This is the anti-theft badge. The next day Anna dressed up a little and went out with Karenin.
Côte d'Argent is a section of coast in southwestern France. It is known as the "Silver Coast". When the sun shines on the beach, everything is shining, like the back of the world shining silver. Seaport trade developed. The folk customs are relatively simple.
The goods may not always be as good as in Petersburg, but there is always something quirky. In Cote Dalgunt, the value of a thing is often not its own, but the story it is endowed with.
For example, this is in Anna's hand. A small silver hair comb decorated with red coral. The shape is simple and obtuse, and it is not easy to scratch fingers. There are eight red corals in total, which are very plump. The silver vessel does not look brand new, it is a bit dusty, but not ugly.
The comb was sold by a small, bearded, shrewd-eyed man. He told an epic story, roughly a noble lady fell in love with a poor boy, and this comb was their token of love.
"What a poignant story."
A small group of people gathered beside Anna and the others, and one of the well-dressed ladies was moved to tears.
"We bought it," said Karenin.
After they left, Anna held the packaged comb in her hand, then raised her head and asked Karenin, "Do you believe that story?"
"There are not so many stories about noble ladies and poor boys, Anna. The probability is basically zero." Karenin said calmly.
"Then why did you buy it?"
"You like it, don't you?" Karenin didn't look at Anna, but said this sentence lightly, and the latter only felt sweet in his heart.
"Oh yes, even if it's a fake story, I do like the gift."
"The added value of a story exceeds the value of the thing itself. An honest businessman will never be able to compare with a slippery businessman." Karenin almost sighed.
Anna giggled and said, "You might as well say it's because women's money is always easier to earn."
"I agree with that." Karenin nodded slightly.
"I want to go to the beach," Anna added, "I like the sea."
"Then let's go." Karenin did not object.
Located between Biarritz and the mouth of the Adour River, the sea here is exceptionally clear.
"I want to go for a walk barefoot," Anna said.
Karenin disagreed: "It's inappropriate, and it's still cold and you'll get sick."
Anna looked at Karenin.
After a while, the latter sighed: "If you insist, but I still think..."
Before Karenin could finish speaking, Anna took off her shoes and stepped on the limp fool, her expression changed.
"You're right," she muttered, putting her shoes on again.
"a little cold."
"I'm glad you can look at this matter more rationally." Karenin said almost with a smile, and Anna complained to him a few words.
"You can do this next time when the weather is warmer." Finally, Karenin said so, and Anna felt better again.
There is no need to treat every moment of the present as if it is the last day, because their future is still very long.
Karenin noticed that Anna was always looking around with her head down. He asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Shell." Anna said, then squatted down and dug her fingers on the sand. After a while, a small conch appeared on Anna's hand.
Karenin also squatted down, and Anna took his hand and put the conch into his palm with a smile.
"Although it is a bit ordinary, it is not as precious as the coral hair comb you gave me just now, but now, it has become unique in the world."
The little conch was buried in the sand not long ago, and its body was still covered with a layer of salty sea breeze. It was cool, and the hardness of the shell slid across the skin, making its existence very clear.
Its color, as his wife said, is a little square, but now, it is a unique little conch.
"I have never received such a gift." Karenin said, his tone a little gentle.
Naturally, he has received many precious gifts, which were well packaged and sent to his house with various unavoidable purposes, but there has never been any gift, such a simple one lying in his palm, and the person who gave the gift did not for any purpose.
Anna felt that Karenin's reaction was more like the kind of aristocratic lady who is ignorant of the world, because she fell in love with a poor boy with just a harmonica. She suddenly felt a little funny, although she knew that Karenin would never be that ignorant noble lady.
"In fact, although I don't think money is the only criterion for measuring the value of a gift, if I were richer, I would give you something better in return."
"Is the money I gave not enough for your daily expenses?" Karenin asked, frowning slightly.
"That's not what it means. I mean, if I have the ability to make money myself." Anna finished speaking and observed Karenin's reaction.
"You make money?" Karenin asked, but he didn't immediately accuse her of how unseemly this idea was.
Anna was relieved and smiled a little: "Maybe I can make money myself in the future."
"I've never heard of any aristocratic woman making money, if you mean selling jewelry and clothes. It's not said publicly, but there are a few in the circle who do. "
"That's not making money. The money you gave me has always been sufficient. In fact, it's a bit too much. But I don't think any lady would complain that her husband gave her too much money." Anna said with a smile , His eyebrows stretched.
"I know most wives don't talk about money with their husbands unless they have nothing to spend, but I'd like to talk to you. I like it when you give me money, and I think I can find a job and make some money myself. Sometimes Making money is not for money itself, but a sense of satisfaction. It can be said that you can realize your own value through making money, do you understand, Alexey."
"I have never heard such remarks. However, I think this is not unacceptable." Karenin said calmly after thinking for a while, "but I hope I am an informed person."
"Of course I'll tell you." Anna said instinctively, she hardly thought if she was going to do something and her husband didn't know about it.
"I always need your advice and ideas," she complimented.
Even Karenin could not calmly accept his wife's compliments, he was indeed happy in his heart.
They spent almost five days in France before they had to go back.
Anna told Maria about it, and everyone thought it was a good idea.
Nothing happened to the train back and it arrived on time. Karenin's secretary was also with them, but to be honest Anna didn't like him very much.
His eyes were like snakes, and Anna thought they were eyes that symbolized greed. But she didn't say it right away, because Vorobyev was Karenin's secretary, and he wasn't one of those idiots.
She didn't want to annoy Karenin because of her sensitivity.
It was nearly seven o'clock when they arrived home, and the carriage sent by Kearney was already waiting at the train station.
As soon as I got out of the train, gusts of cold wind blew over, and my face was a little sore.
Anna was wearing a mink hat and a coat. She felt that her eyelashes were a little stiff, and the breath she exhaled from her mouth would turn white.
"It's so cold," she said.
"Are you all right?" Karenin asked. He couldn't go back with Anna, there were some urgent matters in the yamen that had to be dealt with.
"It's okay," Anna blinked, "I'm fine."
Karenin sent his secretary Vorobiev home with Anna to bring him one of his papers.
"Don't worry, sir." Vorobev smiled. He has the most popular beard nowadays. He is tall and strong. His brown eyes are very attractive, but his speech and behavior are too frivolous. some.
The coachman Peter let Anna and the others get into the carriage, and after a "yo ha", the horse's hooves began to rattle.
Vorobyev tried to chat with Anna, trying to amuse her with popular Petersburg jokes, but Anna was not amused like the other women.
"There's going to be a good play in a few days, ma'am." He named an actress, but Anna didn't know it, and she didn't feel like talking to that person.
Because she always felt that Mr. Vorobev's eyes were like snakes, and sometimes he would stare at her very unfriendlyly.
Her intuition was not wrong, Vorobev did have other thoughts about the newly promoted Mrs. Karenin.
He was fascinated by her appearance, and although she was not as plump as was the fashion nowadays, her dark curly hair was as white as cream, her complexion was as white as her, and her demeanor was more phlegmatic. This kind of difficult woman is always more interesting.
Vorobiev thought to himself. He has always been the kind of person who pays great attention to appearance. He always talks about the fashion of Petersburg, but he is not the kind of stupid person. He likes to conquer, which is also due to his smarter brain than ordinary people.
He will formulate a relatively long-term hunting plan, because Mrs. Karenin deserves to be among the top three in his heart.
After making up his mind, Vorobev put away his gallantry, and after observing for a while, Anna wondered if she was really too sensitive.
The carriage arranged by Karenin was already waiting at the door. The coachman put the luggage on it and said hello to Karenin, who seemed to be old acquaintances.
"I heard that you are married, sir. This is my wife."
The coachman was not tall, but his arms looked very strong. From the clothes, it seems that the family is not very good, but it is clean and the smile is not restrained.