Though the young master was an official in charge of overseeing Xuanwu City’s prison, he was by no means allowed to overstep his boundaries.
Xu Jiazhu frowned. He’s just about retort when suddenly, Xu Qianqian pulled at the hem of his sleeve.
“Father, no one knows Shen Lang better than I do? What can he do?” She whispered softly.
Shen Lang was a foolish village boy who came from the backwater country. What knowledge would he know? And besides, her family’s integrated themselves in the silk business far longer than he’d ever know. Their history reached way back. No doubt they’d produce a dye better than that fool.
As for purple?
It’s laughable really.
Her father recently stumbled upon a favorable occasion and it seems the heavens have blessed the fruits of his works for he recently created a new purple dye recipe. It was new, it was good, and it’d kill all the purple silk in the market.
Shen Lang was bound to lose and it’d be unwise to confront this young offical belonging to an affluent noble family for such simple and trifle matters.
Xu Jiazhu sighed. “Very well. Then, according to Lord Wang, what should be done?”
Shen Lang chimed in. “If I win in comparing bot the yellow and purple dye, what would it prove?”
“It’d prove the golden dye recipe was not stolen and that we’ve falsely accused you.” Xu Qianqian replied.
“Then you’ll have to admit to slandering my name and apologize for the grief you’ve caused me!”
“Talk after you win.” Xu Jiazhu’s voice was cold and rough.
Shen Lang smiled. “Alright then! The time limit is three hours! In three hours time, the truth will be revealed!”
“Sure.” The officials present replied.
Xu Jiazhu faced his servant. “Go home at once and pick out the best workers! Qianqian will personally create the best purple dye!”
“Mnn!” Xu Qianqian nodded her head
This time, the Xu Family chose to use their resources to the best of their efforts. Shen Lang was only a one-man team, but he didn’t mind it much.
“Boss Lin, I’ll have to borrow the other room.”
“Of course.” Said Lin Mo.
… … …
Closing the back door, Shen Lang pulled out his secret weapon—litmus lichen, the best source of purple dye and a unique kind of moss found everywhere. It was also cheap. The purple essence of litmus lichen was the most vibrant, colorful, and otherworldly so, beautiful.
Back in 18th Century England, a man by chance discovered a certain type of moss produced a deep, vibrant purple hue. Since then, litmus lichens reigned over the purple dye business for well over 100 years till science made huge leaps and breakthroughs in the 20th Century.
Shen Lang had also prepared the sophora plant for his golden dye. Though the material used would remain unchanged, the process due to improvements from modern science resulted to a more quality-like dye. The color of gold would surely leave others in this world gasping for breath.
Of course, an improvement was only an improvement.
It’d not be able to crush thoroughly the original creation.
Hence why purple would be his key to winning.
An improved golden dye would leave them in awe but a vibrant purple dye… it’d be a cause for them fainting.
He planned this in advance. When going through life, he needed to be prepared. Readiness avoids perilous situations, after all. Lin Mo sold him out, fine. He’ll just use his backup plan. Who knew he’d need to use it. Such a shame.
Sighing, Shen Lang crushed the dried litmus lichen and boiled it with coal ash, quickly procuring a pure, vivid purple. Afterwards, he added alum to brighten the color.
A beautiful, deep purple then appeared.
He need not the use of costly materials. It was rather cheap.
Compared to the purple dyes of this world, it could never amount to the purple sitting grandiosely in front of Shen Lang. It was a beautiful purple, one that’d shake the core of the people’s heart. It was bright, vivid, and noble even.
However, it wasn’t enough. He’d need to create more than just a purple dye.
Though purple was enough to win against the Xu Family, it’s not enough to slap their faces.
Shen Lang seized all the time he had left and used Lin Mo’s materials for his own. Soon, he had already created seven types of dye. It was gorgeous, mysterious, and electrifying. It was a vivacious rainbow-colored silk.
He’d gone ahead and combined red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple onto the same silk using the segmentation dyeing method. If he was fast and accurate enough, the rainbow silk should produce an unparalleled and lofty status like the heavens itself.
Though Shen Lang was not a professional in the dyeing business, he was nevertheless an enthusiastic fan. He’d even gone to the Silk Museum consecutive times in half a month. To say the least, he was an obsessed fanatic during a short period of his life.
Besides, the previous Shen Lang had already seen the Xu Family’s workers dyeing silks every day. He had many memories regarding dyes.
But this was not the most important piece. In his mind was a powerful system embedded deep inside. He had vast knowledge.
And so, though he’s not a professional, his knowledge was more than enough.
Three hours later, the golden, purple, and rainbow-colored silk was finally fished.
The golden silk would leave them in awe.
The purple silk would let him win against Xu Qianqian.
The rainbow silk would crush them.
It was unprecedented in this world.
This dye was more than enough to reduce the Xu Family to slag!\n