In the following days, many small buildings in Bachuan Market were requisitioned and converted into dormitories.
Xizhou, which was originally planned to be developed after this year, has now issued a notice and is willing to pay three times the wages, recruit craftsmen and laborers, and speed up the work to expand as soon as possible.
Large quantities of food and materials were purchased and gathered to prepare for the winter in Bachuan Market.
On December 20, the first batch of disbanded palace residents, a total of 190 people, entered Bachuan Market in a cart.
Although there was light snow falling in the sky, there were still many curious onlookers gathered in the market. They watched the maids in palace attire get off the cart one by one and stand in the snow.
Aunt Gongsun took a group of maids from Bachuan Villa and hailed a cart in the middle of the market. While counting the number of maids, she led them to the courtyard in the middle street.
The men from the Qu family, Fan family and other gardens maintained order on the street and helped carry luggage and belongings.
This group of palace people looked at the rows of small buildings with cornices on both sides of the street. They remembered that this was not an imperial city, it was even far away from Chang'an, and it was no longer the environment they were familiar with. Everyone had an uneasy look on their faces.
The last carriage entered Bachuanfang Street, and Fan Jinian and Zhou Jun got out of the carriage.
Fan Jinian shivered first in the gust of cold wind, then looked at Zhou Jun beside him and asked: "Erlang, this year's winter is probably going to be extremely cold. The food and expenses arranged by the palace people must be fully prepared."
yes."
Zhou Jun nodded, walked in front, and said to Fan Jinian: "Fan Gong, come with me. The residence of the palace people is in front."
Under the protection of the chamberlain, the two entered the back alley of Bachuan Market.
Different from the bustle and noise of Bachuan Market, everything here seems extraordinarily quiet.
There are long bluestone corridors, snow-covered shrubs and green plants, and small buildings with hanging eaves connected to each other.
Zhou Jun saw that Fan Jinian was very interested in these small buildings, so he said: "With this type of eaves-connected building, the front entrance and the middle hall can be used as shops, and the back room can be used as a home. They are connected to each other, which not only saves land and earth and stone, but also provides protection from wind and shelter."
Snow."
Fan Jinian nodded in praise and walked into the back of a small building.
After walking around, Fan Jinian was a little surprised. Although the building was small, it had two floors and many wing rooms, and all the living expenses were covered.
After leaving the back alley, Fan Jinian followed Zhou Jun to the theater on Zhong Street.
The theater that was originally used for singing has been transformed into a shabby residence for the people of Kanlu Palace.
One hundred and ninety palace ladies lined up in several queues, were checked in and signed for custody in the theater. After they completed the paperwork, they were given clothes, quilts, body badges, housing expenses, etc. to them.
Seeing that everything was arranged in an orderly manner, Fan Jinian nodded to Zhou Jun and said, "Erlang is thoughtful."
Zhou Jun waved towards the distance.
Two women walked out of the crowd.
Zhou Jun pointed at them and introduced to Fan Jinian: "They are my maids. One is Hua Yue and the other is Qing Chan. They are the chief here and are responsible for the placement of the palace people."
Fan Jinian looked at Hua Yue and Xiao Qingchan and couldn't help but be a little surprised.
Hua Yue is a big cannibal, he is still weak, but he is in the main position; Xiao Qingchan is respectful and takes the side position.
Seeing Zhou Jun nod, Hua Yue opened the book and told Fan Jinian the residence, duties and physical conditions of the one hundred and ninety palace servants.
After Hua Yue finished speaking, Zhou Jun said to Fan Jinian: "Xizhou is still being expanded and cannot be moved in at the moment. The palace residents who will be placed in the future may not be able to move in until after the New Year."
Fan Jinian: "Don't be anxious, take it step by step."
After looking around again, Fan Jinian no longer had any worries. He raised his hands to Zhou Jun and said, "Our family has seen the situation here, and now we are going back to return. Erlang has been a big help this time, not only for the internal affairs department, but also for the palace.
I also want to think of your kindness."
Zhou Jun sent Fan Jinian out of Bachuan Market and returned to the theater.
At this time, the roster registration and distribution of supplies were also coming to an end.
Zhou Jun looked at the team. The first batch of dismissed palace servants were roughly divided into four categories according to the division of labor: the first category was for food; the second category was for work; the third category was for clothing; the fourth category was for
Shangyi.
According to the prior arrangement, Shang Shi's female officials and palace maids were sent to kitchens, restaurants and restaurants, Shang Gong was sent to the craft workshop, Shang Fu went to the cloth and weaving and dyeing shop, and Shang Yi was responsible for the accounting books.
Clerical work, greeting people, teaching etiquette, etc.
After arranging the work, Huayue asked Xiao Qingchan to lead everyone to the residence to rest first, and then lowered her voice and said to Zhou Jun: "Someone wants to see you alone."
Zhou Jun was puzzled: "Meet me alone?"
Huayue took Zhou Jun to the backstage of the theater.
Walking into the pavilion behind the stage, Zhou Jun saw a dozen female officials and maidservants standing in the room as soon as he walked through the door.
These palace people, old and young, all wore the palace clothes of the Department of Clothing.
Zhou Jun saw that the leader of this group of people was none other than Granny Peng, who was in charge of weaving and dyeing, and felt vaguely suspicious.
Mrs. Peng first walked up to Zhou Jun, said the Wanfu blessing, and then said, "I have met Zhou Jun."
Zhou Jun stared at her and asked, "Do you have something to say when you meet me alone?"
Granny Peng nodded.
Huayue brought a stack of drawings, unfolded them, and said to Zhou Jun: "These are all brought by Granny Peng."
Zhou Jun looked carefully and saw that all kinds of textile machinery and weaving and dyeing tools were drawn on the drawings. There were also a lot of small characters in the blank space, describing the craftsmanship of textiles.
Zhou Jun raised his head and asked Po Peng, "What is this?"
Peng Po: "The silk fabrics weaved and dyed in the palace over the years were all made using techniques produced by Lao Shen and several other female officials. This drawing is based on the original weaving and dyeing skills.
Improved.”
Worried that Zhou Jun would not understand, Po Peng took out a piece of drawing and explained: "Most of the clothes used in the palace are Gaozhupi cloth, Qianluo, Bailuo, etc. The threads of these fabrics are all single-twisted.
The layers are also single-layered, so the weave is light in weight, has low seam force, and has thin coloring.”
"If you use this diagram to improve your skills, you can change the thread twist from single twist to three twists, then change the layer from single layer to multiple layers, and finally change the light silk thread into a heavy silk thread. It is the best among silk threads.
."
Hearing this, even Zhou Jun, who knew nothing about weaving and dyeing, gradually came to his senses: "You mean, is there a way to improve the current palace weaving technology and create better silk?"
Po Peng lowered her head and said, "Yes."
Zhou Jun: "Then why don't you present this technology to the palace?"
Peng Po said frankly without expression: "I am just a humble palace maid. Even if I offer this method, I can only get a small reward. Instead of offering it, it is better to hide it and wait until one day when I leave the palace, I will do it for myself and everyone."
Sisters are looking for a living."
These words sounded a bit treacherous, but to Zhou Jun's ears, they sounded transparent.
Zhou Jun thought for a while and then asked: "Then why did you ask to be a miscellaneous household? With such skills, wouldn't it be better to be a good man without having to live under someone else's roof?"
Granny Peng: "If you want to make the heavy silk machine as shown in the drawings, and then weave and dye the best quality silk, you need to find a skilled craftsman to make the machine according to the drawings, and the corresponding materials and mechanisms also require a lot of money and silk.
What's more, the venue, manpower, etc. cannot be solved by me alone. Besides..."
Having said this, Peng Po looked back at the people in the Department of Shangyi behind her, and then said to Zhou Jun: "These palace people have been living with me day and night for many years. They are not family members, but they are better than family members. They let me go alone, leaving them to suffer. I
I can’t bear to be so cruel.”
After Zhou Jun heard this, he felt that Peng Po was unwilling to leave her friends behind, so she was kind and righteous.