"What are you talking about?"
A fifteen - or sixteen - year - old teenager staggered over with a cup of wine in his hand. The beautiful jade hanging from his waist glowed softly in the sunlight as he walked.
"Zheng Gan, your father is a close official to His Majesty and you come from the Zheng family of Xingyang. Have you bought a sweater?" Judge Cui grabbed his sleeve. His breath reeked of alcohol as he spoke.
"Sweater? Sure I have. Look, isn't this it?"
This lad was an open - hearted person. As soon as the topic of sweaters came up, he took off his outer robe, revealing a turquoise sweater inside. It had a novel design and was adorned with several pearls that sparkled brightly.
He was the son of Zheng Min and had been pulled over to drink and dine with them because he was on good terms with Judge Cui.
"How much did it cost?" Zhenzhu Tongjinsi put down the osmanthus drink in his hand and leaned closer to ask.
Zheng Gan thought for a while. His mother had sent someone to buy it and seemed to have mentioned the price to him. What was it again?
"Seems like a thousand cash. These pearls are real, big and plump. They're rare treasures. They're sewn on with gold thread. It's worth the price," Zheng Gan said as he stroked the smooth and delicate pearls.
The version sold to the nobility was definitely different from that sold to ordinary people. As for what the finished product looked like, whether it was adorned with pearls or agate, it purely depended on what was left in the Treasury Bureau that day and the improvisation of the female workers.
Because of the randomness in production, almost every piece was unique. The nobility liked one - of - a - kind items, so it just suited their taste. Naturally, the price was much higher.
They didn't care about whether it could keep them warm or not. They regarded it as a fashionable item, and even a high - end custom - made product exclusive to themselves.
This idea was proposed by Su Gui, who foresaw the future development. Li Jingyun just thought it would be simpler and easier this way.
Wu Yuanshuang said loudly and excitedly, "I remember! I remember that guy Sun Huan bought a red sweater studded with rubies. At first glance, it didn't seem special, but actually the rubies were woven together with the red wool."
"That whole set cost fifty thousand cash! Fifty thousand cash, everyone!" Wu Yuanqing chimed in. The two of them sang in chorus.
Lu Dongzan was drunk and his mouth was running faster than his mind. "How did he manage to buy it? How many people would fight over such a sweater?"
"Don't you know? Hehe, Sun Huan is the son of Sun Wuji and he's the cousin of the little princess. If he wanted to buy it, how could the little princess not sell it to him?" Wu Yuanqing grabbed a flagon of wine and drained it in one gulp. Then he slumped onto the chair, laughing loudly.
They were invited here. According to Sangbuzha, it was because they were the sons of the dukes and of noble birth, and it was their honor to attend the banquet. In fact, it was because Li Jingyun had bought the storefront of her sweater shop from their family.
"No wonder. I heard that she's recruited another five hundred people. The scale is getting bigger and bigger. A lot of young ladies don't want to serve their husbands and in - laws properly. Their minds have been distracted by this," Judge Cui continued, looking full of pity. No one knew what he was pitying.
Zhenzhu Tongjinsi was curious. "Princess Chengyang is only five years old this year. How can she be so capable? Could she really know some immortal?"
"She probably does. I heard it from my father. The sweaters, the cement, and that library were all the ideas of the immortal master. Otherwise, how could a five - year - old child who can't even read a single character come up with these ideas?" Zheng Gan said seriously with a different look on his face.
"Speaking of that library makes me angry. Who wants to build a library in Huainan Circuit? Everyone was aiming for the one in Chang'an. In the end, they spent the money but the reputation they got was far from satisfactory. Look at the Tang family's library. Isn't it surrounded by a bunch of scholars every day?"
The angrier Judge Cui got, the louder he spoke. He slammed his wine cup on the ground, making a clear and crisp sound.
The Cui family of Boling spent seven hundred taels of gold and took out all their family's collections to build a library in Henan Circuit. Their family contributed five hundred taels and built one in the more remote Huainan Circuit.
Now, even the people in Lingnan Circuit, who might not even be civilized, could read the books they had treasured for so long.
In a couple of years, wouldn't everyone be able to claim to be a scholar?
The waiter quickly came over to clean up. At the same time, he replaced the broken cup with a new one and filled it with wine. He wished he could stuff two pieces of cotton in his ears. How could these people talk so carelessly after drinking?
Could these words be spoken casually? Especially in front of the Turks and the Tibetans.
Xu Jingzong, who had been silent all this time, laughed. "The Cui family of Boling is really unlucky. They've always been in the little princess's crosshairs. When Cui Renshi went to Qingzhou in Henan Circuit to supervise the construction of the library, the little princess and the King of Shu even went incognito to check on it. They were afraid that Cui Renshi wouldn't pay the workers or would cut corners."
This future prime minister was currently just a low - level doctor of the Four - Gate School, specifically responsible for teaching the children of marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons above the seventh rank as well as talented commoners.
According to the rules, several people here should call him teacher.
He had been demoted from a courtier to a doctor of the Four - Gate School because he had mocked Ouyang Xun for his ugly appearance and was exposed by the censor.
Among the "Eighteen Scholars" of the Qin Palace back then, he currently held the lowest official position.
"Yes, yes, and they almost came back late and missed the opening day of the library," Judge Cui said as if he had seen a relative. He grabbed Xu Jingzong's hand and shouted, "Brother Xu, you're really well - informed. You remember all these things clearly."
Hearing Judge Cui's off - the - mark praise, Xu Jingzong couldn't help but smile.
Their discussion piqued the interest of Zhenzhu Tongjinsi, Lu Dongzan and the others in the library. It wasn't far away. Why not go and take a look after the banquet?
After the banquet, Zhenzhu Tongjinsi and the others headed straight for the library.
As the sky was getting dark, the autumn wind in late fall made people shiver to the bone. There were few pedestrians on the street, but the library was still crowded. It was brightly lit, and there were many children sitting in groups, sharing a book and reading it with great interest.
The curfew in Chang'an seemed to be non - existent here.
The registrar guarding the door had a kind smile on his face as he watched the children reading storybooks. Suddenly, he looked up and saw these foreigners coming.
The smile disappeared instantly.
Zhenzhu Tongjinsi was about to step inside when the registrar quickly stopped him. "It's already this late. Why are you still trying to get in? Come earlier tomorrow."
"There are so many people in this library. Why can't you let us in?"
"In another two quarters of an hour, the curfew will start. They'll have to leave then. According to the rules of the library, no one is allowed to enter anymore. If you want to come, come early tomorrow."
The registrar stood at the door and wouldn't let them in.
"We're the honored guests of His Majesty, the Great Khan of the Tang Dynasty! How dare you stop us!" Lu Dongzan was so drunk that his mind was muddled. He pointed at the registrar and shouted.
Sangbuzha quickly pulled him back and wiped the non - existent cold sweat off his forehead. How could a man of such an old age and big build be so thoughtless? Could this be said casually?
"Then we'll come tomorrow. We'll come tomorrow."
The others went back to their own homes. Xu Jingzong washed his face, changed his clothes, and put on a sachet to cover the smell of alcohol. Then he took a back road into the imperial city.
He had to report this matter in person.
After so many years in the officialdom, he was good at sizing up people and situations. This "Hongmen Banquet" today was attended by both the Turks and the Tibetans with ill intentions. They wanted to get information from them during the meal.
Rather than waiting for His Majesty to hear everything from the owner of the Western Building, it was better for him to go and explain the situation in person.