allonlinenovel Chapter 339 Changing into Liao Attire
Chapter 339 Changing into Liao Attire
After chatting with Gu Mochen, the Liao merchants, who had initially been eager to travel, suddenly found their haste fading on the boundless grasslands. Now, some sat, some stood, and the horses leisurely grazed on the tender grass. The older Liao merchant, tall and robust, his face etched with the marks of time, yet his eyes shone with a bold and enthusiastic spirit. He squinted slightly at the imposing Gu Mochen beside him and asked, "Brother, the sun is getting high; traveling any further isn't feasible. Would you be willing to travel with us?" He then smiled, revealing a set of teeth, slightly yellowed by the wind and sand but still perfectly aligned, his smile brimming with sincerity.
Upon hearing this, Gu Mochen's face lit up with a perfectly timed smile, a smile as warm and gentle as the spring sun. He calmly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said loudly, "That would be more than I could ask for! Thank you, brother!" His words exuded elegance, and his appearance at this moment convinced the Liao merchant that he was about thirty years old. Moreover, Gu Mochen looked handsome and possessed an extraordinary air, leading the Liao merchant to guess that he was no ordinary person.
The Liao merchant chuckled, patted Gu Mochen on the shoulder, and said, "My name is Yelü Fengqi. We Liao merchants have been traveling back and forth across this desert for many years, so we've seen quite a bit. Yesterday, my son, Yelü Churan, saw how beautiful your wife was and lost his composure for a moment. I'm truly sorry." He paused, a hint of helplessness and affection on his face, and continued, "He's probably still wondering why you, who look about his age, have such a composed demeanor, hahaha!"
Gu Mochen's lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes filled with love and pride for his wife. He replied with a smile, "My name is Gu Changfeng, and my wife's beauty is renowned in our area. I won't get angry if others glance at her a few more times, because she is and can only be my wife, that's beyond question." He tilted his head slightly, looking at his wife who was talking softly with Bai Zhi Fuling not far away, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.
“Brother, since we’re planning to travel together, why don’t we dress up as Liao merchants for convenience? Do you have any spare clothes you can lend us?” Gu Mochen withdrew his gaze and looked at Yelü Fengqi again, his eyes filled with inquiry.
Upon hearing this, Yelü Fengqi's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had been drawn to something. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his smile became even more radiant, like a blooming flower.
He said excitedly, "Hey, you know what, I actually have some! We went to the market to sell clothes a few days ago, but business wasn't great, and we didn't sell them all. We still have a dozen or so sets left. There are so many styles of clothes, all kinds of patterns and colors, and the materials are all pretty good. I guarantee you'll like them. Just pick whatever you like, don't be shy! Oh, and I also have some simple accessories that we didn't sell before. You can take a look at those too, maybe you'll find something you like."
After saying this, Yelü Fengqi turned and strode towards the caravan behind him. As he walked, he shouted loudly to several young men, telling them to quickly bring out the clothes and ornaments so that everyone could choose.
A moment later, several shop assistants returned carrying a large stack of clothes and several boxes, placing the items in front of everyone. Gu Mochen squatted down and carefully examined the clothes. As Yelü Fengqi had said, the clothes were indeed exquisite. There were long robes embroidered with intricate patterns, the designs delicate and lifelike, as if every stitch told the story of the craftsman's painstaking effort; there were also lightweight short garments, the fabric soft and comfortable to the touch. The colors were vibrant, including bright red, deep blue, and bright yellow, shimmering with a captivating luster under the sunlight. There were also garments with both civil and military sleeves, convenient for changing temperatures.
Ye Qingchen walked over slowly, her figure graceful and her steps light. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes when she saw the clothes. She gently picked up a light blue robe embroidered with white clouds, as if wearing the purity of the sky. She held the robe up to herself, then turned to Gu Mochen, her eyes questioning. Gu Mochen smiled and nodded, saying, "Madam has excellent taste; this suits you very well."
Then, Gu Mochen also chose a black robe, embroidered with gold thread that shimmered in the sunlight, appearing both understated and luxurious. He stood up, unfolded the robe, put it on, and fastened the belt. Instantly, his entire demeanor changed, transforming from a refined gentleman into one with the bold and unrestrained air of a Liao merchant.
While everyone was choosing clothes, Yelü Fengqi stood to the side, a smile on his face, occasionally introducing the features and origins of the garments. He said, "This red robe was brought from the Western Regions; the craftsmanship is rarely seen here. And this necklace is made with gemstones unique to the depths of the desert; it looks beautiful on you." For a moment, the group thought everything was lovely and simply bought them all, but asked Yelü Fengqi to keep them for now, so they could change them as needed.
In exchange, Gu Mochen, considering the practicality of his own tent, decided to give Yelü Fengqi a set. He went to his luggage and took out the exquisite tent. The tent was cleverly designed, easy to assemble and disassemble, and very sturdy, capable of withstanding the sandstorms of the desert and grasslands. Gu Mochen handed the tent to Yelü Fengqi, saying, "Brother, this tent is for you. A good tent is always convenient when you're traveling. And this set of headdress—my wife said she took so many of your clothes, I'm sorry. This set of gold headdress is from the Han people; it's very exquisitely made. Brother, take it home and give it to your sister-in-law or daughter; it would be quite nice."
Yelü Fengqi looked at the tent before him, his eyes filled with surprise and gratitude. He took the tent and examined it carefully, repeatedly saying, "Oh, brother, you're too kind. We stayed in this tent for the night, and it's clearly not ordinary. Thank you so much! I've seen this headdress before; the gold thread weaving is exquisite and truly beautiful. I saw a set before, but it would cost at least a thousand taels of silver. This is a bit too expensive!"
Gu Mochen smiled and said, "We'll be troubling you for many days, so consider this extra as a guide fee." He then took out some snacks from his luggage, which had been carefully prepared before departure and were packaged in an exquisite box. He handed the snacks to Yelü Fengqi and said, "These snacks are also a small token of my appreciation. You can eat them if you get hungry on the road."
Yelü Fengqi quickly accepted the gift, saying with gratitude, "Brother, your character and conduct are truly impeccable. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know!"
Sunlight streamed down on everyone as the Liao merchants and Gu Mochen's group sat together, sharing snacks and discussing their upcoming itinerary. Smiles radiated from their faces; the two groups, initially strangers, were gradually growing closer through this serendipitous encounter.