Chapter 96 Water Mill
Only then did Zhang Liang notice that, except for him and the Queen Mother, the dishes in everyone else's bowls were very plain.
The rice steamed with beans and corn is naturally not very delicious, and the dishes are also common sunflowers and leeks. Even with such ordinary dishes, these people have satisfied smiles on their faces.
The uncle who had just taught him how to make porcelain was extremely happy because he found a small piece of lard in the dish.
Zhang Liang lowered his head and looked at the food in his bowl. He felt a little tasteless. He turned his head to look at the queen mother who was concentrating on eating, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
He seemed to understand the significance of the Queen Mother's actions.
In this world, there are not only nobles, but also countless common people, who are people just like us.
The nobles treated them like livestock, ignoring their joys and sorrows. Even he had never looked these people in the eye before.
Zhang Liang felt as if something was taking root in his heart.
"Would you like another bowl?" Zhao Yuanxi felt a little strange when he saw Zhang Liang looking at him eagerly, and couldn't help asking.
Is she still not full? That shouldn't be the case! Zhang Liang's bowl of rice is almost twice as much as hers!
Zhao Yuanxi felt that he had to re-evaluate this child's appetite!
Zhang Liang came back to his senses and said with a red face, "No need!"
Really? Zhao Yuanxi looked unconvinced.
After lunch, Zhao Yuanxi saw that there was still some time, so he went to the backyard.
Some time ago, they were sent by Zhao Yuanxi to help Meng Xi and others. They were busy for a while and only came back to rest these two days.
At this moment, Li is thinking about his new water-powered millstone.
The Queen Mother once said that the power of water could be used to drive other tools to rotate. Li thought this idea was very interesting and wanted to try to make the waterwheel turn the millstone.
Nowadays, if you want to push the millstone, you usually use human power or use animals such as cows, horses, and donkeys to pull it. Livestock are expensive and not every family can afford them.
The Chu family's tofu business is doing very well now, but it is also very hard work. Chu often grinds beans late at night and only starts making tofu when it is just dawn.
When Li went home to see them, he helped them grind the mill, and he understood even more clearly how difficult it was.
If this water power could be used to grind the mill, Chu wouldn't have to work from dawn to dusk and could save a lot of effort.
When Zhao Yuanxi saw a new stone mill in the yard, he knew that the research on Li had made progress. Finally, he found Li fiddling with the gears in the corner.
She squatted down, poked her head over, and asked in surprise, "You finished it so quickly?"
Li was so frightened that he shuddered and the tools in his hand fell to the ground with a crackle. The back of his head hit the millstone behind him, and his face twitched in pain.
"Your Majesty, why are you here?"
Zhao Yuanxi smiled awkwardly. Is she that scary?
"I heard that you've made some progress in your research, so I came to take a look."
Li picked up the scattered things on the ground and scratched his hair a little embarrassedly. "Your information is really accurate. Wait a moment!"
Li put the gears back in place and brought in water. The waterwheel was driven by the flowing water and began to turn. At the same time, the shaft in the middle of the waterwheel drove the shaft connected to the stone mill to start turning.
It's not fast, but it's turning.
Zhao Yuanxi exclaimed, "Li, you really are worthy of being a member of the Mo family!"
Technical talents lead the industrial revolution! Who said the Mo family is useless? This is really useful!
Zhao Yuanxi thought of the water mill he had seen before and pointed to the other side of the waterwheel. He suggested, "Add a horizontal bar here and connect it to a treadle pestle. Then we can pound the rice without human effort."
Li's eyes lit up and he immediately modified his waterwheel again.
Zhao Yuanxi didn't urge him, but just stood aside and watched.
Zhang Liang, who followed, saw the waterwheel in the courtyard and recalled the large wooden machines he saw on the road when he first entered the Qin State, and his heart was filled with shock.
"Empress Dowager!" Zhang Liang's lips were dry, and he couldn't help asking, "Could it be that you had someone build this waterwheel?"
Zhao Yuanxi nodded and pointed at Li, who was tinkering with the waterwheel. "I asked him to make it. How's it? Not bad, isn't it? If he hadn't made the waterwheel first, Qin would have suffered a poor harvest this year."
Thinking of the previous drought, Zhao Yuanxi was very glad that she had asked Li to develop the waterwheel, otherwise she could not afford the consequences, and the people of Qin would probably not be able to bear it either.
Zhang Liang never thought that the State of Qin could escape the disaster because of Queen Dowager Zhao!
At this moment, he only felt a deep sense of powerlessness, and even a little jealous.
If it were Han, no! Even if other vassal states had someone like the Queen Mother Zhao, they might be able to fight against the Qin State.
But God is so kind to Qin!
"What is he doing?" Zhang Liang asked.
Zhao Yuanxi explained to him the purpose of the water mill.
"Once this thing is made, it can work non-stop for twelve hours! It can be used to grind all kinds of things."
Grinding flour and pounding rice are both time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks. If this thing is promoted, it will greatly reduce labor, and the saved labor can be used to do more things.
Zhang Liang felt a little sad in his heart and stopped talking.
Ju's efficiency was indeed very high. He modified the waterwheel in a short time. There was an extra horizontal bar on the left side of the waterwheel, which could drive the treadle to work.
Zhao Yuanxi couldn't help but applaud him, "Li, you can at least reach the fourth level this time. Perhaps it's not impossible to get an official position!"
Because he had built the waterwheel before, Li had been promoted to the third-class official. Unfortunately, he only had a title and not an official position. Zhao Yuanxi was very optimistic about him for the newly built water mill and water pestle.
If this can't get him a job, then Zhao Yuanxi should doubt Ying Zheng's vision!
When Li heard the Queen Mother's words, he couldn't help but feel a little excited.
He originally just wanted to help Chu share some of the hard work at home, but he didn't expect that this would catch the empress dowager's eye.
However, Li was not very optimistic about becoming an official. He still remembered the story of Meng Xi, the great Mohist scholar in Qin State. He felt that with his dull personality, if he became an official in Qin State, he would definitely not be able to compare with Meng Xi!
After much thought, he felt that it was good for him to work for the Queen Mother. He would not have to worry about food and drink, and the Queen Mother also gave him the greatest freedom, so he could do whatever he wanted.
Oak expressed his inner thoughts.
This made Zhao Yuanxi a little flattered!
There is actually nothing practical that she can give to Li. How can it be more attractive than a high position and generous salary?
However, as a fellow technical talent, Zhao Yuanxi seemed to understand his inner thoughts. In fact, she didn't like those twists and turns. If she could have a quiet place where she could do research well, she would probably wake up laughing in her dreams.
Since that’s the case, Zhao Yuanxi didn’t force it. How far Li could go depended on his luck.
However, Zhao Yuanxi still explained a few words, "Don't let the incident with Meng Xi have any psychological trauma. The King of Qin is not an unreasonable person."
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