Listening to the explanations from the people of Qizhou next to him, He Xiuyuan finally understood some of the situation in Yunzhong Commandery.
On such high mountains, if the commandery had no water, an enemy army would only need to besiege it without attacking, and the city would fall without a fight.
Therefore, when Yunzhong Commandery was first built years ago, the area had already been surveyed.
On normal days, the people of the commandery would draw water from the two mountains.
When the enemy attacked the city, they would use the mountain spring water from within the commandery to prevent the enemy from poisoning it.
Within the commandery, there were even many fertile fields that could be cultivated.
He Xiuyuan chatted with a passerby next to him, then entered Yunzhong Commandery.
After entering Yunzhong Commandery, He Xiuyuan realized how large it was, but as the person he had just spoken to said, many areas within the commandery were fertile fields, occupying a significant amount of space.
The fertile fields were located south of Yunzhong Commandery, and if He Xiuyuan wanted to pass through Yunzhong Commandery, he only needed to keep walking straight; that was the most prosperous part of Yunzhong Commandery.
He Xiuyuan followed the other party's suggestion and walked straight ahead, soon hearing the street vendors' calls and the constant wafting of fragrant scents.
He Xiuyuan sniffed the aroma and couldn't help but rub his stomach.
During this period of traversing mountains and ridges, the food he ate was truly not good; he often picked wild fruits or ate dry rations.
Although he didn't have much silver left, He Xiuyuan still felt he should treat himself.
"How much are these steamed buns?"
"Two coins each?"
"Lamb soup, twenty coins per catty?"
"A bowl of Dalu noodles, thirteen coins?"
He Xiuyuan walked along the street, looking at each stall, but seeing the prices on the signs, his hand gripping the silver couldn't help but tighten.
The prices here were somewhat more expensive than in other places.
For example, these steamed buns, He Xiuyuan remembered they were one coin each in other places.
And other things, their prices were also very high.
He Xiuyuan had originally wanted to treat himself well, but seeing the situation now, He Xiuyuan suddenly felt his purse was empty.
After wandering for most of the day, He Xiuyuan reluctantly could only buy a few steamed buns and a catty of lamb soup, then sat down at a stall to eat.
After the hot lamb soup went down, He Xiuyuan finally felt much more alive.
Immediately, He Xiuyuan stood up and went to a cloth shop, wanting to see if he could buy a few decent clothes.
When He Xiuyuan stepped into the cloth shop, the shopkeeper immediately came to greet him.
Looking at the situation in the shop, it seemed there were no shop assistants.
The shopkeeper came before He Xiuyuan, sized him up, and his expression was a bit hesitant, but it quickly disappeared.
"Customer, are you looking to buy cloth or clothes?"
"Take me to look at the cloth first."
He Xiuyuan's eyes swept over the silk fabric in front of him before he spoke.
The shopkeeper nodded upon hearing this and led He Xiuyuan to the silk fabric.
However, at this moment, He Xiuyuan's gaze turned towards the yan brocade next to him.
It must be said that these yan brocade fabrics, just by looking at them, were many times superior to silk fabric.
Moreover, they looked extremely delicate.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan was about to touch them with his hand to feel the texture of the yan brocade.
The shopkeeper's mouth twitched upon seeing this; he wanted to stop him but felt it would be inappropriate, so he could only stand by, anxious.
He Xiuyuan noticed the shopkeeper's expression, paused his hand, and after thinking about the silver he carried, he was a bit unsure if he could afford this fabric.
After thinking for a moment, He Xiuyuan was about to ask how much the fabric cost.
However, at this moment, two people walked in from outside the door.
"Shopkeeper."
Before He Xiuyuan could speak, the two people at the door called out first.
"Eh, what can I get for you two customers?"
The shopkeeper turned his head upon hearing this, and when he saw that the clothes on the two people at the door were made of excellent material, his face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly asked.
"Do you have Lin'an yan brocade in your shop?"
Lin'an yan brocade was famous for its intricate patterns and vibrant colors, truly worth its weight in gold.
These newcomers came specifically for this yan brocade; they must be from a wealthy and noble family!
Thinking of this, the shopkeeper smiled even wider.
"Yes, yes, customer, please come this way."
The shopkeeper directly led the man and woman to a separate cabinet where yan brocade was stored.
The woman followed, smiling, and said, "Just now, when I went to buy cloth, I asked all along the way, and they all said they didn't have it. Later, I heard that your century-old shop should have this yan brocade. It's a good thing you do."
"If that's the case, then it can be made up for."
She was going to visit relatives and had originally brought yan brocade from her hometown as a gift, but her mischievous younger brother had soiled the yan brocade, so she had to temporarily buy more here.
The shopkeeper also smiled upon hearing this; his old shop mainly dealt in expensive brocades and silks.
On normal days, there weren't many customers, and he could manage without hiring a shop assistant.
Another reason was that if he hired a shop assistant, he was afraid the assistant might be clumsy and damage the valuable fabric.
The shopkeeper led the woman to the side and began to introduce the fabric.
"This yan brocade costs thirty taels of silver per meter."
The shopkeeper's quoted price made He Xiuyuan's body stiffen, and his expression became quite something as he looked at the yan brocade next to him.
Thirty taels of silver per meter? This price... *hiss*!
Feeling the less than one tael of silver in his pocket, He Xiuyuan only felt his purse was empty.
This yan brocade truly lived up to its reputation as a top-grade silk fabric; its price was by no means low.
And as He Xiuyuan's gaze fell upon the yan brocade, the woman seemed to sense it and looked up, coincidentally also seeing He Xiuyuan.
Upon seeing He Xiuyuan, the woman was momentarily stunned, then a blush crept onto her face.
Wasn't this the scholar she had gossiped about earlier?
She thought that her words had been heard by the scholar, which was why he had also come to buy this fabric.
It was just that the fabrics in this shop were very expensive, and He Xiuyuan probably couldn't afford them.
It seemed that her words had made the scholar want to buy some good clothes.
Thinking of this, she felt even more ashamed.
"Pack all of this yan brocade; I will find someone to make it."
As the woman's words fell, the shopkeeper was immediately both surprised and delighted.
Packing so much yan brocade meant he could earn a lot of money!
Thinking of this, he quickly agreed, then immediately and carefully wrapped up all the yan brocade.
Ruo Xuan nodded slightly upon seeing this, then took graceful steps to He Xiuyuan's side and gave a gentle curtsy.
"Greetings, Young Master. My words in the carriage earlier were impolite; I hope Young Master will not take offense."
The woman's voice was soft, sounding like a Jiangnan accent.
He Xiuyuan waved his hand upon hearing this, "It's nothing, just some words."
Ruo Xuan pursed her lips and smiled upon hearing this, then pointed to the yan brocade next to her and said, "That yan brocade is delicate and soft, light and breathable. If Young Master wishes to have clothes made, this yan brocade would be more suitable."