Chapter 204: Chapter 203: Return to Mao County
Lin Wanwan opened the door and asked the maids waiting outside, "Has there been any message from the Lin Family Manor?"
Yun Shang, who was sitting and embroidering, looked up and said, "Madam, yes, Young Master Mengbo and others have already docked the ship."
Lin Wanwan nodded, "How are the departure preparations going?"
Hua Nong smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Madam, everything is ready!"
Hong Yan then spoke up, "Madam, Miss Xianghua just came looking for you and brought an embroidery she made herself. Would you like to see it?"
Lin Wanwan asked curiously, "Oh? What is it like? Bring it for me to see."
"Sure."
In recent days, Lin Wanwan has traded a lot of modern cosmetics among the women in Qiantang, especially with those whose monthly silver is tight; she agreed to exchange cosmetics for embroideries and received quite a number of them.
Seeing Xiao Xianghua’s embroidery now, Lin Wanwan was a bit surprised. The flower and bird embroidery, in terms of technique, was slightly inferior to Yun Shang’s work, but due to its painting foundation, it combined embroidery and ink painting, making it extremely exquisite and lively.
I never expected Xiao Xianghua, a noblewoman, to have such skills. Such a level of needlework is not something ordinary people can achieve. It’s clear Xiao Xianghua has put a lot of effort into it. The other three young ladies in the mansion don’t have this level of skill. Their embroideries, which Lin Wanwan owns, were all exchanged for cosmetics.
"Did you thank Miss Xianghua for me?"
"Of course, I’ve returned the courtesy, Madam. Don’t worry." Yun Shang put down her embroidery and packed it up, adding with a smile, "Miss Xianghua’s needlework is inherited from Su Embroidery, using needles as brushes and with ingenious designs. It’s rare. If you like, Madam, you can turn it into a screen."
"It truly is wonderful." Lin Wanwan stared at the embroidery for a while, but she was thinking about something else.
Su Embroidery also has a kind of double-sided embroidery that appeared in the Song Dynasty, which is fascinating. If the technique of double-sided embroidery could be taught to the Xiao sisters, this art could appear earlier! Given Xiao Xianghua’s needlework skill, perhaps in the future, Lin Wanwan could even bring double-sided embroidery back to the modern era.
Hmm, not to sell it, but just to contribute to cultural heritage.
Lin Wanwan quietly found herself a lofty excuse. She lacked the patience to learn embroidery, but it didn’t stop her from appreciating it. Who doesn’t like beautiful things?
"Alright, everyone get ready. Once I’ve said goodbye to the elders, we’ll depart." Lin Wanwan put down the embroidery and had Hong Yan pack it away, "Where’s Little Yu?"
"Playing with the cousins in the main house, accompanied by Rongrong. Should I bring her back?"
"Oh, no need. Let her play for now. I’ll call her when I say goodbye to Uncle’s family, it won’t take much longer."
After saying this, Lin Wanwan took her maids Hong Yan and Hua Nong, with a basket of fruits, to bid farewell to each elder’s room. During Lin Wanwan’s brief rest (actually, she returned to the modern era for healing), Madam Xiao and Madam Yuan had already prepared travel essentials for her. Thus, Lin Wanwan’s farewells were swift.
Xiao Chong, lightly packed, originally planned to depart directly from the Xiao Mansion with Lin Wanwan, but due to the incident with Xiao Yixun today, he returned to the Qiantang County Government to talk with Uncle Lu Mingfu in the study for a long time.
When Xiao Chong again bid farewell to the County Government people, a group headed directly for the Xiao Mansion. Obviously, they were headed for Xiao Yixun. For someone like Xiao Chong, his word is as good as gold. If he says he will send Xiao Yixun back to Chang’an, he will send her back, and will not make idle promises.
Let’s not talk about Xiao Yixun’s matter. On the other side, Lin Wanwan already embarked on her ship with two carts of goods the Xiao Mansion people prepared for her.
Lin Mengbo and others had been waiting at the dock for a month without seeing each other. This group of cousins had tanned quite a bit.
"Brother Mengbo, Brother Mengjin, we haven’t seen each other in some time, and you’ve both tanned and lost weight."
Lin Mengjin laughed and said, "Well, isn’t it because of the labor? Working under the sun all day, not eating or resting well, it’s no surprise we’ve tanned and lost weight."
Lin Wanwan asked, "Is the labor over?"
"Yes, the labor for those in our area is finished. They said twenty days and it was exactly twenty days, not a day more. It’s not just our labor that ended, others have stopped too. Spring plowing is about to start, and it can’t be delayed. The Ta Mountain Dam work has been suspended."
"You’ve had a hard time."
"Oh, it’s not that hard. Every year we have to do some work for the court, we’re used to it. It’s fortunate there’s no overtime or rushing."
Lin Wanwan nodded and asked again, "How is the clan? Has there been any unexpected happenings?"
Lin Mengbo replied, "No, everything is fine. However, the matter of having the young slaves from home attend school with the clan’s children caused some trouble. Old Teacher Chen expelled them from the school. He said he wouldn’t teach those of low status, that it... um, disgraces culture."
Lin Wanwan frowned, "That old teacher is really an old-fashioned person. Clearly, Confucius, the great sage of Confucianism, said ’education for all, regardless of background,’ and yet he picks students based on status."
This matter is absolutely non-negotiable. Lin Wanwan will definitely restore the children’s school enrollment when she returns.
She didn’t buy these children to use them as servants. Educating them so they have a skill in the future is her goal. Even in the Xiao Mansion, she doesn’t use the young pages for errands. She instructs her maids or Kun Lun to do things.
Exploiting a group of first- and second-grade primary school children as laborers, she could never do it. Don’t talk about following local customs; there’s no need to accept every bad custom. Over twenty years of education have already shaped her worldview, and it can’t be twisted much.
However, there’s no need to mention this to Lin Mengbo and the others.
"Wanwan, have you forgotten anything? Shall we set sail? It’s getting late, and it will be nightfall by the time we reach home."
Lin Wanwan said, "Let’s wait a bit longer. Xiao Mingfu is going to take our boat back to Mao County with us."
"Oh, Xiao... Xiao Mingfu is coming too?"
"That’s right."
"Uh, okay." Several men from the Lin Family Manor exchanged glances, all seeing resignation in each other’s eyes.
Dealing with the official, they’re really intimidated, almost like modern students with an invigilating teacher looming over them during exams.
Lin Wanwan watched the servants settle her luggage in the cabin. She had Hua Nong and others lift the second-floor cabin curtains, sitting inside enjoying the river view while waiting for the others.
They didn’t wait long. Just after Lin Wanwan boiled spring water, Xiao Chong and his group of three rode up to the dock on horseback.
They led the horses onto the ship, set sail, and that was that.
After saluting Xiao Chong, the Lin Family Manor people dispersed quickly, diving into the cabin to man the ship. Originally, if Xiao Chong wasn’t there, they might have taken turns hanging around Lin Wanwan for food and drink. But now, unless an unexpected situation arises, they likely wouldn’t appear before docking.