Chapter 343: Duck Down
After the meal, Qiu Zhi routinely examined the several children’s schoolwork and conducted lessons, making a point to call Fan Ziyi along before returning to the study.
Fan Ziyi looked at Fan Cheng with slight apprehension.
Fan Cheng nodded at him slightly, instructing, “Listen to the lesson properly.”
Only then did Fan Ziyi nod in compliance, following dutifully behind Datou and the others into the study.
Auntie Lu led Eldest Daughter-in-law Lu, along with Nanny Shi and the others, to tidy up the bowls and chopsticks, while Uncle Lu took his son to tidy up the tables and chairs. Seeing this, Fan Cheng hurried forward to lend a hand, making inquiries along the way to find out who everyone in the household was.
Knowing he had just arrived today and remained ignorant of many matters, Uncle Lu introduced who everyone in the household was in detail, even noting each person’s traits for Fan Cheng’s convenience in remembering.
At the end, he let out a sigh of emotion: “Sigh, the young master followed Doctor Jin to the capital, and who knows when he’ll return. The weather is growing colder by the day, and I heard it’s much colder in the capital than here—I wonder if the young master and Doctor Jin can bear it.”
Passing by just at that moment, Wen Yao heard these words and froze slightly, extending a hand to feel the cool wind around her.
Indeed, winter had set in, and the weather ahead would only grow colder by the day. It was time to procure winter clothing for the family as well.
Wen Yao sought out Old Madam Luo: “Grandma, where is the duck down I had Second Aunt and the others gather?”
“Ask your Second Aunt—why are you asking me?” Saying that, Old Madam Luo called Lady Li over.
Lady Li smiled: “It’s all kept over at our place, stacked in several full gunny sacks already. Just as you said, every bit has been washed clean and dried. That room is kept warmed constantly so it won’t draw dampness, and all that duck down is sitting right there in prime condition.”
Wen Yao nodded: “Second Aunt, go pull it out! Then call Nanny Shi and the others over—it’s time for us to make winter clothes.”
If the quantity was abundant, it would be best to make a duck-down quilt for everyone at home as well—covering oneself with that in winter would be so comfortable and warm.
“What new trick are you up to now?” Old Madam Luo asked her, yet without a trace of impatience.
Wen Yao leaned in close to her ear to whisper softly, and the more Old Madam Luo listened, the brighter her eyes shone, harboring a tinge of disbelief: “Truly?”
Wen Yao nodded: “Grandma, truly! I read it in a book—making winter clothes with duck down is far warmer than cotton.”
Lacking even the slightest doubt, Old Madam Luo nodded: “If that’s truly the case, then let’s make one piece for everyone at home first. Your Second Aunt and the others have duck down in abundance over there.”
Wen Yao added: “If there’s extra, we can make a few quilts too.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Luo took Wen Yao straight by the hand: “Come, let’s go check if there’s enough.”
Halfway through carrying the items, Lady Li ran into the grandmother and granddaughter who had come to take a look, so she turned back around to unlock the door.
Catching sight of the dozens of gunny sacks arranged inside the room, Wen Yao was left flabbergasted; she hadn’t expected Lady Li and the others to gather so much duck down without her realizing.
She opened a sack—inside was entirely fine duck down, just right for making clothes and quilts. Scooping a handful up to smell it, there was truly not a single trace of odor.
“How is it? Yao Yao, I processed every bit according to the method you instructed—not a trace of smell could be left behind.” Lady Li held her head high with considerable pride, her double chin puffing slightly.
Wen Yao couldn’t refrain from praising her: “Second Aunt, you are truly amazing! You did this so wonderfully.”
Lady Li let out an embarrassed laugh, a blush surfacing on her face that already bore a double chin, yet she spoke up with confidence nonetheless: “Your Second Aunt may fall short in other areas, but I am an expert at handling these things! Whatever you entrust to your Second Aunt, your Second Aunt will absolutely never mess up.”
Old Madam Luo cast a dotingly helpless glance at her: “Alright now—the child offered one line of praise and you’re already putting on airs! Don’t switch locations either; call the people over to this room.”
“Understood, I’ll go right now!” Lady Li ran out, and before long brought Lady Cai, Nanny Shi, Nanny Du, Mingyue, and Minglan over, with even Auntie Lu and Eldest Daughter-in-law Lu present.
“Old Mistress, Miss,” the several stepped through the door to bow.
Pointing at this room full of duck down, Old Madam Luo said, “Wen Yao says this duck down can be used to make winter clothes that are even warmer than cotton. Let’s discuss what fabric is best to use for making them.”
Those who came were all experts at making clothes—aside from Wen Yao. Thus, Wen Yao was responsible only for chattering away, yet fortunately, as experienced seamstresses, the moment Wen Yao explained it, they understood completely.
Old Madam Luo even retrieved several types of fabric from her room—all given to her by Wen Yao previously, gifted by Qiu Rongrong, or bestowed by the Empress Dowager back then, which Old Madam Luo hadn’t borne to use—and brought them all over.
The group gathered together to research how to construct the garments so the duck down wouldn’t leak out from within the clothes.
Having accomplished her mission, Wen Yao retired from the scene to stroll around outside. Hearing the sound of a zither drifting from Wen Di’s room, she walked over out of curiosity.
Although the sound was stiff and far from pleasing to the ear, it was a good start, wasn’t it?
Approaching the doorway, Wen Yao pushed the door open gently, catching sight of Wen Di sitting earnestly before the ancient zither, plucking the strings with utmost caution.
“Wen Di,” Wen Yao called out, giving Wen Di a fright. The ancient zither let out a harsh, jarring screech, and Wen Di hurriedly paid no mind to Wen Yao, lowering her head to inspect her zither.
This was a zither that Wen Xiuqing and Lady Cai had purchased for eighty taels of silver—using the silver saved from selling ducks during this stretch of time—after hearing Old Madam Luo say they were hiring a tutor to teach them zither techniques and etiquette.
Had it been in the past, Wen Di wouldn’t have dared to dream of such a thing; now that the zither sat right before her, it still felt like a dream.
Stepping inside, Wen Yao saw her looking so heartbroken and spoke up: “It won’t break from a touch—how could this zither break so easily?” Saying that, she found a soft cushion off to the side to sit down on, asking, “How was this first day of class? Is the tutor fierce?”
Wen Di remained just as gentle as when Wen Yao first met her; perhaps inheriting Lady Cai’s disposition, Wen Di was gentle and soft in everything apart from her nimble efficiency during work, and her gaze upon Wen Yao was gentle as well, laced with deep gratitude.
She knew that for the household to transform into what it was today was entirely due to Wen Yao’s credit. Had it not been for Wen Yao, she would never have been able to learn these things that only young ladies of prominent families could study.
“Tutor Su is very good. What about you, though? Why didn’t you come to class?” Wen Di asked softly.
Wen Yao leaned over to feel her hand. The calluses left from previous work had smoothed out considerably; it seemed she needed to continue applying hand cream to nourish her hands.
This was also thanks to their family’s grandmother not being someone who mistreated her granddaughters, forbidding the girls from touching cold water as soon as winter arrived; otherwise, if chilblains were left on these hands, they would recur every winter.
Wen Di let her turn her hand over and over to feel it like that, continuing her question: “I’m asking you—why didn’t you come?”
Releasing her hand, Wen Yao shrugged: “What would I come for? I don’t understand it, nor am I interested in it. I hired this tutor for you, not to bring her back to make myself suffer.”
Hearing this, Wen Di blushed with embarrassment, saying, “The tutor was hired to teach us sisters—how could it be specifically for me?”
Wen Yao burst out laughing with a hei-hei: “Truly! Look at me—I’m so busy! And then there’s Wen Ying. Just you watch—I bet she hides tomorrow for sure, leaving Tutor Su with no choice but to teach only you in the end.”
Wen Di: “…”
