Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Qixi Festival

“Young master, our Sweet Shop’s rock sugar is about to sell out. Do you think we should restock?”

“What? Didn’t we just restock a hundred pounds the other day? It’s sold out so quickly?”

First thing in the morning, Uncle Li reported some good news to him.

“Isn’t it almost Qixi Festival? All the young ladies and wives in the city are starting to prepare sweets to honor the Qiao Immortal, and lots of gift exchanges and gatherings need frosting,” Uncle Li explained.

“Qixi Festival, honoring the Qiao Immortal?”

Lu Zheng blinked. In Huaxia, the Qixi Festival was basically Valentine’s Day, commemorating Niu Lang and Zhi Nu, symbolizing love. What’s with the Qixi Festival in the Great Jing Dynasty?

Could there also be a legend of Niu Lang and Zhi Nu?

“Yes!” Uncle Li nodded, “Young master, you seem to have forgotten it. The Qixi Festival is just three days away.”

Speaking of this, Uncle Li leaned in mischievously, “The Qixi Festival is also the day when young ladies give gifts to their sweethearts. If the man has mutual affection, he’ll reciprocate with a gift.

I bet Miss Liu’s sachet is already prepared. Young master, don’t forget to prepare a gift!”

Lu Zheng gave a rigid smile and tentatively asked, “What kind of gift should I give in return then?”

“Anything will do, a copper hairpin and jade bracelet would be nice, a wooden comb and rouge could work as well. It’s all about showing sincerity. Some scholars might be short on money and would compose a poem or draw a picture instead.”

“Got it, I understand.”

Lu Zheng nodded and patted Uncle Li on the shoulder, “Very good, if you encounter such things in the future, be sure to remind me!”

“Of course!” Uncle Li replied with a beaming smile, hoping for a forthcoming gentle lady of the house like Liu Qingyan.

“Here, take one thousand coins and have Aunt Liu make herself a new dress and buy two pieces of jewelry.”

Uncle Li waved his hands repeatedly, “No need, no need. These past two months, we’ve been living well, way better than before. My wife is over fifty, she doesn’t need new clothes or jewelry just to stay at home.”

“Take it, I know Aunt Liu likes to chat with neighbors when she’s free. Dress well so as not to embarrass me.”

“Oh!” Uncle Li nodded heavily and, seeing Lu Zheng wave a hand, retreated back to the front yard.

“I never expected the rock sugar to sell so quickly. Fortunately, I was prepared.”

Lu Zheng, having traveled through time, pulled a large cardboard box from a room serving as a warehouse, with exactly one hundred pounds of rock sugar inside.

Last time, he was annoyed with the hassle, so he ordered five hundred pounds in one go, with four hundred pounds still stored in the guest room warehouse.

Then, Lu Zheng retrieved a burlap sack and proceeded mechanically.

Unsealing, pouring, discarding packaging…

With Uncle Li pushing a cart, Lu Zheng prepared to deliver these one hundred pounds of sugar to the shop with him.

“Oh, first deliver a pound to the Liu Family.”

“No need, young master, I already delivered it to the Liu Family the day before yesterday, just as you instructed.”

Lu Zheng was dumbfounded, Uncle Li was truly a genius, a five-star assistant!

…

Cong’an Square, Sweet Shop.

Lo and behold, there really was less than ten pounds of sugar left in the shop.

Fifty coins for each two-tenths pound; these two hundred pounds of sugar brought Lu Zheng exactly one hundred coins in income.

What a tremendous profit!

“Alright, you head back first. I’ll stroll around.” Lu Zheng waved Uncle Li off.

Uncle Li pushed the cart away, and Shi Tou and Ma San continued attending to customers.

Lu Zheng stayed in the shop for a while, noticed everything was normal, so he leisurely walked with his hands behind his back.

Qixi Festival.

Lu Zheng wandered around Cong’an Square and learned about this festival’s origins from some children.

It’s said that there was a celestial maiden in heaven, best known for her weaving and embroidery. The immortals in heaven took pride in wearing clothes woven by her.

Later, seeing the poor clothing conditions of humans on earth, this maiden passed down the skills of raising silkworms, spinning silk, weaving, and shuttling cloth.

From then on, people began honoring Qiao Immortal annually, a day for women to wish for progress in their skills, an opportunity to show their work.

And as for whom to show their work?

Need that be said?

Of course, it’s to their sweetheart!

Gradually, Qixi Festival also gained an aspect of mutual love between men and women.

Women would give men clothing or handkerchiefs, sachets they had woven, and if men were interested in the women, they’d reciprocate with gifts.

Besides that, women would gather, hold picnics, or dine, so besides textile goods, confectionery skills were also a competitive area.

Truly a perfect day for selling frosting.

Would that every day were Qixi Festival.

Lu Zheng strolled along, pondering over what he should buy for Liu Qingyan.

A gift he must give, considering the girl made her feelings so apparent. Could he let Lin Wan and Shen Ying stand in the way?

It would hurt the girl’s feelings so much!

It’s not that I’m trying to play the rogue, I’m just too soft-hearted, my nature is such, fate is hard to defy, what can I do!

Lu Zheng shook his head and sighed. Then he looked up and found himself in front of a shop selling rouge and cosmetics.

“Young master, our shop has top-quality rouge and cosmetics, along with eyebrow pencils and forehead paint. Come take a look, there must be something you’ll like!” The clerk at the door solicited business.

Lu Zheng shook his head, “Thanks, but no, the girl I like is fresh and natural, not needing to use these common cosmetics.”

Just as he finished speaking, a young lady who had stepped out of the cosmetic shop ahead of him brightened her eyes.

At the same time, a giggle came from behind Lu Zheng.

“Hee hee, sister, is Brother Lu talking about you?”

Lu Zheng: (o)

Turning back awkwardly, Lu Zheng saw Liu Qingyan and her sister less than five paces away, seemingly about to greet him?

Liu Qingyan’s face turned fiery red, unable to look at Lu Zheng, she just nodded slightly and pulled Liu Qingquan into the crowd.

Lu Zheng smacked his lips. Was this an unintentional but effective compliment?

I really am a genius!

Even my mischief is silently profound!

As the Liu sisters retreated, the young lady who had emerged earlier approached Lu Zheng.

“Young master, such poetic words – was that young lady just now your lotus flower? Truly worthy of the saying ‘natural and unadorned’.”

The enticing voice reached Lu Zheng’s ears, making him finally look at the woman before him.

A form-fitting dress of purplish-red celestial pattern silk, adorned with a sterling silver phoenix tail pin, her brows like ink-sticks, eyes like mist, lips painted a deep red – a truly captivating beauty.

“Uh, nice to meet you, Miss!”

Lu Zheng nodded, blinked, and then, without hesitation, walked away.

Lu Zheng was sure that Liu Qingyan was watching from not far away; he couldn’t squander the goodwill he had just garnered.

The lady curved her lips in a smile, seeing Lu Zheng enter a jewelry shop. She gracefully swayed like a snake and lightly stepped her way in as well.

…

“Sister! That female demon followed him in, what do we do!”

“Can’t you curse better?” Liu Qingyan tapped Liu Qingquan’s forehead with mild annoyance. “What can we do? You want me to follow too?”

Liu Qingquan thought for a moment, “Shall I go in?”

Liu Qingyan pinched Liu Qingquan’s ear and turned away, “I trust Lu Lang, so don’t go creating trouble for me!”

“Sister, it hurts!”