CHAPTER 365: CHAPTER 362: MISERABLE

Miss Xu has been learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting since she was young. She often comes to the art supply shop with her second brother, sitting there inhaling the faint scent of paper and ink, allowing the stifling frustration in her chest to slowly dissipate.

Miss Xu sipped the tea offered by the housekeeper, occasionally observing the movements of Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng.

"Sister, this paper doesn’t absorb ink well."

Upon hearing Chen Zigeng’s voice, Miss Xu glanced at the steward beside her, "Ask the shopkeeper to bring out the best paper."

"This is the best," replied the steward softly.

Since it’s supposed to be good paper, then clearly the person looking at it doesn’t understand, Miss Xu slightly curled her lips.

The shopkeeper said, "If you’re talking about better paper, we don’t have it here, though recently I’ve heard that some gentlemen from the academies in the Capital have a kind of white wax paper."

The shopkeeper at the art supply shop knew Miss Xu, and since the Xu Family brought people, he naturally had to respectfully explain everything.

"White wax paper?" Chen Zigeng asked.

The shopkeeper nodded, but quickly explained, "It’s just a rumor; I’ve never seen it, so I can’t be sure. I just heard it from a few gentlemen who come to buy writing supplies. We may have white wax paper now, but none as good as those made in the previous dynasty; the war these years truly destroyed many things, easy to destroy but extremely difficult to retrieve."

Miss Xu had heard of white wax paper before, but such paper is all rare treasures. Lower officials had sent her father some antique treasures from the previous dynasty, which he placed in his study, occasionally taking them out for a glance but never willing to use them.

Presumably, these things are unknown to Miss Xie and the Chen Family Village—talking more is pointless.

Xie Liangchen said, "How about flower paper? Do you have it? Can I take a look?"

"We do have flower paper," the shopkeeper presented the flower paper, "The patterns on this flower paper are crafted by notable individuals, and a sheet costs only one hundred cents."

Upon hearing one hundred cents, Hei Dan’s eyes widened, unable to resist exclaiming, "How much?"

The shopkeeper repeated, "One hundred cents."

Hei Dan said, "Three hundred cents can buy a stone of coarse rice, yet a single sheet of paper can be sold for one hundred cents. Is the flower paper painted by Mr. Dongli really worth that much?"

Hei Dan swallowed, "Then what about the white wax paper? Is it more expensive than this?"

The shopkeeper smiled, "Of course, it’s more expensive. Not to mention that the top-grade white wax paper from the previous dynasty is unseen nowadays—even the poorer ones attempted in workshops cost two hundred cents a sheet."

Hei Dan thought of the materials and effort put into making medicine and wax by Sister—they suddenly seemed worth it. No wonder this time even Mr. Dongli was involved, using his youthful paintings to make flower paper and gathering some scholars to help.

It turns out the prestigious people in the Capital indeed favor such things.

Grandmother would be shocked again, Hei Dan murmured, imitating Old Mrs. Chen’s tone, "Four or five sheets of paper are equivalent to a little piglet!"

Upon hearing "little piglet" and looking at Hei Dan’s expression, the shop assistants couldn’t help but laugh. They’ve seen many such people, scared by the price upon inquiry. Not everyone can afford these, let alone top-ranging paper.

"What are you laughing about?"

The assistant’s laughter was not loud, but suddenly reprimanded by Miss Xu, the atmosphere became instantly awkward, making the mockery even more blatant.

The shopkeeper was startled and immediately glared at the assistant.

The assistant turned pale, hunched his shoulders, and lowered his head in apology, "It’s all my fault; I won’t dare again."

Miss Xu stood up, adjusted her veil, and walked out of the compartment, looking at Xie Liangchen said, "Sister Chen, these servants don’t know the rules. Let’s go to another establishment, the brothers like paper, tomorrow I’ll have people send some over."

The shopkeeper hastily stepped forward, "Miss, don’t be angry. I will certainly teach him a lesson."

Speaking, the shopkeeper glared at the assistant, "What are you waiting for? Quickly bring some flower paper, top-grade paper for this young master."

The assistant dared not delay and hurried to get the paper.

"No need," Hei Dan didn’t expect a single sentence would lead to this result, "No need for me, I don’t need it; we... we... have a paper workshop at home... with better paper... our teacher... he..."

The Xu Family’s housekeeper watched this scene feeling that the Chen Family Village’s unsophisticated image truly unfolded before everyone, and what’s this about having a paper workshop? Isn’t Zhenzhou’s paper workshop owned by the court? Better paper? Who would believe?

"Really no need," Xie Liangchen declined, "If needed, we will come to buy paper—since we aren’t acquainted, how could we accept your paper freely?"

The shopkeeper was about to pass it when he saw an arm stretched over, firmly blocking him.

Chang Yue coldly said, "Didn’t you hear what my lady said?"

Only then did the shopkeeper regretfully give up.

Miss Xu accompanied Xie Liangchen out of the art supply shop, "I’m truly sorry, I didn’t expect the shopkeeper to be like this."

Xie Liangchen said, "Miss Xu, what are you saying? Besides, it’s nothing."

Miss Xu said, "Sister Chen likes these things, why don’t we organize a poetry gathering in the next couple of days and invite the ladies of the prestigious homes in the Capital to your residence, to write poems and paint together? That way, I can introduce them all to you."

Ladies from prestigious families? Writing poems, painting? Of course, that would be wonderful. Xie Liangchen responded, "I’ll have to trouble Miss Xu to help me prepare."

"That’s no trouble," Miss Xu said, "I’ll arrange it, you just wait assuredly." Xie Liangchen must be anxious for people in the Capital to acknowledge her identity.

Xie Liangchen continued walking forward.

Miss Xu asked, "Still going to the art supply shop?"

Xie Liangchen said, "Yes, to look at a few art supply shops, and then to the pharmacy—I’ve heard there’s a whole street in the Capital selling herbal medicine."

Miss Xu had never walked so much before and already felt her soles aching. But people like Xie Liangchen seemed not to tire, without even stopping for a sip of water.

The housekeeper grumbled softly, "How could it be fine for Miss Xu to keep following like this?"

Naturally, one cannot abandon something halfway through; since the Xu Family brought them out, they had to properly send them back. Perhaps after a while, Xie Liangchen would grow tired.

Yet Miss Xu didn’t expect it to be until dusk, when the shops closed, was Xie Liangchen finally ready to go home.

After sending Xie Liangchen back to her residence, Miss Xu returned to the Imperial Uncle Mansion by carriage.

Upon entering the inner residence, the housekeeper immediately spoke to Mrs. Meng, "Our Miss truly had it hard today, walking all day—her feet must be swollen."

Mrs. Meng frowned, "Spent all that time in the marketplace?"

Miss Xu nodded, "She would go whenever she had free time."

Mrs. Meng was astonished, "Not looked enough yet?"

The mother and daughter entered the room, Miss Xu sat on the soft couch, her complexion finally appeared a bit better.

Mrs. Meng asked, "You were together the whole day; what are they really like?"

Miss Xu said nothing, glancing at the housekeeper beside her. The housekeeper understood and said, "They know nothing, even letting the paper shop assistant mock them, talking about a few sheets of paper can be exchanged for a little piglet. In brief, they indeed appeared very crude."

Miss Xu furrowed her brow, "Mother, can I not go tomorrow? I said I would help her prepare the poetry gathering, I can write the invitations at home to extend the invitations."

"Then don’t go," Mrs. Meng said, "Tell me about it carefully, and tomorrow I’ll report it to the Empress. The rewards for Xie Liangchen and her father, as well as the Chen Family Village, will be conferred soon, Xie Liangchen also has to enter the palace to express gratitude. Since she lacks etiquette, the Empress will send palace nannies to teach her, lest she causes a blunder in the palace."

After saying this, Mrs. Meng added, "But, with this appearance of Miss Xie, even if you invite everyone, she wouldn’t know how to handle a poetry gathering, right? Will it create a joke?"

Miss Xu took a sip of tea from her cup, meaning to let it turn into a joke, and ensure everyone knows. Considering how someone who economizes on a few hundred cents for silver, she can already imagine how miserly the poetry gathering would be.

"I have good intentions," Miss Xu said, "Find more people so they can organize some relief grain for the North."

Ultimately, whether anything can be arranged depends on Xie Liangchen herself.