I went inside. The shop was cramped, every surface covered with merchandise. An elderly man sat behind the counter, reading a newspaper.
"Help you?" he asked without looking up.
"The mirrors. Can I see them?"
He gestured to a shelf on the left. "Take your time."
The mirrors were exactly what I'd hoped for. Mass produced, obviously modern, but framed in metal that could pass for antique if you didn't look too closely. They'd probably cost the manufacturer pennies to make, but the frames were designed to look expensive.
There were handheld mirrors and tabletop versions, some with rose gold frames, others silver or bronze colored. The glass was clear and perfect, without distortions. The medieval time period wouldn't have something like that.
To Chen Xuan's world, these would be incredible. Clear reflection, consistent quality, beautiful frames. Probably worth a small fortune.
"How much for these?" I picked up two tabletop mirrors and four handheld ones, mixing frame colors.
The shopkeeper finally looked up. "Thirty each for the tabletop, fifteen for the handheld. But I can do two hundred for all six."
I didn't bother haggling. "Done."
He wrapped them carefully in newspaper and placed them in a sturdy bag. I paid and took the bag in my hand, and continued exploring.
A fabric store caught my attention next. The windows displayed rolls of cloth in every color imaginable.
Inside was cooler, with industrial fans keeping the air moving. A middle-aged woman sat behind a cutting table, working on an embroidery project.
"Looking for something specific?" she asked, smiling.
"Just browsing. What kinds of fabric do you have?"
"Everything. Cotton, silk, polyester, chiffon, lace, and net. What do you need it for?"
I pretended to consider. "I'm looking for interesting pieces. Different textures, lots of colors."
She stood, gesturing to the rolls of fabric lining the walls. "Well, you came to the right place."
I spent the next thirty minutes going through options. Jacquards and silks probably existed in Chen Xuan's world, likely rare and expensive but not impossible. What they wouldn't have was polyester chiffon, modern synthetic fabrics that held color brilliantly and felt almost weightless and most important of all were cheaper for him to buy.
I selected several meters in a variety of colors. Deep reds, bright blues, emerald greens, sunset oranges and yellow. Based on my research, vivid dyes were difficult to achieve consistently in medieval times. These would be impressive.
"And white," I added. "Twice as much white as the colors."
White fabric was notoriously difficult to produce in pre-industrial societies. Bleaching and purifying weren't simple processes.
Perfect white chiffon would be remarkable, worthy of royalty itself.
I also grabbed several meters of lace fabric, the kind used for fancy dress overlays. And then, spotting them on a shelf, I added pieces of beaded and crystal embroidered net. These were expensive, meant for high end fashion, but worth it for the impression they'd make.
The woman measured and cut everything, her expression growing more curious with each addition. "This is quite a collection. What are you making?"
"It's a for a project," I said vaguely.
She folded everything carefully, placing it in large shopping bags. The bill made me wince slightly out of habit, but I paid without complaint. Investment, not expense. If this works out well, I would need to look into where I can aquire these things whole sale.
My burden was getting heavier. Mirrors and fabrics weren't light, and I still wanted to add more variety to the shipment.
I found an accessories shop next, one of those places aimed at teenage girls with more style and little budget. The young sales assistant looked up from her phone as I entered, taking in my male presence with mild confusion.
"Can I help you?"
"Just looking."
I browsed the shelves, ignoring the mobile covers and key chains in favor of accessories. Jewelry was out, most of it would tarnish or fade. But there were other options.
Headbands covered in crystals and glass beads. Colorful hair clips that caught the light. Decorative combs that looked fancier than they were. And sunglasses, multiple styles with different colored lenses.
Sunglasses would be fascinating to a world without them. Colored glass you could see through? That darkened the sun's glare? Magic, basically.
I selected a variety, trying to choose a variety of styles, some with things with like crystal details and metallic finishes.
The sales assistant rang me up, her confusion giving way to interest at the considerable size of my purchase. "These for a gift? Girlfriend?"
"Something like that."
Outside, loaded down with bags, I called the driver. He appeared a few minutes later, took one look at my burden, and popped the trunk without comment.
"Where to next?"
"Supermarket. The big one on Central Avenue."
The supermarket was massive, one of those warehouse sized places that sold everything from groceries to furniture. I grabbed a cart, feeling oddly domestic, and started through the aisles.
First, actual groceries. I'd need to eat, after all. Bread, eggs, milk, vegetables, meat, frozen meals for lazy days. The basics of not starving.
Then housewares. The villa had appliances but I needed plates, pots, pans, utensils. I grabbed a basic set, then paused.
Chen Xuan would find modern crockery interesting. Colurfull and beautiful plates and bowls, nothing like hand thrown pottery or metal ware. I selected an extra tea set, elegant white porcelain with a subtle pattern. A dinner set, twelve place settings. A few quality knives with steel blades. Five sets of cheap drinking glasses, identical and clear.
In the clothing section, on impulse, I grabbed a couple pairs of jeans and joggers. Some sneakers in different sizes. Denim and athletic wear didn't exist in Chen Xuan's world. The materials alone would be fascinating, never mind the construction.
The beauty section made me pause. Makeup and cosmetics were ancient, people had been painting themselves since civilization began. But modern cosmetics? Different story.
Nail polish caught my eye. Small glass bottles with metallic caps, filled with lacquer in every color imaginable. They looked expensive, luxurious. I grabbed one of each color, watching the collection grow in my cart.
Lipsticks, similarly packaged in sleek tubes. Perfumes in elegant bottles. Lotions and creams with consistent textures and preserved freshness. All things that would seem remarkable to someone from a pre-industrial world.
Finally, on my way to checkout, I passed the beverage section. Soft drinks in glass bottles, colorful and carbonated. I selected a crate, multiple varieties, and threw in several bottle openers.
The cashier's eyes widened at my haul. "Having a party?"
"Moving in," I replied. Close enough to true.
The total was substantial, but I paid without flinching. The cashier called for help loading everything into carts, and I texted the driver.