Su Xiaoqi knew that the process of making lotus root starch was not difficult for her.
However, the process was somewhat complicated, and many parts required secret methods, otherwise, it would be mishandled unintentionally.
Coupled with the many steps in the production process, it was painstaking, time-consuming, and labor-intensive.
It was estimated that even if someone tried, they would give up soon without obtaining a finished product.
Su Xiaoqi asked him to divide the people, with adult men on the estate digging lotus roots, and women following her to wash the lotus roots and make lotus root starch.
Steward Li was shocked when he heard this, and his eyes shone as he looked at Su Xiaoqi.
He did not doubt his mistress's words, but he still found it hard to believe.
It was too dreamlike, his mistress actually said she would make lotus root starch.
Could she?
"By the way, can you get me some pottery jars, sawdust, and bran?"
Su Xiaoqi had long been thinking about growing tremella and selling it for money.
In her previous life, she had visited places like Gutian, the "hometown of tremella," with her mentor.
She had seen the reformed tremella cultivation techniques there.
From poplar log cultivation to bottle and bag cultivation, the efficiency was said to have greatly increased. Fifty kilograms of sawdust could produce five kilograms of tremella, with a production cycle of only about forty days, which was very suitable for mass production.
In addition, cottonseed hulls were also good as a culture medium for tremella, with yields thirty kilograms higher than sawdust cultivation.
It just so happened that she could grow cotton in her space, and she had saved a lot.
She took it out for the people on the estate to help remove the cotton seeds and sell the pure cotton. The cotton seeds would then be used to cultivate tremella, killing two birds with one stone.
The more Su Xiaoqi thought about it, the more excited she became.
She gave orders one after another, and Steward Li, who had been confused about what to do, immediately found something to do.
Moreover, judging by the situation, they would be busy until the New Year.
After that came the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, which was both the Double Ninth Festival and Su Xiaoqi's birthday.
The people of Mianzhou City attached great importance to this festival. Every year at this time, they would make Chongyang cakes and climb mountains to enjoy the distant view as a family.
However, because Old Madam Yu's legs were inconvenient, and Madam Zhao's health had always been poor, the two elderly women had told them early on to go out and enjoy themselves. They would reunite as a family in the evening.
Shen Xiaomei, due to the festival, was busier at the pastry shop and could not return to celebrate.
As for Shen Yun, he was going to Xishan mountain with a group of friends to climb.
So Su Xiaoqi alone accepted Madam Yu's invitation to her birthday banquet.
Before going out, she changed into the clothes that Madam Yu had sent yesterday. Guo'er styled her hair into a half-moon bun and put on a set of pearl hair ornaments.
Shen Yun took her to the Gu family's residence. After getting out of the carriage and paying her respects to Mr. Gu and Madam Yu, he grabbed Su Xiaoqi's hand and whispered, "I'll pick you up this afternoon."
Su Xiaoqi nodded, thinking that the mule cart had already been sent to take him to Xishan.
She would have to wait for him here in the afternoon.
After passing through the main courtyard, Su Xiaoqi realized that Madam Yu had put a lot of effort into her birthday banquet.
First of all, the guests invited.
At a glance, most of the guests were the most influential ladies and young ladies in Mianzhou City.
Brocade and silk, jingle of jade pendants, and a waft of fragrance.
Of course, the most important thing was that Du Yiyi had come.
She was dressed in red, with her hair tied up high, and the gold-inlaid and jade-encrusted horsewhip hung from her waist.
She had been accompanying Madam Yu. When she saw Su Xiaoqi arrive, she said something to Madam Yu and immediately ran over. With an excited look, she grabbed Su Xiaoqi's hand and asked her questions with curiosity.
"Sister Xiaoqi, you are so beautiful. What have you been doing these days? Are there any new things? Oh, I haven't seen you for only a few days, and I feel like a year has passed."
Su Xiaoqi chuckled and pinched her nose, saying, "You're exaggerating. It's not just a year, it must have been ten years since we last met..."
"Hahaha, Sister Xiaoqi, you're even more exaggerated than me." Du Yiyi laughed and leaned on her.
At this moment, Su Xiaoqi saw Madam Yu.
She was looking at them.
She quickly pulled Du Yiyi forward to pay her respects.
Standing beside her were many women dressed in opulent attire.
Among them were women with their hair tied up and young ladies with their hair in buns.
They were gathered together, chatting, and it was very lively.
Su Xiaoqi paid her respects to Madam Yu. Madam Yu held her hand and looked at her clothes.
Xiaoqi was wearing a brocade apricot-yellow half-sleeved jacket with a threaded long skirt that Madam Yu had sent yesterday.
The skirt was embroidered with orchids, small and delicate, fresh and elegant, complementing Su Xiaoqi's bright and beautiful face.
Madam Yu nodded secretly in her heart. When she saw this fabric, she had thought of making a set of clothes for Xiaoqi with it.
It would definitely suit her, and indeed, it looked beautiful.
Su Xiaoqi smiled sweetly at Madam Yu and called out, "Godmother."
Madam Yu's smile deepened.
At this time, the noblewomen gathered around her all praised Su Xiaoqi.
They said she had an elegant and beautiful appearance, her skin was as white as cream, and her temperament was noble, possessing much of Madam Yu's style.
Though not her own daughter, she was even better than one.
...
These noblewomen, having attended such flower banquets for many years, were adept at social interactions.
In the past, they all wanted to befriend Madam Yu because of Mr. Gu's reputation.
Invitations to flower shows, tea parties, and spring outings poured into the Gu family like snowflakes.
However, Madam Yu was not a person who liked to make friends.
After visiting families of ordinary status once or twice, she would politely decline by citing poor health.
It was unprecedented for her to actively host a banquet and invite them, as she had done today.
Therefore, those who received the invitation felt proud.
When they learned that Madam Yu had gone to such great lengths for her adopted daughter, they lavished her with compliments as if they were free.
They were afraid that if others said too much, they might say too little.
However, as they were all from influential families in Mianzhou City, they were sophisticated and restrained in their speech, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere for a time.
Initially, Su Xiaoqi didn't know anyone and had no understanding of them. She didn't need to say much, just stand beside Madam Yu with a smile.
Madam Yu would handle all the arrangements and interactions for her.
Led by Madam Yu, Su Xiaoqi met many noble ladies and young ladies in Mianzhou City.
For example, the Li family, whose family business was mainly restaurants.
Their representatives today were the mistress, Madam Li Lu, and her youngest daughter, Li Qianqian.
With the idea of meeting more people to broaden her horizons, Su Xiaoqi stopped pretending to be mute and used her "social butterfly" skills to converse with them amiably.
Soon, they reached an agreement for a business deal to supply fish, chickens, and ducks.
There was also a family surnamed Yun.
Their family's business was mainly in cloth shops and clothing stores.
Their representative was the eldest legitimate daughter, Yun Shang.
Su Xiaoqi had a brief chat with her and reached an agreement to recommend Zhao Xiaozhu to work as a designer in her family's shop.
"Wouldn't Miss Yun want to see my little sister Xiaozhu first?" Su Xiaoqi was somewhat surprised.
Yun Shang had agreed just as she mentioned it.
"No need, I trust you, and I've met the young lady named Xiaozhu once before," Yun Shang explained.
It turned out that she had met Zhao Xiaozhu once at her family's Huaxiangrong clothing store.
She was responsible for the embroidery work for her family.
Her embroidery skills were admired even by the top embroiderers in her shop.
"I had intended to hire her to do embroidery work for my shop, but since you mentioned that she can design new styles, I'd like to see it," Yun Shang said, appearing quite capable.
She was twenty years old this year.
Many young ladies of her age were already married.
However, she had no such thoughts, dedicating all her energy to managing her family's business.
Su Xiaoqi talked with her the most because Yun Shang's ideas were very forward-thinking, embodying the spirit of an independent woman.
However, it was precisely this realization that made her suddenly recall something.
The novel had once mentioned Yun Shang, and her fate did not seem very good.
Su Xiaoqi looked at Yun Shang's refined and shrewd face, which suddenly became veiled in a thin mist.