46. ​​Chapter 46

"none"

When spring came and the weather turned cold, Qi You set out to return to Shunyi.

The sun slowly rose from the sky, casting a warm glow on my body. New buds sprouted from the roadside vegetation. Peach and apricot blossoms clung to the branches, their pink buds poised to bloom. The plum blossoms, eager to bloom, blanketed the branches with a snowy white, vibrant with life.

After leaving the Forbidden City, Qi You relaxed completely. As usual, he abandoned his horse and sat in front of the carriage, squinting his eyes to admire the spring scenery before him.

On the ridges of the fields beside the official road, children gathered in groups of three or four, looking at their large group and looking at him curiously.

Qi You waved at them. They were surprised at first, then they smiled happily at him and waved their hands like him.

As the carriage passed by, Qi You listened to their innocent laughter behind him, and a long-lost smile appeared on his face.

It seemed that Qi You had rarely smiled since returning to the palace. Laughter and crying were not allowed there, and even less so during mourning.

He was in mourning, and the prince had to observe mourning for a full year. He probably wouldn't be able to smile for nearly a year.

In contrast, Qi You looked at the vast world before him, the lush greenery and lush vegetation. He spread out his palms, which were covered with callouses. He tugged at his blue fine cloth shirt, feeling that he was fine just the way he was.

As for how Kangxi negotiated with the prince to get him to hand over the silver, Qi You didn't care. It was nothing more than Kangxi adopting another balancing act.

When the eldest prince saw that the prince was unable to go to Shunyi, he was very considerate and insisted on going, and then promised a sum of money.

The other brothers all contributed some money, and Kangxi, the honorary leader, paid out of his own pocket to collect 5,000 taels of silver and gave it to Qi You.

As for the subsequent part, except for the eldest prince and the prince, the other brothers have not grown up yet. Qi You did not ask them to promise to pay much money. He couldn't let them owe a lot of debts.

The eldest prince was about to leave the palace to set up his own household and was to be granted a house, farmland, and money. The other sons grew up one after another, and the concubines in the harem continued to give birth.

Qi You didn't know what Kangxi was thinking, and he was worried. Having many children and grandchildren was not a good thing.

The bloody reality is before us. For example, Nurhaci's sons killed each other and there are only a few left.

Kangxi should have noticed the discord between the eldest prince and the crown prince. He was dreaming if he wanted brothers to be friendly and respectful to each other.

Qi You couldn't care less about the consequences of population growth, from the royal family to the whole world, and he didn't know whether Kangxi had considered it.

It’s just five thousand taels!

Qi You sighed with melancholy, a rare gesture.

The total amount of money looted from Dachun's house was more than this.

Forget it, just make do with it for now.

Qi You reserved some land around the school, intending to build shops, which would only be rented out and not sold.

After selling the shop, at first glance I had more money, but having more money makes you a bastard. You can't use money to challenge human nature.

When the school grows to a certain size, it will recruit business owners to move in. This will generate a steady stream of rental income, which will be used to fund teaching and research expenses.

As for the desks and chairs, Qi You plans to go out and buy wood, regardless of whether it is new or old, and ask a carpenter to make them. This way, there will be no kickbacks in the middle, which can save a lot of money.

You can't skimp on building a house. It has to last at least a decade or two, if not forever. Otherwise, you'll have to tear it down here and patch it up there, which is not only messy but also wasteful.

The money for the teachers should not be saved. Good teachers deserve respect, and capable people should earn more money. No matter how poor they are, Qi You cannot make empty promises and reduce their salaries.

He felt that the amount of silver might not be able to measure their value, but it could not humiliate their dignity.

Sir, you have to take your time. Qi You has already handed this matter over to Kangxi and is looking for capable people from all over the Qing Dynasty.

Regarding language, Mr. Qi You cannot rely entirely on Westerners. There are only a few missionaries, and if there's a change in decision-making from above, we'll be in a passive position. We have to prevent ourselves from being completely controlled by others.

Qi You turned his attention to Quanzhou Port, Guangzhou Port and Yangzhou Port, as well as Guangxi, Yunnan, Fuzhou and other places.

Westerners often come to the three ports to do business. Many of them are proficient in various languages ​​and have great abilities.

As for the tributes from Guangxi, Yunnan, Fuzhou, and other vassal states such as Ryukyu, Siam, and Annan, they were all handed over locally. Many of the envoys who came and went knew the local language.

With these plans in mind, Qi You was not too worried about the teacher. However, the choice of the headmaster had almost made him worry to death.

Kangxi was only an honorary principal, and the school needed a real administrator. Qi You could take on the role in the early stages, but he couldn't stay in Shunyi forever, as he had other plans.

Qi You was not very satisfied with the group of officials in the court, even the great Confucian scholars, such as Zhang Ying, Li Guangdi who returned to the capital after completing his filial piety, and Xiong Cilü who was dismissed from office and was hiding in Jiangning.

Being good at writing eight-legged essays or other articles, and being a good official does not necessarily mean that one can manage a school well.

Some people are too pedantic, while others are too smooth and lack integrity.

Of course, for these high-ranking officials, coming to a school to serve as principal was a demotion.

The principal of a school must have real talent and knowledge, be open-minded, have a broad vision, and be inclusive.

One must be flexible on the outside and firm on the inside, but one cannot let being an official and doing things take precedence over the pursuit of academics.

In other areas, such as medicine, Qi You planned to advance both Chinese and Western medicine. Western anatomy had already developed, and France had an Academy of Sciences during the reign of Louis XIII, where papers could be published in various journals and academic research could be shared.

The Qing Dynasty also hid various advanced experiences and academic knowledge in the Forbidden City.

Qi You was so ruthless that if he didn't change this bad atmosphere this time, he would just lie in his coffin and go back to the capital!

I was lost in thought all the way, and by the time I reached Shunyi, the sun was already setting. Lin Yicheng and Xia Shiye were still waiting by the official road, approaching from afar, enthusiastically calling him "Seventh Master."

Qi You looked at Lin Yicheng and saw that his official robe had been changed, but it was still wrinkled and the hem was stained with mud. He couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Did you go to inspect the spring plowing?"

Lin Yicheng followed behind Qi You, wanting to talk to him while looking at him, so he stepped forward sideways and said impatiently, "Yes, I just came back from the fields. It's said that I have no control over the land of the nobles, but I feel uneasy if I don't go and take a look. Seventh Master, the canal has been basically repaired and unblocked. There were several snowfalls last winter, and the wheat is growing well. The rice fields have been filled with water, and the rice seedlings have begun to be raised. Seventh Master, I have another piece of good news, and I must tell you."

Qi You looked at Lin Yicheng's face, which was filled with uncontrollable joy, so intense that it was dripping down to the ground, and asked with a smile, "Are you having a baby boy?"

Lin Yicheng's wife had given birth to two daughters, and he had always secretly hoped for a son. However, his wife was in poor health and could not have another child, but she was very virtuous and arranged to take him a concubine.

Qi You never cares about other people's family affairs, but he likes to talk to Lin Yicheng about all the big and small things.

Later, after hearing it more often, Qi You would also say a few words, such as asking him to look at the village in Shunyi, where the girls were not bad either.

Qi You added: "It is better to eat one good apricot than a basket of rotten peaches."

Lin Yicheng never mentioned his son or taking a concubine again.

"Seventh Master, you really are... hehe." Lin Yicheng laughed dryly a few times, scratched his head awkwardly, and said, "I've thought it through. Let the girls be girls. The eldest girl has unbound her feet and doesn't want her mother to bind them anymore. Fortunately, the eldest girl is only six years old and her feet haven't been damaged yet. I'm planning to let the eldest girl study with Mr. Xu and the others. I'll have to trouble Seventh Master to make arrangements for this. The second girl is three years old. When she's older, let her study with her sister. When she grows up, I'll marry her in. A live-in son-in-law is also a son!"

Mr. Xia, on the other hand, didn't even have a family, and was a bachelor. His parents had died young, and he had no relatives. He spent all his monthly earnings on drinking and living a carefree life after spending them all.

After hearing Lin Yicheng ramble on about a bunch of trivial things before getting to the point, she couldn't help but glance at him secretly and said sarcastically, "Boss, you still have the Lin family. The dozens of acres of land in your hometown, without your son, will be taken over by your brother, sister-in-law, and nephew in the future."

Lin Yicheng said with a smile, "Old Xia, don't be so sarcastic. That little piece of land is nothing. If it's gone, it's gone. When the girl becomes successful in the future, won't she be able to earn that much money?"

Master Xia looked at Lin Yicheng in surprise, and Qi You listened with a smile. For him, this was the best news.

What he does is influencing people little by little and changing their ideas.

Grain of sand can make stone. If the Qing Dynasty could become Shunyi, even if half of it were changed, it would be a success.

Lin Yicheng said in frustration, "Look at me, it's Old Xia who's interrupting me. I need to get down to business. Seventh Master, Lin Daniu has accidentally discovered a more powerful manure fertilizer."

Qi You turned to look at Lin Yicheng and said happily: "Really? This is really great news."

Lin Yicheng smiled so hard that his teeth were visible, nodded and said, "It's true. I'll take Master Qi to have a look."

Master Xia interrupted, "Sir, Master Seven, you just came back from the capital and haven't had time to rest yet, and you're already looking at all that shit and urine! It stinks. Master Seven, why don't you take a break and then look at it later? You can't really make any sense of it now anyway."

Qi You smiled and said, "It's okay. A good crop depends on manure. If you dislike the smell, don't eat."

Lin Yicheng quickly led the way, and Master Xia was filled with admiration and emotion. Without saying anything more, he hurried ahead, called a playing child, and asked him to call Lin Daniu, who was busy in the fields.

When a few people arrived at the road in front of Lin Daniu's house, he ran back from the field barefoot with mud on his legs and came forward to greet them.

Qi You looked at Lin Daniu. He was as taciturn as before, but his face looked more lively and he looked a little stronger than before.

Seeing Lin Daniu turning around and about to lead them to the field to check, Qi You hurriedly said, "Don't worry, it's cool in the evening. Go wash the mud off your legs and put on your shoes first."

Lin Daniu paused. He knew Qi You's personality, so he washed his legs as instructed, put on a pair of half-worn cloth shoes, and carried a load out.

Lin Yicheng leaned forward to smell it, and immediately held his breath. He stepped aside and took a deep breath of fresh air, saying, "It really stinks. But this is a good thing."

Qi You also smelled the pungent odor. He covered his mouth and nose and leaned forward to take a look. The bucket was filled with rotten branches and leaves, and seemed to contain feces and urine.

Lin Daniu quickly moved aside and, as always, said succinctly, "The bucket contains urine, horse manure, chaff, and Amorpha fruticosa root fermented together."

Qi You didn't understand what was going on and was a little confused. Lin Yicheng quickly explained, "Amorpha fruticosa grows everywhere, and Lin Yicheng picked some to make rattan frames. Coincidentally, after he finished making the frames, he just put them in a bucket. The bucket was originally filled with chaff, but he forgot about it. Plus, he was busy, and the house was warm, so when he checked a few days later, it had already rotted. He was such a thrifty person that he couldn't bear to throw it away, so he filled it with manure and urine, intending to use it to water the wheat. He was a little more thoughtful at the time and only watered a small area. Who would have thought that the wheat in that area would actually grow a little bit stronger."

Qi You immediately became interested and said, "Let's go and take a look."

When we got to the wheat field, we didn't see much difference up close, but from a distance, we could clearly see that one patch in the corner was greener and more vigorous than the others. Comparing the two sides, the difference was clear.

Qi You didn't understand the principle behind it, but guessed that after several things were mixed together, a fermentation reaction occurred and turned them into excellent fertilizer.

Amorpha fruticosa is everywhere, but bran is rare. Eating bran and eating vegetables is not an expression of humility. Bran is not enough to feed pigs. In times of famine, bran is a good food, better than Guanyin soil.

Once this method is proven, not only will the price of bran soar, but the Amorpha fruticosa tree will probably be extinct.

Qi You saw Lin Daniu about to water the wheat nearby with a dung shovel, so he quickly stopped him and said, "Master Lin, how about this? Keep the contents of your bucket for now. This fertilizer is very precious. Use it in the rice fields and set aside a small area for comparison."

Lin Daniu obeyed Qi You's words and put down the dung shovel without saying a word.

Qi You pondered for a moment and said, "This year, I used your land for testing, but the harvest wasn't good. You don't have to worry about the rent. It's all waived. I don't want the increased income either. It's all a reward for you."

Lin Daniu was not good at speaking, and when he heard this, he became anxious and stammered, "Seventh Master, this servant is all thanks to you..."

Qi You waved his hand and said, "This is what you deserve. I'm not doing you a favor. Don't feel guilty about it."

Lin Daniu lowered his head and responded, feeling quite unhappy and boiling in his heart.

When I think about my previous life and compare it to now, although I still have to live frugally, I feel at ease and can hold my head high.

He couldn't explain why, but he always felt that he lived an upright life and that some people treated him as a human being.

Qi You thought for a moment and said, "Bran is hard to come by. You should look for other things to mix with it for fermentation. You can't just use things like Amorpha fruticosa. Look at other vitex, grasses, and other plants. I don't understand either, but you should look for things that are easy to get and try a variety. Seal it when fermenting, and it will ferment faster."

He briefly explained the principle of fermentation, "It's just like making steamed buns. Cover it with a cloth and put it in a warm place to keep it warm, so the dough will rise faster."

Lin Daniu understood and nodded hurriedly. Lin Yicheng looked at the stinking manure in the bucket, then thought of the soft steamed buns. The corner of his eye twitched, and he muttered to himself, "I should have rice tonight instead."

Qi You said, "Remember what fermented fertilizer you used and which fields you used to irrigate. When the time comes, use the one that's most fertile and easiest to obtain. Once you've proven to be effective and have made a name for yourself, I'll report it to the Ministry of Industry and ask for a reward!"

Lin Daniu was completely stunned.

Qi You had said earlier that if he became famous in farming and received a reward, he could be released from the household registration.

Lin Daniu burst into tears. He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he had cried, and for a moment he couldn't react. He just stood there stupidly, tears streaming down his face, but he didn't realize it.

Lin Yicheng watched all the way to see how this group of bondservants came to live their current lives. Seeing Lin Daniu crying, he felt very sad.

Walking forward, Lin Yicheng patted his shoulder heavily and laughed heartily, "Daniu, what are you doing? Hurry up and put away your stinky treasure. You have to work hard and make a name for yourself. Who knows, maybe in the future you will be the famous King of Dung in the Qing Dynasty!"

The author has something to say:

Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution between 2022-10-16 21:00:01 and 2022-10-17 19:26:58~

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: Salted Fish is Salted Fish 50 bottles; Enternity, Jiang Ruoyu 10 bottles; Fairy Li, Xi Lianling 5 bottles; Sue Ziyue 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!