Chapter 505 A Dream of Youth 37
As for production tools, steel-bladed wrought iron farm tools had already been gradually replacing the old cast iron farm tools during the previous dynasty. This measure has been further promoted in this dynasty, along with the innovation of various farm tools.
The Xie clan's village, Xinghua Village, is located in the south and has many paddy fields. When Xie Ning returned last time, he saw farmers working in the fields using a tool to comb through the paddy fields, mixing the weeds and mud to fertilize the fields.
This tool was made by nailing about twenty short nails onto a wooden board that was a little over a foot long. Although simple, it was still an innovation.
At first, Xie Ning didn't know the name of this tool. He only found out about it later in an agricultural book on the bookshelf. It was called "Yun Dang".
In addition, there were "seedling pullers" specifically used for pulling seedlings, and "treadle plows" made of wrought iron and steel for turning over soil, similar to modern shovels.
Advances in production tools have led to increased production efficiency, which can be extended from rice to other crops such as tea, mulberry, sugarcane, fruit, and vegetables.
When crop yields increased and the crops could not be consumed by the farmers themselves, they were put into the market through buying and selling, which was then converted into currency. The currency was then used to purchase necessities such as grain and cloth.
Therefore, farmers who specialize in producing a particular crop, or rather, a cash crop, such as fruit farmers, tea farmers, and vegetable farmers, have emerged.
Their food rations are purchased from the market, and they have separated themselves from the simple grain farming industry, beginning their own independent development.
Advances in iron smelting technology not only improved production tools but also diversified cooking utensils, thereby promoting a flourishing of the food industry.
These were the lessons Xie Wangzhi taught Xie Qi, which Xie Ning secretly overheard while reciting them, thus gaining a deeper understanding of various aspects of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Xie Ning longed to read all the books in the study without restraint, so as to better understand this world and this dynasty.
But she had to maintain her childlike persona and dared not act too monstrous, so she always stayed close to Xie Qi to read books together.
The night is long, the setting sun rolls up the embroidered curtains, and the distant sound of bells fades into the evening.
As the school supervisor's bell rang, a crowd quickly gathered at the entrance of the prefectural school. Xie Ning yawned and leaned against Chen Shi's arms, watching Xie Qi, carrying a book basket, squeeze against the crowd.
"Mother, let's go home."
Madam Chen was startled. "What's wrong? Aren't you going to the teahouse for a bite to eat? I ordered quite a lot of food for you."
Xie Qi blushed slightly and said in a somewhat hesitant voice, "Mother, I want to wash my hands."
The toilet in the exam room was so smelly it almost killed him, so he only went once and has been holding it in ever since.
Thinking of this, Xie Qi couldn't help but feel quite resentful. His father hadn't told him that the toilets in the academy were so smelly.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been caught off guard and taken a deep breath.
Xie Ning couldn't help but chuckle, and Madam Huo laughed out loud. She then instructed the servants to pack up the tea and snacks and bring them to the Xie residence, where she would also take the children to eat.
As for the other two children, the elder went to do business with Chen Yin, while the younger son went to study abroad with his teacher.
Huo managed the restaurant business in the city at home, and in her spare time, she would take Chen shopping together.
Back home, Xie Qi rushed straight to the outhouse, making Chen Yuncheng chuckle with delight.
Xie Ning followed slowly behind. After Chen and Huo entered the main room while walking and chatting, she turned around and ran to the study. They would definitely be discussing the test questions later, and she wanted to listen.
Xie Wangzhi was reading inside when he saw Xie Ning come over. He pulled her to read with him, and when he saw something that interested him, he would smile and explain it to Xie Ning.
The two watched for about fifteen minutes before Xie Qi slowly walked over, holding a piece of Bazhen cake in his hand. His mouth was bulging from eating, and he looked extremely hungry.
Xie Wangzhi didn't blame him. He knew that the food in the school was not very good, just some vegetables and slices of meat, and it was half cold. It was cold and greasy, and the child definitely wouldn't be used to it.
I estimate they ate steamed buns and some snacks inside.
"The pastries from home and those sold outside are definitely the best! Bao'er, you should try some!"
As he spoke, he instructed Mo Shu to put down a large plate of various pastries.
Xie Ning took a piece of Bazhen Gao (Eight Treasures Cake). The white, soft, and glutinous rice cake was mixed with some nut crumbs and emitted a rich aroma of rice.
After Xie Qi had almost finished eating, Xie Wangzhi asked him how the exam went.
"Well enough."
Xie Qi carefully recalled the questions he had written. "There were a few difficult questions, but I filled them all in according to the method my father taught me. My handwriting was also neater than usual, with only three wrong words."
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