Chapter 139.2: The Little Girl and the Mirror (II)

A bronze mirror was placed before the little girl. The mirror reflected the face of a young, fair-skinned girl with no expression but very lively eyes, her head adorned with two small buns.

The person outside the mirror looked at the person in the mirror, and the person in the mirror looked back, both startled.

Eyes widened, the girl instinctively tilted her head backward. Upon noticing that the other person made the same movement, she was startled again. As they both saw each other clearly, their eyes were filled with curiosity. The two little girls tilted their heads in unison, exchanging curious glances.

Occasionally, they would lift their eyelids and sneak a look at the person standing in front of them.

“How is it?” The Daoist put away the mirror.

“...!” The little girl stared at him without speaking.

“You seem to like it,” the Daoist said, lifting the mirror to take a look at his own reflection.

Unlike the yellowed bronze mirrors commonly seen in ancient dramas, this mirror was not yellowed. Its surface was extremely smooth and polished, made of silver-white metal, reflecting images with colors and gloss comparable to modern mirrors.

In the mirror was a young Daoist, someone unfamiliar to him.

“How much?”

“Its price is fixed. Five hundred wen!”

“That's expensive.”

“This mirror, including the handle, is made of bronze. Just look at the workmanship, the polish, and the thickness. Feel the weight, and you’ll understand that this price is quite reasonable. If you don’t believe me, you can check other stores; the prices are similar.”

“Can you give me a discount?”

“I really can’t lower the price. Sir, take a look, this mirror is small and doesn’t bring much profit. If you buy a larger one, originally priced at eight hundred wen, I could offer a discount. Or if you prefer one with a wooden handle, which uses high-quality wood and saves on bronze, I could sell it for four hundred wen.”

“...” Song You examined the mirror from top to bottom.

This was a round mirror, about the size of a typical dining bowl. This size was just right; any smaller would make it difficult to use, and any larger would make it inconvenient to carry when leaving Changjing.

The mirror was attached to an exquisite handle. Mirrors with handles were rare in the past, as only high officials and nobles could afford them; they didn’t need to hold the mirror themselves, as someone would serve it to them. The prevalence of handled mirrors indicated that they had become more common in ordinary households.

The back of the mirror was adorned with cloud patterns and inscribed with two lines of text.

As long as the sun continues to shine, we will always watch over each other and never forget one another.

Song You picked up another mirror of similar size, but with different inscriptions on the back:

As long as the sun continues to shine, we will be happy forever.

This one was a bit better.

“Give me a lower price.”

“Sir...”

The final price was four hundred and fifty wen.

Song You counted the money and handed it to the shopkeeper, then carefully examined the mirror. It was indeed heavy and well-made. If properly maintained, it could last for many years, possibly even for a thousand years.

It might even be discovered by future generations and placed in a museum, where countless men, women, and children might walk past it and marvel at its details.

“Ha...” The Daoist smiled, taking the bronze mirror and handing it to the little girl beside him. “Using bronze as a mirror helps to correct one's attire and appearance.[1] From now on, you will know what you look like. However, this mirror is quite expensive, so please cherish it and don’t damage it, or the reflection may become distorted.”

The little girl did not respond but held the mirror up, following him while observing it.

The mirror was indeed small, the Daoist could hold it comfortably with one hand. But the little girl, being very small herself, had to use both hands to hold it properly.

Not far from there, they encountered a shop selling ceramics. It appeared to be a store specializing in

chengyao

porcelain.

As Song You approached, he saw various porcelain items, including cups, bowls, vases, and pots, all exquisitely made. Many had the distinctive features of

chengyao

porcelain—either blue and white or translucent.

The elegant and durable blue-and-white porcelain, with its white base and blue designs, was favored by the scholars and literati of Great Yan. Translucent porcelain was clear yet opaque, looking delicate and elegant. Many people enjoyed handling it, especially for tea-drinking.

Skilled artisans often carved intricate hollow patterns into tea cups, which allowed the color of the tea to show through, enhancing the tea-drinking experience.

At that moment, several people with foreign faces were shopping in the store. Their exclamations of admiration were frequent, and the shopkeeper was explaining things to them, leaving Song You momentarily unattended.

Song You did not mind, carefully picking up a tea bowl and examining it closely. Ceramics were indeed a significant advancement in civilization.

As society had developed, ceramics were no longer just for practical use but had also become objects of appreciation, collection, artistic pursuit, aesthetic expression, and ritual. Thus, ceramics had acquired an additional spiritual attribute in addition to its physical properties. As civilization progressed, this spiritual aspect became increasingly important.

The

chengyao

represented the pinnacle of ceramic craftsmanship in this era.

He was examining the small tea bowl in front of him closely.

The white porcelain base featured a delicate bamboo leaf pattern carved into it. This added a touch of elegance without losing its refined charm. When held up to the light, the translucent bamboo leaf pattern became even more pronounced, almost as if the design were hollowed out.

It resembled white porcelain embedded with glass.

“This is a fine piece of translucent porcelain produced by our

chengyao

. Despite its small size, making it is quite challenging. It requires not only excellent ceramic craftsmanship but also exceptional carving skills to engrave the perfect pattern on the body. The process involves multiple glazing applications to fill in the gaps and a special firing technique. Any slight error can result in cracks or poor translucency.”

The shopkeeper, who had apparently seen off the foreign customers, said to Song You, “You have a discerning eye; this piece is considered a fine product in our shop.”

“How much?”

“That depends on whether you buy it individually or as part of a set, and whether you want to pair it with other items.”

“...” Song You picked up another bowl.

This one, not clearly identified as a tea bowl or another type, had a slightly larger opening and was lower. It was more like a dining bowl. Its carved pattern changed from bamboo leaves to floral motifs, with additional sky-blue lines interspersed between the flowers.

“Indeed, you have a good eye,” the shopkeeper said immediately. “This combines translucent porcelain with blue-and-white porcelain techniques, blending the strengths of blue-and-white craftsmanship with the art of carving. It is particularly exquisite when admired under candlelight at night.”

“How much for this one?”

“Sir...”

“I want just one.”

“Just one?”

“Yes, for now. I want to see it first.”

“We usually sell them as sets, with at least one teapot and four teacups, priced at six taels of silver,” the shopkeeper said. “Despite the cost, it's very popular among high-ranking officials and even foreigners who are huge fans of them. Some clever buyers purchase a set to present to their kings or masters, gaining considerable wealth if not a promotion.”

“How much for just one?”

“I will charge you... one tael of silver, as a friendly gesture,” the shopkeeper said, glancing at him. “Since you want to buy just one to see first, I won't charge you the full amount. If you like it after using it, you can come back to support my business. In the entire West Market, our

chengyao

porcelain is the finest and most reasonably priced.”

Song You examined the bowl carefully.

The floral pattern was more refined than random flecks but still fresh and elegant, not gaudy. The simple blue-and-white depiction was vaguely reminiscent of flower leaves and complemented the pattern beautifully, creating a perfect blend.

Song You was impressed by the craftsmanship and amazed by its beauty. He really wanted to buy a set for dining and tea-drinking.

Unfortunately, his funds were limited. So he would have to settle for just one. Even with just one, he would still have experienced owning it. If he were to only buy one, this bowl was undoubtedly better than the previous one.

Song You glanced at the little girl, Lady Calico. The previous bowl was too high and deep for a cat, but this one was just right—large and shallow, with no major drawbacks except for its fragility.

And since his cat was naturally frugal and not as prone to curiosity as ordinary cats, as long as she knew that something was very expensive and required catching many mice to afford, she would probably catch it before it hit the ground even if she accidentally dropped it.

“Give me a discount.”

“This...”

He secured the purchase with one thousand wen. Song You paid and looked toward the side.

The little girl stood at the shop entrance, holding the mirror in one hand and the delicate, translucent, blue-and-white bowl in the other. She was carefully adjusting the little tufts on her head, peeking at them with curiosity, seemingly unsure if they were part of her head or afraid she might mess them up. She appeared completely engrossed in this activity.

It seemed she had grown accustomed to it and was no longer surprised by the mirror and the reflection.

“Lady Calico.”

“Mm?”

The little girl turned her eyes toward him but, after a brief moment, quickly turned them back to the mirror. She was astonished to find that the reflection in the mirror was as quick as she was.

“This bowl is for you. When we go out, you can use it to eat.”

“Is it also for me?”

“Yes.”

“There’s just one?”

“Yes.”

“What about you?”

“Well...”

Song You thought for a moment and said, “I'll buy two steamed buns after we finish shopping.”

“Okay!”

“Let's go...”

The Daoist walked ahead.

The little girl followed behind, holding the copper mirror in one hand and the delicate, translucent blue-and-white bowl in the other. She would occasionally glance down at the mirror, then at the bowl.

The surrounding area was bustling with people, and there were numerous shops on either side.

This was the West Market—one of the two markets in the city. In the Great Yan, the old

lifang

system[2] had been abolished, and shops and stalls could be found throughout the city. However, commercial activity remained concentrated.

The North and South markets of the previous dynasty were almost abandoned, but the East and West Markets had become increasingly prosperous with the growth of commerce, making them a wonder of Changjing.

Due to the presence of high officials and nobility in the Eastern District, and common people and westerners in the Western District, the goods sold in the two markets varied.

The East Market mainly sold luxury items and expensive goods. The West Market mostly sold items for common people, as well as spices from the western regions, and a variety of silk and porcelain.

As Song You walked through, he heard the sounds of vendors calling out their goods and the buzz of bargaining. In front of him were people of all kinds and various small shops and stalls, reflecting the vibrant human activity and diverse lives.

As Song You slowly exited the West Market, he saw a crowd gathered around the bulletin board at the entrance. Walking closer, he saw a new announcement posted. It explained the strange phenomenon in Changjing last night.

The gist of it was that the current emperor was diligently governing the country, making it prosperous and strong with a clear and upright court. The current emperor was said to be unmatched by any previous rulers and was truly a wise and enlightened ruler. The heavens, moved by the Emperor's virtuous and wise rule, had sent auspicious signs—a blessing for Changjing and the Great Yan.

The announcement advised the people not to be alarmed. Song You read it and only showed a smile.

1. This is quoting a famous line from

The Essentials of Governance,

a classic of Chinese political literature. ☜

2. The

lifang

system is an urban layout based on the

Zhou Li

(Rites of Zhou). The city follows a symmetrical layout with a central axis running through the entire city, with streets on either side perfectly symmetrical. The residential areas within the city are divided into small square grids like a chessboard. ☜