Chapter 387: The Melody of the Plains [Requesting Double Monthly Tickets]

Unlike the fading reds and greens of autumn, in the depths of winter, apart from the winter plum blossoms, there are no other colors to admire.

When Wu Xian arrived, he saw Lady Mi smiling and greeting him from afar under the eaves. The peony in her hair was in full bloom, making her even more beautiful than the flower. He was curious about where there were peonies at this time of year, but upon closer inspection, he realized that this peony was not the same as the one he was looking for.

Lady Mi noticed his curious gaze.

He smiled and said, "It was a gift from my wife today."

Wu Xian asked curiously, "You mean Madam?"

Where did you get the lady from?

Only after asking did he remember that Wen Zhu had returned from He Yin yesterday, saying he had brought some New Year's gifts to give to the women in the inner quarters, and had specifically reported this to him. When asked what they were, Xu Jie only said "flowers," so Wu Xian didn't pay much attention.

Looking at it now, it's quite exquisite.

It's windy at the entrance, and it's not a good place to talk.

"Father!" The sleepy son heard the noise and got up, kicking his little legs and running, almost throwing himself into his arms.

Wu Xian was stern and unsmiling towards his two legitimate sons, often demanding high standards of them. However, he was less strict with his young illegitimate son, spoiling him as he pleased. Life only offers a few years of freedom, allowing him to hold his son on his lap.

"Have you finished learning what the teacher taught today?"

"After you've finished learning, will Father test me?" the son asked in his childish voice, a hint of nervousness on his face.

Wu Xian laughed and said, "Alright, let me test you."

It was called a test, but it was really just a couple of questions that he could easily pass—after all, he was still young, and it was impossible to tell what his aptitude or potential was, so Wu Xian's expectations for him were naturally not too high.

It was cold inside, so Lady Mi had her maid add more charcoal to the brazier.

Wu Xian remarked with emotion: "Wen Zhu told me before that every household in Heyin has built earthen kang beds, so they can keep warm in winter without burning charcoal. Although charcoal can keep warm, ordinary people cannot afford it, and winter is particularly difficult to endure."

Lady Mi was adept at reading people's expressions and moods.

Seeing that Wu Xian had started, she smiled and asked, "Although I don't know what this earthen kang is, since it can keep you warm, it must need to burn something. Can the common people afford it?"

Wu Xian took the warm water she handed him, took a sip, and said, "You can say it's hay, straw, or even animal manure."

"Isn't it difficult to make a traditional earthen bed?"

Wu Xian shook his head: "I heard it's very simple."

Lady Mi then asked, "Then why not follow suit?"

Wu Xian remained silent.

It wasn't that he wasn't tempted, nor that he was too soft-hearted to fleece Shen Tang, but he felt a little ashamed to have to harvest the same crop of chives and fleece the same lamb all year round.

The outside world genuinely believed that the two were "deeply in love"...

Even the thickest skin can't just take advantage of others.

Most importantly—

He needs to figure out how to bring it up!

He didn't say it, but Lady Mi subtly understood his thoughts—he just needed a way out.

“I am not like you, my sir. I do not know many words and do not understand those great principles. But I will never forget the suffering I endured in my childhood when my family was too poor to afford charcoal and my hands and feet were covered in sores from the cold. If this earthen bed can help poor families to be free from the wind and snow, I wonder how many innocent lives it could save. You, my sir, have always been kind and benevolent. If you knew that you were devoted to the people, how could you not agree?”

Stealing someone else's kang-building skills is definitely not an option.

But you can "buy".

Either buy the "patent" of someone who can build a kang (heated brick bed), or hire a skilled craftsman to build the kang and pay him for his labor.

Given the "brotherly relationship" between Wu Xian and Shen Tang, they can probably negotiate a friendly price if they discuss it properly.

Wu Xian said, "That's very true."

He slapped his thigh and decided to write a letter to Shen Tang, using the excuse that "his beloved concubine, Lady Mi, has suffered from frostbite and cannot bear the cold, but the scorching heat of charcoal fire is not good for her health" as a way to get Shen Tang to hire craftsmen to build a kang (heated brick bed) in Tianhai.

Ideally, one could buy this craft.

With a shortage of craftsmen, even the most skilled craftsmen need time to master their craft, making the process too slow. It would be better to have our own people learn the skills first, and then promote it on a large scale. Wu Xian sat and thought for a while, then decided to promote the earthen kang (heated brick bed) to Shangnan and Yiru, and try to get both of them involved as well.

The three companies will split the "patent fees" equally!

Wu Xian's mind was racing with calculations.

He already had a plan in mind, but his peripheral vision was drawn to the peony in Lady Mi's hair. Upon asking, he learned that Xu Jie had sent more than a dozen velvet flowers, and the concubines in the back courtyard had each received two or three, mostly winter plum and red tea flowers, with only two peonies.

Although the hierarchy is not as strict as before, Consort Mi's status still prohibits her from wearing peony flowers, and even the patterns on her clothes are forbidden. The First Lady gave her a peony, saying that its delicate color would look good on her.

"Is there anything wrong with this flower?"

“There’s nothing wrong with it, it really suits your skin tone. You can wear it in your own courtyard, but if you go out, you should wear something else to avoid gossip.” Wu Xian leaned back on the armrest, smiling as he changed the subject. “Brother Chen is quite interesting, so knowledgeable about these little things… However, this is ultimately a minor skill. You should use that energy to recruit more soldiers… Who knows how many more years the current situation will remain stable? I’ve heard that various places have been ravaged by those bandits and outlaws… Isn’t Brother Chen just making himself a target?”

Shen Tang has a good reputation.

Shen Tang loves making money.

He still led the common people under his rule to make money.

Reclaiming wasteland was to ensure that the common people had enough to eat; raising pigs was to provide them with extra income; building houses and kang beds was to provide them with a comfortable home to shelter them from the wind and rain and keep them warm; even now, during the off-season, the production of velvet flowers is simply to help the people under the jurisdiction earn more money...

As long as it's not for accumulating wealth, recruiting soldiers, or strengthening himself, it's all good for Wu Xian.

After all, having a neighbor who's always sharpening his knives, hot-blooded, and jumping around makes it hard for him to sleep soundly. A good younger brother can't be stronger than him, nor can he be more mischievous—that's just right for him.

He was happy to see Shen Tang devote himself to the common people.

Lady Mi asked in confusion, "Why is it a side path?"

Wu Xian shifted to a more comfortable sitting position: "It's not a good thing for a young child to carry a fortune in the bustling city. If Brother Shen had been born in a peaceful and prosperous era, he would surely be a benevolent official loved and supported by the common people wherever he went. But it's the world we live in now. Under Brother Shen's rule, no matter how much money or grain the common people carry, if they encounter desperate criminals who break into their homes, they will most likely end up losing both their money and their lives... Many of those refugees before turned to banditry to survive, robbing others of their money and grain..."

Wu Xian chuckled and said quietly, "...Robbery is much faster than any amount of planning."

Upon hearing this, Lady Mi subconsciously conjured up a question that made her break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it—would that virtuous young man ever kidnap someone? Fortunately, the words rolled around on her tongue twice before she secretly swallowed them back down.

Wu Xian was not unaware of Lady Mi's unusual expression, and he could roughly guess what she was thinking.

"So, in that case—Shen Jun doesn't even have troops to deal with fugitives?" Lady Mi patted her tired youngest son lightly, her expression seemingly puzzled.

“We certainly have the means to deal with ordinary desperados,” Wu Xian said, worried that the chubby boy might crush Lady Mi. He helped her move the child aside and continued, “But these desperados aren’t fighting alone; they’re facing an army of thousands.”

"……this?"

“It’s not just Shen’s brother, Tianhai is the same, it’s just a pity they are still too weak.” Wu Xian’s eyes were filled with worry. He didn’t know how long this relatively peaceful life could last… would it be enough for him to live to see his children grow up, get married and start their own families?

Lady Mi also fell silent.

Wu Xian was a carefree person and quickly recovered from his emotional state. Looking at the flower in Lady Mi's hair, he pondered for a while and asked, "I remember that in a few days, it will be the winter plum banquet that Lady has been preparing for a long time? Is everything almost ready?"

The wife fell slightly ill after winter began.

Because of her lack of energy, she offered to let Consort Mi help manage the household affairs, but tasks such as purchasing remained with Consort Mi, who was part of her dowry. Consort Mi would spend her days working in the main wife's courtyard. The two peony velvet flowers adorning her temples were probably a way of both winning over Consort Mi and simultaneously drawing her enmity…

The winter plum banquet is a regular annual event.

It is used to connect various parties and strengthen their relationships.

On this day, all the women in the family will dress up in their finest attire and go out.

Lady Mi replied, "Yes, everything is ready."

This was her first time handling such a matter, and she wanted to keep a close eye on every step to ensure there were no mistakes, lest she give anyone ammunition to criticize her. She had no family background, and the only person she could rely on was her husband, Wu Xian.

They only have a foothold in the world because of their offspring and the emperor's favor.

This was not what she sought, but ironically, it was the only way she could obtain a peaceful and secure life.

What's even more ridiculous is that her current situation is something that countless women struggling in the mire yearn for but cannot obtain.

Wu Xian carefully examined her face and the dazzling, exquisite peony velvet flower in her hair.

He said, "Wear it to the winter plum banquet."

Lady Mi's heart skipped a beat: "But didn't my sir say earlier... this, this is very inappropriate..."

"Consider it a return favor. Why do you think Brother Shen suggested to Wen Zhu that he send the best velvet flowers to the backyard? Wasn't it so that you could stand out at some banquet and be imitated by all the women? Since that's the case, let Brother Shen have his wish. Anyway, we'll collect market taxes... It's not a loss."

Consort Mi: "..."

She thought for a moment and said, "It's still not appropriate."

Why is it inappropriate?

Consort Mi, always intelligent and quick-witted, lightly bit her red lips: "I am honored by my virtuous husband's reputation and addressed as 'Consort Mi,' but I am still a concubine. What will the principal wife think if I wear a peony to the winter plum banquet? What will the other ladies think when they see this in my hair? Publicly, it will be detrimental to my virtuous husband's reputation; privately, this velvet flower will not only be unpleasing but will also incur the disdain of the other ladies..."

Wu Xian remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then said regretfully, "If only Madam had some of your understanding..."

Lady Mi dared not speak again.

Fortunately, Wu Xian didn't continue the conversation on that topic. He was actually quite depressed lately. His wife had been managing the household affairs for many years and had kept everything in order. Wu Xian loved and respected her, but there was one thing that made him quite critical.

The wife maintained close ties with her maternal family, and it was obvious to outsiders that her brothers were plotting something bad.

First, she instigated a fight between Wu Xian's two legitimate sons, making the two children even more ruthless towards their half-brothers and sisters in the family. She was also inextricably linked to the assassination of Wu Xian.

Unfortunately, the first wife took pity on her two brothers from her own family and showed them extreme favoritism. As for those brothers... they were relatively well-behaved for the past two years, but recently they have started causing trouble again, and the first wife has had to subtly plead with Wu Xian on their behalf.

He intended to use Consort Mi to subtly hint at his intention to the principal wife, but Consort Mi refused to cooperate.

This matter can only be dropped.

Lady Mi cautiously advised, "Your husband and I are a loving couple, a rare model in Tianhai, and many women envy us. Is there anything you can't say openly?"

Wu Xian countered, "Do you know which word I dislike the most?"

Which one?

"Our love is stronger than gold."

Consort Mi: "..."

Wu Xian rolled over and sneered, "The world is bustling with people coming and going for profit. Even couples who have been married for many years can become strangers in the face of the word 'profit'..."

He didn't blame his wife for not wanting to sever ties with her family.

As a woman from a prominent family, seeking profit for the clan was an instinct ingrained in her very being. Compared to a husband with many wives and concubines, her own brothers, who were of the same bloodline, were naturally more reliable.

He gently patted Lady Mi's hand.

He closed his eyes and said, "You're perfect as you are."

On the day of the winter plum banquet, the velvet flowers stole the show.

It also significantly boosted sales.

The ladies and noblewomen of various families eagerly inquired about it.

Shen Tang also added many labels and advertising slogans to these velvet flowers, such as "handmade by a master", "carved over several months", "flowers that never fade", "eternal beauty", "the best flowers deserve the best you"...

Xu Jie: "..."

Isn't this a scam?

Shen Jun spoke with conviction.

"This is called marketing, and it's a complex subject. Besides—if I were to really boast about how easy and cheap these flowers are to make, would these wealthy ladies still wear inexpensive flowers in their hair? Wen Zhu is still too young; only expensive flowers are befitting their status!"

Xu Jie: "..."

Isn't this just treating people like suckers?

In the end, he followed Shen Tang's advice and quoted the highest possible price. He thought few would be fooled, but to his surprise, in less than a day, the order list filled an entire scroll. Some were for personal use, some for gifts, but without exception, everyone wanted many different styles…

Isn't this faster than robbery?

Seeing that his wife was also joining in the fun, he became even angrier and said, "What do you want? I'll bring it to you later..."

Don't fall into this trap!

We got ripped off for nothing!

Upon seeing the list, he asked, "So many?"

The lady said irritably, "Of course there are many. Don't you see how many female relatives in the clan are... They all come to me asking for favors. How can I not do it? Not a single one can be missing!"

Xu Jie gritted his teeth, almost considering turning to reselling. It wasn't that he couldn't afford it; the cost of the velvet flowers was fixed, and even at its most expensive, it couldn't compare to the price of gold, silver, pearls, and jade. But as a businessman, he hated losing money and wasting money!

This is more painful than cutting off his flesh.

After the New Year, he went to Heyin to purchase goods and, on behalf of Wu Xian, discussed the construction of the earthen kang (a traditional heated platform bed). Shen Tang generously sent out skilled "craftsmen" and also asked him to help promote bamboo paper—yes, her papermaking workshop finally produced qualified finished products!

Unfortunately, production is limited and not enough for her to publish two 10,000-copy picture albums a year. Papermaking technology still needs improvement!

Shen Tang then asked Xu Jie to inquire about the market for bamboo paper, as more money would be needed to continue research and development!

Xu Jie: "..."

Shen Jun hasn't given up on making picture albums yet.

He also owns a paper mill.

Every year, demand exceeds supply. The Xu family can consume all of Shen Tang's batch of bamboo paper, eliminating the need for them to travel out to do business. Xu Jie stayed in He Yin for a few days. Once the first batch of velvet paper was collected, he could return to Tianhai with the velvet paper and the kang-building craftsmen.

until--

Wu Xian looked at the leading craftsman building the kang (a heated brick bed), and almost spat out his tea, choking several times before calming down.

His expression was one of speechlessness and confusion as he looked at the muscular man in front of him, who had become noticeably darker: "Ahem—if I remember correctly, you, you're not an officer under the Great Righteousness Tent, are you?"

The subordinate nodded: "That's right, Biao."

Wu Xian: "..."

Xu Jie lowered his head, not daring to look at his superior's face.

"...Then, why did you go and make the kang (heated brick bed)?"

Subordinate: "..."

This matter is too complicated to explain in a few words.

He swore he had no such hobby a year ago, but when he was working, there was always a group of friendly commoners from the riverbank who would say "Soldier, you've worked hard" and "Soldier, take a rest" repeatedly, and stare at him with admiring eyes.

he……

Shamefully, he lost himself in the flattery and admiration. When he came to his senses, he realized that his kang-building skills were superb. He could build a kang in half an hour by himself, ensuring that it was sturdy and durable, while also taking into account both appearance and warmth.

The subordinate official was remorseful and reflected on his actions.

But Shen Jun then immediately followed up with subsidies for wages.

Those compliments and adoration continued to bewitch them.

Looking at the ever-growing private treasury, the subordinate official fell into deep thought—it seemed, perhaps, maybe, that a brave warrior could make a living without fighting on the battlefield.

Are you living a pretty good life?

|ω`)

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(End of this chapter)