The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 102: Another Cloth Shop

Chapter 102: Another Cloth Shop

The prices at this shop were a mixed bag, with most fabrics coming at a more affordable cost and a few being surprisingly expensive. However, the shop’s overall selection was rather disappointing when it came to high-quality clothing compared to the only other clothing store in Yilin town.

Xu Feng meticulously examined the ready-made clothing and the materials. He was in the dark on the number of servants Jie would be bringing back, their genders, or their ages. These important details had never been discussed with Xuan Yang or Xuan Jian.

Even if Jie had a knack for judging character, Xu Feng was concerned about how many servants a young master might deem necessary for an entire estate. Especially one they would be living at for the winter...until he had a bun in the oven. Who knew how long that would take?

Without knowing the key information, he decided to purchase a small number of ready-made clothing in simple styles suitable for both men and gers. He added a few items for women, totaling ten outfits in all. He didn’t buy any for children, not knowing if there would be any children among the new residents of Nanshan estate.

He chose larger sizes not just because they were in the north, it would be easier to tailor clothes that were slightly too big than to accommodate smaller sizes.

While Xu Feng had hoped to have a ready-made outfit for each of the new servants on their arrival, he had to make do with purchasing fabric to create the garments as quickly as possible.

Each person would need more than one outfit, Xu Feng was a modern man who understood the necessity of good hygiene, and he didn’t want to live with a bunch of smelly people.

The pre-made clothes were extremely expensive in comparison, with a single basic outfit costing eleven to fifteen taels of silver for simple cotton material, while the fabric to make the same outfit could be purchased for around three taels of silver. Even with the thicker winter cloth and choosing more durable cloth, the difference in cost felt like daylight robbery.

Xu Feng, the "demure" and beautiful ger, ugly ger if being judged based on his height, found himself fully absorbed in the haggling process with the store attendant.

Despite his ethereal appearance, his determination and shrewdness were on full display as he negotiated prices, not allowing his gentle facade to mask his powerful bargaining skills.

The scene was completely unconventional, as the attendee in the shop observed the usually poised ger, who looked like a pampered young mistress, expertly engaging in the art of haggling.

The sight was fascinating in its own right, a blunt gap to the typical interactions of a high ranking family’s ger.

Xuan Yang, who was typically calm and reserved, couldn’t help but blurt out, "You have enough money," as he watched the haggling process. This impulsive comment earned him a glare from Xu Feng that could chill even the warmest hearts.

Xuan Yang quickly looked to Xuan Jian for support, both of them struck by the icy intensity in Xu Feng’s gaze. They wisely chose not to interfere anymore.

The only reason Xuan Yang had attempted to interrupt the clearly absorbed ger was that they had already spent a significant amount of time in the cloth store.

Xu Feng’s thoroughness had surpassed their expectations. If they didn’t divide and conquer, Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian might not have time to complete their own errands before the sunset.

With the decision to divide and conquer made, Xuan Yang and Xuan Jian nodded in agreement, ready to tackle their own errands. So far, Erlang had proven to be a dependable presence throughout the morning, and this gave them some reassurance.

While they discussed their plan in the corner, Xu Feng continued with his meticulous shopping. Oblivious to the internal struggles of the two men behind him, he skillfully haggled to secure each ready-made cloth, inner clothes included, for 12 taels of silver, thanks to the large quantity of goods he was purchasing in total.

His shopping list included enough fabric to create two complete sets of clothing for ten individuals, along with padded winter coats. He also stocked up on cotton padding for the coats, sourced from the loot acquired from Auntie Lifen and Auntie Lan’s failed attempt to steal it.

In addition to this, Xu Feng purchased materials to make two pairs of winter shoes for ten new servants, as well as the three children and himself. He needed to go with the store attendants’ recommendations for these.

Although he lacked confidence in making shoes, he was determined to do so. However, if the need arose, he would consider hiring a skilled villager for assistance, even though he didn’t know anyone personally. His goal was to be frugal where possible and it would be better to put money in the villagers’ hands than to be wasteful.

With a comprehensive list in mind, Xu Feng got sufficient material to create five new blankets, the remainder would be crafted using the stockpile of materials hoarded by Auntie Lifen and Auntie Lan. The expenses added up, and Xu Feng knew he was investing a huge sum in these purchases.

Even with the expenses running high, Xu Feng believed that it was important for him to make sure that everyone under his care had the basic necessities – clothes to wear, food to eat, and shelter.

He also had to consider the changing seasons; another round of preparations would be needed in the spring to provide everyone with weather-appropriate clothing.

Being the master of an estate was indeed hard work.

One thing that thrilled Xu Feng was the selection of uniforms he’d made. The colors he’d chosen for the clothing and shoes were all shades of blue, creating a unified and uniform appearance for the incoming servants.

The three children, however, would have distinct outfits, allowing them to stand out. Even so, the newcomers would receive well-crafted, vibrant clothing that offered both durability and comfort.

As he looked over the items that would be delivered to the mansion from the cloth shop that afternoon, the silver-haired ger couldn’t help but acknowledge the reality of his spending problem. Maybe he should have chosen cheaper fabric.

In the cloth shop alone, in one afternoon, the silver haired ger had spent a total of 280 taels of silver.