25 "Keel" Waterwheel
Li Xianjiang took out a jade pendant from his arms.
Ye Yunzhao had just come out of County Magistrate Han's study, with his head down, deep in thought, and almost bumped into someone coming out of the shadows.
"Oh, who is it?" Ye Yunzhao exclaimed.
The shadow reached out to help her, and when he moved closer, she could see his face clearly.
Everyone drank the pork liver and mushroom porridge to warm themselves up. Liu Yayi had already urged everyone to go to the East and West Townships, so why hadn't he left yet?
"Li Xianjiang? What's wrong with you...didn't the yamen runner Liu take his men to the diba?"
Seeing that he hesitated for a long time without speaking, Ye Yunzhao asked tentatively: "Are you waiting for me?"
Only then did Li Xianjiang nod.
"Is it about the quarrel between Liu Yayi and Lu Yi today?"
Li Xianjiang quickly waved his hands: "No, no, that incident was originally Lu Yi's fault, it's not Liu the runner's fault."
Ye Yunzhao raised his eyebrows. It wasn’t this, nor was it that. What was going on?
Li Xianjiang pulled out a jade pendant from his bosom and nodded slightly, "County Magistrate Ye, I want... I want you to help me find a place to live."
Ye Yunzhao didn't answer. If everyone came to her for accommodation, wouldn't that be against the rules? She looked up at the material of Li Xianjiang's clothes and saw that his every move was not that of an ordinary person:
"Brother Xianjiang, don't blame me for being blunt. I was able to sleep outdoors in Yuezhou City back then, so why can't I do that now that I'm in Lingnan County?"
Li Xianjiang understood this truth. He carefully looked at the county magistrate in front of him along the way. He seemed to be a gentle and soft-spoken person. Moreover, she was a female official, so she would always be more sensitive than others. Who would have thought that she would speak so bluntly now?
"What County Magistrate Ye said is absolutely right. It's good to have a place to shelter from the wind and rain now. But I want to save some money and buy a house in the city."
Ye Yunzhao looked at him carefully. If he had this idea, he could build fewer houses in a few days. However, buying a house in the city was not easy. "Do you have a skill to make money?"
"yes."
Ye Yunzhao suddenly remembered the bundle that Lu Yi had held tightly to her during the day. Could it be that the letter contained a lot of methods? She had heard that wealthy families would have ancestral books. If that was the case, this matter could be done.
Only then did Ye Yunzhao take the jade pendant from Li Xianjiang and ask, "You want to use the jade pendant as rent?"
Ye Yunzhao raised his hand and looked at the jade pendant in the bright moonlight. The jade pendant was white in color, smooth in texture, and felt slightly oily.
Even though she didn't know much about jade, she could tell that this thing was worth a lot of money.
"County Magistrate Ye, this jade pendant is a family heirloom. I hope you will accept it and help me find it..." Li Xianjiang rarely asked for help, so his tone was somewhat stiff and his face looked embarrassed.
"Are you alone?"
"yes."
"Take it." Ye Yunzhao slapped the jade pendant on his chest. "Since it's an heirloom, keep it away and don't take it out."
"This..." Li Xianjiang said at a loss.
Ye Yunzhao strode forward: "Why are you still standing there? I'll find you a room."
Li Xianjiang hurried to catch up, overjoyed: "County Magistrate Ye, does this mean you won't charge?"
Ye Yunzhao stopped and said, "Let me be frank. If you make money from your craft, you will have to pay business taxes to the county."
"Of course!"
Ye Yunzhao pushed open the door of a room. It was not big, but it had a bed and a desk. However, it had not been occupied for a long time, and there was a thick layer of dust on it.
"Ahem..." Ye Yunzhao covered his mouth, "Please clean up by yourself and stay here for now."
Li Xianjiang's lips curled up slightly, "Thank you, County Magistrate Ye."
*
The next morning, Ye Yunzhao went to the dams of East and West Townships to take a look. They were sleeping soundly, and it seemed that they had had a good rest.
After seeing these refugees, Ye Yunzhao went to the home of the Xixiang village head and talked to him in detail about how to resettle them.
"Village head, they are poor people too. The wheat has harvested and I'm thinking of ways to irrigate it. The autumn sowing is done too, so there's nothing much to worry about."
Xixiang Lizheng added silently: "The newly harvested rice hasn't been threshed yet..."
Ye Yunzhao slapped his forehead and said, "Yes, yes, this matter is more important, but I saw that the rice in each household has not been dried yet. I will help them for the next few days. I will find a way to grind the rice."
"County Magistrate Ye, if I disagree with what you've said, I'd appear petty. But County Magistrate Han came yesterday and actually wanted to divide the land among them according to the law. The wasteland isn't enough; we'll also give them a lot of barren hills!"
The Xixiang village chief sighed, "How can we grow crops on these barren hills? How can the county magistrate guarantee that they won't cause trouble?"
Ye Yunzhao had already made up his mind about this problem: "Don't worry, Village Chief, I'll take care of everything."
"But these people have been hungry for a long time, and building a house is hard work. I hope the village head can come forward and recruit some strong men and women to help them build the house."
Ye Yunzhao discussed with the head of Xixiang Village for more than half an hour before they came to a conclusion.
It turned out that it was not difficult for the villagers to build houses. The owner hired some strong laborers, and the wood and yellow clay were all available on the mountain. The owner only had to find some straw and rice stalks, and provide a meal every day. On the day of completion, having a meat dish to satisfy their cravings was already a great treatment.
But now the people from Xixiang are asked to build houses for this group of outsiders. No one is perfect, so it is impossible for them to have no suspicion or resentment, so it is not easy to do.
Later, the head of Xixiang Village came up with an idea to pay eight cents to each of those who helped.
Rural residents usually had few ways to make money, so if they picked fruit and sold it like Zhuang Xue, they could only save ten coins a year at most. Add to that the eight coins earned, and they would probably be able to get through the winter more easily, so there was still some opportunity.
The method proposed by Xixiang Village Chief was reasonable and Ye Yunzhao readily agreed. Because the matter was of great importance, the two of them quickly drafted a document for conscription.
"We are hiring one hundred men. Bring your own tools. Lunch will be provided daily. The wage is eight cents per day. Strong physical strength is required. Those who have built a house before will be given priority. Minimum age: fourteen. Gender is not restricted."
The Xixiang village head was efficient and posted the recruitment documents on the Xixiang bulletin board early on.
As soon as the sign was put up, several people carrying water came forward and asked, "Village head, what's written on it?"
"Well, we can't read either."
"Isn't it going to be another tax?"
A farmer carrying water tentatively spoke up and said that in the past, the village head would only post documents on this wall when collecting taxes.
Xixiang Lizheng smoothed a corner of the tax document with paste, smiled and shook his head: "What tax? This is a good thing..."
Before he could finish, the people beside him immediately asked, "Good news? What good news? Village head, please read it to us."
"County Magistrate Ye is recruiting workers to build a house in Xixiang. We only need one hundred strong men and women. Lunch will be provided. The salary is eight cents a day!"
"What!" everyone asked in surprise.
Although the state's labor wages were as high as thirty cents, the state didn't need that many workers. Moreover, the people of the state were eagerly waiting.
In the past, there was never any money for recruiting workers in the county, and they couldn't even get any meat for meals. Not to mention anything else, even the crucian carp and mushroom soup that County Magistrate Ye made last time, they would take advantage of their free time to satisfy their cravings!
Building a house is so simple! Every household has repaired their own courtyard walls at some point, so they naturally have the tools.
What's more, as long as they're strong, both men and women are welcome! This is extremely rare. No, I have to hurry home and get someone to sign up!
The few farmers who were watching quickly scattered, and soon the quiet little mountain village became lively.
Xixiang Village was busy registering suitable candidates and was smiling happily. This great opportunity had fallen into Xixiang. From now on, who would praise County Magistrate Ye without also praising themselves?
The men and women who came to register surrounded the village headman's house so tightly that no one could get in. Some even brought their tools with them, just waiting to start working today.
Naturally, many people were curious and asked, "Why did County Magistrate Ye recruit so many workers to build houses?"
"Oh, you're really out of touch! Didn't you hear? Yesterday, County Magistrate Ye brought back two or three hundred people from the state!"
"Only two or three hundred people? Why did I hear there were more than five hundred?"
Several people were chattering, their heads pressed together: "Could it be that County Magistrate Ye wants them to live in our village?"
"Is that even a question? It must be so."
A peasant woman asked, "Then the wasteland next to my fields will have an owner?"
The others nodded in agreement. The peasant woman smiled happily when she heard this: "Oh my God, this is really a great thing. Once the wasteland next to us is reclaimed, it will be convenient for me to fetch water for irrigation."
Because of its rugged terrain, the wasteland in Xixiang is quite unique. Unlike other places with barren soil and hardened soil, it is covered with lush weeds, many of which are thorny. Every time I carry water to irrigate the fields, I have to go around in circles, which makes my shoulders feel exhausted. Now that I heard this news, I naturally smiled from ear to ear.
"My nephew said these people are refugees. Alas, they are pitiful people."
"Who says it's not true? It's not that I'm being arrogant. If they hadn't met our kind-hearted County Magistrate Ye and our kind-hearted fellow villagers, their lives would have been very difficult!"
"Hey, Xiuhua's mother, when you were praising County Magistrate Ye, you didn't forget to praise yourself? Hahahaha..."
Everyone in the yard laughed when they heard this, without a trace of disdain for outsiders.
Ye Yunzhao, who was lying outside the courtyard wall with his ears perked up, felt relieved and turned to walk towards Sun Ning's house.
When she arrived, she saw that the gate of Sun Ning's house was wide open, which was quite different from her usual style.
"Sun Ning?" Ye Yunzhao peeked into the yard. Although there was no one in the yard, she walked in as if she was familiar with the place.
Unexpectedly, just as Ye Yunzhao took one step in, a young man came out of the kitchen. There was a fire in the kitchen, and the place was filled with smoke, so his face could not be seen clearly.
The two looked at each other. The boy was not very old, only about eighteen or nineteen years old. His eyebrows and eyes were in stark contrast to Sun Ning's handsome appearance. Ye Yunzhao had never heard that Sun Ning had a younger brother.
"Who are you?"
"County Magistrate Ye, why are you here?"
The two of them spoke in unison, and the young man took two steps forward. Ye Yunzhao then recognized that this was the first person who stood up when they cut down trees to make a tripod cart last time.
Sun Ning was only two or three years older than him, so could it be that the two of them were...
At this time, Ye Yunzhao's other leg could neither move forward nor retreat, and he stood stupidly under the door frame of the courtyard gate, in a dilemma.
"You...you, I...I'll go first..."
The young man said expressionlessly, "County Magistrate Ye, Sun Ning will be back soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice sounded behind Ye Yunzhao: "County Magistrate Ye? Why don't you go in?"
Sun Ning held a long and thin tool in his hand, pushing and pushing as he followed Ye Yunzhao into the yard.
"I'm going to survey the depth and width of the Hongyu River..." Before she could finish her words, she saw the young man at the kitchen door. The smile on her face disappeared in the blink of an eye, and she became the handsome and reserved Carpenter Sun again. Her tone was calm, "Didn't I tell you not to come here again?"
The young man's stern brows softened, he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then looked at Ye Yunzhao beside him.
Ye Yunzhao's eyes followed his nose, and his nose followed his heart. After all, he had lived two lifetimes, so he guessed without using his brain that the two of them had a story. He said quickly and with a tactful look, "By the way, last time Madam Cuihua said she had prepared a basket of wild fruits for me. I'll..."
Just as he was about to run away, Sun Ning grabbed Ye Yunzhao's arm and said to the young man without changing his tone, "Don't leave, let him go."
The boy's expression changed, he didn't say anything, and closed the courtyard door when he left.
Ye Yunzhao's eyes wandered around, he hated himself for walking so fast when he came here, and changed the subject: "Did you go to measure the Hongyu River just now?"
When Sun Ning mentioned this, a smile appeared on his face again: "Exactly. Wait a moment, I'll take that thing out."
Ye Yunzhao sat obediently on the wooden bench in the yard. The next second, she saw Sun Ning coming out with a mini dragon-bone waterwheel and standing up suddenly.
"County Magistrate Ye, do you think this is the case?" Sun Ning poked his head out from behind the keel waterwheel.
"Exactly! Wait a moment."
Ye Yunzhao hurriedly brought out a basin of water from the kitchen, placed a taller wooden stool next to the basin, and placed a small wooden basin on the other side of the stool.
Only then did she ask Sun Ning to put the keel waterwheel on the wooden bench.
Place one side of the keel in a tub of water and press down on the pedal on the other side with two fingers.
Sun Ning watched as the wooden keel seemed to come alive. The wooden boards on the keel scooped up water and climbed up again and again until they reached the pedals. The water brought up by the keel flowed smoothly into the wooden basin on the other side.
"So that's how it's used!" Sun Ning exclaimed in amazement, "I was wondering why it didn't react when I put it in water."
Sun Ning originally thought that the keel waterwheel was the same as an ordinary waterwheel and needed to be half submerged in water. He tried it several times at home but failed. He thought he had done something wrong, but he never thought it was used in this way.
Sun Ning smiled and said, "County Magistrate Ye, I will start making the dragon-bone waterwheel tomorrow."
Ye Yunzhao nodded happily. Having solved a major problem, he couldn't help but feel curious: "Who was that person just now..."
【Author’s words】
Dear county magistrates, the next book I will write is "The Guide to Making a Fortune by Setting Up a Street Stall in the Song Dynasty". This one is scheduled to be completed in August. If the pre-collection is enough, I will start a new book in November this year. I am begging for your collection~ There are a lot of pre-collections for this column, welcome to have some [milk tea]
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[Copywriting for "The Guide to Making a Fortune by Setting Up a Street Stall in the Song Dynasty"]
★Click to save and help Mingyu's restaurant to speed up★
Chef He Mingyu traveled through time and space to the Song Dynasty, a time when talented people abounded and the country was prosperous and strong, but she was not so lucky.
Her father died early and her mother was sick. Her younger brother and sister were starving, but her evil uncle actually accepted ten taels of silver and was going to tie her up and give her to the landlord's stupid son as a concubine in three days!
Looking at her conscienceless uncle and the dilapidated house with leaks on all sides... in desperation, He Mingyu picked up a shoulder pole and became a peddler in Bianjing City.
In spring, she took her younger brother and sister-in-law to make Qingqing wraps. When you bite them, you can taste the lingering fragrance and the wraps are soft, sticky and dense.
In the summer, she carried a shoulder pole to the city of Bianjing to sell fish and lotus root noodles, which were cool and refreshing and tasted amazing.
In autumn, she would grind beans and green vegetables together, and her brothers and sisters-in-law would shout on the street, "If children eat the residue from the Beginning of Autumn, they won't vomit or have diarrhea."
In winter, she pickled a jar of cured fish and pushed it on a newly made cart. It smelled so good that everyone added another dish to the New Year's Eve dinner.
Did the uncle bring people to smash the pot? Did the thugs overthrow the stall?
Just look at how she uses her deft hands to hang up the signboard of "Yu Man Lou" in the city of Bian Jing and carve out a way to survive in this cruel world!
The air was filled with smoke and the house was filled with diners. When the family was happily moving, the mother, who had recovered from her old illness, dug out a marriage proposal from some corner!
He Mingyu's eyes went dark. Who is Xiao Yunqing? ! !
【Reading Tips】
1. Overthrow the Song Dynasty;
2. Food management, the warm life of ordinary people, emotional lines, and micro-group portraits;
3. Market shopkeeper x eighth-rank official, eccentric money-grubber x taciturn nerd
4. I plan to publish the article in 25 years, please collect it~
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