Chapter 116: Boldly Venturing Far and Wide

Chapter 116: Boldly Venturing Far and Wide

Baozhu stopped talking.

It was a literal silence.

No matter what anyone said to her, she would nod, whether in agreement or not.

She nodded like she was pounding garlic, her mouth sealed shut.

Since declaring her intention to go with Xianjin, she hadn't uttered a single word.

Xianjin had heard of such situations before.

Some people, after experiencing great trauma, find it difficult to adjust their emotions, leading to various issues. Some problems manifest clearly, such as losing one's voice, insomnia, or loss of appetite. Others are more subtle, and if those around them are careless, they can lead to irreparable consequences.

Xianjin was somewhat relieved that Qiao Huahua fell into the first category.

Those who suffer visibly are still trying to save themselves. Losing one's voice or suffering from insomnia is a silent cry for help.

Xianjin instructed Aunt Zhang to make Qiao Huahua's meals over the next few days a bit heavier in flavor. "Whether rich and oily or spicy and pungent, it should liven her up." After much deliberation, she finally formulated a plan. Before implementing it, she made a special trip to Xiaocao Village to collect three sheets of six-zhang paper crafted by Master Li Sanshun.

Xianjin carefully compared this batch of six-zhang paper with the ones made by Master Li Laozhang—concluding that, from her perspective, there was no difference.

But Chen Fu noticed some differences.

"…The batch made by Li Sanshun is more resilient," Chen Fu said, holding the new paper up to the light and listening to its crisp sound.

Xianjin asked, "Is this batch better?"

Chen Fu smiled, "Of course. This new batch was made by these masters putting all their effort into every step, from selecting materials to production, choosing only the best. The previous batch might have been rushed due to the harsh demands of Chen Liuhe, resulting in poorly prepared fibers and a less refined texture."

As he spoke, Chen Fu casually picked up a soft brush, dipped it in an inkstone, and dropped two drops of ink on the edges of both papers.

On the new batch, the ink spread out in circles, the outer rings lighter than the inner ones, blending naturally like boats moored on a bridge.

On the old batch, the ink spread but not as evenly or quickly.

What defines a craftsman? It's about putting in effort and getting proportional results; there's never any bubble where a little effort yields tenfold returns.

Solid work, leaving a mark at every step.

Xianjin nodded thoughtfully.

Chen Fu tapped Xianjin's forehead with his pen, "You, you must remember this knowledge since you're in this business."

Xianjin tilted her head and looked at Chen Fu with a smile, "And you, who isn't in this business, why bother remembering this knowledge?"

Chen Fu leaned back and straightened his jade-green embroidered robe, "You don't understand. How can a swan know the aspirations of a sparrow?"

Alright then.

Xianjin, the swan, admitted she didn't quite understand the sparrow's aspirations.

...

With Chen Fu's approval, Xianjin boldly stamped the three sheets of six-zhang paper with the "Chen's" logo. She wrote a letter to Xiao Xiong, who promptly sent an invitation. Xianjin finally received a pass to Prefectural Magistrate Xiong's residence.

This invitation was even more luxurious than the wedding invitation from her father's second marriage in her past life.

The paper was speckled with gold, the text embossed in gold, and the inside adorned with large autumn begonias—embodying opulence and grandeur, reflecting the magnificence of Xuancheng's main official residence.

The content of the invitation was—tea.

Xianjin: ...

She, who ran a tea house indirectly, was invited for tea...

The invitation read: "Inviting Manager He of Chen's Paper Shop to enjoy a cup of Dongting Biluochun tea at the residence."

Ancient ladies' entertainment... truly sparse.

Xianjin thought about it and decided to bring a newly created paper board game, planned for release at "Kanba," to avoid being served endless cups of tea.

The journey from Jing County to Xuancheng took half a day, with Xiao Xiong inviting her for afternoon tea and providing dinner. Xianjin left three hours early, meaning she set off before dawn in a mule cart to climb mountains and ford rivers.

Upon arrival, Xianjin handed the invitation to the gatekeeper and noticed a group of scholars in plain robes leaning against each other outside the entrance. She quietly asked, "What's going on here..."

The gatekeeper chuckled mockingly, "They're all here to see the prefect, hoping he'll help Qingcheng Mountain Courtyard with that... that..."

The gatekeeper couldn't recall Qiao Shanchang's surname.

Xianjin softly added, "Qiao Shanchang."

"Oh, they're here to plead for Qiao Shanchang!"

The gatekeeper continued checking the invitation while speaking loudly.

After verifying the invitation, the gatekeeper's face instantly lit up with a smile, "...So you're Miss's guest! Please come in!"

Xianjin felt like she had witnessed a free "face-changing" performance, gaining a new understanding of Xiao Xiong's status within the residence.

Being able to send invitations at will and the gatekeeper's deferential tone when mentioning the "Miss"...

Just these two points were beyond the reach of most daughters in ordinary families—many, like Chen Zuo Niang, serve as elder sisters and caretakers without enjoying the corresponding privileges.

Xianjin followed the gatekeeper into the residence, stepping into a representative Huizhou-style official residence.

The wooden buildings with post-and-lintel structures were arranged in neat rows, predominantly in black, white, and gray tones. Sky wells connected the main hall to the chambers, while the intricately carved dougong brackets symbolized the official residence. The elaborate decorations painted in vibrant colors presented a dazzling beauty under the late autumn sky.

Xianjin seemed to have calmed down entirely.

Xianjin was first taken to meet Lady Luo, the wife of Prefectural Magistrate Xiong.

For a guest of the niece, the lady of the house would see her if she had time; otherwise, a respectful greeting at the door to the elders would suffice.

Xianjin did not believe that someone of her merchant status could meet the lady of Xuancheng's prefecture.

Sure enough, a senior maid dressed in red and green instructed her to greet the lady at the door. After solemnly handing over the gilded gift box containing six yards of Xuan paper, Xianjin was led to the western wing where Xiao Xiong resided.

The courtyard was small, shaped like an open "mouth," with three rows of single-story houses arranged neatly. The row facing south was Xiao Xiong's boudoir.

"… Just call me Youning."

Xiao Xiong smiled as she instructed someone to serve Xianjin a cup of tea. "My given name is Xiong Youyou, chosen by my uncle. He said the character 'bear' sounds a bit robust, but adding 'yoyo' makes it quaint and adorable."

Xianjin smiled and accepted the tea, agreeing, "Bears are cute, and 'yoyo' is cute too."

Youniang then talked about some recent pastimes. After a moment, she said, "Regarding the matter of the magistrate you mentioned in your letter, there might be changes. Specifically, what do you mean…?"

Xianjin gently placed her teacup down.

She seemed to understand Youning's true feelings.

Youniang wanted to marry Cui Heng more than she let on.