Chapter 9 Section VII

Early the next morning, when everyone was getting together for dinner, Shi Yue said to Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu, "Second Uncle, Uncle, I have something to discuss with you two." Tang Gannan narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Nephew, let me just say it's okay." Shi Yue pondered for a while, then smiled and said: "A few days ago, I talked about kapok and cotton cloth with the two elders. My nephew is not talented, so I have a little bit of involvement in these things. If the second uncle and uncle are interested, I may make cotton cloth The process has become quite simple and easy.”

Tang Gannan laughed and said: "I have always believed in my nephew's ability, but food is the most important thing for the people. Eat first, and then we can talk after eating." Sang Yuchu also smiled and said, "Nephew has even dabbled in these areas. He is really a genius. Your second uncle said it well. Let's talk about it in detail after dinner." Tang Di couldn't bear his curiosity, and said anxiously: "Food is eaten every day, so it's not too late to talk about it before eating." Sang Chongguo also nodded in agreement.Sang Zi'er opened her eyes wide and looked at Shi Yue curiously.The Sang family did not treat Shi Yue as an outsider, so Mrs. Sang and Sang Zi'er did not avoid him.Sang Zi'er kept calling "Big Brother" and "Big Brother" all day long.

Shi Yue smiled lightly, and said: "Second uncle and uncle are right, this matter is not in a hurry, the rain in the cotton valley, the picking of the fruits in the summer and early autumn, it's not something that is waiting to be done, let's eat first." Tang Gannan said solemnly: "Yifu, what do you know? Ziming's nephew is not a fish in the pool, he knows a lot. If you listen to him and don't go to eat, I'm afraid you will starve to death. It didn't show half of it." One sentence made everyone laugh. But after all, there was something on the mind, and after a meal, three mouthfuls and two mouthfuls were eaten, and a servant had already brought tea.Everyone looked at Shi Yue in unison.

Shi Yue asked for the Four Treasures of the Study, and Fang said: "This kapok was not originally a product of the middle land. Today, it is mainly planted in Yazhou, Lingnan, and Songjiang. It is rare in the Central Plains, and it is generally not used for spinning and weaving. It is used to put it inside the quilt and clothes to keep warm. However, according to my nephew, the cotton is mainly used for spinning and weaving. Compared with silkworms, it is useless to harvest them and must be harvested. Compared with ramie, it avoids the work of scrambling, and has the benefit of keeping out the cold. It can be said that it is cloth without hemp, and floc without cocoon..."

Then Shi Yue described the planting method of kapok recorded in Wang Zhen's "Nongshu", Huang Daopo's mixer, vertebral bow, three-spindle spinning wheel, etc., and the flower machine and waist recorded in "Tiangong Kaiwu". Machine and so on, let's talk about it in detail.If he couldn't explain it, he broke off a chopstick, dipped it in ink and drew the shape on the paper. Although the drawing was rough, it still had a shape.After talking like this for half an hour, then Tang Di and the others paid it off, but Sang Yuchu and Tang Gannan understood the key point. At this time, when they heard what Shi Yue said one by one, they were both surprised and happy , Knowing that a great deal of wealth has been delivered to him.

After finishing speaking, Shi Yue was afraid that his memory might be wrong, and said: "Some of these things are also based on imagination, so we need to find some experienced spinners and carpenters to make trial production according to the blueprint, and try again and again. Only then can we succeed. If we only follow my blueprints, I’m afraid it’s just talking on paper, and we’ll miss a big deal.” Sang Yuchu stroked his beard, and said with a cheerful smile: "Nephew, you don't have to be too humble. Based on the idea of ​​nephew, it is already a skillful workmanship. Even if there is a little inappropriateness, it can be resolved. What you said just now is indeed old-fashioned , this winter we can find someone to trial-produce the machinery you mentioned, and next spring, we will arrange people to buy cotton in the Songjiang area and recruit spinners."

Seeing that his arrangement was quite appropriate, Shi Yue said: "It is said that the barbarian women from Yazhou have already learned these methods. If there is any problem, you can go there and spend a lot of money to buy a few barbarian women. Both of you will benefit from it." , nothing will go wrong." "We'll arrange for someone to do it." Shi Yue nodded and said with a smile: "My nephew also thought of another machine, but it's just a rough model. I will draw a blueprint to explain it someday. The two uncles can find someone to make a trial, but I don't know if it can be done. ’ He was talking about the spinning jenny.

Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu had full confidence in his ability, and immediately nodded in agreement. Shi Yue took a sip of tea, seeing Zi'er staring at him with his chin in his hands, he couldn't help smiling at her.He seemed to be playing chess. After careful consideration, he finally decided how to lay it out, and he could move like flying for the time being.After talking about the loom with Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu, he turned around and said to Tang Di and Sang Chongguo: "Yifu, Changqing, you can go to the study first, and I have more I hope you can help me." The two had always respected him, and when they saw his order, they agreed and got up and left.Zi'er suddenly raised her head and asked: "Brother Shi, is there anything I can do for you?" Shi Yue said with a smile: "Of course, how about it, you go to your brother's study and wait for me first, okay?" Responding crisply, he happily walked out.

Tang Gannan was an old fox, seeing him dismissing the three of them, he squinted his eyes and said with a smile: "Nephew, what else do you want to say?" "Actually, it's not a big deal." Shi Yue said lightly, "But I heard that Junbumi lost his country and minister Bumi lost his body. The second uncle and uncle are going to do these things, and the people they invite must be able to keep it secret. Otherwise, if it spreads out, the money will not be earned.” Tang Gannan and Sang Yuchu looked at each other with a smile, and said: "That's natural, my nephew is very worried."

Seeing that they had already thought about this matter, Shi Yue said nothing, got up and left.Walking to the gate, I suddenly heard Tang Gannan calling: "Nephew, go slowly." Shi Yue stopped walking, turned around, and asked, "What else does Second Uncle have to say?" Tang Gannan stared at him for a while, then suddenly smiled, and said: "Nephew is not something in the pool, you will call us second uncle and uncle, if there is anything that can be of use to our two families, just ask." Sang Yu Chu also smiled and nodded. Shi Yue was startled when he heard the words, and also smiled and said: "Second uncle, uncle, don't worry, if you don't treat me as an outsider, I will definitely not treat you as an outsider." After saying that, he bowed to the ground and went to Sang Chongguo's study go.Sang and Tang discussed how to invite spinners and craftsmen, how to arrange workshops and so on.