AWB Chapter 438: The World's No. 1 Silk Shop
Chapter 438: The World's No. 1 Silk Shop
The two guards looked at each other and immediately followed. Lin Wanwan led them to the tree and pointed to the place where Custard Bun had just dug and said, "Dig! Dig this up!"
The guards didn't ask any more questions, turned around and left in a hurry, and came back carrying shovels a few minutes later.
"Hunk-hunk-hunk-" The shovel collided with the soil, making a dull sound, accompanied by the smell of the soil being turned.
As the excavation went deeper, the surrounding soil became more and more moist. Custard Bun squatted aside, his eyes fixed on the gradually deepening pit.
Lin Wanwan folded her hands over her chest, staring intently, her heart beating faster involuntarily.
With a crisp "clang", two guards lifted a large vermilion lacquered and gold-painted box out of the pit.
The box is more than five feet long and wide. It is made of thick nanmu wood and has been corroded by time.
The box is carved with lotus patterns, and the texture of each petal is clearly visible.
"Look! There's not just one." One of the guards panted and pointed at the pit with his muddy hands.
The two of them worked hard for a while and lifted three boxes of similar size out of the pit one after another.
Zhao Qiaoniang and Mrs. Bai walked slowly along the gravel path.
Mrs. Bai looked a little surprised: "What are you doing? How did you find something again?"
The guards smiled at each other, stepped forward and gently opened the box.
The first box contained neatly stacked gilded jewelry boxes. When opened, gold hairpins, hairpins, and earrings came into view.
Each piece is inlaid with rubies, sapphires and pearls. The gems reflect colorful light in the afterglow, and the pearls are round and full, emitting a soft halo.
In the second box, a whole row of coral ornaments caught the eye, with rich red coral color.
On the brocade next to it, there were more than a dozen pairs of mutton-fat jade bracelets.
There are also several sets of head ornaments and gold hairpins made with kingfisher feathers, with bright and colorful kingfisher feathers and gemstones dotted in between. The workmanship is so fine that it is breathtaking.
The guard opened the third box, which was full of neatly stacked gold bars.
Madam Bai sighed and said:
“No wonder the Xu family is so anxious to take back this farm; it turns out they want to dig out these things.
These should all be treasures left by the Xu family's ancestors. This box of gold bars alone is enough for the Xu family to revive their business and take it to the next level."
Zhao Qiaoniang nodded and directly ordered the guards to carry all the boxes into the room and place them properly. She also asked the guards to fill and tamp the soil at the excavation site.
At dawn the next day, Mrs. Bai set off for Bianjing City with a group of people.
As the carriage slowly moved forward, the majestic and magnificent outline of Bianjing City gradually came into view.
In the morning light, the bricks and stones on the city wall have an ancient color.
At the city gate, soldiers dressed in bright armor and holding spears stood guard and patrolled.
There was an endless stream of people and caravans entering the city, and the noise and shouts were intertwined, creating a prosperous and lively scene.
The carriage slowly passed through the city gate. Lin Wanwan looked out through the window and saw shops lining both sides of the street with their signs fluttering in the wind.
In the silk shop, colorful silks sparkle in the sun.
The restaurant was filled with the tempting aroma of food, and the diners were toasting each other and laughing.
In the streets and alleys, jugglers are performing wonderful skills, drawing cheers from the onlookers.
When we walked into the city, a magnificent palace appeared before our eyes.
The red walls, golden tiles, flying eaves and brackets sparkle in the sunlight.
In the square in front of the palace, people came and went, and officials in official uniforms walked hurriedly, showing the majesty and solemnity of Bianliang.
Zhao Qiaoniang sighed, "Bianjing really lives up to its reputation. This prosperous scene is truly eye-opening!"
Cui Ya's tone was full of envy: "Look! The people in Bianjing dress very differently from us in the countryside. The women's clothes are as beautiful as those in paintings!"
When Lin Wanwan heard this, she also stuck her head out curiously, and her eyes were instantly attracted by the various pedestrians on the street.
The women on the street are wearing all kinds of gorgeous and exquisite clothes.
Most of the daughters of wealthy families wore chest-length skirts made of thin gauze and embroidered with lifelike flowers, birds, fish and insects.
Their skirts were tied with silk ribbons, and the jade pendants hanging from the ribbons swayed gently with their light steps.
The neckline of the ruqun is either embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns or inlaid with exquisite pearls, which is both soft and noble.
Some other women wore cross-collared, waist-length skirts with intricate patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hems with colorful silk threads. Paired with flowing shawls, they looked like fairies descending to earth when the breeze blew.
Women from ordinary families mostly wore simple short jackets and long skirts. Although they had no luxurious decorations, they were clean and tidy, and had a unique simple beauty.
Men's clothing also has its own characteristics.
Most of the dignitaries wore round-necked robes made of high-quality silk in bright colors. They wore jade belts around their waists and black leather boots, showing their status and position.
The chest and cuffs of the robe are embroidered with exquisite patterns, showing his taste.
Literati and scholars prefer straight robes, which are made of plain fabrics and matched with simple accessories. They hold folding fans in their hands and exude an air of elegance in their every move.
Ordinary people wore short clothes, mainly in green, blue and gray, which were convenient for work.
Mrs. Bai looked at the curious looks of the maids, smiled, and said softly:
"The most famous places in Bianjing are the cloth and silk shops on this street.
Let's get off and walk around. This is the main city, and the carriage can't enter."
After saying this, the coachman stopped the carriage steadily, and the servant hurried forward to put down the pedal.
Mrs. Bai got off the car first, and Zhao Qiaoniang, Mulan and Cui Ya followed impatiently.
What hits you is the bustling atmosphere of the market, mixed with the faint scent of spices emanating from the silk shops. The streets are crowded with people, and the sounds of bargaining and laughter are endless.
Everyone walked through the exquisitely carved wooden gate and entered the "No. 1 Silk Shop in the World".
Opposite the gate is a huge screen painted with "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix". The colors are bright and the brushstrokes are delicate. The phoenix stands proudly in the center, surrounded by hundreds of birds in various shapes.
Walking around the screen, the silks and satins displayed in the store are dazzling.
On the shelf on the left, there are Shu brocades with warm colors and rich patterns.
Adjacent to it is Song Brocade, which has simple and elegant colors, mostly using calm blue, brown, purple and other tones, with exquisite gold lines to outline the patterns, exuding a sense of nobility.
On the shelf on the right, the thin gauze swayed gently in the wind.
The moon-white gauze is embroidered with stars, like the Milky Way in the night sky.
The peach blossom pattern on the pink gauze is gorgeous.
These gauze fabrics feel light and soft, and through the sunlight, you can see faint dark patterns.
Mrs. Bai led everyone on a tour while softly introducing:
“My senior sister has run this silk shop for many years and is very particular about material selection, printing, dyeing, and embroidery.
That’s why it attracts many dignitaries and nobles to patronize it.”
She turned to look at the shopkeeper and asked, "Excuse me, is Qingyu here?"