The next morning, Miss Wang did not go out to collect herbs. Instead, she followed her daughter to the stream behind their house, with the help of He Ming carrying the buckets, leaving He Yu to look after their father and the house. The He family planned to catch a large number of fish to sell and use the money to buy vegetable seeds and farming tools. Even though their two mu size of land was a mix of sandy and loamy soil, not of the best quality, they could still cultivate certain crops. Additionally, with the spiritual energized water, they intended to try growing some herbs. If these herbs turned into spiritual herbs as expected, they could bring in a significant income. When Zhenzhu dipped the golden fish scale into the water, the fish and aquatic animals were truly attracted to it. "Wow, there are so many fish indeed!" He Ming exclaimed excitedly, having never seen so many fish before. "Should we sell about ten fish today, Mother? We could use the money to buy gardening tools." "That’s a good idea. Old Man You is going to the city to sell herbs today. We can ask him to exchange the tools for us." "Mother, catch that big crab over there, too," Zhenzhu suggested, recalling the large crab she had seen emerging from under a rock the day before. But because it was too big with large claws, she didn’t dare to catch it. "Come on, I’ll catch it myself. I know how to do it," He Ming said, dipping his hands into the water to press down on both sides of the crab’s claws before scooping it up from underneath. "Wow, it’s so big! What meal should we use to cook today?" They caught a total of ten fish, all large fish, and also caught six crabs. Once the bucket was full, they walked back home. He Ming kept two fish and two crabs for the family to eat; the rest were taken to Old Man You’s house. By noon, Old Man You was preparing to leave for the city to sell the herbs and would return in the evening. "Old Man You, we’ve brought fish to sell today," Miss Wang announced. "Oh, you went fishing today? Wow, such big fish, and so many! How did you manage to catch them? You’re really skilled!" Old Man You was astonished as he peered into the bucket. "Oh, it was He Ming and Zhenzhu who went to play in the stream yesterday and then told me there were plenty of big fish. Normally, they don’t come out for people to see. So, I tried fishing today and managed to catch some," Miss Wang lied smoothly. "Lucky indeed. Let me take them to the big restaurant in the city. You’ll make good money. Do you want me to sell them for you, or will you go with me?" "I’ll have to trouble you as usual, Old Man You. I’d also like to ask you to exchange some for farming tools and a few vegetable seeds." "Oh, you’re going to plant vegetables? But the soil at He’s house isn’t that good. Will the crops grow, or would it be a waste?" "It’s alright. Zhenzhu wants to try gardening, so I just let her play along," Miss Wang pretended to be concerned. "Alright, then. Put the fish in this bucket and load it onto the cart. I’ll be leaving shortly." Old Man You thought it was just the whimsy of an eight-year-old, wanting to do the gardening after seeing others do so. The journey from Dongshan Village to Fengfu City was about 8 li (approximately 4 kilometers), taking half an hour by bullock cart. Villagers wishing to ride the cart had to pay 1 brass coin for the fare. Walking to the city took at least a shichen and a half. Besides buying herbs and hunted meat to sell in the city, Old Man You also offered to purchase items for the villagers, charging a service fee of 1 to 3 brass coins depending on the size and quantity of the items. He also bought some food, dried meats, and essential goods to sell from his home, catering to the villagers’ needs. A gentle cold breeze whistled through the bamboo slats, playing a melody of the wind. The chill teased Zhenzhu’s cheeks, causing her eyelids to flutter open. The faint golden sunlight streamed through the gaps, warming the room. If it weren’t for the rough blankets her mother had bought, she wouldn’t have been able to sleep so soundly until the sun was high in the sky. In the past few days, the He family had worked together to shovel and dig the plot preparing for vegetable plots on their two mu size of land. They didn’t plant extensively, just a plot for each type of vegetable. In the late winter, they could grow various vegetables like Chinese leeks, bok choy, cabbage, radishes, and even pumpkins. Miss Wang also went up the mountain to collect small medicinal herbs with their roots. Normally, mountain herbs couldn’t be cultivated because no one knew how to do it. Some villagers tried planting them, but they would wither and die in less than two days. The He family experimented with planting one plot of these herbs and watered them with spiritual energized water daily. After seven days, not only did the plants not die, but they also grew slowly and even emitted a faint energy. "Look, sister, the vegetables are growing so fast!" the young boy exclaimed eagerly. It was exciting; normally, their land could barely grow any vegetables. Despite numerous attempts, the lack of nutrients always led to death. But now, they are able to grow vegetables. "They are growing quickly indeed," Miss Wang said, puzzled. The bok choy, the fastest growing among all their vegetables, typically required 30-40 days to harvest. But in just seven days, they had already grown significantly. Continuous watering for another ten days might make them ready for consumption. The spiritual energized water was truly miraculous. "Mother, aren’t we going to catch fish today?" He Yu asked. Today, we will not go fishing," decided Miss Wang. In the past few days, the He family had been catching fish to sell every day. On the days when they caught more than enough, they would make dried fish for later consumption. They always caught big fish to sell, which eventually made the villagers, who sold herbs to Old Man You, envious. They tried fishing themselves but could only catch small fish and in small quantities. They wondered how the He family could catch the fast-swimming big fish, which usually hid among rocks and mud. Some even secretly followed the He family to the stream, wanting to learn their fishing technique. Fortunately, Zhenzhu spotted them first, and the He family pretended just to be collecting water in their buckets. The villagers returned home disappointed. This situation posed a dilemma: selling too many fish would arouse suspicion. Therefore, Miss Wang decided they would alternate between collecting herbs in the mountains and fishing on different days. "Why, mother? Those fish could sell for a better price than herbs. Old Man You said the big restaurants in the city really like them," young He Yu expressed his confusion. Fishing was easier than collecting herbs and even more profitable. "But Old Man You said if we sell too many, the price will drop. It’s better to sell them occasionally to keep the prices high," Miss Wang fibbed. In reality, the big restaurants in the city were very fond of the fish, and Old Man You had said they would buy as many as they had at a fair price. "Oh," He Yu nodded, somewhat disappointed. Today, the He family worked together to weave bamboo fences to protect the vegetables they had planted. This was because some families in the area kept chickens for food, and the hens liked to bring their chicks to peck at their vegetable plots. The He family took turns guarding their vegetables from the chickens. The fences also protected their privacy from the villagers. It must be said that these vegetables are watered with water containing spiritual energy, and as they grow, they become plants imbued with spiritual energy. If the villagers knew that the He family could grow spiritual plants, they wouldn’t be able to explain how they managed it. One adult and three children worked diligently on the bamboo fences, with He Lei, helped by He Ming and Miss Wang, lying on a bed in the sun, watching happily. His legs could move a little. He Lei once was a cultivator of spirit energy of the blue tier. Although the blue tier was the lowest, when he was still serving as a city guard, he was a squad leader. Elder Zhang, who was not wealthy, had given an eldest son his hard earned money to buy medicine for cultivating spirit energy. Zhang Lei was the only peddler’s son in town to cultivate spirit energy, which was the main reason his stepmother despised him. She thought Zhang Lei was wasting the money her husband earned. After an accident left him disabled, her disdain only grew. With the body of a cultivator, had he not been a blue-tier cultivator before, he might have died a long time ago and wouldn’t have been able to live until this day. He Lei watched the sprouting vegetables, the faint glow of spirit energy slowly becoming visible. If they grew more, the blue spirit energy would become denser, visible even to the naked eye. He was still excited; even the children of nobles didn’t eat spiritual food every meal because spiritual plants were extremely expensive. Cultivators, mostly from the upper class, would serve in the royal courts, as city guards, or in other prestigious jobs like calligraphers, teachers, doctors, or alchemists. Only a few cultivators took up farming because nourishing plants with spirit energy was challenging. Each nourishment session exhausted them as if they had run up a hill ten li long and could only cultivate a small number of plants. "Da Lei!" a voice called from the front of the house. Miss Zhou, a neighbor He Yu liked to help with gardening, knocked on the wooden fence, peeking into the courtyard. "What’s up, Miss Zhou?" "I’ve brought some mantou for you. I went into the city to sell vegetables today, so I bought some mantou for little He Yu and the kids," Miss Zhou said, holding a basket with five mantous and a packet of sweets, offering it to Miss Wang, who was weaving a bamboo fence. "Oh, Miss Zhou, why spend the money? The kids aren’t picky eaters. I feel bad," Miss Wang was genuinely embarrassed. Aunt Zhou was the best neighbor one could ask for. Whenever Miss He ran short on money, she often borrowed from Miss Zhou. Miss Zhou and her husband, having been married for 20 years without children of their own, had a unique ability to assist with animal births or even human ones in emergencies. Miss Zhou had even helped deliver He Yu, which made her particularly fond of him. With five mu in size of fertile land two li away from the village, they could grow vegetables all year round, selling them for a living. Occasionally, He Yu would toddle along with Miss Zhou to water the vegetables, endearing him further to the couple. Whenever they sold their produce in town, they always brought back sweets, candies, or small toys for the children. "Don’t be so considerate! I have seen He Yu since he was a baby as small as a puppy, he has been like my own child. Are you that possessive?" Miss Zhou feigned anger affectionately. "Oh, that’s not what I meant," Miss Wang replied softly, always being the one to back down whenever Miss Zhou pretended to be upset over her reluctance to accept gifts due to politeness. Miss Zhou knew how impoverished the He family was, the most destitute in the village with only one adult to earn for the whole family and another bedridden. She felt sorry for the children, particularly the three-year-old He Yu. "Aunt Zhou, I want some candy, hee-hee!" He Yu approached Miss Zhou cheerily, knowing her visits always meant delicious treats. "Come here, my good boy, Yu’er. Hurry, come have some sweets with Auntie," everyone chuckled at their interaction, questioning whose child he really was. "Eh! Why do these vegetables seem to have spirit energy?" Miss Zhou exclaimed upon noticing the vegetable plot from a distance, shocked yet uncertain if it was really spirit energy she sensed—it wasn’t intense but subtly perceptible. "Oh, Aunt Zhou, you must be seeing things in this heat. Let’s go inside where it’s cooler. Mother, let’s help father get inside," Zhenzhu quickly diverted Miss Zhou’s attention, worried that their secret might be exposed. They needed to build a fence around their vegetable plot as soon as possible to protect their secret. Zhenzhu hurriedly escorted Miss Zhou inside, followed by Miss Wang and He Ming, who were carrying the bedridden family member. The entire He family, except for the oblivious He Yu, was nervous about the close call. He Yu was too young to grasp the situation, thus only interested in the sweets in the basket. If Miss Zhou discovered they were growing plants with spirit energy, the secret could cause a significant uproar. Not just the village, but even the town’s governor might pay them a visit, and explaining how they came to grow such plants would be impossible without revealing the truth. If more people learned about it, they might covet the golden fish scale for themselves, putting the entire He family in grave danger, possibly ending up as nameless graves somewhere in the mountains. "Aunt Zhou, will you be going to town tomorrow to sell vegetables?" Zhenzhu inquired. "Yes, I will. The shopkeeper has ordered a load of vegetables, and I need to deliver them tomorrow," Miss Zhou replied. "Aunt Zhou, may I come with you?" Zhenzhu asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Since her arrival, she had never seen the town, having ventured only as far as the foot of the mountain. She longed to see the town for herself. "How can you, Zhu’er? Walking to the town is quite a distance. How will you manage, being so small?" He Lei, lying on the bed, protested. His daughter was frail, and Fengfu City was 8 li away, requiring at least a shichen and a half to reach. How could she manage to go such a distance? "I can make it! Please, Aunt Zhou, I won’t be a burden. I’ll even help you sell the vegetables," Zhenzhu pleaded, taking Miss Zhou’s hand and shaking it gently, her voice full of entreaty. "You’d only be a burden to Miss Zhou. No, absolutely not," Miss Wang supported her husband, insisting that their daughter was too young to undertake such a long journey. "Mother, I promise I won’t be a burden.” Content orıginally comes from 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝕟𝕖𝕥 "Mother, please," she said as she hugged her mother’s arm, resting her small face against Miss Wang’s arm with a pleading look that made Miss Wang relent. "Alright, alright, it’s fine. Da Lei and Sister Wang, I’ll take care of her," Miss Zhou intervened. "But Sister Zhou, she’ll be a burden to you," Miss Wang still objected. "It’s okay. She’s just a child; she probably just wanted to see the town. Zhu’er, prepare yourself. We’ll leave early before dawn so we can reach the town early," Miss Zhou said, showing understanding towards the child’s eagerness. "Thank you so much, Aunt Zhou! You’re the best!" Zhenzhu exclaimed joyfully. "Sister Zhou, you really shouldn’t spoil her so much," Miss Wang reprimanded. "Let her be. It will be good for her to broaden her horizons. I’m heading back now to pick some vegetables," Miss Zhou said, making her departure. "Zhenzhu, you used to not be this stubborn," Miss Wang turned to scold her daughter after failing to dissuade Miss Zhou. It wasn’t that she didn’t want her daughter to go, but Zhenzhu was still young and frail, and the journey was long. "Oh, mother, I’m much stronger now! You don’t need to worry,” Zhenzhu wasn’t lying. Ever since she recovered, she’s been getting healthier, especially after eating better from the money she got from selling those three spiritual herbs. Plus, she’s been eating fish and crab meat, not skipping meals like the original body’s owner. And drinking spiritual energized water every day has made her stronger. Her health had indeed improved significantly. "Well, with Miss Zhou looking after her, it should be fine. If you get tired, you can always stop to rest," He Lei finally conceded, seeing no way to resist his daughter’s wishes. "Yay, father is the best!" Zhenzhu cheered. After reaching an agreement, albeit reluctantly on Miss Wang’s part, the He family went out to weave the bamboo fence again. With several plots to cover, it would take them 2-3 days to enclose all the vegetable plots with a fence. Next morning, Zhenzhu woke up before dawn, quickly got dressed, and hurried out with her personal tasks, afraid that Miss Zhou might leave without her. She couldn’t let such a golden opportunity slip away. "Hold on, Zhenzhu. Have some porridge before you leave," Miss Wang had prepared egg porridge, seeing her daughter wake up earlier and more eager than usual. She had to call her back before she dashed out of the house. Without having breakfast, how would she find the energy to walk? "Thank you, mother," Zhenzhu accepted a bowl of sweet-smelling porridge from Miss Wang’s hands and began to eat without blowing on it first. "Eat slowly!" Miss Wang cautioned. "Oh, and here’s three brass coins for you to buy snacks if you want anything," Miss Wang handed her daughter three brass coins. "Thank you, mother. I’ll be going now," Zhenzhu put down a bowl of porridge and hurried off to Miss Zhou’s house, filled with excitement. Upon arriving at Miss Zhou’s, they were just finishing loading vegetables into four baskets to carry with a pole, each spouse taking two. Zhenzhu quickly stepped in to help arrange the vegetables in the baskets. "Ah, thank you, Zhenzhu. Have you eaten?" San Su, Miss Zhou’s husband, asked. "All done, Uncle," she replied. "Let’s go then." The couple lifted the carrying poles, and they set off, with Zhenzhu following eagerly. The early morning journey was cool and not too hot. The roadside was flanked by lush grasslands used for grazing horses belonging to the city’s noble families, who had bought large tracts of land for this purpose. Some also leased it to villagers for farming. The land was mostly sandy loam, suitable for limited types of crops. Zhenzhu walked contentedly behind the couple carrying baskets that bounced up and down in front of her. She didn’t feel very tired because the weather was cool and she was filled with excitement. Occasionally, they walked past some horse herders driving horses to the grasslands or villagers carrying farming tools. Such sights were rare in Beijing. Having not traveled much in her previous life, Zhenzhu found the natural scenery and rural lifestyle surprisingly pleasant. Miss Zhou took two breaks during their journey before they finally reached Fengfu City. Contrary to Zhenzhu’s expectations, the walk wasn’t as difficult as she thought, with various sights to see along the way distracting her from any fatigue. The towering city walls loomed before them, with guards stationed at the city gates. Outside the walls, vendors lined up, selling vegetables, eggs, food, sweets, fabrics, and grains. The area outside the city walls was bustling due to lower rent prices. Miss Zhou and San Su carried their vegetable baskets into the city, exchanging friendly smiles with the guards, who were familiar with the couple from their frequent visits. Seeing the little girl following them into the city, the guards didn’t stop them. "Wow, Fengfu City is so grand," Zhenzhu couldn’t help but exclaim, her curious eyes sparkling with excitement. People here must be very wealthy, with houses built of stone and brick, strong and massive, some even surrounded by high walls. She followed the couple to a bustling market area, dense with people and vendors, similar to the area outside the city walls but with a greater variety of goods and a larger crowd. Inside, there were larger shops, including bookstores, jewelry stores, food shops, grain stores, tea houses, and taverns. She had never before seen such a vivid portrayal of ancient life. They reached a fresh vegetable store, "Zhu’er, wait here in front of the shop for a moment. I’ll deliver the vegetables to Shopkeeper Bai first," Miss Zhou instructed the wide-eyed girl, feeling affectionate remembering her own first time in the city, fascinated by everything she saw. "Yes, Aunt Zhou," the girl nodded firmly. She stood waiting in front of the vegetable shop, and what excited her even more was that the shop opposite the vegetable shop was a fabric store. Various colorful fabrics were displayed in front of the store, and when she peered inside, there were even more fabrics stacked high in layers. Seeing these traditional silks ignited the designer’s blood within her. If she could get her hands on a few rolls of these fabrics, she could undoubtedly create some beautiful dresses with ease. "Look, isn’t that Lady Juhua? Look at her dress, is that jade pearl silk?" "Yes, it’s so soft and flowing, only jade pearl silk can be that delicate and elegant. It’s my fortune to see jade pearl silk. I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to wear such expensive silk in my life." "You’re dreaming. Jade pearl silk of Young Miss Yaoyao? Think you can just have it?" Zhenzhu overheard the conversation between two street vendors unintentionally. She followed their gaze to see a young lady, about 15 of age, dressed in soft pink silk that shimmered under natural light, highlighting the wearer’s elegance. However, the fabric was overly decorated with colorful floral embroidery, detracting from the silk’s beauty. The outfit was too detailed and cluttered, and the young lady was adorned with various ornaments, appearing like a brightly colored human bauble. ‘Oh, the fabric is indeed good, but the embroidery and design really spoil it.’ Zhenzhu thought to herself "Excuse me, sisters, what is jade pearl silk?" She approached the two vendors to inquire, thinking ahead for future possibilities when she might afford such exquisite fabric to craft a dress. She vowed not to mar the beauty of such fabric with excessive embellishments like those she saw. "Ah, little lady, what do you mean by ’sisters’? You flatter us," one of the vendors, a woman in her forties, blushed with delight. Despite Zhenzhu’s simple and impoverished appearance, the vendor spoke kindly to her. "That is called Jade Pearl Silk. This type of silk was invented by Young Miss Yaoyao, the daughter of an official in the Department of Attire. She can weave and dye silk exceptionally well. Her father built a weaving factory specifically for her to produce Jade Pearl Silk. Only wealthy high-class people can afford to wear this kind of fabric." Lady Yaoyao must possess some real talent. Quality fabric! "Oh, and did Lady Yaoyao also create the designs on the fabric herself? She’s very talented," Zhenzhu feigned admiration, her eyes sparkling. "Yes, indeed. Isn’t it beautiful?" Beautiful? The overdone embroidery completely overshadowed the fabric’s natural charm. "Very beautiful," Zhenzhu agreed politely. "Of course. Otherwise, the concubines and wives of high-ranking officials wouldn’t scramble to buy them. But what’s more special is the fabric’s fragrance, thanks to being infused with jade pearls, giving it its name," the vendor explained, as if she was part of the production herself. "What are jade pearls?" the curious girl asked. "Jade pearls are a rare type of pearl from deep-sea oysters. They’re special because they resemble jade but release a fragrance when heated. Lady Yaoyao uses them in a special process to create the scented jade pearl silk." "Wow, Young Miss Yaoyao is really talented," Zhenzhu praised again, noticing the vendor’s admiration for Lady Yaoyao. "Indeed, she’s not only skilled but also the sole daughter of the Wardrobe Department’s head. Her grace, manners, and beauty are unmatched. Men from all over the city send matchmakers to her manor almost every day." "Indeed, she truly is an exemplary woman!" Zhenzhu engaged enthusiastically with the two vendors, learning that silk embroidered with jade pearls was invented a year ago and had rapidly gained popularity among the upper class. It was so expensive, costing up to 50 taels per bolt, that Zhenzhu ruefully acknowledged that such an amount could sustain an ordinary family for several years. The silk’s continued demand meant that Lady Yaoyao’s factory had to operate day and night in shifts to meet the supply. Hmph! "Who would produce enough to meet the demand? The price would drop immediately. Trust her, in another year, the price of this type of fabric will surely decrease." "Zhu’er, let’s go. We have more vegetables to sell," Miss Zhou and her husband came out of the vegetable store of Shopkeeper Bai, with a half-basket of vegetables. Shopkeeper Bai’s store, one of the largest vegetable vendors, primarily supplied to major restaurants within the city. Walking through the market to a green vegetable and fruit section, followed by a fresh meat section, it seemed they had entered the area for perishable goods. Miss Zhou and her husband laid a cloth on the ground and started arranging vegetables for sale, with Zhenzhu eagerly to help. "Today, we’ll set up shop here. Zhu’er, you can rest here. If you want to wander around, stay close. Don’t stray too far and get lost," Miss Zhou cautioned. "Understood, Aunt Zhou. I’ll stay nearby and won’t wander off," Zhenzhu promised earnestly, then took the opportunity to explore the bustling market. She walked along the path, looking at the stalls where merchants and vendors shouted their wares loudly. It must be acknowledged that the profession of trading could earn more money than that of farmers or agricultural workers. However, in this era, it was considered the least prestigious profession among all social classes. The hierarchy ranked scholars, farmers, laborers, and merchants. This belief stemmed from the notion that merchants made profits by traveling between regions, never being tied to the land. When war broke out, they could flee anywhere, unlike farmers whose interests were firmly rooted in the land of their state. Farmers inherently had a stronger attachment to their state and land than merchants. Hence, the merchant profession was looked down upon by various social classes. But Zhenzhu, coming from a later era, thought this belief was nonsense. If a war between states truly broke out, people from any profession would love themselves and fear death. The human instinct for survival cannot be underestimated. And in the thousands of years to come, the merchant profession would become one of the most prosperous and respected careers. Zhenzhu walked down a street lined with jewelry and garments shops. The fabric sold along the way was mostly coarse hemp meant for the poor, while the fine silk was reserved for high-end stores catering to the upper class. Sighing, Zhenzhu noted the stark social disparities. As she explored the market, Zhenzhu’s attention was drawn to a small alley blocked by shrubbery. Had she not looked carefully, she might have missed it. Driven by curiosity about what shop might lie within, she cautiously ventured in, only to find no shops at all. Turning to leave, a sign caught her eye. Written in black charcoal, it read "Zhi Shop." "Is there really a shop here?" she wondered, stepping past the ancient sign, risking it might fall at any moment. Inside, the Zhi Shop turned out to be an old bookstore. An elderly man with white hair and beard was dozing off at the counter, seemingly unaware of her presence, making her the only customer there. Zhenzhu looked around at the ancient books. Besides the shop’s sign, the books themselves were ancient, with some so old they were half-eaten by termites. Nonetheless, her eyes glanced up and saw a book on the top shelf. It was a very old book, just like the others in the shop. However, what made it different from the others was its red spine, inscribed with a language she could not read. It seemed to be a very ancient language, impossible to translate. It strangely caught her attention, but she wasn’t interested in studying books at the moment, as her primary concern was still about basic needs—having enough to eat and staying warm was sufficient. Deciding it was best to leave, she turned to exit when the old man suddenly woke up. "Oh, little lady, are you looking for a particular book?" His voice halted her departure. "I was just looking around, sir. I haven’t found anything specific yet," Zhenzhu replied. "Well, take your time. If you find something you like, I might give you a special discount," the shop owner said, eager not to let his first customer in a long while slip away. Despite Zhenzhu’s humble appearance, he was not one to underestimate any visitor. "Um, Grandpa, what book is that?" Seeing the shop owner so enthusiastic, she couldn’t help but ask. She pointed to the book with the red spine. "Ah, that one? Found it in an old shop years ago. Been here almost a decade without a single interest. Do you want it, young miss?" It was a bulky, ancient text in an arcane language. Not even given away for free had attracted any takers, he mused, its only use perhaps for swatting dogs. "Not really, just thought it looked interesting," she admitted, not truly wanting it. "How about 10 brass coins for it? It’s taking up space, and you’d do me a favor," he proposed, eager to clear out old stock. "I don’t even have 10 brass coins, sir," she declined, puzzled over the thought of buying a book she couldn’t understand, with only 3 brass coins. "Alright, 5 brass coins then," the shop owner continued to negotiate. "I don’t have 5 brass coins, sir," Zhenzhu firmly declined again. "Here’s the deal, young miss. Take it now, and when you have 5 brass coins, you can pay me back. Look at the patterns on the book cover, aren’t they exquisite?" he insisted, placing the thick book into her arms. Zhenzhu looked down at the large book in her embrace, utterly baffled. The shopkeeper must be a bit eccentric, she thought. Finally, the girl left the bookstore, more puzzled than ever, carrying the heavy book. The old man must have been desperate to get rid of the book, giving it away without receiving a single coin. She returned to where Miss Zhou and her husband were anxiously looking around for her. "Zhu’er! Where have you been? We’ve been looking for you. We thought you got lost. And what’s that?" They sighed in relief upon seeing her safe, thinking they had lost someone else’s child. "A book, someone gave it to me," she said, implying it was more of thrust upon her than given. "Who gave it to you?" "The old man from the Zhi bookstore down that street," she pointed out. "Oh dear, next time don’t accept things from strangers so readily, Zhenzhu. If they mean no good, it could bring you trouble," Miss Zhou warned, worried the child might unwittingly accept something dangerous or illegal. "Understood, Aunt Zhou." "Let’s go. We’ve sold all the vegetables. Do you want to buy anything else before we head home?" "I want to buy some sweets for Yu’er," she mentioned, having saved her 3 brass coins for this purpose. Planning to treat herself to a mantou as her lunch and use the rest for sweets for her younger brother. "Go on, I’ll wait here." After purchasing the desired treats, she walked back, biting into her mantou, as they all made their way back to the Dongshan Village under the scorching midday sun. The journey back was more challenging than the morning’s walk due to the intense heat, nearly overwhelming her. “Aunt Zhou, can I visit you again in the future?” she asked while sitting and resting on the way. “Of course, as long as your parents don’t mind.” “Thank you, Aunt Zhou.” San Su, Miss Zhou’s husband, took off his woven hat to shade the child from the sun. They stopped to rest three times before reaching the village. “Has sister returned yet?” Little child shouted out. “I’m home. Look, I bought something back for you, Yu’er” she lifted a bag of sweets she bought for two brass coins. “Yay, sweets!” He Yu ran around her adorably. “Zhu’er, come inside quickly. Look, your face is all red,” Miss Wang, who was weaving bamboo fence under the shade, called out. See, walking in the sun until your cheeks are red and you’re sweating all over. “It’s okay, mother. A bit of sunlight will make me stronger,” she smiled in response. “Ah, Zhu’er, what did you bring back with you?” He Lei asked from the bamboo bed when he saw Zhenzhu still holding a thin bundle. “A book, father. Someone gave it to me.” She went to the bamboo bed and unwrapped the cloth to show the book to her father. When He Lei saw the thick book, he was surprised. He asked Zhenzhu to open it, and it appeared that every page was in ancient language, some understandable and some not, with some pages filled with line drawings and characters she didn’t understand. “This is a script,” He Lei said. “Father, do you recognize this script?” “I’ve never studied, but I’ve seen it before. It just looks familiar.” How could he recognize it? He was merely familiar. Not many have studied the art of character drawing, aside from being spirit cultivators, one must also be quick-witted, understand the lines, and have excellent concentration. Drawing characters requires high concentration, any mistake, and the spirit-imbued object could be destroyed immediately. Therefore, only a few are capable of inscribing characters, and those who wish to learn must have the money to pay for expensive lessons. Very few skilled inscribers would teach the general public. “Father, could you tell me about the characters?” She said while opening the thick book. She couldn’t read any of the letters in the book, and there were many designs similar to talismans. Fortunately, she liked designing fabric patterns. In her previous life when she was studying, she designed fabric patterns and even won awards for them. So, she could discern these complex patterns. “You’re interested in drawing characters? But you’re not a spirit cultivator. Even if you can draw characters, you can’t inscribe them onto objects.” “I asked just out of curiosity,” the art of character drawing was beyond her reach. “Father doesn’t know much, just what he’s heard from the older generation.” The profession of character drawing originated from a blacksmith named Tao Shaotou. He was from the Qin Region, famous for his skills in iron weaponry and carpentry. Born into a family of blacksmiths, from a young age, Tao Shaotou learned the art of blacksmithing from his ancestors. His daily forging made him the best blacksmith in town. His skill was so renowned throughout the region that the emperor of Qin Region hired his family to forge his personal sword. Tao Shaotou was overjoyed that the emperor honored his family with such a task. He strived to find a way to make a sword with superior effectiveness. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t forge a sword that satisfied him. He couldn’t offer the emperor such low-quality swords. When he consulted his sword-forging master, the master suggested using spiritual power to forge the sword with the power of the character. Many blacksmiths had attempted this method but failed. He applied his master’s method and experimented, taking three years to create a character-engraved sword. This sword could cut through steel just by laying the blade on it and could enhance the user’s spiritual power. It was the first object to be engraved with characters. Later, this sword became invaluable to the city. Future generations called it the Jianyang Sword or the Sun-Cutting Sword, passed down through the Qin dynasty. After creating the Jianyang sword, Tao Shaotou became fascinated with the art of inscribing characters. He studied and developed his own patterns and characters, creating various useful inscriptions. These included engraving on armor to enhance protection, on carriages to reduce shock, on teacups to preserve the fragrant taste of tea, and on food containers to maintain the freshness of the food. He spent over 40 years experimenting and learning through trial and error. He also took on students interested in the art of inscribing characters. From this beginning, the practice of character inscription spread to different regions. However, the characters of later generations became complex and of much lower quality, leading to very few high-tier character drawers today. Drawing characters requires high concentration and nourishing spiritual power simultaneously. “If that’s the case, anyone who is a character drawer could engrave characters on everything,” she mused. Must be nice to be character drawer. “Who would waste their physical and mental strength on engraving ordinary objects?” He Lei laughed at her naive thought. “As I said, each engraving uses a lot of concentration and spiritual power. So, even a high-tier spiritual practitioner needs to rest at least a month after a single engraving to avoid losing spiritual power and overwhelming their body. Some need to rest for two months.” “Wow, that sounds complicated,” she frowned. “That’s why there are few character drawers. Most people can’t grasp the art of character drawing, lacking concentration and spiritual power. Thus, character drawing became a highly esteemed profession. Even the Emperor respects a high-tier character drawer.” “Father, have you ever seen a character drawer?” “Back then, in the town where father used to live, there was only one character drawer, and he was only of the blue tier. But even with just that, he could live like a Jun Wang. Even the town’s governor had to bow his head to him.” The more Zhenzhu heard, the more she felt that being a character drawer was beyond her reach. She lacked both the spiritual power and a master to teach her character drawing. Well, being a farmer is fine too. “It’s been quite fun, but it’s getting late. I’ll go water the vegetables.” Zhenzhu walked to the several vegetable plots her He family had planted. The bok choy had grown past half their size, and other vegetables were gradually sprouting, their spiritual power growing stronger. Now that the fence was nearly completed, it could conceal the plots from the villagers’ eyes for a while until they found a solution to this problem. “Grow quickly, my little vegetables.” She scooped water from the stream, dipping a golden fish scale into it every time before watering the plants, blessing each vegetable with pure spiritual energized water. Being a farmer isn’t so bad. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a creature wriggling in the bushes nearby before it slithered over to the bok choy plot, sticking out its forked tongue to lick the succulent stems of the plants. She turned to run away, but the newly watered ground was too slippery, causing her small frame to slip and fall onto the vegetable plot. “Zhu’er! What happened?” Miss Wang, who was weaving bamboo fence, hurried over, followed by He Ming and He Yu, all wearing shocked expressions. “What happened, sister?!” He looked at Sister sitting on the vegetable plot, some of the sprouting vegetables damaged. Zhenzhu, trembling, pointed towards the giant snake that was ravaging her vegetables. The creature wasn’t eating the plants but was licking the spiritual power-laden moisture on the stems and leaves of the bok choy. The entire He family was too shocked to move. “Get...get a stick. Hurry, we need to kill it. It’s dangerous.” He Ming was the first to regain his composure despite his trembling voice. As a man, he felt it was his duty to protect his mother and sister. He shouted to He Yu to fetch a stick so they could beat the snake to death. “It doesn’t seem to be attacking, big brother. Look, it’s not aggressive at all,” Little Yu, who was hiding behind his mother, peeked out to observe the giant snake with trepidation. The giant snake, after licking the spiritual power-infused dew, seemed dissatisfied with the scant amount of fragrant energy. It slithered closer to the trembling girl sitting on the vegetable plot. “Be careful, sister!” Everyone was so scared that their legs shook, especially the little girl sitting on the vegetable plot. She was so frightened that she couldn’t move her body to run away. Her body wouldn’t respond, and her heart thudded so loudly she could hear it clearly. Oh, don’t eat me, I’m so tiny, hardly any flesh on me, won’t taste good at all. For a moment, it was as if time slowed down. She envisioned herself meeting Qin Guang Wang[1], having been in this place for less than a month, and now facing death. She closed her eyes in resignation, thinking, if death was inevitable, let it not be too painful. She felt the weight of the giant snake coiling around her, every hair on her body stood on end. “Eh?” A surprised voice from He Yu rose. “Sister, it seems to like you. Look, it’s lying on your lap.” Really? Zhenzhu slowly opened her eyes. The giant snake was lying still on her lap, peacefully, but she still trembled uncontrollably. Not to be disrespectful, but with a look like yours, even if you act as cute as a kitten, I can’t find it in me to feel fondness. As if sensing her disgust and fear, the giant snake gently tightened its coils around her a bit more and then slowly licked her palm with its tongue, as if to say, “See, I’m this adorable. Love me, love me.” The Wang family, acting as spectators, was too shocked to move, wondering if the snake would strangle Zhenzhu to death. Meanwhile, the one being coiled closed her eyes again, tremblingly saying, “Go... go away first. Go away, and then I’ll talk to you.” She tried to negotiate as if it would understand her language, but unexpectedly, the giant snake acted as if it truly understood. It slowly uncoiled itself and then slithered to position itself in front of her instead. “It understands!” exclaimed He Ming. “Wow, that snake is really smart,” He Yu said excitedly, slowly stepping out from behind his mother. It might be smart, but she wasn’t keen on befriending reptiles. When she was younger, a friend pranked her by putting a green snake in her school bag. When she opened the bag, the little green snake quickly slithered around her hand. Since then, she was scared of reptiles, especially snakes. [1] * Qin Guang Wang is the King of Hell, representing one aspect of Buddha named “Rung Rojana Buddha,” known in Chinese as “Tai Yik Huk,” presiding over the first hell. His role is to review the records of souls, logging their sins and virtues to determine their punishment. If a soul has accumulated merit without committing sins, the hell’s guardian, holding the ledger, will release that soul to be reborn in the next life or ascend to heaven if their virtue is significant enough. However, sinful souls that have committed misdeeds will be sent to the second hell for further judgment. Read ‘Rebirth: This Farmgirl Has Spirit Fish Scales’ before anyone else with more Chapters at https://www.jinovel.com/en