Chapter 322
Chapter 322
Ji Yan’an had been watching developments in Beizhen City.
When he saw many families wanted their daughters to learn to read but had no opportunity,
he had people long prepared for the task open a school for women at precisely the right moment.
The teachers were women too.
Some daughters of official families had been exiled here. They had received educations and could read and write without difficulty.
They had once lived comfortably. After exile, those delicate young women had been forced into hard labor, and some even had to sell their bodies to survive.
Some could not endure it and took their own lives.
Ji Yan’an sent people to inquire about the survivors who were literate and offered them an opportunity.
None of the women would let such a chance pass.
Thus, the problem of finding female teachers who could teach women reading, writing, and even accounting was solved.
Everything was improving. Jiang Yunsui practically skipped wherever she went, beside herself with happiness.
“Ji Yan’an, the peaches are ripe!”
The peaches in the courtyard had matured.
She ran into Ji Yan’an’s study, grabbed his hand, and pulled him outside.
“Hurry! Let’s pick lots and send some to Grandmother and the others.”
Ji Yan’an did not resist. He let her lead him along at an unhurried pace.
His legs were long.
Fruit planted near the residence generally ripened earlier.
It was also large enough to make mouths water on sight.
“Little Aunt, I came to pick peaches too!”
Ji Yang ran over excitedly. After greeting Jiang Yunsui, she bowed respectfully to Ji Yan’an.
“Little Uncle.”
Ji Yang was somewhat afraid of Ji Yan’an.
Ji Yan’an acknowledged her and followed the girls next door.
Several animals were already eating.
Huohuo, Milk Tea, and the other birds had the advantage of flight. Peaches at the treetop were easy prey.
They plucked them effortlessly with their claws.
Each now clutched a large peach and ate with relish.
“Si Si, lift me up so I can pick that one. It looks huge.”
Ji Si appeared, picked her up, and leaped into the tree.
She cupped the peach in both hands, plucked it, and began crunching away.
“Pick one for yourself, Si Si.”
Even while eating, she did not forget peaches for Old Madam Ji and the others.
Soon, however, Old Madam Ji and the other women arrived themselves.
“Hahaha… it certainly is lively here today.”
Jiang Yunsui poked her head out of the tree.
“Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, you’re here too! Come eat peaches. They’re delicious.”
Second Aunt said, “Servants can handle this. Did you need to come personally?”
She lightly tapped Ji Yang’s forehead.
“I understand, Grandmother. But I’m already here. Try this peach. It’s delicious.”
Though she said she understood, Ji Yang continued picking.
How could fruit someone else picked taste as good as fruit one picked oneself?
She had learned to let her grandmother’s words go in one ear and out the other.
She heard only what she wanted.
Second Aunt took one bite of the peach she had been handed and immediately lost her irritation.
The peach truly was delicious.
How could it taste better than peaches costing several taels per jin in the Capital City?
“Grandmother, this one is softer. Have it.”
Ji Yan’an found a softer peach and handed it to Old Madam Ji.
The peach was rosy red, exactly like the longevity peaches of legend.
“What a fine peach.”
Peaches had an auspicious meaning. One this shapely, beautiful, and delicious pleased Old Madam Ji immensely.
“Wonderful. It’s so sweet, and the peach fragrance is especially rich.”
“There are more on the estate. Yunsui transplanted many there.”
“But I’ve seen them. Those peaches aren’t as fine as the ones in this courtyard.”
Everyone loved the flavor.
The peaches were large too. One was enough to fill anyone with a small appetite.
Jiang Yunsui climbed down with three large peaches and placed them in a basket.
They would keep some and give others as gifts.
Jiang Yunsui did not need to manage the gifts. Eldest Aunt handled them now, assisted by Nanny Zhou.
Jiang Yunsui also picked peaches for Fat Chef to preserve as jam.
“A batch of uniforms is being issued today, right?”
Ji Yan’an had ordered fabric from Jiang Yunsui’s textile workshop to make standard uniforms for the soldiers.
The workshop had therefore recruited another group of women skilled with needle and thread.
The cloth naturally could not remain white. Ji Family Army uniforms were uniformly black and red.
This batch of fabric had been dyed those colors.
Through the women’s efforts, the first batch of about five thousand uniforms was ready.
Ji Yan’an nodded. “Want to see?”
Soldiers normally received clothes twice a year, summer and winter uniforms.
They fought in battle and rolled through dirt during training, so their clothes wore out much faster than ordinary people’s.
But Mobei’s soldiers, especially those of the lowest ranks, had gone three years without replacements before Ji Yan’an arrived.
The Imperial Court provided no money. Generous generals might pay themselves, but common soldiers were easily overlooked.
Replacing clothes alone cost a substantial sum.
After Ji Yan’an gained initial control of the army, he paid from his own pocket to replace every soldier’s clothes once.
Now they had their own workshop, and cheap wool served as raw material. The money spent on clothing was less than half the former cost.
The financial officer grinned from ear to ear.
Jiang Yunsui secretly fetched Ji Yang, and the two girls followed Ji Yan’an to the army camp.
The units scheduled to receive clothes were thrilled.
“I hear today’s uniforms were made by our own Beizhen City textile workshop?”
“Of course. My wife makes clothes there. She says the fabric is soft and breathable.”
“My sister works there too. She weaves cloth.”
Everyone grew even more eager.
Soon they lined up to receive the uniforms.
The moment they touched their sets, they knew the cloth differed from what they had worn before.
Their old clothes were made from coarse linen.
With so many soldiers, fine cloth had never been possible.
They were rough men. Fine fabric would be wasted amid all their rolling and scrambling.
But this cloth felt wonderfully comfortable.
One man even buried his face in it and rubbed his cheek against it.
“Wasn’t this made from wool? Why can’t I smell any sheep?”
“The colors look fantastic too.”
“Hurry back and try it on.”
“I need a bath first. I stink of sweat. I won’t ruin new clothes with that.”
“Wait. I’m coming too.”
Every dark face among those who received uniforms blossomed with joy.
Jiang Yunsui felt enormously accomplished.
Her workshop had made all these clothes!