Chapter 311: Strange Fabric Piece

Clang clang clang.

The knocking sounded, Jiang Yunchu raised her head and shouted, "Come in."

Which road did you take?

Zhuang Wei walked in from outside, his whole person giving off a weary, handsome uncle vibe, with stubble showing on his beard.

The suburban path, winding through the woods, I glanced at the sandy ground...

Jiang Yunchu rubbed her nose, feeling a bit guilty as she glanced at her second uncle; she had taken a detour, checked in with Han Bing about the situation in Zhuang City, and mainly hadn't expected her second uncle to come pick her up.

She never expected that her saying she would definitely come next month would be remembered by her grandmother all along.

Whether it was the elderly or the two uncles, they were all worried.

"I said it, not seeing you means you definitely took a detour!" Zhuang Wei sat opposite, poured a cup of tea, with an "I knew it" look.

Jiang Yunchu looked outside; the sky was already darkening. "Second uncle, you made a trip for nothing."

She...

Zhuang Wei waved his hand, "What are you talking about!"

"You didn't know I was coming to pick you up; you just followed your own route, not meeting is perfectly normal, right?"

"Yun chu, we are family, always have been."

Zhuang Wei's expression grew solemn; when he looked at Jiang Yunchu, his gaze was earnest. He hadn't even returned home, hearing his elder brother's news, he directly seized his elder brother's horse, galloped madly, and returned to the manor.

Just arrived at the manor gate, the porter said Young Master Kang had gone to the workshop.

He turned back and came to the workshop, only then seeing Jiang Yunchu.

When he saw the person, the worry he had been holding finally eased.

"Second uncle, you're so anxious—what's the matter?"

Zhuang Wei's expression grew even more solemn. "Do you know the Yan clan?"

"The Yan clan?"

"The Jiangnan Four Great Clans, Yan City famed for its rouges and powders, is the Yan clan."

The Jiangnan Four Great Clans each name a city after their surname, for example Zhuang City and Yan City.

The Zhuang clan is known for weaving cloth and making garments, and furthermore is an imperial merchant tributing silver silkworm silk.

And Yan City, famed for its rouges and powders, has its products spread across the Jiangnan region, making it the old boss of this industry.

Because her focus is more on skincare, it doesn't clash with the Yan clan's line; although she paid some attention, she didn't take it too seriously.

"It's them!"

Zhuang Wei nodded. "In the past half month, many people have come to Zhuang City, inquiring about the workshop and the Lustrous Jade Soap. After my investigation, the most were from Yan City, others from other cities too, but they were just gathering information, and also sounded out the Zhuang clan about possible cooperation."

Formerly, the Zhuang clan's workshop had no good formulas; even the shop was deserted, usually just cheap goods merely sustaining those people.

But now that there is Lustrous Jade Soap, it's different; as soon as it appeared, it swept across the whole Jiangnan, whether grand mansions or traveling merchants, all came flocking to inquire and order.

Supply cannot meet demand.

The Yan clan could no longer sit still; this time they sent people over, ostensibly to inquire, but secretly wanting to make contact with the workshop personnel.

"The Yan clan!"

Jiang Yunchu smiled. Originally she just did skincare, with no conflict with the Yan clan's business, hoping they wouldn't cause trouble; otherwise she would consider expanding her product line.

"It's fine, my people, I still trust them."

Jiang Yunchu shook her head, looking at her second uncle's weary face, yet he persisted in coming over to explain the situation to her.

Although this workshop is hers, outwardly it still belongs to the Zhuang clan.

"The fabric you had me arrange, the workshop made some; it looks very thin, so small, with a few holes—I just feel it's not right."

"Tomorrow I'll take you to the workshop to have a look."

Before leaving, Jiang Yunchu gave him a drawing with dimensions and shapes, plus some holes; the fabric's craft is a new kind of material—although soft and comfortable to the touch, it's so thin you can see through it—what can it be used for?

"Done?"

Upon hearing that, Jiang Yunchu's eyes lit up; she thought it would still take a few months, not expecting it to be ready now?

She didn't know that Zhuang Wei personally led the team, researching day and night, testing round after round, failing countless times, before finally reaching the level she demanded.

"We'll go first thing tomorrow morning."

Jiang Yunchu directly set the time, then looking at her second uncle's weary face, she said, "Or this afternoon? Second uncle needs more rest."

Zhuang Wei waved his hand, "Second uncle isn't that old yet!"

"Tomorrow morning, second uncle will take you."

"But let's go home now; second uncle is about to fall asleep sitting down."

The important matters have been said, the person has been seen, now there's nothing left to support him; his whole body feels drained, two days and one night… he hasn't closed his eyes at all.

"Go home."

Jiang Yunchu stood up directly, stepped out of the room first, Zhuang Wei following behind; it's hard to imagine that such a person is actually a young lady.

Zhuang Wei thought of this, smiling and shaking his head.

"You're back? Tired? Hungry, right?"

Madam Zhuang saw Jiang Yunchu and hurried over, completely ignoring her second son on the side.

Even the usually unsmiling Elder Master Zhuang chuckled and asked, "What did you eat at the workshop at noon? Still to your taste? Tomorrow's lunch I'll have someone send it over."

That caring demeanor…

"No, who exactly is the biological one?" Zhuang Wei couldn't help it—it's utterly absurd!

"Go wash up quickly, you reek."

Second Master Zhuang looked at Zhuang Wei with a look of disdain, his brows furrowed, almost covering his nose.

Zhuang Wei looked at the three people, well, he shouldn't have asked!

Ah!

He sighed, then walked straight to his own Courtyard; that back view looked somewhat desolate.

His second uncle...

Jiang Yunchu felt somewhat reluctant, looking at the three old people, he pointed at that desolate back.

"Don't mind him, he's always been like this; before it was Miaomiao, now it's you, he's just that kind of person, we've long been used to it." Madam Zhuang said it in a displeased tone, making everyone laugh and cry.

Early in the morning, Zhuang Wei directly took Jiang Yunchu to the Zhuang Clan's workshop; everyone here was busy, and a few curious people merely glanced up, after all, the Zhuang Clan's workshop had never seen outsiders besides its own members.

"Do you think this will work?" Zhuang Wei picked up that tiny piece of cloth, only the size of a palm.

Those big hands, holding that small piece of cloth, felt awkward everywhere.

At first sight, Jiang Yunchu's eyes lit up, then he felt the texture—this…

She looked surprised at her second uncle, "This feel is great, I'll test its water absorption."

She brought a basin of clear water, then placed the cloth piece in it, waiting for the cloth to soak up water; she found an empty bowl and wrung out all the water from the cloth.

Looking at the half‑bowl of clear water, she became even more satisfied.