Worldbuilding is my greatest passion

[extrapenguin]

I canon reviewed The Untamed for my Baoshan Sanren/Lan Yi, and look, if the Yin Iron was forged by Xue Chonghai 100 years ago, how come Lan Yi is discovering it as if it were an old and ancient and forgotten thing also 100 years ago? And why is Lan Wangji calling her Ancestor instead of (great-)grandmother or something? She was the sect leader, he's the sect leader's little brother, he should know the actual relation! I understand that censorship happened, but surely at least the Xue Chonghai bits could've been over 100 years ago? 300, maybe? And Lan Yi and Baoshan Sanren over 100 years ago – or have Lan Wangji call her Aunty or something.

Somewhat relatedly, I wonder about the menstrual supplies of Dixing. Do they all use rags, or some cave moss, or is there a flourishing trade in smuggled pads and tampons? Did Zhu Jiu finance his operation by selling Tampax?

Unrelatedly, 音阙诗听's songs have been a good source of inspiration. In addition to 立春/start of spring inspiring Welcome, Spring (Guardian) last week, 芒种/grain in ear inspired Falling Flowers Reflected on the River (CQL) and 霜降/frost descends inspired today's Still on My Heart (MDZS). They'll release another one on the 19th, which I'll probably draw inspiration from, and there are a few other nice ones to lean on should inspiration run low.

Comments

[extrapenguin]

Their mainstream clothes all look modern, so maybe they're all smuggled from the surface? (Except for the robes of the Regent et al – but maybe they bought those from a hanfu shop? ... Okay, now I'm imagining the Regent going clothes shopping on the Lord's behalf on some surface shop.) Though clothes nontheless give them loads of things to make rags from later.

What's the Dixing birth control and safer sex situation?
Well, melannen has a post on contraception & childrearing that gives some idea of what contraceptive options would be available even in the absence of modern Earth contraceptive tech. I imagine some people also have useful Dixing powers? Or some cave plant that works as a hormonal contraceptive.

[ratbones]

I've always assumed that their clothing was manufactured in Dixing (Dixing has to have some kind of economy...and if they have food crops of some sort, it doesn't seem that weird for them to have a fiber crop too? Ooh - mycelium textiles, maybe?) but it's actually suspicious how very similar the streetwear is to Dragon City's. So I could accept that there's probably smuggling going on.

Except for the robes of the Regent et al – but maybe they bought those from a hanfu shop?
L O L. I am so embarrassed for everyone.

That post is really interesting, wow that is a LOT of info! Thanks! ...I would not want to be the person in my neighborhood of Dixing with the contraceptive power. Well, okay, you'd have job security for life, but you'd also know things about everyone.

[extrapenguin]

Ooh - mycelium textiles, maybe?) but it's actually suspicious how very similar the streetwear is to Dragon City's. So I could accept that there's probably smuggling going on.
I'm willing to buy that they have their own textiles, but Haixing streetwear is prestige, so the only people who use the native things are the officials. Tradition loses to coolness. :P

...I would not want to be the person in my neighborhood of Dixing with the contraceptive power. Well, okay, you'd have job security for life, but you'd also know things about everyone.
Depending on how the power worked, it might be a better power than a lot of other ones with good job security? (Contraceptor vs poop teleporter, frex.)

[ratbones]

Depending on how the power worked, it might be a better power than a lot of other ones with good job security? (Contraceptor vs poop teleporter, frex.)
Fair point. Well, I'd usually prefer a dirty job to an embarrassing one, but POOP TELEPORTER. And I do love that job title -- picture the business card.

Rat Bones
Contraceptor

[extrapenguin]

The nightsoilmen are an important piece of any functional city! Unless Dixing has plumbing. Perhaps the Palace has plumbing, and everyone else has chamberpots they empty into the reservoirs which the poop teleporters regularly empty to the fields where they grow their chemosynthesizing mushrooms? ...yes, I suppose it's a good idea that I have "sewage infrastructure worldbuilding" in my likes for exchanges. *g*

Rat Bones
Contraceptor

Yes! That is a wonderful business card.