The people below gasped in disbelief, staring at Princess Jade Hayes: "Princess Jade Hayes, is what you said really true? We raise silkworms and grow mulberry at home—will the court really pay to buy our silk?"
Princess Jade Hayes smiled, her tone firm and reassuring: "Don't worry, as long as you tend your mulberry trees and raise your silkworms well, and the silk is pure and unadulterated, the court guarantees to purchase it. The price will be fair to everyone!"
"Alright! We trust Princess Jade Hayes and the new government! Princess Jade Hayes will lead us common folk to a better life!" A young man surged out from the crowd, standing at the front and waving his arm as he shouted.
The crowd followed the young man and cheered enthusiastically, shouting together: "Princess Jade Hayes! Princess Jade Hayes!"
After a round of shouting, everyone looked over and noticed that the young man actually had short hair!
"Hey, young man, what's up with your hair?" a young lady teased, "If you were joining the monks, you'd shave it all off, right? Why did you cut it so short?"
"Yeah, why the short hair?" others chimed in, curiosity buzzing through the crowd.
The young man scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. "My hair used to be as long as everyone else's, but then I sold it..."
"You sold it? You can actually sell your hair for money?" The young lady's eyes lit up. "Hey, tell us—how much did you get for your hair?"
The young man smiled and wiggled his finger mysteriously.
The young lady pressed eagerly, "You sold it... for ten wen?"
The young man shook his head, "Young lady, that's way too little!"
The young lady cried out, "So hair isn't worth much after all? Even ten wen is too little? My husband works at the docks, and it takes him days to earn ten wen!"
The young man grinned smugly, "My hair was long, black, and shiny—I sold it for a whole hundred wen!"
"Wow! A hundred wen!" The crowd erupted at the news.
The southeastern lands were poor and barren, and most common folk had never read much or learned the old beliefs about "body, hair, and skin received from parents must not be harmed."
Now, hearing that long hair could be sold for money—a hundred wen, no less—everyone crowded around the young man, eager for details.
"Hey, young man, tell us—where did you sell your hair? Are they still buying?" The young man was instantly surrounded by curious villagers.
The young man laughed heartily, "I sold it right by the Ministry of Works street—there's a workshop there with a stall at the door, just for buying hair. If your hair is beautiful, you get more money; if it's dry and yellow, they won't want it!"
The young lady's eyes sparkled as she flicked her braid, "Hey, young man, look at my big, shiny braid—think I could sell it for some cash?"
The young man gave her braid a look and nodded, "If it's thick and shiny, you could get a good price. But remember, once you cut it, there's no going back!"
"Whoa, that means you could sell it for more than a hundred wen!" The young lady, upon hearing this, hurriedly set about cutting her hair and rushed off to sell it.
As soon as the crowd heard there was money to be made from selling hair, a swarm of people buzzed excitedly and flocked to the wig workshop.
The news about selling hair spread like wildfire—ten people told a hundred, and soon all of Chang'an City was talking about it.
Princess Jade Hayes stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm: "Selling hair is a personal choice. If you need the money and your family agrees, it's a way to help out. But don't feel forced—beauty is more than just hair!"
April was busy evaluating hair prices for the people assigned to her, working so hard her feet barely touched the ground.
Right beside April, Princess Jade Hayes spotted someone she never expected to see.