kingnovel Chapter 642 Cotton Returns to the County
Chapter 642 Cotton Returns to the County
As the sky gradually brightened, the frost on the roof of the carriage began to melt and drip down along the edge of the carriage.
"pat-"
A drop of frosty water fell on the back of Wang Guangjin's neck, but he didn't feel it at all. Instead, he looked at Shen Zheng with an expression of "apologizing".
"Don't make that expression." Shen Zheng said and looked forward, "Not to mention you, even the Mian boss didn't find out about this, what do you have to feel guilty about?"
Her consolation had no effect at all. Wang Guangjin even wondered - wasn't it said that there were eunuchs who tasted the food beside the emperor? Before the emperor ate, the eunuchs would take a bite first to see if it was poisonous.
At this moment, he wanted to be a food-tasting eunuch...
Seeing his complicated expression, Shen Zheng continued, "Generally, plant seeds are slightly toxic and not lethal, and cotton is no exception. But don't think too much about it, eating a little won't cause any harm."
She said it uncertainly, but she knew in her heart that cottonseed oil was slightly toxic unless it was specially processed.
As for why she knew.
Because she ate it when she was a child.
Before the rise of rapeseed oil, some people would extract oil from cotton seeds for consumption.
At that time, eating meat was a luxury and people had no oil in their stomachs, so cottonseed oil became the best choice to replenish oil.
It's not hard to find, it's cheap, and as for the taste...
Compared to rapeseed oil, it's just like that, a little bitter and astringent.
Long-term use of cottonseed oil will cause burden on the liver and kidneys, but this is not the most important thing.
The point is, long-term consumption can cause serious damage to the reproductive system, leading to male infertility and female infertility.
Wang Guangjin looked back at the wooden box on the carriage behind him and tightened his grip on the reins: "Next time I go, I will ask the cotton boss not to sell this oil..."
If he helps the cotton boss to open up the cottonseed oil channel, that would be harming both himself and others. The thought of it makes him scared.
Shen Zheng nodded slightly and changed the subject intentionally: "You haven't been home to see it since you came back this time, right?"
As soon as the word "home" was mentioned, a smile appeared in Wang Guangjin's eyes, and hidden beneath the smile was a full of longing.
"Not yet. When I came back yesterday, I was escorted to the county government office by the villagers..."
He didn’t know how his mother was doing, whether Wanying had grown taller, or whether that bad boy Lai Xi missed him.
When he set out, Lai Xi insisted on going with him, but he was more worried about his mother and sister at home than having someone to take care of him. He was still worried without someone he trusted to take care of him.
"Wanying wants to go to the county school to study." Shen Zheng said, "She occasionally goes to the county school to listen to the teachers' lectures. I met her once and asked her about it. She said she wanted to wait for you to come back and discuss it with you before making a decision."
Although Wang Wanying was born in a landlord's family, she only knew a few words and had read two books that a girl "should" read. There was still a big difference between what she studied and what she learned in the county school.
"My stupid sister!" Wang Guangjin became even more anxious when he heard this, and wanted to fly back to Tong'an County. "Studying is such a good thing, what is there to discuss? As long as Principal Li is willing to accept her, she will definitely study!"
Shen Zheng pondered for a moment: "She might be afraid that you will be doing business outside and won't come home often in the future. She will go to the county school to study, and your mother will be alone at home."
"The county school is not far away." Wang Guangjin was a little unconfident. "Besides, when I am doing business outside, I will never stay for too long. Once the business is done, I will definitely rush back home without making any detours."
Shen Zheng chuckled: "You know Madam Lu better than I do. This matter needs to be discussed with your family."
Wang Wanying is always thinking about her mother and is filial.
But how can a mother not care about the good of her child and just want to keep her child by her side?
After the sound of roosters crowing, time seemed to be accelerated, a corner of the sky was lifted, and sunlight gradually appeared.
The convoy passed through a wasteland and went forward into Tongan County. Wang Guangjin shook his head and perked up. The drivers behind him also began to talk loudly.
"We've arrived in Tongan County!"
"We just turned the corner and this is the territory of Tongan County. Brothers, let's charge—"
The convoy walked for a while and then went forward to the main street of Tongan County. There were already some scattered figures on the street.
With so many carriages, the noise became quite loud. The people looked in the direction of the sound and saw Shen Zheng sitting on the board of the first carriage.
"Master Shen!"
"Why did Lord Shen come back at this time? Didn't he get any rest last night?"
"Master Wang, what you did was really unkind. How can you drive a cart to transport goods at night?"
Wang Guangjin pulled the reins, looking aggrieved and unable to defend himself.
"That's what I wanted to bring." Shen Zheng smiled and leaned on the back of the cart to point to the cotton bales. "We've brought back our cotton! There will be a carriage coming later!"
"Cotton!" Pairs of eyes fell accurately on the cotton bales on the back car.
"It's wrapped so tightly, oh, I can't see it!"
"The cotton is back, so the cloth mill should start working. Oh my - I have been looking forward to this day for so long. No, I have to tell my daughter right away!"
For a moment, some people came forward out of curiosity to look at the cotton bales, some people ran to spread the news, and every household opened its door, and the whole Tongan County was bustling with activity.
"These cottons..." Shen Zheng said to Wang Guangjin, "Let's take them to the granary first, and let's take a look at the goods together. The warehouse at the cloth shop needs to be dehumidified after it's built."
Wang Guangjin was nodding in response when he saw out of the corner of his eye a woman holding a bowl chasing the carriage.
Turning around, he heard the other person say, "Master Shen! Master Shen, have some hot porridge to fill your stomach. It's cold now, and it's not good for your health if you don't have enough food in your stomach!"
Wang Guangjin took a closer look and saw that the porridge was still steaming, obviously having just been taken out of the pot.
Looking further back, there was a little kid following the woman, staring at the bowl and drooling, "Mom... that's my porridge..."
Shen Zheng also leaned forward, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and quickly waved her hands: "Isn't this the child's breakfast? I appreciate your kindness, give it to the child quickly. Once my carriage stops, the carriages behind must stop as well!"
A group of people watched her drinking porridge from behind...
Shen Zheng didn't even dare to think about this scene.
The woman looked at the string of carriages behind her, then looked at the little monkey following behind with his saliva drooling, and sighed.
"Eat, eat, you have to finish the whole bowl! If you can't finish it, you will have to eat steamed bread tomorrow!"
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle gurgle—”
Wherever the carriage went, the people made way for it, allowing it to reach the back street of the county government office unimpeded.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Shen Zheng saw two people running towards this side.
Zhao Xiu was in front, and Xiao Yuan was behind. Xiao Yuan didn't even have time to stand firmly, and asked Shen Zheng with a wronged look on his face: "Sir, why did you go to the city alone? There was no one to protect you..."
Wang Guangjin raised his hand: "Um... me...?"