Chapter 418 Picking out a birthday gift for Pei Ji to take back
There's no need to worry about the Rejuvenating Herb; the group has gained many additional benefits from this trip to the State of Jin.
Therefore, this year spent in Jin can be considered a complete and smooth one.
Although Emperor Gan Ning agreed not to wage war against the Song Dynasty, it did not mean that he would not crack down on and suppress the unrest in the Song Dynasty.
However, these issues are handled by specialists and are not something you should worry about.
The Shen family is kind and warm, and treats people with sincerity. For Sheng Sheng, the greatest gain was getting to know the Shen family.
The two countries are far apart, and after this meeting, it's uncertain when we'll meet again.
Therefore, in order to ensure that Sheng Sheng had a great time and returned home with lots of happy memories, the Shen family arranged many different activities, determined to let Sheng Sheng experience all the fun things in the capital.
During the day, the ladies led Shengsheng through the busiest streets and alleys of the capital, watching artisans blow colorful glass in the Liulifang. If Shengsheng's eyes lingered on a particular piece for even a second longer, they would immediately buy it with great fanfare.
There are also famous snacks and restaurants in the capital city that I've tried.
The Shen family didn't rest at night either. They chartered a pleasure boat to cruise the river, with lights dotting the surface and the sounds of traditional music playing on both banks.
It's a pity that it's neither the Lantern Festival nor the Flower Lantern Festival, so it's not the most lively or beautiful time yet.
But Sheng Sheng was also very satisfied.
After the young masters of the Shen family accidentally learned that Sheng Sheng had a fiery red little fox and a big yellow dog that had been to the battlefield, they insisted on going home with her to see them.
He threw a tantrum for days, and even the Shen family couldn't stand it anymore. They almost hung up the young masters and beat them.
He was both amused and exasperated. In order to prevent them from being lectured, he had no choice but to take them back to the house to see.
When the young masters arrived, they indeed saw a bright red fox, and the big yellow dog looked quite majestic.
But they even saw a live white tiger!
That's a white tiger! It's so big, so fierce, and so handsome!
Moreover, that white tiger was incredibly obedient and compliant, completely following Sheng Sheng's orders!
The Shen family boys immediately changed their affection for their younger sister to admiration, and promptly started calling her "Big Brother," leaving everyone both amused and exasperated.
Sheng Sheng didn't mind at all and happily took on a few followers.
After spending a happy New Year in Jin, Sheng Sheng unknowingly developed some affection for the house that served as her temporary residence in Jin.
The house was decorated by their own hands, and many other decorations have been added quietly these past few days.
After discussing it, the brother and sister decided to simply pay for the house and hang up a plaque that read "Xie Family Courtyard".
When Shen Jiaqing found out, she took the initiative to send several maids and servants from the Shen family to look after the house, saying that she wanted them to be able to return at any time and settle down comfortably.
Sheng Sheng gladly accepted, promising to bring him and the Shen family a big gift next time they met.
Shen Jiaqing joked, "Maybe next time we meet, it won't be you coming to Jin, but me going to Yu."
Sheng Sheng asked in surprise, "Uncle Chen, are you going to travel the world again?"
Shen Jiaqing shrugged: "Who knows? A doctor travels the world to treat patients, so naturally he has to wander the martial arts world."
Sheng Sheng thought for a moment and said, "That's great! If Uncle Shen comes to Yu Kingdom again, you must go to the capital! I will also give Uncle Shen a good welcome."
Shen Jiaqing smiled and replied, "Okay."
...
Whether it's the local customs and culture of Jin or the fresh local delicacies, everything here is incredibly captivating.
By the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, Sheng Sheng was already so engrossed in her newfound happiness that she had no time to think about home.
It was Xie Yun who calculated the time for her. If she stayed in Jin any longer, she wouldn't be able to make it to Sheng Sheng's seventh birthday, or even Pei Ji's thirteenth birthday.
Sheng Sheng's birthday is in June, only four months away, so it's destined that she'll be spending it on the road.
However, Pei Ji's birthday is on October 28th, so setting off now should be just in time.
Because the thirteenth birthday of a prince of Yu is the most important birthday besides coming of age, Sheng Sheng subconsciously also regarded Pei Ji's thirteenth birthday as very important.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Sheng immediately said, "That won't do! I absolutely must attend Brother Pei Ji's birthday celebration!"
Xie Yunyang raised an eyebrow and smiled helplessly: "I thought you didn't want to go home. You're always either going to Chunfeng Pavilion to watch plays with the Third Young Master of the Shen family or going to Lixiang Pavilion to buy things with the Fourth Young Master of the Shen family."
She stuck out her tongue and said, "But the plays at Chunfeng Pavilion are really good! I think our capital city should take a look at Chunfeng Pavilion. Although there are opera troupes in the capital, they all travel around to different buildings to perform. Whether you can see a play depends entirely on luck. There is no place like this dedicated for watching plays. If our capital city also had a dedicated theater, wouldn't the people be able to watch plays every day?"
"Hmm, that is indeed a good idea." Xie Yun-yang first affirmed her idea, then tapped her forehead. "But, are you really doing this so that the people can have a show to watch, or do you just want to have a show to watch every day?"
"Hehe, don't worry about that." Sheng Sheng dashed away in a flash, "Hurry home, Sheng Sheng is going to pick out a birthday gift for Brother Pei Ji!"
Xie Yun sighed; there was nothing he could do about her.
Sheng Sheng led Zi Juan to the same time-honored shop specializing in mother-of-pearl lacquerware that they had visited on their first day in the capital. This time, the shopkeeper recognized her immediately and came to greet them.
"Miss Xie, are you planning to bring gifts for your family again this time?"
He paused on the word "family" for a moment, then thought about it carefully and realized that friends are also family, which made sense.
Sheng Sheng nodded and smiled, "Yes, it's a birthday gift for an older brother!"
The shopkeeper, understanding the situation, walked over to recommend a few suitable items, saying, "I'll get some suitable ones for Miss Xie to take a look at right away, and put them on our owner's account for you!"
"No need, this is a birthday gift, it's better to buy it yourself." Sheng Sheng politely declined with a smile, then looked around the store.
She immediately took a liking to an inkstone decorated with bamboo designs.
That inkstone was made of the finest Duanxi stone, with a texture as delicate as solidified fat, warm to the touch without feeling cold, and the edges of the inkwell were polished smooth and rounded, fitting snugly against the fingertips without the slightest burr.
The inkstone surface is inlaid with several bamboo stalks using mother-of-pearl inlay. The bamboo body is made of layers of light blue and moon white shell pieces, pieced together along the bamboo joint texture. As light and shadow flow, the bamboo body even glistens with a lustrous pearly sheen, like green bamboo that has not yet dried the morning dew.
This inkstone may not look as ornate as other things, but it is still exquisite.
And because it is a work of calligraphy, its simplicity adds to its elegance.
Sheng Sheng's eyes lit up. Without even glancing at the several ornate items the shopkeeper had brought out, she pointed at the inkstone and said, "I want this bamboo!"
After a pause, she changed her words: "No, it's this bamboo-shaped inkstone. It's so beautiful, and it suits Brother Bamboo perfectly!"
Although Sheng Sheng kept calling Pei Ji by his name, she would never forget that they first met in the bamboo forest, when she called him Brother Bamboo.
A bamboo inkstone is the perfect choice for Brother Bamboo!
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