The spring sunshine brought warmth as the carriage that Jiang Shuxiu was riding in drove out of the deep courtyard of the marquis's mansion.
Cross the bustling Dongxing Street, then pass the solemn and dignified Shangshan Gate and go straight to Xishi.
Mother Zhou quickly spotted the newly erected colorful gate not far away and reported it quietly to the car.
"Young Madam, the newly built Happy Gate is in front of us. This year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, we will hold a Thousand Lanterns Moon Viewing Party here."
Inside the carriage, Rui'er lifted a corner of the curtain lightly. Jiang Shuxiu turned her head slightly and saw that the gate was made of thick wooden poles, standing tall and majestic, at least six or seven feet high.
Although it has not been fully built yet, the outline of the pavilion can be seen, exuding a festive and lively atmosphere.
The carriage continued to move forward. There was an endless stream of people walking on the Feitian Bridge. There were also vendors setting up stalls by the bridge, and the cries of hawking were heard one after another, outlining a picture of a bustling market.
"Girl, we've arrived at the market."
Hearing Ruier's words, Jiang Shuxiu nodded slightly.
The carriage slowly drove into the market. Stalls and shops of all kinds were lined on both sides of the street.
From time to time, a horse-drawn carriage or donkey-drawn cart loaded with goods would slowly pass by, its wheels rolling over the cobblestone road, making a dull but rhythmic sound. The drivers were all in high spirits, driving their vehicles carefully, fearing that they would hit pedestrians or stalls if they were not careful.
The carriage stopped in front of the candied fruit shop Liuxinzhai. Jiang Shuxiu put on a veil and got off the carriage, followed by Ruier and Zhou Mama.
As soon as you enter the shop, you can smell a sweet and sour aroma that is refreshing.
The shop is filled with all kinds of candied fruits, including licorice and jiayingzi, candied grapes, candied winter melon strips, and golden candied dates, which are dazzling to the eyes.
The shop owner noticed the customers coming and greeted them with a smile, "Ladies, today we have some freshly pickled candied fruit. This is our new product, candied grapefruit, with just the right amount of sweet and sour, and it tastes great."
Jiang Shuxiu nodded slightly. She has always liked the candied fruits in this shop and would try some new ones every time she came.
She asked the shopkeeper to bring some candied grapefruit for her to try, and it was indeed sweet and sour, delicious and fragrant.
"Yes, this new product is really good." Rui'er, who was standing by, also praised it after eating it.
Jiang Shuxiu bought the Yanjin crabapples that Hong Yingrong wanted to eat, and also picked out a few other candied fruits, intending to take them back for Xue Shanqiu and others to try.
Mother Zhou watched from the side and smiled, "Young Madam is so considerate. She always thinks about the people in the mansion."
Jiang Shuxiu smiled slightly. After buying the candied fruits, the carriage went to the busiest street square in the West Market.
In the center of the square, several betting stalls have been set up bustling with activity, attracting the attention of passers-by.
These stalls are set up for the talented students from all over the country who have passed the imperial examinations this year. On the towering flagpoles, the students' hometowns, names and unique nicknames are fluttering in the wind.
Jiang Shuxiu glanced through the curtains of the carriage and found that her cousin Jiang Lun was betting on several stalls. The different odds were very lively, which made her feel curious.
However, just as she was about to get off the bus and experience the excitement herself, Mother Zhou gently advised, "Young Madam, it's crowded and noisy here, and it's a place full of all kinds of people. It's better for us not to get off the bus. If anything goes wrong, it will be hard to explain."
Jiang Shuxiu felt a little disappointed when she heard this, but she also knew that what Zhou's mother said was true.
She nodded slightly and said softly, "Then let's go to Zhenbaozhai." As she spoke, she gently lowered the curtain of the car, leaving the excitement and novelty outside the car.
The carriage slowly drove across the square. Jiang Shuxiu looked out the window at the betting stalls and fluttering flags in the distance. He couldn't help but pray for his cousin Jiang Lun, hoping that he could pass the Jinke High School and bring honor to himself and his family.
On the bustling streets of the capital, there is a constant flow of cars and horses. From the bustling crowd, it is not difficult to get a glimpse of clues about the identity of the pedestrians.
For example, when ordinary women travel, they are mostly middle-aged women.
Occasionally, young girls would show up. Those who were a little respectable would often wear veils and walk with their sisters or elderly women. Those from ordinary families were freer from all the formalities and felt more at ease.
During the day, they would go to shops or work for their masters. Even if they showed their faces in public, it was no big deal as they were under the emperor's feet.
At first glance, the carriage that Jiang Shuxiu was riding in was obviously from the home of either a wealthy family or an official in the capital.
As the carriage got closer to the West Market, the crowd became more and more surging.
At this moment, a young man dressed as a vendor quietly approached the carriage.
Although the merchant wasn't a sly fellow, his demeanor hinted at a hint of stealth. He called out to the carriage, "Sir, would you like to buy some rice? It's newly harvested this spring, and it's of the highest quality. The price is 20% lower than the market price in Beijing."
The two servants following closely behind the carriage immediately stepped forward to stop him, fearing that the merchant would disturb the master in the carriage.
Mother Zhou waved her sleeves and sternly said, "Go! Go hawk your wares somewhere else!"
The young merchant took a glance at the decoration of the carriage and knew that the person in the carriage was either rich or noble, so he was unwilling to give up.
"It is absolutely top-quality rice, coming from the farms of high-ranking officials in the suburbs of Beijing. Its quality even surpasses the rice from the south of the Yangtze River." He boasted endlessly.
However, Jiang Shuxiu in the carriage found it funny. She knew immediately that what the dealer said was not entirely true.
She had more or less knowledge about several farms in the suburbs of Beijing and even the imperial farms in the palace. Who would have extra harvest this year?
Even if there is a surplus harvest, it will be purchased by his own grain shop or several large rice shops in the capital.
How could someone solicit buyers on the street and even claim that the price is 20% lower than the market price?
If such a thing were to spread, that family would probably become the laughing stock of the capital.
Seeing that the trafficker was still pestering her, Mother Zhou signaled the servants to go forward and drive him away.
The vendor, fearing a beating, threw a small cloth bag to Mother Zhou and whispered, "If you change your mind, just go to the Dacheng Rice Shop."
As soon as he finished speaking, he scurried into the narrow alley like a rat and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"There are such scoundrels on the streets of Beijing now. We should report them to the Jingzhao Yin and let the yamen runners take good care of them." Mother Zhou said angrily.
She opened the small cloth bag and found a handful of rice inside. She was about to throw it away.
Rui'er lifted the car curtain and said, "Mom, give it to me."
"Oh, how can we show this disgusting thing to the young lady?" Mother Zhou said worriedly.
"It's okay, I'll take it." Rui'er assured, reaching out to take the small cloth bag handed to her by Mother Zhou.
Rui'er lowered the curtain, opened the cloth bag, and poured the rice grains into the palm of her hand. Jiang Shuxiu was a little surprised when she saw it, and gently fiddled with the rice grains with her fingertips.
It is indeed of superior quality, each one is full, round and crystal clear.
"Which farm does this rice come from?"
Jiang Shuxiu blurted out with a puzzled look on his face.
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