newbobooks Chapter 260 Silk Reeling
Chapter 260 Silk Reeling
Silk reeling is not complicated. After the water in the earthenware pot boils, Bai Ling throws the prepared silkworm cocoons into it. The cocoons are boiled in the pot for a short while, and then the cocoons are taken out and placed in an earthenware basin filled with warm water.
Bai Ling held a pair of chopsticks and stirred them in the water a few times. Fine silk threads were wrapped around the chopsticks. Bai Ling twisted out fifty silk threads, passed them through small holes, and then wrapped them around the silk-drawing machine.
Then, he held the silkworm silk in one hand and kept stepping on the pedal with his foot, and the silkworm silk peeled off the cocoon layer by layer.
All the beastmen in the courtyard gathered around to watch Bai Ling work. Feng then went inside and brought out a silk-drawing machine. Following Bai Ling's example, he put the silkworm cocoons into a pot to boil. After boiling for a while, he took them out and put them into a ceramic basin filled with warm water, stirring them back and forth in the basin with chopsticks.
Sure enough, silkworm silk was wrapped around the chopsticks. Bai Ling stopped what she was doing, helped her father count out fifty silkworm silk threads, rubbed them in her palm a few times, and then threaded them through the round hole and wrapped them around the silk-drawing machine: "Father, just step on the pedal slowly, there's no rush."
Because of Bai Ling, Feng could also count. Following his son's instructions, he counted out fifty silk threads, threaded them through the small holes on the silk-drawing machine, and wrapped them around the machine.
Then he slowly stepped on the silk reeling machine, and silk threads fell continuously from the cocoons, winding around the machine again and again.
The onlookers were itching to join in, so Feng stood up and gave up his seat, saying, "Yue, there are a few more silk-drawing machines at home. Let's go and move them out together."
Bai Ling made a total of six silk reeling machines, and now they can all be used. The beastmen divided the work: some rubbed off the thin layer of silk floss on the outside of the cocoons with their fingers, some boiled the cocoons in water, and a few used the silk reeling machines to reel silk.
A group of people were working in the courtyard, which quickly attracted the attention of other orcs in the tribe. They all came in to visit, and some even joined in to help with the work.
Orcs especially love the silk-drawing machine. Apart from the one Bai Ling uses, the other silk-drawing machines have been replaced by orcs several times.
The eldest and third elders of the central tribe also arrived. They looked around the silk-drawing machine intently, and even sat down and stepped on the pedal for a while, watching the continuous stream of silk being drawn from the cocoons. Although they had many questions in their minds, they did not interrupt Bai Ling's work.
After reeling the silk, it needs to be wound around, which means winding the silk around a smaller spinning wheel again. By winding the silk, the silk will become smoother and stronger, so this step is essential. Fortunately, this step does not require much skill. Bai Ling demonstrated it to the beastmen, and then the other beastmen could do it.
The wound silkworm silk needs to be spun into spindles using a spinning wheel, and finally it can be spun into silk fabric.
*
Bai Ling had told the beastmen before that silk was very beautiful, and the beastmen had high expectations for it. Now that they had actually seen the useless cocoons turn into shiny and strong silk threads, even though they hadn't seen the silk yet, they were already even more eager for it.
Bai Ling still didn't raise many silkworms, so he discussed with Zhan, "Chieftain, why don't you go to the Greenwood Tribe and discuss with them about harvesting silkworm cocoons in their tribe?"
The Greenwood Tribe has a great many mulberry and oak trees. According to them, when the silkworms spin cocoons and pupate, sometimes a large forest is covered in white. The beastmen hate these insects because if you walk under the trees at this time, you will be hit by the insects that fall out of the cocoons.
Although it doesn't hurt or itch the orcs, it's extremely disgusting.
Bai Ling was thinking that if she could collect those wild silkworm cocoons, she could also use them to reel silk and weave cloth.
Zhan thought for a moment and asked again, "Ling, can this thing called a silkworm cocoon really be woven into beautiful silk?"
He trusted Ling, but since they would have to go to other tribes to pick the herbs, it would be better to ask again.
Bai Ling nodded and said, "Clan leader, you can believe me, it's definitely possible. Once the silk is woven, you'll surely love it."
Zhan said, "Alright, I'll go today. With the Sky Beastmen around, we can be back tonight."
The people of the central tribe were also very interested in silk, and the First Elder and the Third Elder led their tribe's orcs to the Greenwood Tribe.
*
Upon seeing Zhan arrive with so many orcs, the chieftain of the Greenwood Tribe was quite surprised. After hearing Zhan explain his purpose, he narrowed his eyes and said, "Zhan, I can agree to this. However, I hope that the silkworm cocoons we harvest can also be taken to the Hightree Tribe so that we can learn from you how to turn the cocoons into beautiful silk."
"Elder, you can also come and gather resources, but you must send five orcs to help us work for a month."
This year, the tribe has started building houses. The process of building houses is too complicated and requires a lot of manpower. The tribe is currently too busy to handle everything. It would be great if a few more orcs could help with the work.
Zhan and the Grand Elder both agreed to Hou's request. Hou smiled and said, "Then go and gather. I'll have the orcs from the tribe take you there. You can gather as much as you want and for as long as you want."
*
In the evening, Bai Ling assembled the loom. The side room already had silkworm trays and frames, as well as silkworm cocoons and cocoons for breeding. Placing the loom there would be a bit of a hindrance, so Bai Ling simply put the loom in the main room.
The main room wasn't very big to begin with, and it became much more cramped after the loom was placed there. There was only enough space for one person to walk between the bathroom and the storage room, making it inconvenient for family members to come and go.
However, the family had no objections, because they had already seen the cloth Bai Ling wove, and now that Bai Ling wanted to weave silk that was even more beautiful than cloth, the family was naturally very supportive.
The next day, Bai Ling got up as soon as it was light. The clansmen had helped him spin the silk yesterday, and he was going to start weaving the silk today.
To weave silk, the first step is to thread the warp threads, which is a very troublesome task. Bai Ling didn't want to trouble her family, so she threaded the warp threads herself and then passed each warp thread through two combs.
As Bai Ling threaded the silk through the comb, many beastmen watched from the side. They watched Bai Ling bustling around, and no one spoke; they all watched quietly.
After all the warp threads are threaded, the silk weaving can begin.
Bai Ling sat on the stool, her feet on the pedals, tossing the shuttle in her hands from left to right and then back again.
Weaving is a very slow process. The reason Bai Ling combined fifty silk threads into one strand was to make the warp and weft threads thicker so that the weaving process could be faster.
After all, he didn't have many requirements for the silk; as long as it was woven and usable, that was enough.