My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

"Two layers of fabric can indeed solve a large part of this problem..."

When Si Muyan said this, the younger sister had already pulled up her clothes and gestured towards the sky.

"Big sister, second sister, you see, the fabric we have now is not dense enough, so the fuzz will easily come out when rubbed. Two layers of fabric can solve part of the problem, but after wearing it for a long time, it will still come out. I think it would be better to try weaving the fabric myself, weaving it more densely, and adding an extra layer. It can keep you warm and prevent the fuzz from coming out."

That afternoon, the second and youngest sisters went to the village to ask for weaving skills. They found two women who used to weave to supplement their family income. However, ramie cloth was everywhere and fetched a low price. Furthermore, Fenghuang County had been blessed with good weather in recent years, so farming was enough to provide for their family. So, they gave up the idea of ​​weaving to supplement their income.

When they heard that the Si sisters wanted to learn, the two aunts were very enthusiastic and took out the loom to teach them.

Aunt Shun taught for a while, then simply smiled and said, "This weaving looks easy, but it takes more than a day or two to master it. If there's anything you're anxious to do, why not tell us? Tomorrow we'll have your uncles go up the mountain to find kudzu and hemp, and we'll do it for you."

The younger sister smiled and said, "I'm afraid I really have to trouble you. How about this? Tomorrow, please ask the two uncles to go up the mountain to collect the cloth. When we come back, we will settle the wages according to the outside price. As for the weaving, please help as well."

Aunt Shun said, "My two daughters-in-law, one works in a workshop, the other in a duck shop in the county town. Thanks to your quick wits, you've helped us make money. How can such a small favor be worth your money?"

Another lady also echoed.

The younger sister shook her head. "If you put in the work, you deserve to be paid. It's us who are bothering you. I'll leave this matter to you. We'll come back tomorrow afternoon."

The two ladies hadn't woven cloth in years, so they were a little unfamiliar at first, but they soon got used to it. However, the processing of kudzu and hemp took a long time, and it took ten days to make a whole piece of dense cloth.

Si Muyan rubbed the linen cloth carefully, thinking that it was indeed not as good as cotton, but this level of density was barely enough. It was just a bit heavy to wear. If the clothes were made into two layers, even if they were filled with fleece, they would still be heavy.

The younger sister asked with concern: "Sister, how about this?"

Si Muyan pondered for a moment and said, "The material is already dense enough. I was wondering, what if we could add a layer of impermeable paint to the outside of the fabric?"

"Pigments?" Second Sister didn't understand. "There are all kinds of dyes in the dyeing workshop, but they can't be airtight."

The younger sister stroked the cloth, and suddenly her eyes lit up. "I remember there's a kiln in the western suburbs of the county that specializes in firing pottery. The surface of the pottery is covered with a layer of glaze, but I don't know if that glaze can be applied to cloth."

The three sisters took some time out to visit the kiln factory and ask the owner about the glaze quality.

The boss was surprised. "I'm afraid it won't stick to fabric. We apply this glaze mainly to make the surface of pottery smooth. Also, once pottery is fired, it won't deform. But fabric will inevitably deform if washed, so the glaze won't stick to it for long."

As he spoke, he personally went to get a piece of clothing and said, "Look, this is the clothing our workers wear when they work. It will be stained with glaze, and it can't be washed off. But it will crack on clothes, and it will never be as smooth as on pottery."

It seems that this road is blocked.

Si Muyan left the kiln factory with her two sisters, and all three of them were a little disappointed.

"Don't be discouraged, big sister. We can always find a better way. Let's try making the down jacket you mentioned first." The younger sister said, "This thing is actually the same as opening a food store. Didn't your base and dipping sauce recipes keep changing?"

Si Muyan felt that what she said was right, so she nodded in agreement and decided to go back and try making a down vest with a single layer of fabric.

The oxcart had just entered the county town and was heading south to reach Songji Village, but two oxcarts ahead were blocking the way, preventing Song Erqiang's oxcart from passing.

Song Erqiang looked around for a moment and said to the three girls, "I recognize that man. He is from Master Cen's family in Xiangshan Village."

Xiangshan Village was a large village with a private school. Almost all the children from the villages south of Fenghuang County went to Xiangshan School, which had only one teacher: Master Cen.

Si Muyan also knew this teacher. He was now fifty-six years old. He passed the imperial examination twenty years ago and was said to have been the last one to pass. Since he had no hope of passing the exam again, he simply opened this school.

Thanks to the school, Mr. Cen and his family have lived a very good life over the years.

The younger sister frowned. "I heard Master Cen only has one son and one daughter, both in their thirties. If they are Master Cen's grandchildren, they would be in their teens at most. The people you mentioned making noise over there don't seem to be in the right age."

The people making the noise were a middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties, and a young man who was probably in his twenties.

Song Erqiang shook his head: "I was driving a few days ago in the morning and saw him and Master Cen together."

All I could hear was the sound of the two people arguing, which was getting louder and louder.

The older man was so angry that he held a stick in his hand and said, "You still haven't learned your lesson at this age. I will break your legs today!"

A middle-aged woman ran over from the side and rushed over to hug the older man's legs: "Master, Master, don't be angry, Ah Cheng is not a bad student, it's because of my poor health that I let him come back!"

"A loving mother often spoils her child!" The older man's beard trembled with anger.

The woman started crying again: "Really, Master, please take a look. This is the book that Ah Cheng brought back. It was given to him by his uncle."

Cen Cheng, who was originally unwilling to accept the answer, immediately stood up stiffly when he heard this. He stiffened his neck and said, "Mom is right. I came back because of my poor health. Books...my books!"

Si Muyan lifted the curtain and glanced at the young man, frowning: "Second Uncle Song, let's see if we can find another way. Let's hurry back."

Song Er emphasized and turned the car around and left.

Si Muyan's eyes fell on the book in the young man's hands, and she shook her head unconsciously: "Looking at the way this family is dressed, they don't look very wealthy. It's a pity that this young man doesn't understand his father's painstaking efforts."

The second sister asked, "Sister, how can you make such an inference when you don't know the full story?"

Si Muyan said, "I just said it casually. Judging from the dark circles under his eyes and his haggard complexion, he must have been hanging around out there for a long time."