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墨書 Inktalez
In ancient times, the Agricultural Minister sowed rice seeds directly into the ground, resulting in a low survival rate for the seeds and a waste of some of them. Elder Brother Li had mentioned the idea and method of seedling cultivation before leaving home, although he had never experimented with it. However, both siblings from the Li Family trusted their older brother completely, believing that his methods were undoubtedly correct. Previously, they lacked the seeds to implement this method, but now that they had them, they were determined to follow their brother's guidance. Once successful, they could promote it throughout the village and even across the county and nation, allowing people everywhere to save some seeds and convert them into food, ensuring that everyone could enjoy a few more hearty meals.
"Seedlings? Do rice seeds need to be cultivated as seedlings?" Wen Zixia asked in surprise.
Li Yishu interjected eagerly, "Of course! By cultivating the rice seeds into seedlings first before transplanting them, we can reduce seed waste. This is all knowledge passed down from my brother."
Upon hearing Brother Li's teachings, Wen Zixia and Wen Ziyu did not hesitate to hand over the rice seeds to Li Zhoule. However, they would not act as idle bystanders; instead, they followed the Li siblings closely to learn how to cultivate seedlings together.
"The humidity and temperature for seedling cultivation are very important..." Li Zhoule explained while demonstrating the process. The Wen Family brothers nodded in understanding, and even Wen Zixue, who was unaware of any mysterious happenings, listened intently.
After processing the rice seeds, Li Zhoule took out two Sweet Potatoes.
"Wen Zixue exclaimed in surprise, 'Sister Zhoule, how do you have Celestial Seeds?'"
Li Zhoule smiled slightly. "Our ancestors have blessed both our families, so they gifted us one Celestial Seed each. Zi Jue, you must keep this a secret!"
Wen Zixue covered her mouth with her hand. "Don't worry, Sister. I won't tell anyone."
...
After passing the Strong Flashlight to Li Yishu, Hanno was soon approached by Chang Miao.
"Nono, can't you discuss with the master about giving me more Embroidered Handkerchiefs each month?" Chang Miao pleaded with Hanno. The Embroidered Handkerchiefs were incredibly popular; despite their high price, customers continued to flock to buy them. Unfortunately, the supply was too limited, and every time Chang Miao had to turn away customers, it felt like a stab to her heart.
"If you want more Embroidered Handkerchiefs, why not place an order at the Embroidery Factory? I guarantee you'll get as many products as you need each month," Hanno replied lazily while opening his computer to play an online game, controlling Jitai as he ran around on the screen.
"Can machine-made products compare to the exquisite pieces crafted by the master?" Chang Miao leaned over to look at Hanno's game character and scoffed. "You little boy lover! If you like boys so much, why don't you just have one yourself?"
Hanno snorted, "What do you care?! You can't compare assembly line work to the exquisite craftsmanship of a master embroiderer. A master works by hand, demanding perfection from their creations, so naturally, the process is slower and the quantity limited. If you can't wait, you can always look for another embroiderer!"
Chang Miao bumped her head against Hanno's back repeatedly, "You're deliberately making things difficult for me. If I knew other Embroidered Masters, why would I come to you?"
Hanno slapped Chang Miao's hand away, "Don't distract me while I'm playing Bss. Since you can't find another Embroidered Master, just accept your fate."
"Ah—" Chang Miao wailed as she fell back onto the bed, "Money, oh money, slipping away just like that!"
After finishing her game of Bss, Hanno controlled Jitai to return to Sword Hidden Villa and turned to ask Chang Miao, "Forget about the Embroidered Handkerchiefs; the master can only produce so much alone. But do you want anything else?"
Chang Miao sat up abruptly, "What else?"
Hanno replied, "Wooden Hairpins, Silver Hairpins, Wood Carvings, Bamboo Woven Products, etc. I guarantee they are all authentic handmade items with an antique charm."
With each item Hanno mentioned, Chang Miao's eyes lit up like stars. She nodded vigorously and then lunged forward to hug Hanno tightly, "Sister, you're my real sister! Where are those things? I'll go buy them with you right now!"
"No need," Hanno said. "The artisans who make these products have the same temperament as the Embroidered Masters; they don't like outsiders interrupting them. I'll bring the items back for you later, and we can price them similarly to the Embroidered Handkerchiefs."
Chang Miao happily rubbed against Hanno, "Nono, how do you know so many talented friends? It's a pity they can't be introduced to me. Ah, why are you becoming more mysterious? Are you secretly a disciple of some hermit master with incredible skills?"
Hanno calmly pushed Chang Miao's head away, "You can come back now. I'll bring some samples for you to try selling online. In the future, we can determine the quantity based on customer preferences."
Chang Miao nodded repeatedly. Having resolved one worry, she joyfully lay back on Hanno's bed and picked up her phone to scroll through Weibo. Hanno shook her head and turned back to continue playing her game. Just then, someone was gathering players for a raid in Dihua Palace; Hanno joined in.
After defeating the hidden Bss Shalia, Mom Han called for the two of them to come eat. The sisters hurried out to help Mom Han serve dishes and set the table. Mom Han had stewed a pot full of Kelp and Ginkgo Pig Trotter Soup that made Chang Miao incredibly happy. She loved pig trotters in any form—stewed, roasted, or braised. While eating, she discussed with Mom Han about having rice noodles for dinner that night using the pig trotter soup as a base for Pig's Trotter Rice Noodles. Mom Han readily agreed. Hanno glanced at the dishes on the table and decided not to go home for dinner but instead eat hot pot at a restaurant. Her taste was strong; she couldn't stand eating such light food for even one or two meals.
In the afternoon, Hanno excused herself and went to her rental apartment. There she prepared paper and ink; she had been practicing Brush Calligraphy and could write as quickly as ancient scholars. Soon she finished a letter and tossed it into a Porcelain Jar along with half a dozen lighters and a bar of Soap Opera soap.
In the kitchen, Li Zhoule was busy cooking when Li Yishu walked in, holding a letter and a few items. Li Zhoule recognized one of them as a lighter, but she couldn't identify the other two.
"Sister, the Deity likes things from the Mortal Realm. Let's buy two items to send to her," Li Yishu said cheerfully, feeling that being assigned tasks by the Deity was a sign of trust and an honor they must strive to fulfill.
"What kind of items?" Li Zhoule asked, a bit worried that they might not have enough money to buy something that would satisfy the Deity.
"Things like Wooden Hairpins, Silver Hairpins, Wood Carvings, Bamboo Woven Products, and so on. We don't need anything expensive, just something a bit unique and well-made," Li Yishu replied. "Sister, don't worry. What treasures does a deity lack? She would surely look down on gold and silver; instead, your embroidered handkerchiefs and wooden hairpins should be more to the Deity's liking."
Li Zhoule felt relieved upon hearing this and smiled beautifully. "What are the other two interesting items you have? Does the Deity have any preferences?"
"The Deity is so considerate; of course she has preferences," Li Yishu said, clearly a fan of the Deity. "These two are Soap Opera and Soap; they're cleaning products."
Li Yishu explained, "They're like lye but clean clothes better than lye does. If your hands are dirty, using Soap Opera will make them very clean and fresh without leaving any grease behind. Soap works similarly to Soap Opera but has added fragrance; it smells wonderful."
Li Yishu raised her hand in front of Li Zhoule. "Sister, take a whiff."
Li Zhoule took the Soap and gently sniffed it. A faint osmanthus fragrance wafted into her nostrils, refreshing her senses.
"It smells so good; it's osmanthus!" Li Zhoule said, unable to put down the Soap. "The color is just like that of osmanthus flowers—light yellow and beautiful."
"If you like it, you can keep it. We'll keep Soap Opera for ourselves," Li Yishu said, though ultimately it was up to Li Zhoule to decide.
Li Zhoule indeed liked the Soap; its appeal to women was significant. Seeing the lighter in her brother's other hand, she estimated its price and nodded. "Alright then, let's keep it. I'll use Soap Opera to wash your clothes. I'll put the Soap in the cupboard to scent the clothes; it's just as good as incense."
Li Yishu smiled happily. "Sister, tomorrow we’ll go to town."
"No, let's go to the county town." The things in the town are not as plentiful as those in the county.
Li Yishu nodded in agreement.
The next day, the Li siblings set off for the county town alone, intending to buy a few items without troubling the Wen Family Brothers. They did not take an ox cart but walked slowly, taking the entire morning to reach the county town.
"Sister, I'm really hungry. Let's go eat something first!" Li Yishu said, clutching his stomach and looking pitifully at Li Zhoule.
Li Zhoule understood his thoughts well: "You want to eat the dumplings from that shop at the corner, right?"
Li Yishu chuckled, "Their dumplings are delicious!"
Indeed, they were tasty because the broth for the dumplings was made from old hen soup, making it incredibly fragrant. Even though it cost three or four more Copper Coins than other places, many people still flocked there.
Li Zhoule playfully tapped his forehead and said with a smile, "Let's go."
Since it was noon, there were quite a few people eating dumplings. The siblings waited for a while before finally getting a vacant table. They ordered two bowls of dumplings and a plate of vegetables, enjoying a hearty meal—life had improved so much that they now ate three meals instead of just solving their hunger every two meals. They felt full and had gained some weight; compared to their previous scrawny appearances, they looked like entirely different people now.
After finishing their dumplings, the siblings headed straight to Wei An Pawnshop. Sun Shopkeeper was exceptionally warm and welcoming; after all, the siblings were like his lucky stars, and he couldn’t afford to be negligent. Knowing that Sun Shopkeeper was eager for the lighter, they didn’t delay and handed it over immediately. Sun Shopkeeper hurriedly presented the prepared silver notes to Li Zhoule. Since the first auction of lighters by the Jiang Family, they had auctioned off three or four more lighters, with prices consistently high, allowing Jiang Young Master to earn a fortune and gain considerable fame.
With silver notes and small change in hand, Li Zhoule tucked away the notes and took the small change as he and his brother headed towards the market at West Street. They wandered among stalls selling hairpins and other trinkets. With her keen eye for detail, Li Zhoule made selections quickly and soon bought a large bag of items. Although there were many pieces, they were not heavy at all; Li Yishu carried them on his back effortlessly.
After circling around for a while, the sun had already begun to set in the west. It was past noon, and they dared not linger any longer; they left the county town with their purchases.
Though they quickened their pace on the way back, it was already evening when they reached the village. The sun and moon hung simultaneously in the sky, but it was quite dim. Li Zhoule pressed her hand against her chest where she kept the silver notes; thankfully, they had traveled safely without anyone trying to rob them. Next time, she thought, they should definitely bring along the Wen Family Brothers; after all, one woman and one child made for easy targets.
"Zhou Le." Just before reaching the village entrance, she heard a familiar gentle voice.
Li Zhoule was surprised and asked, "What are you doing outside the village?"
Wen Zixia walked over and smiled, "You haven't been back for so long, I was worried about you all and thought I'd come out to greet you."
Li Zhoule felt a warmth in his heart and softly said, "But we’re back now, right? Have you eaten? I'll cook as soon as we get home; come eat with us."
Wen Zixia declined, "No need, Ziyu is already cooking. I'll eat when I go back."
Li Yishu chuckled, "Brother Wen, Sister is making dumpling soup later. Take a bowl back for Ziyu and Zi Jue so they can have some meat too."
"Okay." This time, Wen Zixia didn't refuse. The reason was that her two younger brothers hadn’t had meat in a long time and were surely craving it.
Li Zhoule smiled gently, "Are you the one craving meat?"
The Li family had enough grain now, but meat was hard to come by. They had to go to the town or county to buy a few pounds to improve their meals. As the weather warmed up, it became harder to store meat, so they could only eat it occasionally. Thinking back to the days when they couldn't even afford rice, their current life felt very happy.
The three of them chatted and laughed as they returned to the Li family home. Ignoring his fatigue, Li Zhoule immediately went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. She had already planned what to cook and prepared the ingredients before leaving in the morning: the dough was ready, and the black fungus had been soaked—ever since discovering that their Porcelain Jar led to ancient times, Hanno no longer threw leftover food inside but occasionally tossed in some dried goods that could still be eaten, like black fungus, porcini mushrooms, and dates. Li Zhoule cut a piece of fatty meat and rendered it in the pot, adding black fungus, greens, porcini mushrooms, and water to create a fragrant three-flavor soup. After that, she added the dumpling dough; after boiling for a while until the dumplings floated up, the dumpling soup was ready.
Li Zhoule filled a Sea Bowl to the brim and placed it in a basket before handing it to Wen Zixia. Wen Zixia thanked her and took the basket home.
"Sister, when are you and Brother Wen getting married?" Li Yishu suddenly asked as she watched their interaction.
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