Section 4

Since the day Shiyue left for the Sang residence, it has not snowed again in Bianjing City. The weather has been getting warmer day by day. Although winter has just begun this year, the icicles hanging from the eaves have slowly begun to melt, and only traces of accumulated snow can still be seen in the gaps between the roof tiles and at the roots of the trees in the corners of the walls. Bianjing City is gradually returning to its usual bustle.

However, Tang Di's nature is one that enjoys leisure and entertainment. Although Shi Yue is calm and prefers tranquility, having befriended Tang Di, he cannot avoid going out to socialize and have fun with him. Only Sang Chongguo is wholeheartedly devoted to studying behind closed doors; apart from discussing academic matters with Shi Yue, he is not very fond of going out to socialize, and sometimes he is even reluctant to leave his study. This typical method of study among ancient Confucian scholars leaves Shi Yue astonished, and he cannot help but shake his head and sigh, not quite understanding what material these individuals are made of. However, Sang Chongguo is inherently intelligent; whatever Shi Yue explains, he always comprehends it more easily than Tang Di, and he is quite capable of drawing inferences from one instance to another, which makes Shi Yue very much enjoy conversing with him. This typical method of study among ancient Confucian scholars leaves Shi Yue astonished, and he cannot help but shake his head and sigh, not quite understanding what material these individuals are made of. However, Sang Chongguo is inherently intelligent; whatever Shi Yue explains, he always comprehends it more easily than Tang Di, and he is quite capable of drawing inferences from one instance to another, which makes Shi Yue very much enjoy conversing with him.

Shiyue and Tang Di were left at the Sang residence by Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu. The worldly-wise Sang Yuchu keenly sensed Shiyue's unusual demeanor and made various attempts to win him over. Following Tang Gannan's suggestion, after making arrangements in various places, Shiyue registered his household under the name of a distant relative of the Sang family.

During weekdays, Shiyue lived together with Tang Di and Sang Chongguo, engaging in mutual learning and discussing poetry, essays, classical texts, and historical theories. At this time, Shiyue's foundation in traditional Chinese studies proved to be beneficial; his conversations with the two were eloquent, effortlessly referencing the profound insights of predecessors. For Tang Di and Sang Chongguo, this was akin to uncovering truths that had previously gone unnoticed. Their admiration for Shiyue's knowledge grew increasingly profound, and even Li Dunmin and the Chai brothers were quite willing to visit the Sang residence to be close to Shiyue.

Shiyue has read Wang Zhen's "Book of Agriculture" and Song Yingxing's "Heavenly Creations". He has a profound impression of various types of looms, such as the flower loom and waist loom, as well as spinning techniques like ginning, spinning, and weaving, since the time of Huang Daopo; in addition, he is familiar with the British Jenny spinning machine. If he could reproduce the design and have skilled craftsmen attempt to create it, perhaps the Jenny spinning machine would still pose some challenges, but the spinning technology that emerged in China after the Yuan Dynasty would certainly not face insurmountable obstacles.

The emergence of these technologies should bring him considerable income

Day after day, Shi Yue's life gradually stabilized. In the beginning, Shi Yue would often recall the modern world in his dreams, but as time passed, such dreams became increasingly rare. The world he lived in became more and more real with each passing day. Shi Yue had once visited the place where he had appeared with Tang Di to seek the truth, but after several round trips, he ultimately found nothing. Gradually, Shi Yue lost hope and stopped pondering questions such as why he had returned to ancient times and whether there was a way to go back.

However, Shi Yue remained hesitant. The Sang and Tang families had helped him during his most difficult times. In this era where the gentry valued righteousness over profit, would it be looked down upon to seek cooperation with the two families through a technical equity stake? Shi Yue had no confidence at all; the values of this era were not the same as those of the twenty-first century

At this moment, Shi Yue felt a different kind of awkwardness within himself—he could not accept a life of relying on others for an extended period. Although the Sang family treated him as one of their own, and even the monthly allowance was given according to Sang Chongguo's standards, Tang Gannan was particularly kind to him. However, as a modern individual influenced by the spirit of independence, he always harbored a desire to become self-sufficient and truly establish himself in this world. Long ago, on the day he discussed cotton fabric with Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu, this thought had already crossed his mind. Yet, as a modern individual influenced by the spirit of independence, he always harbored a desire to become self-sufficient and truly establish himself in this world. Long ago, on the day he discussed cotton fabric with Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu, this thought had already crossed his mind.

Since he did not speak, Sang Yuchu and Tang Gannan also refrained from mentioning the events of that day, and Tang Di would certainly not bother to remember these matters