Chapter 546 gained a wave of female fans.
On the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, Cheng Wanwan visited the Lin family.
Cheng Zhao's marriage was arranged by Old Madam Lin. She should have visited him as soon as she arrived in the capital, but she didn't have time to deliver the visiting card a few days ago, so it was postponed until today.
Grand Tutor Lin held the highest rank of official, and his residence was the largest and most luxurious mansion in the capital. With its vermilion gates and green tiles, waterside pavilions and terraces, rockeries and gardens, and busy servants everywhere, the Lin family was clearly a wealthy household.
Cheng Wanwan led Granny Qi to the door. The two followed the steward inside, walked through the corridor, passed through the hanging flower gate, and stepped through one gate after another before finally arriving at the courtyard where Old Madam Lin lived.
The courtyard is very quiet, with tall trees and abundant flowers.
"Greetings, Lady Sui'an." An old woman came over and bowed to Cheng Wanwan. "The old lady is having tea in the flower hall. This way, please, Lady Sui'an."
Cheng Wanwan followed them into the flower hall, which was much more spacious than her own. Various kinds of flowers in late spring and early summer were arranged around the flower hall, one pot after another, forming a small sea of flowers, attracting many butterflies to flutter around. There were also some maids carrying baskets to pick petals, and the scene was very pleasing to the eye.
She glanced at it a few times, then looked away and took a few steps forward, where she saw Old Madam Lin sitting in the pavilion.
Grand Tutor Lin held the highest rank of official, and he requested that his wife be granted an imperial title. The current Madam Lin is the First-Rank Lady of Respect and Elegance, personally bestowed by the Emperor, a very high rank.
"Greetings, Madam Lin."
Cheng Wanwan slightly curtsied, a gesture and posture that Granny Qi had taught her.
“People from Sui’an, please don’t stand on ceremony.” Madam Lin stood up, walked down the steps and helped Cheng Wanwan up. “These past few days I’ve been listening to the master chanting sutras, so I haven’t been able to meet you people from Sui’an sooner. Please don’t be offended.”
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Madam, what are you saying? It was my abruptness to come and bother you. How could I blame you?"
"The main reason is that this master only recites scriptures once every three years. If I miss this time, I'll have to wait another three years, which is why I couldn't find the time. Otherwise, I would have sent someone to invite Lady Sui'an over long ago." Old Madam Lin held Cheng Wanwan's hand, her attitude becoming much warmer. "Do you know how much of a sensation the name 'Lady Sui'an' has caused among the women in the capital? Do you know how many women admire you yet are also jealous of you? If they knew you were in the capital, I don't know how many people would send you invitations... They probably wouldn't send you invitations either. They all think too highly of themselves and are unlikely to take the initiative to invite a sixth-rank lady to their door..."
When they first met, Cheng Wanwan thought that Madam Lin was aloof and difficult to get along with, but now she found that the old lady was quite talkative.
She laughed and said, "It's not that exaggerated..."
“It’s really that exaggerated.” Old Madam Lin pulled her to sit down. “Although I am a first-rank noblewoman, it’s only because my husband is a first-rank official. If I relied on myself… tsk, I have no talent whatsoever. I would never have caught the Emperor’s eye, let alone received the title of Lady Gongya… The only woman in the capital who earned her title through her own efforts was Princess Taiping. She volunteered to go to the frontier for a political marriage, which made her the most honored princess of this dynasty…”
Cheng Wanwan felt quite embarrassed by the praise.
She never expected that her story would spread so widely in Beijing and that she would gain many female fans.
“I have a feeling that you will be promoted again.” Madam Lin said eloquently, “It’s just that those pedantic ministers in the court can’t stand seeing others get promoted too quickly, and they all find various excuses to stop the emperor from issuing imperial edicts… But in my opinion, no matter how they try to stop it, they can’t stop the people of Sui’an from working for the benefit of the people. All the people can see the efforts of the people of Sui’an, and the emperor will naturally see them too. Sooner or later, you will be the first Lady of the Imperial Decree of the Great Yu Dynasty.”
Cheng Wanwan: "..."
If she kept praising him, she really wanted to run away.
Fortunately, at that moment, Grand Tutor Lin hurriedly returned: "The people from Sui'an have come to our door. How could you keep such an important matter from me, Madam?"
Madam Lin said irritably, "You stay in the Imperial Study every day and don't come back for several days in a row. How am I supposed to tell you? Besides, Sui'an is a woman. What can she say to a man like you? Sui'an and I have a lot to talk about. Go back to your study and take care of your own business."
Grand Tutor Lin was both amused and exasperated: "The woman from Sui'an is a court lady personally appointed by the Emperor. Now that she has come to the capital, the Emperor should be informed."
"Grand Tutor Lin, there's no need for that," Cheng Wanwan said, her face flushed with embarrassment. "If even a sixth-rank woman has to report to the Emperor when she comes to the capital, what will the Emperor do with all his other duties?"
She came to the capital to attend a wedding and would leave afterward. She didn't want to be so high-profile, and she certainly didn't want to attract any gossip or trouble.
Before one's own stature has reached a certain level, it is not appropriate to associate with such high-class noblewomen in the capital.
Under the warm invitation of Madam Lin, Cheng Wanwan had no choice but to stay for a meal at the Lin family home. After the meal, she couldn't leave immediately, as Grand Tutor Lin pulled her aside to chat about farming, people's livelihoods, and various social customs...
Cheng Wanwan could only muster her spirits and continue the conversation: "...The officials in the Ministry of Revenue have developed a waterwheel, which uses water flow to turn a windmill, allowing water to flow smoothly to dry fields for irrigation... Perhaps inspired by this, the officials are currently researching a threshing machine, which also uses a windmill to thresh rice and wheat grains. This process is quite complex, and it may require the Ministry of Works to send someone to help with the research..."
Grand Tutor Lin was a scholar who had grown up in a wealthy and powerful family and knew nothing about farming. However, that didn't stop him from recognizing that this was a major plan that would benefit the country and its people. He immediately said, "I will write a memorial to the Emperor and send people from the Ministry of Works to Dahe Village. If they can develop a threshing machine before the autumn harvest, then the people will truly enjoy the benefits... The people of Sui'an have so many ingenious ideas. After talking with them, I realize how pedantic and narrow-minded I have been. I have learned so much..."
Cheng Wanwan quickly said, "Then, Your Excellency, please go and write your memorial. I'll take my leave now..."
“Please sit a little longer, Sui’an people,” Lin Taifu called to her, and began to talk about another topic. “Now that cotton planting has been promoted in Huzhou and the Northwest, the silk market will definitely be squeezed after the harvest. In Sui’an people’s opinion, how should we appease the poor people who raise silkworms?”
In fact, the imperial court already had a policy, but this policy was implemented from top to bottom, and he was worried that it would cause dissatisfaction among the lower classes, which is why he asked this question.
Cheng Wanwan: "..."
Is it wrong to ask her about something like this?
Just as she was racking her brains, the Lin family's steward rushed in: "Master, Lord Zhang has arrived. Should we bring him to the study, or wait for him in the side hall first..."
"Since the Grand Tutor is receiving guests, I will head back now. I still have some matters to attend to at home."
Before Lin Taifu could stop her, Cheng Wanwan quickly got up and left the study.
The Lin family elders were so talkative that she was completely overwhelmed by their questions. Her brain was working overtime, and all she wanted to do was go back and lie down for a while.
She had just reached the door of the study when she encountered Lord Zhang, who was hurrying over.
Lord Zhang had urgent business to discuss with Grand Tutor Lin when he suddenly saw a woman coming out of Grand Tutor Lin's study, and he was taken aback.
Grand Tutor Lin only enters his study when he is discussing important matters of the court with others. How could a woman possibly discuss such important matters of the court?
"Take care, people of Guangzhou."
The steward escorted Cheng Wanwan to the courtyard gate, then had an old woman escort her out before approaching Lord Zhang and saying, "Please come in."
Lord Zhang's hurried steps stopped abruptly, and he asked incredulously, "That person just now... was he from Sui'an?"
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