Chapter 2 Part II

    After reaching an agreement, albeit reluctantly on Miss Wang's part, the He family went out to weave the bamboo fence again.

    With several plots to cover, it would take them 2-3 days to enclose all the vegetable plots with a fence.

    Next morning, Zhenzhu woke up before dawn, quickly got dressed, and hurried out with her personal tasks, afraid that Miss Zhou might leave without her. She couldn't let such a golden opportunity slip away.

    "Hold on, Zhenzhu. Have some porridge before you leave," Miss Wang had prepared egg porridge, seeing her daughter wake up earlier and more eager than usual. She had to call her back before she dashed out of the house. Without having breakfast, how would she find the energy to walk?

    "Thank you, mother," Zhenzhu accepted a bowl of sweet smell porridge from Miss Wang's hands and began to eat without blowing on it first.

    "Eat slowly!" Miss Wang cautioned.

    "Oh, and here's three brass coins for you to buy snacks if you want anything," Miss Wang handed her daughter three brass coins.

    "Thank you, mother. I'll be going now," Zhenzhu put down a bowl of porridge and hurried off to Miss Zhou's house, filled with excitement.

    Upon arriving at Miss Zhou's, they were just finishing loading vegetables into four baskets to carry with a pole, each spouse taking two. Zhenzhu quickly stepped in to help arrange the vegetables in the baskets.

    "Ah, thank you, Zhenzhu. Have you eaten?" San Su, Miss Zhou's husband, asked.

    "All done, Uncle," she replied.

    "Let's go then." The couple lifted the carrying poles, and they set off, with Zhenzhu following eagerly.

    The early morning journey was cool and not too hot. The roadside was flanked by lush grasslands used for grazing horses belonging to the city's noble families, who had bought large tracts of land for this purpose. Some also leased it to villagers for farming. The land was mostly sandy loam, suitable for limited types of crops.

    Zhenzhu walked contentedly behind the couple carrying baskets that bounced up and down in front of her. She didn't feel very tired because the weather was cool and she was filled with excitement.

    Occasionally, they walked past some horse herders driving horses to the grasslands or villagers carrying farming tools. Such sights were rare in Beijing. Having not traveled much in her previous life, Zhenzhu found the natural scenery and rural lifestyle surprisingly pleasant.

    Miss Zhou took two breaks during their journey before they finally reached Fengfu City. Contrary to Zhenzhu's expectations, the walk wasn't as difficult as she thought, with various sights to see along the way distracting her from any fatigue.

    The towering city walls loomed before them, with guards stationed at the city gates. Outside the walls, vendors lined up, selling vegetables, eggs, food, sweets, fabrics, and grains. The area outside the city walls was bustling due to lower rent prices.

    Miss Zhou and San Su carried their vegetable baskets into the city, exchanging friendly smiles with the guards, who were familiar with the couple from their frequent visits. Seeing the little girl following them into the city, the guards didn't stop them.

    "Wow, Fengfu City is so grand," Zhenzhu couldn't help but exclaimed, her curious eyes sparkling with excitement.

    People here must be very wealthy, with houses built of stone and brick, strong and massive, some even surrounded by high walls. She followed the couple to a bustling market area, dense with people and vendors, similar to the area outside the city walls but with a greater variety of goods and a larger crowd. Inside, there were larger shops, including bookstores, jewelry stores, food shops, grain stores, tea houses, and taverns. She had never before seen such a vivid portrayal of ancient life.

    They reached a fresh vegetable store, "Zhu’er, wait here in front of the shop for a moment. I'll deliver the vegetables to Shopkeeper Bai first," Miss Zhou instructed the wide-eyed girl, feeling affectionate remembering her own first time in the city, fascinated by everything she saw.

    "Yes, Aunt Zhou," the girl nodded firmly.

    She stood waiting in front of the vegetable shop, and what excited her even more was that the shop opposite the vegetable shop was a fabric store. Various colorful fabrics were displayed in front of the store, and when she peered inside, there were even more fabrics stacked high in layers.

    Seeing these traditional silks ignited the designer's blood within her. If she could get her hands on a few rolls of these fabrics, she could undoubtedly create some beautiful dresses with ease.

    "Look, isn't that Lady Juhua? Look at her dress, is that jade pearl silk?"

    "Yes, it's so soft and flowing, only jade pearl silk can be that delicate and elegant. It's my fortune to see jade pearl silk. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to wear such expensive silk in my life."

    "You're dreaming. Jade pearl silk of Lady Yaoyao? Think you can just have it?"

    Zhenzhu overheard the conversation between two street vendors unintentionally. She followed their gaze to see a young lady, about 15 of age, dressed in soft pink silk that shimmered under natural light, highlighting the wearer's elegance. However, the fabric was overly decorated with colorful floral embroidery, detracting from the silk's beauty. The outfit was too detailed and cluttered, and the young lady was adorned with various ornaments, appearing like a brightly colored human bauble.

    ‘Oh, the fabric is indeed good, but the embroidery and design really spoil it.’

    Zhenzhu thought to herself

    "Excuse me, sisters, what is jade pearl silk?" she approached the two vendors to inquire, thinking ahead for future possibilities when she might afford such exquisite fabric to craft a dress. She vowed not to mar the beauty of such fabric with excessive embellishments like those she saw.

    "Ah, little lady, what do you mean by 'sisters'? You flatter us," one of the vendors, a woman in her forties, blushed with delight. Despite Zhenzhu's simple and impoverished appearance, the vendor spoke kindly to her.

    "That is called Jade Pearl Silk. This type of silk was invented by Lady Yaoyao, the daughter of an official in the Department of Attire. She can weave and dye silk exceptionally well. Her father built a weaving factory specifically for her to produce Jade Pearl Silk. Only wealthy high-class people can afford to wear this kind of fabric."

    Lady Yaoyao must possess some real talent. Quality fabric!

    "Oh, and did Lady Yaoyao also create the designs on the fabric herself? She's very talented," Zhenzhu feigned admiration, her eyes sparkling.

    "Yes, indeed. Isn't it beautiful?"

    Beautiful? The overdone embroidery completely overshadowed the fabric's natural charm.

    "Very beautiful," Zhenzhu agreed politely.

    "Of course. Otherwise, the concubines and wives of high-ranking officials wouldn't scramble to buy them. But what's more special is the fabric's fragrance, thanks to being infused with jade pearls, giving it its name," the vendor explained, as if she was part of the production herself.

    "What are jade pearls?" the curious girl asked.

    "Jade pearls are a rare type of pearl from deep-sea oysters. They're special because they resemble jade but release a fragrance when heated. Lady Yaoyao uses them in a special process to create the scented jade pearl silk."

    "Wow, Lady Yaoyao is really talented," Zhenzhu praised again, noticing the vendor's admiration for Lady Yaoyao.

    "Indeed, she's not only skilled but also the sole daughter of the Wardrobe Department's head. Her grace, manners, and beauty are unmatched. Men from all over the city send matchmakers to her manor almost every day."

    "Indeed, she truly is an exemplary woman!"

    Zhenzhu engaged enthusiastically with the two vendors, learning that silk embroidered with jade pearls was invented a year ago and had rapidly gained popularity among the upper class. It was so expensive, costing up to 50 taels per bolt, that Zhenzhu ruefully acknowledged that such an amount could sustain an ordinary family for several years. The silk's continued demand meant that Lady Yaoyao's factory had to operate day and night in shifts to meet the supply.

    Hmph! "Who would produce enough to meet the demand? The price would drop immediately. Trust her, in another year, the price of this type of fabric will surely decrease."

    "Zhu’er, let's go. We have more vegetables to sell," Miss Zhou and her husband came out of the vegetable store of Shopkeeper Bai, with a half-basket of vegetables.

    Shopkeeper Bai's store, one of the largest vegetable vendors, primarily supplied to major restaurants within the city.

    Walking through the market to a green vegetable and fruit section, followed by a fresh meat section, it seemed they had entered the area for perishable goods.

    Miss Zhou and her husband laid a cloth on the ground and started arranging vegetables for sale, with Zhenzhu eagerly to help.

    "Today, we'll set up shop here. Zhu’er, you can rest here. If you want to wander around, stay close. Don't stray too far and get lost," Miss Zhou cautioned.

    "Understood, Aunt Zhou. I'll stay nearby and won't wander off," Zhenzhu promised earnestly, then took the opportunity to explore the bustling market.

    She walked along the path, looking at the stalls where merchants and vendors shouted their wares loudly.

    It must be acknowledged that the profession of trading could earn more money than that of farmers or agricultural workers. However, in this era, it was considered the least prestigious profession among all social classes. The hierarchy ranked scholars, farmers, laborers, and merchants. This belief stemmed from the notion that merchants made profits by traveling between regions, never being tied to the land. When war broke out, they could flee anywhere, unlike farmers whose interests were firmly rooted in the land of their state. Farmers inherently had a stronger attachment to their state and land than merchants. Hence, the merchant profession was looked down upon by various social classes. But Zhenzhu, coming from a later era, thought this belief was nonsense. If a war between states truly broke out, people from any profession would love themselves and fear death. The human instinct for survival cannot be underestimated. And in the thousands of years to come, the merchant profession would become one of the most prosperous and respected careers.

    Zhenzhu walked down a street lined with jewelry and garments shops. The fabric sold along the way was mostly coarse hemp meant for the poor, while the fine silk was reserved for high-end stores catering to the upper class. Sighing, Zhenzhu noted the stark social disparities.

    As she explored the market, Zhenzhu's attention was drawn to a small alley blocked by shrubbery. Had she not looked carefully, she might have missed it. Driven by curiosity about what shop might lie within, she cautiously ventured in, only to find no shops at all. Turning to leave, a sign caught her eye. Written in black charcoal, it read "Zhi Shop."

    "Is there really a shop here?" she wondered, stepping past the ancient sign, risking it might fall at any moment.

    Inside, the Zhi Shop turned out to be an old bookstore. An elderly man with white hair and beard was dozing off at the counter, seemingly unaware of her presence, making her the only customer there.

    Zhenzhu looked around at the ancient books. Besides the shop's sign, the books themselves were ancient, with some so old they were half-eaten by termites.

    Nonetheless, her eyes glanced up and saw a book on the top shelf. It was a very old book, just like the others in the shop. However, what made it different from the others was its red spine, inscribed with a language she could not read. It seemed to be a very ancient language, impossible to translate. It strangely caught her attention, but she wasn't interested in studying books at the moment, as her primary concern was still about basic needs—having enough to eat and staying warm was sufficient.

    “I’d better leave.”

    Deciding it was best to leave, she turned to exit when the old man suddenly woke up. "Oh, little lady, are you looking for a particular book?" His voice halted her departure.

    "I was just looking around, sir. I haven't found anything specific yet," Zhenzhu replied.

    "Well, take your time. If you find something you like, I might give you a special discount," the shop owner said, eager not to let his first customer in a long while slip away. Despite Zhenzhu's humble appearance, he was not one to underestimate any visitor.

    "Um, Grandpa, what book is that?" Seeing the shop owner so enthusiastic, she couldn't help but ask. She pointed to the book with the red spine.

    "Ah, that one? Found it in an old shop years ago. Been here almost a decade without a single interest. Do you want it, young miss?" It was a bulky, ancient text in an arcane language. Not even given away for free had attracted any takers, he mused, its only use perhaps for swatting dogs.

    "Not really, just thought it looked interesting," she admitted, not truly wanting it.

    "How about 10 brass coins for it? It's taking up space, and you'd do me a favor," he proposed, eager to clear out old stock.

    "I don't even have 10 brass coins, sir," she declined, puzzled over the thought of buying a book she couldn't understand, with only 3 brass coins.

    "Alright, 5 brass coins then," the shop owner continued to negotiate.

    "I don't have 5 brass coins, sir," Zhenzhu firmly declined again.

    "Here's the deal, young miss. Take it now, and when you have 5 brass coins, you can pay me back. Look at the patterns on the book cover, aren't they exquisite?" he insisted, placing the thick book into her arms. Zhenzhu looked down at the large book in her embrace, utterly baffled. The shopkeeper must be a bit eccentric, she thought.

    Finally, the girl left the bookstore, more puzzled than ever, carrying the heavy book. The old man must have been desperate to get rid of the book, giving it away without receiving a single coin.

    Such an odd person.