Traveling through the mountains and farming

Chapter 114: Cotton-flicking? No

Li Changli, who was standing nearby, also heard the conversation between his wife and Lin Wan, so he took the initiative to help carry the cotton and walked towards Old Man Wang's house.

He just saw Aunt Wang taking the salt and needlework back home, so they should all be at home.

After a few steps, they arrived at Old Man Wang's house.

Old man Wang warmly welcomed them into the house. After hearing their purpose, he hurried to the kitchen to call his eldest daughter-in-law Jiang Xiulan over.

When Jiang Xiulan heard that she was asked to fluff cotton, she looked embarrassed and said, "I don't know how to do that. In my family, the fluffing skill is passed down to men, not women."

Lin Wan then realized that in ancient times, families’ livelihoods were strictly governed by inheritance rules.

This damn old society!

"Oh, I totally forgot about this." Chen Lian slapped his forehead in annoyance.

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

Seeing this, Lin Wan immediately smiled and said, "It's okay. If it doesn't work, I can just sew a quilt cover the size of a quilt and stuff cotton into it. It will still keep you warm."

Everyone was amused by her relaxed tone, and the atmosphere immediately eased a lot.

Chen Lian smiled and continued, "That's the only way. But it's not as soft as fluffy cotton after all."

Lin Wan waved her hand nonchalantly: "As long as it can keep you warm, don't ask for too much."

When she heard the word "soft", Lin Wan immediately thought that although it couldn't be fixed in shape, it should be able to be soft.

I asked Old Man Wang if he knew how to make a slingshot to fluff cotton, and said that all I had to do was make the cotton softer so that I could stuff it into the quilt cover.

In this era, there was no concept of quilt covers. People would wrap quilts with two pieces of cloth, upper and lower, and sew them together. Many people also sewed reed fluff and willow catkins together with cloth to use as quilts.

"I've seen slingshots for picking up cotton, but I've never made one. I don't know if it will work." Old man Wang frowned, looking uncertain.

Lin Wan smiled and said, "Just give it a try, what if it works?"

"Yes, Dad, please try it. I know that slingshots are made of bamboo and thick beef tendons." Jiang Xiulan also advised.

"Okay, I'll try. I'm afraid I can't get beef tendons, but I can ask Luo Dashan for tendons from other animals instead."

Hearing that a slingshot could do the job, Lin Wan decided to try and study it herself to see if she could make the cotton fluffy.

"Okay, it's settled. I'll take the cotton away first."

"No need to take it away. Leave the cotton here first. Although I can't fluff the quilt, I can still make the cotton fluffy. I'll help you fluff the cotton when Dad makes the slingshot." Jiang Xiulan beside her said hurriedly.

Lin Wan was overjoyed. She no longer had to study how to fluff cotton, so she hurriedly thanked him:

"Great, thank you! Thank you!"

Jiang Xiulan smiled and said, "You're welcome."

Seeing that everything had been discussed, Lin Wan left behind eight kilograms of cotton that was prepared to make quilts, took the rest away, and then took Chen Lian and Li Changli to say goodbye and leave.

After leaving the house, Lin Wan hurriedly said, "Third Aunt, I remember that you still have a lot of cloth left at home. I want to buy some to make quilt covers."

"You did bring a lot of fabric. To make a quilt cover? What do you want it to look like? Do you need my help?"

"I'm not sure if it can be done. Just help me sew two pieces of cloth six feet wide and six feet six inches long. I will figure out how to sew the rest myself."

"Okay, I'll finish it and send it to you the day after tomorrow." Chen Lian agreed readily.

"Thank you, Second Aunt. Please calculate the total cost of the labor and fabric for making the cotton-padded clothes, and I will give it to you."

"Just pay for the fabric, why bother paying for the labor? Don't be so polite."

Seeing that her second aunt was determined, Lin Wan also agreed with a smile. She planned to give her some other gifts to express her gratitude.

She left eight pounds of cotton for her second aunt, explaining that three pounds of it were for Lin Jing to make cotton clothes, and five pounds were for Doctor Zhong. If it was not enough, she could ask her for more. Then she carried four pounds of cotton home herself.

Just before going to Old Man Wang's house, Lin Wan asked the two siblings to take needlework back with them.

When she got home, she found that they were already cooking the last dish, so she quickly put down the cotton, washed her hands, and helped bring the meal to the table.

Just after putting the food away, she found Doctor Zhong bringing Lin Jing into the room, so she joked:

"You calculated the time very accurately."

"I saw Li Changli and the others coming back from outside, so I went to ask for some information. It was almost time for dinner, so I came here."

Doctor Zhong said with a smile, and went straight to the dining table, sat down, picked up the bowl and chopsticks, and prepared to start eating.

Lin Wan walked over and said seriously, "I think the people in the dark market have connections to get things from the county to sell, so they may be able to help you pass the message to Baicaotang, and then have someone from Baicaotang come to the city gate to pick you up, so that you can go back safely."

"I won't go back for the time being. I want to train apprentices here, and there are many medicinal herbs in this deep mountain. I can pick them at will." Doctor Zhong shook his head and said nonchalantly.

He didn't want to go back. Back in Baicaotang, there were only medicinal herbs. But here, there were medicinal herbs, smart little disciples, and delicious meals.

He is not stupid, so of course he chooses to stay.

Lin Wan smiled helplessly, "Well, if you want to stay, we welcome you, but we're afraid that it will interfere with your business at Baicao Hall."

Doctor Zhong waved his hands quickly and said, "Don't delay, don't delay. I don't belong to Baicaotang in the first place. It's up to me whether I see patients or not. Besides, life here is much more interesting than in Baicaotang."

Seeing that Doctor Zhong had made up his mind, Lin Wan stopped trying to persuade him and asked everyone to start eating.

As she ate, she said, "After dinner, you and Lin Jing go to Aunt Chen Liansan's place to get your measurements taken. She will prepare two sets of cotton-padded clothes for you. This is Lin Jing's gift to the master."

Then she continued, "In the winter, you and Lin Jing can only squeeze together, and there is only enough cotton to make a thick quilt."

"Oh, it's okay. I don't care about these things." Doctor Zhong was just busy eating and answered nonchalantly.

"Brother Jing, can you sleep with me?" Li Chongle suggested.

Lin Wan smiled and said, "Yes, that depends on Lin Jing's choice. He can sleep with whoever he wants to."

"Is it okay for me to choose to sleep with my sister?" Lin Jing, who has a crush on his sister, asked expectantly.

"No, my sister-in-law sleeps with me." Li Ke immediately raised his objection.

The little fox beside was also whimpering, as if inviting it to sleep together.

For a moment, everyone laughed and the atmosphere became relaxed and cheerful.

Lin Jing scratched his head and said with a distressed look: "Oh, this is difficult. Then I will take turns sleeping with Master and Brother Xiaole."

"Okay, it's settled." Lin Wan smiled and patted Lin Jing's shoulder.

In the next few days, they were busy making persimmon cakes, and everyone hid the konjac, kudzu and other foods they dug in the newly dug cellar.

Lin Wan took the two siblings to prepare winter fodder for the goats at home, and collected wild vegetables and fruits. They continued to be busy bringing home as much edible things as possible when they saw them in the mountains.

As usual, after breakfast, Li Ke would check on and feed the small animals, and also see if the ducks had laid eggs so that she could pick them up in time.

Today she picked up another duck egg, which made her number complete. She happily walked home holding the duck egg.

As soon as he got home, he couldn't wait to shout: "Sister-in-law, the duck laid another egg today. We now have thirty duck eggs. Let's make the salted duck eggs you mentioned today."

"Okay, but we still have one more thing to do."