Ming Zuo

Chapter 283 Technology Control

For Qu Ye, in Zuo Menggeng's view, he is just a more pragmatic young man.

Unlike other scholars, they focus on empty talk, not popular things.

Although Qu Ye is young, he is currently in charge of the Qu family's property.

What Zuo Menggeng didn't know was that Qu Ye was originally Xu Ruolin's husband in history.

Qu Ye didn't know that his daughter-in-law was robbed, otherwise...

As a frail scholar, he seems to be unable to do much.

"Brother Pan, Brother Zuo, look, the entire Loutang is divided into four workshops according to different processes. This one is the cotton cleaning workshop, and the other side is the cotton carding workshop. There are various processes such as coiling and combing in the town. They are skilled in craftsmanship. The whole town works together to make the cotton cloth of Loutang Town famous all over the world."

Standing in the center of the town, Zuo Menggeng looked around.

I saw all the houses and courtyards that I could see, all the doors were open, and I couldn't help but go in and out.It can even be seen that the courtyards of various houses are busy and working endlessly.

There is an endless stream of people coming in and out carrying goods. It is said that they are common people's houses, but they are actually more like family workshops.

"As the saying goes, educate Jiading, eat in Loutang, and perform martial arts in Xu's house. Today, Zhongheng's distinguished guests come from afar, and my younger brother should treat me warmly."

Knowing Zuo Menggeng's intention of coming, Qu Ye was very happy.

They are all smart people, knowing about cotton in the future depends on Zuo Menggeng's face.

Zhengchou couldn't make friends, so Zuo Menggeng came to the door in person.If such a good opportunity is not seized, I am afraid that I will regret it for the rest of my life.

"Brother Mansong is a landlord, today we are all guests as the owner does."

It was still far away from the meal, so Qu Ye took Zuo Menggeng and Pan Xiaona to visit Loutang.

The history of Loutang is not far away. In the second year of Hongwu, it was founded by Wang Zhen, a native of Li.

However, the geographical location and traffic conditions of this place are really good, which can be described as unique.

The nineteen streets in the town are all built along the river, so there is a saying that "Loutang Street is crooked".

[Sitting in Jiaxing merchants and connecting everywhere, the sound of the city is separated from the sound of water]

It is the most apt description of the poem.

Here, as long as you take a boat, you can reach the door of any shop.In this way, the transportation cost is greatly reduced and the cargo transportation volume is increased.

Not too far away, I saw a simple small courtyard, standing very quietly beside the street, which was completely different from the bustle of other places, and seemed out of place.

It is very strange that there is such a place in Loutang with such a strong commercial atmosphere.

It was useless when Zuo Menggeng asked, and Qu Ye took the initiative to introduce.

"This is the hometown of the Queen's Empress Fengju, and it has been properly sealed up to bless the prosperity of the country."

Zuo Menggeng understood that this is the hometown of Queen Zhou.

There is a queen in the local area, and the local people are naturally proud of it.Even the government does not dare to neglect, and will definitely confess well.

But he didn't have a good impression of Chongzhen, let alone Queen Zhou.

He is more concerned about Songjiang's cotton spinning industry.

This trip to Loutang Town, under Qu Ye's explanation, Zuo Menggeng really gained a lot.

How big is the cotton spinning industry in Songjiang?
There are 3336 registered artisan households alone, and there are 110 workers in the Songjiang Prefecture Weaving and Dyeing Bureau alone.

In addition, Zhihu accounted for [-]% of the population of Songjiang Prefecture.The rest have to be private households in various links such as silk reeling, printing and dyeing.

In other words, less than [-]% of the people in the entire Songjiang Mansion really depend on farming for a living.

Moreover, because of the different types of cotton spinning in Songjiang Prefecture, there is already a preliminary division of labor.

For example, the main product of Wunijing is fan cloth.

Why is it called Fanbu?

Because Huang Daopo is from Wunijing.

The cloth produced here is the original variety brought back by Huang Daopo from Hainan, so it is called Fanbu.

Yaoban cloth from Qinglong Town, Sansuo cloth from Shagang Town, Dingcun cloth from Qianmentang, and spun yarn from Songzhai all have their own characteristics.

Not only do the types of cotton cloth have different divisions of labor, but the development of the cotton spinning industry has also promoted the development of related industries.

For example, the spindles used for weaving are generally produced in Jinze, Zhujing and other places, while the spinning wheels are from Luxiang and Qibao.

Another example is Nanqiao Township in Fengxian where many people are engaged in sewing and processing, mostly making finished products.

As for Zhujing, Zhujiege (Zhujiajiao), and Loutang, they are more used as distribution centers for commodities and raw materials.Therefore, merchants from all over the world gathered together and became more and more prosperous.

"The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and it's unbearable. I have no respect for you, brother Zhongheng, please accept this summer socks."

There is actually a finished shoe and sock store in Loutang Town. When Zuo Menggeng walked in curiously, Qu Ye specially selected some exquisite socks for him.

Zuo Menggeng picked it up and found that these socks are very light, soft and comfortable, which are suitable for wearing in hot summer.

After asking, I found out that this kind of socks is woven from a kind of fabric called "youdoubu". Because it is light and breathable, it is loved by people and used to wear in summer.

Youdunbu is actually not cotton, but cloud silk.Because it is delicate and light, it is very popular for making socks for summer that are refreshing and comfortable.

Summer socks are exported to other places, but because of the accent, great changes have taken place.

For example, in Chengdu, youdun cloth is also called oil lamp cloth.So far there is Summer Socks Street in Chengdu, which originated from this.

But seeing the summer socks gave Zuo Menggeng confidence.

He asked Fu Yusun to take out the stockings and handed them to Pan Xiaona and Qu Ye to watch.

"Let's take a look, these are silk socks woven by me in Shandong. How do you compare them to summer socks?"

Pan Xiaona and Qu Ye were dumbfounded the first time they saw the stockings.

They are all experts, without Zuo Menggeng's detailed explanation, they know that the summer socks that Songjiang people are proud of are completely incomparable with silk stockings.

"There is such a wonderful thing in the world?"

"As thin as gauze, as transparent as fog, and as light as clouds, such craftsmanship is really hard to imagine."

The shopkeeper of the summer socks shop also came up to watch, and couldn't help it on the spot.

"Young master, where do these clever things come from? How many are there? How much does this firm want?"

Seeing Pan Xiaona taking off his shoes and trying to put the stockings on his feet, Zuo Menggeng hurriedly stopped him.

"Oh, these socks are not for men. Your big feet don't look good in them."

Pan Xiaona was stunned.

"Are there socks for men and women?"

You are quite a European man.

Zuo Menggeng explained: "I improved this item based on the men's tube socks from Obaro, but in terms of beauty, it's better for women to wear them."

The shopkeeper was also decisive, and immediately told the waiter: "Go to the backyard and call Xiaocui."

Not long after, a young and handsome maid was called to the front yard.

"Master, are you looking for me?"

The shopkeeper handed over the stockings and ordered, "Put them on your feet."

The maid was terrified.

How can she show her feet in front of a group of men in public?

Seeing the maidservant's face turn pale, Qu Ye hurriedly comforted him: "Don't panic, this item is a new product, I'm just waiting to see its effect."

After all, she was a woman from Jiangnan, unlike other places, after realizing what was going on, the maid didn't hold back.

Not long after, a stocking was put on her foot.

When they saw the woman's slender and graceful ankles under the outline of the stockings, showing a breathtaking beauty, all the people present couldn't hold their breath.

They are very sure that once this thing comes out, women all over the world will flock to it.

No, I'm afraid men will be obsessed with it.

Women want to please themselves, so why don't you buy this thing for men?

But no matter what, the stockings will be very popular, and everyone present can be sure.

Qu Ye completely lost his demeanor and grabbed Zuo Menggeng's arm.

"Brother Zhongheng, I don't know how this product will be produced? If Brother Zhongheng has any difficulties, I will do my best to help."

Pan Xiaona became anxious and even changed her address.

"Brother-in-law, my Pan family has more than [-] looms. If you give this to my Pan family to weave, it won't be long before it is sold all over the world."

The shopkeeper knew that he did not have the strength to compete with Pan and Qu, but he found another way: "The small one has been in the business of summer socks for decades, and has stores all over the south of the Yangtze River. If this item is available, the small one is willing to sell it for me."

Facing the three pairs of fiery eyes, Zuo Menggeng couldn't stop laughing.

"Let me tell you, everyone, even if I want to hand this thing over to you, do you have the weaving skills?"

As soon as this remark came out, several people calmed down.

Pan Xiaona and Qu Ye got together, as if they had just sneaked into the senior sister's dormitory, holding the stockings and staring inside and out, and even sniffed and sniffed.

In the end, they all looked disappointed.

"My Pan family can't do it."

"No one in the entire Songjiang Mansion can do it."

This discovery shocked the two of them.

For a long time, I thought that the cotton spinning in Songjiang Prefecture was unparalleled in the world.But now it is discovered that there are fabrics in this world that cannot be woven by the Songjiang Mansion.

At the same time, this discovery also made the two of them vigilant.

It seems that the Songjiang Mansion has been at the top for too long, and everyone from top to bottom has become slack and doesn't want to make progress.

Of course, this vigilance was only fleeting.

The two looked at Zuo Menggeng at the same time.

The most urgent thing is to get a share of the stockings.

(End of this chapter)