Chapter 60
Leaf clothes involved a complicated process, but Shen Jinfeng already had the experience of making them for Mo Fan and Gu Shengsheng.
After getting a feel for it, making the remaining two pieces for He Erwang and Qi Xiu became much easier.
When they first met, although He Erwang’s purple hair had been soaked by seawater and drooped into a terrible mess, one could still vaguely see traces of a hairstylist’s careful sculpting.
Then looking at his styling, aesthetics, usual manner of speaking, and family background, there was no doubt he was a wealthy, fashion-forward cool guy with excellent beauty sense.
However, when he thought of how this kid was a bad student—
Shen Jinfeng called him over, looked him up and down, and slightly curled his lips.
“He Erwang, do you have any clothing style you want?”
He Erwang was suddenly named. When he realized that the first outfit would be made for him, his eyes were full of unconcealable joy.
Previously, Boss had made Gu Shengsheng’s clothes first because Gu Shengsheng had been sick and his clothes had become unwearable. Understandable.
The second one had been made for Mo Fan because Mo Fan had fallen into a swamp and his clothes had also become unwearable.
Those were all situational needs, forced by circumstances!
But now, there were only him, Qi Xiu, and Qin Ye left.
Boss thought of him first. Did that prove he was the person ranked first in Boss’s heart?
Thinking of this, the corners of He Erwang’s lips were harder to suppress than an AK.
Cough, cough. But he could not show it. He could not Versailles, could not show off.
He worked hard to restrain himself, looked around at the others, then raised his head and puffed out his chest as he jogged to Shen Jinfeng.
“Boss, I’m here, I’m here!”
The others did not get his seemingly provocative gaze at all.
They simply had nothing to do right now, so they also gathered into a circle and sat on their own lounge chairs to watch.
He Erwang stood before Shen Jinfeng, brimming with enthusiasm. His eyes were filled with clear, foolish joy, as if there were a tail wagging behind him.
“It’s fine. Boss, I’ll wear whatever you make. I trust your taste!”
Besides, he was very confident about his looks.
He was not bragging, but among everyone present, aside from Boss, the others’ handsomeness was not on the same level as his.
He secretly looked down on them in his heart. He would definitely look better than Gu Shengsheng and Mo Fan in leaf clothes.
He spread out his arms. “Boss, do you need to measure my size? When designers used to come to my house to customize clothes for me, they always measured me again every time.”
As soon as he said it, he felt something was off.
“No, Boss, I’m not treating you like, uh, someone serving me. That’s not what I mean. I don’t mean that…”
He explained in a flustered mess.
Also, there was no measuring tape here to measure sizes.
Shen Jinfeng sighed and waved his hand. “It’s fine. I know.”
“No need to measure.”
For things like clothing sizes, one glance was enough for him to know.
He Erwang scratched his purple hair in embarrassment. “Mainly, I don’t remember what size I wear either. I never asked before.”
“But if it’s ready-to-wear from brands, I’m usually size M.” He casually mentioned a few brands as reference.
[Hiss, rich. Those brands are useless as reference for me, because I’ll never wear them in this lifetime. Grits teeth. Hates the rich!]
[Hearing little purple-hair say that, I suddenly feel like we usually look so silly when we brag endlessly about his fashion resources.]
[Why?]
[Crying. Most of the clothes he wears are privately customized. Could it be that those haute couture pieces we usually praise to the skies are actually things he doesn’t even care about? Wuwu.]
[Okay, as expected, fans follow their idol. Little purple-hair is already Versailles enough, but you fans are not inferior either. Yin-yang tone. Thumbs up. Haute couture. Doesn’t care. You’ve really said all kinds of niche words.]
Shen Jinfeng confirmed again. “So I can make it however I want? I’ll make yours different from Gu Shengsheng and the others.”
He Erwang nodded firmly.
A little pleased with himself, he said, “Boss, are you asking this because you get a lot of inspiration when you see me? Too many options?”
“Boss, am I your muse?”
Pfft.
Shen Jinfeng’s hand paused. He suddenly looked up and saw the proud smile on the purple-haired youth’s face. He pursed his lips and swallowed the words that had reached his mouth.
He vaguely answered, “I do have an idea for giving you a new look.”
He Erwang smiled brightly, his mood almost flying to the sky.
He did not notice the heavy gazes the others were directing at him from the side.
Qin Ye glanced at him.
Surname He, from a wealthy and noble family. He roughly knew which young master in their circle this was.
The He parents were famous all their lives. How had they given birth to such a youngest son?
Don’t misunderstand. He meant that He Erwang’s personality was so simple, outward, flamboyant, and easy to deceive.
Actually, he had some methods that could help people mature quickly. He could ask the He family elders later whether they were interested.
After all, no matter how much they doted on their son, they could not protect him for a lifetime. There would always be some expectations.
Meanwhile, Qi Xiu was already unhappy that He Erwang got to have clothes made first.
Now, seeing him so smug made Qi Xiu even more indignant. What a narcissistic peacock. He was annoyed.
He silently reached out and touched his tortoise shell, deciding that if He Erwang ever asked him to help identify friends or girlfriends in the future, his price would double!
Originally, Shen Jinfeng had planned to make He Erwang an official robe.
That’s right, the kind of official robe worn by government officials.
He had once gone to a fictional small world where one had to be a first-rank official to wear green official robes, okay?
There was another situation: during the imperial examinations, on the day the zhuangyuan paraded through the streets, he was qualified to wear a green zhuangyuan robe.
Although in modern times, green had some negative meanings—
In that world, wearing green truly meant power in hand, the peak of an official career.
He Erwang was a bad student. Making him the outfit of a zhuangyuan or first-rank official could satisfy the regret he had previously mentioned about not being good at studying.
Cough, cough. In the ancient world, the value of being the zhuangyuan had to be several times higher than being a modern provincial top scorer.
Moreover, He Erwang’s features were delicate. If he wore an official court hat and covered his purple hair—
With his charming brows and spirited manner—
Good grief, he would be the standard male lead of an ancient romance novel.
For example, becoming chief minister in his twenties or something.
But this person was far too flamboyant. Every small thought was written on his face.
Shen Jinfeng leaned against the lounge chair and looked at He Erwang, who was doing nothing as he propped up his chin, clearly full of anticipation while waiting for him to make the clothes.
When he noticed Shen Jinfeng looking at him, He Erwang showed a face full of trust.
A thread of amusement flashed through Shen Jinfeng’s eyes, and he quickly lowered his head to conceal it.
He changed his mind.
He would not make him an official robe.
Little purple-hair was already a wealthy young master in real life. He had probably never worn poor people’s clothes.
He would make He Erwang a poor scholar’s outfit to wear.
“He Erwang, can you help me bring over the remaining tent cloth outside?”
He Erwang did not suspect anything and enthusiastically ran out to bring back the tent cloth.
Shen Jinfeng picked up the cloth, selected the heavily worn parts, used a knife to cut some openings, then directly tore off large and small irregular pieces of cloth by hand.
These cloth pieces would be used as patches.
A poor scholar. How could he wear clothes without patches?
He Erwang was still praising him from the side for being thoughtful.
Shen Jinfeng touched his conscience, which did not hurt, and nodded calmly.
About an hour and a half later, the outfit for He Erwang was fully formed.
It was still an antique-style design.
A plain inner garment without much decoration.
The outer layer was a ragged-looking imitation of an ancient scholar’s front-opening hemp robe, pieced together from leaves and tent cloth.
Ancient scholars often wore white robes or lanshan, but in some dynasties, green lanshan could only be worn by the top three successful candidates in the imperial examination!
A poor scholar should look like a poor scholar. Most commoner scholars could only afford hemp clothes.
When He Erwang received the outfit, he was a little dumbfounded.
“This outfit looks… looks like it isn’t something ancient rich people would wear…” He hesitated, trying hard to hide the fact that it looked especially poor.
Qi Xiu and Gu Shengsheng immediately burst into laughter without mercy.
“Hahahahahahaha, put it on first and see.”
He Erwang looked at Shen Jinfeng with grievance.
Shen Jinfeng calmly explained, “This is the kind of clothing ancient scholars wore. Once you put it on, you’ll look very scholarly.”
“Ah?” He Erwang was dumbfounded.
Shen Jinfeng looked at him sincerely. “After you put it on, you’ll look like a great scholar who has read extensively and is full of learning.”
He Erwang pouted slightly, doubtful.
Really… really?
Shen Jinfeng continued coaxing him. “He Erwang, I put the most effort into yours. The meaning of this outfit is better than Gu Shengsheng’s and Mo Fan’s.”
“I wish that after wearing this outfit, not only will you possess great wealth, but you will also become like those ancient scholars who passed the imperial examinations and later took charge of great affairs—unyielding, upright in character, clear in judgment, and insightful in handling matters.”
“Don’t, don’t say anymore!” He Erwang stuttered and stopped him. “I’m not worthy. Boss, your expectations of me are too high!”
Even so—
He was coaxed by Shen Jinfeng’s words until his heart blossomed with joy.
Holding the clothes, he entered the house alone. After changing, with no mirror to look into, he came straight back out.
“How is it, Boss?” he asked nervously. “Do I look scholarly?”
He had boundless confidence in his looks, but “scholarly air”—how could Boss think he had that?
He Erwang thought of the cousin in his family who was best at studying, and his uncle who was a professor at a certain higher education institution.
He tried to put on an air, pretending to be deep and solemn.
Shen Jinfeng raised his eyes and actually froze for a moment.
This outfit really did look very ragged.
The sleeves reached roughly to the forearms. The main body was covered in patchwork patches. The front opening was not refined either, looking loose and sloppy.
The waist sash he made from tent cloth was deliberately left with rough frayed edges.
For the lower half, he had even referenced the rolled hems of ancient students from poor families who still needed to help with farm work.
In short, it was an outfit that looked very poor.
However, He Erwang had somehow worn it with a stunning sense of fashion.
His aura was too expensive. Usually, when he chattered noisily, it did not show, but once he deliberately quieted his expression, it became very prominent.
And his features were too delicate and fashionable. Wearing poor-looking clothes made him seem slightly more obedient.
As for… scholarly air, there really was not a bit of it.
Shen Jinfeng thought for a moment, then quickly made him a scholar’s headscarf.
He beckoned He Erwang over. “Come. I’ll put it on for you.”
He Erwang half-squatted before him and lowered his head. Looking from above, his downcast brows and eyes really did seem very well-behaved.
Shen Jinfeng naturally felt the illusion that he seemed to be some elder about to send his son off to sit the imperial examination.
He shook his head, dispelling those strange thoughts.
After the scholar’s headscarf was tied on, he gestured for He Erwang to stand and turn around.
With the purple hair covered, he looked even better.
But scholarly air… truly, it still seemed absent.
He Erwang asked expectantly, “Do I look like a great scholar now?”
Shen Jinfeng was silent for two seconds.
Against his conscience, he said, “Yes.”
No one had stipulated what a great scholar had to look like anyway.
Qin Ye held back a laugh from the side and praised him, “Very handsome. He Erwang, I’ve discovered you look even better with your whole forehead exposed.”
He Erwang was pleasantly surprised. “Really? Then I’m even more confident about the buzz cut now!”
Shen Jinfeng choked slightly.
Now he was genuinely feeling guilty.
Why did he feel like he had only grabbed He Erwang to fleece?
Gu Shengsheng and Qi Xiu did not tear him down. Instead, they said objectively, “It really is handsome!”
“Boss’s clothes make you look even more handsome!”
“Really, He Erwang, usually you’re only eighty points handsome. Now you’re ninety-nine point nine. I won’t give you the remaining zero point one because I’m afraid you’ll get too proud.”
He Erwang loved listening to rainbow-fart compliments the most.
This could be seen from how hard he usually worked for his fans’ rainbow farts.
He felt as if his mood were flying beyond words.
Although these tactless people actually said he was usually only eighty points—
He could understand. After all, the full score was only one hundred.
If the score increased this time, the previous score had to be reduced.
Finally, Mo Fan touched his chin from the side and sighed, “I finally understand why all the demons in film and television love looking for scholars.”
Pfft.
The others understood immediately.
Beautiful, foolish, one-track-minded scholars were indeed the cutest.
He Erwang was confused. “Your metaphor is very strange.”
“I’m a great scholar. If I had anything to do with demons, I would only be suppressing them!”
“Hahahahahahaha.”
Mm, no problem. In dramas, demons loved playing with the people who wanted to suppress them the most.
After He Erwang’s leaf clothes were done, it was Qi Xiu’s turn.
As for making clothes for Qi Xiu, it could not be more obvious.
“How about I make you a Daoist robe with an immortal and refined air, the kind where people will think you’re reliable the moment you walk out?” Shen Jinfeng said and was about to start.
Who would have thought Qi Xiu would shake his head and refuse?
“No, Boss, I don’t want an immortal and refined look!”
“Mm?” Shen Jinfeng looked up at him. Wasn’t this Qi Xiu’s profession?
Qi Xiu said seriously, “My master said that when away from home, one cannot expose one’s trump cards, and one should do less fortune-telling for others.”
“He doesn’t allow me to make money using that.”
“He said, it’s the twenty-first century. We have to believe in science.”
He smiled shyly. “That’s why I study science.”
[Pfft, but Xiao Qi, how did you end up participating in this variety show? Now the whole country knows you can tell fortunes!]
[Laughing to death. A fortune-teller saying he believes in science!]
[What are you laughing at! Xiao Qi really does study science in real life. Sorry, it’s too funny hahahahaha.]
[Nooo! Since you calculate so accurately, can you open a livestream room in the future and specialize in this service? Maybe you’ll earn more than being a celebrity, Xiao Qi!]
[If he really opens such a livestream room, it’ll be banned immediately, believe it or not. Promoting feudal superstition.]
On screen, Qi Xiu was still explaining, “So, whether I dress like an immortal sage or not isn’t important.”
He Erwang turned to look at him. “So the money you earned from me is your last meal money?”
No more fortune-telling in the future?
Qi Xiu smiled. “Nope.”
“I calculated that you’ll still come to me for fortune-telling in the future.”
“You’re so rich. Earning money from you alone is enough.”
He Erwang: “…”
That actually made a lot of sense.
Shen Jinfeng always could not help laughing when these two got together.
“So, you’re also letting me do whatever I want?” he said, holding back laughter.
Qi Xiu continued shaking his head, his eyes sparkling with little stars as he asked expectantly, “Boss, can you make me something cool?”
“What?”
Qi Xiu formed his fingers into a sword and gestured with his hand. “Whoosh, whoosh—I want to be a great hero! Can you make me an outfit that makes me look like I know martial arts at a glance?”
“Swordsmen are very cool!”
Shen Jinfeng nodded. Fine, not difficult.
At a glance, it had to look like a martial arts master who knew how to use a sword and qinggong.
If it were a real ancient world, no one would actually dress themselves in this direction.
When wandering the jianghu, would one deliberately set up a target for oneself?
However, in film and television dramas, there were many references.
Moreover, martial arts dramas were filmed year after year. What kind of image looked highly skilled in martial arts had long been subtly implanted in the audience’s minds.
Shen Jinfeng thought for a moment. Then he would make a standard swordsman outfit.
A straw rain hat, hemp clothes, the front of the collar layered in overlapping folds, the body of the clothes flowing, and the waist cinched with a sash.
At a glance, he would look like a top master in a drama.
Usually, when the protagonist was down and out and did not want others to discover his identity, he would dress like this.
Or perhaps some famous expert in the jianghu suddenly appeared to assassinate the protagonist, and they were also dressed this way.
In short, it had a very high martial force prestige.
Because the others had watched him make leaf clothes several times, they more or less knew a bit of the simple joining techniques.
So they also helped with the most time-consuming patching work.
As a result, this time, in less than an hour, Qi Xiu’s swordsman outfit was finished.
Watching one’s own clothes take shape bit by bit was a novel experience for most people, especially the younger generation.
Not to mention that these were clothes made from leaves.
Qi Xiu practically watched his outfit come together without blinking, somewhat regretful. “Too bad there’s no phone. Otherwise, I could record it.”
[Hahaha, don’t worry. The high-definition livestream is fully backed up. Once you get out, you can watch it as many times as you want!]
[I also screen-recorded it. I’ve already collected a pile of leaves. I plan to watch Big Boss Shen’s video and try to see if I can make it myself!]
[Same here! I’ve always been recognized by my friends as a handicraft expert. I believe I can do it! But sister above, how did you collect the leaves? Wuwu, I picked up all the fallen leaves in my neighborhood and several nearby neighborhoods. Mainly because I don’t dare pluck fresh ones. Heaven knows how hard I worked for these leaves! I’ve been squatting and waiting for days before finally arriving before the cleaning auntie started work and told her not to sweep the ground today. But I still feel like it’s not enough.]
[Maybe try asking staff at a botanical garden?]
Only Shen Jinfeng was somewhat speechless.
He wanted to speak but stopped, stopped but wanted to speak. He really wanted to say—
Wouldn’t real fabric feel more comfortable to wear?
Are you all really going to wear these leaf clothes after getting out? Are you going to make them again?
However, seeing how the group treasured them as if they had obtained fresh toys—
Mm, understandable.
After all, he was an old monster who had lived too long.
He no longer remembered whether he had also been this foolishly happy when he was truly in his twenties.
Although, some functions of the transmigration bureau were quite useful.
Before coming to this retirement world, he had chosen to keep his memories, but after using the huge amount of points he had accumulated to exchange for the retirement world, he still had some points left.
So he performed a mental-state cleansing on himself.
This function was very magical. Even now, he had not figured out how it worked.
Mental-state cleansing washed away the fatigue of having lived too long.
It could return one’s state of mind to the youngest stage.
That was how the item function was described.
Shen Jinfeng had also used it once every few worlds before. Otherwise, one really could live until one did not want to live anymore.
Even if every world was interesting, completely new and vivid, that exhaustion engraved deep in the soul was hard to eliminate.
This item was quite useful.
At least, every time he used it, he felt less resistance toward going to the next world for a mission, and he could reignite some vitality.
In the end, it was a method used by the transmigration bureau to squeeze its “employees.”
Before coming to this retirement world, he had also used it once.
However, perhaps his lifespan was truly too long. There was simply no way for him to be as full of energy as true youngsters like Qi Xiu and He Erwang.
Shen Jinfeng leaned against the lounge chair like an old deity, preparing his words to praise the youngster later.
Before long, Qi Xiu changed into his swordsman outfit. Since he did not have a sword, he came out holding a knife.
He lowered his eyes. One hand held the knife, while the other touched the brim of the straw hat. Slowly, he raised his eyes, trying hard to make them look cold and ruthless.
With a whoosh, he raised the knife horizontally in front of him and threatened everyone, “Am I handsome?”
[Oh-ho! He really has that vibe!]
[Laughing to death. This whole vibe is just to ask, “Am I handsome?” Hahaha.]
The bullet comments screamed.
[Big Boss Shen is kind of amazing at making this outfit! Qi Xiu really looks like a martial arts master wearing it!]
[If he learns one move from Big Boss and can fly through the forest, he’ll look even more like one!]
[Hahaha, fly a little. I think it’s better not to try. Try and die. But I want to see Big Boss Shen himself wear this outfit and fly through the forest again for me!!!]
[He’s only flown twice. I haven’t seen enough!]
Uh, in fact, he had already flown three times.
Goat, who saw this bullet comment, silently said this in his heart.
But that part could not be broadcast. He could only hold it in QAQ.
As for Shen Jinfeng at the scene: “…”
Very good. This posture asking for praise.
“Handsome.” He played along and even added an extra compliment. “You look like a martial arts master. One knife flying out, and you could kill us all.”
Gu Shengsheng was genuinely amazed this time. “Handsome! Super handsome! This is exactly how I imagine myself!”
He longed for such a powerful, cold, and ruthless posture.
Qin Ye participated in the praise. “Walking the world with a sword, killing a man every ten steps, leaving no trace over a thousand li.”
Hearing this sentence, Qi Xiu could not hold it anymore.
He lifted the straw hat in surprise. “Do I look that powerful!”
He Erwang said, “Correction. It was the you just now.”
Qi Xiu: “…”
He lifted the knife and pretended to chop at He Erwang.
The group became noisy and rowdy.
Shen Jinfeng watched the fun for a long while before finally having to notice Qin Ye, who was already standing in front of him holding the pigskin.
Mm, and there was the last piece of clothing… the pigskin coat he had promised to make for Qin Ye.
After the pigskin had been softened and dried, it felt comfortable to the touch. But it did not have the soft collapse of ordinary cotton or linen fabric. It only had a slight drape and could already be cut.
After being soaked in dye, the current color of the pigskin was a dark navy leaning toward black, very suitable for making a coat.
“Qin Ye, stand two meters away from me. Let me take a look.” He had Qin Ye stand in a fixed position and carefully assessed the young man’s head-to-body ratio.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs. A body kept proportionate and strong through year-round fitness. At a height of 189 centimeters, from this not-too-near, not-too-far distance, he carried a certain sense of pressure.
The perfect body for a suited thug.
Several classic suit-coat styles flashed through Shen Jinfeng’s mind instantly.
Yes, suit coat.
With this figure, a short suit would certainly show off his body proportions.
But wearing a long suit coat that reached the knees, with the shoulder line made flat and straight, his height would not be suppressed at all. Instead, there would be an overwhelming sense of noble coldness.
Gentlemanly, cold, dignified.
Very cool!
Shen Jinfeng’s mood lifted slightly. He felt a bit excited!
To cut a pigskin coat, he would first need to draw a template for better precision.
He got up from the lounge chair and half-squatted on the ground, about to begin.
Suddenly, he realized a problem. Wait, the pigskin coat was not long enough or big enough.
The suit coat was bankrupt.
Shen Jinfeng’s movements paused, and his mood instantly became less beautiful.
What to do?
Could he catch another wild boar?
But… according to his experiment—
There were no wild boars left in this forest!
“What’s wrong?” Qin Ye bent down, wanting to first reach out and pull him up.
Shen Jinfeng looked up and saw Qin Ye’s wide-open collar after he bent down. From the collar downward, a large expanse of spring scenery was exposed.
Of course, from Shen Jinfeng’s angle, he could not see it.
But inspiration suddenly struck him. His gaze shifted upward, meeting Qin Ye’s somewhat concerned eyes.
He suddenly asked, “Qin Ye, to what degree are you conservative?”
Qin Ye froze. “What?”
Shen Jinfeng pursed his lips and asked, “Can the clothes really not expose even a little bit?”
