Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 357 - 210 Sandalwood Fan_1

Chapter 357: Chapter 210 Sandalwood Fan_1

Qian Yixiu spent three days straight strolling the streets, experiencing for the first time in her past and present lives what it felt like to shop with true gusto. The items she purchased weren’t merely carried in bags or packed in boxes but were hauled away in three whole horse-drawn carriages. Moreover, most of what she bought were the equivalents of luxury brands like Hermès in her previous life.

Jewelry from Hengtai Silver Building, silk fabrics from Rui Foxiang, embroidery from Xiangyun Pavilion (including round fans, decorative pieces, plain silk, embroidered threads, and so on), writing supplies from Ink Shop, iron pot lids from Yifeng Store, hams and soy sauce ducks from Huaxiang Grand Restaurant, and the list goes on.

Especially the Xiangyun Pavilion, which her late mother used to praise, Qian Yixiu took the time to thoroughly browse and made plentiful purchases. Despite the exorbitant prices, she bought generously. She also discreetly inquired about Master Su, only to learn from a shop assistant that she had died a few years earlier.

She also visited many of Capital City’s famous historical landmarks, indulging in numerous renowned local snacks.

Capital City bore some resemblance to Old Beijing from her former life but was not entirely the same. The Palace was somewhat akin to the Forbidden City, yet also not quite alike. It could be said that Capital City, compared to Old Beijing from the Ming and Qing dynasties of her previous life, was more prosperous and flourishing, somewhat like the Ming Dynasty’s military strength and somewhat like the Song Dynasty’s economic power. However, it seemed not quite as wealthy as Bianjing of the Song Dynasty, at least its GDP wasn’t as high, and it wasn’t possible for the millions of households throughout the city to use only coal instead of wood for fuel.

Qian Yixiu was surprised to see Persians, Western Region People, and many other foreigners conducting business here. She bought some wine, along with their velvet blankets, jewelry, and other goods.

The Great Qian Kingdom mainly traded with foreign nations via the Silk Road, so there were many Hu People around, along with individuals from Dajin Country, Dayuan Country, and Goryeo Country coming here to do business.

Qian Yixiu, knowledgeable of history from her past life, did not have a good impression of the Mongolians from Dayuan Country due to their incredible capacity for destruction. Had they not annihilated the Southern Song, it’s possible that the Song Dynasty could have entered a capitalist society based on a market economy even before the so-called "sun never sets" Empires.

Emperor Qianwen, the current ruler, was a rare wise monarch who had brought unprecedented prosperity to Daqian, with the economy booming. He followed some of the governing principles advised by Prime Minister Zhang Antong, not suppressing mergers or business, greatly developing both handicraft industry and commerce. He vigorously expanded the imperial examination system, greatly utilizing scholars from humbler backgrounds.

At the same time, Emperor Qianwen was extremely enlightened, not engaging in literary persecution. Officials dared to offer remonstrance, and scholars dared to speak up, which is why there were outspoken literati like Pan Zi’an.

However, it seemed that the shipbuilding industry and long-distance maritime navigation were not very developed, and due to the "Japanese pirate crisis," a maritime ban had been imposed for the past decade or so.

Qian Yixiu thought to herself that Emperor Qianwen was wise in almost everything but this policy wasn’t great. The powers of her previous world had fought bitterly over maritime territories, investing heavily in them. Emperor Qianwen, on the other hand, had willingly surrendered such a crucial strategic passage and, in addition, had not focused on developing a navy, which could lead to the European powers bullying Dayuan sooner or later.

Considering she was merely a commoner, even though there could be no "small households" without "great households," and she was fortunate to enjoy the peace of this era, she ought to offer some constructive suggestions. Although she could not address the Emperor directly, she could present her thoughts to someone like Uncle Liang, an official’s son. She determined that the Great Qian Kingdom must guard against the Mongolians, must vigorously develop its navy, and must also apply great effort in advancing firearms...

Upon reflection, she decided against it. After all, she was just a little girl. If she spoke of such things, wouldn’t she be considered some sort of monster? Uncle Liang had been quite good so far, mainly because he had been in the company of the Half Old Immortal and the Little Monk, influenced by their proximity. But once he spent time in the Capital with wastrels or mixed with ruffians in the military, who knew if he’d turn out bad. Just like her Ghost Daddy, who was so admirable back in the village, respectful to his parents, caring towards his sister, deeply affectionate with his wife as if they were a couple of Immortals, but later he had changed...

So, she quelled her patriotic fervor.

Having nearly finished her shopping spree, Qian Yixiu planned to visit Baoguo Temple to see the Little Monk, as she was soon to return home. She wanted to ask when they planned to leave. The Little Monk had said he’d come to visit her before she left, but there had been no sign of him so far.

Qian Yixiu asked Lady Wei to rise early and steam two food boxes of Golden Lotus Jelly. This Golden Lotus root was not the third-generation one that grew in the Moonlit Lotus Pond but was the second-generation one from West Lake. Last year, she ground some into lotus root powder for their personal consumption and brought some with her when she came to Capital City.

Just as she packed the golden, translucent Golden Lotus Jelly into the food boxes, two visitors arrived at their home. One was Pretty boy Pan, and the other a little boy around four years of age.

The little boy was delicate and handsome, with rosy cheeks and pearly white teeth, his hair tied up in two small buns, wearing a red knee-length robe embroidered with round flowers made of soft satin, a yellow belt, and white satin breeches, so pretty it was almost unreasonable.