Second grandmother Qian, like Zheng Haizhu, is very enthusiastic about developing multi-spindle spinning machines.
The Han family's business is originally a combination of spinning and weaving.
Being able to spin more fine yarn in the same time means that even if the price of cloth drops by 10 to 20%, the profit of the cargo owner will not be less than in the past, and the competitiveness of the product will be much stronger.
Zheng Haizhu then said bluntly to Mr. Qian: "My second grandmother's family has a cotton field, and I also grow cotton in Zhuangzi, Chongming. Both our families have many women who can spin. Let's make these multiple spinning machines quickly." We took the lead and earned the first few buckets of money. However, this matter is like a new weapon in a war, it will soon be imitated in all directions."
Ah Shan, who was pondering over the linkage thread of the turbine, concurred flatteringly: "That's right, Madam. On the other hand, I don't know if it really spins. If the yarn is really fast and good, the weaver will not be able to pick it up." .If that’s the case, the loom will need to be modified.”
Zheng Haizhu glanced sideways at Ah Shan.
This is true. The frequency of spinning and weaving must of course be coordinated. The birth of the Jenny spinning machine was stimulated by the flying shuttle loom.
What touched Zheng Haizhu was that Ah Shan, the carpenter, showed a vague agility in thinking whether she was tasked by her to build a small gun carriage a few days ago or when she was looking at the spinning machine today.
Those Liao civilians who were selected as the first batch of battalion soldiers were not stupid either, but they had more of an understanding of the general's orders and quick physical reactions.
Zheng Haizhu made a mark in his mind for Ah Shan, and then said to Han Ximeng: "Miss, Ah Zhu will divide the work with you. Today, we will draw one side of Mrs. Tang's spinning machine, and give the drawings to Ah Shan and several spinners. How about you go back to my village, study it carefully, and make a new machine?"
When Qian heard this, she knew that Zheng Haizhu was afraid that Zhuangzi was simple and neglected herself and Ximeng, so she still let them live in the county town, but it was not easy for an adult man like Ah Shan to stay.
"Azhu," Qian said frankly, "this season is neither cold nor hot, and the countryside is more comfortable than Chongming County. Ximeng and I will live there together."
"Uh...Second Grandma, there hasn't been time to build brick houses over there, so they are all built with mud walls."
Qian laughed and said: "So what about the mud wall? When I was a child, I lived with my parents in Jiading and lived near the cotton fields. Do you know? When I was young, the second master went to the north to study with the layman Baiquan and lived in a cave."
Baiquan layman is Li Zhi, a famous scholar in the Ming Dynasty and a master figure of the Taizhou School. Li Zhi's thoughts were influenced by Wang Yangming's "Xinxue" and were further developed by his alternative and rebellious character, such as criticizing the idea of suppressing business. , advocating that women can also take lessons from male teachers, etc.
After Zheng Haizhu joined the Han family, she gradually learned that the second master, Han Zhongwen, had been a supporter of Li Zhi, and then she understood why Han Zhongwen could calmly do business as a scholar. He even felt more emotional that it was the enlightenment of his uncle and aunt that made Han Ximeng special. The boudoir lady has fewer restrictions.
At this moment, Qian was the first to speak, which was exactly what Han Ximeng wanted.
Chongming has a broad atmosphere, and the unique scenery near the sea is more novel than the scenery of the small bridge and flowing water in Songjiang City. Han Ximeng also wants to take his young son to experience it for a while, and at the same time draw some flower books and embroider them when he goes back.
Zheng Haizhu saw that they spoke without any pretense, so he stopped talking and ordered Hua Er and Ashan to take several spinning machines and looms back to the countryside first, and then pick up the grandmothers.
…
As evening approaches, streets crisscross the streets and houses are dotted in the Zhengjiazhuang, with smoke from cooking stoves and birds.
The busy house building, military training and salt drying activities during the day all came to an end as the sun turned westward.
With the help of Mrs. Tang, Zheng Haizhu settled Qian, Ximeng and others, and took the time to find Wu Bond.
Wu Bondang was sitting by a pit in the courtyard, munching on noodles. Next to him was a steaming wok of sweet potato vermicelli stewed with golden flower salt and pancake.
"I got it from Wang Tai's house. It contains pickles. His wife forgot to add salt to the vermicelli. It doesn't matter."
Wu Bang Bang licked his lips at the vermicelli and said with a smile, then got up and went into the house, took out a clean bowl, scooped out the water from the vat, rinsed it, put the pickled vermicelli on it, and handed it to Zheng Haizhu.
"You should eat some too."
Zheng Haizhu took it and tasted it, it was really delicious.
After surviving the desperate situation, these Liao people showed a positive attitude in adapting to the environment. They quickly bought some Jiangnan pickles such as golden cauliflower, caotou, and potherb mustard from neighboring villages, and also learned to make sweet potatoes that were already available everywhere in South Zhili.
Into vermicelli.Lan
Zheng Haizhu ate half full before pointing to a sapling spreading like a broom beside the pit and asked Wu Bond: "Did it come from the Songjiang ferry?"
That's a plum tree.
Wu Bondang nodded and said: "Give it a try, I hope the land in Chongming can grow."
Zheng Haizhu recalled that there was no shortage of plum trees in Nanhui and Chongming Island in Shanghai in later generations, and he said warmly: "Why can't the trees survive? I heard that plum trees, like peaches and plums, like this kind of loose sandy soil."
Wu Bondang pursed his lips and smiled, his eyes falling on the plum tree, showing clear tenderness.
"In those days, Amei came to Southern Zhili once with her father and said that Liaodong was too cold and wanted to settle down in Zhenjiang. Now I think Chongming is better. The distant village is warm and the smoke is in Yiyixu. Wait.
When I get old, I will just stick to this plum tree and look at the sea in the distance and the clouds in the sky. Doesn’t it look like an old dog watching over the house?”
While Zheng Haizhu listened, she quietly looked at the clay pot next to the plum tree.
Those were the few remaining bones of Ah Mei. Wu Bang Bang carried a small cloth bag with him wherever he went these years, containing this little trace of his beloved left in the world.
Now, the cloth bag has finally been replaced by a clay pot, which will be buried deep in the sand together with the root system of the plum tree.
Wu Bondang took advantage of the daylight to dig the soil for a while before sitting down to rest again.
Zheng Haizhu asked: "It seems that the man named Gu Shan did not escape with his fellow villagers?"
"There were quite a few of them. When we were crossing the river outside the pass, we encountered Tatar sentries and many of them were killed. A section of the river was dyed red."
"Is this what Ashan said?"
"Wang Tai and others saw it on the top of the mountain in Guanli. Gushan and a few young men escaped. After entering the pass, those few were hired by the carriage and horse shop. Gushan was too thin and no one wanted them.
In Japan, I was recruiting in Kansai. I saw that he was good at carpentry, so I recruited him." Lan
"Oh..." Zheng Haizhu looked thoughtful.
Wu Bondang inquired: "What's wrong?"
"Well, I was just thinking. I've seen him in the past two months, and he's been very smart. Why didn't he think of taking his wife and fleeing to the west earlier?"
Wu Bondang's movement of rubbing his wrists suddenly stopped, and he sighed for a moment: "There are many men who are not stupid in the world, and there are a few who can protect their loved ones in troubled times. On the ship coming from the south, this Ah Shan always wiped his tears.
Say that you are sorry for my mother and daughter-in-law."
Zheng Haizhu didn't ask any more questions.
At this time, dusk had risen, and it was neither marching for war nor discussing urgent matters, so it was not suitable for her to stay in Wu Bangdang's courtyard.
Besides, Zheng Haizhu was still thinking about talking to Han Ximeng tonight. In ten days and a half, even if the multi-spindle spinning machine was not fully completed, she should take her son back to Songjiang. She could not leave Gu Shouguan out for so long.
.lan
In these days, after Zheng Haizhu learned the whole story of Yin's request for donations from the Dong family, he persuaded Han Ximeng several times, "You two are a harmonious couple who are good at embroidery and painting. Why should you argue over outsiders who you both despise?"