Liang Huixue was somewhat alarmed. She was unsure of what to do.
She never imagined that there were other time travelers in this world.
I wonder what this person's attitude is like? Is it good or bad?
"Let me tell you, don't touch my things. That person said these were all brought back from overseas. Now that maritime trade is restricted, it's not easy to get these things."
"What overseas?" Wasn't that something brought by the time traveler? Why are they talking about overseas again?
Liang Huixue blinked. "Why the sea ban?"
"Aren't you annoying? Go ask someone else, don't come looking for me." Liang Yuxue snorted coldly and left.
Ever since her sister fainted once, she's become a completely different person, even more annoying.
Since Liang Yuxue refused to answer her question, she could only ask her aunt.
Inside the room, Aunt Hui sat quietly by the window sewing clothes. Her gentle expression softened Liang Huixue's heart.
Unexpectedly, she was reborn as a concubine's daughter, but she gained a loving mother. In modern times, her mother died early, and after her father remarried, their relationship became distant, and their kinship was weak. In this ancient world, however, her dream came true.
"Auntie."
Liang Huixue called out softly.
“Hui Xue, I sewed you a new jacket. Try it on and see if it fits.”
"Mother made it for me, so it must fit perfectly." Liang Huixue smiled at Aunt Hui. She looked six parts like Aunt Hui and four parts like Lord Liang.
They only picked out the best features of them to resemble, so among all the Liang family members, Liang Huixue's appearance was the most outstanding.
"Aunt, I want to ask you about the maritime ban."
"Maritime ban? Why would you want to ask about these things?"
"To be honest, Aunt, today, my eldest sister brought back quite a few things. Among them was a box of lip rouge with a particularly beautiful color, and a glass mirror. I was quite envious, so I couldn't help but ask her a few more questions. But my eldest sister... seemed to have something urgent to attend to and was unwilling to answer me."
Liang Huixue spoke cautiously, while Aunt Hui looked at her with pity.
She reached out and touched Liang Huixue's delicate face, her eyes slightly red.
"It's all my fault, Auntie."
She didn't know what had gotten into her at the time.
Seeing her fellow maids become concubines and live lives where they were waited on hand and foot, she began to have her own thoughts.
"Aunt, you haven't wronged me at all. I was just curious," Liang Huixue said with a smile.
In fact, she could understand Aunt Hui's thoughts.
Moreover, Aunt Hui's original status was that of a servant. If she had been born into a servant's womb, she would have been just a lowly servant. Although she is now a concubine's daughter, she is still a young lady of the Liang family.
Madam Liang was not a good person, but her father was not bad.
With him around, their lives are guaranteed.
At the very least, they won't have to worry about food and clothing.
"This maritime ban was decided by the late emperor."
"The late emperor?"
"Yes, during the previous dynasty, maritime trade flourished. It must be said that due to the prosperity of maritime trade, the previous dynasty had many novel things, such as lip rouge, as well as corn with high yields, glass mirrors, and the like."
"These things existed in the previous dynasty?"
“Yes.” Aunt Hui nodded. “I have seen glass mirrors before. Back when we were in the Ma family, someone who admired the lady gave her a mirror. It was so clear that you could see even the fine hairs on her face.”
"Is that right???" Liang Huixue murmured softly.
Since there was maritime trade in the previous dynasty, it's possible that Liang Yuxue's items really were brought back from the sea.
"If that's the case, why was the sea ban imposed again?"
"It's all because of those pirates." Aunt Hui sighed. "Although maritime trade attracted many people to go to sea, not everyone could make money, and many people perished at sea. Moreover, in the coastal areas, there were pirates who came ashore, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of evil deeds. Later, gradually, fewer people went to sea, and in order to prevent these pirates from running rampant on land, a maritime ban was imposed."
"That's been a long time already. Can a lip rouge be kept for that long?"
"Although the sea is now closed, you have to understand that the profits from maritime trade are so high that it's not something that can be easily given up." The imperial court has banned it, but some people are still secretly going to sea.
"I see." Then this imperial court is utterly useless. They're just small-time pirates, yet they've scared them so much that they dare not go out to sea anymore.
So, it seems that there must be someone in that family who's bold enough to sneak out to sea and get a lot of good stuff.
Realizing that this person wasn't a time traveler, Liang Huixue felt much more at ease.
Now, we can start developing some industries of our own.
For example, soap, or perfume.
Of course, she also knows how to apply lipstick.
The resulting color will certainly not be worse than this lip rouge.
Ning Hong has always been a very pragmatic person.
As the saying goes, a gentleman takes revenge even after ten years, so Ning Hong temporarily put aside her and her brother's hatred for their uncle.
After all, he was only fourteen years old and had nothing.
They have no ability to take revenge, and if they go back easily this time, the previous events will probably repeat themselves.
He would absolutely not return to Ningjia Village unless he could guarantee their safety.
He wants to become powerful, so powerful that the whole village is proud of him. When that time comes, he will expose the affairs of Uncle Ning, and then things will not end easily.
Unlike now, even if you actually complain, they probably won't pay any attention.
Ning Hong spent four years building herself up.
Now his businesses cover the entire Great Jin Dynasty, including several in the capital. Only in his hometown of Yangcheng do he have the fewest businesses, with only one bookstore.
Eighteen-year-old Ning Hong is currently preparing for the imperial examination.
The Jin Dynasty did have one redeeming quality: the sons of merchants could also participate in the imperial examinations.
There was no policy of prioritizing agriculture over commerce, nor any restriction on the development of business.
Therefore, there were quite a few merchants in the examination hall.
Ning Hong wanted to take the imperial examinations to obtain official rank.
Ancient times were different from modern times.
Modern laws are strict, but in ancient times there were loopholes that could be exploited.
The first hot pot restaurant he opened is now someone else's property.
However, Ning Hong hurriedly left with Ning Nuonuo. Without him providing the hot pot base, the hot pot restaurant closed down not long after.
The man converted it into a teahouse. Business was so-so, just enough to make a meager living.
It was because of this that Ning Hongze had the idea of taking the imperial examination.
If he can pass the imperial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), all the properties will be under his name in the future. If anyone wants to cause trouble, they will have to think twice.
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