Chapter 954 - 427: Weight of Silk, Fortune-Making Opportunity, Another Encounter with the Wine Elder, Drinking and Seeking Guidance! (Part 2)

Chapter 954: Chapter 427: Weight of Silk, Fortune-Making Opportunity, Another Encounter with the Wine Elder, Drinking and Seeking Guidance! (Part 2)

Li Xian had intentions to inquire, asking, "Miss Xiaoqing, I see that Silkworm Dream Tower’s business is bustling; it seems not the only one?"

Xiaoqing replied with a smile, "Naturally." Li Xian said, "I wonder, what is the family name of the hidden owner?" Xiaoqing said, "I’m not sure about that. Usually, even the shopkeeper seldom sees her, not to mention the hidden owner. In all these years, I’ve never seen her true appearance, nor heard much news about her. No matter how important the matter, it’s always handled by the shopkeeper."

Yao Yin said, "Recently, my second uncle came here, auctioned a box of ’silk,’ and went to the third floor for dining, saying that the food here was good, with a unique wine soup quite extraordinary, unforgettable. Which soup might this be?"

Xiaoqing said gently, "May I know your second uncle’s name?" Yao Yin said, "His name is Yao Tianzheng."

Xiaoqing said, "He is indeed a distinguished guest of the Yao Clan. Were those dining expenses charged under Lord Yao’s account?"

Yao Yin quickly waved her hand and said, "No way! Whenever we dine, the costs of wine and meat are borne by us personally." Xiaoqing laughed and said, "Alright then. What Lord Yao referred to was ’Drunken Dragon Soup.’ It is a delicacy crafted by the shopkeeper himself, lately quite popular, but only ten portions are sold daily; there might not be any left today."

Yao Yin said, extremely disappointed, "Ah! If so, there’s no way around it."

Xiaoqing laughed and said, "Though Drunken Dragon Soup is unavailable, there is ’Rain and Dew Green Dragon,’ slightly inferior in comparison, though."

At this moment, they reached the private room, Xiaoqing pushed open the door, standing aside. Inside, the room was luxuriously decorated, having a clear mirror allowing the view of the street scenery. They all took their seats, and Yao Yin proactively hosted the gathering, ordering several dishes, including "Rain and Dew Green Dragon."

This Rain and Dew Green Dragon Soup is made by collecting fresh dew during the Mao and Chen hours, adding dozens of rare ingredients, simmered for three hours within bamboo, to create this fresh soup. Daily limited to thirty portions, only a few remained. The delicacies of Silkworm Dream Tower are sold with restricted numbers, not sold by quantity for profit.

The expenses for this gathering were indeed significant, lucky that Li Xian, Yao Yin, and others arrived quite early; shortly after, many dishes were sold out.

Qiao Qing said, "Senior Sister, had we arrived later, we would have come in vain." Yao Yin said, "Indeed, it’s a pity, a pity, that we couldn’t taste Drunken Dragon."

Zhou Qingqing asked curiously, "Junior Sister, you mentioned your second uncle auctioned silk, curious about its purposes?" Yao Yin said, "My second uncle is skilled in crafting ingenious objects; some intricate items require resilient threads. This silk suits those needs well, hence he is a frequent customer here."

Qiao Qing said, "I see."

Li Xian said, "Speaking of which, this silk has far more uses beyond this. Sewing armor, mechanisms, embroidery, hidden weapons, enemy attacks, medicine, alchemy... its uses are indeed extensive."

Yao Yin said, "Indeed, but throughout Jade City, there are only a few capable and resourced enough to sell superior silk. Silkworm Dream Tower is the prime choice." Li Xian inquired, "Xiaoyin, your second uncle frequently interacts with Silkworm Dream Tower; do you know how much silver this tower earns monthly?"

Yao Yin said, "My second uncle did estimate. He is quite friendly with the shopkeeper, ’Zhang Chengshan,’ often sharing drinks and meals. Upon secret estimation, it is quite astonishing! Alas, such things he wouldn’t tell little me. But... I do know a little."

Zhou Qingqing, Brother Wei, and others listened closely as Yao Yin said, "You all may not know the price at which superior silk from this tower sells, do you?"

Qiao Qing said, "Senior Sister, please tell us quickly!" Yao Yin, twirling a lock of hair, said, "Sold by the inch, and a mere inch of silk can cost thousands of taels."

Lu Qingguan said with wide eyes, "That’s way too exorbitant!" Li Xian said, "It is indeed pricey, but ’too’ should not be used. Superior silk is already rare and extremely resilient. Just to say using it to weave clothes, a basic use, makes a light outfit exquisitely beautiful yet resistant to swords, impervious to water and fire, unstained by filth, repelling insects and beasts, and even fending off disasters. As for the most superior silk, so expensive yet pursued by everyone, must have its reasons."

Although Li Xian was extremely close to Wen Caishang, he never got to see the "most superior silk." Wen Caishang’s fabric was already made from superior silk, quite extraordinary, yet still not the "most superior"!

Yao Yin said, "Indeed, although the most superior silk is rare, its uses unknown; just the usual superior silk has wide applications. Upon ascending earlier, saw several figures made of mud and copper, respectively related to ’fish industry’ and ’ship industry.’ If the ship anchors and fishing nets could utilize silk, they certainly would be more resilient."

At this moment, Xiaoqing served a few plates of appetizers. Li Xian and others, similar in age, became unrestrained and talked freely once acquainted. Lu Qingguan said, "Li Xian, your sword stroke earlier was quite elegant. I want to ask whether this sword technique has any mentor?"

Li Xian said, "No mentor, just tinkering during idle times." Brother Wei laughed and said, "You are too modest; I also want to tinker casually and develop such an astonishing sword technique."

Yao Yin laughed and said, "Brother Wei, your pinnacle solitary sword move was also astonishing!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingqing, Qiao Qing, Lu Qingguan, and Yao Yin all laughed heartily. Yao Yin explained, "Li Xian, this is Brother Wei’s most embarrassing incident. This fellow was rash enough to sneak a peek at an elder bathing. When caught, the elder was so furious, said, ’What a good-for-nothing rabbit, since you are so interested in seeing others bare, I’ll punish you to be exposed.’ Then, elder sealed his acupoints, stripped him of his clothes, displayed him at the mountain peak, and made him stand still."