"I don't know what kind of material it is, but I heard from the servants serving in Changchun Garden that the material looks very beautiful. It is red in color, but it looks brighter than ordinary materials. It is embroidered with extremely exquisite patterns with gold thread. Flower pattern. I can’t tell you what makes this material so different.” Cuiping replied.
Then he added: "I don't know who sent this slave. It was said that a carriage stopped at the back door early this morning. It was said that there was something for the eldest lady. The eldest lady's maid went to carry some things back.
" Yan Yun thought for a while: "Come with me and have a look."
Yun stood up and took Cuiping to Changchun Garden.
When she arrived, she found that her second sister-in-law, Bai Shi, was also here, and they happened to bump into each other.
Bai Shi said with a smile: "I heard from my servants that someone gave Ruo'er many rare things. Do the three younger siblings know who gave them to them?" Yun Shi was slightly stunned. She just heard
Cuiping mention cloth and didn't know. There are other things.
"Ruo'er had many befriended ladies and ladies from aristocratic families before, so maybe it was a gift from them," said Yun.
"That's it. I wonder if my third brother and sister can take me to see them together. I also want to see those precious objects." "
Okay." Yun's expression was not good, but she still agreed.
The two of them came to Wei Ruo's residence together. As soon as they entered, they saw several boxes placed at the door.
The bright red horse Cuiping mentioned just now is placed on top of the box.
The color is bright, and the flower patterns embroidered with gold thread are exquisite. The flowers look like they have just bloomed in the garden in early spring.
In the box that was opened next to it, there were some other fabrics of various colors. These were not satin, but seemed to be made of ordinary cotton.
The other boxes have not been opened, and Yunshi and Baishi don't know what is inside for the time being.
Seeing Yunshi and Baishi come in, Wei Ruo stopped what he was doing.
Yun came over and asked, "Who gave these things as gifts?"
"An old friend in Huzhou Prefecture learned that I was getting married and sent some fabrics." Wei Ruo replied.
"These materials... look very different. This friend of yours is very thoughtful." Yunshi said.
While Yunshi and Wei Ruo were talking, Baishi had already touched it.
She first touched the satin fabric embroidered with golden flowers, and then showed a look of surprise and joy: "Ruo'er, your material is very smooth and delicate, isn't it cloud brocade? Or is it brocade? No, this material It is lighter and thinner than Yun brocade, and smoother and more delicate than brocade."
Bai has also seen a lot of good materials, and she has basically seen all the materials that can only be used by high-ranking officials, but there is no material that is as good as the one in front of her. This one matches.
"No, this material is produced by a very small workshop. It is not yet popular and has not been officially named." Wei Ruo replied.
"So that's it! Then help my second aunt buy a few more pieces. I don't think they are any worse than those expensive fabrics such as Yunjin and Sujin." Bai immediately wanted Wei Ruo to help her buy them.
"The output of this material is small, so we won't sell it for the time being." Wei Ruo replied.
She won't sell this material to the public for the time being, and it took her more than half a year to get less than ten pieces.
Except for this one which was dyed true red, the others were basically dyed purple, indigo and other uncommon colors.
Hearing this, Mrs. Bai looked disappointed and said, "Ruo'er, you didn't mean to buy it for Second Aunt me on purpose, right?"
Wei Ruodao said, "By the way, didn't Second Aunt already say that she wanted to buy it? Bring me the real money and silver." What can I do for you?"
Bai was very disappointed, and then reached out and touched the fabric on the other side. This fabric was made of cotton, and the color was not as beautiful as the satin one, but the material was exceptionally soft to the touch.
"What is this fabric? It's very soft to the touch." Bai asked Wei Ruo again. "This is cotton, which is suitable for making underwear." Wei Ruo replied.
"Is this cotton so soft?"
In Bai's impression, cotton fabrics are hard and dry, far less soft and comfortable than silk.
"The cotton cloth produced with good quality cotton is also softer." Wei Ruodao.
"Can cotton be divided into good and bad?"
"Of course we have to. Good cotton has long fiber length. The longer the fiber, the better the strength of the yarn spun. Evenness, hairiness, neps, etc. are also better than short fiber ones. , the fabric made from this has good luster, good dyeing effect, is soft, skin-friendly, breathable and elastic."
Wei Ruo explained to Bai, who was stunned for a moment.
Bai Shi smiled awkwardly and said, "Ruo'er has lived in the countryside for more than ten years, and he knows a lot of things that we don't know."
Bai Shi's eyes moved to the two boxes that had not yet been opened.
"What are you packing in these two boxes?"
Wei Ruo smiled and then winked at Xiumei.
Xiumei opened the boxes one by one in front of Bai and Yun.
The first box contained two jars, which looked much better than the two jars Wei Ruo brought in the carriage. They were white porcelain wine jars.
The second box contained a pile of rouge, gouache, and a lot of bottles and jars.
"Why are there still two jars of wine?" Bai couldn't help but ask.
"These two jars are of thyme." Wei Ruo replied.
"Thyme?" This name was familiar to Bai. Wei Mingyong had told her about this thyme after returning from Taizhou Prefecture.
Wei Mingyong also said that he once wanted to get two jars back to the capital to honor the high-ranking officials in the capital who loved wine. However, the wine was expensive and difficult to buy, and he couldn't even get a jar.
"Ruo'er, where did you get two full jars of thyme?" asked Yun.
Being in Taizhou Prefecture, she had naturally heard of thyme, and also knew that this liquor was not only expensive but also very difficult to buy.
"Same as these materials, they are gifts from friends." Wei Ruo still answered this way.
"Who is this friend of Ruo'er? He is so generous and gives you so many rare and good things at once." Bai could not hide her envy in her tone.
Wei Ruo didn't answer directly, but just said: "Giving gifts between friends is all about thoughtfulness."
Bai looked at Wei Ruo's liquor and didn't look away from it for a long time.
Yunshi looked at Wei Ruo's piece of red cloth from time to time.
Wei Ruo noticed the expressions of the two of them, but pretended not to notice and continued busy with Xiumei.
Bai Shi thought that since she was so obvious, Wei Ruo should take the initiative to ask when she saw him, but Wei Ruo didn't speak for a long time, and she was a little anxious.
Finally, he couldn't wait any longer and asked Wei Ruo: "My dear nephew Ruo'er, your second uncle has been looking for famous wines recently and wants to give it to a noble person. My second aunt heard that this thyme is very rare. Why don't you sell it to your second uncle?" How is Auntie?"