After setting aside their worries, the conversation lightened up considerably.
While they were engrossed in their discussion inside, outside, Shouyi and Lianshan had successfully caught two large white geese, swiftly finishing the task with knife in hand.
After putting down the knives and the bowl containing the goose blood, the two brothers planned to scald the goose feathers with a large basin. Just as they took it out, they were stopped by Yinghong and Shuzhen, who had come out after hearing the commotion.
"Not going to use water for scalding? Without using water for scalding, those fine feathers won’t be easy to deal with!" Shouyi frowned, feeling like his sister-in-law and younger sister had teamed up to make things difficult for him.
Yinghong only knew that the incredibly popular down jackets and duvets of later years used goose and duck feathers as the filling. As for the specifics, she really had no idea! Although she had spent many years in the Ling family as a much-tormented daughter-in-law, big geese and ducks had always been avoided by her awful mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Naturally, they never appeared on the Ling family’s dining table.
So, she genuinely hadn’t picked up any small tips about plucking feathers.
But if she couldn’t do it, there was still Shuzhen, who surely could!
Before, their family hadn’t raised ducks or geese; at most, when they first returned, some community members had quietly gifted a few. Second aunt and Lianshan always took care of them well, and by the time they reached her, they had turned into delicious soups or stews.
Naturally, Shuzhen hadn’t thought of the down jackets, an absolute must for everyone in the northeast during her past life.
But when the elder sister-in-law lamented how it was a shame to just throw away the fine, snow-white goose feathers, how could she not think of it?
Moreover, compared to Yinghong, who only knew that down jackets and duvets were filled with duck and goose feathers, Shuzhen could almost be considered a semi-expert!
Because in her previous life, down jackets produced by reputable factories were casually priced at hundreds or even thousands, while cheaper ones from small factories leaked feathers. People who pursued affordability yet didn’t want to compromise on quality were bound to consider making their own.
Every winter, plucking and saving goose feathers for homemade down jackets became quite a scene in nearby villages.
Thanks to these memories, Shuzhen not only knew how to pluck goose feathers quickly and efficiently, but she could also instruct on washing, drying, and disinfecting them in detail.
Seeing her sister-in-law lost for words when questioned by her second brother, Shuzhen stepped forward with a smile to help: "Hey, not using water has its tricks! Just wait, I’ll show you a trick, let you learn something new! Once we collect the feathers from these two geese and test it out, if it works, our Liu family village production team will have another great income from turning waste into treasure."
As soon as she started chatting, not just Shouyi, but even Shouren and Lianshan looked at her with interest.
However, Yinghong’s eyes flashed at the words "turn waste into treasure," and she looked at her little sister-in-law with some suspicion, seemingly trying to confirm something.
Unfortunately, Shuzhen ignored those small glances and actions completely.
She was busy pouring most of the boiling water out, leaving only about two scoops and adding a bit of cold water to keep the water in the pot at a barely boiling state. Then she placed a rack for steaming buns in the pot, tucked the goose’s head under its wing, and tossed it directly into the pot.
"Hiss, little sister, you’re not going to directly steam the goose, are you?" Shouyi was stunned; he had never expected the trick his little sister came up with would be this. Steaming with feathers and all, are you really doing this just to pluck the feathers?!
"Yes, just steam it a bit , then pluck while it’s hot. It’s easy, and it doesn’t damage the feathers at all." After the pot started boiling, Shuzhen asked her sister-in-law about the time. After waiting for two minutes, she quickly lifted the lid. Testing it with her hand, she found that the back feathers that faced the steam could be easily plucked, and she deftly flipped the goose over. After steaming it a bit more, plucking the feathers became remarkably easy.
The result was undeniable, so Shouyi couldn’t help but give his sister a thumbs up: "As expected of my little sister, clever and resourceful."
Everyone laughed, the way he praised others while also praising himself, he really was something.
Being praised, Shuzhen had a tight feeling in her chest, simply because if you’re clever once, twice is a talent, and doing everything and constantly innovating makes people suspicious!
Thinking about the down jackets and duvets she was going to mention next, Shuzhen’s smile paused, her voice lowered, and she immediately brought out an excuse as a shield.
Knowing how to pluck goose feathers wasn’t uncommon; it was an old skill of her mother-in-law from the Dai family. Having watched and done it many times, naturally she became skilled. Plus, those years when it was hard to get cotton tickets, and the winter winds and snow could freeze a person to death, ideas were born out of necessity, leading to the use of duck and goose feathers.
They would wrap the plucked feathers in gauze, repeatedly wash them with soap, then steam them in a pot and scrub them with lye.
After removing the dirt and washing away the oil and smell from the roots of the feathers, they would be stuffed into cotton-padded clothes, pants, or quilts. Sewed them tightly, providing warmth much better than traditional cotton garments and quilts.
In recent years, with life getting better and the family’s cotton seemingly endless, there was naturally no longer a thought to bother with goose or duck feathers.
This time it was just a coincidence, and considering the increasing number of ducks and geese being raised, collecting their feathers became convenient. Who knows, with a little research, it might just turn waste into treasure!
Hearing her explanation, Brother Liu, the team leader, immediately expressed high approval and support. The same advice: whenever you have an idea, try it out, and work hard; don’t fear, don’t hesitate, big brother’s got your back.
If you need people, you get people; if you need funds, you get funds, no questions asked!
"Of course, big brother should support me! After all, with my achievements, and the impact I make, it brings honor to you as a brother and a leader, doesn’t it? Effective leadership, recognizing talent, it’s all part of a political achievement, right?" Shuzhen said proudly, with the demeanor of a talent expecting support.
Shouren laughed: "Yes, you keep up the hard work. I, as your big brother, am ready to bask in the glory of my talented sister!"
The back-and-forth between the siblings instantly brought the slightly tense atmosphere back to one of warmth and harmony.
However, Shuzhen knew she had successfully passed. Whether it was plucking goose feathers or her sudden inspiration for the down jacket and duvet, these would no longer pose problems for her. Because in their eyes, the Dai family and her marriage to Dai Weiguo were like scars. As family and loved ones, they wouldn’t touch them and certainly wouldn’t let others uncover her scars.