Chapter 95 Chapter 95 "Boss, this...
"Boss, this is our shop's work report, please take a look." Shopkeeper Zhou handed Jiang Wan a thick stack of papers.
Before the renaming ceremony, she also required the branches to submit rectification reports, but at the time, everyone was perfunctory. Now, seeing that Qingjiangju has opened both affordable and expensive porcelain lines and silk sales are gradually increasing, the branch owners are convinced and take the monthly work reports seriously.
Jiang Wan read the report carefully. Based on the previous shops' performance, Qingjiangju had already established a comprehensive logistics and employee training system, and had also replaced employees who had resigned or been fired due to changes in ownership.
The porcelain-making method she invented was widely used in Qingjiangju's exclusive porcelain factory. Its employee benefits were among the best, and many craftsmen were proud to be employed there. The shop's reputation soared, becoming almost a household name.
Only one issue remained to be addressed: Qingjiangju lacked the necessary ore mining licenses, forcing it to purchase much of the ore needed for porcelain production from ore merchants. However, a single imperial merchant in the ore industry held the mining rights to all official mines within the Great Zhou, effectively monopolizing all rare ores. Therefore, no matter how high the price, Qingjiangju had no choice but to purchase the ore, significantly increasing its expenses.
There are only two ways to solve this problem: one is to establish a good relationship with the imperial merchant; the other is to become an imperial merchant yourself.
"I understand. I'll find a way to solve it." Jiang Wan turned to look at the embroidery cabinet, which was already mostly empty. "Is Xixi still in the same state?"
"Yes, after all, we just found out that both of our biological parents are...Does the boss want to go and persuade Miss Chen?"
Jiang Wan shook her head. "It's no use trying to persuade her. Just let her be. Keep an eye on her for me. Tell me if anything happens."
After checking the shop, she closed her eyes, entered the system, and looked at the remaining points.
After purchasing the ultrasonic topograph, the knockout drug, and the activation potion, she had 1270 points remaining. However, Qingjiangju's business had been booming recently, and the system had awarded her 200 points, bringing her current total to 1470.
There is still a long way to go before reaching 3000 points.
After coming down from Fangshan, she asked the customer service what "not in the cycle of reincarnation" meant. But the customer service was also surprised, clearly unaware. She and Wen Shen went to Huguo Temple together, but the old abbot kept saying that the secrets of heaven must not be revealed, and refused to say a word.
Jiang Wan was pondering when suddenly a hint of pink appeared in front of him.
They were freshly picked lotus flowers, with morning dew still lingering on the petals, sparkling in the sunlight.
The hand holding the flower stem was slender and well-proportioned, full of strength. Looking up along the arm, one could see Wen Shen's face, which looked like a celestial being descended to earth.
His eyes were filled with smiles: "Does it look good?"
hiss.
It's really annoying.
Jiang Wan covered her heart, which was about to burst out of her chest. She didn't dare to look up at his eyes and whispered softly, "It looks good."
The wet flower stem was stuffed into her hand, and the fingers of the person who gave the flowers brushed across the back of her hand, gently rubbing the skin on the back of her hand, causing a slight itch.
It seems unintentional, but also like a tease.
"Master Wen..."
Wen Shen raised an eyebrow: "Still calling me Master Wen?"
“…Zi Yan.”
She had called him that when they were in Xiaofang Pancheng. However, he hadn't even been crowned at that time, and this courtesy name was given to him by Empress Wen in advance, so when he half-truthfully called himself Ziyan, she had no idea it was him.
Later, he returned to Beijing and was given the courtesy name, but she couldn't say it out loud.
"Well," Wen Shen said, "If you like, let's go to West Lake to appreciate the lotus flowers together."
After a pause, he stared at her cautiously: "On the night of Qixi Festival."
Jiang Wan raised his head, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Seeing her nod, Wen Shen was obviously relieved. He put a letter on the table and stood up. "I brought this to you on behalf of my sister."
The midsummer sun fell on Jiang Wan's face, making her skin fair and rosy, and her clear eyes reminded people of the shimmering waves of West Lake.
He couldn't help but stretched out his hand to pinch her cheek, feeling the warmth in his palm, and raised his lips slightly: "Seize the opportunity, Boss Jiang."
Jiang Wanzhan read the letter and felt delighted.
Qingjiangju received a special order.
The letter stated that envoys from Wusun and Loulan had arrived at the Great Zhou border the day before yesterday. His Majesty would host a banquet at the Imperial Palace on the evening of the sixth day of the seventh lunar month. The Ministry of Rites was preparing for the banquet, but after much searching, they hadn't found a suitable state gift.
So the Empress Dowager whispered something in Emperor Chengde's ear, and the order fell on Jiang Wan.
The specific details involved state affairs, so the letter didn't mention them. However, this was the first time the Wusun had sent an envoy to visit since its founding, and it was of great significance to the Zhou's diplomacy in the Western Regions. Previously, the Wusun had always been pro-Xiongnu, and if this opportunity could be used to win over the Wusun, the situation in the Western Regions would be greatly improved.
As for the reason why the Wusun Kunmi suddenly sent an envoy to visit, Jiang Wan had a rough guess. She was also present at the Wuhu Alliance in March of this year. Perhaps it was Molang Khan's actions that made the Wusun feel dangerous.
The purpose of sending people to visit Lin'an was mostly to demonstrate to the Huns and to find more reliable allies.
In the alliance between the two countries, gifts were not the most important thing. But for Jiang Wan, this was an opportunity to show her face in front of Emperor Chengde. If she seized it, it would be the first step towards becoming an imperial merchant.
Jiang Wan closed the letter and sighed inwardly.
Even if she didn't say anything, Wen Shen understood what she wanted most.
Today is the second day of July. Four days is a tight schedule for most craftsmen, but for Jiang Wan, four days is considered plenty of time.
Due to the special nature of state gifts, this order must meet the following requirements:
First, it was to showcase the Great Zhou's cutting-edge technology. Simply put, it was to show off its skills to the nations of the Western Regions. Though small, these artifacts represented the maturity of a nation's handicraft industry, and thus reflected its level of sophistication.
Secondly, it incorporates the cultural characteristics of the Western Regions. This is to show closeness, sincerity to the visitors and love for the other party's culture.
The third is that it is expensive. There is nothing much to say about this, a state gift cannot be shabby.
Jiang Wan had no idea what to do, so she decided to look up some historical data. After all, she could refer to the history of the Central Plains, which she had read about in her previous life, for the Great Zhou culture, but she had never read the history of the Western Regions.
She remembered that there were many books in the study of the old Duke He. Now that the Duke's Mansion had returned to He Wanrong's hands, Jiang Wan had given a heads-up and went there after dinner to look up some information.
It was still dark when they arrived at the Duke's Mansion. It was a little earlier than the agreed time, but He Wanrong was already waiting at the door.
Now that she had regained her status as Miss He, she naturally had servants and maids to serve her. But Jiang Wan, observing her thin figure from afar, could sense a sense of loneliness, a sense of being left out.
"Why don't you wait inside? It's hot outside, and there are bugs." Jiang Wan quickly stepped forward and took He Wanrong's arm. "You are Miss He now. The maid will inform me when I arrive."
He Wanrong forced a smile and said, "I'm very bored alone, so waiting for you is just a way to kill time."
Jiang Wan: "If you're bored, just go out for a walk. Now that the case has been overturned, you can relax. Xixi has been in a bad mood these past two days, so it's a good time to ask her to accompany you to relax. When I finish the orders I have, I'll take you to Jinling for fun, okay?"
He Wanrong didn't react much to this, but just responded with a sullen look.
Jiang Wan paused, observing the other person's expression: "Are you...are you unhappy?"
He Wanrong shook her head subconsciously, but when she met Jiang Wan's gaze, she stopped.
After a while, she whispered, "Although my grievances have been cleared, my parents can't come back... Every blade of grass, every brick and tile in the house reminds me of them."
She looked at the empty courtyard. The corridors, the steps, the bonsai, everything was exactly as it had been before. In the middle of the courtyard stood a sweet-scented osmanthus tree, which had been laden with blossoms when she left home last year.
He Wanrong looked at them and recalled the appearance of the old Duke and his wife.
Jiang Wan had never experienced the pain of separation, so she didn't quite understand He Wanrong's feelings at the moment. But seeing her friend sad, she couldn't help but feel sad too.
"Look forward to everything. You've done very well. If the master and his wife knew about this, they would be happy for you." She patted He Wanrong's shoulder with a flattering smile. "The Fulai Inn has been closed down, and I haven't booked another inn. I'll just stay here for a few days to eat and drink. Will you treat me?"
He Wanrong was amused by her spoiled and coquettish appearance and gently tapped her nose: "If you beg me, I will reluctantly make you something delicious."
"Please, please! Miss is the best." Jiang Wan pulled her, "I want to eat sweet-scented osmanthus cake! And drink Xueding Hancui!"
"Okay, okay," He Wanrong chuckled, her sadness vanishing. "Little greedy cat, go read the historical materials first. I'll have the servants do it."
The old Duke's study contained a comprehensive collection of historical materials. Jiang Wan sat at the desk and skimmed through them.
Loulan was easy to deal with, as they had long been on friendly terms. Her primary concern was the Wusun. The Wusun Kingdom, established with the help of the Xiongnu, defeated the Dayuan people and established the Wusun Kingdom. Their culinary culture was similar to that of the Xiongnu. However, the Zhou Dynasty was at odds with the Xiongnu, so the gift could not include elements of Xiongnu culture, leaving her with limited options.
As she was flipping through the historical materials, she suddenly noticed an illustration of a cup shaped like an animal horn.
"The Laitong Cup?" He Wanrong walked into the house carrying the Snow-Topped Cup and commented, "It's very consistent with Wusun culture, but it's too ordinary and the craftsmanship is too simple."
The Laitong cup was a horn-shaped drinking vessel commonly used at Wusun banquets, often made from ox or sheep horns. Jiang Wan had seen this type of cup before at the Wusun General Tuke's residence, but she hadn't recognized it at the time.
This cup was originally used in blood sacrifice ceremonies, and later developed into a drinking vessel for Wusun nobles. [1] As Wusun's national power grew, it was introduced to small countries in the Western Regions such as Loulan, Dayuezhi, and Qiuci. It is a pure native product of Wusun.
"I didn't say I had to make an exact copy. I just wanted to imitate its shape." Jiang Wan's eyes sparkled. "I want to make the Wusun envoys astounded by the celadon."
【1】From Baidu Encyclopedia.
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