Lu Lingyun was enjoying her leisure time, walking back when she met Autumn Lotus coming out. “Young Madam.” Autumn Lotus greeted her with a joyful smile. “Where are you going?” Lu Lingyun asked. “Out shopping.” Autumn Lotus said with a flattering smile, “Young Madam, these past few days I’ve heard that there’s a new thing on the street, called soap, it’s much better than the soapnut in our manor, it leaves a fragrance after washing clothes, let’s go to the street and have a look.” “Alright.” Lu Lingyun had nothing else to do, so it wouldn’t hurt to check out this new thing together. She ordered the Houfu to prepare a carriage and went to the street with Autumn Lotus. Soon, the carriage arrived at East Street. East Street sold the most expensive and best goods in the entire Capital City. Usually, the only people who came here to leisurely stroll were the noble ladies of the Capital. Lu Lingyun and Autumn Lotus got off the carriage, and a new sundry shop packed full of people caught her attention. “That’s it, that shop!” Autumn Lotus excitedly pointed at it. “New Continent Department Store?” Lu Lingyun read the sign aloud. The name was fresh and unique. In this era, most shops were named after the shopkeeper or owner’s surname followed by the industry, for example, Zhao’s Inn, Liu’s Cloth Store, or named after a place, for example, Huzhou Big Wontons, Liuzhou Vermicelli. More elegant ones would use a word like Hall, Pavilion, Building, or Hall, followed by what they sold, for example, Baozhi Hall, Yashu Pavilion, etc. Then there was the most common way, using auspicious words like Gathering Fortune, Gathering Guests, Welcoming Guests, paired with the names of their own restaurants and eateries, there were countless options. Only this New Continent Department Store in front of her caught Lu Lingyun’s eye. She had never seen a name like this before. And looking at the combination of the name, it actually had a bit of the self-service restaurant that Xing Dai Rong had created. “Interesting.” She smiled and went into the shop with Autumn Lotus and her two maids. As soon as they stepped inside, they smelled a faint floral fragrance. The sales clerks surrounded a few brightly dressed ladies, enthusiastically discussing, “It’s this soap, it’s all the rage now, all the famous ladies and noble ladies in the Capital are using it.” “Just rub it lightly, and the stains come off quickly, unlike those soap powders from before, you have to rub them for several times, and they still won’t come off, our expensive silk brocade needs to use this.” “Is it really that good?” Autumn Lotus leaned in and asked. The clerk looked at Autumn Lotus, noticing she was wearing an embroidered satin jacket, a golden hairpin on her head, and a gold bracelet on her wrist, this attire was at least from a wealthy family, even some wealthy families might not be able to afford the satin jacket on her. Because the phrase wearing gold and silver wasn’t just any old weight. Some women from lesser families, or even some head wives of Qingliu officials, might not be able to have everything from head to toe, accessories, jewelry, clothes, shoes, socks, all made of precious materials. Autumn Lotus clearly came from a wealthy family. Immediately, he put aside the other small customers and said to Autumn Lotus with a playful smile, “It’s true, sister, the satin jacket you’re wearing, the kind that’s not easy to rub, use this, rinse it once and rub it, and it’ll be clean.” “You buy this kind with the floral scent, it leaves a fragrance after you use it! One tael of silver for a piece.” After listening, Autumn Lotus turned and looked at Lu Lingyun with joy, “Young Madam, it’s this one!” Lu Lingyun smiled slightly in the back, “Then buy it.” It was a bit expensive, but Lu Lingyun was willing to try new things. Having gotten approval, Autumn Lotus immediately shouted, “Clerk! Pack up ten pieces of this soap for me.”
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