After pondering for a moment, Pan Qingfeng said, "I'll go back and ask my clansmen if they have any experience in growing cotton."
Lin Yinan's gaze fell on Lin Fu, who was sitting in the corner in charge of document recording.
"Afu, did the agricultural book I asked you to copy before contain any instructions on planting cotton?"
Lin Fu scratched his head, trying hard to remember. The city lord had asked him to copy so many books that he couldn't possibly remember them all.
"Bring it out, let us look for it," Lin Yiheng said, taking out the key and handing it to him.
The book was quickly retrieved, and Lin Yiheng and his team soon found records about cotton cultivation within it.
"The book says that cotton is planted once a year, and that it is mostly grown in the north."
"I wonder if it's possible to grow two crops a year like rice?"
“We have long hours of sunshine here, and it’s not yet the beginning of autumn. Should I take a dozen or so back to try planting them?” Lin Shuo said.
Lin Shuo's suggestion was unanimously approved. He carefully counted thirty cotton seeds, wrapped them in a handkerchief, and put them in his pocket.
The rest were to be locked in the county government warehouse by Lin Yiheng and planted in the ground next spring.
Finally, Lin Shuo and Lin Fu copied down all the records about cotton planting from the book onto paper. He had never planted cotton before and didn't know much about it. The book described the requirements for soil, humidity, and management methods such as weeding and pest control.
Lin Shuo took these thirty cotton seeds back and planned to plant them in a special experimental plot in his backyard.
People come and go outside. If someone accidentally steps on you and kills you, you're doomed.
In the few days since returning, Lin Yinan has been catching up on the matters that had fallen behind during this period at the county government office every day.
Autumn is just around the corner. Although the weather is still hot during the day, it gets much cooler at night.
It was time to distribute the autumn clothes to the soldiers and guards, so Lin Yinan went to the clothing workshop to check on the progress.
The garment workshop was managed by Lin Tiezhuang's sister-in-law Liu Zhaodi and Huang Qingqing's mother Yao Xiuer.
Liu Zhaodi opened the door to the garment workshop's warehouse and pointed to the pile of fabric inside, saying to Lin Yinan, "Anan, these are all fabrics that Boss Wu just bought from Cangwu County."
The soldiers' clothes were mostly made of kudzu cloth, which was not only durable but also softer and more comfortable than linen. It came in various thicknesses and was very suitable for wearing in spring and autumn.
After this cloth arrived in the south, they realized that such cheap and good cloth existed.
Lin Yinan stepped forward and inspected a few horses; the quality was indeed quite good.
"How much longer until the soldiers' autumn clothes are finished?"
"It will be all done in another ten days or so."
Since Lin Yinan rarely had time to come, Liu Zhaodi chattered on and on, "After we finish making the autumn clothes, we'll have to make winter clothes for the soldiers, and also those gloves you mentioned before. The weather in the south isn't like in the north; when it rains, it's bone-chillingly cold. The soldiers will be much warmer with gloves..."
As they were talking, the two saw Ah Liang carrying a small booklet toward the warehouse.
"Manager Liu, I've come to collect the materials."
Upon seeing Lin Yinan standing next to Liu Zhaodi, he quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Lord City Lord!"
The day after returning to the city, Lin Yiheng arranged for Amin and Aliang to work as junior managers in various departments that were short-staffed.
Lin Yinan asked him, "Are you getting used to working here?"
“It’s a habit. When I encounter something I don’t understand, Steward Liu and Steward Yao always teach me with their hearts,” A-Liang said respectfully.
No one here looked down on him because he was born a servant.
On the contrary, they took good care of him at work.
I am very grateful to the city lord for giving him a chance to hold his head high!
"Then you must do a good job and not let down the city lord's trust in you," Liu Zhaodi advised him at the right time.
"Yes, Ah Liang will definitely work hard."
As he spoke, he handed the booklet to Liu Zhaodi, saying, "Manager Liu, these are the materials that Group Two needs to collect today. I have already checked them."
Liu Zhaodi took out her seal and stamped it on the item. A-Liang and the workers counted the required materials and then left the warehouse.
Looking at the fabric that was missing another piece, Liu Zhaodi's heart was bleeding.
“Ah Nan, this cloth is so expensive, and the soldiers’ and guards’ clothes wear out quickly. I’ve discussed it with Steward Yao, and we think their clothes can be replaced with linen, which will save a lot of money!”
Lin Yinan shook the door, a faint smile on her lips. "Aunt Tiezhu, when faced with the invasion of the Japanese pirates, they charged forward without blinking. The fact that Longtan was able to safely weather the repeated attacks of the bandits is largely due to the contributions of the secret guards and soldiers."
“That’s true.” Liu Zhaodi nodded.
"The guards and soldiers have made tremendous sacrifices to protect everyone's safety. Although they don't work in the fields like everyone else, they get up before dawn to train 365 days a year. This spirit of hardship and dedication is not something everyone can do, so I think they deserve better!"
Her words were forceful and powerful, and Liu Zhaodi felt ashamed of her own narrow-mindedness.
“Should we consider growing our own kudzu vines to make kudzu cloth? I heard from Yao Xiuer that kudzu has many benefits. Kudzu vines can be used to make kudzu cloth, and kudzu roots can be eaten by people and used to feed pigs.”
"I have too few people, so the focus for the next few years should be on growing grain."
Liu Zhaodi's eyes lit up and she immediately had an idea. "Then, why don't we buy from the people in the villages below? That way, they'll have some income, and we can get cheap kudzu cloth."
“That’s one way. I’ll go back and ask Yunyu to see if the villagers know how to do it.”
Once they grow the cotton, they will be able to spin yarn and weave cloth themselves.
The ongoing war in the north caused cotton cloth prices in the south to rise again and again.
Before we knew it, the Beginning of Autumn had passed, and all the autumn clothes that the clothing workshop had rushed to make had been distributed to the guards and soldiers.
After Yunmo returned, Yunye went to Xihe. Although the Yu family hadn't made any moves for a long time, it was possible that they were plotting something.
Just in case, the two brothers discussed it and decided that they would take turns going over to keep watch.
That day, Lin Yinan was taking stock of their current assets at the county government office when Su Kunliang came looking for her.
"Master Su, what brings you here?"
Lin Yinan gestured for everyone to sit down and immediately asked Lin Fu to pour tea.
Su Kunliang stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Anan, I've come to ask you, with the academy soon to be completed, are we still enrolling students this year?"
Perhaps it was because his days in Longtan were fulfilling and he had something to look forward to, that Su Kunliang shook off his previous dejection. Although he was still thin, he was full of energy.
Lin Yinan glanced at the calendar. It wasn't even September yet. If all the school's facilities were in place, the start of the semester was possible.
"What stage is the academy at now?" she asked.
Su Kunliang spends every day at the construction site, personally overseeing the placement of every brick and tile, so he is naturally very clear about the progress of the project.
"Foreman Lin and his team have already started making tables and chairs."
Lin Yinan thought to herself, "That'll be soon then. I'm sure there won't be any problem with school starting in September."
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