The bones were chopped into pieces before being thrown into a large vat. Then a fire was lit to start cooking. The vat was about 1.5 meters high, and it took two people to encircle it. It was so thick that even though the two vats were full of bones, less than one-fifth of them were used.
After the water boiled, Qin Mu added some medicinal herbs to the vat by the river, then covered it and kept boiling it.
He didn't stay and watch over it; he simply instructed Qin Yong and the others to keep an eye on the water. Calling it boiling bones was an understatement; it was more like simmering. It would take most of the day, constantly simmering, to allow the essence from the bones to infuse into the broth. This was also why medicinal herbs were added; otherwise, simply simmering wouldn't be as effective.
"Big brother! Why are you cooking so many bones?" Qin Yuling asked curiously.
"Good stuff, we can eat it later," Qin Mu said, patting her hair.
"Ah! Eating bones?" The little girl immediately lost interest upon hearing this.
"Okay, you guys play by yourselves. I'll prepare the books for you to read first."
"I want to play with the big bull," Qin Yuling said, pointing to the rhinoceros in the pond.
"Go and play with it," Qin Mu said, handing her a bag of beans. With a maid watching over it, nothing bad would happen.
"Is there anything I can help you with, big brother?" Qin Yuxin asked sensibly.
"It's alright, go and keep an eye on your sister, make sure she doesn't fall into the water," Qin Mu instructed.
Silvery laughter could be heard from the pond. The rhinoceros stood up, much taller than the water in the pond, and stretched its big head into Qin Yuling's small hand, licking beans.
After checking and finding no problems, Qin Mu returned to his room to continue copying the books. He needed to teach three children, as well as Luo Tong, who would likely be brought over by Luo Cheng's family once they arrived. This would require four sets of books.
The key is that these are traditional Chinese characters, which require him to write slowly, and for him, this is also a learning process. The teaching material is, of course, in regular script, written with a small brush, so he can write slowly.
"Dongmei!" After writing a few pieces, Qin Mu put down his pen, walked outside, and called out.
"Young Master!" Dongmei hurried downstairs, looked up at Qin Mu, and waited for his orders.
"Are there any craftsmen in the manor?"
"What kind of craftsman does the young master need?" Dongmei asked, blinking her eyes.
"carpenter."
"some."
"Go find two people and a tailor."
"Yes, young master, please wait a moment." Dongmei replied and immediately ran away.
Qin Mu didn't like kneeling. He could manage to kneel outside, but this was his home, the place where he would live long-term, so he wanted to make himself more comfortable.
Back in his room, he made a list of what he wanted and then drew a few more sketches. Having learned drawing techniques from Qin Yue, he could now draw some realistic pictures without any problem, at least they wouldn't become abstract drawings.
Not long after, Dongmei arrived at the door with two middle-aged men.
With their dark skin from years of hard work and slightly weathered faces, the two men looked honest and unassuming. Upon seeing Qin Mu, they immediately bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, young master."
"No need for formalities, gentlemen. I invited you here because I need your help to make some things," Qin Mu said, extending his hand to help him up.
"I wonder what kind of object the young master would like to have made?" the taller middle-aged man asked.
"May I ask your surnames?"
"I wouldn't dare, I am Wang Lei."
"My name is Sun Jianping."
"Well, I need to make five small tables first, each four feet high; and ten chairs. Here are the blueprints. Take a look and see if you can make them?" Qin Mu nodded and smiled.
“No problem. May I ask what kind of wood you would like to use, young master?” asked Wang Lei, who was taller.
"Is there any timber readily available in the manor?"
"Some."
"Then we'll use what we have. If we need more, we'll buy more tomorrow," Qin Mu said. He wasn't too picky about the wood; he just wanted something practical.
“Young Master, it will probably take the two of us ten days to make five tables and ten chairs,” Wang Lei said hesitantly.
"Make one of each type first, then work on the rest later. You'll still get paid as usual," Qin Mu advised.
“Young Master, we are all craftsmen in the manor, and we are paid our share of wages. There is no need to pay us extra,” Sun Jianping said hurriedly.
"Okay, I understand. There will be a reward if you do well."
"Thank you, young master." The two hurriedly expressed their gratitude. Although there was a stipend in the household, it was usually just mend and repair work, so there was no reward money.
"Let's finish these first, I need them urgently."
"Should I make it here, or deliver it to you after it's done?"
"Bring the timber here and we'll do it right here. Feel free to ask me anything you don't understand."
"Yes, young master, we'll go get the tools and wood right away." The two agreed and went downstairs.
"Where's the tailor I asked for?" Qin Mu asked Dongmei after the two left.
"Young Master, do you want clothes made? Qiuju and I can make ordinary clothes. Although our needlework skills aren't great, they're still passable," Dongmei said with a hint of confidence.
"Hmm! Sure, take a look at these drawings, maybe we can make it." Qin Mu picked up the drawings and handed them to her, asking.
"Young Master, are these pants? Shouldn't they be underpants?" Dongmei asked uncertainly, looking at the blueprint.
“That’s right, these underpants don’t need to be that long; also, these trousers need to fit well, not be too big,” Qin Mu explained, pointing to the picture.
Underpants are shorts worn underneath, serving the same purpose as underwear, but much longer, more like beach shorts, and therefore not very comfortable to wear. The ones he had Dongmei make were similar to boxer shorts.
As for trousers, since Qin Mu also practiced martial arts, he didn't wear leg coverings; they were essentially open-crotch trousers, like stockings. However, the trousers were generally quite large, like lantern pants. Of course, this was for ventilation. Besides trousers, there was also a skirt.
Qin Mu's change wasn't significant; he simply wanted the clothes to fit better and not be so loose.
Is this a belt?
“Yes, this is a belt, but it needs to match the buckle on the trousers,” Qin Mu nodded.
If there aren't any suitable rubber bands, just use a leather belt. First, use a piece of cloth to hold it in place, then go to a blacksmith to make a belt buckle. As for the jacket, narrow the sleeves as well. Although this doesn't conform to popular aesthetics, it's more convenient to wear, and besides, he's only wearing it as everyday clothing. He explained all the requirements to Dongmei.
"I'll make one with Qiuju first, young master, please take a look and see if you like it," Dongmei said after remembering it.
"Excellent!"
"Young Master! Young Master! People from the palace have arrived! Go down and greet them quickly!" Qiuju rushed up in a panic.
"Someone from the palace has come?" Qin Mu was taken aback. What did someone from the palace want with him?
"Yes! We're almost at the gate." Qiuju was anxious and a little at a loss. They rarely had the chance to meet such important figures; to them, the palace represented the emperor.
"Let's go down and take a look," Qin Mu said with a faint smile. He had a very indifferent attitude towards the palace and didn't have much reverence for it.
As she led her people downstairs, Aunt Zheng had already led a large group of people into the courtyard.
"Greetings, Auntie!" Qin Mu and his two younger sisters stepped forward to pay their respects.
"Mu'er, what's going on?" Aunt Zheng asked, startled as she looked at the rising smoke in the distance.
"Oh, I'll make some bone broth," Qin Mu explained.
"You silly child, if you want soup, just ask the kitchen to make it. Why do it yourself?"
"They can't do it."
"Yes, this is Eunuch Li from the palace." Aunt Zheng didn't press further, gesturing to introduce a fair-skinned, beardless man beside her. Of course, she didn't address the eunuch by his given name, but rather by his official title.
"Greetings, Young Master."
The eunuch's voice was indeed not as strong and resonant as a normal person's.
"I have met Eunuch Li."
"I dare not. Her Majesty the Empress heard that the young master had just returned home and specially sent this old servant to visit him. These are gifts from Her Majesty," said Eunuch Li, pointing to the boxes held by a group of palace maids behind him.
"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty," Qin Mu said, bowing towards the direction of the palace.
"The items have been handed over to the young master. This old servant should now return to report. Farewell."
"Eunuch Li, please wait. I'm currently simmering a soup made from the bones of wild beasts. Why don't you stay and have a taste?" Qin Mu urged him to stay. Legend has it that eunuchs love money, so while pulling him aside, he subtly slipped a string of pearls into his hand.
"I heard early this morning that the Duke of Yi presented His Majesty with a lot of meat from wild beasts, so this must be the same one."
"Yes, I use medicinal herbs to make the soup, which is even better than meat," Qin Mu said confidently.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the chance to enjoy this food. I must return to report to Her Majesty." Eunuch Li swallowed hard and then said regretfully.
"That's really a shame."
"Farewell!"
"Farewell, Eunuch Li!"
After a brief chat, Eunuch Li left, even though he wanted to stay. He knew what was important.
It was said to be a reward from the Empress, and Qin Mu guessed that this was probably Li Shimin's idea. As for why he was being rewarded, he didn't know, since he hadn't entered officialdom or made any contributions yet.
In truth, Qin Mu was unaware that Li Shimin already knew about his advice to Luo Yi in Youzhou City. However, that only demonstrated his good judgment; it wasn't enough to warrant a reward from Li Shimin. It was the matter of the Juyongguan Reservoir that pleased Li Shimin.
Even ordinary gifts from the royal family bring joy. Of course, they are never truly ordinary.
"That's wonderful! This is top-quality Shu brocade, perfect for making clothes for you, young master," Dongmei said happily.
Shu brocade and Suzhou silk were gifts bestowed by the palace. Cloth and grain were wealth, especially since these were items used in the palace and should be considered tribute. This time, there were twenty bolts of each, which was quite good.
"Keep three bolts for each of you, and send the rest to your aunt," Qin Mu instructed.
"You child, this was a gift from the Empress. Why did you send it to your aunt?"
"I don't need that much either, Auntie, you can keep it for making clothes." Qin Mu waved his hand, signaling the maids to move the things.
"Mu'er is so filial, your aunt will accept it," Aunt Zheng said happily.
Such superior tribute items were difficult to acquire even with money. Making them into clothing and wearing them was a source of great prestige. Knowing that they were bestowed by the Empress would only arouse envy. It's important to understand that for them, the best clothes were often worn only once, especially silk like this.
Aunt Zheng did not stop her, but just smiled and said, "I will go and ask the best weaver to make some clothes for you and your brother."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Auntie."
"Where are Mu'er and the others?" Just then, the carpenter carried timber into the courtyard, and Aunt Zheng couldn't help but ask curiously.
"I need to teach my second sister and the others here, so I asked someone to make a few desks," Qin Mu explained.
"Yes, you can arrange it yourself." Aunt Zheng nodded, and then, seeing that the place was a bit messy, she left.
The carpenter arrived and quickly got to work, making quite a racket in the yard. Dongmei and Qiuju ran off to make clothes for Qin Mu, while Qin Yong and Qiuju tended the fire.
Thinking about the children who would live here in the future, Qin Mu couldn't help but want to make some toys for them. Especially the flower bed, under the shade of the trees, without a swing, it felt like something was missing. And that big rhinoceros that had taken over the pond made him want to build a swimming pool too; swimming in it would be a really nice thing.
After Aunt Zheng left, Qin Mu arranged for two carpenters and two maids to come and help. He made specific arrangements for them. The maids went to help Dongmei and the other girl, while the carpenters worked on making a reclining chair. Indeed, since they were making chairs, how could they be without a reclining chair? Just imagining reading under the shade of a tree was a wonderful thing.
……………
In the Lizheng Palace, Empress Zhangsun, holding a child in her arms, asked with great curiosity, "What kind of person is Qin Huaidao?"
"Your Majesty, he is a very intelligent young man, well-mannered and knowledgeable, not at all like someone from a mountain village," Eunuch Li, who had just returned to the palace, replied softly with his head down, as if afraid of waking the child.
"Oh! How did you figure that out?"
"Young Master was very composed in front of me, and he was also calm and indifferent to the Empress's reward. He even secretly gave me a pearl necklace." Eunuch Li honestly presented a pearl necklace with both hands.
Empress Zhangsun glanced at the well-proportioned necklace, then looked away and said, "Since it's a gift for you, just accept it."
"Thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty."
"Okay, you can go now."
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" As soon as Eunuch Li reached the door, he saw Li Shimin and hurriedly bowed.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" The palace maids in the hall also hurriedly bowed.
"Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities." Li Shimin strode forward, stopping Empress Zhangsun from bowing.
"Your Majesty, you have arrived."
"Hehe, Qin Shubao sent some wild beast meat to the palace. I had some made and came over to have it with you," Li Shimin said with a smile.
"We were just talking about the son of the Duke of Yi."
"Oh! How so?" Li Shimin asked curiously.
Empress Zhangsun then recounted the conversation that had just taken place.
“That’s not surprising. Even a boy from a mountain village, after living in Youzhou for a while and seeing the world through the Qin family, will surely have his character improved a lot,” Li Shimin nodded slightly.
"Hmm. I just don't know if the eldest son's return home will cause chaos in the Duke of Yi's household," Changsun said, frowning.
"It's alright, it's just a small matter. I'm sure Uncle Bao will handle it well," Li Shimin said, waving his hand.
Empress Zhangsun didn't say anything more, but lowered her head and gently patted the child.
"Lanling is a poor child. His mother passed away shortly after he was born. You'll have to suffer." Li Shimin sighed as he looked at the baby in his swaddling clothes.
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? Aren't they all my children?" Empress Zhangsun said with a gentle smile. Raising the children of other concubines was something she was already quite used to. After all, in these times, difficult childbirth was very common, and even the royal family could not guarantee that every child would be born without any unexpected complications.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com