Chapter 12 Part VI
The distance from Lishan to Feirong wasn’t too far, even though it was separated by Hushan city. They traveled all day, stopping for lunch at Hushan. Along the way between Hushan and Feirong, the majority of the landscape was adorned with mulberry and cotton farms, fitting for a city renowned for its textiles. After another half-day journey, they finally reached Feirong.
The towering city walls were prominent from a distance, and the beautifully inscribed na of Feirong City stood out. rchants lined the roads, similar to Fengfu City, but on a much larger scale. Most of the rchandise was fabrics and food, especially since it was the Fabric Competition Festival, so the majority of goods were exquisite fabrics from Feirong and the surrounding area. Zhenzhu’s eyes sparkled at the sight of various kinds of silk, cotton, and linen.
These diverse fabrics could be transford into beautiful garnts, sparking Zhenzhu’s imagination. She admired the beauty and quality of each fabric, this was beautiful, that was fine texture, considering so suitable for sumr and others for winter, until she was overwheld by the choices.
"How do you like it, Zhu’er? Do you enjoy it?" He Lei, seeing her wide-eyed wonder, was affectionately indulgent. His daughter seed to have a genuine passion for fabrics.
"I love it very much, Father. I want to explore more."
"Let’s enter the city first. We will stay here for several days, and you can explore to your heart’s content."
He Lei then found an accommodation for the family to ensure privacy. The accommodation they found was a dium-sized manor not too far from the community, a popular lodging area for distinguished visitors from other cities. Despite the higher price due to the festival season, they were willing to pay for convenience and safety. The He family was now in a position to afford such expenses without difficulty.
Upon arriving, they unloaded their belongings from the carriage before He Lei took the carriage to a designated area outside the city for parking.
The manor had up to 5 bedrooms. Zhenzhu, not being picky, randomly chose one for herself. Due to the previous night’s vigil over the mysterious woman, she had slept very little. Being in her growing years, she needed proper rest, so upon reaching her room, she imdiately lay down to sleep.
She fell asleep quickly.
Next morning, the sunlight streaming through the window woke her. After stretching to relieve the stiffness, she noticed a little squirrel scampering along the wall and disappearing into a large tree beside the wall.
Zhenzhu got up, took a bath, dressed, and then left her room to join her family.
"Zhu’er, are you awake? I saw you were tired from the journey, so I didn’t wake you. Co quickly and have breakfast first," Miss Wang who was preparing the plate called out as she saw her walking out.
“Did you make this food, Mother?”
"No, we ordered it from a restaurant because I didn’t know where to buy fresh vegetables and food, and we don’t have cooking utensils. Your father went out to buy food from a restaurant early in the morning."
"Where is everyone else?" Since she ca out, she only saw her mother.
"Yu’er was interested in horses when we passed a stable yesterday, so he begged your father to take him to see them. They went to a stable near the city entrance."
Ah... He Yu has wanted a horse for a long ti. She had promised to buy him one, but because she thought he was too young, she hadn’t yet. Seeing the horses must have made him beg their father to buy one for sure.
"And what about Big Brother?"
"I sent him to buy so necessities. There he is, coming just in ti," she said as she saw He Ming carrying lots of things and went to help him.
"Younger Sister, we should explore the city together. I saw many interesting things," He Ming said excitedly. It was his first ti visiting another city, and everything seed new and fascinating to him. He could not suppress his excitent.
"Of course! Let’s eat quickly, Big Brother, and then we can go out. Mother, I’ll go out with Big Brother," Zhenzhu didn’t forget to ask for her mother’s permission.
Miss Wang, knowing her children were skilled in spirit energy cultivation and martial arts taught by their father, believed they could take care of themselves and nodded in agreent.
Zhenzhu and He Ming quickly finished their al and left the manor, heading straight for the city market.
"There are many fabrics stores here, Younger Sister, but not as many as on that street. I walked there this morning. We can check it out later."
"Okay," Zhenzhu looked around at the goods being sold with excitent. She saw many unusual items she had never seen before and wandered around, trying different snacks and foods.
"This is delicious, Big Brother. Try it," she offered him a kind of candied fruit.
“Um, it’s really good. Sour and sweet, and very fragrant,” he comnted.
"Big Brother, let’s buy more to take back for Yu’er, father, and mother," she suggested, wanting to share the delicious find with others.
"Alright, wait here. It’s crowded over there; I’ll go buy it myself."
"Thank you, Big Brother," she said, taking another bite of the candied fruit.
As He Ming went back to buy more candied fruits, Zhenzhu loitered nearby. Looking around, she noticed an old man with a white beard sitting asleep next to a garbage bin. Next to him was a painting depicting a lake with sunlight reflecting off the water, creating a lifelike and vibrant scene. A small fishing boat floated on the water, but instead of fishing, the fisherman was playing a flute. The painting priced at 500 taels.
Stunningly expensive!
No wonder people passing by didn’t stop to look; such a high price deterred potential buyers. Even renowned artists typically sold their work for 50 to 100 taels. Unless it was a masterpiece by a grandmaster, selling a painting for 500 taels seed excessively expensive, regardless of its realism. Yet, the painting captivated her, making her pause. For a mont, as she observed the fisherman playing the flute, she could almost hear the lody, unsure if it was her imagination or sothing more.
In an instant, it was as if the shimring light on the surface of the water beca real, reflecting into her eyes. Zhenzhu felt as if she was pulled into the painting, standing on that lakeside, surrounded by a warm and comfortable atmosphere. The sound of a flute echoed from afar, its lody tinged with longing and sorrow, captivating her entirely.
"Younger Sister!" The call from He Ming startled her out of the trance. At that mont, her inner chaos stirred, and her spirit energy was activated. Testing her cultivation of spirit energy revealed she could now create 645 energy channels.
Why had her spirit energy surged like this?
Just the day before, she could only create 589 channels.
Could it be...?
"Younger Sister, are you alright?" He Ming, returning with a large bundle of candied fruits, noticed his sister’s distracted state and called out loudly.
"I’m fine, Big Brother."
"Then let’s go. There’s a jewelry shop over there. We can buy sothing for Mother."
"Wait a mont, Brother. I’m interested in this painting," she pointed to the lake painting before them.
He Ming looked where she was pointing and gasped in surprise. He quickly pulled her aside and whispered, "Younger Sister, that painting is too expensive. We can buy from the larger galleries instead, where the prices aren’t so high. Even paintings by famous artists are priced at only around 100 taels, but this one is 500 taels!" Although their family’s financial situation had improved, making most purchases unproblematic. However, to buy this particular painting was extravagant. It took days of selling vegetables to save up to 500 taels. Even if Younger Sister used her personal funds, he couldn’t help but feel it was wasteful.
"Brother, I think that old man might be a spirit energy cultivator specializing in artistic spiritual practices."
"Really?" If the old man was indeed an artistic spirit energy cultivator as she suggested, then 500 taels would indeed be a bargain.
Zhenzhu approached the old man again, who was still dozing beside the trash can. "Grandfather, I’d like to buy this painting." Yet, her calls couldn’t wake him.
"Grandfather!" she raised her voice.
"Hey, why are you yelling?" The old man woke up abruptly, wiping drool from his cheek with his sleeve.
"I want to buy this painting."
"Not selling... Still sleeping," he mumbled, resting his head back against the trash can.
The siblings exchanged confused glances. Could it really be this way?
He Ming quickly pulled his sister away, whispering, "Younger Sister, I think he might be more of a madman than a master artist.” Set the price at 500 taels was hard enough to sell, but when there was soone intended to buy, he did not care to sell at all.
"Artists can be like that, Brother. Let’s go over there," she said, leading him to a nearby snack shop.
Zhenzhu bought a few snacks more as a formality and asked the snack vendor, "Auntie, who is that old man?"
"Oh, that old man? I’ve seen him sitting there selling his paintings for several days. I don’t know where he’s from. His painting is expensive. It’s beautiful, but who would buy for that price?”
"So, he’s not from this town?"
"No, he’s only been here a few days. I see him every day, but he could not sell his painting."
"Ah, I see. Will he be sitting there every day?"
"Yes, he’s been there for several days now."
"Thank you very much, Auntie."
As they walked away, He Ming reassured, "Younger Sister, if you really want the painting, we can co back another day. The auntie said he’s there every day, right?"
"Of course," Zhenzhu agreed, but in her heart, she felt as if she had struck luck. Buying the painting was secondary; what she really wanted was a painting instructor for He Yu. Ever since their conversation that day, she had observed her younger brother closely. He truly enjoyed drawing, spending his free ti sketching imaginative pictures whenever he wasn’t playing with Baihu and Xiao She. If seriously nurtured, he might well beco a great painter in the future.
Zhenzhu and He Ming wandered around the city until they were tired. Now, He Ming’s back was burdened with a large bundle of cloth, and his arms were filled with bags. They seed to pick up sothing from every shop they entered. This was not working. After returning, she should inscribe a dinsional object to store things so that He Ming wouldn’t be burdened like this.
"Big Brother, I think we should head back for today. We can co again tomorrow. We can’t carry any more."
"Alright, let’s head back," they agreed, helping each other carry their goods back to their lodging. However, before they could leave, they heard a commotion.
"Thief! Help, thief!" The shout ca from a distance, and soon, a skinny man was seen running towards them. Zhenzhu quickly pulled He Ming to hide behind a fabric stall.
As the thief was about to run past, Zhenzhu flicked her hand lightly, and suddenly, the thief tripped over as if stumbling on sothing, falling face down.
The chasing officers were then able to apprehend him.
Soon after, a young lady, around 11-12 years old, ran up. With a face full of fierce anger, she began to stomp on the man’s part of that pitiful thief with her little feet without holding back.
"Ouch!"
n around winced, instinctively covering themselves.
"How dare you steal from a young lady like !"
"Ouch!"
She kicked him again, right in the sa spot. Zhenzhu, watching from a distance, saw that the girl’s kicks were imbued with blue-tier spirit energy. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the thief; he probably wouldn’t be able to procreate after this.
This young lady must not be ordinary, likely a noble from a large city. At such a young age, she could already cultivate blue-tier spirit energy. Yet, her appearance did not fit the typical secluded noble; her skin wasn’t the usual pale but had a tan shade, indicating frequent outdoor activities. She had a high bridged nose and red lips. Her fierce yet not arrogant eyes intrigued Zhenzhu.
"Officers, take away quickly," the skinny thief pleaded for rcy. If he kept letting her kick him nonstop, he could die before got into jail. This young lady was brutal, only kicking him. Did she see others as an object for punching and kicking? And why these officers did not stop her?
An officer respectfully returned a purse to the young lady, confirming Zhenzhu’s suspicion that she must be a noble’s daughter. The thief truly had bad luck, targeting such a formidable young lady.
After the officers took the thief away, the young lady stood still, looking puzzled at the ground and around her, then stared at the onlookers one by one until her gaze landed on Zhenzhu, raising an eyebrow.
"What’s your na?"
Zhenzhu was taken aback. "W... wha... my na is He Zhenzhu." Why would she suddenly ask her na?
"From now on, you’re my companion."
"Eh? Young lady, you are..."
"What Lady? I’m Li Si. Let’s go have a al. I’ll treat you, and you, porter." The young lady decided unilaterally, leaving everyone more baffled than before. That was her brother, not so porter.
“What?...”
"Co on," Li Si said, pulling Zhenzhu along as if they had been close for a lifeti. It wasn’t long before Zhenzhu found herself being dragged into a luxurious dining hall by Li Si.
Li Si led Zhenzhu to a private dining room and ordered a variety of dishes without concern for the cost.
"You, the porter, sit down and eat with us," Li Si invited.
"He’s not a porter. He’s my brother, He Ming," Zhenzhu corrected the misunderstanding.
"Ah, A’Ming, A’Zhu, co sit. I’m starving," Li Si quickly adapted their nas and invited them to sit, leaving the siblings bewildered at how quickly they had apparently beco close.
"Do you live in this city?" Li Si asked.
"No, we’re from Fengfu City. We ca just to see the Fabric Contest Festival."
"Ah, sa as . I’m from the capital, also here to watch the Fabric Contest Festival," Li Si smiled.
"Do you like fabrics too?"
"No. I ca to find a skilled weaver to take back with to make beautiful clothes. I had to beg my father for three days and nights, and he agreed only if I took a whole entourage of guards with ," Li Si said with a sigh of boredom.
"Where are all the guards then?"
"I drugged them all so they’d sleep. That’s how I managed to sneak out. Too many people, it’s annoying," revealing Li Si’s mischievous side, indicating her parents and guards probably had their hands full with her antics.
"Why do you need a skilled weaver? The capital is known for its beautiful fabrics and skilled weavers. I heard Miss Yaoyao’s jade pearl silk is exceptionally beautiful."
"Do you know her too? Don’t tell you admire her as well," Li Si looked at Zhenzhu with a sharp gaze.
"Not at all. I’ve just heard of her reputation."
"That’s good then," Li Si sighed in relief. "I need a skilled weaver because I want to compete with that pretentious Yaoyao. Does she think she is so beautiful and talented? Duh, she’s just a fake jade.” She sneered while criticizing.
The conversation revealed that Li Si was the daughter of a warrior noble, and she particularly disliked Lady Yaoyao. Li Si refused to buy Lady Yaoyao’s fabrics, resulting in her not standing out at social events, which made her the subject of ridicule among those ladies. However, Li Si didn’t care about standing out; she simply didn’t like Lady Yaoyao, who appeared sweet and friendly in public but was actually very spiteful. Therefore, her will to win brought her to Feirong City.
"You can just ignore her. Why keep holding such a grudge toward her?" Zhenzhu suggested, finding Li Si perhaps too headstrong. As far as she knew from listening to her story, Lady Yaoyao had done nothing that could displease Li Si.
"No, I can’t. It’s because she wants to beco my sister-in-law!"
"You don’t know anything. When her attempts with my brother didn’t work out, she moved on to Taizi. She’s always overly ambitious."
Zhenzhu could only sigh. [1]If flower has feelings, but the water is indifferent, then there is no way. Why bother to think for others? It’s not like her brother and Taizi were actually fond of Yaoyao. Why prevent a sister-in-law from coming into the picture?
[10] ‘Flower has feelings, but the water is indifferent’ ans a situation when a woman has feelings for a man, but the man doesn’t reciprocate.
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Read ‘Rebirth: This Farmgirl Has Spirit Fish Scales’ before anyone else with more Chapters at sjinovel/en
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