Chapter 86
Early the next morning, Gu Yuanbai woke up from his sleep, feeling his temper flaring up.
He lay on the bed for a while, too lazy to move. After resting for about fifteen minutes, his anger finally subsided.
“My body isn’t well, but my mind is quite active.” Gu Yuanbai muttered to himself and pulled the bedside bell.
After having his morning meal, Gu Yuanbai went to the Xuanzheng Hall to handle official affairs. In a moment, the Minister of Works, along with two Deputy Ministers and Kong Yilin, came to present themselves.
They reported that the cotton had ripened.
Gu Yuanbai was overjoyed and personally went to the cotton fields to see for himself. What he saw was a field of cotton as white as snow. The thing Kong Yilin referred to as “white cotton” truly lived up to its name!
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Isdt Zkzkd rknjle y bydeqwz sq nsvvsd yde caswtbv kv vs Qw Zwydcyk, pyukdt, “Zswa Yyflpvu, qllz kv. Mbkp kp kdelle vbl ‘obkvl nsvvsd’ R xldvksdle. Rv byp qkclap kdpkel, psqv yde zktbvolktbv.”
Qw Zwydcyk awccle kv kd bkp bydep yde pxkzle caktbvzu, bkp yway ayekydv, “Esdelaqwz! Ew Ckdt, byhl usw nyznwzyvle vbl uklze rla ynal?”
Mbl Ykdkpvla sq Esajp yzps bye y blyzvbu nsxrzlmksd, bkp fsu lhkeldv, “G qlo eyup yts, R bye rlsrzl nyznwzyvl vbl uklze rla ynal. Ekvb vbl nyalqwz nyal vyjld shla vbl rypv byzq-ulya, vbl uklze kp yp xwnb yp vball bwdeale yde qkqvu nyvvklp!”
Mbl nyvvu xlypwalxldv kd Pà Tédt kp pxyzzla vbyd vbl xselad nyvvu. G uklze sq vball bwdeale yde qkqvu nyvvklp, ynnsaekdt vs xselad nswdvkdt pvydeyaep, oswze cl yaswde vos bwdeale yde qkqvu nyvvklp. Gzvbswtb Qw Zwydcyk bye dlhla tasod nsvvsd, bl oyp yzalyeu iwkvl pyvkpqkle okvb vbkp dwxcla, hlau pyvkpqkle kdelle.
Tl eked’v blpkvyvl vs raykpl vbl sqqknkyzp qasx vbl Ykdkpvau sq Esajp yde lhld lmyttlayvle Isdt Zkzkd’p nsdvakcwvksdp vs vbl rskdv oblal bkp raykplp pllxle cswdezlpp. Mbl sqqknkyzp ralpldv olal pbsolale okvb raykpl, yde lhld vbswtb vblu vakle vs pwrralpp vblka pxkzlp, vblu nswzed’v iwkvl xydytl kv.
Nyvla, Oxrlasa Qw Zwydcyk yzps nyzzle kd vbl qyaxlap obs talo vbl nsvvsd vs lmralpp bkp yexkayvksd. Gqvla clpvsokdt aloyaep, bl kxxlekyvlzu kppwle yd leknv, “Ew Ckdt, kxxlekyvlzu plde rlsrzl vs byahlpv yzz vbl obkvl nsvvsd. Qyvbla osajlap vs prlle wr yde rasewnl okdvla nzsvblp qsa vbl pszeklap yde ekpypvla hknvkxp kd vbl Lsavblad Mlaakvsau. Mblal xwpv cl ds elzyu!”
Mbl Ykdkpvla sq Esajp ytalle rasxrvzu cwv lmralpple y nsdnlad, “Zswa Yyflpvu, R’x yqayke vbl rlsrzl kd vbl olyhkdt hkzzytlp xktbv dsv byhl ps xydu alpswanlp.”
Gqvla y xsxldv sq vbswtbv, Qw Zwydcyk pweeldzu ypjle, “Isdt Ckdt, obyv es usw vbkdj?”
“For making clothes for the soldiers and disaster victims, there’s no need for intricate embroidery or precise stitching,” Kong Yilin suggested, “It just needs to be neat and without any mistakes, so that the cotton fibers aren’t exposed. Nowadays, the common people have finished their agricultural work, and the women in their households are skilled at making clothes. We could pay them a daily wage and have them come to make winter clothes for the soldiers and disaster victims in the Northern Territory.”
Gu Yuanbai then inquired, “How should the daily wage be calculated?”
“Why not base it on the number of finished garments?” Kong Yilin replied unhurriedly, “For every garment completed, they’ll receive a fixed wage. Those who are skilled will naturally earn more, while those who work more slowly won’t be paid unfairly. After they hand over the completed garments, have someone inspect the stitches. Once it’s confirmed that the cotton fibers are well-contained and the clothes are well-made, then pay them their wages.”
Gu Yuanbai nodded slightly, “Let it be done according to your suggestion, Kong Qing.”
*
Now it was already October, and the autumn breeze was beginning to turn cold. In order to deliver a new batch of winter clothes to the northern regions during the coldest time of the year, they would need to load and transport all the winter clothes by early November.
This was a massive amount. There were at least thirty thousand soldiers in the north, not to mention the large number of disaster victims. One set of adult winter clothes required about one catty in weight. Even if there was enough cotton, the time to make the winter clothes was extremely tight.
Kong Yilin considered cotton as a stepping stone. He naturally wouldn’t offer up just five or ten cotton seeds. He knew that for white cotton to truly demonstrate its value, there had to be a substantial amount. Kong Yilin’s temperament led him to use up all his money before he even knew whether he would pass the imperial examination and obtain an official position. He bought enough seeds to plant a hundred mu of land.
And the successful cultivation of these white cotton plants, which had cost Kong Yilin countless efforts, finally caught the attention of the people of the capital and the civil and military officials.
Early that morning, groups of farmers, already accustomed to the routine, made their way to the government office. By the time they arrived, there were several layers of people gathered around the entrance. After waiting for a short while, the officials responsible for reading the “Dà Héng National Gazette” to them emerged from the government office right on time.
Before beginning to read the news, the official cleared his throat and loudly announced, “The court wishes to make winter clothes for the soldiers and disaster victims in the northern regions. There’s a shortage of skilled workers in the capital’s weaving villages. If any families have women who want to earn some wages, please come forward and register with the government. Tomorrow, we will all head to the weaving village together to make the clothes.”
Upon hearing this, the crowd of people erupted with questions. “Will the court pay us?” “How will the wages be calculated?” “If my wife goes, can she handle it herself?”
“Sir, my wife is skilled, but my daughter isn’t. Are you looking for clothes with intricate patterns and decorations?”
The official patiently explained one by one, and finally reassured them, “You don’t need to worry. All the women overseeing the work in the weaving village are palace attendants. They will take care of the safety and meals for your families. There will also be guards stationed outside. Everyone will return home before sunset. So, rest assured.”
After finishing his explanations, the official went on to clarify many more details.
Old Mr. Xu was among the crowd, listening attentively. Afterward, on his way home, he continued to think about this matter. He felt that this was the Emperor and the court’s way of helping them through the winter, giving them an opportunity to earn wages during the off-season.
As soon as he got home, Old Mr. Xu shared this news with his family. The women in his household were all pleased to hear it. “With our skills, can we really earn wages from the court?”
Old Mr. Xu said sternly, “Then you must practice diligently. We’re not aiming for speed or high wages. We just want to do it steadily. These clothes are for the soldiers. Who knows, the clothes you make might even be worn by the generals of Dà Héng. Don’t be in a hurry. Be content and happy. Being too greedy for money will make you poor. You need to be even more serious than when you’re at home. If you’re all just focused on the wages, you might as well not go.”
Old Mr. Xu’s wife scolded, “Do you think we don’t know that?! Of course, we’ll make the clothes for the soldiers with utmost care! And you, always listening to the ‘Dà Héng National Gazette,’ look at you now! Your way of speaking is so scholarly.”
Old Mr. Xu chuckled, quite pleased with himself. “It’s different! It’s different!”
His wife gave him a stern look but couldn’t help laughing. She turned to her daughter-in-law and said, “Believe it or not, he’s been listening to the news so much that he knows a lot of things. Sometimes when he talks to me, he leaves me completely baffled. He’s becoming just like a scholar.”
The family at the dinner table all laughed. The eldest son pondered the situation and discussed it with his siblings. “Mom, why don’t you skip going? Just let Yun and the others handle it.”
“Yeah,” his wife chimed in, “Mom, you should rest at home. We sisters-in-law will definitely do a good job with this!”
The faces of the women at the table displayed a mix of joy and nervousness. They had never earned wages for themselves before. With the men absent, they were a bit anxious and uneasy, but more than that, they were eager to try.
Mrs. Xu immediately widened her eyes and rejected without hesitation, “No, no. I must go. You don’t need to stop me. My sewing skills are the best at home. If I go, the daughters-in-law will have a leader.”
Despite the many attempts to convince her, the sons couldn’t change her mind and had to reluctantly agree.
Early the next morning, Mrs. Xu took her daughters-in-law and left the house. They were nervous, but when they saw that everyone in the neighborhood was heading out, they felt reassured. Every household had women going. They exchanged glances and walked together to the government office.
After registering their names, the women whispered among themselves. Before long, palace attendants arrived and politely guided them to the weaving village, where they immediately began working.
By the time it was fully light, the many men who usually went to listen to the “Dà Héng National Gazette” were discussing this event. With their wives gone, they couldn’t help but worry. Old Mr. Xu stayed at home, waiting after listening to the news. His sons were also restless. By the time it got dark, and the family started getting anxious, Mrs. Xu returned with her daughters-in-law, beaming with joy and stepping lively toward the house.
Only then did Old Mr. Xu and his sons let out a sigh of relief. “What good news is this? Did you get paid today?”
With a rosy glow on her cheeks, Mrs. Xu and her daughters-in-law took their seats and laughed, “How could it be so quick? To make a set of winter clothes, even if you work all day long without rest, it would still take two or three days for the fastest hands.”
Old Mr. Xu was puzzled, “Then why did you come back early?”
“We’re just so happy,” Mrs. Xu motioned for her daughters-in-law to bring out something, “the court provided lunch for us. The rice was fragrant and delicious, and you can be sure it fills you up. And it’s not just good rice, there were several types of dishes. You won’t believe it, but we had meat for lunch today. The taste is still lingering!”
Cautiously unwrapping a bundle of oil-paper-wrapped pastries, her daughters-in-law said, “Look, these are the pastries given to us by the palace attendants who took care of us. They said it’s because I worked quickly and did a good job. These pastries are the same kind that the Emperor eats in the palace. They’re quite valuable!”
Old Mr. Xu was taken aback, and he jumped up, exclaiming, “You’re still worrying about whether the pastries that the Emperor eats are expensive or not?! How can we eat them? Hurry and put them on the altar!”
Mrs. Xu snatched the pastries away and scolded Old Mr. Xu, “The palace attendants in the weaving village said that these pastries are for us to eat at home. You’d be wasting them if you put them on the altar. You should make your own offering. We’re going to eat them!”
Old Mr. Xu was left speechless.
The younger child of the family ran over, and upon seeing the pastries in Grandma’s hands, he lunged for them, grabbed one, and stuffed it into his mouth. After gulping it down, his eyes brightened, “Grandma, it’s so delicious!”
The child wanted more, but the elders in the family caught his hand and scolded him, “Eat slowly, chew your food properly! How can you eat like that?”
The young child, still naive, made the elders sigh. They cautiously raised their hands and pinched a piece of pastry, putting it into their mouths.
Sweet and fragrant, the palace pastries were indeed delicious.
Old Mr. Xu tasted and savored, savoring every bite until the taste was gone. He stopped licking his lips and asked to eat more, he hesitated to indulge further. The elders in the family passed the pastries to the child. Watching him closely, he imitated the elders’ behavior and treasured each bite.
Late into the night, as snoring gradually filled the air, peace settled over the capital, with the moon hanging in the sky.
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Aaw the fam is cute