Song Ci and Niu Pan’er were about to leave Xiazhi Foreign Trading Company when they happened to see a clerk passing by with a small dustpan. She glanced at it casually, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Stop right there."
The clerk was startled by the command, nearly losing his grip on the dustpan, and looked at Song Ci with a bewildered and fearful expression. Did he just run into a noble?
"What is this? Is it for sale?" Song Ci walked over and pointed at the dustpan.
The clerk stamred in reply, "In... in response to Old Madam’s question, this is a yam, it’s edible."
"How much silver is this? I’ll take it," Song Ci asked, holding back her excitent.
What yam, these are potatoes, one of the four most important food crops globally in later generations, unexpectedly appearing in this store.
This is a major discovery!
The clerk was at a loss, looking towards the maid inside the trading company; he didn’t know how much silver it was worth.
One of the alert maids had already gone to the inner yard to call iniang.
iniang quickly ca out, asked about the situation, and looked at the dustpan of yams with a smile, "I was wondering what was going on. Turns out it’s just so yams. Old Madam can recognize it?"
Song Ci looked at her and instead of answering, asked, "Did this also co from the Western Countries?"
iniang nodded, "It’s said that in the Western Countries, they originally grew this as ornantal potted plants, and later soone discovered the fruit was edible, so it spread. Could it be Old Madam knows this?"
"An old woman like , how could I know? I just think these fruits are very tempting. How much silver for them?" Song Ci laughed to cover her curiosity.
iniang smiled charmingly, "They’re just a few pieces of fruit, if Old Madam likes them, just take them; they’re a gift for you."
"A gift for ?"
"Saying it’s a first eting gift would seem too shabby, so let’s say it’s for you to try sothing new."
Song Ci bead, "In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony. Thank you very much. Clerks, please help move this to the carriage."
The clerk glanced at iniang upon hearing this, and seeing her nod, he delivered the dustpan to Song Ci’s carriage, handing it over to the Song Family’s servant.
Song Ci thanked iniang again before leaving with Niu Pan’er, walking so quickly as if afraid they would change their mind.
iniang escorted them to the door, watched their carriage leave, stood there thinking for a while, then went back to the rear courtyard to report the incident to Shang Pu.
Shang Pu was puzzled, "She took the yams?"
iniang nodded, "The way Song Old Madam looked, she seed to know what they were and was quite excited."
Shang Pu raised an eyebrow, "Western yams, Song Old Madam recognized them?"
"Could it be the Song Family’s library has geographical records of the Western Countries, and she read about it?"
"Rather than saying Song Old Madam learned from the library, it’s more plausible she heard it from Pri Minister Song. Pri Minister Song Yunzhi has been well-read from a young age, and is the last disciple of the great scholar, Master Lin Yuan. His knowledge is exceptional," Shang Pu praised.
iniang thought for a mont, "Is that Pri Minister Song really that impressive?"
"To hold a top official position at just over forty, do you really think he relies solely on his hardship ties with Emperor Chu?" Shang Pu lowered his eyes, his voice deep, "Without concrete political achievents and true capabilities, even with soone’s support, one would easily fall from high positions. He stands firm, clearly not blindly loyal or diocre."
"Sir’s insight is sharp."
Shang Pu’s lips curled slightly as his gaze returned to his book.
Seeing this, iniang did not disturb him, curtsied, and stepped out.
Walking along the corridor, she thought again, Song Ci didn’t ask how to consu those yams, does she know?
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