Fortune Across the World

Chapter 93: Warm Glow Over Jiangnan

Throughout the boat journey, Ding Qiyu busied herself by finding ways to earn some silver. Given the short docking times, she decided to craft items onboard, mainly wooden mechanical toys and elegant trinkets. These novelties became popular among the wealthy families' children and young adults in Da Qian, thanks to their unique appeal and low production cost. As a result, Qiyu earned enough to comfortably sustain herself and her companions without dipping into her initial "startup funds."

Every night, despite her busy days, Qiyu couldn’t help but feel a deep sorrow. Her love for Weixi had been profound and enduring, yet now she found herself alone once more. She had shed many tears, and her heart, once fervent and passionate, now lay buried by her own hand. Since Weixi had made her choice, Qiyu knew she shouldn’t dwell on it or harbor unrealistic hopes. Dwelling on irretrievable pain wasn't in her nature, so she chose to cherish the past as a beautiful memory and bury the unhealed wound deep within her heart.

After about twenty days of travel, they finally arrived safely at the Yizhou port. Qiyu carefully gathered her belongings and went to call her master. After knocking on his door for a while with no response, she entered to find a note on the table: "Farewell, until we meet again." As soon as the ship docked, he had disembarked swiftly to pursue his own truths.

This parting left a bittersweet feeling in Qiyu’s heart. After a moment of reflection, she disembarked with her four "followers." In this new place, with a new venture ahead, she was determined to present her best self.

Upon arrival, they were awestruck by the bustling scene. The dock was lined with countless ships of various sizes, all packed tightly together. Laborers loading and unloading goods and travelers filled the area. Yizhou's focus was different from Xing City, which was a political and military hub for the north, with many shops tied to the Lu family, catering primarily to local needs. In contrast, Yizhou was a renowned commercial capital, home to the influential Jiangnan Fu family and various dependent trade guilds, essentially controlling Da Qian’s commercial lifeline, hence its thriving waterway commerce.

He Ankang and the three apprentices were thrilled, filled with anticipation for life in Yizhou. Qiyu, however, was more interested in seeing a Jiangnan reminiscent of her past world, with misty rain and poetic landscapes. Yizhou did not disappoint; located south of Yujiang, its climate and scenery closely resembled the Jiangnan she remembered. Leaving the busy dock and following the crowd into the city, they were met with picturesque scenes straight out of poetry—willow-lined stone bridges, pavilions, and boats, all epitomizing idyllic beauty.

The city buzzed with life and energy, seemingly basking in post-rain sunshine, illuminating faces and lighting up smiles throughout the streets. Qiyu felt her spirits lift, starting to look forward to the days ahead.

However, Yizhou presented an immediate challenge—finding accommodations. After being turned away from several full inns, they split into three groups, each finding lodging in different inns. Curious about the high demand, Qiyu caught a waiter delivering food and asked, "Excuse me, do you always have so many visitors here? It’s tough finding a place to stay!"

The waiter paused, then smiled, "You don’t seem like a merchant. Didn’t you come for the Jingyue Festival?"

"Jingyue Festival?" Qiyu shook her head, "Sorry, it’s my first time in Yizhou. What’s it about?" She invited the waiter to sit and explain.

The friendly waiter obliged, "You must be from the north. Only northerners are unfamiliar with the Jingyue Festival. It’s celebrated in central and southern Da Qian! Jingyue Festival is on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the first full moon of autumn, when the Moon Fairy descends to earth."

"The fifteenth of the seventh month?" Qiyu was puzzled, "Isn’t that the Ghost..." She stopped, realizing customs in Da Qian could differ from her past.

The waiter eagerly continued, "Yes, the fifteenth! Our Yizhou’s Jingyue Festival is the liveliest and most beautiful! The streets are filled with fireworks, lanterns, and performances. Unmarried girls venture out to pray for blessings. Yizhou’s girls are renowned for their beauty! The scenery and people are stunning, attracting countless visitors. If you arrive tomorrow, you might not find any available inns! If you’re not in a hurry, stay and experience our festival!"

Qiyu thanked the waiter and saw him out. Reflecting on how the Ghost Festival had transformed into such a joyous celebration was intriguing. She wondered if she could create something novel to sell during the festival and earn some extra silver. With the festival approaching, she had to act fast.

The next morning, Qiyu gathered her four companions to find a courtyard to rent. Planning to stay in Yizhou for a while, staying in inns wasn’t practical. Luckily, as the festival drew short-term visitors, courtyards were easier to rent. After a morning of searching, Qiyu quickly decided on a suitable place. With cleaning and shopping that afternoon, their accommodation problem was solved. With five days until the Jingyue Festival, Qiyu wasted no time, inquiring about the festival’s customs while shopping and finalizing her product ideas that night.

The fifteenth of the seventh month marked the first full moon of autumn, associated with strong yin energy. In her previous world, this was seen as the Ghost Festival, when the gates of the underworld opened. However, in Da Qian, the moon symbolized purity and blessings. People believed the Moon Fairy, incarnated as a silver crane with a flower, descended to bless them, especially young girls, thus establishing the "Jingyue Festival."

The festival was also considered a "Daughters' Day." A local poem described it: "Graceful moonlight spills; a crane carries a flower. Autumn brings golden fruit; daughters find their homes." Girls liked to release river lanterns, praying for future happiness. Naturally, this drew many hoping to meet a beauty, making Jingyue Festival more akin to the Qixi Festival than the eerie Ghost Festival.

Using this information, Qiyu devised several ideas. Limited by time, she focused on a few products: small wooden sculptures of cranes perched on shoulders, symbolizing the fairy’s blessings; mechanical crane toys that flapped their wings and chirped; and lanterns featuring cranes circling the moon or carrying flowers. Her apprentices swiftly crafted the components, which Qiyu assembled. Each item bore her signature feather design as a "brand."

For a pre-festival test sale, He Ankang took the first two items to market, while the last was reserved for the festival.

Designing the lanterns reminded Qiyu of the Lantern Festival six months prior, crafting gifts for Weixi and Lian'er. Yet, both had rejected her truth, leaving her feeling that everything had changed.

Though not a woodworker, He Ankang’s outgoing and hardworking nature made him an excellent salesman. The unique, symbolic, and affordably priced items quickly became popular in Yizhou, leaving Qiyu and the apprentices overwhelmed with production. Ankang made several trips daily, selling out in less than an hour, still leaving many customers empty-handed.

On the day of the Jingyue Festival, their main products were the lanterns, completed days prior. The apprentices eagerly volunteered to sell them, and Qiyu agreed, giving her time to explore and relax.

As night fell, Yizhou was bathed in "graceful moonlight and dazzling lanterns." The streets were bustling, filled with laughter, music, and fireworks. Seeing people with her lanterns, Qiyu knew Ankang and the others had done well.

With a self-deprecating smile, she murmured, "'I see no familiar faces, tears wet my spring sleeves.'" Envious of the warmth and happiness around her, she cast aside her melancholy and joined the festivities, exploring and enjoying the festival atmosphere. After indulging in performances, fireworks, and food, she finally stepped away, feeling stuffed, and paused by a stone bridge to catch her breath, holding a lantern in one hand while patting her full belly with the other.