Tang Tian was quite pleased. The family had long struggled with water shortages, and even though she had spring water in her Space, she still had to fetch several buckets daily from the village for appearances. Now that it had rained, the groundwater would soon replenish, and the well in the corner of the yard could finally be put to use.
After a simple breakfast, Tang Tian urged her mother to hurry into the city.
Tang Chuan was tasked with looking after Tang Hai, and the two brothers stayed behind at home, continuing to drink water like oxen.
Tang Hai was one thing, but Tang Chuan had already begun to feel the benefits of “drinking water,” so he showed no impatience whatsoever.
Li Qiushuang carried a basket and held her daughter’s hand as they walked for over half an hour before reaching the city gate. They had expected to have to plead their case to avoid the entry tax, but the guards were lazy, leaving the gates wide open and unattended.
Seizing the opportunity, the mother and daughter quickly slipped into the city.
The city remained as desolate as before, but after last night’s rain, the blue-bricked and red-tiled houses along the main street, with their high eaves, appeared somewhat cleaner and tidier.
Da Qi valued scholars over warriors, and educated men could be found everywhere. Even in a small county like Tai Lai, the only calligraphy and painting shop occupied three rooms, appearing quite grand and respectable.
Li Qiushuang tugged at her patched dress and straightened her daughter’s clothes, mustering her courage before stepping onto the steps of the calligraphy and painting shop.
Unfortunately, halfway up, the mother and daughter were shooed away by a young shop assistant wielding a broom.
“Where did these beggars come from, covered in mud? Get lost! Don’t dirty our floor and make me clean up after you!”
Li Qiushuang’s face flushed red. After years of mistreatment by Tang Laotai, her and her daughter’s clothes were indeed terribly worn, but she had done her best to keep them clean. It was just that after walking twenty miles early in the morning, they couldn’t avoid getting muddy…
“Sir, we’re not beggars. We’re here to sell something!”
She tried to explain, but the young assistant wouldn’t listen, his expression growing even more disdainful. “Stop pretending to be pitiful. Even if you’re not beggars, you’re still paupers. What good stuff could you possibly have to sell? You’re just here to cause trouble and get me in trouble!”
Li Qiushuang grew anxious and wanted to say more, but Tang Tian tugged her hand.
“Mother, come with me. I’ve found a buyer!”
Before Li Qiushuang could ask for details, she was pulled across the street to a teahouse.
The teahouse attendant initially smiled as he approached the entering customers but soon scowled.
Tang Tian didn’t give him a chance to shoo them away, heading straight for a noble young man seated by the window.
“Sir, would you like to buy some fine paper? I have the best paper in the world!”
The young man wore a sapphire-blue round-collared silk robe, with a white jade inlaid in his belt that matched the jade hairpin in his high topknot, accentuating his rosy lips, fair complexion, and handsome, noble bearing.
Startled from his tea, he instinctively looked over and, seeing a scrawny little girl making such a bold claim, couldn’t help but laugh, teasing her.
“Oh, little girl, I bet you don’t even know how to write yet. How would you know what paper is the best in the world?”
Tilting her head, Tang Tian grinned, her large eyes curving into crescents as she replied, “You’re right, sir, I can’t read, but I have eyes! My paper is whiter than snow, so of course it’s the best in the world! A handsome gentleman like you must be a great scholar, and you’d be the perfect match for my fine paper!”
The noble young man burst into laughter and waved to the gray-clad attendant behind him.
The gray-clad attendant quickly stopped the young waiter, ordered fresh tea, and then invited Li Qiushuang to take a seat.
Li Qiushuang had been terrified the moment her daughter rushed toward the noble young master. Though she didn’t know his identity, the young man’s belt alone was valuable enough to buy their entire village—he was undoubtedly someone of wealth and status. If they offended him, her daughter’s life could be in danger.
Fortunately, the young master showed no sign of displeasure. Too nervous to sit, she hurriedly pulled out the white paper from her basket and carefully spoke up in her daughter’s defense.
“Y-Young Master, my daughter didn’t lie. This paper truly is excellent. Please take a look. It’s fine if you don’t wish to buy it, but I beg you not to blame the child for her rudeness…”
To her surprise, the noble young master snatched the paper from her hands before she could finish speaking.
“What… what kind of paper is this? It’s even whiter than Xuan paper and more flexible. But wait—it feels so smooth. Will the ink slide off?”
As if bewitched, the young master loudly ordered his attendant to fetch brush and ink so he could test it immediately!
Soon, the attendant hurried over with an inkstone, brush, and ink. The young master rolled up his sleeves, personally ground the ink, and then solemnly began to write.
Li Qiushuang’s heart leaped into her throat, but Tang Tian was brimming with confidence. She even secretly snatched a piece of pastry and popped it into her mouth to quiet her growling stomach.
“Excellent paper, truly excellent! It would make first-class letter paper!”
The young master’s brush glided effortlessly across the paper. He wrote two lines of small characters with tight spacing, and the ink soaked in quickly without the slightest smudge.
“I only came to Tai Lai for a casual visit, but I never expected to find such fine paper here! Now I have the perfect gift for my teacher’s birthday!”
Overjoyed, the young master set down his brush, carefully placed the remaining paper back into the basket, and handed it directly to his attendant—clearly determined to acquire it.
“Name your price. I’ll take it all!”
Li Qiushuang and her daughter had already discussed their asking price on the way, but before Li Qiushuang could speak, Tang Tian cut in.
“Young Master, our family is in need of food and supplies, and we’re in a hurry to purchase them. Why not accompany us as we shop, and we can discuss the price along the way?”
The young master was taken aback for a moment, but after glancing at the other tea-house patrons who kept looking their way, he understood. He stood up promptly and replied, “Very well. I also need to buy a few things. Let’s go together.”
Soon, the group left the tea-house and entered the general store across the street.
As Tang Tian looked around, the young master patted her head lightly. “You’re quite alert, little one. Don’t worry—this is my shop. You can safely tell me how much you want for the paper!”
Seeing the old shopkeeper bow respectfully to the young master, Tang Tian finally relaxed and replied cheerfully, “Thank you for your understanding, Young Master. I’m truly glad these fine sheets have found such a worthy owner! I don’t know how much high-quality paper sells for in calligraphy shops, but for this paper… I want twenty taels!”
Twenty taels?!
The old shopkeeper’s eyes widened in shock. Even the finest Xue Mian Paper in Da Qi cost only five taels per ream. What kind of paper could be worth twenty taels—was it made of gold?
To his surprise, the young master agreed without hesitation and waved for payment.
As the reluctant shopkeeper prepared to fetch the silver, Tang Tian quickly added, “Uncle Shopkeeper, there’s no hurry. Our family needs to buy many things, and we’ve heard your store offers good quality at fair prices, treating all customers honestly. We plan to do all our shopping here. We’ll be troubling you!”
The old shopkeeper immediately changed his expression and greeted them warmly.
Although Li Qiushuang was worried her daughter might “cause trouble,” she soon forgot her concerns when faced with shelves full of rice, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea.
Thanks to Tang Laotai’s “blessing,” their home was truly lacking in everything!
Two catties of vegetable oil, one catty of salt, one lampstand, one catty of lamp oil, a winnowing basket, a pickaxe, a bucket, a sewing basket…