Chapter 264 After being exiled, he expanded his territory and annihilated the scum emperor (10)

The greatest manifestation of human progress lies in using more advanced tools to make our lives easier.

Because there was no better way to make a hole in the ice, the people living in northern Xinjiang had been relying on manual labor to extract ice and water for more than a decade. Just when everyone thought that this was the only way to get water in winter, Jin Shu used a simple tool to demonstrate to them what it means for technology to change the world.

"One person can handle it more than enough. Even if the ice hole freezes up in a day, it doesn't matter. It won't freeze very thick overnight. In the future, we can open a few more holes before fetching water. Five people can transport the entire camp's water supply back before noon."

The few people who were initially skeptical immediately exclaimed in amazement after trying it out a couple of times.

"I didn't even use much force!"

"We don't need five people, I can manage on my own!"

“The girl is so clever. They’ve been using such clumsy methods all these years. I heard that every winter, several people would freeze to death while trying to fetch water. Now it’s much better. We can take care of these things, and the older folks can finally rest.”

The one who spoke was a rather thin, pale-faced scholar named Zhou Yinghuai. Jin Shu recognized him; in the original owner's memories, this pale-faced scholar was a poor but outstanding scholar who had once been the top scholar in the imperial examinations. He was quite the star in front of the emperor back then.

The late emperor initially valued him highly, but after Huangfu Rong ascended the throne, just because Zhou Yinghuai and the female lead Liang Qingqing had some entanglements in the common people, and Zhou Yinghuai's parents had a good relationship with the Liang family, the two sets of elders arranged a marriage between the two of them.

Later, when Liang Qingqing entered the palace, Zhou Yinghuai worked hard to pass the imperial examinations in order to fulfill his promise. When he met the emperor, he took the initiative to ask the late emperor to grant them a marriage.

The late emperor naturally wouldn't refuse him, so he publicly betrothed the two of them.

One was a promising top scholar, and the other was an unknown palace maid. At the time, many people felt sorry for the top scholar, thinking that he could have married a noblewoman.

Everyone thinks this way, but some people don't.

This move angered Huangfu Rong, who had already been named crown prince.

So when Huangfu Rong ascended the throne, the first thing he did was to annul the engagement between the two and throw Zhou Yinghuai into exile under some pretext.

It's a pity that such a brilliant and talented young man, whose abilities and strategies were unparalleled, was implicated in this situation because of something he was completely unaware of.

At this moment, Zhou Yinghuai naturally had no idea that he had been sent here because of his former fiancée.

He was listless and numb the whole way, and it was only when Jin Shu saw that he was about to die that she took the initiative to give him medicine and saved his life.

Perhaps because of this life-saving grace, Zhou Yinghuai was very respectful to Jin Shu and responded positively to everything she said.

"Then I'll have to trouble you. Watch your step when you're cutting the ice. The thinner the ice is, the darker it will be. Observe carefully before you stand on it."

Many people have died from falling into the water.

After arranging for people to fetch water, Jin Shu went back and summoned everyone from all the wooden houses.

"I'm calling everyone here for no other reason than that the heavy snow is falling day and night, and the houses could collapse at any time. Since we've all gathered here, it's fate, and we should unite as one to get through this cold winter together."

Now, each household needs to send two more people to learn carpentry skills from me. After they finish learning, they should immediately reinforce their houses. This matter is urgent and cannot be delayed.

Many people responded to Jin Shu's words.

But some people were still secretly grumbling.

"I've lived here for so many years and I've never had a house collapse under the weight of heavy snow! What's the point of making a scene here when you're already here?"

joke!"

The speaker was a county magistrate who had been exiled here by the late emperor for embezzling disaster relief funds.

This man is adept at flattery and has a good relationship with the current commander, so he has lived here peacefully for several years. Now that he no longer has any intention of returning to the capital, he has become the most comfortable person living here.

Jin Shu merely glanced at him and continued.

"You can come here to get the timber. I cut down a lot of dead wood in the forest yesterday."

Most people obediently followed Jin Shu back to get the timber.

After teaching them some basic carpentry skills, Jin Shu specifically instructed them on some areas that needed reinforcement. After everyone returned home, Jin Shu took her tools and went to the Right Prime Minister's house.

The house was inhabited by the elderly, the infirm, and the disabled. As soon as she entered, the cold wind was biting. Jin Shu glanced around briefly.

The roof and windows were leaking, a section of the door was broken, and there were only a few hard, iron-like mattresses on the couch, lying on them was not much different from lying on ice.

Without saying a word, Jin Shu took out her tools and repaired all the parts that needed fixing.

Before leaving, they left behind a pot of charcoal.

The Right Chancellor, with his white hair, had long lost the wisdom and composure he displayed in court. Now he seemed like an ordinary old man, sitting by the window with a bamboo scroll military treatise in his hand.

"You don't need to help me next time. Take your things back with you."

"It's nothing, Prime Minister, don't worry about it."

“I am a useless person now, there is no need to waste these things on me. If you want to give them away, then give them to people who need them more.”

Jin Shu simply sat down next to him.

"The Right Chancellor once guided the nation and traversed the world, assisting two wise rulers. If such a virtuous minister becomes useless, then who in the world can be considered useful?"

The Right Chancellor glanced at her wearily.

“You’ve become much more sensible than when you were little. It’s a pity that the current emperor is blind and has mistaken a fish eye for a pearl. Alas… the Great Zhou is in a precarious state.”

"The affairs of the Great Zhou Dynasty are no longer our concern. I know that the Right Chancellor is loyal. So many years have passed and you have done what you should do. Now, live well for yourself."

My mother is making dumplings at home tonight; you must bring your wife to help.

That evening, Jin Shu magically produced a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, along with a bunch of fresh, juicy cabbages.

When Liang's mother saw this, her eyes lit up, and she immediately asked in confusion.

Where did you get all these things?

"It was buried in the snow. People here usually bury leftovers in the snow. I found it while clearing the snow."

Jin Shu did go to shovel snow, and then "inadvertently" discovered the meat and vegetables that had been hidden under the snow the night before.

There were quite a few witnesses, so Liang's mother didn't ask any more questions. Instead, she happily began to figure out how to deal with these good things.

"Let's make dumplings."

"Where did the noodles come from?"

"I have some here."

"Was the noodles also buried in the snow?"

"These are from the commander, so you can eat without worry. The Right Prime Minister and his wife will come to help later. Make a lot of them, and we'll invite everyone to eat together tonight."

Liang's mother was already used to Jin Shu's generosity, and although she felt sorry for her, she didn't say much.

(End of this chapter)