Chapter 1775 – What Kind of Bicycle Do You Want?
Who in this world finds it easy to survive?
Having a steady job, even a physically demanding one, brings a glimmer of hope to the common people.
Jiang Pengji remarked, “Not every family can afford a carriage. The more options we have for convenient travel, the fewer complaints there will be.”
In a city as large as Xiangyang, the living standards of the common people were quite decent, and there was no shortage of work for drivers.
Zhang Ping relaxed his furrowed brow and said, “What the Lord concerns herself with is for the people, a noble act indeed. I will do my utmost to create this.”
Jiang Pengji responded, “We must also produce bicycles.”
She wanted to take Zixiao out for a joyride! Qaq
Speaking of which, as a high-ranking figure in the Federation’s military, she had several modified sports cars parked in her garage, as well as a hub for combat mechs that featured a display stage. Yet here she was, relying on a bicycle to impress someone, which would be so embarrassing to admit! Qaq
Zhang Ping asked out of curiosity, “The Lord calls it a bicycle, which is indeed a type of vehicle, but I can’t for the life of me tell how to use it…”
Jiang Pengji replied, “You sit on the saddle, legs spread apart, and pedal with your feet.”
Zhang Ping: “…”
He wasn’t sure whether to question if it would even stay upright like that or to say that position was rather scandalous.
Just thinking about riding that thing with something wedged between his legs was indeed quite awkward in broad daylight.
Seeing him silent, Jiang Pengji asked, “Is there something wrong?”
Zhang Ping forced out a polite but awkward smile, “Nothing wrong at all.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll await your good news.”
Now, Jiang Pengji was someone with a significant household; she just had to delegate tasks to those below her and steer the ship.
“By the way, since Yuexia is pregnant and not as strong as before, she shouldn’t handle rubber materials to avoid harming the fetus.” Jiang Pengji shifted the topic, “Let her take a look at the bicycle blueprints; I remember she finds this kind of thing most interesting.”
Zhang Ping was about to thank her, but then Jiang Pengji hit him with that.
He thought their Lord was being considerate of the pregnant woman by allowing Yuexia paid maternity leave, but instead, she was expecting her to work on a new project while pregnant?
That was a pregnant woman!!!
Pregnant women are still people; as long as the labor isn’t excessive, Jiang Pengji was the kind of person who wouldn’t even spare a pregnant woman in her relentless pursuits.
What could Zhang Ping say, then?
He merely wore a stiff smile, accepting the command for Bai Yuexia.
At first, he thought Bai Yuexia wouldn’t have the energy for it. However, when Zhang Ping delivered the blueprints to her, she nearly jumped up from her mat with her big belly. Zhang Ping quickly steadied her, a look of shock on his face, “Take it easy, take it easy! Don’t strain your belly!”
Bai Yuexia gently pushed his right hand away.
“My belly is on me; I’m not complaining, yet your reaction is wilder than mine.”
Zhang Ping grimaced, “I’m just worried about you overexerting yourself.”
Bai Yuexia said, “How could I be negligent with the Lord’s entrusted task? I’m perfectly fine; the little one inside wouldn’t dare trouble me.”
Jiang Pengji’s drawings were quite detailed, even including exploded views of each part.
After carefully looking over everything, Bai Yuexia couldn’t help but be more and more impressed.
Her Lord was truly a genius of the Mo family, thwarted only by the chaos of the world.
Meanwhile, others sighed that Jiang Pengji was a designer who had been sidetracked by a world full of deer hunting.
“Lord, the sample garment has been delivered; the person is waiting inside.”
As Jiang Pengji left the Woodworking Workshop, she bumped into Wei Ci.
“What sample garment?” she asked.
Wei Ci replied, “Not long ago, the Lord handed over the drawings to the seamstress to cut out a ceremonial gown; the sample has been rushed out.”
Jiang Pengji slapped her forehead; she almost forgot about that!
“Let’s go see what it looks like.”
The designs Jiang Pengji created were modified by Wei Ci, as her artistic skills were better suited to mechanical drawings; other designs were Wei Ci’s forte.
She was quite eager to see the final product.
The older seamstresses greeted Jiang Pengji respectfully before carefully presenting the neatly folded sample garment to her.
“Why isn’t anyone trying it on to see the effect?” Jiang Pengji asked.
What could you see from a folded piece?
The seamstress replied, “This old servant wouldn’t dare. Noble garments are not the sort we can try on.”
Typically, the clothing they made went directly to the nobles without their trying it on first.
The garments must be new, never second-hand.
Jiang Pengji said, “That’s fine, I’ll find two people to try it on. We have to know what’s off before we can adjust it.”
The embroidery was done stitch by stitch by the seamstress, impeccably neat, and the overall effect of the garment was as Jiang Pengji imagined… Wait, she turned the wearers around and realized the panda clan emblem on the back had been altered.
Jiang Pengji had sketched a cute, cartoonish black-and-white panda face, very adorable, but it didn’t match the garment’s overall aesthetic.
After Wei Ci’s changes, the previously cute style became a more noble and aloof style.
The panda emblem was outlined in black silk thread, appearing at first glance as a strange character, and only upon closer inspection could one see it was a panda face. Surrounding the emblem were circular lines, with eight twisting patterns that looked like willow leaves or flickering flames.
Jiang Pengji laughed, “This change is quite nice.”
Wei Ci had mentioned he would make small modifications to the clan emblem, and Jiang Pengji, busy at the time, didn’t ask further.
When experts provide their input, they certainly know what they’re doing far better than she does.
Wei Ci smiled wryly, lowering his head.
Could he say that this clan emblem was actually the royal family emblem from Jiang’s previous life?
Back then, the emperor had also wanted to use the panda as the clan emblem, but the drawing didn’t turn out well. It took several revisions by some ministers to arrive at the current version.
This emblem was placed at the center of the back, not too large—about the size of a ring made with the thumb and index finger.
It wouldn’t catch too much attention, but it was certainly noticeable.
“I’m very satisfied with the sample garment; the finished product should follow this design,” Jiang Pengji said to everyone with a smile, “The senior students from Golden Scales Academy have returned to studies; you need to go to the academy and measure them for fitting. It must be tailored well; they need to wear it with pride.”
The number of graduates from the first class was just over two hundred, so they had time to rush the orders.
This was the first time; they had no experience. If it were to fall on the next batch of students, graduation attire would need to be prepared much earlier.
“Now that the garments are ready, has the Lord thought of any topics to test them on?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “Huh? Do I have to come up with questions too?”
Wei Ci said, “Since this is the first batch, the Lord values them highly, and naturally, the outside world will pay more attention as well.”
“That makes sense. Let me think…” Jiang Pengji’s eyes lit up with a smile, “Perfect, I have something ready-made.”
“Ready-made?”
“Cane sugar and rubber trees—aren’t those ready to go?”
Back in her school days, every exam paper she set was closely linked with current events.
This detail teaches the students to also cultivate a habit of paying attention to significant happenings in the world outside.
Wei Ci’s lips twitched, suddenly struck by an ominous sense of foreboding.
