The moment Li Daoxuan appeared, Gao Yiye's mood shot up as if someone had added three hundred percent extra brightness to her soul. The smile on her face softened instantly, no longer carrying the weight of the Saintess.
With Dao Xuan Tianzun present, she was no longer the highest authority in the room.
She could relax.
"Tianzun!"
She skipped over and grabbed Li Daoxuan's arm without hesitation.
A young woman clinging to his arm. Even for a man who had long grown used to divine worship, that subtle warmth still sent a small ripple through his chest.
"What are you all researching?" he asked with a smile.
Gao Yiye pointed at the bulky garment. "We heard duck and goose feathers can make very warm clothes. We're trying to develop something. But no matter what we do, it just isn't warm enough."
Li Daoxuan chuckled. "That's because you stuffed too many feathers and too little down."
All four women blinked at him.
"Down is what keeps you warm," he explained patiently. "Feathers are mostly quills. If you add too many feathers, it won't insulate well and it will poke you. Shake everything out. This time use ninety percent down and ten percent feathers."
They obeyed immediately.
The garment was ripped open. The chaotic stuffing was pulled out. This time, they carefully measured the ratio, adding a large quantity of goose down and only a small amount of feathers.
When Gao Yiye put it on again, her eyes widened.
"It's much warmer!"
The improvement was immediate and dramatic.
However, as she moved her arms, she frowned again.
"The down is still sliding around."
Indeed, with even slight movement, the goose down migrated to one side, leaving thin patches elsewhere. Warm in one spot. Cold in another.
The women exchanged awkward looks.
Li Daoxuan smiled calmly. "Simple. After stuffing the down evenly, stitch the garment into many small squares. Trap the filling inside separate compartments. Then it won't move."
There was a moment of silence.
Then four pairs of eyes lit up simultaneously.
"So that's how!"
Third Aunt Gao immediately fetched needle and thread. As the best tailor in the village, her hands moved swiftly and decisively. She stitched horizontal and vertical lines across the garment, dividing it into neat little grids.
Each square captured its portion of down securely.
When Gao Yiye lifted the coat and shook it—
Rustle.
The down stayed evenly distributed.
A proper down jacket was born.
Its design principle was already astonishingly close to modern down jackets. The only difference lay in the outer material. Instead of synthetic waterproof fabric, it used thick cotton cloth.
Waterproofing was still beyond Gao Family Village's chemical industry capabilities. Polyester and synthetic fibers were dreams for the future.
But that was fine.
Such expensive clothing would not be worn in the rain anyway.
Li Daoxuan nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Now work hard and mass-produce it as soon as possible."
The women immediately began planning.
Chun Hong's textile factory would produce the outer shells. The chicken farm would provide the down. Third Aunt Gao would establish a new workshop to assemble the finished products.
Third Aunt Gao's eyes sparkled. "My son earns a fortune drawing comic books. I'll invest that money into building this factory."
Li Daoxuan laughed. "Excellent. Go deal a heavy blow to Liu Maopao wool sweaters."
The chicken farm manager raised her hand timidly. "The goose and duck feathers are handled. But what about chicken feathers? They aren't very warm. Must they all become feather dusters?"
Li Daoxuan shook his head. "Open your mind. Chicken feathers can fill pillows, mattress toppers, vests. Even military sleeping bags. By the way, isn't the militia short on sleeping bags?"
The manager's eyes widened. "Yes!"
"With that in mind," Li Daoxuan continued, "develop military-grade sleeping bags. Focus on durability and warmth."
The two female entrepreneurs immediately began whispering excitedly.
With Dao Xuan Tianzun's endorsement, sales were guaranteed. The militia would purchase them in bulk. The only real requirement was quality. They would not dare produce inferior equipment for their own soldiers.
Several days later.
Gaojia News began broadcasting.
As usual, before the news started, an advertisement played.
The "Warm and Sleepy" wool sweater commercial had aired so many times that villagers could recite it backward. People were already rolling their eyes in advance.
The screen lit up.
Everyone prepared to hear Chen Yuanyuan's classic line.
Sure enough, she appeared.
But the clothing she wore—
Was different.
No wool sweater.
Instead, she stood wrapped in a puffy, rounded jacket that made her look adorably bundled, like a soft dumpling.
The audience froze.
The rehearsed slogan died in their throats.
Chen Yuanyuan smiled sweetly. "Third Aunt Gao Brand Down Jacket. A different level of warmth."
The scene shifted.
Gao Sanwa, who now used the pen name Gao Family Third Young Master, appeared hunched over a desk, wearing a down jacket while drawing comics. He glanced at the camera and smiled. "Warmth helps me concentrate. My works improve."
Another cut.
Little Gao Zhengjing stood beside her mother, Xing Honglang. Xing Honglang smiled gently. "Warmth keeps Gao Zhengjing from getting a runny nose."
Another cut.
Gao Yiye herself bounced in place, wrapped in her down jacket. "So warm! I'm sweating!"
Finally, the Village Chief appeared, grinning broadly. "I'll try one too."
The entire audience exploded.
This advertisement was terrifyingly powerful.
Chen Yuanyuan. The famous writer. The Saintess. The Village Chief.
None of these people lacked money. No amount of silver could have bought their endorsements so easily.
Yet here they were.
The message was clear.
This down jacket had divine backing.
"Buy one! Hurry and buy one!"
In his residence, the Prince of Fu leapt up in front of his Divine Mirror. "Send someone! Secure them immediately!"
The eunuch behind him coughed nervously. "Your Highness… with your figure… it will require custom tailoring. Even if we rush, ready-made ones will not fit."
The Prince of Fu froze.
Then he roared, "Then commission it at once! I refuse to lose to Liu Maopao!"