The next morning, Xiao Hanzheng went to the county government office carrying some saltpeter.
Mo Qingling was a little confused when he heard that Xiao Xiucai wanted to see him.
He had heard of Xiao Hanzheng's name. He was the first top three scholar in Nanxi County and was very famous for his talent.
However, what impressed him the most was the young wife who tied up the doctor and came to complain to Xiao Hanzheng last time.
He originally had something on hand, but he put it aside and asked someone to call Xiao Hanzheng in.
Xiao Hanzheng was a scholar, so he did not have to kneel down and kowtow when meeting an official.
He gave Mo Qingling a scholarly greeting, "I greet you, sir!"
Mo Qingling looked at the gentle, elegant young man who walked in, and immediately felt a bit of favor for him.
Xiao Hanzheng's temperament doesn't look like that of a poor country scholar at all.
Mo Qingling is only a few years older than Xiao Hanzheng.
But he still admires his talented peers.
A smile appeared on his stern face, "No need to be polite, please sit down!"
He asked straight to the point: "Why did you come to see me today?"
I am really busy with official duties and have no extra time to waste.
Xiao Hanzheng knew what kind of person Mo Qingling was.
He also stated his purpose directly, "I came here today because I really have something to discuss with you, sir."
"My wife's master once taught them how to make ice. She was grateful for the master's kindness, so she wanted to make this method public."
“Anyone who wants to learn how to make ice can learn.”
"It's just that the Wu family wanted to force me to buy this recipe, but my wife didn't want to waste his master's hard work, so she refused."
"We were afraid that if we taught people in the village to make ice, the Wu family would not agree and would sabotage it."
"So I wanted to ask you, sir, if I could borrow some vacant space in the county government office so I could teach you how to make ice."
"Firstly, it allows people in the county to put ice basins at home to cool down, and secondly, they can make some ice drinks to earn some pocket money."
He paused again, "Of course, if you think this recipe is useful, you can also present it to the capital so that more people can learn how to make ice to relieve the heat."
Although Mo Qingling was very busy in the county government, he knew everything that was going on in the county.
So he had actually heard about ice making in the summer, but was still a little skeptical.
But I really didn't expect that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife would be so generous. Not only would they give away the recipe for free, but they would also teach everyone how to make ice.
This is also a good thing that benefits the people, so he naturally would not object.
But he still asked, "Have you thought it through?"
Xiao Hanzheng nodded, "I've thought it through, I hope you can help me!"
Mo Qingling sighed that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife were really courageous and had a better impression of them.
"Since there is such a good thing, I will naturally make it happen."
He asked curiously, "Is it difficult to make ice?"
Xiao Hanzheng replied: "It's not difficult, it just requires one thing."
"I've brought it. How about making ice on the spot for you to see?"
At that time, he thought it was magical when he saw his young wife making ice.
So it is more convincing to see it with your own eyes.
Mo Qingling also wanted to see it, "Okay!"
So, according to what Xiao Hanzheng said, they asked someone to find a large wooden basin and put it on the ground, and then put a small wooden barrel inside it.
He added water to the wooden barrel and the basin.
Mo Qingling and the people from the county government office then saw Xiao Hanzheng take out a few small white stones from his backpack and throw them into the large wooden basin.
"Wait a moment, and the water in the small wooden bucket will freeze."
Mo Qingling and the people from the county government: “…” Why does it feel so unreliable?
"Okay, I'll work first. You drink your tea for a while. I'll come back to see you when the ice is ready."
He had just taken over Nanxi County and there was a lot of official business left over from the previous magistrate.
Since he came here, although he didn't really come here to become a county magistrate, he wanted to do his job well.
Xiao Hanzheng nodded, "My lord, please do as you please!"
The bailiffs in the county government kept staring at the wooden barrel with curiosity.
After a while, one of the yamen runners couldn't help but shout, "The water is really starting to freeze!"
Other yamen runners also walked over to take a look, "It's really frozen, how magical."
"As expected of an old immortal, he can actually come up with a way to make ice in the summer."
"The old immortal's disciple is also smart and has learned everything."
A group of people gathered outside the wooden basin and sighed, and soon Mo Qingling also walked out from the inner room.
He was shocked to see that the water in the barrel was really starting to freeze.
Seeing is believing, otherwise he would probably find it hard to believe if he heard others talk about this method.
He is also a smart man. "The fact that this water can freeze into ice has something to do with the white stone you just threw?"
Xiao Hanzheng replied: "Yes, this is saltpeter, it can be used for medicinal purposes, and some Taoists also use it to make pills. You can buy it in the pharmacy."
Mo Qingling quickly got to the point, "If we use this saltpeter to make ice, will it cost a lot of money?"
Xiao Hanzheng said truthfully: "If we go directly to find saltpeter, it will only take some time and effort, and no money will be spent."
“If you buy it, it’s still expensive.”
The cost of making ice from saltpeter is not low, and they have not planned to promote it nationwide so that everyone can use it.
It's just to make this method public so that everyone can learn it.
It is also conducive to the development of saltpeter mines.
If poor people find saltpeter, they can transport it to the city and sell it to wealthy families to improve their lives.
The key point is that the young wife wants the people in the county to take the initiative to develop the saltpeter mountain near the Taoist temple, so as to make profits for everyone and open up a road at the same time.
When the saltpeter mines are almost fully mined, their workshops should be able to generate fire.
When the young wife thinks about things, she always links them together, which makes him unable to help but admire her.
As soon as Mo Qingling heard it, he knew what Xiao Hanzheng meant.
It seems that this method of making ice requires a lot of cost.
Most people probably can't afford it, but it can benefit poor people who are lucky enough to find saltpeter.
Of course, this method is definitely better than nothing.
Daliang was established many years ago, and after the war stopped, many places were waiting to spend money.
The court has huge external expenses, and the Ministry of Revenue is often short of money. Now the palace is still using the ice storage of the previous dynasty.
The ice storage capacity is limited, so the palace is short of ice every year.
In the summer, many concubines and ministers came to the emperor to ask for ice.
If this method is offered, His Majesty will definitely be happy.
Mo Qingling thought for a moment and said, "Write down this method of making ice. I will send someone to the capital to present it to His Majesty, and let the people of Daliang learn it."
It is also good for the reputation of the emperor and the court among the people.
Then he added, "Write down the source of this ice-making method on paper."
This also means that he will let His Majesty know that this recipe was given by Xiao Hanzheng and his wife.
He would not take credit for the work of either of them.
It also gives a source for the method of making ice.
(End of this chapter)
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