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Scholars, accustomed to reading and writing year-round, often lack the physical strength of laborers. Carrying these satchels, while not overly strenuous, still demanded considerable effort, causing the scholar to walk somewhat slowly.
Carrying the satchels, along with the one slung over his back and the others carried in his hands, drew curious looks from onlookers. Unable to contain their curiosity, some approached and inquired, “Kang, what are you doing? Why did you buy so many satchels?”
“Yeah, don’t you already have satchels for daily use? Why spend money on more?” another person asked.
“These satchels are different. They’re waterproof. If I’m traveling for an examination or on a journey, I won’t have to worry about my belongings getting wet, even on rainy days. I found them quite remarkable and practical, so I bought one,” Kang Yining replied. “Then Li and Du also wanted one, so I brought some back for them.”
Waterproof satchels? That’s truly practical.
Aside from other benefits, consider the countless trials one faces during a journey for an examination, especially during inclement weather. It’s not the wet clothes one fears, but the possibility of drenching one’s writing materials, books, and inkstones.
If these satchels truly are waterproof, it alleviates this concern entirely.
Upon hearing Kang Yining’s explanation, some people inquired about where to purchase these waterproof satchels. Upon learning they were available at the entrance of the Wen De Academy, they went in groups to take a look.
Within a short time, word spread like wildfire. Soon, at the entrance of the Wen De Academy, accompanied by Jiang Mixia, Jiang Youcheng, and Song Jingyun, a considerable number of scholars arrived.
After carefully examining the craftsmanship of the satchels, testing their waterproofing, and even trying them on for comfort, many decided to make a purchase.
After all, a waterproof satchel is an essential item for travel, making it a practical one-time investment. Besides, the price of these satchels was quite fair.
The satchels brought by Jiang Mixia and her family sold out quickly.
Those who missed out and still wanted to make a purchase placed a deposit with Jiang Mixia, arranging for delivery in half a month.
Spending about an hour at the entrance of Wen De Academy, Jiang Mixia received twenty orders.
For those still interested in placing orders, Jiang Mixia mentioned that they were currently at capacity, but they could reserve their orders for the next delivery.
On the way back, Song Jingyun, with a smile on his face, nibbled on the black sesame cake.
“Wife, you were absolutely right. This black sesame cake is truly delicious! The chestnut cake is also delightful.”
While Jiang Youcheng happily felt the new fabric he had brought back from the cloth shop for Liu Shi, feeling delighted inside.
Upon returning home, he shared the successful business dealings of the day with Liu Shi, who was equally thrilled. During dinner, they added an extra meat dish.
The meal featured stir-fried pork with green peppers, or rather, green peppers stir-fried with pork, where the peppers were noticeably absent.
Jiang Youcheng asked Liu Shi to fry some extra peanuts and brought out a pot of sorghum wine, preparing to have a drink with Song Jingyun.
The wine, a potent sorghum liquor, offered a rich and intense flavor with a full-bodied aftertaste, similar to the one they had at Jiang Youfu’s house last time.
Truth be told, Song Jingyun found the taste of the sorghum wine quite appealing and was eager to drink it. However, he vividly remembered the embarrassment of getting drunk last time and insisted on refraining this time.
Recalling the last time when Song Jingyun got drunk at the main house, Jiang Youcheng didn’t insist. Instead, he poured himself a bowl and sipped it slowly.
With the successful satchel business, the whole family was in high spirits. While eating, they discussed plans to purchase winter clothing and charcoal for heating during the winter.
Charcoal prices are indeed quite high, and it can be a considerable expense during the winter. However, with the family’s current earnings, Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi felt that they shouldn’t be overly frugal. They believed that living comfortably was the foremost priority and were clear about their intentions in this matter.
When discussing expenses, the topic of their recent earnings naturally emerged.
Sighing as he took a sip of wine, Jiang Youcheng said, “Today, there were many people in the county town interested in ordering satchels. We simply can’t weave as many as they want. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need to actively promote them.”
Promoting the satchels cost them real money. Just thinking about it made him feel quite distressed.
“In the end, it all comes down to the fact that we have too few family members and too much work to handle,” Jiang Mixia said. “Father, do you think we should hire some help around the house?”
“If we can find someone skilled, we could teach them how to weave bamboo baskets. They can work with us long-term. If they aren’t skilled but are strong, they can help with cutting and splitting bamboo,” she proposed.
“This way, we could produce more, ensuring that we don’t miss out on potential earnings. Once we have others skilled in basket weaving, we won’t have to work as hard,” Jiang Mixia added. “Father, what do you think?”
“It sounds good, but…”
Jiang Youcheng looked hesitant. “But teaching the craft of basket weaving, it’s not as simple as just instructing someone, is it? Especially with the unique method for crafting the watertight bamboo baskets and satchels, which was conceived by Jingyun. It’s quite remarkable, and if we teach it casually, won’t its value diminish?”
This kind of craftsmanship was their livelihood, their bread and butter. The fewer people who possessed this skill, the more secure their livelihoods would be. Conversely, the more individuals skilled in this craft, the more likely they would struggle to make a living.
The notion of “teaching an apprentice to starve the master” wasn’t just a saying. If it were, Jiang Chunshi’s master, the carpenter Niu er, wouldn’t have guarded his craft so closely, treating it like a precious treasure.
Hearing this, Jiang Mixia pursed her lips.
Jiang Youcheng’s concerns were valid and understandable. The transmission of craftsmanship had always been cautious and guarded. They were careful when selecting someone to carry on the tradition, fearing that one more person knowing the craft might jeopardize their livelihood.
While this approach ensured that the craft wouldn’t fall into unfamiliar hands, it also greatly limited the scale of production. This conflicted with the results she aimed to achieve.
Jiang Mixia responded, “I understand your concerns, and they are indeed necessary. However, when we hire someone, we can seek individuals from our own village, and we can have a written agreement specifying that anyone learning the craft in our household must work with us for a certain number of years. They must not go elsewhere to perform similar work or activities.”
“Otherwise, they would need to return all their previous wages and compensate us for any losses. If someone violates the agreement, we can take this written agreement to the authorities. With the government and laws in place, I assume others wouldn’t dare to cause intentional trouble.”
“I understand that you’re worried about others learning these crafts and jeopardizing our family’s livelihood in the next generation. However, by hiring more people and producing more goods, we can earn more money. In a short time, we can recoup the money we invested in basket weaving during our lifetime. We can then provide enough land and property for the next generation. They can continue to expand and develop the business, which is far better than just safeguarding the craft of basket weaving.”
“Father, why don’t you calculate the potential benefits of this approach?”