Stockpiling for an Exiled General Through My Store's Back Door

Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Online shopping was a thrill, but unboxing was a wrist-breaking ordeal. Looking at the mountain of packages before her, Hua Buwan felt a budding headache. She did a quick set of stretching and warm-up exercises on the spot before diving into the grand task of organizing.

She set up the newly purchased shelves one by one along one side of her pocket dimension and attached the pre-written labels. Once her future bulk orders arrived, they could all be stored here without taking up space in her supermarket. By the time the shelves were assembled and the goods were neatly arranged, Hua Buwan’s forehead was beaded with sweat from exhaustion.

Three packages remained on the floor. Hua Buwan first opened the electric shaver, plugged it in to charge, and tested it. It worked perfectly. She would give it to Ling Qianjun later.

Next, she checked the smartphone. It was compact and exquisite—perfect for him to keep concealed. She turned it on and inspected it, confirming that all the functions worked normally. Setting it aside for now, she planned to download a full suite of essential apps later. Perhaps she could also apply a screen protector and put on a phone case?

As for the final package, Hua Buwan had assumed it was just some small gadget she had ordered. To her surprise, she pulled out a blue qipao. The vivid shade of blue was breathtaking, giving off the impression that whoever wore it must be a deeply gentle and elegant woman. The qipao wasn’t overly adorned; it featured delicate embroidery of blooming plum blossoms that added a bright splash of color to the dress. Hua Buwan stroked the needlework. The craftsmanship was flawless and natural, making it seem as if the plum blossoms were radiating a real floral scent from the fabric itself.

”Plum blossoms by the wall, blooming alone in the bitter cold. From afar, I know it is not snow, for a subtle fragrance floats on the breeze.”

The dress seemed to have been lightly perfumed, carrying the faint, sweet scent of plum blossoms. Moreover, the material was high-quality silk, incredibly smooth to the touch. Holding the garment in her hands, Hua Buwan simply couldn’t bear to put it down.

The qipao had come packaged in an exquisite gift box. She hadn’t noticed it when she first picked up the dress, but now she spotted a small card lying inside. Picking it up, she realized this was a gift from Wen Erya. Hua Buwan absolutely loved it.

Remembering that she was going to accompany Wen Erya to an auction that afternoon, Hua Buwan instantly understood. She was supposed to wear this! Wen Erya was incredibly thoughtful. Instead of bluntly pointing out that her usual attire of a casual shirt, jeans, and flip-flops was inappropriate, the woman had tactfully mentioned she had prepared a gift for her.

She wondered, ”Will this qipao even fit?”

Always a woman of action, Hua Buwan immediately took the dress into the bathroom to try it on. To her amazement, the qipao seemed tailor-made for her. It wasn’t too loose or too tight, neither too long nor too short. It fit perfectly!

”Wen Erya’s eye is incredibly sharp! She’s only seen me once, yet she knows my exact clothing size?” Hua Buwan murmured, realizing the woman was truly a master in disguise.

It was only later that Hua Buwan would learn that Wen Erya had apprenticed under a master qipao tailor in her youth. Her eyes had been trained to act like rulers, able to determine a person’s exact measurements with just a single glance.

Now that the outfit was ready, she just needed a hairpiece and shoes. Hua Buwan didn’t plan to bother Wen Erya for these; she would provide them herself. As for hair accessories, Ling Qianjun had coincidentally gifted her quite a few recently. She picked out a piece that complemented the qipao to wear that afternoon. For shoes, she decided to wear the designer high heels she had bought when she was a bridesmaid for her best friend. They certainly wouldn’t look out of place.

As for a purse... Hua Buwan realized she was still missing a suitable bag. She did a lap around her house, only to discover that her usual go-to bags were either canvas totes, backpacks, or cartoonish shoulder bags. They were all cheap purchases from an online marketplace, costing anywhere from a dozen to a few dozen yuan. Even the most expensive one hadn’t cost more than two hundred.

Hmm...

What a spectacularly simple and frugal girl she was!