Chapter 217: Fishing
Li Xiaonan turned to look at Zhou Shennian.
“Do you have any fish?” Zhou Shennian asked with a smile.
Li Xiaonan smiled and nodded, then bent forward and pulled the bamboo basket submerged in the water up for Zhou Shennian to see.
“Oh, you can really fish. These crucian carp are good,” Zhou Shennian leaned in to look at the four or five fish in the basket and said with a smile.
“We have half a block of tofu at home. I’ll stew some crucian carp and tofu soup. Alas!” Li Xiaonan put down the fish basket, reached for the fishing rod, and reeled in a boiled fish about seven or eight inches long.
Li Xiaonan grabbed the fish, removed the hook, and put it into the fish basket, smiling broadly, “Thanks to you, Teacher!”
“It’ll be excellent steamed!” Zhou Shennian laughed.
Li Xiaonan picked up half an earthworm from a broken piece of pottery, threaded it onto the hook, and cast it again.
“You’re not from around here, are you, Teacher? A teacher at the prefectural school?” Li Xiaonan looked at Zhou Shennian.
“I came from Hangcheng. Do I look like a teacher at the prefectural school?” Zhou Shennian looked at himself.
“You look quite like one,” Li Xiaonan scrutinized Zhou Shennian.
“My knowledge isn’t enough to be a teacher at the prefectural school. I’m a bookkeeper for a family outside the city. Do you live nearby, young lady?” Zhou Shennian looked at Li Xiaonan’s simple fine cloth clothes.
This area was full of wealthy families’ residences. This little girl was probably a servant from one of them, or a child from a poor family whose home was further away, who came here specifically to fish.
“Not too far. Are you here to visit a friend, Teacher?” Li Xiaonan moved a small stool and gestured for Zhou Shennian to sit.
“No need, no need. I have other matters. You could say I’m visiting a friend. The scenery here is nice,” Zhou Shennian said with a smile.
“Did you find your friend? Did you visit but not meet them?” Li Xiaonan asked with a smile.
“You little girl, you even know about visiting but not meeting,” Zhou Shennian chuckled. “You could say that. Do you often come here to fish?”
“I suppose I do, quite often,” Li Xiaonan said, smiling at Zhou Shennian.
“Then do you know any of the families around here?” Zhou Shennian pointed to several residences hidden among the green trees.
“That one is surnamed Huang; the owner does business in jewelry. That one is surnamed Wu; they have a Xiucai scholar. This one is surnamed Li; they also have a Xiucai scholar. I don’t know about the others,” Li Xiaonan pointed to her own home and her neighbors, introducing them with a smile.
“This family surnamed Li, have you met the owners? I heard they have several sisters,” Zhou Shennian inquired subtly.
“I have. Why are you asking about their sisters, Teacher?” Li Xiaonan tilted her head to look at Zhou Shennian.
“Hey! You little girl, you can’t just say such things!” Zhou Shennian was startled. “I’m an old man, and it’s fine if you speak carelessly, but they have young ladies in their family. You can’t just say such things!”
“Thank you for your guidance, Teacher.” Li Xiaonan quickly bowed to accept the lesson, then smiled, “Is your surname Zhou, Teacher?”
“Hm?” Zhou Shennian’s eyes widened.
“The Young Lord wrote a letter saying you should be arriving in Pingjiang City today or tomorrow,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“You?” Zhou Shennian pointed at Li Xiaonan and looked her up and down again.
“Didn’t you recognize me, Teacher?” Li Xiaonan also looked down at herself.
“I didn’t expect you to be so simple, young lady,” Zhou Shennian said, feeling a bit awkward.
“Didn’t Shi Gun tell you? My Eldest Sister manages the household very strictly.
“For example, today, Mei Jie bought pork belly this morning, and we still have eggs at home. I wanted fish, but Mei Jie said we already had meat and couldn’t spend more copper coins, so I had to come fishing myself. Fortunately, the harvest is quite good.”
As Li Xiaonan spoke, she reeled in her fishing rod, but the hook was empty.
“Never mind, this is enough. Let’s go back.”
Li Xiaonan reeled in the fishing line and pulled up the fish basket.
Zhou Shennian wanted to reach out to take the fish basket, but the fish inside were splashing, causing water to spill out.
His silk long gown had just been put on!
“Will you be eating at our home today, Teacher? I’ll steam the boiled fish,” Li Xiaonan carried her fishing rod and fish basket, and led Zhou Shennian through the corner gate.
Li Xiaonan handed the fish basket and fishing rod to Mei Jie, washed her hands, and carrying a freshly boiled pot of water, went to the main courtyard’s corridor. She invited Zhou Shennian to sit and made him tea.
“I heard from the Young Lord about you recruiting weavers for the weaving workshop, and that you’ve already recruited four to five hundred weavers. I didn’t expect you to live so simply,” Zhou Shennian said, looking around with great emotion.
“Alas, what choice do I have? My business has been losing money since it started, and the deficit is growing. All the profits from the preserved egg business are being used to cover it, and I still owe over two thousand silver in debt. If I had money, I’d also want to live in luxury,” Li Xiaonan sighed.
Zhou Shennian was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. “Then do you know what matter I’ve come to discuss with you, young lady?”
“I do. The Young Lord’s letter mentioned it was your idea. It’s more appropriate for me to handle the collection of autumn silkworm cocoons than for the Young Lord to appear in person,” Li Xiaonan sighed again.
“Was I being too meddlesome?” Zhou Shennian carefully observed Li Xiaonan’s expression and asked tentatively.
“I think so too. There are a few things I need to ask your advice on. First, the sea tax that the silk trade pays to the Maritime Tax Bureau, what’s the current discussion on that?” Li Xiaonan asked Zhou Shennian.
“The most important task I have is to review the changes in labor costs, grain prices, land prices, mulberry prices, and raw cocoon prices in Jiangnan from the founding of the nation to the present. I have already written two letters to the Prince,” Zhou Shennian replied cautiously.
“Then, in your opinion, can the sea tax be lowered? By how much?” Li Xiaonan continued to ask.
“This,” Zhou Shennian gave a dry laugh, “I’ve only been serving the Young Lord for less than a month. I really don’t dare to speak carelessly.”
“Mm. The second matter, how much do you know about our Jiangnan silk guild?” Li Xiaonan continued with the second question.
“I know about the one you mentioned, young lady. Where would I know from?” Zhou Shennian smiled.
“Are the weaving workshops within the silk guild like an iron plate, with almost no gaps, or are there many gaps?”
“How could there be no gaps! Not gaps, but huge fissures, some with old feuds. But when it comes to what the Young Lord wants to do, these workshops in the guild will probably act as one solid block,” Zhou Shennian said, looking at Li Xiaonan.
“From what I’ve heard, the silk guild is too strict. The number of looms for each workshop and the quantity of silk produced each year, categorized by type and grade, are decided once a year. Once decided, there’s little room for flexibility. There’s no difference between skilled and unskilled workshops. Is that right?”
“Yes! What are your plans, young lady?”
“Regarding the autumn silkworm cocoons, I asked Eldest Uncle. He said the amount of silver needed is enormous, but the silver itself isn’t the main difficulty. Once the cocoons are collected, they must be boiled and reeled immediately. This is all skilled work. The reeling and dyeing workshops in Jiangnan have always depended on the silk guild for their livelihood.
“Besides that, there are the spring silkworms next year. If the silk guild issues a decree, I’m afraid all the silkworm farmers will reduce their cultivation or even stop farming altogether.”
Li Xiaonan looked at Zhou Shennian, who met her gaze, bowed, and smiled, “Then what is your intention, young lady?”
“There is a Senior Guild Member surnamed Yu in the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association. I had only been doing business in fine cloth for a few days when he started doing fine cloth business too. I heard that this Old Yu Xing is a shrewd person, manages his weaving workshop extremely well, and is very good at business.
“What do you think would happen if we went to consult this Old Yu Xing?”
“This is a matter that you are most suited to handle. Go and see him quietly first,” Zhou Shennian said with a smile.
“Then, Teacher, please think about how I should approach Old Yu Xing about this matter,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“I will go and quietly observe Old Yu Xing first, and then have someone inquire about his family background and past. If all goes well, I will give you a reply tomorrow afternoon,” Zhou Shennian bowed and smiled.
“Thank you for your trouble, Teacher.” Li Xiaonan thanked him with a smile.
“You are too kind. I will attend to this task immediately,” Zhou Shennian stood up to take his leave.
Li Xiaonan stood up and escorted Zhou Shennian out the corner gate.
