The weather turned cold, with days short and nights long, the days passed quickly, and in no time, it was November.
The coming-of-age ceremony for Song Ruqi was held with great liveliness, and the hairpin used to tie her hair was sent by her future husband Qi Zhen, making the young girl as happy as could be.
Once Song Ruqi’s ceremony was over, Niu Pan’er and Song Zhiyu returned to Prince Dingbei’s Mansion to live, as they were past their newlywed period, and Niu Pan’er needed to return to the military camp for duty.
Because the weather had turned cold, there were reports of roads being blocked by heavy snow everywhere, Song Ci called Madam over to Chunhui Hall to discuss matters.
"It’s too cold this year, the winter clothes d to the Charitable Hall should be stuffed with more cotton from the workshop, better make it thick and solid, there must not be any corner-cutting. If a spot check reveals such a thing, I will hold them accountable." Song Ci instructed.
Madam said, "Mother, rest assured, they would not dare to."
"Whether they dare or not, you must pay more attention, the weather is unusual this year, so cold, if our winter clothes are used for some inappropriate purpose, it’s our mansion’s reputation that will be tarnished." Song Ci glanced at her: "The Prime Minister was only chosen this year, the mansion doesn’t lack this bit of money, there’s no need to let someone use it to smear his face, tarnishing our Mansion’s name, especially now when our in-laws are all so dignified, do you understand?"
Initially, Madam did not take her mother-in-law’s words to heart, thinking who would dare to fool the Prime Minister’s Mansion, but hearing it now, she also secretly became cautious, straightened her attitude, and said, "Mother, rest assured, I will definitely have the people below watch it."
"Hmm, you being the matron of the household, I trust you," Song Ci continued, "The cold weather means there might be disasters, possibly causing refugees to flock here, have the granary checked, buy more brown rice as a reserve, and if disaster relief porridge stations are set up, it will be useful."
"Brown rice? Mother, in the past our porridge stations were primarily made with polished rice." Madam frowned.
"In cold weather, brown rice fills the stomach better than polished rice, and brown rice is cheaper, a bag of polished rice can be exchanged for several bags of brown rice, helping more people eat their fill. Now, which do you choose?" Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel✦fire.net
Madam hesitated, "Wouldn’t this be inappropriate, after all, we are the Prime Minister’s Mansion, letting people know we’ve switched to brown rice might invite ridicule."
Song Ci sneered, "Ridicule? What’s more important, saving lives or facing ridicule? You save hundreds of people, earn hundreds of graces, is ridicule important?"
Madam was momentarily speechless.
"Family Gu, our Prime Minister’s Mansion originated from a poor family, having experienced poverty is well-known, what is there to fear ridicule for? We just do our part well, stockpile more brown rice, while others might have five days of porridge stations, we can provide ten days, allowing more people to eat during this cold winter. Ridicule, what’s important about that? Can it fill a person’s stomach?"
Madam’s face flushed, feeling slightly embarrassed, said, "Mother’s teachings are correct, it was my narrow-mindedness."
"Just focus on humanity. Go ahead, besides brown rice, have more filling options like taro and yam prepared. This year let’s not sell anything from our property, but stockpile it. Also, the old winter clothes and quilts from the maids and servants should be gathered, not discarded, they might come in handy." Song Ci thought for a moment and realized there was no potato here, ay, if that could be introduced and planted in Great Qing, it would also be a good staple to fill the belly.
Madam respectfully agreed, glanced silently at Song Ci, noting her mother-in-law was managing more this year.
As the two spoke, Mama Fang walked in from outside, joyfully saying to Song Ci and Madam, "Old Madam, Madam, the message from the Gu Family came, the eldest aunt has gone into labor."