Chapter 103: Market Price
West Market.
On the notice board at the market entrance, Su Fengji’s wanted poster had been torn down, but Li Ye’s was still there.
The Imperial Guard scanned every pedestrian, unusually not disturbing the public. Wang Yin had clearly weighed the loss of public favor against Li Ye’s threat.
Xiao Yi listened to people discussing how they would spend their thousand strings of cash, finding it amusing.
First, they went to the silver shop. The shopkeeper calculated the total in the box, the abacus whirring for a while, and finally said, “A total of two hundred and sixty-seven strings. How much would you like to exchange, esteemed customer?”
Xiao Yi and Hua Nong both felt it was about right.
Old Pan, however, said, “That’s not right! One tael of gold is worth ten taels of silver, and one tael of silver is worth sixteen hundred coins. That’s quite a difference!”
“Esteemed customer, that was yesterday’s exchange rate. Copper coins have depreciated due to the war; it’s different today.”
“How is it different?”
“Haven’t you heard? The Imperial Court has been buying large amounts of gold for grain and winter clothes, so the price of gold has fallen back.”
Old Pan angrily slapped his thigh and said, “I forgot about this. I was one of the first to know about the Imperial Treasury gold, and I didn’t advise you to exchange for cash sooner, young master.”
“Don’t be angry, elder brother. If you have the capability, it’s not too late. Take a merchant caravan to Shu Region or Jiangnan to purchase grain and cloth and bring them back. As long as you don’t encounter bandits, you’re sure to make a fortune.”
Old Pan advised Xiao Yi to exchange some of his gold and silver for cloth and silk for the time being, to avoid further depreciation.
Xiao Yi knew Guo Wei was already working to stabilize prices, so he wasn’t in a hurry. He only exchanged thirty strings of copper coins, which Old Pan and Hua Nong carried for him.
They first went to the Golden Hook Medical Hall to buy the remaining medicine.
The old doctor was free today and, seeing him come with money, sighed, “The soldiers under Duke Guo are different from others.”
Xiao Yi deliberately said, “It’s Duke Guo who is different from other Sons of Heaven.”
“Those words don’t scare me, old sir. I’ve seen many Sons of Heaven in my life. Let’s not talk about it, let’s not talk about it.”
“May I ask, old sir, if I wanted to grind two transparent… hmm, lenses, who should I find?”
The old doctor probably didn’t understand and said, “Military officer, just go to Liu the Coppersmith. On Ma Hang Street, turn right after the bridge into the alley. It’s the third small shop. There’s no sign; he relies on his craft to attract customers.”
When they reached the copper shop, Xiao Yi saw only copperware filling the shop and his first thought was that he had come to the wrong place.
But when he saw the old coppersmith sitting on a low stool polishing a bronze mirror until it was as smooth as water, he felt it was indeed worthy of grinding lenses.
Xiao Yi surveyed the shop, picked up a few copper items, and marveled at their fine craftsmanship.
“Did the old master make all these?”
“Obviously.”
“Your craftsmanship is excellent.”
The old coppersmith didn’t look up and said, “Young man, just tell me what you want.”
Xiao Yi pointed to a bronze mirror and asked, “Can this mirror be ground to be thin in the middle and thick at the edges?”
“You look down on me? I can grind it, but it will distort the reflection. What’s the use?”
“I want a transparent material, to grind a lens, so I can read through it… His eyesight is poor, I’m making it for him.”
“A crystal mirror, what’s so strange about that? That would need to be thick in the middle and thin at the edges, set in a copper ring to read through. You’ve got it backwards.”
“I haven’t got it backwards. If you can grind it, the labor fee will be double the usual.”
“The material inside is full of impurities, it won’t be clear. It’s useless.”
“Is there a way?”
“You need to find transparent material. You find it yourself; I’ll just do the grinding. There’s crystal material sold in the East Market, and there’s a shop in the West Market, Zhenbao Pavilion, up ahead.”
Xiao Yi knew crystal material was not cheap. He wanted to make glass but had no idea how to start, so he had to take it one step at a time.
As expected, a piece of crystal less than a fist in size was priced at over two thousand three hundred coins. Hua Nong almost knelt, urging Xiao Yi not to waste money, but he couldn’t be stopped.
Back at Liu’s Copper Shop, when Xiao Yi took out the design drawing, his hand paused. He said, “This design, master, you must keep it a secret.”
“A small, trivial thing. You young man, you really are… Ah, you’re a military officer.”
The old coppersmith looked up, saw the token hanging from Xiao Yi’s waist, and a fawning smile appeared on his face. “You’re right, military officer. Military secrets, I will keep my mouth firmly shut!”
Xiao Yi handed over the drawing and asked, “How long will it take to make?”
“Pick it up in eight days. Labor fee is eight hundred coins, copper frame is five hundred coins… Military officer, four hundred for labor is fine. The material is too hard to grind.”
“Four days. Labor fee is sixteen hundred.”
“This… Thank you, military officer!”
“Who else in the city has good skills?”
“Huh? Nobody else. I’m the best. Well… since you ask, military officer, Wang Xiaochui in the east of the city has passable skills, but his shop mostly sells apprentice work, unlike mine where I make everything myself.”
“Good. I’ll give this job to Wang Xiaochui as well. Whoever finishes it faster and better, I have more big business to entrust.”
“Three days! Even if I don’t sleep, I’ll finish it one day earlier than that old turtle.”
“Don’t not sleep; think of more ways.”
“Yes, just watch, military officer…”
After leaving the coppersmith’s shop, they went to the East Market and saw that it was indeed more upscale than the West Market.
They quickly found a piece of transparent crystal material and went to Wang’s Copper Shop. Originally, an apprentice was handling it, but upon hearing that Liu the Coppersmith in the west of the city had taken on a similar job, Wang Xiaochui himself came out.
Hua Nong squinted and exclaimed in surprise, “His name is Xiaochui, yet he is so old?”
“I’ve been called Xiaochui since I was little. After I make these lenses, I’ll open your eyes!”
With all this done, a pair of glasses cost over four strings, and making two pairs made Hua Nong heartbroken to the point of tears.
Xiao Yi was unconcerned and said, “You don’t understand; technology requires investment.”
Afterward, they planned to look at cloth and silk.
Xiao Yi looked around and saw, in the best location of the East Market, a cloth shop with a brand-new signboard bearing the four characters “Song Family Cloth Shop,” still emitting the smell of lacquer.
He strode directly in, his talisman on his waist jingling.
Upon seeing him, the welcoming shop assistant was stunned for a moment and then rushed behind a curtain.
“Hand… handsome young master…”
“Is the new owner here?”
Soon, an old shopkeeper with his staff turned out, bowed in a panic, and said, “Your humble servant greets the Imperial Son-in-law…”
As soon as he spoke, he rubbed his old eyes, saw the characters on Xiao Yi’s talisman, and quickly stood up, a welcoming smile appearing on his face.
“What do you need, esteemed customer? Our shop only sells the finest silk brocade, Shu brocade, and Wu silk. We do not sell kudzu or hemp. This auspicious beast patterned Shu brocade, using the tapestry technique, is densely woven and durable, most suitable for cutting into spring clothing.”
“Do you have cotton cloth?”
“Yes! You know this new material. Esteemed customer must be a person of noble birth. Please… this batch of cotton cloth was imported from Shu Region or Jiangnan. Why? There isn’t any in the Bianliang area. Feel this material; it’s softer than silk, not delicate, and resistant to sweat. It can withstand scrubbing. Wrapped in winter, it’s warmer than fox fur. Worn alone in summer, it doesn’t stick when sweaty. Two words: comfortable.”
“It’s rare to see cotton cloth.”
Xiao Yi’s inner shirt was made of fine linen, which was scratchy. It was the first time he had touched cotton cloth since opening his eyes, and it was indeed much more comfortable.
Seeing his expression, the shopkeeper couldn’t help but clap his hands and exclaim, “Noble customer, truly a noble customer! It’s clear from your demeanor that you have always worn cotton cloth, unlike others. How many bolts would you like to buy for spring clothing today?”
“How much is it?”
“Eight strings per bolt.”
“What?!” Old Pan jumped up and exclaimed, “A bolt of cloth… eight thousand coins?! The finest fine linen is only eight hundred coins.”
The shopkeeper smiled faintly and said nothing.
Xiao Yi shook his head and said, “Too expensive.”
Saying it was expensive, yet the shopkeeper’s demeanor toward Xiao Yi was completely different. He praised, “Esteemed customer knows the market. You must have always worn cotton cloth. But prices in Kaifeng have risen so much, not to mention the cost of transportation over a thousand miles and customs fees.”
He picked up a piece of cotton cloth and placed it in Xiao Yi’s palm.
“Choose this bolt. It comes from the skillful hands of a Jiangnan embroiderer, woven with double warp and double weft, smooth as jade. Look at its color; it’s dyed with the most precious dye from Lingnan, safflower dye, the most authentic red. Even after half a year of sun exposure, it will not fade.”
“Good cloth.”
“Pick a bolt of white cloth, to feel the thoughtfulness of a Shu maiden. The threads are spun from three strands of cotton, making the woven fabric dense enough to block fine wind. It’s degummed with lime and rinsed seven times in well water, pure white without any discoloration.”
“Good cloth.”
“Bring it for the esteemed customer.” The shopkeeper chided a shop assistant and then took out another bolt of cloth. “This bolt is good. The color, like apricot blossoms in the mist and rain, is so beautiful. Ladies love it the most…”
“Stop.”
“Yes.” The shopkeeper was very confident and smiled, “Esteemed customer, you can buy this apricot color again next time you visit.”
“How many bolts of cloth are needed for a set of clothes?”
“That depends on whether it’s an inner shirt or an outer garment, spring or winter clothing. For someone as tall and imposing as you, an outer garment would require one and a half to two bolts.”
“Three bolts of red and three bolts of white.” Xiao Yi asked, “Is this shop currently the business of Zhong Jian Xiong?”
The shopkeeper’s gaze flickered to his token again, and after a moment’s hesitation, he said, “How would I know such things?”
Xiao Yi did not press the issue and asked, “Can you deliver it to my residence?”
“Naturally.”
“Deliver the three bolts of white to the Guo Residence.”
“May I ask which Guo Residence?”
“Not far from the Great Xiangguo Temple.”
The shopkeeper’s face turned pale with shock. He quickly said, “I will give it to you at the cost price, esteemed customer…”
Xiao Yi said calmly, “No need. Just at the market price.”
The shopkeeper thought for a moment, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “I dare not deceive you, esteemed customer. Our shop is not registered under the Imperial Son-in-law’s residence.”
“I see.”
“Please agree to settle at the cost price. It’s not easy for me.”
After purchasing, the white cotton cloth was sent to the Guo Residence. Xiao Yi would bring the red cotton cloth to the Li Residence later.
