Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The six people from Ying Niang’s side began moving items into Fuqu Pavilion one after another. They carried on for nearly half an hour before all the items reached Wei Lan’s empty room.

Wei Lan saw the six workers sweating profusely and gave each one twenty wen as a reward. The workers thanked Wei Lan earnestly.

After everyone left, Wei Lan changed into light clothing and entered the room next to her bedroom. She looked at various jade-carving tools, and a smile finally appeared on her face. She checked the tools carefully, confirmed they were usable, and eagerly picked a piece from the pile of jasper scraps to try her hand.

The jade piece was likely leftover from cutting a bracelet, with many small black spots. Wei Lan did not mind, as skilled craftsmanship could remove those spots.

Traditional jade crafting required twelve steps. The first step involved pounding sand and grinding slurry to produce jade-dissolving sand for the remaining steps.

Pounding sand and grinding slurry processed the sand used for polishing jade to the required fineness. Workers placed the ground sand in a container to settle, allowing the fine particles to separate naturally. The result was uniform, moderately hard stone sand.

This stone sand, called jade-dissolving sand, was essential for grinding and polishing jade.

Making jade-dissolving sand took an entire day or more, but Wei Lan had bought ready-made sand from Ying Niang, skipping one step.

For the second step, opening the jade, Wei Lan also did not need to act. The scrap she held was from a bracelet, ready for carving without removing the jade’s outer layer.

Thinking this, Wei Lan pulled a wooden stool and sat down. She picked up a small brush, dipped it in prepared pomegranate juice, and began sketching a rough design on the jasper.

She avoided ink because water used during carving would smear it. Pomegranate juice, resistant to water, served as the pigment.

Wei Lan’s hand was steady, but her connection with this body was still new, requiring adjustment. She focused her mind and drew lines on the jade surface.

When satisfied, she sat at the spinning wheel, similar to a modern jade-cutting machine. Modern machines were electric with various sharp, round steel blades, cutting effortlessly.

Ancient spinning wheels differed. A table held a set of tools, with a wooden axle at one end fitted with a round steel disc for cutting jade. Though called a steel disc, it was extremely sharp. Two ropes wrapped around the axle, each tied to a wooden board called a “pedal board” at the bottom.

After sitting, Wei Lan stepped on the pedal boards, like operating a sewing machine, alternating her feet. The ropes turned the axle, spinning the sharp steel disc to cut the jade.

This alone was not enough. A groove under the steel disc held a small basin.

Wei Lan placed sand and water in a small copper basin, set it in the groove under the disc, and scooped sand to pour on the jade surface while cutting. This increased friction, making cutting easier.

This was the third step of traditional jade crafting, called “zha duo.” In modern times, this step was simple, but not in ancient times.

Wei Lan steadied her hand, carefully pressed the jade against the disc, watched the cutting shape, and avoided cutting her hand.

This process alone took Wei Lan about half an hour.

By then, the jade in her hand no longer looked like scrap. She had cut it into a palm-sized rectangular jade plaque, roughly shaped but far from her standards.

Wei Lan stopped, looked at her jasper plaque, and smiled.

In this world, she finally found some purpose. Carving jade and being a kept man didn’t seem so bad.

Meanwhile, Wang Yiding, guarding the back gate, soon reported to the steward.

The steward, Huang Ming, was handling tasks in the front courtyard’s study. Seeing Wang Yiding, he asked, “Why are you here? Did something happen at the back gate?”

Wang Yiding bowed to the steward and said, “Nothing happened. The lord bought many items today. I haven’t seen them before, but they seem like tools for crafting. Several carts arrived past noon, delivered to the mansion.”

“Bought things?” Huang Ming frowned slightly. “Did the lord mention this to our lady?”

“I don’t know,” Wang Yiding replied.

Huang Ming nodded and said, “Alright, I understand. Keep watch at the back gate. Report any issues, especially about the lord.”

“I understand, steward. I’ll go back now,” Wang Yiding said.

Huang Ming waved him off, saying, “Go.”

After Wang Yiding left, Huang Ming shook his head irritably. Wei Lan, only on her second day as a son-in-law, caused such a stir. If she were truly favored by the lady, it might be fine, but she was not favored at all and loved to make trouble. The lady would only dislike her more.

Huang Ming shook his head, dismissing Wei Lan further. He called a servant to summon Li Zhufeng for questioning, and the servant quickly went.

When Li Mammy heard the steward’s call, she hurried to the front courtyard. Seeing Huang Ming, she bowed eagerly, as if he were her master. “Steward Huang, you called me?”

Huang Ming glanced at Li Zhufeng and nodded. “Yes, what’s happening with the lord? I heard she bought many things?”

Li Zhufeng, hearing this, said, “Yes, the lord asked us to clear a room in the courtyard. I told her it would take time, but she got very angry. Later, people brought items to the courtyard. I hadn’t seen them before, but they seemed for jade crafting. I saw the lord carving jade when I brought her tea.”

“Hmph,” Huang Ming sneered but said little. He continued, “I understand. I’ll mention this to the lady. Serve the lord diligently.”

“Yes, steward,” Li Mammy said, glancing at Huang Ming’s expression before leaving.

After she left, Huang Ming scoffed, “Does she think she’s Gong Jinsheng? Carving jade? Ridiculous. Just a useless person.”

Muttering curses, Huang Ming grabbed his documents and headed to Lu Zijin’s courtyard. He reported daily at this time on the Lu Mansion’s affairs and expenses.

Soon, Huang Ming reached Lu Zijin’s study. He treated her with great respect. Their lady was no ordinary Kunze; she tolerated no flaws and acted decisively, surpassing many Qianyuan.

“Miss, here are today’s accounts. I wrote them down. Please review,” Huang Ming said respectfully, placing the paper on Lu Zijin’s desk.

Lu Zijin nodded and lowered her eyes to read the contents.

Huang Ming hesitated, then said, “Also, the back gate guard said the lord bought many jade-crafting tools today.”

Lu Zijin frowned slightly. “Ignore her, as long as she doesn’t cause trouble.”

To her, Wei Lan was just a decoration, bought to silence gossip and deter those coveting the Lu family’s wealth.

Lu Zijin’s long lashes lowered. She continued reading the steward’s notes, occasionally asking questions, as if Wei Lan’s matters did not concern her. In truth, she did not care.