Chapter 156

Snow flakes were falling, and soon the ground was covered with a thick layer. A woman in a cotton coat lifted the curtain and walked in. The wind and snow immediately rushed into the house. Someone inside said angrily, "Ali, how many times have I told you to be quiet when you come in? This cold wind is blowing in, and it doesn't matter how many stoves we light."

There was a charcoal fire burning in the house, making it quite warm. But when the cold wind blew in, the woman sitting by the door shivered.

Ah Li stuck out her tongue and put down the tea in her hand. "Mrs. Chen asked me to tell all the ladies that the roads are slippery due to the snow, so you can go home early today."

"Oh, thank you, Miss Chen."

"I see the snow is not going to stop. I don't know if I can come here tomorrow."

"Luckily my home is close, otherwise I would have to spend more energy on the road."

Everyone started talking at once.

"Okay, everyone, get to work quickly and don't delay the construction period," Ali reminded.

"I know, I know. Girl, when have we ever missed a deadline?" said an elderly woman as she quickly beat the cotton. This process removes impurities from the cotton, making it softer and fluffier. Several women nearby were rolling the fluffed cotton into slivers so that they could be better spun into cotton thread.

These women worked quickly and cheerfully. After watching for a while, Ali said, "I put the tea over there. Be careful of cotton wool getting in there." Then she walked out.

After Ah Li left, a woman said, "Although Madam Chen is generous, she is too strict. No mistakes can be made."

"Just be content. In previous years, the family had no income when winter came. This year, so many people in Pingxiang can come out to work. Ten cents a day, the longer you work, the more you earn. I feel more confident when I go home now. My mother-in-law used to treat me with contempt, but now she knows I can make money and her attitude towards me has improved a lot. When I get my salary this month, I will definitely bring my son Ayan to the county town for a good look. They can talk whatever they want."

A woman in plain clothes said that there was always a trace of sadness between her brows, because she had a hard life in her husband's family. Her life had only become better since she was recruited here by Madam Chen. Therefore, although she was usually taciturn, she could not bear to see people speaking ill of Madam Chen.

The woman said angrily, "Madam Su is right."

Someone said, "It's better to be strict. These clothes of ours are to be handed over to the military commander in Pingxiang Military Camp. If there is any mistake, no one can bear the responsibility. My husband was recruited into the army two years ago. It is said that the captain is very strict in managing the army. This time, Miss Chen had to ask for help from her fellow clansman, that is, the captain, so that she could talk to the captain. Otherwise, couldn't such a good thing be done in the family of the captain?"

"So that's the case. Madam Chen is from the same clan as Lord Chen. Then why did Madam Chen used to..." A woman paused and everyone fell silent.

This lady Chen's name was Chen Jin. She married to Pingxiang in her early years, but was treated harshly by her husband's family after marriage. Lady Chen's family was also very capable, so with the support of her family, she resolutely separated from her husband's family. Perhaps because she had suffered the same hardship herself, she felt very sympathetic towards women who suffered the same pain.

Many of the women who worked together were treated harshly by their husbands' families, and Madam Su was one of them. Madam Chen not only recruited them here, but also took good care of them on a daily basis. She would help those who could stand on their own, like Madam Su. For those who were cowardly and whose money was taken away by their husband's family even if they earned it, Madam Chen would find ways to help them turn things around.

The wind grew louder, covering up the voices in the house.

On Chen Jin's side, there was laughter and the creaking sound of machines. Most of the women here knew how to weave cloth. They turned their hands quickly, turning the cotton wool into cotton thread, and then used wooden sticks to collect it into small coils. They then bent the thread, turning the small coils into coils as long as the women's shoulders, so that they could spin the yarn better.

People came in and out from time to time, bringing in dyed yarn.

Madam Chen glanced at the girl delivering the wire, picked up a handful of dried fruits from the table and stuffed them into her hands. She then asked Ah Li to pour her a cup of hot tea. "It's cold, so warm up by the fire before you go out. Ask your mother to come in and warm up a little while later."

The little girl held the hot tea in her red and swollen hands, pulled the corners of her cracked mouth, and thanked Chen Jin.

She and her mother were not good at crafts, but fortunately, Mrs. Chen was kind-hearted and let them work in the textile factory. They could do rough work like washing thread. The water in winter was freezing cold, and it felt like their fingers would be frozen off when they soaked in it. But they had to wash clothes for the whole family at home, and they would be criticized and beaten for making mistakes. It was better for them to work here, at least they could get paid.

All the money she and her mother earned was snatched away by her father, but Madam Chen found a way to help them save some of the money here. Her father came here to make trouble but was scared by the county officers and never dared to come again. She secretly glanced at Madam Chen and decided that when she had saved enough money, she would make sure to get her mother and father divorced.

Chen Jin looked at her and sighed in his heart. Fortunately, Lord Lin heard about what happened here and sent county officials to take a look. Otherwise, the textile factory would be full of women. Anyone with a discerning eye would know that they had earned a lot of money and would have already made plans. The dead father of the little girl was one of those who were instigated to come here and cause trouble. These people gradually gave up after being beaten by the police one by one.

After drinking the water, the little girl bowed to Chen Jin and went out with a basket of yarn.

These yarns are used to weave cloth. There are several looms in this room. The woman next to them is operating the loom. The warp and weft threads are intertwined, and the shuttle rotates in the intertwined threads. The upper and lower needles work together, and the complete cloth on the loom is clearly visible.

After a while, the woman cut a piece of cloth with scissors. The cloth was blue and white, like the blue sky and white clouds in the summer sky, beautiful, fresh and natural. When you touch it with your hand, it feels delicate and soft. Although it is not as good as silk, it is much better than rough linen.

"Okay, let's go back early after finishing the work today. It will be unsafe on the road if it's too late. Remember to ask the ladies next door to go home with you." Chen Jin gave a few instructions to the women, and asked someone to prepare a piece of woven cloth. After making a few arrangements, he walked towards the county government office.

The sky was covered with leaden clouds and it looked like a heavy snow was brewing. Lin Shuge put out the fire in the stove and prepared to go back from work.

"Sir, there are two women waiting outside. They say they want to see you." A policeman came to report.

Woman? Who could it be on such a cold day?

"Let her in." Lin Shuge said despite his doubts.

A moment later, he saw Chen Jin walk in, followed by a younger woman holding a piece of cotton cloth in her hands. It was Ah Li.

"Madam Chen, what's going on..." Lin Shuge asked after seeing the two of them.

"Hello, Lord Lin. Thanks to your care, my textile factory was able to run. My subordinates just made a piece of cloth, and I am here to present it to you. I hope you will accept it," she said, but she was afraid that Lin Shuge would not accept it, so she added, "It is ordinary cotton cloth, not valuable. Just consider it as a thank you gift for your help."

"Madam Chen, please take it back. It is my duty to protect the people. No need to thank me." Lin Shuge said gently.

"Sir..." Chen Jin said anxiously.

Lin Shuge waved his hand and said, "If you encounter any problems, come to the county government office to find me. It's getting late. I appreciate Madam Chen's kindness. Go back early. Someone, send Madam Chen back."

The officer held out his hand and said, "Ms. Chen, please."

Chen Jin had no choice but to turn around and leave with Ah Li. Snow flakes were flying all over the ground. She looked back, but the snow blocked her view. She could only see a green figure standing there. "Ah Li, let's go."

"Okay, my lady." Ali held the cotton cloth and trotted after him.

Lin Shuge watched the two of them leave. He heard a sound next to his ears. It was the crunching sound of feet stepping on the snow. Lin Shuge knew who it was without looking back.

"Brother, what are you looking at?" As he spoke, a cloak fell on Lin Shuge's shoulders.

"Nothing. Madam Chen came over and said she wanted to give me some woven cotton cloth, but I refused." Lin Shuge lowered his eyes and watched him tie the belt of his cloak for him.

"It's not easy for her either. In this world, she can stand on her own and support so many women. It's already remarkable. Zhongxuan, you should have someone look after Pingxiang on a daily basis." Lin Shuge said.

Xie Chen nodded. He Xin had a lot of dealings with them and mentioned them a few times when he came back. The clothes made in Chen Jin's textile factory had fine stitching and rich materials, and there was absolutely no such thing as inferior products being passed off as good ones.

"Let's go back first, Zhongxuan. How is the situation at the Duwei Mansion? There has been no news for quite some time."

When the two men left the hall, a soldier quickly handed over an umbrella. Xie Chen took it and held it over Lin Shuge's head.

"It is hard to find the Huns in winter. Captain Zhao has sent troops several times but failed to find the Huns tribe. In addition, the soldiers cannot withstand the severe cold, so they can only retreat for the time being." Xie Chen said.

Lin Shuge sighed. Nomadic people originally lived by following water and grass. In winter, the grass and trees withered and turned yellow. Coupled with the threat from the soldiers of Dayan, the Xiongnu tribes should have fled to other places.

"Captain Zhao has organized several surprise attacks during this period. The strange thing is that there are no Huns in the sphere of influence of the former King Zuoguli. We have only encountered traces of their stationing." Xie Chen's eyes were gloomy and his emotions were inexplicable.

After the victory in the first battle, Captain Zhao led the Yan cavalry deep into the grassland, reaped rich rewards and boosted morale, but there were no results in the subsequent battles.

"King Zuo Guli's sphere of influence? But we got it from the mouth of the captain captured last time." Lin Shuge asked.

"Yes, the commander of Zhao promised him a high position and generous salary, so this captain surrendered to Dayan. Therefore, in the previous battles with the Xiongnu, he and the captured Xiongnu led the way. But these times, even with this captain leading the way, we still couldn't find the way."

“You are doubting…” Lin Shuge was shocked.

"I dare not say, I hope it's my illusion." After Xie Chen said this softly, the two of them didn't speak again.

The sky was getting darker and darker, with dark clouds covering the city. Snow was rolling down from the sky like black cotton onto the umbrella held by Xie Chen.

Xie Chen shook his umbrella and said, "Brother has enough worries every day, let the Duwei Mansion worry about these first."

Yes, after all, at present, Dayan is still in the upper hand. Winter has passed and it is spring plowing time. There will be sufficient grain next year, and cotton planting can drive the cotton textile industry. He knows nothing about fighting and can only develop new weapons. It is useless to be anxious. What he should consider is to make the people live a better life.

"Well, how about having hotpot tonight? I haven't had it for a long time. It'll keep you warm in such heavy snow." Lin Shuge suggested.

Xie Chen naturally took whatever he said as his own and responded with a smile.

The snow gradually stopped, and a ray of light appeared in the foggy sky, dispelling all the darkness.