Returning to the capital, Xu Qian handed the horses back to the livery stable and collected his deposit. As he stepped out of the shop, he said, "Cijiu, go on ahead. I still have some business to attend to."
Xu Xinnian nodded without question and set off alone down the long street toward home.
Xu Qian bought a portion of osmanthus cake from a street vendor and ate as he walked. Before long, he arrived at a jewelry shop: Treasure Vessels Pavilion.
The owner of Treasure Vessels Pavilion was a xiucai. In truth, scholars engaging in commerce was quite common. The great noble families, after all, could not sustain their lavish lifestyles on land rents alone. Major shops and brothels in the capital—the lucrative industries—all bore the shadows of aristocrats behind them.
Great Feng's commerce was clearly thriving, yet the heavy taxes still crushed the farmers... I have reason to suspect the aristocratic clans are pulling strings. Farming can only produce so much silver. To become rich, you have to shear the sheep of merchants. If you want the people to live better and the imperial treasury to flourish, reform is essential. But with all those dignitaries in court, where would a lowly clerk like me get a word in? Hmm, let me set a small goal: groom Er Lang to become Great Feng's Grand Secretary first...
The thought of his prideful little brother eventually becoming one of the most powerful men in the land made the corner of Xu Qian's mouth curl upward involuntarily.
He stepped into the shop, his eyes sweeping across the counter. One by one, the pieces of jewelry displayed on red silk caught his sight: hairpins, dian ornaments, ji pins, zan hairpins, buyao—a type of dangling golden hairpin—huasheng ornaments... the array was dazzling.
The gold pieces were the most expensive. The jade varied in price; the finest surpassed gold, while the cheaper ones were comparable to silver.
Xu Qian felt the three qian of silver in his pocket and muttered to himself, this amount wouldn't even buy a decent piece of jewelry.
As he lamented his poverty, his foot nudged a hard lump on the ground. He naturally bent down and picked it up, slipping it into his pocket without changing expression. Perhaps his movements were too casual, as no one paid him any mind.
"One qian of silver is useless. One qian of gold would be more like it."
He felt the same way he had browsing luxury boutiques in his previous life. He couldn't afford anything, but at least the shopkeepers here were refined, unlike the salespeople of his past who would cling to you, desperate to make you spend immediately.
"Shopkeeper, do you have any discounts?" Xu Qian tapped the counter.
The shopkeeper was an old man with a goatee, dressed like a scholar. He showed no surprise at the question.
Pointing to a wooden sign hanging on the wall, he smiled. "If the customer can solve the riddle, the merchandise will be half price."
This was Treasure Vessels Pavilion's signature rule.
Riddles for a fifty-percent discount... Interesting... Xu Qian walked over to the wooden sign and scanned the riddle written upon it: The clouds part, the moon emerges, and the flowers play with their shadows.
Drawing on his vast knowledge and logical reasoning, he quickly solved the riddle.
"Some of these jewelry pieces weigh several qian on their own, not to mention the craftsmanship costs..."
Xu Qian did a quick calculation and realized that even at half price, he still couldn't afford the best pieces.
But he soon hit upon a solution.
The women who came to Treasure Vessels Pavilion to buy jewelry came from well-off families. They had received some education—at the very least, they were not illiterate.
Such women had a particular weakness: a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Believing themselves to be cultured, they delighted in appearing refined and elegant. Thus, they were particularly drawn to Treasure Vessels Pavilion's little game.
At the same price point, they preferred shopping here, not for anything else, but to solve the riddles.
If they solved a riddle, the shopkeeper would carve the correct answer beneath the wooden sign and give it to them along with the jewelry.
Failing to solve one was no big deal. But if they managed to solve one or two, they could brag to their close friends.
This was the shopkeeper's strategy, as Xu Qian deduced from listening to two young women chatting nearby.
Worthy of a xiucai's shop. He knew how to attract the high-end clientele.
"Sister Yu, I can't solve any of these riddles. They're so hard," one said.
"You're right, little sister. The shopkeeper is a distinguished scholar. The questions he poses are naturally difficult. Even ordinary scholars might not solve them."
"Sister Yu, my husband says the same. If I could solve a riddle and take home the sign, I'm sure he'd look at me with new eyes."
"Keep dreaming."
"Oh, you're impossible..."
The two young ladies stared at the wooden sign with frustrated expressions, muttering to themselves.
Their clothing and accessories were quite exquisite, suggesting well-to-do families and at least some education; otherwise, they wouldn't even attempt the riddles.
"Ladies," a man's voice suddenly spoke up beside them.
The two pretty young women turned their heads warily. Upon seeing Xu Qian's handsome face and tall, robust frame, their wariness diminished slightly, though they did not speak.
Great Feng's customs were relatively free, but striking up a conversation with a strange man on the street was still considered very rude.
Xu Qian didn't mind. He got straight to the point. "I can solve the riddles for you two ladies. But the money saved, I'll take half. If we save five qian, you give me two and a half. If we save four qian, you give me two."
Hearing Xu Qian's proposal, the shopkeeper looked up in surprise. He scrutinized the young man for a moment, then let out a snort of contempt and went back to ignoring him.
The fellow was wearing a scholar's robe, but a closer look at his build and sun-kissed skin made it clear he was a commoner putting on airs.
When had a scholar ever been built like an ox, with wheat-colored skin?
That robe didn't even fit properly.
Of Xu Qian's proposal, the younger of the two women had eyes that sparkled with interest. The older one, more dignified and reserved, more cautious and aloof, replied coolly, "As the young master wishes. If you truly solve the riddle, I won't deny you your share."
The distance she maintained was palpable.
"Pick one, ladies," Xu Qian said with a smile.
The older woman hesitated. The younger one, eager to try, saw that her companion didn't object and pointed to one of the signs: The clouds part, the moon emerges, and the flowers play with their shadows.
Her voice was soft and sweet.
Xu Qian immediately answered, "The character for 'able' in 'those who are able, do more.'"
The two young women instinctively turned to look at the shopkeeper. His wide-eyed, dumbfounded expression said it all.
Without delay, the younger lady purchased a golden hairpin, clutching it joyfully in her hand. She looked at Xu Qian with bright, sparkling eyes.
After tucking away the wooden sign, her gaze shifted, and her tone grew a few degrees more familiar. "Young master, can you solve another riddle for me?"
"Lian'er..." The woman called Sister Yu tugged at her sleeve.
"Sister Yu, we came here together. If I have one and you don't, that wouldn't be right." After saying this, the young lady named Lian'er looked at Xu Qian expectantly.
Nothing would please me more... Xu Qian flashed his warm, reliable smile. "Of course. Please choose another one, my lady."
"Southeast the swallow flies southeast," she said, pointing to a wooden sign.
"Sun!" Xu Qian answered.
"....." The shopkeeper was stunned.
"Thank you, young master..."
The two ladies selected their desired jewelry and left the shop, thoroughly pleased.
Xu Qian's hearing was extraordinary. He heard the one named Lian'er say, "That young master is truly talented, and quite tall and handsome. Much more robust than my husband."
"Stop talking nonsense," the older woman scolded.
Apparently afraid that Xu Qian might overhear and come after them, she grabbed Lian'er and hurried away.