Chapter 51

Chapter 51

As the Pleurotus ostreatus grew larger, Meng Die's pre-arranged paper covers soon found their purpose. Before long, once the mushrooms reached full maturity, they began to decay.

Without a microscope, Meng Die couldn't see if the spores had indeed adhered to the parchment. She could only estimate the time based on the degree of the mushroom's decay, then carefully removed the parchment and buried it in the prepared substrate.

The withered branch that had nurtured the Pleurotus ostreatus was not to be wasted either. Meng Die pruned it into several sections and buried them in the substrate, marking the spot where the branches were placed.

Seeing Meng Die's dedication, her maidservants also took extra care, ensuring optimal ventilation, light exposure, and humidity. Despite their efforts, however, the results were not as desired.

Halfway through summer, not a single mushroom had appeared.

Xing Huang couldn't help but grumble, "Why aren't there any mushrooms? If that certain type doesn't grow, fine. But even the dead branches we buried aren't sprouting! This isn't right!"

Xue Qing agreed, "Yes, I remember when I was young and went mushroom picking with my grandmother. She told me that if you find a good spot, mushrooms will grow there again the next year. So why aren't the dead branches producing any?"

Meng Die, on the other hand, remained optimistic. "Didn't I move those dead branches to a new location? They were originally in the mountains, and now I've brought them into the house. Perhaps they're just too bashful."

The maidservants burst into laughter at this quirky analogy, their earlier anxiety easing significantly.

Meihong: "Second Lady, aren't you worried at all?"

Meng Die: "It wouldn't be accurate to say I'm completely unconcerned, but I'm not overly anxious either. Surely, someone in the past has attempted to cultivate the gray oyster mushroom, only to fail. This time, I'm hoping for success, but if it doesn't work out, it's not entirely unexpected."

As the days passed, everyone except Meng Die was convinced of her impending failure. Even Lu Wei and the other maids had become somewhat complacent.

"Might that be the sound of firecrackers outside?" Meng Die craned her neck to look outside, listening intently.

"It does sound like firecrackers," came the reply.

"It's the sound of firecrackers."

As she spoke, the crackers grew louder and louder, clearly indicating that they were coming from the Marquis residence.

"Aunt Two," a young maid rushed in from outside. After catching her breath slightly, she entered the room and continued, "Master Hui has passed the examination."

Meng Die sprang to her feet. "Really? He passed as a martial jinshi?"

"Yes, the results have just been announced. Our master has been ranked thirty-second among the second-class jinshi. Madam sent me to convey her congratulations to Aunt Two."

Meng Die: "Mutual joy, mutual joy. This is truly excellent, his diligent studies and practice these days have not been in vain."

Lu Wei scattered a handful of copper coins as a reward to the girl.

Meng Die: "You should head back now. I imagine you'll have your hands full soon enough over there."

"Ah, Second Grandma, I'll be on my way then." The young maid pocketed the coins and scurried off like a gust of wind.

Lu Wei's face was radiant with a smile. "No wonder they say that family learning runs deep; it truly does."

Hulu chuckled. "Even our lord had to practice martial arts since he was young. There's a specific term for it, but I can't quite recall."

Lu Wei suggested, "Strengthening the body?"

"No," Hulu pondered deeply.

Meihong playfully tapped her head. "It's called stretching the sinews and bones."

Hulu agreed, "Yes, yes, that's the term. They say it helps the body function better when the sinews and bones are stretched."

Xing Huang was puzzled. "Isn't that still exercising the body?"

Hulu blinked, unable to come up with a response.

Meihong shook her head. "Not quite the same. How would you explain 'stretching one's bones' here? For example, if two people were to fall, some might get hurt badly, but after stretching their bones, a person becomes more agile and might suffer a lighter fall."

Meng Die interjected, "What you're saying is that it improves flexibility, right?"

Meihong nodded eagerly. "Exactly, that's it."

Meng Die understood; indeed, her flexibility would prove advantageous in preventing injuries should any wrestling or unexpected incidents occur.

Hulu looked on with envy. "I wonder if the top fifty scholars will join in the parade on horseback. The last time Master Mao, a martial scholar, did it, they all accompanied him."

Xing Huang was startled. "Is Master Mao also a martial scholar?"

Hulu replied, "Yes, indeed. Master Mao is a martial scholar from the Iyi class, ranked thirty-eighth. That year, he was only fourteen, two years younger than Master Hui is now."

Without thinking, Xing Huang blurted out, "Then what about our Second Master?"

The room fell into an eerie silence, with Xing Huang's face filled with frustration as she nervously glanced at Meng Die.

Meng Die chuckled. "I'm not entirely sure either."

Meihong, forcing herself to speak up, said, "Second Master didn't pass the imperial examination for scholars, but he did become a jinshi, a provincial scholar. However, when he was just a teenager, he passed the martial jinshi examination – the first in our estate."

Xue Qing smiled and replied, "Now I truly understand the depth of the phrase 'noble scholarly lineage'."

Meihong turned to Xue Qing, smoothly changing the subject. "Sister Xue Qing, if I remember correctly, every member of the Meng family has also achieved the status of jinshi. Isn't that also a testament to their scholarly roots?"

Xue Qing: "That's true, but I grew up in the Meng estate. Back then, I was young and thought it was normal. I even believed that everyone in the world read books, except for us servants."

Lu Wei chuckled and teased, "If you said that outside, you'd definitely end up being beaten in a sack."

Xue Qing smiled softly.

Meng Die instructed, "Lu Wei, go to the storeroom and check for suitable items that could be used as gifts. Meihong, go ask your eldest sister-in-law what she's sending and when she plans to deliver it."

"Alright."

Meng Die rose to her feet.

"Second Lady?"

Meng Die replied, "I'm going to check on the mushroom house. You don't need to accompany me."

In her own courtyard, Xue Qing and the others obediently stayed behind. Since they didn't have a meeting at the Jingcu Hall today, and it was not yet noon, there was no need for watering, nor did they need to worry about tiring Meng Die out.

Meng Die strolled leisurely into the mushroom house, examining each shelf one by one. The first shelf had four tiers, all of which were completely still. The second shelf, however, on its first tier... what was that? Wait, what???

Meng Die blinked, gazing intently at the tiny gray speck. For a moment, she couldn't tell whether it was a mushroom sprouting, simply a speck of dust, or some impurity.

She raised her hand, then hesitated and lowered it. She dared not touch it—what if it was indeed a mushroom? Her touch might ruin it. Then she would have no one to cry to.

I'll look, I'll keep looking, I'll examine it closely, Meng Die blinked away tears from her strained eyes. Well, nothing is impossible if one is willing to give up. If it's a mushroom, it will eventually grow larger.

Dabbing her teary eyes with a handkerchief, Meng Die began to inspect the second shelf. It was empty. So were the third and fourth shelves.

Arriving at the final rack, which was situated next to the window, Meng Die froze on the spot. A cluster of gray "buds," as thick as a thumb, had abruptly emerged on the third layer of ingredients. They appeared plump and vibrant, almost as if they were freshly watered.

For a moment, Meng Die moved with utmost caution, even regulating her breath to a whisper as she approached the tiny mushroom. Blinking, and blinking again, the mushroom remained, its gray petals standing resolutely.

Did it work? Was it truly successful? Meng Die felt a touch of dizziness. At this moment, she began to doubt if she was some chosen one, achieving whatever she attempted. Hold on, she couldn't be delusional!

Meng Die took a deep breath and gazed at the small mushroom in contemplation. Her success certainly had nothing to do with being a chosen one; more likely, it was due to the molasses.

Molasses, a treat that common folk would only buy for their children during festivals, let alone the more valuable sugarcane? Who in their right mind would use sugarcane to cultivate mushrooms? Only someone...

No, she couldn't say 'someone not in their right mind,' as that would be insulting herself. Meng Die shook her head. She could only attribute her success to standing on the shoulders of giants, having silver to spare, allowing her to experiment without considering the cost, thus leading to triumph.

Meng Die redirected her gaze, only to discover that besides the thumb-sized gray truffles, the seasoning was dotted with numerous tiny gray bumps. Though she couldn't make them out clearly, she assumed, unless mistaken, that they were miniature mushrooms.

Exiting the mushroom chamber, Meng Die floated on air as she strolled back to her bedroom. There, she sat down on a chair, propping her left cheek on her hand, and began to giggle foolishly.

"Second Grandmama?" Lu Wei approached her side, softly calling out.

Meng Die erupted into a silly chuckle.

Lu Wei's heart skipped a beat, prompting her to raise her voice slightly, "Second Grandmama?"

Meng Die remained unresponsive, her face still wearing that foolish grin.

Lu Wei waved her hand in front of Meng Die's eyes, but there was still no reaction. This time, Lu Wei was genuinely alarmed. "Second Aunt, Second Aunt, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me like this!"

"Ah? Huh?" Meng Die finally came back to her senses, noticing the anxiety on Lu Wei's face, even a hint of tears. "What happened?"

Lu Wei: "Second Aunt, why were you like that just now? Why didn't you respond when I called you, and kept on smiling?"

At the mention of this, Meng Die let out another silly grin, causing Lu Wei's expression to darken further.

Meng Die: "I have some delightful news for you all – the mushrooms have sprouted!"

"Ahh?" The occupants of the room gaped, followed by a chorus of excited exclamations.

"Are you serious? Mushrooms have actually come up?"

"What do they look like? Are they similar to those growing on the mountains?"

"I'll go take a look."

"Return," Meng Die had no choice but to call out to Xing Huang. "You can't keep fiddling with that door. You can view it later when we water the plants."

Xing Huang reluctantly halted her steps. "What do those mushrooms look like?"

Meng Die replied, "There's only one cluster that you can truly identify as a mushroom, about the size of a thumb. The rest are just gray specks that are still indistinct. Mushrooms grow incredibly fast; they should be much larger in just a few days."

Xue Qing chuckled. "A few days? If we see how big they are at noon, do you believe they'll look entirely different by the time we water them again tonight?"

Hulu was astonished. "They grow that quickly?"

Xing Huang: "Eh? Didn't you say you picked mushrooms on the mountain when you were young? How come you don't know they grow quickly?"

Hulu giggled. "When I picked mushrooms, it was just a casual activity while visiting relatives in the village. I'm not that knowledgeable about things on the mountain."

Xue Qing: "I see. Let me tell you, mushrooms can change significantly within half a day. By the next morning, they'll look entirely different."

Hulu: "Sister Xue Qing, you know so much."

Xue Qing: "I've picked them many times. You know, Second Grandma has a small estate, right? It's mainly hilly there. Back when we were at the Meng residence, during spring, summer, and autumn, the old lady would order us young maids to go up the mountain to gather things like wild fruits and mushrooms."

Meihong exclaimed, "That sounds like so much fun."

Amidst laughter and chatter, it was soon time to water the mushrooms. Unlike their usual sluggishness, this time, all of them eagerly rushed to the mushroom house, eager to tend to the little fungi themselves.

Meng Die stepped back into the mushroom house, her eyes widening in surprise. It had been no more than an hour—possibly not even one and a half hours—since she left and returned, yet the tiny gray specks were now clearly recognizable as the shape of the gray tree mushrooms. There was no need to strain her eyes to see them anymore.

"Aah! Over by the window, on the fourth shelf of each of the four levels, there are mushrooms."

"And in the middle rack, there's a row of mushrooms on the top fourth shelf, as well as on the third row. But none on the second or first row."

"The shelves along this wall have mushrooms only on the third row, none elsewhere," observed Lu Wei as she surveyed the area.

"Mushrooms seem to thrive better in sunnier spots," she noted.

"Oh, so when we build our mushroom chamber next time, should we place all the racks near windows and under skylights?" Meng Die asked, her tone playful.

"On the contrary," Meng Die countered with a smile. "From my research, I learned that a slightly darker environment is more conducive to mycelium growth. Since we don't have much mycelium yet, it would be beneficial to encourage more of it. Moreover, the larger the mycelium network, the plumper the mushrooms will grow."

Xing Huang nodded in realization. "It's similar to winter bamboo shoots, isn't it? They stay dormant, and when they finally emerge, they're much fatter and more robust."

"Yes, it's the same principle."

Everyone carefully watered the area and attentively examined each gray protrusion before reluctantly leaving the mushroom house.

Meng Die yawned. "I'm going to take a nap. You all should rest too."

Xue Qing and the others filed out, while Lu Wei helped Meng Die undress. "Second Lady, Xing Huang didn't mean any harm today."

"I know. Besides, it's not a big deal." Meng Die looked at Lu Wei. "What's that look on your face? Do you have something you want to ask?"

Pausing for a moment, Lu Wei still asked the question that lingered on her mind: "Listening to Meihong's account, Second Master is gifted and skilled, having passed the martial examination for jinshi at a young age. Why didn't he proceed to take the advanced martial examination for wujinshi?"

Meng Die: "Perhaps he feels that once he becomes a Wujinshi, he'll be bound to enter the bureaucracy."

"Ah?"

Meng Die exclaimed, "Ah, what's with the 'ah'? Both martial and literary advanced scholars are assigned official posts. Once assigned, can they truly dictate where they will be sent? Look at the gentlemen in the Marquis's household, every one of them holds a steady post in the capital. Do you really think it's feasible for him to desire a position on the front lines?"

Lu Wei: "Why must you insist on going to the front lines?"

Meng Die chuckled. "A military officer without battle-tested merits will never hold real power. His words in the court will carry little weight, no matter his background, not even if he is a Wushu Champion."

Lu Wei was utterly astonished.

Meng Die: "Let alone military officials, even civil servants without notable accomplishments lack the foundation to establish themselves. No need to delve into the past, just consider the current four Cabinet Ministers and six Ministers of State. Can any of them boast a story that isn't widely praised for their effective governance in a particular region?"

The current Chief Minister, Elder Qiao, was once exiled to Quanzhou in Fujian. It might sound like a decent coastal location, doesn't it? But during the previous dynasty, the sea ban led to rampant piracy. In truth, many pirates had connections with the naval forces stationed at the ports and even local powerful families. The region was also a salt-producing area, causing immense suffering for the common people.

"Qiao, the venerable elder, served consecutively for three terms, a total of nine years, leading military campaigns against bandits and enemies as a civil official. He also compelled the salt merchants to compromise, which allowed the common people to lead a better life. Upon his retirement and return to the capital, the local populace worshipped his image in every household."

"Let's not forget Vice Premier Ren from those days, who was assigned to Gongcheng County in Guangxi. What kind of place was that? Nine out of ten households were destitute, with people avoiding it as if it were plague."

"Upon arriving there, Lord Ren, they say, personally inspected the fields and eventually decided to lead the people in cultivating persimmons. Today, the Moon Persimmons of Gongcheng are not only tribute offerings but also renowned worldwide. Which merchant, be it a Hu merchant or a maritime trader, doesn't purchase them? That region has since become a land of abundance. I've heard that when people from Gongcheng come to the capital nowadays, they still pay their respects by kowtowing from afar to the Ren residence."

"My grandfather, when he was assigned to Huzhou, a land of fish and rice, right? It was too prosperous, with landlords and powerful figures exploiting the common folk at every turn. Despite our dynasty's founder, Emperor Taizu, implementing light taxes, no more than thirty percent was allowed on annual revenues, even in such fertile lands. Yet, the taxes there reached an astonishing sixty percent."

"Good heavens!" Lu Wei exclaimed, voice filled with shock.

Meng Die continued, "Grandfather engaged in a battle of wits and courage with those landlords and magnates. He faced four assassination attempts, and both my father and Uncle were kidnapped at one point. If not for the loyalty of the old servants, who knows what could have happened? For six years, Grandfather didn't have a single night of peaceful sleep. Eventually, he managed to cleanse the area of those oppressive forces, restoring a clear blue sky for the common people."

When Grandfather stepped down and left Huzhou, the entire population, from octogenarian elders to toddlers, escorted us for a hundred and ten li. Speaking of which, I recall the current governor of Huzhou, who naively thought that with Grandfather's demotion, he could seize our family's estates there. It's laughable; even if he were to seize the manor, the local villagers would divert the waterways in a heartbeat.

Lu Wei's mouth gaped open: "Our family's estates..."

Meng Die: "That's right, otherwise, just any random official from the capital, do you think he would dare to send his assets to such a distant place? The second master of the mansion has served as an official in Yangzhou for six years; have you seen the marquis's mansion establish any properties there? Without the support of the common people, once you leave, all your influence fades. If you dare to invest in properties, they will dare to make sure you lose everything you have invested."

Meng Die reclined on the bed, letting out a large yawn before dozing off. Lu Wei lowered the canopy and retired for the night as well.

Meng Die's mushroom hut had indeed sprouted mushrooms, a piece of news that by the afternoon had spread like wildfire throughout the entire Marquis's residence.

In the greeting ceremony, Lady Zhou was the first to inquire, "Young Miss Die, I've heard there's been a mushroom harvest? Is that true?"

Lady Fang chimed in, "Really? If that's the case, it would be fantastic! We might even have fresh mushrooms in the winter."

Lady Wu's eyes curved with delight. "I don't even ask for winter. I'd be content with enjoying Pleurotus ostreatus once every ten to fifteen days during spring, summer, and autumn. This kind of mushroom truly suits my taste."

Madame Hou shook her head repeatedly. "Look at you all, as aunts, one is more eager than the other when it comes to food."

Lady Wu responded, "Mother, being able to enjoy food is a blessing."

Amidst the laughter, Meng Die took over the conversation. "Indeed, it's true. Mushrooms have really started to grow. I'm not sure what they'll look like, but at least there's something to look forward to."

Lady Zhou chimed in, "That's right. At least there's hope now. As long as they grow well, we won't have to worry about not having mushrooms to eat in the future. Perhaps, one day, everyone in our household will be able to afford them."

Meng Die... appreciated the enthusiasm, but the cost of using sugarcane for the substrate was exorbitant; she would never cultivate them on a large scale.

Meng Die replied, "The mycelium is too scarce, making it difficult to cultivate on a large scale."

Lady Zhou: "Fungal mycelium?"

Meng Die: "It's the root of a mushroom."

Lady Fang: "Wouldn't mushrooms naturally grow when they appear?"

Meng Die nods: "Indeed they would, but according to the information I've gathered, the mycelium will weaken after producing a few batches of mushrooms, and the substrate needs to be refreshed. It can't be continuously used. To alternate and maintain large-scale production takes quite some time. But for our own consumption, it's relatively easier."

Lady Fang's face shines with anticipation: "Having a fresh delicacy from the mountains during the Spring Festival would be wonderful."

Meng Die: "Why wait for the Spring Festival? Let's taste these mushrooms first and see how they turn out. If they're good, we'll enjoy a feast on our own."

Everyone applauded the idea. Although the manor had dried enoki mushrooms, and there was no shortage of food, the freshness and homegrown nature of these mushrooms piqued everyone's curiosity.

The mushrooms grew astonishingly fast. Within just two or three days, they had become large and plump. To Meng Die's delight, her prediction was accurate – the mushrooms that sprouted in the less sunny spots were exceptionally thick and succulent.

Deciding to wait another couple of days, Meng Die allowed the mushrooms in the well-lit areas to continue growing and producing spores. As for those in the less illuminated areas, she rubbed her hands together in anticipation – those would be their meal.

With an abundance of mushrooms, Xing Huang had the opportunity to showcase her culinary skills. She stir-fried, roasted, boiled, pickled, and even made a soup. Four dishes and one soup were prepared, and each household received a portion.

Fang, who had a particular fondness for the flavor, was the first to give her opinion: "I find these even more delectable than those we buy outside."

Wu echoed her sentiment: "I agree. My husband attributes it to Dai's filial intentions, but now I see it's not just that. These truly taste better than what we purchase on the market."

Lady Zhou chuckled: "Perhaps it's because they're more succulent. The texture of these mushrooms is superb."

Madam Ning turned to Lady Zhou: "It's likely due to their freshness as well. Those sold outside are harvested by farmers from the mountains and then transported to the shops. That journey alone takes at least a day. How can they compare to these from Dai? They're picked here and cooked immediately on the other side."

Lady Hou nodded in agreement: "I believe you're right. And how clean can the mountains really be? We always have to soak them in water for a long time when we buy them, losing much of their freshness. Dai's mushrooms are clean, needing only a quick rinse to retain their flavor."

Lady Zhou: "That's probably how it is. Our Zhen'er and Yi'er don't even lift their heads while they eat."

Meng Die: "If Zhen Brother and Yi Brother enjoy them, feel free to come to my place for more."

Li Yu: "I like them too, Second Sister-in-law, I won't be left behind."

Meng Die reassured with a smile, addressing everyone, "Don't worry, there will definitely be plenty for you." She then explained, "Isn't the Mushroom House in the western chamber of the west wing? I've already instructed someone to build new shelves; when the time comes, we'll cultivate mushrooms in the eastern chamber as well."

Lady Fang: "Doesn't the eastern chamber have a kang?"

Meng Die: "It's perfect with the kang. We can test if mushrooms can grow even in winter."

Madam Ning turned to Madam Fang: "Perhaps we might really get to enjoy fresh mushrooms this winter."

Amidst this atmosphere of joy, autumn quietly arrived. The Hu and sea merchants journeyed from afar once more, converging upon the capital city.