The carriage rumbled out of the alley, heading towards the most bustling district in Mo Bei.
Li Man'er sat inside, curious. She had arrived in a hurry and hadn't had a chance to properly see what the markets of Mo Bei were like. However, due to her status, she couldn't casually lift the curtain to look outside.
She'd see it eventually anyway.
Li Man'er's behavior, however, put Xiao Qiniang's mind at ease.
If she showed no trace of a young woman's naivete, it would truly be astonishing!
"Mo Bei is desolate; I fear it's not as prosperous as the capital. Please don't take offense, sister."
Li Man'er dismissed it with a wave. "Where did you get that idea, sister? Every place has its own merits. The capital is grand, Jiangnan is affluent; Mo Bei naturally has its own good points."
It seemed that after the big argument with Li Shu yesterday, Li Man'er's attitude had changed quite a bit. Before, she had consistently referred to Xiao Qi as "Miss Xiao Qi," refusing to get close. Now, she had changed her address to "Sister Xiao."
"What's so good about Mo Bei? I genuinely don't know," Xiao Qiniang mused. "To be honest with you, sister, this place is barren, and the sandstorms are severe. Crops don't grow well, and not many grains can be cultivated. Two seasons of the year are unbearably cold. Flowers have already withered elsewhere, and here in Mo Bei, only the small grasses are starting to sprout. Before you can get a good look, summer arrives again, and it's scorching hot. If you go out at noon, you'll practically melt."
"The Great Zun Kingdom is vast, spanning thousands of miles from north to south. It's not strange to have such variations! It would be rather dull if a country were the same from top to bottom, from north to south."
Xiao Qiniang nodded. "That's an interesting perspective, and it does hold some truth."
For some reason, the two women found a sense of mutual appreciation and could now converse harmoniously. It was a far cry from when Li Man'er first arrived in Mo Bei, their conversations always filled with bickering, like squawking chickens.
The bustle outside the carriage gradually intensified, and the calls of vendors began to reach their ears.
Li Man'er lifted the thick curtain a tiny crack and peeked outside. Seeing the liveliness, a smile touched her lips.
"Sister Xiao, the street is clearly very lively."
"It's almost New Year, so you don't see this kind of scene usually."
Li Man'er lowered the curtain. "Then where are we going now? To a teahouse or a restaurant?"
"Are you hungry?"
Li Man'er shook her head. "I just feel that teahouses and restaurants are livelier. And we could also visit some pharmacies. I heard there are many medicinal herb merchants in Mo Bei, so perhaps we might find some good finds."
"You're something else. Can't you forget about medicinal herbs for once when you're out playing?"
"I'm used to it!" Mentioning medicinal herbs, Li Man'er seemed to revert to her usual sharp and intelligent demeanor. "The profit margins for medicinal herbs are huge, but their quality varies greatly. Mo Bei's climate is unique. While it doesn't produce abundant grains, it has several medicinal herbs found nowhere else. For example, Bangsheng Hua, Cai Xue Gu..."
Xiao Qiniang's head started to ache. "Alright, my dear little aunt, today is about choosing gifts for you, not droning on about herbs."
She was truly at a loss for words.
"Okay!" Li Man'er was surprisingly obedient. The two of them put on a show of sisterly affection, yet they were both full of schemes, their swords hidden, waiting for the other to reveal a weakness first!
In a short while, the carriage came to a halt. An old woman brought out a stool, waiting by the side.
Li Man'er alighted first, then gallantly helped Xiao Qiniang down.
The coachman led the horses away, and several old women followed closely behind the two ladies. A small contingent stood by the entrance of the shop, like guardian deities.
The shop assistant dared not be negligent and quickly stepped forward, trying to buy time for his shopkeeper.
"Miss Xiao Qi, you've arrived." The young man had clearly honed his skills; his eyes were sharp, and he recognized Xiao Qiniang at a glance.
"Mm." Xiao Qiniang gave a brief reply and walked into the building.
Li Man'er followed half a step behind her. Looking up, she saw the signboard reading "Ji Bao Zhai" and entered the shop as well.
When the shopkeeper saw Xiao Qiniang arrive, he became extremely solicitous.
"Miss Xiao Qi, your esteemed presence truly makes our humble establishment shine."
Xiao Qiniang's attitude towards the shopkeeper was decent, but only just.
"Tian Pangzi, your words are getting sweeter and sweeter."
Heh, giving nicknames!
Li Man'er's interest was piqued. She glanced at the shopkeeper and noticed he was indeed quite plump, so much so that he seemed to have no neck, his head appearing to be directly attached to his shoulders.
This man was surely destined for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high uric acid.
"Heh heh, it's not just sweet talk; these are my heartfelt feelings," the shopkeeper chuckled.
"Enough. Do you have any good wares in the shop?"
The plump shopkeeper quickly replied, "We just received some exquisite pearls, fine hair ornaments, and small trinkets. But the most remarkable are the newly arrived jades – the color is perfect, and the translucency is excellent. Miss Qi, please step up to the second floor, and I'll personally show them to you."
Xiao Qiniang nodded with satisfaction. "Lead the way."
"Yes, yes, yes." The plump shopkeeper instructed a young assistant to block the stairs. "Don't let any other customers come up; just say Miss Xiao Qi is here."
"Yes, Shopkeeper."
Manager Tian personally led the two upstairs, secretly glancing at Li Man'er a few times. He initially assumed she was Xiao Qiniang's young husband and was engaged in some quiet gossip. However, when he heard Xiao Qiniang call "her" Man'er sister, the plump shopkeeper instantly understood. So, it was a young lady disguised as a man.
"Miss Qi, please have a seat. I'll go fetch the goods." The items in the jewelry store were all valuable, and the good pieces were kept locked in the storeroom, only to be displayed for distinguished guests. The key to the storeroom was always with the shopkeeper; if it were lost, his life wouldn't be worth a dime.
"Sixi, serve tea to Miss Qi."
A young assistant brought hot tea and pastries.
Neither of them ate nor drank, just waiting for the plump Manager Tian to bring the goods upstairs.
Before long, Manager Tian, along with two apprentices, emerged carrying three platters.
"Miss Qi, the goods are on the counter. Please inspect them carefully."
The two ladies rose to take a look.
"Miss Xiao, please look. This is a gold hairpin inlaid with five-colored gemstones. The craftsmanship used is the finest. The five colors represent metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, which carries good symbolism."
"The colors don't match, that's too far-fetched."
Upon hearing this, Manager Tian knew Xiao Qiniang wasn't interested in this hairpin and quickly had it removed.
"How about this necklace? The small gold and jade ornaments dangling from it are all exquisite, and the materials used are extremely high-quality. It's not commonly seen."
"It looks good," Xiao Qiniang said, showing it to Li Man'er. "What do you think?"
"A necklace?" Li Man'er replied, "I haven't worn one since I was eight, but the design is indeed very intricate."
Xiao Qiniang agreed. "Keep it. It would make a nice gift."
The plump shopkeeper immediately said, "Then I'll help you pack it."
A junior apprentice handed over a box, and the plump shopkeeper personally placed the necklace inside, setting it aside.