When the first bolt of unique fabric—fused with a Liyue hemp-and-linen base and trimmed with Fontaine lace—rolled off the production line, Limeng appeared right on cue with his new "invention." A large wooden barrel was carried over, filled with a viscous, translucent gel that gave off a faint, sweet scent of corn.
"Modified corn starch glue," Limeng said, dipping a wide brush into the liquid and evenly coating the back of the fabric with the precision of a technician. "After a quick high-temperature drying, it forms a transparent, flexible waterproof film. While it can't compare to professional waterproof cloth, it's more than enough to handle the occasional 'artificial rain' in the Serenitea Pot, or sweat and mud splatters during hard work. At least it won't let the fabric instantly soak through and stick to your skin." He directed the workers to load the glued fabric into his custom-built, multi-layered drying rack—the main frame of which was pieced together from leftover Liyue hardwood and Inazuma lightweight bamboo from when he designed the wind-powered water pump, while the heat source came from a steadily burning smokeless coal stove below, mixed with a small amount of Geo Element crystal fragments. After being baked, the plain fabric took on an imperceptible, warm luster on its surface. When a finger dragged across it, water droplets indeed beaded up without soaking in, rolling right off the smooth surface.
"Combining practicality, aesthetics, and basic protection..…
Chapter 45