“We’ve tested every part of this threshing machine and there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just that, Fengnian’s mother, you said that stepping on this pedal should make it turn and then it should thresh the rice, but we’ve tried many times, and the drum inside just won’t turn…”

Old Bai carefully manipulated the model, explaining the problem to Song Anxin. Yan Shuping and Master Fan also listened attentively.

Lin Lizheng also wanted to go over and take a look, but he didn't dare to put his head close to the county magistrate's, so he could only peek over Fengnian's head.

He always sat next to Fengnian's mother, but in reality, he didn't dare to sit down. It was the county magistrate who told him not to be reserved. Even though the county magistrate had spoken, he would never dare to sit on equal footing with the county magistrate.

Song Anxin roughly understood. She said, "This is a problem with the load-bearing shaft and gear transmission... You should improve this gearbox and sprocket assembly like this..."

As Song Anxin spoke, she fiddled with the model, explaining that the drive gearbox and sprocket transmission assembly were the core of the motor and the key to whether it could rotate.

Everyone suddenly understood, and Old Man Bai was extremely excited, as if he had discovered a new continent:

"So that's how it is! So that's how it can be done! Now I understand where the problem lies. Fengnian's mother has truly broadened my horizons. I admire her greatly!"

"Uncle Bai, there's no need to say that. I admire you for being able to replicate this threshing machine so exquisitely."

Old Bai immediately got to work, his hands moving rapidly over the model. Then he said, "Fengnian's mother, could you send someone to pick a small ear of rice from the field?"

Song Anxin told Lin Fengyao to pick them; that kid is fast.

Soon the rice ears arrived, and by then they were seven or eight tenths yellow, signifying that a bountiful harvest was not far off.

Old Bai started pressing the pedal, and sure enough, the rollers inside started turning, much to everyone's delight. He then put the end with the rice ears in, and the rice grains immediately fell off, leaving only bare rice stalks.

"It's done! It's done!" Old Bai exclaimed in delight.

When Yan Shuping and the others saw that they had actually succeeded in threshing the grains, they were all overjoyed. Song Anxin was also very happy, as people in this era could suffer less.

Yan Shuping's resolute features relaxed as he said, "My sister-in-law is indeed remarkable. This is truly a wonderful thing for our Great Yin Kingdom!"

Master Fan, who had been taking notes with pen and ink, stroked his beard and smiled as he finished writing:

"Wonderful, truly wonderful! I wonder which book Sister-in-law Lin saw it in? I've never seen it before."

Master Fan was a former Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and a learned man. He was also full of curiosity when faced with this new and beneficial thing.

Song Anxin “.......”

This is just something I made up to deceive people, but don't worry, you'll get used to it after talking nonsense a lot.

She said, "My father used to be a scholar, and he had a lot of books. But so many years have passed, how could I remember them all? I just remembered this because it looked special."

Master Fan looked regretful, thinking that if he could find something in this book that could benefit the people.

Yan Shuping said, "Master, it's alright. Your wife can remember things from so long ago, she might remember them again later."

As he spoke, he gave Song Anxin a deep look. Song Anxin felt that there was something wrong with his gaze. Although this magistrate was a military officer before and had a magnanimous and straightforward manner, she always felt that he was not the kind of ordinary brute.

He'd been to every library in Kyoto; if such a treasure existed, it would have been discovered long ago. This woman was no ordinary person; it seemed he'd met a benefactor. If he could achieve political success, he could be transferred back to Kyoto and return to the battlefield.

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Yan Shuping and the others took their leave, and Old Man Bai also had to rush back to finish making the final product of the threshing machine.

Song Anxin and Lin Lizheng escorted the three to the courtyard gate. Song Anxin said solemnly:

"Your Excellency, I was thinking that after the yamen has made a model, if we want to provide one for each village later..."

It would be best to transport the tools and equipment to the village to complete the task, as such a large item would weigh around 100 pounds. This would save time and effort in transporting it later. Pine wood would be preferable as it is more durable.

Yan Shuping said, "Your sister-in-law is very thoughtful. I'll remember that."

Old Bai looked at the yard full of duck eggs and seemed to remember something:

"Fengnian's mother, could it be that the 'Prosperous Oily Eggs' sold in the county are from your family?"

Hearing Uncle Bai mention his salted duck eggs, Song Anxin smiled and nodded: "That's right, Uncle Bai, have you ever tried them?"

"Oh my, I only tried it once at a restaurant, and it tasted absolutely amazing. After that, every time I went to the restaurant, they said it was sold out. I was so hungry for it."

You can't find anything this delicious in Kyoto.

"Oh, this tastes just as good as you described, Uncle Bai. I've heard about it from the government office, but I've been too busy with official duties to go to a restaurant to try it," Yan Shuping said with a smile.

"I've heard about it too, but I didn't expect it was done by your family, Madam Lin. Second Sister-in-law Lin, you're really something," said Master Fan.

Song Anxin said, "Don't be so polite. I thought to myself, since we've come this far, it wouldn't be right not to give them a few." So she asked Zhang Mei to give each of the three of them ten salted duck eggs.

Old Bai was overjoyed; the wrinkles on his face never seemed to disappear.

Song Anxin felt a pang of heartache; that was three hundred coins!

Yan Shuping raised his hand to ask Master Fan to take out money, but Song Anxin did not take it. Although it hurt her heart, she was not so stingy. As long as they did their job well and benefited the people, that was enough.

Looking out over the endless fields from the carriage, Yan Shuping said:

"The advisor has noted everything down carefully. There can be no mistakes when reporting to the imperial court."

Master Fan cupped his hands and said, "Sir, everything is ready."

He knew what the official was thinking. After arriving in Ningdu County, the official spent every day dealing with political affairs, hoping to make achievements as soon as possible so that he could be transferred back to the capital.

"Shuping, haste makes waste," Old Man Bai advised.

Yan Shuping said, "Uncle Bai, don't worry, I have a plan."

If there were any other people around, they would surely be surprised that this old carpenter dared to address the county magistrate by his given name. But Master Fan was focused on the notebook he had just taken notes in, his eyelids not even twitching.

This old man Bai was no ordinary skilled craftsman, but a top master craftsman in the imperial palace. Because he was getting old and no longer wanted to stay in the restrictive environment of the palace, he retired and went to travel around to enjoy the scenery. He happened to come to the vicinity of Ningdu County.

Yan Shuping also grew up in the palace. He was a wild child and had explored every corner of the palace. Over time, he became familiar with Uncle Bai.

Uncle Bai watched him grow up; he remembered that whenever he skipped school, he would hide at Uncle Bai's place. This time, he happened to be taking up his post here, and Uncle Bai, upon hearing this, decided to visit him. It just so happened that they arrived just in time for the threshing machine.