CH 115

Zhou Shuren pointed at the money, “The rent is 55 taels, and the jewelry is 250 taels. The pearl necklaces and bracelets this time are better than last time, and the pearls in the north are more expensive than those in the south, so I pawned it for 50 taels more. I just exchanged two hundred taels for silver bills, ten taels for gold, and five taels for silver coins.”

Zhulan is not at ease with the silver ticket. She prefers the physical object, “Let’s change it for another hundred taels. The silver ticket will be left for one hundred taels and it will be convenient to travel in the future.”

Zhou Shuren, “Go out together tomorrow and exchange it.”

Zhulan spent 950 taels for the shop, ten taels for the banquet, and there was still 100 silver left. More than fifty taels, plus the rent, there were more than three hundred taels, and the total in hand was more than four hundred and fifty taels. Unfortunately, they can no longer buy a shop. Since they didn’t have any background, they should get into trouble if they bought more. She sighed, “After this trip, I brought back quite a bit of silver.”

Zhou Shuren took out fifty taels, “Give the money to Brother Zhao when he leaves, and ask him to help him buy furniture, and the rest is a thank you fee.”

Zhulan was not afraid that Zhao Bo would lie to them, Zhao Bo will not do this for the sake of his family and his own reputation. Furthermore, Zhao Bo has helped the family a lot, so why not be optimistic about Zhou Shuren, and the early investment will not be worthless?

In ancient times, some aristocratic families liked to help poor students. It was nothing but an early investment. If they were really promising in the future, they would definitely repay them and protect them. For the sake of reputation, there were very few white-eyed wolves.

It took five days for everything to be done since they left home and came to Pingzhou. Zhulan and Zhou Shuren planned to spend two days shopping.

Pingzhou was the largest provincial city in the north. There were not many prosperous cities as Pingzhou in the northern states. If you continue to the north, you will only find garrisons. There were exile places nearby, and the county town was full of garrisoned families, which was why it was not so prosperous.

Early the next morning, Zhulan packed up her money and finally saw her house. There were more than a dozen rooms in the two courtyards, two kitchens, one in the backyard and one in the front yard. Zhulan was most happy that there was a well in the yard. After seeing the house thoroughly, Zhulan was very satisfied.

After looking at the houses, she went to see the shops in a carriage. Because there were many kinds of shops, Zhulan took her daughter to visit as many as she could. Pingzhou’s leather was very famous, so Zhulan couldn’t resist going in.

There were a lot of people coming and going into the shop, and the clerk was very busy. Zhulan didn’t inquire about it and heard the clerk tell other customers that the prices were 30 taels for high-quality fire fox skins, 80 taels for rare white fox skins, and bear skins were even more expensive, costing hundreds of taels. The mink fur ranges from more than a dozen taels to 20 taels for good ones.

Zhulan fumbled around but didn’t buy it, and returned to the carriage. Zhulan said to Zhou Shuren: “Pingzhou’s leather is cheaper than the capital, and the leather in the northern frontier is even cheaper. When you have the opportunity, you must buy more. Gifts or for your own use, decent and dignified.”

Zhou Shuren went out for a trip and gained a deeper understanding of ancient times. “Don’t think about buying fur in the north. There are designated people who handle that. Even if you go there, nobody will sell it to you. No matter how much money you offer, they won’t dare to sell it. In the future, if you want to purchase it, do it in Pingzhou or find someone nearby who hunts and buys it for them!”

Zhulan said, “It’s a pity, there is a lot of price difference!”

Zhou Shuren sighed softly and said, “You’re not the only smart one. Everyone knows the price difference is significant, but no one dares to reach out greedily. Behind every huge profit, there is the protection of the imperial family and nobles.”

Zhulan didn’t talk about it anymore, after all, it was better to be more cautious outside.

The carriage arrived at the jewelry store. Zhulan liked jewelry very much in modern times, and she liked ancient jewelry more. She used to have little money, but now she has more money in hand. It was rare to go shopping in jewelry shops.

The jewelry shops in Zhoucheng were much better than those in the county. The first floor had not only gold and silver jewelry, but also some hairpins inlaid with agate and gemstones.

Zhulan’s eyes were shining brightly, the gold earrings with crushed rubies, the hollowed-out silver hairpin inlaid with agate, and the bracelet were all very beautiful.

Zhou Shuren finally understood the feeling of spending money on his girlfriend, realizing that it was worth it no matter how much he spends as long as she likes it. He said, “If you like it, just buy it. Don’t hesitate.”1

Zhulan’s hands were itchy, and she grinned, “Okay.”

Pointing to the hairpin and bracelet she asked, “What’s the price, shopkeeper?”

The salesmen were all sharp-eyed, and they can guess which customers were there to buy and what they want. This was the customer who wants to buy. He introduced enthusiastically, “Madam’s vision is really good. These two are a set of jewelry. The hollow design is exquisite and light. The ruby ​​embellishment adds to the wealth, and if madam adds the earrings next to it, the whole set is fifteen taels of silver.”

Zhulan was not fooled by the clerk, although the ruby ​​was inlaid, it was the leftover broken gems, and the color was not good. She didn’t say she wanted to buy it, but instead said, “Take out the jewelry suitable for eight or nine-year-old girls.”

The clerk was not in a hurry, his experience told him that the less bargained he would buy. He quickly opened the cabinet and took the children’s jewelry. “These bracelets and earrings are suitable for little girls. There are sapphires and agates.”

Broken gemstones don’t look shabby even if you wear them when going out as a guest. Zhulan asked the price, “How do you calculate these prices?”

The man said, “The children’s ones are not expensive. A pair of bracelets inlaid with gemstones is one tael of silver, and earrings are half a pair.”

Zhulan picked out four sets of bracelets and earrings and picked out the jewelry she was looking at just now. And then picked out three silver hairpins with precious stones, spending a total of twenty-eight taels.

Zhulan paid the money, even if she was reluctant to buy it, she had to buy it. In the future, when Zhou Shuren comes to Pingzhou, she has to entertain guests, and a piece of jewelry was not easy to be underestimated.

Zhou Shuren didn’t know when he went to the second floor. After Zhulan paid, Zhou Shuren held a small box in his hand and returned to the carriage. Zhulan asked, “What did you buy?”

Zhou Shuren opened the small box. Inside were some leftover gemstones. “There are custom-made jewelry upstairs, and there are a lot of gemstone materials. I picked some that looked shiny and bought them. It cost a total of twenty taels.”

Zhulan counted the gemstone scraps of various colors. She asked, “Are you planning to take these gemstones and have someone customize them for you?”

Zhou Shuren smiled, “The style of gold and silver jewelry at home has long been outdated, so it’s better to fuse and customize new ones. As for how to do it, I don’t know how to leave it to you.”

Zhulan took the box, “Wait until you pass the exam, otherwise you can’t wear some jewelry even after you make it.”

Just like the precious gemstone pendants she adored, commoners were not allowed to wear them. She had just seen several official’s family members wearing them at the jewelry store. They were incredibly proud but looked stunningly beautiful.

It was a pity that the clerk didn’t wait for her to speak, and directly lectured about some jewelry, who can buy it and who can wear it. To put it bluntly, it was a class-specific sense of superiority!

Zhou Shuren didn’t study jewelry. He didn’t know that there was so much literature on jewelry. He just thought it would be fine without a dragon and phoenix carvings.2

Then they went to the clothing store. There was no shortage of fabrics at home, Zhulan mainly looked at the style of the clothes, and she immediately fell in love with a yellow cloak. Secretly thinking that it was fortunate that the Emperor did not wear yellow, and this fictional dynasty did not stipulate that yellow should not be worn.

Finally, she bought some unique pastries in Pingzhou and bought some exquisite wood carvings as gifts for the few children in the home. They had lunch outside and went back to the inn after dark.

On the second day, they went to the temple in Pingzhou. Zhulan was looking forward to encountering an eminent monk who would point out the maze. To their dismay, many official family members came to worship Buddha, and they were blocked by servants everywhere, not to mention eminent monks, even ordinary monks were nowhere to be seen. They heard that they were all called to chant sutras.

There was nothing to do in Pingzhou except temples. The exquisite gardens were not open to the outside world like the scenic spots in later generations. In ancient times, private people could not enter. So they went back to the inn to pack their luggage and go home with the motorcade the next day.

They returned before it was dark to Zhoujia Village. Zhulan scanned the crowd and asked the boss, “Where’s Li Shi?”