Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 41: The Weaver Picks Lake Silk

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Weaver Picks Lake Silk

The portly ghost stumbled toward the golden light, then twisted and fell into the Soul Summoning Lamp.

Zhao Xing didn’t try to stop it; the ghost’s fortune was too distant, and to inquire about the riches would likely require helping the ghost fulfill a vow.

Too bothersome, Zhao Xing thought. He was after a quick ghostly fortune, a stroke of instant wealth. If there were too many complications, he might as well go back to farming.

Besides, this involved an assessment of the clergy, and if he put himself in their shoes, he wouldn’t want outsiders interfering either. It wasn’t worth offending people over some small amount of money.

"No rush, there are plenty of opportunities." Zhao Xing didn’t even glance back as he quickly returned to his street vendor’s stall.

Xu the Eighth let out a sigh of relief when Zhao Xing returned, concerned that he might not come back and then spread gossip, tarnishing the reputation of the river scavengers.

"You told me to wait, and then you disappeared in a flash."

"Oh, I saw someone familiar, let’s go, let’s head to the South Lake District and have a look."

It was the same evasive response, and Xu the Eighth didn’t ask further but showed renewed vigor when it seemed they were finally getting down to business and followed with his tools in hand.

Arriving in the South Lake District, it was still brightly lit, but most of the illumination came from the lake, not the land.

The atmosphere became more tranquil, and the noisy voices died down.

"Eh?" As they walked along the lakeside promenade, Xu the Eighth suddenly stopped and looked toward a certain direction.

"What is it?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Oh, I saw a familiar person." Xu the Eighth waved his hand dismissively.

"..." Zhao Xing looked at him with an almost amused expression, thinking so now you’re giving me the runaround.

But Xu the Eighth was actually unfairly accused this time.

"Don’t misunderstand, Master, I really did see a familiar person. Do you see the woman in hemp clothes ahead? Yes, the one next to the young girl in white." Xu the Eighth pointed in a direction.

"I see them." Zhao Xing nodded. Not far from the shore, a small boat was moored, with a mother-daughter pair on board, several fishing lamps lit, appearing busy with something.

"Lin San, from Ping Si Bay, comes from the same place as me. Her husband used to do this work, but then he had an accident, and she took over for him, becoming the new river scavenger."

"Since her son got married and started his own business, she hasn’t gone into the waters. She hasn’t done this kind of work for years, so I wonder why she has resumed the old profession today." Xu the Eighth was puzzled.

Zhao Xing took a careful look. Under the Bright Eyes Technique, he could tell that Xu the Eighth wasn’t lying; the middle-aged woman’s attire and tools were similar to Xu the Eighth’s.

As for the young woman, she was dressed neatly, and her plain clothes even shimmered slightly.

"Hmm? A first-grade vestment robe?" Zhao Xing turned to Xu the Eighth. "Is her daughter a Weaver from the Weaving Supervision?"

Xu the Eighth shook his head: "She doesn’t have a daughter; that’s her niece, Lin Baiwei. But she’s almost like a daughter since Lin San raised her from a young age. She seems to have indeed joined the Weaving Supervision in Gucheng."

Weavers were official employees of the Weaving Supervision, and in Great Zhou, it was common for women to go out to work or hold official positions.

The occupation of Weaver mainly involved weaving vestment robes and was considered a fairly important spell-related profession.

Zhao Xing nodded slightly: "It seems Lin San has resumed her old profession for her niece."

Xu the Eighth asked, "How does Master know?"

Zhao Xing pointed out: "Lin San doesn’t seem to be scavenging for treasures but seems to be preparing to collect lake silk."

"The assessments at the Weaving Supervision are mostly related to weaving vestment robes."

"It is now August, the time of Chushu. The first silkworms, second silkworms, and the last silkworms are no longer available."

"Only water silkworm lake silk can still be collected, and its quality is even superior."

Seeing the look of admiration on Xu the Eighth’s face, Zhao Xing enthused and explained a bit more: "Before a Weaver enters the ranks, they mostly use this as material. The silk that is white and has a fine toughness is used to make what’s known as a Heluo Robe."

"Wearing it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer, repels dampness and cold, and also helps weak children grow up healthy."

"The slightly inferior ones are used for making Chuanwu Robes, and the next level ones for Feiguang Robes."

"The ones made from lake silk are basically all Heluo Robes, but the conditions for collecting the silk are very strict, mainly available only around the time of the River Lantern Festival, and it must be at night. During the day, the lake silkworms are all retracted and simply cannot be scooped up."

"That’s why I say Lin San returns to her old trade for her niece’s sake, and you river folk are even more efficient at it."

Upon hearing this, Xu the Eighth couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up: "The young master really knows a lot."

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Since you know her, won’t you go and greet her? I’m not in a hurry."

Xu the Eighth shook his head repeatedly: "Lin San would have to undress to get in the water, what if I run into her... I, Xu the Eighth, am not that kind of man. No, no, I won’t go."

Zhao Xing smiled faintly, reassured about Xu the Eighth’s character.

......

Since there was a divine temple organizing assessments on the shore, Zhao Xing rented a small boat and took to the water.

By this time, there were very few still releasing river lanterns, but there were still several large boats and more than a dozen small boats on the water, the candlelight flickering here and there, the surroundings quiet and still.

Zhao Xing didn’t speak either, just quietly listened and watched.

Not a person in sight, but he saw plenty of wandering souls.

Some clung to the sides of the river lanterns, others swam about below, devouring the yellow paper and incense.

Not all these wandering souls were humans; many were the souls of aquatic creatures, or strangely combined shapes.

For instance, as Zhao Xing’s boat passed by a certain spot, he saw a wandering soul with the head of a fish and the body of a person.

Even those that had lived long would be periodically cleansed by the clergy.

He could also hear:

"What are you doing?"

"I’m going over there."

"What are you doing?"

"I’m going over there."

Not far away, by a large river lantern, two oddly-shaped wandering souls were engaging in a mechanical conversation, repeating those two phrases back and forth: one wanting to go over, the other asking what they’re doing. Lacking their Wisdom Souls, this was all they were capable of.

Again, these wandering souls had no real offensive power; they were merely a natural phenomenon, with the majority dissipating within seven days.

"Stop here for a moment," Zhao Xing suddenly pointed to a spot.

Xu the Eighth immediately rowed over, his eyes lighting up: "Young master, the water here is clear, but there are quite a few fish swimming around, probably attracted by some treasure. I’ll dive down and have a look."

"Hmm," Zhao Xing, with his Bright Eyes Skill, easily saw two top-grade, first-tier East Lake Pearls at the bottom of the lake.

The price was average, with a market value of about one tael of silver, and they could sell for a bit more if they were in good condition, but certainly no more than two taels.

The main issue was that East Lake was not short of such things. If they were second or third tier, then they could fetch a good price.

As expected, Xu the Eighth quickly resurfaced, holding in his hand a glittering chicken egg-sized pearl: "Young master, I found two lake pearls!"

"Thank you, come on up," Zhao Xing took the pearls. Both were top-grade, first-tier; with that, they had pretty much broken even.

Before he had time to appreciate them further, a series of faint voices carried on the wind.

"Light, such a bright light, really dazzling."

"Turtle, turtle, it’s so cold over there, I’m freezing to death. I need to stay further away from it."