ebookland Chapter 470 Bap
Chapter 470 Bap
Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and Xianyang City is bustling with activity. From afar, the dark palace walls resemble a winding dragon, stretching for miles and enveloping the entire city in a solemn atmosphere. However, this solemnity is easily shattered by the clamor emanating from the streets and alleys.
The cries of vendors rose and fell along both sides of the street. An old man selling candied hawthorns held high his bundles of straw laden with sugar-coated hawthorns, the glistening skewer gleaming alluringly in the sunlight, as if beckoning to passersby. The bamboo strips trembled slightly in the cold wind, making a crisp sound that mingled with the old man's cries, creating a unique symphony.
Not far away, in front of a cosmetics shop, a woman lifted the heavy cotton curtain, and a rich fragrance immediately wafted out. This fragrance not only carried the scent of rouge and face powder but also the smoky aroma of roasted mutton, making one's mouth water. Children laughed and played in the street, their laughter like silver bells echoing in the cold December air, adding a touch of life and vitality to this ancient city.
Ba Pu stood quietly on the bluestone slabs of Zhuque Street, a gold-embossed invitation hidden in his sleeve. The edges of the invitation were trimmed with the unique brocade of Sichuan and Chongqing, the fine warp and weft threads undulating at his fingertips, like the withered yet warm hands of his mother, Ba Qing. Last year, his mother was bedridden and very weak, but she still held the account book firmly in her hand, patiently teaching Ba Pu.
Looking up, one sees the bronze Vermilion Bird atop the Xianyang Palace gate, its surface gleaming with a cold, icy light in the setting sun. Its wings are outstretched, poised for flight, as if ready to soar at any moment. Meanwhile, the wind chimes on the eaves tinkle melodiously in the gentle breeze, their sound echoing across the empty palace grounds, blending seamlessly with the rhythmic clatter of looms from the weaving workshops of memory, creating a surreal sense of time travel.
His mother's teachings still echoed in his ears: "Only when warp and weft intertwine can a magnificent chapter be woven, and the same is true of business." These words were like a key, unlocking the door to Bapu's understanding of business.
"What a refined taste you have, Manager Ba! What are you doing standing here daydreaming?" A familiar chuckle suddenly came from behind. Ba Pu turned around at the sound and saw a woman dressed in a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), carrying a brocade pattern book, walking gracefully towards him.
The woman's dress was embroidered with the unique double-sided, two-color stitching technique of Suzhou embroidery, with vibrant red plum blossoms blooming on the white fabric, lifelike and vivid. A red plum hairpin was tucked diagonally into her hair, complementing her blush and making her cheeks as red as the sunset, as if bringing the early spring charm of the South to this Guanzhong Plain.
This textile prodigy from the Wu region possesses astonishingly high skill. Through improvements to the jacquard loom, she made the patterns of Shu brocade even more magnificent and splendid, as if incorporating all the beauty of the world into them. The lotus scroll pattern displayed in the sample book is the culmination of her hard work, which took her and her partner three months and dozens of letters to complete.
“Don’t keep everyone waiting,” she said softly, blinking her eyes with a lively expression like spring blossoms. With each light step, the silver ornaments at her temples jingled, like the first birdsong of spring breaking the silence. The sound startled the birds foraging under the eaves; they fluttered into flight, the sound echoing in the empty palace and awakening Bapu’s memories.
Ba Pu passed through the three palace gates, and the Xuan Shi Hall was already bustling with activity. Bells and drums rang out in unison, their sounds resounding through the sky, as if welcoming the arrival of this textile genius. The courtiers, dressed in magnificent crowns that shone like stars in the night sky, clad in jade and bronze ornaments that jingled and produced a melodious sound, weaving together a beautiful symphony.
At the specially designated seating area for various trades, Lü Zhi, dressed in a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), looked like a fairy descended from heaven. She was intently organizing a piece of paper, her focused expression captivating all who beheld her. A pearl dangled from a silver hairpin in her hair, swaying gently with her movements and emitting a soft glow. Ba Pu gazed at her graceful figure, a sudden feeling of warmth welling up within him.
Just then, Su Liuli's voice rang out beside Ba Pu: "That is Miss Lü Zhi."
Ba Pu's gaze fell on Lü Zhi again. She was dressed in an elegant long robe, her posture upright and her temperament refined, like a lotus blooming in the mortal world.
Su Liuli continued, "I heard that Miss Lü Zhi went to great lengths to persuade women to read and write, knocking on doors one by one. Only she herself knows the scorn and insults she endured during that time."
Ba Pu listened quietly to Su Liuli's story, his gaze fixed on Lü Zhi, as if he could see a deeper world through her figure. In a daze, he seemed to see his own mother silently calculating the family accounts late at night. Under the dim light, his mother's focused expression was exactly the same as Lü Zhi's determination at this moment.
True strength lies not in those who command from the highest echelons of power, but in those who dedicate themselves to their work in ordinary life, making quiet contributions. They use their actions to change the world and influence everyone around them.
As Ba Pu and Su Liuli approached, a slightly awkward figure came into Ba Pu's view. It was Wang Tieniu, a man from Guanzhong. He was burly, dressed in a coarse cloth outfit, his jacket still covered in mud, looking somewhat unkempt.
Su Liuli said, "That man is called Wang Tieniu. It is said that he improved the sickle. His improved sickle has a wider blade and a more beautiful curve. It is said that it is not only easier to use, but also can make the wheat harvesting speed three times faster."
Upon hearing Su Liuli's words, Wang Tieniu scratched his head sheepishly, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. "I'm just a rough guy, I've never seen anything like this before. It's all thanks to the King of Qin for thinking highly of us farmers and giving me this opportunity."
Bapu found a seat and sat down, quietly watching the lively scene in the hall. A surge of emotion welled up inside him. He recalled a saying his mother often used to say: "Merchants know no borders, but they cannot betray their families and country."
Throughout her life, her mother traveled to various countries as a merchant, but her heart always remained with the Qin state. She devoted her entire fortune to supporting the Qin army in building roads and also mined copper in the deep mountains of Sichuan, all for the sake of the words, "The valiant Qin army, united in the face of national crisis." Now, Ba Pu finally understands his mother's good intentions.
At this moment, the banquet officially began, and the chime bells played "Qin Feng: Wu Yi" (The Qin Wind - No Robes). The stirring melody echoed throughout the hall, seemingly transporting everyone back to that era of war and turmoil. The rhythm of the musicians striking the chimes resonated with the shouts rising and falling outside the palace walls, creating a unique cadence.