Chapter 314 Lingnan Brocade
"Sir, look, the silkworm's feet have changed color!" The children in the silkworm room exclaimed in surprise, suppressing their excitement and shouting in a low voice.
Su Ying came over to check. After the silkworms had been sleeping for three days and fed with pigment for six or seven days, their feet began to change.
"Well, not bad! Pei Yuyao, your group deserves praise!" Su Ying praised in time.
When the other children heard this, they all ran back to look at their own, "Ah, sir, ours has changed too!"
The children were chattering happily, comparing their own colors with those of other groups to see which one looked better.
"Aying, Aying!" Madam Zheng and a group of ladies were outside happily.
"What's the matter? Sisters are so happy. Do you have any good news?" Su Ying smiled.
"The silkworms have really changed color!" the women said in unison.
I didn't expect that by feeding some pigment water, the silkworm's feet really showed color. It's amazing!
"Congratulations, everyone has succeeded in the first step!" Su Ying encouraged.
"Aying, how did you come up with this idea? What kind of brain can come up with this idea!" Madam Zheng hugged Su Ying affectionately.
"If we had been smart enough back then, why would we have suffered so much? Alas, comparison is the thief of frustration!"
"Haha, this is just a lazy idea from a lazy person, trying to take shortcuts!" Su Ying said with a smile.
"We also want to take shortcuts, but we can't even find a way to do it!" Madam Zheng joked.
"Aying, whoever has a daughter like you would be blessed!"
"Sister, be careful that Qingyun might get jealous when she hears this!" Su Ying teased.
"Stop talking about Qingyun. She's really hoping that I'll give her to you!" Madam Zheng clapped her hands and laughed.
"Da da da..." the sound of horse hooves.
Everyone looked back and saw two fast horses and several carriages running towards Su's house.
Everyone in the village has gotten used to it, and everyone who comes is looking for the Su family.
"Excuse me, who is Miss Su Ying?" Two people came down on horseback, their voices shrill, just like Mr. Fu's.
"It's me! May I ask what may I do for you two gentlemen?" Su Ying saw that the two men were wearing official robes and had shrill voices, and guessed that they were people from the palace.
"Su Ying, listen to my orders!" the two of them said loudly.
Su Ying was stunned. Was the colored silk delivered to the palace so quickly?
"Hurry up! Aying!" Seeing that Su Ying did not respond, Madam Zheng hurriedly pulled her to kneel down.
Everyone in the yard knelt down in unison.
"I have personally heard that Su Ying, the daughter of Su Bucheng, the former magistrate of Chang'an County, followed her father into exile in Lingnan. She is a woman of noble character and a naturalist, raising silkworms that produce naturally colored silk...
The Shaofu Supervisor of the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau is specially appointed as the Lingnan Brocade Manager, with the rank of ninth grade. The rest of the people, including Du Xian'e, Yang Chunhua, Wei Zhen'er, Su Lu, Su Tao, Su Tang, Qin Liang, Gao Shan, and Zheng Pan'er, are also commended and each is given two pieces of brocade. This is my imperial decree."
Qin Liang is the maiden name of Old Lady Su, and Gao Shan is the maiden name of Mrs. Gao.
"Ah?" Su Ying was confused.
Isn't it just a colorful silk fabric? What's the big deal? How did it become the Minister of the Imperial Household?
"Thank you for your grace!" Madam Zheng and others said in unison.
"Thank you, Lord!" Su Ying's head was buzzing.
I've become an official? Oh no, I can't leave for a while!
In the Tang Dynasty, the government-run textile industry was under the jurisdiction of the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau under the Ministry of Finance, which had 25 workshops.
There are 10 workshops engaged in the production of silk, gauze, satin, damask, brocade, silk and cloth. Among them, two workshops are engaged in linen weaving and wool weaving.
Five workshops manufacture ribbons, sashes, cords, and embroidery respectively; four workshops specialize in producing embroidery, thread, string, and nets; and six workshops are responsible for dyeing the six basic tones of the system color: blue, crimson, yellow, white, soap, and purple.
Su Ying's natural colored silk fabrics are different from any of her works. They are a mixture of brocade and various dyeing techniques.
This decree was equivalent to the special agency set up by the Shaofujian Weaving and Dyeing Bureau in Lingnan - Lingnan Brocade Works, and Su Ying was appointed as the ninth-rank supervisor.
"Congratulations, congratulations! Aying!" The women surrounded Su Ying and congratulated her.
"Haha, congratulations, congratulations!" Su Ying shook her head with a stiff smile on her face.
This was not what she wanted. She just wanted to develop the colored silkworm breeding in Wuxian and Tongxian counties, then take her family on a tour and return to Chang'an! She didn't want to be a slave!
"That's great, old sister. I never thought that I could receive an award from the court even when I'm old!" The old lady said happily while holding Gao's hand.
When the report was submitted, everyone thought that only Su Ying's name was included, but they didn't expect that Su Ying would add all the participants, all of whom were women, young and old.
"Congratulations, congratulations, Lord Su!" The two eunuchs who read the imperial edict bowed and congratulated him.
"What are your names, sirs?" Su Ying raised her hand to salute.
"I dare not. Your humble servant Fulu (Fuxi) greets Lord Su!" said the two eunuchs.
"We have been ordered to assist Lord Su in planning and managing the Lingnan Brocade Workshop."
"Fulu, Fuxi?" Su Ying was stunned. "You and Fuzhong..."
"Fu Zhong is our colleague!" the two replied.
"Oh! So that's it!" Su Ying understood.
It turns out that Mr. Fu is from the Ministry of Finance, no wonder he is so capable in business!
Thinking about it again, I understood a lot of details that I hadn't noticed. I also understood why my father was pardoned so quickly and my second uncle was promoted! I guess my third uncle was not left behind either!
Mr. Fu is truly a noble member of the Su family! This favor is so great!
"Sir Su, someone asked me to give this thing to you this time!" Fulu handed over a wooden box.
Su Ying opened it and saw a box of cotton seeds.
"Bai..." Yang Chunhua was sharp-eyed and caught a glimpse of it, then covered her mouth in shock.
Such a large box could fertilize more than an acre of land! The fact that so much could be taken out of the palace could only mean that it was His Majesty's intention!
Su Ying closed the wooden box and asked, "Did the delivery person have anything to say?"
"Lord Su is indeed smart! The emperor...the person who delivered the goods said that he looks forward to seeing the finished product next year!" Fulu said respectfully.
Su Ying understood instantly, "Su will definitely complete it successfully!"
The items on the carriage were unloaded, and each woman whose name was on the imperial edict received two pieces of colorful brocade.
Although it is not as good as the natural colored silk brocade produced by ourselves, it is a reward from the emperor and is of great significance.
The whole village was filled with laughter and joy. Pei Sanlang rode his horse again to notify the families at the construction site and rushed back to celebrate.
"My two lords, please taste our new specialties!" Su Ying entertained Fulu and Fuxi.
"Thank you, Lord Su!" Fulu and Fuxi, who had just had their tea, were very surprised to see the winter melon candy.
Only the Empress had some in the palace, no one else had any. They only knew that there was a new kind of sugar in Lingnan, but they didn't know it was this.
The reason for this opportunity to be sent abroad is that Fu Zhong has become famous, and the Empress values Lingnan brocade, so she has instructed the Supervisor of the Imperial Household to send someone to assist him.
Second, many people are afraid of the remoteness and wildness of Lingnan and are unwilling to travel far.
The two of them rose to the challenge and volunteered, hoping to make a name for themselves like Fu Zhong.
Fu Zhong suddenly disappeared with his little apprentice and their whereabouts are unknown.
Now that Fu Zhong's identity has gradually surfaced, everyone suddenly realizes.
This also set an example for other eunuchs who were unwilling to be ordinary, that only those who dare to fight can win.
After going through so much hardship to reach Lingnan, the road was indeed desolate and dangerous, but when we arrived in Wu County, everything became very different. When we went to Huanggou Village, it felt like we had arrived in a paradise!
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