Chapter 57 Winter is also busy
The news that Concubine Shu had a rash quickly spread throughout the palace.
Everyone was guessing what was going on.
Some are afraid, some are curious, and some are gloating.
The only place that was as calm as stagnant water was Myeonghye Palace.
Time seemed to stand still in Myeonghye Palace, and the scene in the palace was always the same bleak one.
The lonely palace maid, the withered tree, and the woman holding a cat.
Pei Shu changed the cat in her hand.
This time it’s a little calico cat.
It was really small, lying softly in Pei Shu's arms, and its cries were very soft.
It is still called the ninth day.
Dongyue stood by and was no longer as silent as when she first came. She would take the initiative to talk to Pei Shu about many things.
She talked about the gossip she heard from various palaces, and which chef in the imperial kitchen had secretly stolen oil and water.
But Dongyue rarely helps to hold the cat anymore.
After seeing the pit under the locust tree last time, Dongyue thought about it for several nights and figured out some things.
She seemed to understand why Hui Jieyu liked cats.
Because there are dangers everywhere in the palace, people are not as trustworthy as animals.
Dongyue doesn't dare to hug the cat anymore because if she hugs it too many times, she will develop feelings for it.
And the cat will eventually die.
It is cruel to develop feelings for something that you know will go away.
"My Lady, some people say that Miss Shu got the rash because she was cursed by someone who stabbed her with a doll."
"Beauty Shu didn't come out of Yuexiu Palace, so no one saw what she looked like."
"But I heard her hands are as red as pickled pig's trotters..."
Dongyue talked ramblingly.
Pei Shu didn't react much after hearing this.
After a while, he said, "Someone will be caught and brought to account."
Sure enough, after a few days, the Queen found out what was going on.
The Shanggong Bureau in the palace was responsible for making clothing and jewelry for the harem.
After Lady Shu was promoted, the clothes made by the Shanggong Bureau were in a hurry and the clothes sent to her were not clean, which caused Lady Shu to develop a rash.
Lu Sizhi of the Shanggong Bureau was dismissed from his post, fined his salary, given thirty lashes of the cane, and then expelled from the palace.
The matter finally came to an end.
Everyone in the Shanggong Bureau was nervous.
Lu Sizhi had been making clothes at the Shanggong Bureau for more than ten years. He had considerable experience and excellent craftsmanship, but he ended up in such a miserable situation due to a moment of negligence.
Everyone else was on high alert and didn't dare to make any mistakes, for fear of following in Lu Sizhi's footsteps.
The days are blown away by the wind.
The west wind blew into the northwest wind.
Winter is coming to Chang'an and everyone is wrapped in winter clothes.
The weather in Lingnan has also become colder, but it is not yet necessary to wrap up in a winter coat during the day.
The people working on the Black Bandit Mountain were sweating profusely from the heat.
After the busiest autumn harvest season, the villagers realized that there were not enough houses.
So everyone started to build the house according to the drawings drawn by Hao Ren.
Anyway, having a few more houses won’t be a problem. Building some houses can be used as exercise during the slack season.
When everyone heard that Song Yu could make ink sticks, they all felt that this was something they should support.
If this ink is made well, not only can I make money, but I can also provide for the two children in the village who are studying.
Although there was a shortage of houses at the moment, the villagers still cleared out a room for storing miscellaneous items and used it as a temporary workshop for Song Yu.
In the small workshop, a bright fire was burning under the stove.
There was a large pot of donkey hide glue boiling on top, mixed with various ingredients that the villagers didn't know.
Song Yu poured the boiled glue into the collected tung oil ash and stirred it continuously to form ink mud.
After that, it needs to be hammered repeatedly to form a delicate and soft ink embryo.
Su Zhizhi and Xue Che both came to watch the ink making and also helped with carrying water and basins.
"Today I realized how difficult it is to make ink." Xue Che was planning to write an article titled "Observing the Making of Ink".
He had an endless supply of ink sticks in Chang'an Prefecture, and had never thought about how that small piece was made. Now that he saw it with his own eyes, he realized that it involved so many steps.
But looking at Brother Song's focused look, he seemed to be enjoying it.
After Xue Che came to the mountain, every time he felt the ancients' sentiment of "lamenting the hardships of people's lives", he would feel that there seemed to be a kind of hope and strength hidden in that hardship.
Su Zhizhi didn't sigh, but directly put in the effort to help Song Yu beat the ink mud:
"Little Song, save your energy. Let's take turns beating each other in the village. It will definitely be good and fast."
Su Zhizhi discovered that Song Yu had been raised in the village for a while. He ate a lot, but was still very thin.
Maybe the food he ate didn't make him gain weight, so all the energy was used in kneading and beating the ink.
"It's okay, I can do it myself." Xiao Song felt embarrassed to trouble the villagers anymore.
The tung oil he used was squeezed out of tung nuts collected by the villagers. Why did he make the villagers spend more effort to make ink mud?
But Su Zhizhi does whatever she thinks of.
She turned around and ran around the village, banging a small gong and shouting everywhere, "Please ask everyone to walk to the small workshop after dinner and give it a punch."
So, after dinner that day, Song Yu saw the villagers lining up and walking into the workshop, and each of them punched the ink mud as they passed by.
He was really strong, one punch could counter several of his punches.
Even a woman in the village could punch someone so hard that they could leave a hole that would take a long time to heal.
Song Yu, who had been concentrating on making ink, was dumbfounded. He realized belatedly that there seemed to be many hidden talents in this village.
After smashing the things, the villagers patted Song Yu's shoulders in a friendly manner:
"Xiao Song, if you have something to say, just say it directly. Don't be shy. We have no shortage of strength in our village."
"I haven't punched anyone in a long time. My fists are itching to hit someone lately. Next time you want to hit someone, remember to call me."
"Xiao Song, next time you can put the ink mud next to the village kitchen. Everyone can punch it while getting their food. It's quite stress-relieving."
Song Yu nodded vigorously: "...Okay, I'll move there right away."
The pounded ink mud is very shiny and sticky.
Song Yu put the ink mud into the mold and waited for it to take shape and dry in the shade. It would take at least a few months to produce the finished product.
During this period, he would constantly adjust the proportions and formulas, and use different molds to make different batches of ink sticks.
The leaves on the mountain fell layer by layer.
In the blink of an eye, it was November.
It's getting dark earlier and earlier.
Hao Ren was counting the accounts in the house.
There are account books for the village, the restaurant and their family.
He records every penny in great detail, lives frugally, and plans for the future.
There was also a light on in the house next door.
In the flickering candlelight, Wu Yingniang and Grandma Qiu were holding needles and thread, sewing winter clothes for Su Zhizhi and Xue Che.
Wu Yingniang sewed a jacket for Xue Che and stuffed it with some cotton from today's harvest. It was thick and warm.
Grandma Qiu's needle and thread were moving up and down a piece of tiger skin, making a tiger skin skirt for Su Zhizhi.
It’s okay for them adults. If they don’t make new winter clothes, they can just wear the old ones.
But children aged six or seven grow taller every year and can no longer fit into last year’s old clothes.
To be honest, Wu Yingniang and Grandma Qiu's needlework skills are just average. It's good enough as long as the stitches are well-made and not leaking, and the clothes don't fall apart.
Fortunately, Su Zhizhi is not picky and never cares about these things.
Wu Yingniang muttered to herself, "Should we find a tailor shop to make clothes for everyone this year?"
She has been getting busier and busier in the restaurant recently. Grandma Qiu is helping out at the academy, and the villagers are busy expanding the building on the mountain. No one has much time to make clothes this winter.
Moreover, Wu Yingniang saw Su Zhizhi wearing the pair of small embroidered shoes that Gu Qingning gave her last time.
The embroidered shoes are exquisitely made and sturdy, and Su Zhizhi looks comfortable and beautiful in them.
Wu Yingniang felt that her daughter would always love beauty as she grew up, and her clothes could not always be made by relying on the limited needlework skills of the village people.
Grandma Qiu nodded. "There are so many people in our village and so much to do, so it's necessary. I cook during the day, so I don't have much energy at night."
Grandma Qiu cooks for many people during the day, which consumes a lot of physical energy. If she also does needlework at night, her body will feel really tired.
The light cast the shadows of the two people sewing clothes on the window.
Su Zhizhi and Xue Che, who were standing outside the door, heard the conversation inside the house.
The two children realized that even if adults appeared relaxed in front of them during the day, they were actually working very hard.
How can you not be tired with so much work? It's just that people don't talk about it.
Su Zhizhi pulled Xue Che to the corner of the yard.
The jasmine flowers have withered, but a plum branch next to it has a few small buds.
There is always vitality in this small courtyard.
Su Zhizhi asked Xue Che: "Who made your clothes before?"
Xue Che: "There are embroiderers and tailors in the mansion who specialize in making clothes."
Su Zhizhi: "Is it expensive to hire a tailor?"
Xue Che had never really worried about this issue before, and thought about it carefully:
"It should be inexpensive, but it should include food and accommodation."
Su Zhizhi felt relieved, and there were two candles flickering in her eyes.
Xue Che knew at a glance that Su Zhizhi had come up with another idea:
"What do you want?"
Su Zhizhi put her hands on her hips and said firmly:
"Ah Che, Mom and Dad have been working so hard, let's go find a tailor ourselves."
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