Daming Yinghua

Chapter 98 The Burning Float
Han Ximeng continued to shake his head: "The mulberry farmers are still the same as in previous years. They are all tenants at the foot of Sheshan, and they are tenants of Gu's second brother's land to grow mulberries. The grandma said that it is the grandma who takes care of it in person on weekdays."

When she said this, Zheng Haizhu remembered that when he went hiking on the Double Ninth Festival last year, among the tenant farmers of the Gu family who came to pick up their wives, there were several daughters-in-law of mulberry farmers.

Zheng Haizhu stared and asked, "Miss, do the silkworms that don't spin silk all eat the leaves provided by the Gu family?"

Han Ximeng nodded and said, "Yes, that's why Mrs. Miao met my second aunt and me in Sheshan today, because the old man went there to see the mulberry garden and said she didn't see anything unusual. I don't think so either. It might be because of the mulberry leaves. After the sting, several handkerchiefs and I went to Sheshan to enjoy the peach blossoms. We each bought a basket of mulberry leaves from the Gu’s mulberry garden and went home to raise silkworms. Although raising silkworms is fun, those silkworms My son has spun silk obediently, and the cocoons are still white and bright."

"Oh, that's it," Zheng Haizhu said thoughtfully, after a moment of silence, and then he decided, "Then I have to ask Shoukuan to go to Suzhou by boat in the next few days, and bring back some silk thread, so as not to embroider too much. Our tailor shop made it." Those shredded tobacco pouches sold to the Japanese, when they are full of [-] pieces, will be transported from Zhilong to Yuegang with handkerchiefs, socks, and Fanren's dresses. Eunuch Liu has ordered the county magistrate of Haicheng County to give Brother Yan sent a boat lead to teach him to start the business first."

Han Ximeng said happily: "Okay, don't forget when you look back, let your fellow countryman find some fine embroidery and good paintings from Dongying, and we will go upstairs."

After thinking about it, he said: "I just hope that our Songjiang will open and close like Yuegang soon, and sell goods overseas, so why bother to look far away. In fact, it is not wise to impose a sea ban on Dongying now. The imperial court can fight with the Frankies. , Hongyi people, Persians, and Taixi people are doing business, so why do they get stuck with Japanese merchants because of the past events? Isn’t their silver silver? Can’t the silver earned from them support our Ming soldiers? Can't the tax of some people be reduced?"

Zheng Haizhu thought to herself, my eldest lady, you can think this way because you have a clear heart and no greed.

As the saying goes, there must be monsters when things go wrong. The Ming court needs money so much now, but it still hasn’t let go of the sea trade ban on Japan. It just blindly incites the people’s hatred for Dongying. Liberals, and then to Ningbo, Zhejiang, many officials and intertwined forces operate smuggling sea traffickers between Daming and Japan.

Talk about doctrine, but heart is business.

What Liu Shimin said was true, they were just businessmen in official uniforms.

However, Zheng Haizhu still looked at her employer, Shuyuan, who was actually more like a partner, and sincerely praised: "Miss does not reject the craftsmanship of Dongying, nor does she object to our embroidering the tobacco pouch and making it from Dongying." business, but miss embroidered this piece of "Chronicle of Anti-Japanese War" with all her heart and soul, and really taught Ah Zhu to admire it."

Hearing this, Han Ximeng stroked the embroidery in his hand and said with a smile, "I'm a living person, and I'm not that copybook. Everything in the world is either black or white. Haven't I, the Ming Dynasty, fought less battles with the Mongols? Isn't it also open now?" Mutual market. People must understand at the same time, look at the past, look at the present, and look at the future.”

Jung Hae-joo totally agrees.

She got up, walked to the other end of the embroidery frame, picked up the long embroidery scroll that was condensed with painstaking efforts, and examined it carefully.

This long scroll, when fully unfolded, is nearly half a foot long.

The light yellow fine silk base is divided into six independent parts like a screen, and each part is a battle with magnificent scenes and many characters.

Water battles, some at sea, some in Neijiang.

Land battles, some in the wilderness, some in the city.

Waves and ships, strong soldiers and brave generals, hunting with flags, arrows raining like locusts, spears and hooks stabbing each other, close hand to hand combat.

On the picture scroll, it shows several battles against the Japanese in Songjiang Prefecture since Emperor Jiajing.

From Xinchang to Siqiao, from Desheng Port to Dianshan Lake, from Minhang to Tianfei Palace.

The unique three-dimensionality of silk thread brings more intense light and shade changes, which are more vivid and delicate than the brushes of Danqing masters such as Qiu Ying.

Just like the real history, in the battles shown in this embroidery, the Ming army won and won, and the Japanese pirates were not all Japanese rogue bandits with black hair. From the command to the soldiers on the enemy ships, many of them wore Chinese hair buns Most of them are merchants or fishermen from Ningshao to Fujian.

Zheng Xiao, the servant of the Ministry of War during the Jiajing period, had already recorded: Most of the thieves are Chinese, and Japanese slaves are only one out of ten.

Han Ximeng and Zheng Haizhu embroidered two pieces of this epic-themed embroidery.

One piece will be hung in the main hall of the library building in the North Campus of Shoukuan School.

Poetry, painting, and embroidery, like good books, seek the word "truth".

Whether it is the truth of aesthetics, the truth of science, or the truth of history.Not to flatter the powerful and violent, but to seek the truth.This is what Zheng Haizhu said to the children when he was about to bring the first class of students to the library downstairs.

For the other piece of embroidery, Zheng Haizhu will exchange the dividends Yan Siqi gave her from the bank in Suzhou, and take the money and the embroidery to Zhenjiang, which is close at hand, to pay a visit to Qi Jin, who is still serving as the commander-in-chief. This descendant of Qi Jiguang offered a military training reward and a commemorative gift.

She confessed to Han Ximeng that she not only respected these soldiers who defended the country, but also wanted to get to know as many military generals guarding the eastern part of Ming Dynasty as possible for her brother Yan Siqi, who was very likely to become the commander-in-chief of the Taiwan Strait.

To Zheng Haizhu's surprise, Han Ximeng offered to go with Gu Shouqian after hearing her plan.

That was a huge support for her.

After all, Gu Shouqian's grandfather, Gu Mingshi, had the rank of a civil servant in the capital, and Gu Shouqian had already been selected as a scholar.

For a military general like Qi Jin, interacting with the descendants of literati and grandchildren of official officials is both safe and prestigious, and with money in the lineup, he has no reason not to be enthusiastic.

Han Ximeng, in addition to recognizing Zheng Haizhu's ideas, also has his own willingness to actively promote this matter.

"Azhu, my second elder brother told me a long time ago that the sons of gentry should not only study careers, recite poems and paint paintings all day long. He liked General Ma's team last time in their Gu family's Wenzhe Academy. Miao Auntie also quite agrees that he spends more time with the men in the army."

Zheng Haizhu nodded and said: "Mrs. Miao is really a good-looking and knowledgeable elder. This time I saw the female chieftain who led one side on the island, and I always felt familiar. After thinking about it, it turned out that she was like Miao A. Mrs. Mrs. sent a lot of things to our school today, I have to pay my respects someday.”

……

Three days later, in the pavilion in the backyard of the Gu mansion, the last rain of apricot blossoms fell in mid-spring.

The petals are white with light pink, spread on the green grass and soil, like embroidery on green or ripe brown brocade.

Miao Atai was hale and hearty, and stepped on the flower path to the pavilion.

Zheng Haizhu hurriedly got up to salute, and after the old lady sat down, she presented a tray full of souvenirs.

"Auntie, these are the dried flowers and herbs that they gave me when I was dealing with the Siraya people on Taiwan Island. They said they are good for repelling insects. After I brought them back, I asked the dolls in the school to make sachets. The beginning of summer is coming. , Mosquitoes are infesting, grandma and ladies, you might as well give it a try.”

Mrs. Miao had a kind face, picked and picked fresh mulberries and cherries by herself, put them in front of Zheng Haizhu, and said with a smile: "You have a heart, come on, don't be restrained, and eat the fruit while you eat." Tell me. Whether you are going south this time, whether it is thrilling or interesting, tell Auntie about it.”

Zheng Haizhu followed the order and became a temporary storyteller, but the legends and characters mentioned were all within the limits of Liu Shimin's confession.

Mrs. Miao listened with great interest, while planning and thinking about the secret career in her heart, and added some minor adjustments.

When Zheng Haizhu's narration was finished, Miao Atai praised a few words, commented a few more words, ate two fruits, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the lush forest in the garden, and then started another topic in a discussion tone .

"Azhu, I want to ask you a favor today."

"Huh? If Madam has any orders, just send me."

"Something strange has happened these days. Many of the silkworms in the nearby silkworm households have become stiff silkworms and do not spin silk. You should know that. Our Gu family has a mulberry garden after all. We took money from the silkworm households at the beginning of spring. Now look at it. They are so anxious, how can we stand on the sidelines? Yesterday the eldest daughter-in-law discussed with me that after Lei Zu is sacrificed this year, my Gu family will pay for another ceremony to invite Empress Cangniang."

Zheng Haizhu was a little confused.

Leizu, of course she knew, was the concubine of Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi, who was said to have invented the technique of raising silkworms, so whether it was the silkworm kissing ceremony of the Queen Mother of the Tian family, or the folk temple fair every spring, there was a sacrificial ceremony for Leizu .

Isn't Leizu the god of silkworms?But according to Miao Atai, is it possible that there is a second god who is in charge of silkworm affairs?
Seeing her surprised expression, Miao Atai explained that in the Susong area, the Can God and the Can Empress are two different things.

The silkworm god is Leizu, and the silkworm empress is called "Matou Niang".

Legend has it that in the time of Wuyue Kingdom, there was a family here. The husband Kong Wu was powerful, the wife was beautiful, and the only daughter he gave birth to was also a first-class beauty.When war broke out, her husband was drafted into the army and disappeared on the battlefield.His wife and daughter swore to the heavens that whoever can find the master, the daughter will marry him.One of the family's white horses broke free, ran to the battlefield, and camel back to the unconscious master in the nearby forest.The male owner recovered from his injuries under the care of his wife and daughter. After hearing the oath of his family, he was panicked and shot the white horse to death with an arrow.

Unexpectedly, that night, the soul of the white horse turned into a horse hide to wrap up the daughter.

The horse skin turned into a pure white silkworm cocoon, and the beautiful daughter became a chrysalis that could never break out of the cocoon, ascended to heaven and became the silkworm empress, also known as "Ma Tou Niang".

After hearing this, Zheng Haizhu couldn't help feeling horrified, and secretly sighed a standard swearword for modern people.

Such a perverted story is almost on par with dark Greek mythology.

Why does the sericulture industry, which is scientifically beautiful and beneficial to the common people, involve such a crazy sadomasochistic relationship.

I only heard Miao Atai continue: "Azhu, Ma Tou Niang has great supernatural powers and boundless magic power. If Canhu is not desperate, he would not dare to disturb her. When inviting Ma Tou Niang, he must use white sticks to tie up the appearance of a fine horse, Let a woman sit on horseback and hold a pot of silkworms in her hands. The big-gu ox will pull you past the gates of all the silkworm households and accept the worship of the silkworm households."

"Me, us?" Zheng Haizhu asked cautiously, "Auntie wants me to be the woman on the white horse?"

Miao Atai showed apologetic expression, sighed and said: "Whoever welcomes a horse-headed lady must have an unmarried woman. It's not good for a lady from a rich family to show her face like this. A girl from an ordinary farmer's house or a girl from a theater troupe, I'm afraid Ma Tou Niang felt neglected. Many years ago, Songjiang begged Ma Tou Niang once, and the one sitting on the horse was a female hermit who practiced fairy arts, but she had already traveled abroad and disappeared."

Zheng Haizhu opened his mouth slightly.

She has never been married, and she can show her face in public, and she is not a girl from a theater troupe...

So, it's just me?
Okay... well, isn't it similar to the cosplay that is popular in later generations, just as an immersive experience of ancient folklore.

Zheng Haizhu regained his composure, and respectfully said to Mrs. Miao: "Thank you for your favor. Speaking of which, Miss and I are also people who deal with silkworms all day long. I should take care of the important matters related to silkworms in this government. .It’s a rule, and I’d like to ask Mrs. Tai for advice.”

Miao Atai looked happily: "Good girl, I know that you are a busy person. Turn around, I will arrange your outfit for you personally, so you don't have to worry about it anymore."

……

The ceremony to welcome Matou Niang is held after Grain Rain, because a batch of new silkworms will be converted into cooked silkworms in early summer. The silkworm farmers in Songjiang are looking forward to the appearance of Ma Tou Niang and bless those silkworms to spin silk smoothly.

On this day, Zheng Haizhu had finished her breakfast in the Han Mansion, and Han Ximeng sent her to the door, and asked her to sit in a sedan chair and go to the Gu Mansion to change her clothes. Waiting at the gate of Chenghuang Temple.

The sedan chair walked for a while, and when they reached a stone bridge, Zheng Haizhu suddenly saw his student, Liu Daqiang, the son of Liu Tutou, squatting on the ground, thinking about something.

His younger sister, a nine-year-old girl, stood beside him, seeming to be wiping tears.

At this time, why don't the brothers and sisters go to school?

Zheng Haizhu hurriedly asked the bearer to stop, and got off the sedan chair by himself to ask what happened.

Liu Xiaomei saw Zheng Haizhu first, and called out, but there was still a sobbing sound, her eyes were red and swollen, and she was indeed crying.

Liu Daqiang looked up to see who was coming, and stood up, with a dejected look, and bowed to Zheng Haizhu listlessly.

Zheng Haizhu caught a glimpse of a pile of various bugs surrounded by stones on the ground, most of which were charred.

Looking into Liu Daqiang's hands, it was a piece of reading glasses that he used as a teaching aid when he was a guest teacher of Gezhi class.

"Aren't you going to take your sister to school, and use the lens to gather sunlight to burn bugs here?" Zheng Haizhu asked with a sullen face.

Liu Daqiang said in a low voice, "If I go today, I won't be able to go tomorrow. My parents want to sell my sister to someone else as a child bride."

"Huh?" Zheng Haizhu was taken aback.

No matter what happens, Liu Butou can be regarded as a well-established soap official in Songjiang Mansion, with a monthly salary of one tael of silver, plus all kinds of favor fees he usually collects when he does business, so why can't the family be in trouble?

The son is only 11 years old, and it's too early to marry a wife. Wouldn't it be necessary to sell the daughter now in exchange for the son's dowry?
(End of this chapter)