Two-Day Trip to Anchang County

 

The waiter was taken aback for a moment; he could tell that this table belonged to the master, and the other table was for his subordinates or servants. However, he didn’t expect the master’s family to be so considerate that they ordered the same dishes.

 

But he was well-trained and didn’t show his surprise. He promptly went to the kitchen to place the order.

 

This time, not only Gao Kun but even steward Tong, felt a bit uneasy. Even though they hadn’t been servants in other households, they understood that it wasn’t the usual practice.

 

Jing Yi took a glance and knew what they were thinking. He said, “Don’t worry about it. I’m not strict about rules, and I do things as I please. When it comes to my own subordinates, it’s straightforward, with clear rewards and punishments.”

 

“Yes, Master! Tong Mujie understands,” steward Tong replied.

 

Steward Tong was quite perceptive, and he had a good understanding of Jing Yi’s character by now. He thought that despite his family’s forced servitude, following the Jing family was a blessing in disguise.

 

Although Gao Kun was still young and didn’t fully grasp all the nuances, he was intelligent and, due to his past hardships, had developed a somewhat extreme personality. He repaid kindness with loyalty and was willing to work hard for those who treated him well.

 

Gao Kun knew that the Jing family treated him and Ah Qi well, and he was highly aware of it. He considered it a special form of care in his small life.

 

Ah Qi once told him that, on one occasion, he accidentally tripped and broke a plate, which happened to be seen by the master. He was terrified at the time but was surprised when the master didn’t punish him. Instead, he walked over quickly, picked him up, comforted him for a moment, and then checked his leg for injuries. He didn’t let him do any more work that day, even saying he’d be angry if he continued working.

 

Although he was young, he recognized and appreciated the care he received from elders.

 

When the meal was finished, Jing Yi called the waiter over to pay the bill and asked about the happenings in the county.

 

“You’ve asked the right person; I’ve lived in this county for nearly sixteen years. I don’t know everything, but I have a good grasp of what’s going on,” the waiter replied with a hint of pride.

 

“For the inn, you can return to the inn you came from. It’s a bit more expensive, but it’s clean, and it’s not far from the market you plan to visit. You can walk there.”

 

“As for the shops selling fragrant ointment and rouges, there are two better ones. One is on the main street, and the other is in the east market. You can check both of them. The one on the main street is more expensive, and the customers are mostly affluent ladies and young gentlemen. The one in the east market is more affordable, with mostly common people, but it also has some good products.”

 

The waiter was quite clever. Although he couldn’t completely fathom why Jing Yi was inquiring about these stores, he wanted to provide extra information so as not to waste the money that Jing Yi gave him.

 

“If you have plans to invest in our county, I suggest you visit the government office for a more secure approach.” The waiter began to say more but then stopped. He didn’t want to offend anyone by saying too much.

 

“Haha, thank you very much, young man,” Jing Yi said, getting the point. He handed the waiter fifty copper coins as a token of gratitude.

 

Back at the inn, Jing Yi booked two rooms: one deluxe room and one regular room.

 

“Today, you don’t need to follow us. If you want to explore, go ahead, but make sure to return before nightfall. Tomorrow, at the Chen hour, we’ll go to the county’s main market together, and then we’ll head back home,” Jing Yi instructed steward Tong and Gao Kun.

 

He then gave steward Tong some silver coins for their expenses and left with Chuxia.

 

First, they went to the upscale fragrant ointment shop on the main street called Qinglu Pavilion.

 

After entering the store, Jing Yi and Chuxia primarily examined the rouges and fragrant ointment. The fragrant ointment was said to be a new type of soap made from soapberries and various fragrances.

 

Jing Yi tried it and found that it couldn’t be compared to modern soap. It was less effective for cleaning and its fragrance wasn’t long-lasting, only releasing a strong scent during washing.

 

Although many varieties of rouges had been made, they were all limited to incorporating various flowers and fragrances, without other specific effects.

 

Finally, they inquired about the prices and had a rough idea. It seemed that the Anchang County market was quite promising.

 

They didn’t stay long and bought two pieces of rouges each. It was a high-end shop, and their prices reflected that. One piece of jasmine rouge cost thirty copper coins, while one piece of rose rouge was fifty copper coins.

 

This price left even Jing Yi amazed.

 

In ancient times, it was still best to earn money from women, children, and young gentlemen.

 

When they were about to leave, Jing Yi realized that Chuxia, as a young ger, likely cared about his appearance too.

 

He usually saw him applying simple local oil bought in town, and on days with dry weather, he didn’t even use that. Well, that was because he had good skin.

 

Jing Yi thought it wasn’t right; after all, he was his beloved husband. He took Chuxia to the section selling fragrant ointment.

 

“Shopkeeper, please get some facial cream for my husband to have a look.”

 

Chuxia heard and knew it was for him, which made him smile. Indeed, which young ger didn’t want to look good? And if there was such a young ger, it certainly didn’t include Lin Chuxia!

 

“Alright, have a look at these three boxes. This one is Peach Blossom Cream, perfect for young gers. Its main purpose is to moisturize and brighten the skin. The next one is Ivory Cream, our bestseller, known for its moisturizing and anti-aging properties. Lastly, Rose Cream is primarily for whitening. Since the young sir is so handsome, you should definitely take good care of yourself.”

 

The shopkeeper was a woman in her thirties and knew what she was talking about.

 

Chuxia tried each of them on his hand and felt they were all quite good. He asked Jing Yi in a low voice, “This Ivory Cream seems excellent. I want to buy some for Mother. I can’t decide between Peach Blossom and Rose. Which one do you think smells better?”

 

Jing Yi took his hand and sniffed. He replied, “I think they both smell good when you apply them to your hands.”

 

Chuxia blushed, and when he looked at the shopkeeper, he saw her covering her mouth with a handkerchief. She was clearly trying to hold back laughter, but her eyes betrayed her mirth. Chuxia felt his ears getting hot.

 

“Then I’ll take both! Please give me two of each,” Chuxia said, pretending to be calm.

 

“Wait, shopkeeper, give me two of each. Also, two boxes of lip balm for moisturizing, colorless,” Jing Yi added.

 

Chuxia was touched by Jing Yi’s thoughtfulness. They were affectionate with each other, and they were also generous in their spending. Seeing such an amiable couple made the shopkeeper twice as happy.

 

The female shopkeeper at the time hadn’t realized that their next meeting would involve a business partnership.

 

After that, they headed to the second shop, in the east market. This one didn’t have anything new, focusing on affordable products. The customer flow was higher compared to the previous shop, but it mainly consisted of common folks dressed in cotton or short jackets.

 

Jing Yi bought some soapberries and inexpensive rouges here, intending to take them back. He would compare their performance with soap and fragrant soap after they were made.

 

Then, with some time to spare, without rushing to finish their meal, they went to the largest jewelry shop in the county. Chuxia picked out a pair of gold earrings for Jing’s mother, designed as intricately detailed gourds. This unique design not only looked exquisite but also had a positive meaning.

 

Chuxia also had ear piercings. Most gers and girls from the Dayuan dynasty had their ears pierced in their childhood, but he didn’t usually wear the jiggling earrings that most people did. That’s why Jing Yi chose a pair of jade earrings for him, similar to modern-day studs. They were small, maple leaf-shaped, and quite charming.

 

They also selected a jade bracelet with a pure color and solid craftsmanship. Chuxia’s slender and fair hands made these two pieces of jewelry complement each other perfectly.

 

Jing Yi also picked out a pair of small gold earrings with a peach shape for his little ger, Jing Shu, which looked adorable.

 

Finally, Chuxia returned the favor and picked out a jade pendant with a maple leaf design for Jing Yi, making him look stunning. He thought, “My wife insists on matching with me, he truly loves me!”

 

After splurging in the jewelry shop, they returned directly to the inn. It had been an exhausting day, and they ordered dinner to be brought to their room, and then they rested.

 

The next day, they went to the market.

 

The market in Anchang County was considerably larger than the town’s market, similar to the Hunderd Village Grand Market. However, the variety, freshness, and quality of goods were much better.

 

They had heard that many well-known shops from subordinate towns would send representatives to set up stalls at the county’s annual market to establish their reputation.

 

Jing Yi held Chuxia’s hand tightly since it was crowded and bustling. He wanted to ensure Chuxia was safe, especially as an attractive young ger who might attract unwanted attention.

 

Jing Yi and Tong Mujie, two tall men, squeezed Chuxia and Gao Kun in the middle for added security.

 

They strolled through the market, and Jing Yi couldn’t resist the temptation to buy almost everything, even if they already had similar items at home.

 

Chuxia didn’t want to spoil Jing Yi’s enthusiasm during the holiday season. He didn’t stop him from buying whatever he liked.

 

With Chuxia’s indulgence, Jing Yi became more lavish with his spending. Halfway through, steward Tong, and Gao Kun had their hands full of various items.

 

For the Lunar New Year, the holiday essentials were a must, including couplets, “Fu” characters, window decorations, and firecrackers. Fresh red candleholders, incense, almanacs, and more were all added to the growing list.

 

Jing Yi took his time shopping. This year, he and Chuxia had gotten married and were considered adults, so he bought over a dozen red pouches and a bundle of red paper, ready to distribute the red envelopes to the children during the Spring Festival.

 

They also purchased many everyday items with exquisite craftsmanship. Jing Yi thought they would be useful in the future, so he didn’t hesitate to buy them.

 

Items like blue-and-white porcelain bowls and plates, purple sand teapots, painted umbrellas, long scissors, and various other unique and peculiar items filled their hands.

 

They bought a lot of food, as their family had grown to nearly twenty mouths, so they could consume everything without fearing waste.

 

Cakes and candies of styles not found in the town were purchased. These included various kinds of osmanthus pastries, chestnut cakes, and peanut brittle. Some were known as signature treats from well-established shops in other towns, renowned for their unique flavors.

 

What delighted Jing Yi even more was discovering fruits typically found in the southern regions. They were likely transported via the Grand Canal.

 

Jing Yi didn’t hesitate to buy them. In the winter, his family members enjoyed snacking on fruit to satisfy their cravings and replenish their vitamins. He still remembered how Chuxia had initially resisted his kisses due to mouth discomfort at the beginning of winter!

 

They bought two baskets each of oranges, bananas, and pomegranates. These fruits were a bit expensive, but that was the cost of having them delivered all the way from the south to the north. They intended to share them with several nearby families.

 

Jing Yi hired three strong laborers to help Tong Mujie load their purchases onto the carriage, while Gao Kun wandered around with them.