Chapter 357 - 210 Sandalwood Fan_1
Qian Yixiu spent three days straight strolling the streets, experiencing for the first time in her past and present lives what it felt like to shop with true gusto. The items she purchased weren’t merely carried in bags or packed in boxes but were hauled away in three whole horse-drawn carriages. Moreover, most of what she bought were the equivalents of luxury brands like Hermès in her previous life.
Jewelry from Hengtai Silver Building, silk fabrics from Rui Foxiang, embroidery from Xiangyun Pavilion (including round fans, decorative pieces, plain silk, embroidered threads, and so on), writing supplies from Ink Shop, iron pot lids from Yifeng Store, hams and soy sauce ducks from Huaxiang Grand Restaurant, and the list goes on.
Especially the Xiangyun Pavilion, which her late mother used to praise, Qian Yixiu took the time to thoroughly browse and made plentiful purchases. Despite the exorbitant prices, she bought generously. She also discreetly inquired about Master Su, only to learn from a shop assistant that she had died a few years earlier.
She also visited many of Capital City’s famous historical landmarks, indulging in numerous renowned local snacks.
Capital City bore some resemblance to Old Beijing from her former life but was not entirely the same. The Palace was somewhat akin to the Forbidden City, yet also not quite alike. It could be said that Capital City, compared to Old Beijing from the Ming and Qing dynasties of her previous life, was more prosperous and flourishing, somewhat like the Ming Dynasty’s military strength and somewhat like the Song Dynasty’s economic power. However, it seemed not quite as wealthy as Bianjing of the Song Dynasty, at least its GDP wasn’t as high, and it wasn’t possible for the millions of households throughout the city to use only coal instead of wood for fuel.
Qian Yixiu was surprised to see Persians, Western Region People, and many other foreigners conducting business here. She bought some wine, along with their velvet blankets, jewelry, and other goods.
The Great Qian Kingdom mainly traded with foreign nations via the Silk Road, so there were many Hu People around, along with individuals from Dajin Country, Dayuan Country, and Goryeo Country coming here to do business.
Qian Yixiu, knowledgeable of history from her past life, did not have a good impression of the Mongolians from Dayuan Country due to their incredible capacity for destruction. Had they not annihilated the Southern Song, it’s possible that the Song Dynasty could have entered a capitalist society based on a market economy even before the so-called "sun never sets" Empires.
Emperor Qianwen, the current ruler, was a rare wise monarch who had brought unprecedented prosperity to Daqian, with the economy booming. He followed some of the governing principles advised by Prime Minister Zhang Antong, not suppressing mergers or business, greatly developing both handicraft industry and commerce. He vigorously expanded the imperial examination system, greatly utilizing scholars from humbler backgrounds.