After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Chapter 663 Delivering Pearls, Returning to the City Overnight

Jiang Xiaoqi didn't linger after dinner, as she had to work the next day.

If I run fast enough, I can get home before the city gates close.

A journey of several dozen miles can be covered by horseback riding several times faster than by car.

However, the six boxes of items we were allocated could not be taken back.

Jiang Xiaoqi hadn't seen what the box weight actually was before, but she took a look at it one by one before leaving.

One box contained fabrics in styles I'd never seen before, and another box contained large, uncarved pieces of crystal or minerals.

Two boxes contained seafood, but it was all dried, so it should last quite a while.

There was a box of bottles and jars, which Jiang Xiaoqi didn't open one by one, but guessed they were things that could be stored for a long time.

The last box was the smallest; it was more like a box than a chest.

When it was opened, it contained perfectly round seawater pearls. What were they called in later generations?

Oh, right, I think it's called something like "Zhen Duo Ma" or something like that? It seems to be quite expensive.

Upon closer inspection, the colors of these pearls are not uniform. Some are white, while others have a gray, purple, or pink luster, and there are even a few golden ones.

Jiang Xiaoqi picked out the gold, purple, pink, and gray pearls directly. There weren't many, only fifty or sixty, and their sizes and diameters were not uniform.

It might be a bit difficult to put together a necklace, but it shouldn't be too hard to put together several bracelets.

The rest of the box contains white pearls, roughly estimated to be several hundred. Even if they are of different sizes, they can easily be strung into several pearl necklaces.

Thinking back to when I was a child, I gave my mother and two older sisters pearl jewelry. Compared to the pearls in front of me, those things seemed rather shabby.

It's not that the princess's belongings were shabby, but rather that pearls and corals were rarely seen in the inland areas, which made them seem even more precious.

The pearl ornaments worn by the princesses of the previous dynasty may not have been of mediocre quality, but rather lost their original vitality and luster due to being stored in a secret room for too long.

Jiang Xiaoqi put the four-colored beads he had selected into his purse, then grabbed a handful of the most numerous white pearls and left the small storeroom where he had temporarily stored his things.

"Father, Aunt, it's getting late, and I have to hurry back to the inner city. Aunt, you can take these beads and play with them. You can make some hairpins or string them into necklaces, whatever you like."

"For me? How can this be? Young master, you should take it back to the old lady and madam!"

Did Aunt Pan dislike pearls? Of course not, few women in this world can resist the allure of pearls.

However, she wasn't entirely ignorant; these pearls were extremely valuable, and she dared not take them.

Moreover, this quality is even better than those that the young master once gave to the ladies and young misses, so she shouldn't take it; it would be too hot to handle.

"Everyone has some, so please accept it, Aunt. You've worked hard taking care of Father's daily needs, this is your share."

"Since Mingfei has said so, you should accept it. It's a token of Mingfei's goodwill. He's in a hurry to return home, so don't delay him."

Seeing that Aunt Pan was dragging her feet, Jiang Wenqing finally spoke up.

Aunt Pan then took the dozens of round pearls and held them in her hands as if they were precious treasures, afraid that she might accidentally drop them.

Jiang Xiaoqi had no choice but to bring only a purse, which she had already used herself. She emptied out the loose silver and copper coins that were originally in it to make room for it.

"Oh dear, you're so stupid!"

Jiang Wenqing took out his large brocade handkerchief and had Aunt Pan put the pearls inside, tying them in pairs at the four corners for a secure hold.

Only then did Aunt Pan dare to move her feet, and her tense shoulders relaxed.

"Father, Aunt, Eldest Brother-in-law, Fifth Brother-in-law, please wait! My horse is fast; I'll definitely get there before the city gates are locked."

Jiang Xiaoqi fed his beloved horse some more premium feed, and once the horse was full, he mounted it and rode off into the distance.

"This child, always so energetic, has gone to great lengths just to have a meal with his father. Sigh~"

Jiang Wenqing sighed at Jiang Xiaoqi's hardships, while Aunt Pan, holding a makeshift purse made of brocade handkerchief, gave her master a strange look.

Did the young master really make this special trip just to see the master? It doesn't seem like it.

However, the young master did indeed go to the county government office to look for the master as soon as he arrived in Tongzhou. When he found that the master was not there, he even went to the dock to chase after him.

But when did this father and son become so close and friendly? What did she miss?

If she couldn't figure it out, she stopped thinking about it. Aunt Pan's mind was now completely focused on the pearl in her arms.

I've already decided to go to a jewelry shop first thing tomorrow morning to make myself a pearl necklace. If I have any left over, I'll also make a bracelet or a few hairpins.

These beads are huge; I reckon a necklace would only use two-thirds of them. Sigh, young master is really generous.

Jiang Xiaoqi had already looked at the box, but Jiang Wenqing hadn't. He knew his things wouldn't be as good as his son's, but he was still curious.

The first box after opening it contained fabric. "What kind of fabric is this? I don't think I've ever seen it before," Jiang Wenqing asked his fifth son-in-law, Xiao Ming, since he was the one who brought it back from the ship.

Aunt Pan, Dong Jin, and Xiao Ming all gathered around. "Well, I don't know either. There wasn't enough time to ask."

It's true that Xiao Ming brought back the items, but they were too numerous and varied. With a whole ship full of things, it was impossible for him to know every single one of them.

"Who cares what kind of fabric it is, it's pretty anyway." Dong Jin touched it, thinking that there must be some in the box he was allocated, so he could make some new clothes for his wife and children.

"It's alright, but the colors are too bright, which is quite different from the understated style of our Great Zhou."

Jiang Wenqing had no interest in the fabric and gave it all to Aunt Pan.

Aunt Pan smiled and felt that today was truly her lucky day. The young master gave her pearls to make new jewelry, and the master gave her fabric to make new clothes.

Oh dear, I'm going to be busy tomorrow. First I need to go to the jewelry shop, and then I need to go to the tailor shop to find an embroiderer to make me new clothes.

"Thank you, sir!"

Jiang Wenqing waved his hand and opened the second wooden box.

Contrary to his expectations, it wasn't a pearl or a gemstone.

"What is this?" Xiao Ming asked again.

Xiao Ming knew this, "Father-in-law, the left half should be dried seafood, including abalone, sea cucumber and fish maw, all of which are very nutritious."

The right half consists of raw crystal ore, uncarved. Skilled craftsmen can be commissioned to make utensils, or crystal jewelry, bracelets, and the like.

It is said that these crystals possess spiritual power, and different colors of crystals have different effects, generally including bringing good fortune and warding off evil.

"Oh? Is it really that amazing? It sounds a bit far-fetched. Well, at least it's somewhat useful."

Jiang Wenqing immediately brought out a piece with a purplish hue. He liked this color; it was grand and auspicious, like the saying "purple aura comes from the east."

"Take this with you. Ask the jewelry shop tomorrow if they can make it into a bracelet, one with a larger diameter."

Aunt Pan knew that her master wanted an amethyst bracelet. "I know, sir. I will go and ask about it first thing tomorrow morning."

Jiang Wenqing then picked out a smaller, pink crystal for Aunt Pan, saying, "Use this to make something for yourself; make whatever you want."

Hmm? There's another surprise?

"Yes, thank you, sir."

The two sons-in-law don't lack these things, and he doesn't need to share them.

I suppose my son has some too, so he can keep the rest for himself. After all, it's a reward for all the hard work I've been putting in lately.