Chapter 511 Lady Zhao Cheng, wife of the subject, reports.

The position of Councilor belonged to the Ministry of Revenue, one of the Six Ministries, and was specifically in charge of agricultural affairs.

After obtaining the emperor's permission, Right Councilor Jin stepped forward and took out the entire quilt. As soon as he touched the quilt, he felt that it was different from others. Moreover, the quilt was very heavy, and it required the strength of both hands to lift it completely. It was definitely not made of silk.

He said, "Please help me open the quilt, Eunuch Ming."

A folding opening was sewn into the dark part of the quilt. Gently opening it revealed a white quilt core, something that none of the people present had ever seen before.

The empress and her concubines also gathered around.

The concubines started chattering amongst themselves.

"This blanket looks warm, but it's too heavy. It's hard to breathe when it's pressing down on you."

“The women of Sui’an are farmers, and they may not be able to afford silk, so they made this heavy quilt. In any case, it shows their good intentions.”

"This quilt filling looks like kapok, something that only grows in the hot south. The people of Sui'an must have gone to great lengths to collect so much kapok."

Lord Jin shook his head: "No, this is not kapok."

He was in charge of agricultural affairs and paid special attention to managing sericulture. He could tell the difference between various fabrics at a glance.

Kapok is a product of hot regions with extremely low yields. Every year, some would be sent to the capital as tribute from the south. Kapok looks similar to cotton, but it is lighter and softer, and it was a rare item that only nobles could afford.

Just as Eunuch Ming was about to take out the set of undergarments from the box, he noticed a folded document inside and quickly presented it to her.

The emperor opened the memorial, which was filled with dense text and numerous numbers. He narrowed his eyes and handed the memorial to Eunuch Ming: "You read it aloud to my ministers."

"Your subject, Lady Zhao Cheng, reports: Today, the weather is favorable, and the world is at peace. The regenerated rice has relieved countless people of the suffering of hunger. However, every winter, when the weather is freezing cold, countless people freeze to death in their cold homes... Our great Yu Dynasty is a vast and abundant land, and the gifts of the earth must have their uses... However, the things that are suitable for the freezing cold of the north grow only in the south, which is why for so many years, millions of people have suffered from the severe cold..."

"I was shocked to learn that there are kapok trees in the south, but they love heat and will die if transplanted, so I gave up... Later, I unexpectedly discovered white cotton, which is an ornamental plant in the south, equivalent to plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums... After testing, white cotton... The people of Dahe Village usually call it cotton... Cotton can grow in various regions, it can be planted in the hot south, the cold north, the barren northwest, and the high plateau of the southwest... If it is widely promoted, it will be a blessing for the people."

Next comes a series of data comparing the economic benefits of silkworm farming and cotton cultivation.

Although the figures are numerous, the conclusion is that the economic benefits of cotton farming for the lower classes are at least five times that of silkworm farming.

The report also mentioned the drawbacks of cotton cultivation. For example, once cotton is widely promoted, the number of farmers raising silkworms will inevitably decrease, and the price of silk will be raised, which is not good news for the wealthy.

After the memorial was read, there was a moment of silence in the Imperial Garden.

Those present were all from the upper class; they did not know what it was like to go hungry, let alone understand how painful it was to be cold.

But they knew that if the data in the report was true, then the people would definitely benefit after the cotton was promoted, and the Daewoo Dynasty's rule would be more stable.

A nation exists only with its people, and they exist only because of the nation.

When faced with matters of principle, no one dared to raise any objections.

Grand Tutor Lin cupped his hands and said loudly, "On His Majesty's fortieth birthday, the people of Sui'an have presented this excellent plan that benefits the country and its people. This is a blessing for the people of our Great Yu Dynasty! Your Majesty, I implore you to promote this as soon as possible, so as to accord with the will of Heaven and bring peace to the hearts of the people, and ensure the safety of our Great Yu Dynasty!"

Lord Jin then spoke up: "Your Majesty, this matter should be addressed sooner rather than later. I urge Your Majesty to make a decision as soon as possible!"

Immediately afterwards, a large group of court officials spoke up in agreement.

As the top leader of the Great Yu Dynasty, the emperor naturally understood the situation even better. He had been waiting for his ministers to second his proposal, and only after the atmosphere had calmed down did he speak up and say, "Granted."

The Empress laughed: "If the people of Sui'an perform meritorious service for our dynasty again, will His Majesty not reward them?"

Upon hearing this, the court officials below immediately went on high alert.

It hasn't been long since she was promoted, and she's about to be promoted again. At this rate, she'll become a first-rank imperial lady in two or three years.

A peasant woman rising to become a first-rank official's wife—how could all the scholar-officials, noble ladies, and young women of high society maintain their dignity?

Lord He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that before these data in the memorial are verified, we should not hastily promote Sui'an people... In case there are any errors in cotton planting next year, Sui'an people will be condemned by everyone..."

He really didn't want this woman to continue to rise in rank, since one member of his He family had been killed by the people of Sui'an.

The Emperor nodded: "Minister He is absolutely right. It is not too late to promote Sui'an after cotton has been officially promoted. However, Sui'an's actions have greatly pleased me. If our dynasty had more women or men as intelligent as Sui'an, the Great Yu Dynasty would surely last for thousands of generations... Eunuch Ming!"

Eunuch Ming immediately stepped forward: "This servant is here."

“The people of Sui’an have rendered meritorious service to the country. Promotion may be waived, but rewards are a must. Go and draft a list for the Empress to review personally.”

"yes!"

Only after this incident did the birthday banquet officially begin.

The atmosphere was lively and festive, filled with singing and dancing.

Snowflakes fluttered down, and Dahe Village welcomed its first snowfall of the year.

Located in a region that is neither too far north nor too south, snow sometimes comes early and sometimes late, but it's always good when it snows, as a good snow promises a good harvest. However, because of last year's snow disaster, the villagers are still worried that the snow will be too heavy, so they go to the city early to prepare for the New Year.

As December approached, the weather grew colder and colder, and Cheng Wanwan dared not sit in the courtyard anymore, but instead huddled on the kang (a heated brick bed).

She flipped through the ledger and methodically gave instructions: "The workshop will be on holiday in about ten days. Before the holiday, prepare the New Year's goods for everyone. The workshop has made good profits this year, and everyone is hardworking. Prepare the New Year's goods according to the standard of two taels of silver per person."

Granny Qi nodded: "Yes, Madam. This old servant will go and tell Manager Yan."

After Cheng Wanwan finished explaining the situation, she looked out the window. The snow had stopped, and the maids in the house were playing in the snow in the yard.

When she was younger, she would definitely have gone out to have a snowball fight and build a snowman, but now she is too afraid of the cold to touch the snow.

She put on a woolen cloak, got up, and went outside. Just then, Old Mrs. Zhao came over, carrying a wooden bucket with lively fish jumping around inside.

Today, the entire Dahe Village collectively caught fish in the river. A large net was used to catch a lot of fish, and each household received a share based on the number of people in the fishpond.

"You're always so slow. If you go too late, there will only be small fish left." Grandma Zhao poured the fish from the wooden bucket into the water tank in the yard. "Look how fresh they are. Let's keep them alive for now and eat them during the New Year."

There are also fish in Cheng Wanwan's lotus pond. She had previously harvested them all and brought them to the market to sell in order to make it easier to dig lotus roots, so she wasn't particularly craving fish. However, it was indeed nice to be able to eat some fresh fish in the dead of winter.

"I also cured some pork belly. This time it's especially flavorful. I'll bring you some later." As she spoke, Grandma Zhao began to sigh. "Who would have thought that we'd suddenly become so well-off this year... This morning, when I went to the city to buy New Year's goods, I saw those beggars on the roadside. It made me feel terrible. When things were tough before, I thought about taking a bowl and begging for rice on the street..."

Cheng Wanwan also sighed.

Even in modern society, there are many beggars on the streets, let alone in ancient feudal society.

She looked at the lotus pond in the distance, which had only been dug to less than one percent complete, and then at the cotton quilt shop in the market, which wasn't doing very well. Suddenly, an idea came to her mind.