Section 7

Shiyue took a sip of tea and noticed Zier lost in thought, resting her chin on her hand, and couldn't help but smile gently at her. He seemed to be playing a game of chess, contemplating deeply before finally deciding on his strategy, allowing him to make swift moves for the time being. After discussing the loom matter with Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu, he turned to Tang Di and Sang Chongguo and said, "Yifu, Changqing, you may go to the study first; I have some matters I hope you can assist me with later."

Shiyue smiled faintly and said, "Uncle Er and Father are right, there is no need to rush this matter. The cotton should be sown during the Grain Rain, and harvested during the Great Heat and the Beginning of Autumn. It is not something that can be hastily arranged. Let us eat first"

There is actually nothing of great importance. Shi Yue said淡淡, "However, I have heard that when a ruler is not discreet, he loses his state; when a minister is not discreet, he loses his life. My second uncle and my father want to do these things, and the people they invite must be able to keep secrets, otherwise, if it spreads, the money will not be earned."

Sang Yuchu stroked his beard and chuckled, saying: "Nephew, there is no need to be overly modest. With your idea, it is already a remarkable creation; even if there are minor flaws, they can be resolved. What you just said is indeed wise counsel. This winter, we can find someone to prototype the machinery you mentioned, and in the spring of next year, we will arrange for people to go to the Songjiang area to purchase cotton and recruit spinners"

Tang Gannan is an old fox. At this moment, seeing him dismiss the three people, he squinted his eyes and smiled, saying: "Is there anything else you wish to say, dear nephew?"

Shiyue found his arrangements to be quite appropriate, and then said: "It is said that the women of the Yanzhou Yi people have long mastered these methods. If there are any shortcomings, we can send someone there to spend a large sum of money to buy a few Yi women, so that both sides can complement each other, ensuring absolute safety."

Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu had great confidence in his abilities, and they quickly nodded in agreement.

Continuing, Shi Yue elaborated on the cultivation methods of kapok flowers recorded in Wang Zhen's "Book of Agriculture," as well as the spinning wheel, the bow drill, and the three-spindle foot-powered spinning wheel described by Huang Daopo, along with the flower loom and waist loom mentioned in "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature." Whenever he encountered something difficult to explain, he would casually break a chopstick, dip it in ink, and draw the shape on paper. Although the drawings were crude, they still managed to convey the general form. He spoke for a full half an hour; while Tang Di and the others were merely listening, Sang Yuchu and Tang Gannan, who understood the key points, were both astonished and delighted as they listened to Shi Yue's detailed explanations. They realized that a significant fortune had come into their hands.

Upon seeing that they had already considered this matter, Shigui said nothing further and rose to take his leave. As he reached the entrance, he suddenly heard Tang Gannan call out: "Nephew, please do not hurry to leave."

However, there were matters weighing on their minds. During the meal, three people shared two portions, and the servants had already brought the tea. Yet, everyone unconsciously turned their gaze towards Shi Yue.

Tang Gannan squinted his small eyes and smiled, saying, "Nephew, please do not hesitate to speak."

Tang Gannan said seriously: "Yifu, what do you know? Ziming's nephew is not a mere creature of the pond; he knows a great deal. If you listen to him talk about matters but do not go to eat, you might starve to death before his abilities are even half revealed." This statement made everyone laugh.

Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu exchanged a smile and said, "That is only natural; your concerns are indeed well-founded, dear nephew"

We will arrange for someone to handle this right away

Early the next morning, when everyone gathered together to prepare for a meal, Shi Yue said to Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu: "Second Uncle, Uncle, I have a matter I would like to discuss with both of you"

Shiyue stopped in his tracks, turned around, and asked: "Is there anything else you would like to instruct, Second Uncle?"

Shiyue nodded and smiled, saying, "My little nephew has also thought of another machine, but it is only a rough model for now. I will draw it out in detail for you on another day, and you two uncles can find someone to try making it, though I am not sure if it will work." What he was referring to was the Jenny spinning machine

Tang Gannan gazed at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said: "Noble nephew, you are not a mere creature of the pond. It is a privilege that you do not disdain to call us 'Second Uncle' and 'Uncle'. If there is anything you need from our two families, do not hesitate to speak up". Sang Yuchu also smiled and nodded in agreement.

Shiyue pondered for a moment and smiled, saying: "A few days ago, I spoke with the two elders about the kapok flowers and cotton fabric. I, being unworthy, have had some involvement in these matters. If Uncle and Father are interested, I might be able to simplify the process of making cotton fabric considerably."

The two of them had always held him in high regard. Upon hearing his instructions, they responded with an acknowledgment and then got up to leave. Zier suddenly looked up and asked, "Brother Shi, is there anything I can do to help you?" Shi Yue smiled and said, "Of course you can. How about this: you go to your brother's study and wait for me, alright?" Zier cheerfully agreed and left in high spirits.

Sang Yuchu also smiled and said: "Nephew, you have indeed dabbled in these areas, truly a prodigy. Your second uncle is right; after we have eaten, we shall discuss this matter in detail."

Tang Di could not contain his curiosity and said eagerly, "We eat every day, so it would be better to talk first and then have our meal later." Sang Chongguo nodded in agreement. Sang Zier, however, looked at Shi Yue with wide eyes, filled with curiosity. The Sang family did not regard Shi Yue as an outsider, so both Mrs. Sang and Sang Zier did not hold back. Sang Zier especially called out "Elder Brother" incessantly throughout the day.

After speaking, Shi Yuesheng, fearing that his memory might be incorrect, added: "Some of these things are also imagined by my little nephew, so it is necessary to find some experienced weavers and carpenters to try making them according to this blueprint, conducting repeated experiments, in order to achieve success. If we rely solely on this blueprint of mine, it is likely to be mere theoretical discussion, which could lead to significant mistakes."

Shiyue requested the Four Treasures of the Study and then said: "This kapok flower is originally not a product of the Central Plains. Today, it is mainly cultivated in Yazhou, Lingnan, and the Songjiang area, and it is rarely seen in the Central Plains. Moreover, it is generally not used for spinning and weaving; it is primarily used for placing inside quilts and clothing for warmth. However, in my nephew's view, the main use of this cotton lies in spinning and weaving. Compared to silkworms, it requires no labor for cultivation and guarantees a harvest; compared to ramie, it spares the labor of processing and provides warmth, making it a fabric without hemp and a fluff without cocoons... However, in my nephew's view, the main use of this cotton lies in spinning and weaving. Compared to silkworms, it requires no labor for cultivation and guarantees a harvest; compared to ramie, it spares the labor of processing and provides warmth, making it a fabric without hemp and a fluff without cocoons... ...

Upon hearing this, Shiyue was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "Uncle, you need not worry. Since you do not treat me as an outsider, I certainly will not regard you as outsiders either." After saying this, he performed a deep bow and proceeded to the study of Sang Chongguo. Sang and Tang were there discussing how to invite weavers and craftsmen, as well as how to arrange the workshops and other matters.

Tang Gannan said with a smile: "I have always believed in my talented nephew, but the people regard food as their heaven. First, let us have a meal, and we can talk later after eating"