Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Meng Die had just finished arranging things when Xue Qing entered, lifting the curtains. "Second Lady, Headman's wife and Shopkeeper's wife have arrived at the second gate."

Aunt Fan said, "I'll go and escort them in."

In a short while, Aunt Fan led in two women in their forties. Both wore cotton dresses with a half-worn silk vest draped over them, giving off an appearance of cleanliness and tidiness. "We pay our respects to Second Lady."

Meng Die replied, "Rise."

Nanny Fan pointed to the lady in blue biaoya and said, "This is from Master Rong's family." Then she indicated the woman in brown biaoya, "This one is from Headman Wang's family."

Meng Die said, "Please have a seat."

Xue Qing and Xing Huang brought over two stools, upon which the women expressed their gratitude and sat down.

Meng Die asked, "Madam Rong, where does your shop source its rouge and powder?"

"Replying to Second Lady, our shop's cosmetics all come from the Jianghuai region. In previous years, when the manager of the estate in Huzhou sent silver tickets to the capital as tribute, they would also bring along some rouge and powder. Before leaving, the old madam instructed someone to convey a message asking that during the New Year, they send gifts to Second Lady, including some cosmetics, so that the shop could continue its operations smoothly."

Meng Die lowered her gaze, it seemed that Grandmother had taken care of everything: "How much silver does the shop earn annually?"

"The shop isn't large; previously, it had a net profit of around seventy or eighty taels per year. In the last two or three years, it's been closer to one hundred and twenty taels."

Meng Die inquired further: "Does it only sell cosmetics like rouge and powder?"

"Besides those, we also sell hair oils and bath beans – small items that women typically use."

Meng Die nodded and turned to the head of the manor: "Madam Wang, the deeds for the manor mention the land, but I'm not clear on the specifics. Could you enlighten me?"

"Madam, the estate consists of less than three thousand acres in total, with two thousand seven hundred acres being mountainous land and the remaining two hundred acres being arid fields. Apart from cultivating grains for our own consumption, the arid fields are mainly used for growing cotton to supply the household. On those mountain slopes, there are fruit trees whose ripe fruits are annually selected for delivery to the residence. Additionally, there is a small bamboo grove, from which the bamboo shoots the household has enjoyed in the past were sourced."

Meng Die was astonished. She had heard her mother mention that the bamboo shoots came from their own land before, assuming they were supplied from Huzhou. To her surprise, they originated from the capital: "Bamboo can actually grow on the mountains here in the capital?"

"There are two small hot springs there, with water that's not too hot nor abundant, flowing intermittently. However, the ground never freezes during winter. After Lady bought the estate, she learned about this place and instructed us to try cultivating bamboo. Initially, we transplanted some, but two-thirds perished in the first winter. The one-third that survived, we nurtured carefully, and over the years, they've multiplied into a small bamboo grove."

Meng Die smiled. "Your efforts in nurturing this bamboo grove are commendable. Are there other varieties of trees?"

Wang Madam replied, "There used to be, but we have gradually removed them over the years and replaced them with fruit trees. However, the soil is rather barren, so though the fruit trees do bear fruit, most of them are too sour to eat."

Meng Die inquired further, "Is there a water source here?"

Madame Wang promptly nodded. "Yes, besides that hot spring on the mountain, there are several ordinary springs that converge into a small stream flowing down. The neighboring Minister of Rites' manor has a major river, which also provides us with water. We don't lack water for dry fields, but we can't cultivate paddy fields."

Meng Die pondered for a moment. "How many tenant farmers are currently in the manor? How many men, women, elderly, and disabled are there?"

Madame Wang was slightly surprised but still answered fluently, "There are twelve households in total. Among them, there are twenty-two adult men, twenty-eight adult women, and thirty-one elderly people. Two of the elderly are disabled – one has limited mobility in their legs, and the other is missing three fingers on their left hand."

Meng Die calculated the numbers. "Twelve households with only twenty-two adult men?" It seemed like each household had rather few able-bodied males.

"Among them are six widows with their daughters." Madam Wang grew anxious. "It was the old lady's kindness that offered them a place to reside." Many households avoided widows, considering them bringers of bad luck and refused to take them in as tenant farmers.

Meng Die smiled. "Madam Wang, you seem to have a kind heart. I can imagine the effort you and Headman Wang must have put in for them to settle there."

Madam Wang's face flushed. "They're all people with bitter destinies."

Meng Die reassured her. "I understand. Just let them live in peace. If you encounter such situations in the future, there's no harm in providing shelter for them."

"Thank you, Second Lady, thank you, Second Lady."

"Take your rest now," Meng Die said, casting a subtle glance at Nurse Fan.

"Yes, Ma'am."

Nurse Fan led the two servants away, handing out rewards as they left.

Meng Die leaned back on her cushion, deep in thought. Her grandmother had arranged everything meticulously. The shop and manor were currently well managed, and she would receive substantial income annually if they continued like this. However, she didn't intend to maintain the status quo, deeming it a waste of resources.

On a deeper level, even though the Meng family still enjoyed the emperor's favor, as the saying goes, familiarity breeds affection, and absence erodes it. With the Mengs dispatched to the border, the emperor was surrounded by talented and capable individuals. What if he were to forget about the Meng family in a few days?

Meng Die trusted in her grandfather's abilities to make significant achievements and eventually return to the capital, though no one knew how long it would take. If she could pave the way for the Meng family in the capital, their journey back might be smoother.

As a woman, she couldn't participate in the imperial examinations or establish military accomplishments. She was unsure how to lay the groundwork, but she could first gain some reputation. With a good reputation, she would also be drawing attention to the Meng family in the eyes of the emperor.

For women in the inner courtyard who wished to do good, it usually involved establishing nurseries and giving alms – all of which required money. Her immediate priority was to earn money.

Recalling the various transmigration novels she had read in another world, Meng Die started contemplating. There were three treasures in transmigration: glass, ice, and soap. Novels might be fictional, but if they were widely accepted, there must be some practicality to them.

Glass production required quartz sand, which involved mining and setting up factories. As she was confined to the inner courtyard with limited manpower and insufficient funds, it didn't seem feasible on multiple levels. Thus, glass production could be crossed off the list.

Ice-making, it's an excellent means to alleviate the summer heat. The method of using saltpeter to make ice has been discovered for centuries. Not to mention, in the capital, among the wealthy families, who doesn't have an ice cellar? Saltpeter is also an ingredient for gunpowder, so acquiring it in large quantities now is quite a challenging task.

The last item on her list was soap-making. Meng Die's gaze fell upon the screen, behind which stood a bathtub and other toiletries. The soap she used was stored there; made primarily from pig pancreas and infused with various fragrant herbs and additives, it was an expensive commodity.

In Lady Fan's chambers, the soap that Lu Wei usually used was actually a type of bath bean. Bath beans were primarily made from soapwort, but various ingredients could be added to create different scents, distinguishing them from ordinary bath beans and thus called "perfumed soap." This perfumed soap was relatively cheaper than pomade and was no less moisturizing.

Indeed, this is it. The soap formula she learned in another world primarily consists of pig fat, combined with wood ash and other ingredients to create a soap that is as moisturizing as lard. A pig has only one pancreas, which is why the price of lard remains high, perhaps due to this very reason. Pig fat, on the other hand, is different.

Though the pigs in their Great Yi Dynasty were black, lean, and smaller in size compared to the large white pigs introduced from abroad in that world, they were still pigs. Lard was certainly more abundant than pig pancreas. There was no issue with her using lard to make soap.

At that time, with a slight reduction in the quantity of herbal essences and perfumes used, it could be made into a simplified version of soap. She could sell it at a lower price without offending the major merchants dealing in soap. To prevent commercial rivalry and promote prosperity through harmony, she would lead by example.

Determined, Meng Die delved into her memory and carefully composed a recipe that could be easily understood by the locals. As she wrote, she paused and put down her pen. To make soap with lard, she couldn't simply buy ready-made lard; she would have to purchase fatty meat to render the oil herself, a process that would result in cracklings.

These rancid remnants would likely be too meager for the people in the manor to consume. Discard them? Meng Die instinctively shook her head. In the Yi Dynasty, food production was scarce, and many impoverished citizens still struggled with basic sustenance. Her wasteful behavior would eventually invite heavenly retribution.

"Madam Second, it's the Hour of Monkey. Lady Grand from the neighboring residence has begun her journey."

"Oh, very well." Meng Die set down her brush and tidied her attire slightly. "Shall we go then?"

Today, Meng Die arrived first outside the courtyard. When Wen Shi emerged from within, she smiled, "I was just about to look for you."

Meng Die promptly replied, "Starting tomorrow, let's meet every day. If I'm not out, ask the young maid to call for me."

Wen Shi readily agreed, "Alright, if I'm not out, instruct your maid to call out as well."

"Agreed."

The two sisters-in-law swiftly reached a consensus and headed together to pay their respects to their mother-in-law.

Today, Lady Ning's residence was still bustling with visitors, including Fourth Madam Wu and Fifth Madam Fang. Meng Die and Wen Shi respectfully paid their respects to the three elders before the group of ladies-in-waiting marched grandly towards the main house to visit the elderly matriarch.

Meng Die and Wen Shi followed quietly, listening attentively to the conversation among the three women.

Fourth Madam Wu initiated the discussion: "With the weather soon turning warmer, I've been considering replacing the fragrant incense in each room with lighter scents."

Lady Ning agreed, nodding her head: "It's indeed time for an update."

Fifth Madam Fang chimed in: "As for my quarters, I've inventoried last year's curtains. Seven sets are either damaged or too worn out. During the day, I only found two new sets in the storehouse. We should purchase a fresh batch."

"Then send someone to fetch the tokens to purchase a new batch from my quarters."

Fang Shi replied, "And we need more sheer curtains for the windows; thirteen were torn last year. Also, we need more glazed tiles; fifty-three broke last year. From what I've seen in the storeroom, there's barely twenty left."

"Add those glazed tiles to the list," Madam Ning paused, "I recall that during this year's New Year celebrations, Lady Eldest Aunt sent a gift of Yebi silk, which is specifically used for covering windows."

Fang Shi responded, "Is that so? I didn't notice that today. I'll look into it again tomorrow."

"Alright."

The three daughters-in-law walked together, discussing the various household matters as they went, and soon arrived at the main residence.