Chapter 293 Extra: Jiang Xie 3
"Third Master."
Shen Yuanzhu sized up Xie Jingyuan, and after a moment asked, "What is the purpose of Third Master's performance in this?"
Xie Jingyuan was surprised by Shen Yuanzhu's decisiveness and asked him directly what he wanted.
After thinking for a moment, Xie Jingyuan said, "It would be hypocritical to say that I would do nothing, but if Chairman Shen believes me, I have only seen some good things outside and want to bring them home."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded: "His intentions are good, but his actions are a bit strange."
At this point, the two did not discuss the matter further.
Shen Yuanzhu stood beside Xie Jingyuan, watching the "iron lump" weave inch by inch of white cloth at an astonishing speed.
Some curious people in the crowd took the initiative to try it out. Even those who didn't know how to weave or dye could shake it a few times and weave cloth.
Many people were surprised and exclaimed in amazement.
"Old Lady Li, is your daughter an embroiderer? With this, your daughter might not have any work to do in the future."
"This big thing can weave cloth really fast."
Shen Yuanzhu pursed her lips slightly as she listened to the exclamations of those around her.
Xie Jingyuan asked, "What does Chairman Shen think?"
Shen Yuanzhu did not answer him, but instead scanned Xie Jingyuan with her gaze.
"How has Third Master been doing in the West all these years?"
Xie Jingyuan was taken aback, then said, "It's already very good now."
Shen Yuanzhu nodded. "Then your outfit is top-quality Western clothing?"
"I guess so."
Xie Jingyuan asked, puzzled, "Why is Chairman Shen asking this?"
Shen Yuanzhu chuckled softly, "I just saw the cloth woven from that 'iron lump,' and it's similar in texture to the one Third Master is wearing."
"Since we know that your clothes are already of top quality..."
Her words were ambiguous, but Xie Jingyuan could hear the disdain in them.
"What, Chairman Shen doesn't like it?"
Shen Yuanzhu said, "Third Master must have been away for a long time and suffered a lot, right?"
Xie Jingyuan frowned, while Shen Yuanzhu raised her hand and gently touched his collar.
The action seemed somewhat ambiguous, but Shen Yuanzhu didn't think anything of it.
She just wanted to see what this so-called "Western fabric" was.
She didn't think anything of it, but Xie Qi, seeing it from afar, was so anxious he jumped up and down. He walked over in a few steps and stood beside Shen Yuanzhu.
Shen Yuanzhu looked up at him, while Xie Qi looked mournful.
Shen Yuanzhu shifted slightly, placing her heel on Xie Qi's toes, signaling him to restrain himself.
Although their subtle actions were not obvious, Xie Jingyuan noticed them.
Xie Jingyuan said, "You two are still so loving."
Xie Qi ignored him and simply stood close to Shen Yuanzhu.
Seeing this, Xie Jingyuan had a mischievous thought, "President Shen asked me how I'm doing, are you worried about me?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Qi immediately glared at him.
"Third Master is overthinking it. I just meant that perhaps Third Master is not having a good time in the West, which is why he was so amazed by such crude things."
She was mocking him for never having seen anything good. Xie Jingyuan choked for a moment, then laughed.
Xie Qi said, "Madam is right. After eating so many delicacies, it's inevitable that we'll find tree roots and wild vegetables refreshing."
"There are so many fine materials in Suzhou that the Third Master of the Xie family was dazzled. When he went outside, he found that things woven even rougher than coarse hemp were actually good stuff."
The couple sang in unison, and Xie Jingyuan scoffed, not bothering to argue with them.
Shen Yuanzhu said, "I see that Third Master is sending out invitations to all our business associates in Suzhou Prefecture one by one, which is too much trouble. How about our Chamber of Commerce takes on this challenge? What do you think?"
"If Third Master's iron lump wins, I will present my Shen family's dyeing manual and flower catalog. If my Suzhou Chamber of Commerce wins, these two items can remain in the Chamber for all our colleagues in Suzhou to study and learn from. What do you say?"
Xie Jingyuan said, "President Shen, do you perhaps think that the only advantage of this Western textile and dyeing industry is its speed?"
He shook his head: "Western textiles and dyeing do not lack embroidery. Their embroidery patterns incorporate Western painting techniques of chiaroscuro, making the embroidered items lifelike."
"If we say that an embroidered portrait stands to the side, it is as if the person is there in person."
"Moreover, the dyeing is extremely rich and vibrant, a color that we are currently unable to replicate."
Xie Jingyuan said, "This trip is not something I can make decisions on my own; those Westerners are the ones in charge."
"Therefore, I would like to advise Chairman Shen that there is no need for him to take this matter upon himself."
When Western paintings were mentioned, Shen Yuanzhu suddenly remembered the Western painting she saw at Zhiyunxuan when she went to find Jiang Zao years ago.
Even now, she still remembers the vividness of the raging waves, as if they were about to burst out of the screen.
But... besides being realistic, it has no other advantages.
Just like this Western loom, it has no other merits besides being fast at weaving cloth.
"Thank you for the suggestion, Third Master, but I have already found a place for these two iron lumps in the backyard of the Chamber of Commerce. If you miss them, Third Master, you can come to the Chamber of Commerce to take a look."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Qi said, "Since Third Master can't make decisions for the Westerners, then let those foreign devils step forward."
"At least we should discuss the process and judging criteria of the competition, as well as who is qualified to be a judge."
After Xie Qi finished speaking, he scoffed coldly, "We can't just compete to see who can weave the fastest, can we? If that's the case, I'll find an older craftsman to weave a row of straw mats. Wouldn't that be much faster than this clumsy thing?"
Xie Jingyuan smiled, ignoring their arrogance, "Alright, I'll go to the Chamber of Commerce to discuss this with you two tomorrow at 9:00 AM."
This negotiation lasted for more than a month.
Although both involve weaving and dyeing, embroidery and dyeing, the two are far more difficult to compare.
The two sides argued for more than twenty days over the selection of reviewers.
Martin and Hoffman disagreed with the locals that Shen Yuanzhu had found, while Xie Qi criticized the Westerners they had hired from head to toe.
Unable to reach a conclusion after arguing, the two sides finally sought the help of ten respected members of the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce and ten Westerners. Among the Westerners were missionaries and sailors who had traveled across the ocean.
By the time the actual competition was held, more than three months had passed.
The competition process ultimately determined the three aspects of weaving, dyeing, and embroidery.
The looms selected by the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce were based on the Xie Family Farming and Weaving Chart, and not those currently used by Xie Cui Fang.
This loom was modified overnight by Xie Boyu himself, who went to ask Master Song, who was now living in another mansion and had established his own business, to take charge.
The large floral loom produced by the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce uses the traditional cross-stitch technique. The design was developed by Shen Yuanzhu after consulting with Mu Suiyun, and they also commissioned a renowned local Suzhou artist skilled in meticulous brushwork to create the design.
The flower pattern was woven by Master Song and the old craftsmen of Jixia Village using silk threads in equal proportions, and was hung on the loom the day before the competition.
This large loom can weave repeating patterns up to three feet long.
This time, Shen Yuanzhu and Mu Suiyun chose a double-flower pattern and double-fiber process.
The design features a lion playing with an embroidered ball, symbolizing good fortune.
This large brocade loom requires two embroiderers to work together, one weaving the weft and the other weaving the pattern. The loom is operated by Mu Suiyun and Man Sui, the current head of the embroidery team at Jixia Manor.
The Western-style machine uses a gear jacquard loom, which can spin three yarns at the same time. It is extremely fast and can be operated by one person.
Their patterns...
Shen Yuanzhu stared at it for a long time, but still couldn't figure out what that grayish blob was.
Everyone sat outside the high platform. Martin saw Mu Suiyun and Man Sui concentrating so intently that they didn't dare to breathe, and he made a sarcastic remark.
"Your jacquard looms can only weave an inch of cloth a day. The craftsmen in it are nothing more than animals wasting time doing repetitive work. And it also requires two puppet-like people to work together."
"Our looms only require one person to operate, and their efficiency is several times that of yours."
Shen Yuanzhu looked at the foreign craftsman leisurely swinging his pole, a hint of impatience in her eyes.
Hoffman said, "I have operated your bouquet machine before. It requires extreme precision. The slightest mistake can ruin the entire piece of fabric and render all the previous work futile."
"This kind of weaving technique requires extremely high skill from the craftsman."
Shen Yuanzhu said, "Young Master Huo may not understand, but all precious and valuable things are hard-won, not easily obtained..."
At this point, Shen Yuanzhu smiled faintly and did not continue.
Hoffman: "I am not surnamed...that's all."
The fabric woven by the foreign artisans was already palm-length, while Mu Suiyun and Man Sui's side only had a thin edge.
The crowd watched from a distance, and Shen Yuanzhu even saw the foreign craftsman take a moment to chat with the people outside the venue.
Looking at the craftsman's creation, Shen Yuanzhu shook her head slightly.
Hoffman said, "President Shen thinks our woven cloth is inferior to yours?"
Shen Yuanzhu said, "It's not that I'm inferior..."
Martin smiled arrogantly upon hearing this.
Shen Yuanzhu continued, "There is absolutely no comparison. Compared to that rag, it is a disgrace to the embroiderers of Suzhou Prefecture."
"you……"
Martin was furious, jumping up and down. "You woman, you've got quite the nerve! Western technology is the future. You cling to your so-called 'craftsmanship' and refuse to adapt; you'll eventually be left behind..."
Shen Yuanzhu looked at Martin and said calmly, "Young Master Ma, it must have been hard for you to come all the way from thousands of miles away across the ocean with those two iron lumps?"
The call of "Young Master Ma" startled Martin.
Xie Jingyuan couldn't help but twitch his face, while Xie Qi turned away with a smile.
He really liked Yuanzhu's...endearingly wicked little thoughts.
In Suzhou Prefecture, these foreigners didn't even deserve to have names.
Hoffman replied, "Of course, my hometown is far across the ocean, very far from you."
Shen Yuanzhu snorted coldly: "So you came all this way, going through all sorts of hardships, just to win your so-called 'outdated' technology..."
"Young Master Ma, isn't the answer obvious?"
"If you really think your own stuff is good, why bother with all this effort?"
Shen Yuanzhu's eyes darkened: "I heard that you studied in Suzhou for many years. Even after returning to your hometown for so long, you still miss the techniques of Suzhou. It is clear that our dynasty's weaving and dyeing techniques are ten thousand times better than yours."
"In between..."
Shen Yuanzhu raised her hand and pointed at the dull gray piece of material in the air. "The difference between us is like heaven and earth. The double-flower double-fiber craftsmanship we presented is utterly inferior to this rag-like thing of yours..."
Xie Qi continued, "Elephant hooves were used to crush the ants."
These words turned Martin and Hoffman's faces ashen.
Even Xie Jingyuan was taken aback.
Yes, if they really thought Western things were better, why would they go through all the trouble to come to Suzhou?
Xie Jingyuan had been curious about imported things since he was a child. Perhaps the West really had things that were better than theirs, but the weaving and dyeing industry was something that they could not compare to.
But he...
Xie Jingyuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
He came from a family of weavers and dyers, so how could he not know what good things were? It's just that he stayed there for too long and suffered too much.
Wasn't his initial thought to come back?
Going there is easy, but returning is extremely difficult.
So he was at his wit's end, and he tried everything. He kept lobbying Hoffmann, even convincing himself to believe those lies...
Xie Jingyuan looked at the crowd on the field, then looked down at his own clothes—the mismatched clothes his elder brother had described—and laughed.
Shen Yuanzhu glanced at the scene and slowly shook her head.
A short while later, she turned and left.
Hoffman said, "President Shen, what do you mean by this?"
Shen Yuanzhu asked, "Do you really think there's any need to compare the two?"
Before seeing the Western embroidery cloth, she was still uneasy, and when she saw Hoffman and Martin's aggressive appearance, she thought they were very powerful.
And this is... the stuff?
“I’m going back. There are still many things to take care of at the Chamber of Commerce and the shop. I’ll leave the rest of the Chamber of Commerce here to oversee things.”
After saying that, Shen Yuanzhu turned and left.
As soon as she left, Martin and Hoffman turned pale with anger.
This is really... showing them no respect whatsoever.
Shen Yuanzhu left, and Xie Qi followed her, while Xie Jingyuan watched with great interest.
The looms on the Suzhou side of the city continued working, while the craftsmen brought by Hoffmann had long since stopped. They had woven a cross-shaped pattern with a relief-like effect.
The judges from the textile and dyeing association gathered around to observe carefully, but... after a couple of glances, they got up and left.
Seeing this, Martin said coldly, "Your clumsy looms haven't even finished the edges, yet you dare to put on this act."
Xie Jingyuan said, “Our loom contains the hard work and experience of generations of craftsmen in every thread. It can weave the charm of landscapes, flowers and birds, and the liveliness of fish and insects. This is something that Western looms can never do.”
"The things woven by Western looms are nothing more than fast but rigid fabrics made of piled-up silk threads."
Xie Jingyuan looked at the flower tower machine on the field with a touch of tenderness.
Martin said, "You Easterners always like mysterious and esoteric things. What's all this talk about spiritual charm and agility? I only know practicality and efficiency."
"Our efficiency is many times that of yours, and your gods and spirits are nothing but a burden."
Upon hearing this, Xie Jingyuan smiled and shook his head: "Ignorant barbarian, I can't reason with you."
"you……"
Martin had spent some time in Suzhou and naturally knew that this was not a compliment.
Moreover, he was used to being arrogant, so how could he tolerate being insulted by a lowly handyman?
He raised his fist as if to strike, but Xie Jingyuan grabbed it from behind.
Martin hadn't expected him to dare to resist, and in his surprise, Xie Jingyuan punched him in the face.
An unexpected turn of events occurred, and everyone gathered around, but Xie Jingyuan waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue.
He suffered so much hardship abroad; he was once kicked by Martin with a leather boot, causing him to vomit blood for three days. But at that time, he was in a foreign land and could not fight back, so he could only endure it...
Now that he's back home, can he really let a foreign devil bully him?
Thinking this, Xie Jingyuan punched Martin twice more in the face. "So what if your scrap metal is fast to weave? The things you weave are as hard as iron, brightly colored but lacking in beauty and soul. They will never become timeless masterpieces."
"Using the guise of learning skills to steal others' techniques, and then putting on a haughty and shameless face, who..."
Xie Jingyuan raised his hand and threw another punch, "Who gave you the nerve!"
Xie Jingyuan and Martin got into a fight, but were quickly separated by Hoffman and others.
Martin was about to continue when he was stopped.
After finishing his fight, Xie Jingyuan headed towards the location of the Xie family's residence.
Standing at the very front of the Xie family was Jiang Zao.
When Jiang Zao saw him, she smiled faintly.
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