Cotton bolls in full bloom
Down the mountain, in Kaoshan Village, the cotton field ridges were filled with people.
In just a few months, the once barren sandy land has been transformed into an amazing "sea of snow"!
Thanks to the robust vitality of the mountaintop plant, Su Wan's meticulous guidance following the practical diagrams drawn by Douya, the mutual assistance organized by village head Li Qingshan, and the blessed sunny weather, the cotton plants are growing exceptionally well! The plants are strong and lush, and most impressively, the branches are laden with countless cotton bolls!
These cotton bolls are a size larger than ordinary cotton, with a plump, green outer shell and slightly cracked tops, revealing pure white, fluffy cotton inside that is irresistible!
A gentle breeze blows, and the "sea of snow" in the cotton fields sways softly in the wind, indicating that the peak flowering season is coming to an end.
The air was filled with a rich, sweet scent of cotton wool.
Everyone knows that a bumper harvest is in sight!
The ridges of the fields were bustling with people. The villagers looked at this "sea of snow" with joy of harvest and unbelievable amazement on their faces!
"My God! This...this is truly miraculous cotton! It's only been planted for a short time, and it's already bearing so many peaches!"
"They're open! They're all open! Good heavens! There are so many cotton bolls! One of them is equivalent to three of other people's!"
"Look at that cotton! It's so white it's dazzling! It must feel like clouds to the touch!"
"Sister-in-law Ling is truly amazing! Where did she find this precious cotton seed?!"
"Three harvests a year! My goodness! After planting wheat, they plant cotton, the land is never idle!"
"Li Lizheng said that after the cotton harvest, every household in our village will get some winter clothes! We won't have to worry about freezing to death this winter!"
Standing at the most conspicuous spot on the ridge, looking at this "sea of snow," Shen Yan suppressed his excitement and said to Su Wan and Li Qingshan beside him, "Look! I told you this cotton is gold... a good thing! Look at it! How well it's growing! How good it is! Miss Su, you deserve all the credit! Village Chief Li, you also deserve a lot of credit for organizing the villagers!"
Su Wan wore an elegant cotton dress, made from the first batch of experimental cotton mixed with fine linen, which was soft yet crisp.
It gleams softly in the sunlight.
A small, freshly picked cotton flower was pinned in her hair, making her look even more beautiful than the flower.
She smiled gently, but her eyes shone with an unprecedented light. She gently stroked a cotton boll beside her, feeling its fullness, and her voice trembled slightly: "Young Master Shen, Village Chief Li, you flatter me. It is all thanks to the miraculous cotton seeds brought back by my benefactor sister, and the hard work of the villagers. I... have only done my duty."
Her heart was already in turmoil!
The appearance and quality of the cotton far exceeded her expectations!
Its whiteness, fiber length, and toughness make it an absolute gem in weaving!
Her family has been in charge of textile manufacturing in Jiangning for generations, and they have never seen such exquisite cotton!
Xuan Chenzi squatted at the edge of the field, stroking his beard, looking every bit the charlatan, shaking his head and saying, "Amitabha! This is an auspicious omen from heaven! Blessed with good fortune! This humble Taoist observed the celestial phenomena last night and saw purple mists and thousands of auspicious clouds above this cotton field! It must be that the heroine's merits have moved the heavens..."
After Xuan Chenzi finished boasting, Su Wan turned to Shen Yan and Li Qingshan, her voice soft yet clear: "Young Master Shen, Village Head Li, with the cotton harvest imminent, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."
Shen Yan was delighted: "Miss Su, please speak freely!"
Su Wan's eyes flickered as she pointed to the cotton fields: "The cotton is good, but it needs to be used properly. Now that the cotton has grown, there are many processes involved, such as picking, removing seeds, carding, spinning, and weaving. If each household handles it separately, firstly, they will lack the necessary equipment and be inefficient, and secondly, it will be difficult to maintain consistent quality, which may ruin this good cotton."
She paused for a moment, then revealed her core idea: "In my opinion, we should quickly establish 'cotton workshops'! Centralized harvesting and unified processing! I can teach you how to improve spinning wheels and looms, and prepare color-fixing dyes to ensure superior quality! Only in this way can we make the best use of our resources!"
She then looked towards the official road outside the village: "Moreover, this cotton is of exceptional quality, far surpassing ordinary cotton on the market. It would be a waste to keep it only for our own use in the village. I believe we should rent out a few shops in the county town or even the prefecture, and put up a sign that says 'Kaoshan Snow Cloud Cotton'! We should specialize in selling fabrics woven from this cotton! With its pure whiteness, softness, and remarkable warmth, it will surely become a sensation! At that time, not only will the villagers profit more, but the name of Kaoshan Village will also spread far and wide! This is a move that brings both fame and fortune!"
These words, like a pebble thrown into calm water, instantly stirred up a thousand waves!
Shen Yan's breathing quickened as she listened, her eyes widening in disbelief!
His blueprint for a "business empire" was instantly revived, and it was more concrete and more attractive than before!
"Brilliant! Brilliant indeed! Miss Su! You are truly a female Zhuge Liang! Every word you say resonates with me! Build workshops! Open shops! Establish a brand! This is the right way! This is the way to maximize the value of this golden... fine cotton! It's a hundred times better than a plain cotton-padded coat! Li Lizheng! Don't you agree?!"
Li Qingshan was also stunned by this grand plan! Although he was the village head, his knowledge was limited.
The prospect described by Su Wan is too tempting. If it comes true, Kaoshan Village will be completely transformed!
He hesitated and said, "What Miss Su said is indeed very promising... However, building workshops and opening shops requires a huge amount of money... Moreover, should we wait for Madam Ling to return and make a decision on this matter?"
Shen Yan was in high spirits when he waved his hand and said, "Wait? What are you waiting for! Time waits for no one! The cotton is about to bloom! We need to get ready quickly! Money? Didn't my wife leave some money? Use it first! If it's not enough... if it's not enough, I'll go to Magistrate Chen Qinian for help! When my wife comes back and sees the workshop built, the shop open, and the money earned, she'll be happy! She might even praise me for being capable!"
He emphasized Magistrate Chen's name heavily, as if they had a close relationship.
Xuan Chenzi's eyes darted around, and he immediately chimed in, "Amitabha! Miss Su has great foresight! Young Master Shen has extraordinary courage! This is a brilliant plan to revitalize this region! I wholeheartedly support it! I will provide free geomancy consultation for the workshop's location! I guarantee abundant wealth! Facing west, it will be even more prosperous!"
Su Wan was secretly pleased as she watched Shen Yan and Xuan Chenzi's reactions.
"Since Young Master Shen has such courage, I will do my best. However... such an important matter ultimately requires the approval of my benefactor, Sister. If Sister returns and sees that we have made all the preparations and are just waiting for her command to begin, I imagine... she will be even more pleased?"
These words were like a shot of adrenaline to Shen Yan!
"Yes! Yes! Miss Su is right!"
"Let's get the framework up and running! Get ready! Let my wife come back and see how efficient and determined we are!"
"Li Lizheng! Quickly! Gather everyone! Discuss the workshop location! Miss Su! Make a list of the necessary equipment! Leave the money to me! Old Taoist Xuanchen! Go and check the feng shui!"
Shen Yan was eager to get started, and the blueprint Su Wan had drawn up made him itchy to do it.
He cleared his throat and shouted to the busy Li Qingshan and villagers, "Fellow villagers! Keep up the good work! Take advantage of the good weather and harvest the cotton quickly! As agreed before, send the harvested cotton to Miss Su for sorting and grading! Our 'Kaoshan Xueyun Cotton' workshop will be open soon! When we weave good cloth and sell it for a good price, everyone will get a share!"
Wearing her brand-new cotton and linen dress, Su Wan walked and directed the cotton fields, which made her stand out even more and became the best "living advertisement".
The village women stared in disbelief, having never seen such beautiful and comfortable clothes before.
Wearing this dress, Su Wan directed several skillful village women to set up a temporary sorting and grading shed with increasing ease, and the women showed unprecedented cooperation. Hearing Shen Yan's words, the corners of her lips curved slightly, and a glint of determination flashed in her eyes.
She had already prepared the prototype of the workshop and the list of tools, and was just waiting for Ling Zhan's approval.
Xuan Chenzi, fanning himself with a tattered palm-leaf fan, pointed at the cotton fields and said to Li Qingshan, "Li Village Chief! Look at this auspicious aura! These lucky clouds! With this cotton coming out, it'll be hard for Kaoshan Village not to get rich! I've calculated that the workshop should be built at the east end of the village, with excellent feng shui, bringing great wealth! As for the shop... the one at the entrance of 'Jinxiu Street' in the east market of the county town is quite good. I'll go and negotiate, and I'm sure I can get it!"
Just as things were getting heated and everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts—
From the direction of the village entrance came the excited shouts of children:
"Dad! Sister Su! Uncle Li! We're back! Mom brought lots of gifts! There's grain and long-staple cotton!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound!
Ling Zhan appeared at the village entrance, looking travel-worn but full of energy, accompanied by Hu Zi, Da Niu, Dou Ya, Da Ya, and Xiao Shi Tou!
Tiger carried a bulging bundle on his back, emitting an enticing aroma of roasted meat.
Da Niu and Dou Ya were holding berries wrapped in large leaves and several small cloth bags of seeds in their arms.
In Ling Zhan's hands, he was also carrying two plump pheasants with brightly colored feathers!
The villagers immediately erupted in a warm welcome! The children cheered and rushed forward!
Shen Yan, Su Wan, Xuan Chenzi, and Li Qingshan also quickly went to greet them.
Shen Yan squeezed to the front, his face beaming with a boastful smile, his voice tinged with eagerness to claim credit: "Wife! You're finally back! Look! Our cotton! What a bumper harvest! A sea of white! It's all money... uh, all the warmth of the villagers!"
He eagerly pointed to the cotton fields, then to Su Wan and Xuan Chenzi, “I’ve almost finished preparing the workshop! Miss Su has even chosen the shop location! At the intersection of Jinxiu Street! A prime location! The feng shui was chosen by Daoist Xuan Chen! We’re just waiting for your order, and then our ‘Kaoshan Xueyun Cotton’ signboard can be hung up! I guarantee we’ll monopolize the cotton cloth market in the whole city… no, the whole prefecture!”
He spoke very quickly, as if he wanted to list all the credits.
Su Wan stepped forward and gave a graceful bow, her voice gentle yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible nervousness: "Sister, you must be tired from your journey. The cotton is of exceptional quality, far exceeding our expectations. Young Master Shen and I have already made preliminary plans to build workshops to standardize the quality and to open specialty shops to establish a reputation. Only in this way can we live up to the value of this cotton and benefit...in the long run."
She emphasized the word "long-term".
Ling Zhan handed the pheasant to Aunt Wang, who was eyeing it with longing, and gestured for Hu Zi and the others to share the roasted meat and berries with the children.
She didn't look at Shen Yan and Su Wan.
His gaze fell directly on the vast "sea of cotton," then swept over Li Qingshan and the villagers whose faces were filled with simple joy.
Ling Zhan's voice was calm, yet clearly drowned out the clamor: "The workshop can be built."
These five simple words instantly brought a huge burst of joy to Shen Yan and Su Wan's eyes!
It's done?!
Ling Zhan then turned to Shen Yan, who was beaming with excitement: "The grain and cotton are on the ship. Take some men and bring them back."
Shen Yan beamed as if she had received a royal decree, her voice rising eight octaves: "Yes! My dear wife! I'll go get it right away, right away!"
He turned around and called out to his men, full of enthusiasm.
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