CHAPTER 371: CHAPTER 368: PAVING THE WAY

After seeing the felt, Miss Yan fully admired Xie Liangchen. How could she have thought of placing the felt on the desk? No wonder she felt something was different when writing. At that time, her attention was fully on the pink wax paper, and she hadn’t noticed the felt underneath.

"Liangchen," Miss Yan said excitedly, grabbing Xie Liangchen’s hand. "You are amazing. Using felt is wonderful. I..."

Meng Changshu couldn’t help but laugh seeing Miss Yan like this. She had known Miss Yan for a long time, but it was the first time she saw her in such a state, showing how much she liked the wax paper and this felt.

All the ladies came forward to look.

"There’s felt sold in the capital too, but it’s not as dense as this."

Xie Liangchen smiled and said, "Felt can also be made into blankets and mats. I’ve brought many styles. Would anyone like to have a look?"

"Look," Miss Yan promptly said, "With so many good things, how could we not want to see?"

Li Ruchu also chimed in, "If you don’t show me, I won’t leave today."

Everyone knew Li Ruchu was joking, but they genuinely wanted to see the felt, and the atmosphere in the flower hall became more relaxed.

Meng Changshu took Xie Liangchen’s hand, "I heard earlier you were making thread tassels, how did you come to think of making felt now?"

Xie Liangchen said, "When I went to Dai State, I saw villagers making felt. Only then did I realize they had been making these for years. But because of the Pseudo King’s influence, what they made was sold to the Huigu in the west for very low prices, earning them little silver coin."

Meng Changshu said, "There are markets in Huigu that sell a lot of pelts and woolen goods to us, perhaps some were collected from the eight states."

Using the labor of the eight states’ people for low prices to make profits was no choice for the eight states’ people. Since the Pseudo King prohibited trade with Daqi, if found privately trading with Daqi merchants, they would be severely punished.

All the ladies listened and followed Xie Liangchen into the side room, where felt made of wool was placed. The felt had varied designs, and the colors were particularly vibrant.

Listening to Xie Liangchen talk about the predicament of the eight states’ people and seeing the beautiful felt in front of them only added a hint of helplessness and bitterness behind the splendor and beauty.

"There are many ways to make flower felt," Xie Liangchen said, "I didn’t stay long in Dai State and only heard three methods from the locals. So, I tried making these when I returned."

"They all look good," Li Ruchu said, "This one sewn with soft satin can be used to make beds, this one embroidered with designs can be hung at home, and this one with dyed wool directly pressed into felt should be the sturdiest, and can be laid on the floor or used as a mat."

Thus, Xie Liangchen used three ways to make felt, each serving different purposes.

Miss Yan said to Xie Liangchen, "How did you become so clever?"

"It’s not me," Xie Liangchen laughed, "These are all done by the women in the village of Dai State. I just asked a few more questions."

Xie Liangchen said it lightly, but they could imagine how hard it really was.

This poetry gathering had shown everyone a lot, but they all knew it wasn’t everything from Chen Family Village. Chen Family Village was good at making finished medicine too, and it was unknown what else these people could make.

While everyone was looking at the felt, Mrs. Gao laughed and said, "The meal is ready, shall we eat first?"

Without noticing, time had flown by, and Miss Xu couldn’t remember when things around her started to become desolate. Even the ladies from the Cao Family gathered around her didn’t speak, and could only watch Xie Liangchen and others joking around.

"Let’s eat first!" Miss Xu had long wanted to leave, and once they ate, the poetry gathering should end as well.

There was only one chef in the house. Xie Liangchen had to focus on the poetry gathering and couldn’t spend much energy preparing meals. Song Xian had arranged several chefs in advance to help, which made this feast possible.

The food at the feast certainly wasn’t outstanding, but the wax paper, felt, and medicinal paintings were enough to keep everyone discussing; nobody cared about what to eat.

Miss Yan and several others didn’t even have time for after-meal refreshments and pulled Xie Liangchen to talk endlessly, knowing there was still the flower paper from Chen Family Village that hadn’t been brought out.

Chen Family Village also had some pig fat ointment that was particularly useful for old wounds. Meng Changshu asked for two patches for her grandmother, and Li Ruchu also laughed and begged for some.

Miss Xu found herself completely ignored. She had never suffered such grievances before, but Xie Liangchen was tightly held by the guests, and she couldn’t say Xie Liangchen was being ungracious.

Unable to sit any longer, Miss Xu got up and said, "The sky is getting dark, we should each go home."

Only then did everyone come back to their senses.

Meng Changshu said, "Indeed, we should let Liangchen rest for a while." She wasn’t worried about anything else, but feared that if this continued Miss Xu’s face wouldn’t be able to hold itself. Today’s poetry gathering went smoothly, and it shouldn’t be disrupted.

Xie Liangchen got up and saw everyone off.

Mrs. Gao brought the maids to offer return gifts from Chen Family Village.

Once the carriages left the residence, Meng Changshu didn’t leave. She held Xie Liangchen back, saying, "I won’t leave for now. I’ll follow you to meet Old Mrs. Chen. The Li Family was kind to me, and as the younger generation, I should stay and chat with the old lady a bit more."

Xie Liangchen laughed and said, "That would be great, there were so many people at home today, we hardly spoke a word."

Xie Liangchen and Meng Changshu walked towards the inner courtyard.

Outside, Miss Xu sat inside the carriage, avoiding people, finally not needing to hold back, her face full of displeasure and anger.

The things from Chen Family Village had become treasures, and everyone was extra careful when taking them, as if afraid of ruining them.

Just a village.

Miss Xu’s hand tightened, just as the housekeeper was about to speak, Miss Xu heard a sound coming from outside: "Brother General..."

The shout came from the entrance of the house they had just left, and Miss Xu suddenly realized who was being called. She lifted the carriage curtain, just in time to see someone riding past her carriage.

The person had a stern face, looked straight ahead, but when he saw Chen Zigeng at the entrance, his brows and eyes showed more of a smile.

Miss Xu didn’t avert her gaze and clearly saw Song Xian dismount from the horse, holding Chen Zigeng in his arms. Chen Zigeng familiarly clung to Song Xian’s neck while Song Xian effortlessly moved Chen Zigeng onto his back.

"How was today? Tired?" Song Xian’s voice came, "Tell me if there’s anything. With Brother here, you won’t be wronged."

Miss Xu’s eyes twitched, feeling that Song Xian’s words were insinuating something.

How could Chen Zigeng be tired? How could he be wronged? Clearly, he was speaking about Xie Liangchen, only concealed by propriety between men and women not to speak directly.

And those words... were meant for her to hear.

Song Xian didn’t miss seeing her carriage, knowing who she was and perhaps guessing she might challenge Xie Liangchen...

Miss Xu’s fingernails seemed to pierce her palm. Everyone was plotting against her, and after this poetry gathering, many would soon know about Chen Family Village’s wax paper and felt.

She had unknowingly paved the way for Xie Liangchen.