Chapter 916 – Two Years in Hibernation, The State of the World (7)
No matter how Hui Jun insisted, Jiang Pengji still “showed mercy” and did not take full responsibility for naming the child.
She pulled out a small pouch of bamboo slips from her sleeve, “Take a look, which name do you like?”
Hui Jun smiled as she received it, “Did Young Master come up with these?”
Jiang Pengji shook her head, “No, it’s Zhen Tu who asked me to bring them.”
Upon hearing that these names were sent by Fu Wang, Hui Jun’s smile faded slightly, but her hands didn’t stop moving.
Untying the string of the pouch, she pulled out a few bamboo slips with a list of names written on them.
After examining them closely, Hui Jun set the slips aside and said with a hint of annoyance, “Does he really need to name the child?”
Her fingers traced the small bamboo pieces, covered in a dense scrawl.
Just looking at the handwriting, it was hard to associate the writer with Fu Wang.
“About you and Zhen Tu, I won’t pry too much; as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. If you find raising the child too burdensome, don’t hesitate to ask for help. After all, the child’s other half comes from him, and it’s only right for him to contribute to the upbringing. If Zhen Tu treats the two kids poorly, I can take them as my godchildren, and I doubt anyone would dare bully them.”
Hui Jun chuckled, “In that case, Young Master should let the child call you ‘Godmother’ soon.”
“You are too fond of taking things out of context. I clearly said ‘if Zhen Tu isn’t good to the two,’ and you overlooked that premise.” With a raised eyebrow, Jiang Pengji continued, “That wild wolf is watching you closely. If I try to steal his wife and children, I fear he might just quit his job.”
Despite Fu Wang not saying much, he was still wary of her.
Not because he was unfaithful, but because the family letters from Hui Jun were always addressed to Jiang Pengji.
That wild wolf was both envious and resentful, and the way he looked at Jiang Pengji felt off.
What should have been a majestic wolf now looked like a pitiful husky.
“Does he dare?” Hui Jun’s brows furrowed.
Just then, the baby boy in the stroller let out a few whimpers, followed by a soft sound as if air was being released.
Jiang Pengji remarked, “Time to change his diaper.”
Hui Jun glanced at Jiang Pengji in surprise, then raised her hand to check the baby’s bottom and indeed felt a warm, soft mass.
“Tsk—so young, and he’s already inherited his father’s troublemaking skills.”
Hui Jun muttered, taking out a clean diaper from the basket hanging below the stroller.
She wasn’t shy; right in front of Jiang Pengji, she skillfully changed the baby’s diaper.
Though she complained, there was a softness in her expression that could melt hearts.
Since becoming a mother, Hui Jun had changed significantly.
Jiang Pengji said, “Before I left Chongzhou, Zhen Tu came to propose.”
Hui Jun turned, clicking her tongue, “Does he deserve Young Master?”
Jiang Pengji chuckled silently, explaining, “What are you thinking? He feels you’re similar to Wan’er, both being orphans, and since you’re close to me, he sees me as half family. He’s just emulating Han Mei; if he could win me over, marrying you wouldn’t be a problem.”
Hui Jun cleaned her son’s bottom and tossed the dirty diaper into the clothing basket.
“Young Master knows my background… This life I lead now is something I could never have dreamed of. I wouldn’t dare to be greedy. That General Fu and I aren’t on the same page; I prefer not to get entangled with him.” Hui Jun’s demeanor was calm as she added, “I don’t devalue myself; I just prefer the way things are now… I don’t seek anything else, just hope to alleviate some of Young Master’s burdens.”
Jiang Pengji carefully scrutinized Hui Jun’s face and saw sincerity in her words, so she didn’t press the issue.
“I just feel… Zhen Tu isn’t so easy to shake off.”
Hui Jun replied, “Am I afraid of him?”
With a clever ploy, even Zhen Tu was easily brought down.
As they spoke, Jiang Pengji noticed a bookshelf in Hui Jun’s room filled with many hand-copied bamboo slips.
Hui Jun saw her gaze and got up to fetch a few rolls.
“Young Master is well-educated; do you have any insights on these?”
Jiang Pengji unfolded one and found it all written in Hui Jun’s handwriting.
The slips were filled with various records on dyeing and printing fabrics, as well as topics on spices and cosmetics.
In addition to that, Jiang Pengji also noticed a drawing of a foot-powered spinning wheel.
“I stayed at the Dongqing Palace for a few years and saw a lot, so I thought maybe I could start a business in this area. While I was in the palace, I vaguely heard someone mention that a little yellow gate contributed a family secret that could produce brightly colored fabrics. I had asked a few questions, and it might come in handy now—”
Hui Jun was a determined person; she didn’t want to overly rely on others, not even Jiang Pengji.
Jiang Pengji smiled, “Though I have no expertise, women always love beauty, and expenses for cosmetics and jewelry typically take up a large chunk. If you start a business in this area and manage it well, you might make a huge profit; I believe in your potential.”
After saying that, she asked, “I see the spinning wheel; did you draw that?”
Hui Jun answered, “Yes, I learned a bit from the carpenter at the Woodworking Workshop. They say this drawing style was taught by Young Master.”
“You really have a talent… I suddenly remembered something…”
Hui Jun asked, “What did Young Master remember?”
“This spinning wheel—is it foot-powered?”
“Yes.”
Most common folks used drop-spindles, and foot-powered spinning wheels were not accessible to ordinary people.
“I suddenly recalled the waterwheel He Xu was messing with earlier.”
In Wanzhou, agriculture thrived largely due to Zhang Ping’s waterwheel innovation, which greatly reduced irrigation labor.
Hui Jun couldn’t keep up with Jiang Pengji’s train of thought; she couldn’t understand how the topic shifted from foot-powered spinning wheels to waterwheels?
Jiang Pengji remarked, “I’m just curious, what if we used water to power the foot spinning wheel instead of manual labor…”
Hui Jun: “!!!”
“Y-Young Master, that idea is… quite bold…”
Hui Jun had never thought to connect two completely unrelated things together.
“Yet, I think this idea is feasible.”
Jiang Pengji came from the future; even if she didn’t understand ancient technologies, her vision and perspective were beyond ordinary reach.
Humans began their journey by utilizing various external forces step by step.
So why not harness water power?
Modified waterwheels could take water from low ground to high ground, filling irrigation channels, and even automatically milling rice.
So why couldn’t we use water power to replace manual labor for spinning?
Humans get tired, but if the water flow doesn’t dry up, wouldn’t it keep running?
After Jiang Pengji said this, Hui Jun looked thoughtful.
However, while she understood the structure of the foot-powered spinning wheel, she had no clue how to modify it.
Jiang Pengji added, “He Xu is skilled; Chongming focuses on hydraulic studies. If you need clarification, you can write a letter to consult them. If that doesn’t work, those scholars at the Golden Scales Academy are knowledgeable and might offer valuable advice?”
The improved waterwheel used in Wanzhou was Zhang Ping’s masterpiece, and Shao Guang, being a disciple of the Mo family, could certainly provide Hui Jun with suggestions.
