Chapter 456
The government office was comprised of only four men, Feng Jin, Qiguan Rang, Xu Ke and Jiang Pengji, who had low perseverance and her interests changed rapidly .
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Other than Feng Jin’s garments, which were knitted by his wife from sheep’s wool, the others had to order them .
“Is knitting addictive?” Xu Ke forcefully smiled .
Truthfully, Liyun himself also felt that knitting was addictive, even when the weather was cold . There was no need for cultivating lands for farming, nor did he need to run errands . The government office was sustained by the few masters . He practiced his spear martial arts for four hours daily, and then he had nothing to do . He might as well pick up his ball of yarn and knit .
Yet the wind outside was blowing heavily, how cold it must be to knit sweaters .
He shamelessly headed to the government office to absorb some warmth . Qiguan Rang cheekily remarked that though he had a wife, it was as if he had none . He complained that Feng Jin liked to use the neck scarf knitted by his wife to provoke him . Afterwards, Liyun, this honest child, offered sincerely to knit a set for Qiguan Rang .
Qiguan Rang: “…”
Laughing until his stomach ached, Xu Ke joked with Liyun, “If Han Mei helps Wen Zheng complete this, won’t you help Ke knit one too?”
“Sure . ”
Xu Ke: “…”
He’s only playing around with this honest kid .
Liyun had agile fingers, and his rate of knitting woollen sweaters was much faster than the most skillful female worker . The woollen sweaters he made were meticulously designed, and all the knitting threads were neat . They were an exquisite sight to behold .
In a few days of effort, Qiguan Rang and Xu Ke saw Liyun’s product . They both took a liking to it .
Such a virtuous one, what an ideal marriage partner!
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“My lord, would you like a set as well?”
Liyun’s admiration for Jiang Pengji already went off the chart multiple times . Considering that she was also single, he volunteered his service gladly .
Nevertheless, he was cruelly rejected .
Jiang Pengji was too lazy to even lift her gaze . ”There’s no need . Your lord isn’t like these two whom no one wants . No one is interested in knitting a sweater for them . ”
What a joke . Those youthful sisters would rush at every opportunity to knit for her .
Critically —
“I, your lord is powerful and mighty in martial skills, almost unrivalled in this world and immune to the cold and warmth . How can I be compared to them, once they take off a piece of clothing they’ll shiver uncontrollably, likened to a quail . ” Jiang Pengji laughed menacingly; in one sentence she attacked her three strategists in the government office .
“My lord, these words are not appropriate…”
Their natural body build was indeed incomparable to Meng Hun and the rest, but not to the extent of having no muscles or lacking stamina .
Jiang Pengji’s eyes shifted . “Can you run during the early morning?”
The trio were momentarily silent, their blankets hindering them from waking up . They refused to run .
There was an unending resource of sheep’s wool being transported into Xiangyang district . To prevent any suspicions and to avoid the crossfire between Tsing Yi army and the Red Lotus group, every good delivery took a different route to reach its destination .
Those woollen trousers and sweaters were not only to be given to the people of Xiangyang district, but any spares will be sold in Chongzhou where Liu She governed .
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Prices were naturally not as cheap, selling at least a tenfold difference .
Chongzhou was freezing compared to Xiangyang district .
Except when the goods were first sold, the sales of woollen sweaters and trousers weren’t outstanding . The variety of designs weren’t the issue, but the people had never seen the material before .
However, it was inevitable since the magistrate of Chongzhou was Jiang Pengji’s own father .
Her dear father set the example so his subordinates would each buy a complete set .
It truly kept one warm when worn, and it felt soft and comfortable . They would buy into this incentive that magistrate Liu sold .
Slowly, the wool sweaters and trousers gained popularity, but the supplies were limited . Basically, it sold out after reaching Chongzhou .
Without any warning, the first snow descended upon the earth, in flakes as huge as goose feathers . Heaven and earth became uniform in colour, and it looked truly wondrous .
Jiang Pengji announced an official order from her magistrate headquarters to every household . If the snow were to rise above an inch at their roof or front door, they would be fined .
“Though the district city is mostly filled with new houses, the accumulated snow is overwhelming, and it will still result in the collapse of houses . It is inevitable . The area under my governance, I don’t wish to re-enact that year when Shangjing’s snow disaster struck . I hope all the people of the district can live through this winter in peace . ”
Jiang Pengji’s official rule caused many people to murmur, but Xiangyang district was governed by the district headquarters . The people could choose not to act on it, but the district headquarters reserved the right to confiscate their rental houses and chase their families away .
Facing such a strictly enforced official rule, the people suppressed their complaints and obediently swept the snow .
Every courtyard came with a ladder, and the roof wasn’t high so sweeping the snow would not be particularly dangerous .
Feng Jin glanced at Jiang Pengji, whose brows were increasingly creased, and said, “The people will understand my lord’s good intentions . ”
Nodding her head, she waved and said, “Don’t stand on ceremony, roast what you wish to eat . ”
On a heavy winter’s day, it was perfect to gather for steamboat and barbecue .
Winter had come, and the district headquarters’ daily affair was to have meals together and work overtime .
As for when they would gather for a meal, it depended on when she hunted down a big animal . Otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough meat .
Jiang Pengji found a carbon grill, a plate to barbecue and a support for hotpots .
The fuel was a basin of charcoal . A few tables were lined together so anyone could roast what they wanted to eat .
Over ten types of seasonings were available in different small glass jars to cater to different taste buds .
The winter season was lacking in greeneries and vegetables, and consequently the ingredients composing the steamboat were mostly fungus, mushrooms, preserved meat or other wild game .
Feng Jin glanced at Jiang Pengji holding her brush, then using some ink, she brushed onto the wings of the mountain chicken, her temper dissipated .
With such a lord, what else can he say?
Should he comment that a gentleman should refrain from bloodshed?
Seeing Meng Hun and the rest so eager to try the food, he could not bear to spoil the mood…
Just take it as a joke amid the gathering . One shouldn’t be bound by many rules .
Feng Jin silently thought to himself, and he stealthily extended his chopsticks to abscond with the chicken drumstick that Liyun had just roasted . He discreetly sighed … he originally thought Liyun, this fellow, would make known his presence at battle with his spear . A pity he followed the wrong lord, his area for growth was off course, farming, knitting sweaters, he now acquired the new skill of roasting meat . The inside was tender, while the outside was gently charred . It was roasted to golden brown and crispy, topped with seasonings, and caused salivation .
Liyun had keen senses as a military man in both his sight and hearing . How would he not observe Feng Jin’s actions?
But compared to eating, he enjoyed the process of roasting even more and was feeling immensely accomplished .
As it was a private event, Jiang Pengji also purposely emphasized for everyone to not bother with formalities . Qiguan Rang directly opposed the rule of keeping silent during mealtimes . He quietly enjoyed the fruits of Meng Hun’s labour in roasting, and commented, “When the district city is in order next year, Rang wishes to bring my wife and daughter here . ”
Xu Ke was somewhat moved, yet he recalled he hadn’t gotten rid of Taxue who was by Jiang Pengji’s side . If he brought Xunmei over, it might bring harm to her .
Thus, he could only hide his thoughts, quietly blending in as a listener .
This was in preparation to let their imaginations have free rein to decide on their goal for the following year .
Meng Hun was single . His only goal next year was to help Jiang Pengji successfully invade Feng Yi county .
Luoyue wanted to return home but he had just got on board and couldn’t escape from his responsibilities just yet, so he could only sigh and resign to his fate .
Brother Liyun commented, “Wishing that teacher can reunite with Yun next year, then allow Yun to find a desirable wife and seize the opportunity to become a father by year end . ”
Since she purchased the first set of glass wares, Jiang Pengji was feeling rich .
Her immense generosity to her subordinates was also evident . She paid all their accumulated overtime salaries and monetary rewards all at once .
Brother Liyun was considered to own some assets . He had a house and carriage .
Their expressions were ambivalent, and Jiang Pengji even coughed lightly, complimenting them, “What great aspirations!”