Chapter 89

Chapter 89

Nanny Fan's family naturally rejoiced upon hearing the news. This was a secret recipe, and Meng Die entrusting it to Yue Lian demonstrated her absolute trust in her.

Sending Yue Lian to Master Rong's shop, Nanny Fan couldn't help but warn her again, "This is a secret recipe. Not a single word of it can be leaked. If you utter even one word about it, I'll break your legs."

Yue Lian chuckled, "Mother, don't worry. I may not catch indirect hints from others, but I surely know when someone is trying to inquire about the recipe. I promise I won't say anything."

Nanny Fan nodded in satisfaction, "Learn well from Xing Huang. Don't disappoint Second Lady's efforts in nurturing you."

Lotus Moon: "I know, I know."

It must be said that Xing Huang has an astute eye. Less than half a month later, she reported to Meng Die with delight, "Yue Lian is not only clever in her thoughts but also skilled with her hands. She has surpassed her mentor, and the items she creates are exquisitely designed. She even prepared a fruit cream cake."

Meng Die was genuinely surprised. "Fruit cream cake? It's already the twelfth lunar month; are there still delicious fruits available?"

Lu Wei shared the same curiosity: "During this season, there aren't many delicious fruits in abundance. How could there still be some available?"

Xing Huang shakes her head. "Most of the fruits she uses are tart. Her point is that while our cream cakes are delicious, they can become cloying after a few bites. She says that when one feels satiated, a bite of a tart fruit can refresh the palate. You know what? I tried it, and it does make the flavors more enjoyable."

Meng Die: "That's indeed a great idea."

Xing Huang: "We'll be having dinner soon today, and I didn't bring it back with me. She said she'd send some to the estate tomorrow morning, so everyone can give it a try."

Meng Die was also quite excited: "How are those women you chose to help with the work? Whipping cream is a labor-intensive task; we can't have Yue Lian doing it all the time. We need someone to take turns."

Xing Huang chuckled: "Of course, we need someone to relieve her. Yue Lian has caught the eye of Wang Zhuang's eldest son, Wang Xiang. It's likely that Nurse Fan will be arranging their marriage after the new year. Right now, Wang Xiang is assisting with whipping the cream."

Meng Die's eyes widened: "They've taken a liking to each other?" She then looked at Lu Wei: "Since it's a happy event coming up after the new year, could you find some time to prepare a dowry for me?"

"Ai."

Xing Huang continued, "Wang Headman is also considering two widows. One was sold by her gambling addict son, and the other lost her family to illness in quick succession. Both are now alone and have no intention of remarriage. If they prove capable, we can assign them the task of whipping cream. With four of them taking turns, it won't be too burdensome."

Meng Die raised an eyebrow. "A gambling addict's son? What happened to him?"

Xing Huang snorted. "After spending the money from selling his mother on more gambling, he borrowed from loan sharks when he lost. In the end, his legs were broken, and he died."

Meng Die replied, "Serves him right. But it's for the best that he's gone. Having a gambling addict as a son would have been intolerable."

Xing Huang nods vigorously.

Xue Qing lifts the curtain and enters, "Second Lady, there's good news from Xing Huang, and I also have some good news. Can you guess what it might be?"

Meng Die ponders for a moment, "Last time you mentioned wanting to dye the tasar silk with an autumn fragrance color. Has it been successful?"

Xue Qing chuckles foolishly, "I had a premonition that the autumn fragrance color would turn out well."

Ying'er enters from outside, holding a piece of vividly colored silk in her hands.

Meng Die's eyes widened.

Xue Qing held the silk in her hands, chuckling. "Hehehehe... It's carmine red, carmine red that I dyed myself."

Meng Die took the silk from Xue Qing's grasp and examined it carefully. It wasn't as smooth as mulberry silk; it seemed to be pure oak silk, not a blend of mulberry and oak silks.

Lu Wei and the others approached. "This carmine red is truly vivid."

"Not only is the color rich, but it also appears evenly dyed. If you don't look closely, you'd hardly notice the difference from mulberry silk," someone observed.

Meng Die examined it closely. "I recall that the prominent feature of tasar silk, aside from its coarseness compared to mulberry silk, is its dullness. Thus, dyeing light colors is not only laborious but also tends to yield unsatisfactory results. How did you manage to dye it so beautifully?"

Xue Qing chuckled for a while before she said, "I initially intended to dye this silk in an autumnal scent color. However, the dyeworks mistakenly sent me saffron yellow dye instead. Tao'er, thinking I was persistent, suggested we try a lighter shade without giving it much thought. The outcome was disastrous – it was as unappealing as it could possibly be."

Ying'er giggled. "Tao'er even said, Sister Xue Qing, now you can finally give up hope."

Xue Qing: "I was truly bewildered at that moment and had to ask for clarification before realizing it was a misunderstanding. Tao'er was heartbroken, saying she had ruined such fine silk. I reassured her that it wouldn't be wasted – there are always fabrics that get damaged in the dye house, and this wasn't dyed with a deep color; light hues can be altered more easily. Only then did she stop worrying."

"Originally, I intended to dye it black, but for some reason, I thought, since things had already gone this far, I might as well try something different. To my surprise, the scarlet hue of the blush dye adhered exceptionally well."

Meng Die suddenly realized, recalling the world in her dreams. In that era, hair dyeing was once very fashionable. Some people had such dark hair that light colors wouldn't take without pre-lightening, usually through bleaching. It seemed to be a similar principle at work here.

Lu Wei explained, "The pale yellow must have covered the original dullness, and the carmine red, being more vivid, has in turn concealed the pale yellow."

Xue Qing nodded vigorously. "That's exactly what I was thinking. I wondered if other bright and vivid hues could be applied in the same way."

Meng Die confirmed, "Certainly, they can."

Xue Qing grew even more delighted. "But we're silk carpet makers, so we don't really need such vibrant colors."

Meng Die: "We won't need silk carpets, but how about something else? This silk is so breathable; I think once production increases, it could be perfect for embroidered shoes."

Hulu: "That's a great idea! In the summer, my feet sweat just from walking a little, and I have to change shoes four or five times a day—it's such a nuisance. With these ventilated shoes, maybe I'd sweat less."

Meihong teased her, "Who asked you to have sweaty feet?"

Hulu shot back, undaunted, "Summer is short after all. Sweaty feet are still better than your feet being colder than snow in winter."

Meihong tickled Hulu's armpit, and the two of them tumbled into a fit of laughter.

Meng Die: "Ask Nurse Fan to visit us tomorrow."

Lu Wei: "Second Aunt must be curious about the preferred size of silk carpets among the sea merchants, right?"

Meng Die chuckles. "Nothing escapes you. I mentioned this matter to Nurse Fan a while ago; I wonder if she has found out anything yet."

Lu Wei smiles as well. "A few days ago, she told me that she inquired around. She said that the houses outside our country tend to be very spacious, with fireplaces and such, which I didn't fully understand. But she did mention that they prefer larger silk carpets, slightly smaller than a bolt of silk."

"In that case," Meng Die nods. "Xue Qing, how long would it take us to weave a carpet of such dimensions?"

Xue Qing promptly replied, "It's akin to weaving a piece of silk fabric. Although tapestries require more intricate detailing like hemming, the mulberry silk is coarser, making it quicker to weave compared to the silk from silkworms. Balancing both tasks, the time spent wouldn't differ much."

Meng Die nodded. "I'll try to design some tapestry patterns before the new year. Then, you can carefully select which ones we can produce. After the Lantern Festival, you should go to the manor and choose a few people to lead them in weaving a batch. When the sea merchants arrive, let Lu Wei negotiate with them using the silk tapestries you've made."

Xue Qing responded happily, "Yes, ma'am."

Meng Die turned to Xing Huang. "I have a task for you too. Recently, the manor has been slaughtering pigs, sheep, and chickens. Collect their livers – from the pigs, sheep, and chickens – and try to make dishes out of them. It doesn't have to be delicious; the main priority is that they can be stored for a long time. You know about my canned syrup, right? Place your prepared dishes in porcelain boxes and seal them with yellow clay or any other method. Experiment with different preservation techniques to see which one lasts the longest, ideally up to five or six months."

Xing Huang contemplated for a moment. "To store them for five or six months, I'll need to conduct experiments gradually. That might take quite some time."

Meng Die nodded. "I've asked Headman Wang to prepare a living quarters for you over there. Don't do everything on your own when you arrive; choose two trustworthy helpers, but make sure they're tight-lipped."

Xing Huang replied, "It's better not to pick new people now, as we might not find suitable ones. Let Li'er come with me instead. She's skilled in cooking and is both dexterous and diligent. With her by my side, I'll be all set."

Meng Die agreed with pleasure.

Xue Qing suggested, "How about I move to the manor as well? Dyeing bolts of silk and cloth requires quite some strength, which I lack. However, we'll need pre-colored silk threads for weaving silk rugs in the future. I have enough strength for that task, so I plan to try dyeing the silk threads at the manor."

Meng Die was intrigued. "What made you think of dyeing silk threads? Are you considering creating more color combinations?"

Xue Qing denied, "I'm not trying to mix more colors; I don't plan on buying dyes from the dye workshop. Instead, I intend to ask Manager Fan to find a few people who have worked in the dyeing industry before. Together, we can slowly experiment and dye some commonly used silk threads."

"Second Grandma's making this mulberry silk rug not just to earn silver, right? It's about teaching women in the north this skill, so they can weave silk rugs during their leisure time and sell them, thus supplementing their family income and improving their lives."

Meng Die smiled at the maidservants. "Seems like I can't hide anything from Lu Wei, and now even Xue Qing knows my plans."

Everyone laughed heartily.

Xue Qing's eyes curved into a smile. "There is precedence for this, isn't there? When Second Grandma cultivated mushrooms on a large scale, it was with the intention of having women plant sweet potatoes on the edges of their fields. They could then boil the juice to make syrup at home and use the residue to feed oyster mushrooms. Whether sold or consumed, it would provide a delicious dish."

Meng Die nodded. "In the northern regions, especially in mountainous areas, there are many mulberry trees. If silk rugs prove popular, they would indeed provide women with another means of earning income. Besides, the silkworm cocoons have a pleasant aroma and are beneficial to health."

Lu Wei, now understanding the concern, turned to Xue Qing. "You're worried that the dyeing workshops might raise their prices for silk thread?"

Xue Qing replied, "Yes, once silk rugs become sought-after, it's possible those dyeing workshops will hike their prices. The rugs require various colors of silk threads, and when common folk spin and dye their own silk, the workshops might demand exorbitant fees. How could they afford to dye their threads?"

"Even if they manage to pool money for dyeing and weave the rugs, the production cost would be significantly higher. If Second Grandma intends to run this as a long-term business, the price of silk rugs won't be too high. With low profit margins and high costs, how can the common people make a profit?"

Hulu added, "Such situations are indeed plausible. My family mentioned before that many industries have trade associations that set prices. Once they agree on a price, no one can increase or decrease it without consequence."

Xing Huang looked at Meng Die and said, "Isn't this similar to a monopoly? Just like when we bought seafood back then, except Second Aunt bought all the fish, while they're collaborating."

Meng Die nodded, looking at Xue Qing with pride and satisfaction. "You've really grown. I hadn't thought about that aspect, but you've considered it thoroughly. You're right. If the dye workshops suddenly raise their prices, it would be a major obstacle for us. If we can develop some common dye techniques, we can announce them later and won't have to worry about their price hikes."

Hulu asked, "Won't that offend them?"

Meng Die chuckled. "Do I fear offending them? Besides, I'm just guarding against their price increases, not cutting off their income entirely. Moreover, if the silk carpet business takes off, how much more business will they gain in a year?"

"Xue Qing, if you want to research, you can ask Manager Fan to find a few apprentices who have worked in dye workshops. If nothing comes of it, he can simply buy a few formulas. I'm not short on silver," said Meng Die, pleased with her financial abundance at this moment.

Xue Qing hesitated slightly, "Won't buying the formula offend someone?"

Meng Die was unconcerned, "If we buy it properly, who would care how I use it? Besides, if they keep their prices stable, I'll pretend I never bought it. But if they raise the price, don't blame me for turning against them."

Xue Qing felt reassured, "Then I'll start researching. At the same time, I'll ask Manager Fan to keep an eye out as well. I've heard that the dyeing results vary from workshop to workshop."

Meng Die agreed, "Let's proceed with that plan."

Xue Qing glanced at Xing Huang, "Xing Huang asked Second Aunt for Li'er to accompany her. I'll also request someone – let Mei'er go with me. She's usually very organized when it comes to managing tasks and personnel."

Meng Die readily agreed, and thus the matter was settled. Xue Qing and Xing Huang, accompanied by Mei'er and Li'er, left the Marquis's residence to venture towards the country estate, where they would delve into the study of various subjects.

On ordinary days, Meng Die would be accompanied by a few maids on her visits to pay respects or when she was dispatched to the Jingcu Pavilion. Xing Huang, in particular, often made small delicacies to distribute among the various quarters. With her departure, the treats that had become a staple in those rooms naturally vanished. The inhabitants of the inner courtyard immediately noticed the change.

On this particular day, while paying respects, Jinsi inquired, "Why have Hulu and Meihong been accompanying you lately? What about Xing Huang and Xue Qing?"

Meng Die teased her, "Are you asking about Xing Huang or Xue Qing?"

Jin Yang'an shot Meng Die a playful glare. "Isn't it obvious? Why even ask?"

The others burst into laughter, and Wen Shi also inquired, "What about Xing Huang? She usually loves to make snacks. I must say, I've grown unaccustomed to not receiving any from you these past few days."

Meng Die replied with a chuckle, "She and Xue Qing have gone to the manor to experiment with a new recipe. It's not entirely new, actually. Everyone praised my canned sweet syrup, so I thought I'd ask Xing Huang to investigate if other items could also be preserved for a long time when placed in porcelain boxes."

Li Yue's face fell in disappointment. "So Xing Huang won't be back anytime soon?"

The others all shared a sense of empathy.

Meng Die giggled. "She'll be back. She visits every three or five days. This time, she stayed longer because it was her first visit. Lu Wei mentioned yesterday that Xing Huang will return in a day or two, and she's even planning to bring some delightful treats."

Li Lang, Li Yue, and Li Yu, along with the other young girls, cheered in delight. The elders, though more composed, couldn't help but wear smiles. After all, pleasure in food and beauty is an inherent human desire; in this life, one must not disappoint oneself when it comes to delectable cuisine!

Upon returning from the main hall, Wen Shi accompanied Lady Ning to the eastern annex.

Wen Shi knew that Lady Ning would soon have to attend to social engagements, so she went straight to the point. "Mother, shouldn't we add more staff for Sister-in-law? Speaking of which, she should have received additional help when she was granted the title of Lady. Which Lady would have only one chief maid by her side? I understand she's been holding back out of concern for my reputation, so I've remained silent as well. But this situation can't persist indefinitely."

Lady Ning smiled warmly. "Actually, I've also thought about this. As you said, no Lady would have just one chief maid. However, I thought that if I were to bring it up, it might undermine her intentions towards you."

Wen Shi replied, "I've been reluctant to let her kindness go to waste, so I've continued as is. Yet, I've been privately pondering over this matter, struggling to find the perfect opportunity for her to accept without feeling pressured. Now, it seems the chance has presented itself."

Madam Ning was delighted. "Indeed, I'll send Nurse Zheng over today to inquire about it. With Xue Qing and Xing Huang not at home, she only has three capable servants by her side. What's the difference between that and playing house? She must have more people added to her service."

The two women exchanged thoughts, and Madam Ning promptly dispatched Nurse Zheng to Meng Die's residence. In truth, she had been considering adding more staff to Meng Die's service. For a second-ranked lady to have only one major maid by her side would sound rather inappropriate and might even invite ridicule from other households. However, she also considered Wen Shi's feelings. Now that Wen Shi had brought up the matter herself, it was perfect. Ah, having two such considerate daughters-in-law was truly a relief.

Meng Die was currently designing silk rug patterns. She had already completed two, both featuring common motifs in the Great Yi Dynasty. As she paused with her pen in mid-air while working on the third, she said, "Lu Wei, send someone to visit Nurse Fan and ask her to gather books describing overseas landscapes and customs. Also, let her inform Big Brother about this matter. He works in the Hanlin Academy, where there are the most books available."

"Alright." Lu Wei had just arrived in the courtyard when she saw Nurse Zheng entering. "Why is Nurse Zheng here? Please come in quickly."

Upon hearing the voice, Meng Die put down her brush and left the study for her bedroom. She disliked the cold and thus resided in a room with a heated brick bed.

Nanny Zheng entered the room and paid her respects to Meng Die, then expressed her gratitude after being offered a seat.

Meng Die asked, "Why has Nanny Zheng come at this time? I recall that Mother has social engagements today, doesn't she?"

Nanny Zheng smiled. "As the days grow colder, most gatherings now start in the afternoon. There's still some time left. Today, I've been sent by Eldest Madam with a suggestion from Second Madam. With Xue Qing and Xing Huang both absent, it seems we should add more help."

Meng Die paused. "Indeed, it's becoming quite challenging without them. Not only have Xue Qing and Xing Huang gone to the manor, but Mei'er and Li'er have accompanied them as well."

Nanny Zheng exclaimed, "Oh! With four of them away at once, we'll need to increase the number of helpers considerably."

Meng Die: "It's not like she's never coming back. Why the need for so much fuss?"

Aunt Zheng: "At the very least, we should fill the vacancies left by the four of them."

Meng Die nodded in agreement.

With Meng Die's approval, Aunt Zheng hurried back to report, with Lu Wei accompanying her. Aunt Zheng slowed her pace and didn't seem overly eager to deliver the message: "Lu Wei, Madam means that it wouldn't do for Second Lady to have only one chief maid after receiving her title. She wishes to promote Xue Qing and Xing Huang."

Lu Wei: "Then I shall thank Madam on their behalf for her recognition."

Nanny Zheng said, "I recall that Mei'er and the others are all third-class maids. Why not promote them all to second class? I'll send you four more third-class maids for errands then."

Lu Wei pondered for a moment. "What do you think of this, Nanny? Mei'er and the others have served Second Madam for years. Even if they haven't achieved great feats, their hard work should be acknowledged. Promoting them to second-class maids is reasonable. As for third-class maids, didn't our courtyard originally have four servants for menial tasks? They've also been with Second Madam for several years. They've learned to read a few words and have become more astute. Especially since they've all worked in the fields before, they've made significant contributions to growing watermelons these past two years. The watermelon seedlings in the greenhouse are under their care now."

Nanny Zheng understood. "Promote them to third-class maids?"

Lu Wei nodded. "Just choose four servants for menial tasks for us, Nanny."

Nanny Zheng replied, "Alright, let's do it that way."

Madam Ning, having received the report from Nurse Zheng, nodded in approval. "She has an abundance of possessions, so even third-class maids can enter her quarters to deliver messages. Indeed, using inexperienced new servants may not be as advantageous as relying on seasoned ones. Select four honest and diligent serving maidens from our household to send over to her. Issue this month's monthly allowance according to the revised arrangement."

"Ai."

The news that Second Lady's courtyard was to welcome a new addition spread swiftly, as if it had wings, reaching every corner of the Marquis's residence and even the estate in the outskirts of the capital.

Families with eligible maidens wore expressions of delight mingled with anxiety, their hearts vacillating between hope and unease, wondering whether their daughters would be among those selected.

Soon, word came that Second Lady was requesting serving maids for her quarters. The joyous group of managers and their wives were suddenly left bewildered.

"Aren't Xue Qing and Xing Huang the ones busy at the manor? Why did Second Lady send a mere servant girl?"

Indeed, when one talks about adding servants, it should be at least a second-class maid for personal attendants, or a third-class maid for running errands and menial tasks. How does it make sense to add a lowly maid who isn't even allowed in the chambers?

"Could it be that they've added more serving maidens for menial tasks? I heard from Sister Li'er that Li'er and Mei'er have also gone to the manor."

"Oh my, is that true? If so, Lady Second will indeed need to increase her household significantly."

For a time, the marquis's residence was bustling with excitement as the steward's wives readied their eligible daughters, adorning them for the occasion. News of this had spread throughout the household, stirring restlessness in some families and leaving others entirely unmoved.

Entry into Second Grandma's courtyard is now highly coveted, and the servants' daughters might engage in fierce competition for the opportunity. Why would those from less reputable households even bother? It's not like when Second Grandma first married in, when everyone shunned the place. Back then, it was the maids and servants, even Mei'er, who inadvertently gained substantial advantages due to the lack of attention.