with designer clothes, how many actually suited her taste?

Suddenly, she thought of those short, glittery tube dresses or the figure-hugging skirts with high slits.

"In that case, let's keep looking," Jiang Yiyan conceded almost immediately.

Wen Mochuan watched her, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. But it was fleeting, almost imperceptible.

Jiang Yiyan suddenly remembered something. Recently, while browsing online, she came across a recommendation for a qipao shop on a social media platform. She had a fondness for traditional aesthetics and naturally liked qipaos, so she paid special attention.

The qipao shop claimed to have a family tradition dating back to the Republican era. Passed down through generations, it had reached its fourth generation.

This family-run qipao shop had a loyal customer base. Even if they went now, they might not find something both satisfactory and fitting. Moreover, the prices were likely not cheap.

But with Wen Mochuan, money wasn't an issue.

She recalled noting the address when she first saw it: No. 143 Zhongshan Road.

With that in mind, Jiang Yiyan immediately said, "I know of a qipao shop nearby. Why don't we check it out?"

Wen Mochuan had no objections and agreed promptly.

Jiang Yiyan took out her phone and opened the navigation app. Meanwhile, Wen Mochuan picked up their daughter, and the three of them followed the directions out of the mall and eventually found No. 143 Zhongshan Road.

It was a rather inconspicuous storefront by the roadside. However, the discerning Wen Mochuan could tell that the furniture inside was expensive, despite its aged appearance. The older the items, the more valuable they seemed to be.

There were also decorative items on the counter and a wall clock hanging on the wall.

But Wen Mochuan remained composed, casting a few glances around before returning his gaze.

Behind the counter stood a man in his early thirties. He was well-dressed, with average looks but exuded a refined and scholarly demeanor. His slightly long hair was neatly combed and tied into a small tail at the back.

Upon seeing the unfamiliar faces, the man politely asked, "Do you have an appointment?"

Wen Mochuan stood behind with their daughter while Jiang Yiyan approached the counter. Since they were already here, Jiang Yiyan shared how she discovered the place and stated their needs.

As Jiang Yiyan spoke, the man listened patiently. Once she finished, he sized her up.

Then he glanced at Wen Mochuan standing behind her.

He smiled.

"Perhaps it's fate that you're here, Madam. You've come at just the right time," he said, stepping out from behind the counter. "A customer recently commissioned a qipao, but then moved abroad with her family and didn't claim it. Others tried it on, but none looked as good in it as the original customer did. So even though people wanted to buy it, I haven't sold it. Meeting you today, I think it might fit you well."

Jiang Yiyan didn't believe this explanation, thinking it was just a sales tactic. If someone else came tomorrow, they'd probably hear the same story.

But the well-versed Wen Mochuan could tell that the man's words were likely genuine.

When the man brought out the qipao from inside, a single glance confirmed Wen Mochuan's suspicions.

Wen Mochuan's mother was a qipao enthusiast, and growing up around her, he had learned to appreciate the nuances of qipao craftsmanship.

Jiang Yiyan, on the other hand, focused more on the design and cut of the qipao.

"Would you like to try it on?" the man asked Jiang Yiyan, then looked at Wen Mochuan.

The qipao in his hands was not cheap, and he could tell that the real purchasing power lay with the gentleman behind the lady.

Wen Mochuan took the qipao from the man, examined it closely, and handed it to his wife.

"Go ahead and try it on. We need to see how it looks on you."

At first glance, Jiang Yiyan liked the qipao. Of course, liking something didn't guarantee it would suit her; it needed to fit properly.

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

Jiang Yiyan took the qipao into the fitting room. Wen Mochuan bent down and set their daughter on the ground. Meimei sat quietly to the side while Wen Mochuan continued to discreetly observe the shop.

Soon, Jiang Yiyan emerged from the fitting room wearing the qipao.

It seemed tailor-made for her, perfectly matching her body in terms of style and cut. Especially the color, which made her skin appear even fairer and more beautiful.

Only someone with a cool-toned, porcelain complexion could pull off this qipao's color, and Jiang Yiyan had that rare, flawless skin.

Combined with her good figure and striking features, she stood before the two men, drawing their attention.

After admiring herself in the mirror, Jiang Yiyan turned to ask, "What do you think?"

Meimei jumped off the chair first: "My mom looks amazing!"

Wen Mochuan also nodded. "This one suits her." Then he threw the question back at the young man from earlier. "It all depends on whether the boss is willing to sell it."

The young man from before was the owner of this qipao shop and the inheritor of its craftsmanship.

He smiled warmly, his gaze still fixed on Jiang Yiyan, filled with admiration.

"For this qipao, I've finally found someone worthy. Why wouldn't I sell it? Not only will I sell it, but I'll sell it at cost price, without any markup for labor."

"Really?" Jiang Yiyan was surprised, then turned to Wen Mochuan with a hesitant look.

Wen Mochuan didn't respond to the owner's offer; instead, he looked around. There were other qipaos hanging on the walls. Since they were here, buying a few more wouldn't hurt.

He asked, "Are all these ones for sale?"

The owner replied, "Given your husband's wife's temperament, she doesn't suit the ones displayed here. If you like, I can tailor some specifically for her. As long as there's payment, of course." The last part was directed at Wen Mochuan.

Wen Mochuan regarded the owner with an unreadable expression but ultimately agreed without comment.

Jiang Yiyan was still concerned about the price. Before changing back into her own clothes, she asked the owner, "If we're just paying the cost price, how much would it be?"

After the owner named his price, Jiang Yiyan drew in a sharp breath.

However, compared to the clothes in brand stores that could easily cost tens of thousands, this qipao wasn't too expensive.

She genuinely liked this dress, so after a moment's thought, she convinced herself to accept the price.

After changing back into her own clothes and coming out, the owner proactively offered his phone.

"Let's exchange WeChat contacts for easy communication later."

To Jiang Yiyan, this seemed perfectly normal. She had bought one qipao here and pre-ordered several more... She could now be considered a regular customer. Exchanging WeChat contacts would facilitate future interactions.

Without hesitation, she took out her phone and scanned his code.

"A-Dong?" Jiang Yiyan asked. "Is A-Dong the owner's name?"

The owner explained, "A-Dong was my great-grandfather, and both the shop and the craft were passed down from him. My name is Yu Wenlai. 'Wen' stands for culture, and 'Lai' means 'to come and go.'" He gave a formal introduction.

As she listened attentively, Jiang Yiyan added parentheses with the words "Boss Yu" next to the nickname "A-Dong."

After adding each other as friends, Yu Wenlai waved his phone. "For anything in the future, let's communicate via WeChat."

Jiang Yiyan politely responded, "Okay," and thanked him for charging only the cost price for the qipao.

Yu Wenlai said, "I've been in this business for a while, and money isn't the main concern. It's all about fate. Since we have a connection, I'm willing to sell it to you at this price." Without acknowledging Wen Mochuan's presence, he asked Jiang Yiyan for her name. "May I ask for your name?" He tapped his phone screen, indicating that he needed to add a note.

Jiang Yiyan made two affirming sounds, signaling her understanding, and promptly told Boss Yu her full name.

Throughout the entire interaction, Wen Mochuan remained silent, stepping forward only to pay and make a deposit.