Song Chu: Dad, if you don't work hard, how can I just lie down and relax?

Chapter 8 Nonsense

"This flax contains a lot of pectin. Pectin is actually found in most plants. For example, if you take any fruit and crush it, it will feel sticky to your hands; that's pectin."

Pectin is the main reason why linen cannot be unraveled and has a stiff texture. It's like the robes you're wearing, Grand Commandant; if I applied a layer of glue to them, they would certainly be uncomfortable to wear.

"Oh, I see. Master Wang is truly a master. Now that you've explained it, even a roughneck like me who knows nothing about needlework understands."

"So generally speaking, after the hemp is harvested, it is soaked in buckets of water for half a month. Some weavers will also stomp on it with their feet during this process in order to remove the pectin on it."

However, soaking in water alone is unlikely to remove the stain completely, so linen is not as soft as silk and cannot be pulled into threads, so it is woven directly on a loom.

Zhao Kuangyin suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! So the Taoist priest's miraculous medicine is to remove the pectin from the linen?"

"right."

"Then, what is the production volume and price of this miraculous medicine? If our Palace Guard also wishes to purchase it, would the Daoist Master be willing to part with it?"

Beside him, Han Tong sneered, "Master Wang's divine medicine is painstakingly refined; how much production could it possibly have? Even if it were all given to our Imperial Guard Command, only a very small number of units that have established military production records would be able to enjoy it. How could there be any left over for your Palace Guard Command?"

Zhao Kuangyin looked at Wang Jun with anticipation in his eyes.

"My father-in-law is right. At least for now, the amount of acid and alkali I produce is not enough for large-scale consumption."

Zhao Kuangyin was somewhat disappointed. He thought to himself that he would go back and have his sister-in-law talk to the Empress Dowager about it. Since the divine medicine was limited, the Palace Guards didn't need it, and the Imperial Guards shouldn't use it either. He would have the Empress Dowager bring the medicine to the palace for use.

"My demonstration that day was just for convenience. If you just need to remove spun threads, you don't necessarily need to use my detergent. You can use tea oil, although the effect might be a little worse, but removing the threads won't be a big problem."

"Hmm?" Zhao Kuangyin perked up immediately, while Han Tong was also taken aback: "What tea oil? My dear son-in-law, why have you never told me about other oils?"

As she spoke, she winked at Wang Jun.

You're my son-in-law, so of course any good stuff should belong to our Imperial Guard Command!

Although Han Tong was only the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, the real commander, Li Chongjin, was in Yangzhou and could not return at all. More importantly, he was also appointed as the Chancellor of the Secretariat and the Chancellery, making him a higher-ranking official than Zhao Kuangyin. In terms of military strength, the Imperial Guards were far more powerful than the Palace Guards.

His weakness was his shallow foundation; as a common soldier, he couldn't compare to a second-generation figure like Zhao Kuangyin. Even his skills in drawing silk from linen, and even Wang Jun himself, were things that Han Tong used to make up for this weakness.

Good son-in-law, you can't side with outsiders!

Wang Jun paid him no heed. He was only half-forced into becoming a son-in-law, and even if he didn't understand history, how could he not know who the most powerful figure in this era was?

"Using tea oil is good, but tea oil is mainly grown in the hilly areas of the south and used for everlasting lamps in Buddhist temples. I looked for it in the markets of Kaifeng, but I couldn't find it."

There are definitely some in the south. If possible, you could buy some of the waste left over after oil pressing at a low price, soak it in water, and it would produce good results.

Zhao Kuangyin smiled wryly upon hearing this.

The hilly areas in the south? Those are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It's not that things from the south can't be transported over, but there's really no need to bring in oil pressing waste.

"If you don't have tea oil, you can use lard or perilla oil. When using it, you can add some wood ash water, and it's best to add a little soapberry to trigger a saponification reaction."

Oils can penetrate hemp fibers and emulsify pectin and lignin. As for lard, the excess oil after degumming can be reused...

Zhao Kuangyin listened intently. Suddenly, Han Tong slapped Wang Jun's shoulder with his large hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

"My dear son-in-law, today is your joyous day. Why bring up these textile matters? Zhao Tiegun, what are you here for? Aren't you just spoiling the mood by asking these questions?!"

It was obvious that Han Tong was already quite angry; if the occasion hadn't been inappropriate, he might have already overturned the table.

"Hahaha, it's my fault, it's my fault, Brother Han, don't be angry. Come on, let's have a few drinks. By the way, Brother Wang Jun, where's your son? I haven't seen him at all."

"This... I don't know either..."

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a voice coming from the backyard, growing louder: "Help! Help! Dad! The Han family is bullying us! Waaah! It's so sad to be a motherless child! They just married a stepmother and now they want to kill their own son!"

The noise was quite loud, so loud that all the guests in the front hall could hear it and had strange expressions on their faces.

Wang Jun brought a son; it was impossible to hide it, and Han Tong hadn't intended to either. At the beginning of the wedding, the child was even seen greeting guests; everyone saw it. Now…

Could it be that the Han family not only took Wang Jun as their son-in-law, but also thought he was a burden and wanted to kill him? That's a bit too cruel.

Wang Jun was also taken aback when he heard the voice. He naturally recognized it as Wang Lu's voice, but his expression became strange. He didn't show any panic on his face, but rather seemed to be suppressing a smile.

All eyes in the hall were on their table. Wang Jun, though suppressing a laugh, still looked at Han Tong: "Father-in-law, about this matter... where is your son? Could it be...?"

Han Tong's face was completely black, unlike Wang Jun, who knew his own child was in the right place and wasn't worried, knowing that he was up to no good.

Han Tong also knew his son well, knowing he was a complete idiot. Who knew what he was up to?

He went so far as to marry his daughter to Wang Jun, partly to tie him to his side, and partly to win him over by investing heavily. If he were to actually kill Wang Jun's son, wouldn't that be counterproductive?

"Don't panic, son-in-law. You stay here with the guests. We'll go and see what's going on. There must be some misunderstanding."

"Father-in-law, please go."

Han Tong got up and left, and Wang Jun, seeing that Han Tong was gone, didn't care about his own son's life or death at all. Taking advantage of Han Tong's absence, he quickly chatted with Zhao Kuangyin to improve his favorability.

Meanwhile, Han Tong rushed to the backyard and found it in complete disarray. His only son, Han Wei, was holding a sword and followed by several servants, also armed, but they were being held back by some servants and his daughter, Han Ling'er. Meanwhile, Wang Lu was running around aimlessly.

Han Ling'er, in particular, dressed in her wedding gown and holding a fan, disregarded all decorum and stood firmly in front of Han Wei, shouting, "Brother, what are you doing? What are you doing?"

"Get out of my way! Don't ruin my plans!"

They are arguing.

Although the guards behind Han Wei were also armed, they were not resolute. They were only symbolically blocked by a few servants, who actually stopped them, looking like they were watching a show.

In other words, the only ones actually arguing were Han Wei and Han Ling'er.

Enraged, Han Tong roared, "You unfilial son! Today is your sister's wedding day, what trouble are you causing now?! Put down the knife!"

Wang Lu quickly grabbed Han Tong's leg: "Grandpa Han, he said I'm a burden to my father and he wants to kill me!"

"Father, don't listen to his nonsense. I'm going to kill Zhao Kuangyin. I don't know where this kid came from, he's just spouting nonsense for no reason."

"oh."

Wang Lu stopped pretending and crying, silently stepping aside with a calm expression.

Han Tong gasped, feeling a gust of cold wind rush from his nose to the top of his head, scaring him half to death. He immediately launched a flying kick at Han Wei, unleashing a flurry of blows.

"You unfilial son! Stop spouting nonsense! Young Master Wang is Wang Jun's biological son, and he will become your sister's biological son and your nephew. Do you even know that? How can an uncle like you intend to harm his own nephew? You are too vicious."

"Father, I didn't, I really didn't..."

boom!

Han Tong interrupted Han Wei with a punch: "Still dare to argue? I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son!"