Chapter 456: The First Winter (III)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

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.

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!

“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.

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!”

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