"Young Master, our Sweet Delights Shop is almost sold out of rock sugar. Should we restock?"
"What? Didn't we just restock a hundred jin not long ago? It sold out that quickly?"
The moment he crossed over that morning, Uncle Li brought him a piece of good news.
"Isn't the Qiqiao Festival coming up soon? The young ladies and married women in the city have all begun preparing pastries to offer to the skill fairy, and all sorts of gift-giving and gatherings need sugar frost," Uncle Li explained.
"Qiqiao Festival? Offering to the skill fairy?"
Lu Zheng blinked. China's Qiqiao Festival was actually the Qixi Festival, commemorating the Cowherd and Weaver Girl and symbolizing love. What was Great Jing Dynasty's Qiqiao Festival about?
Could it also have a legend about the Cowherd and Weaver Girl? "That's right!" Uncle Li nodded. "Young Master, you've lost track of the days. The Qiqiao Festival is in three days."
As he spoke, Uncle Li leaned closer with a sly grin. "The Qiqiao Festival is also the day when young ladies give gifts to the ones they love. If the man feels the same, he returns a gift.
"I reckon Miss Liu has already prepared her sachet. Young Master, don't forget to prepare a gift when the time comes!"
Lu Zheng gave a stiff smile and cautiously asked, "Then what sort of gift do you think I should return?"
"Anything will do. A copper hairpin or jade bracelet, a wooden comb or rouge—it all depends on the thought behind it. Some Scholars are shy in the purse and compose a poem or give a painting instead. There are all kinds."
"I see. Got it."
Lu Zheng nodded and patted Uncle Li's shoulder. "Not bad, not bad. If something like this comes up again, remember to