Just as Song Anxin and Lin Fenghe stepped out of their house, a carriage came to a screeching halt in front of them, scattering dust all over her face.
Song Anxin: "..!" She has no sense of public morality.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Lin Li was seen trembling as he crawled out of the carriage, followed by a sprightly old man, then a handsome young man and a middle-aged man.
Song Anxin had met them once at the county government office, so she recognized the young man as the newly arrived magistrate of Ningdu County, and the middle-aged man behind him as his advisor.
But what are they doing here? Song Anxin wondered.
She quickly realized that she had submitted the blueprints for the threshing machine a few days ago, and the yamen had probably been studying them these past few days. They must have encountered some problems here.
She stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Excellency the County Magistrate and Your Excellency the Clerk."
Lin Fenghe, who was standing beside him, was stunned. This was actually the county magistrate! The county magistrate looked so young, about the same age as his uncle.
He had already heard his second brother tell him about his mother's fight against the unreasonable yamen runners at the county government gate, so he wasn't surprised that his mother knew the county magistrate.
Lin Fenghe's composure was similar to Song Anxin's. After a moment of stunned silence, he also bowed and said, "Greetings, Magistrate. Greetings, Clerk."
Lin Li was extremely surprised. How did Feng Nian Niang know that these were the county magistrate and his clerk? And why did Feng Nian Niang and Feng He greet the county magistrate so calmly?
Although he was a local village head and often went to the county to report matters, the county magistrate had only seen him once from afar. But this time, when he submitted the blueprints for the threshing machine, the county magistrate actually received him personally within two days and asked him many questions about the threshing machine. He told the county magistrate everything that Fengnian Niang had told him that he could remember.
But he didn't understand the difficulties encountered in making it, so he could only bring the county magistrate to find Fengnian's wife. Heaven knows how terrified he was when he got into the magistrate's carriage. He didn't even dare to look at the magistrate in the carriage.
This was the first time I'd ever ridden in a horse-drawn carriage in my life. I didn't even dare to sit properly, and the sweat on my back never stopped.
Upon hearing the familiar voice and seeing the person, Yan Shuping laughed heartily, "So it's you, Madam. This isn't the county government office, and I'm not wearing my official robes. There's no need for such formalities, Madam."
I wondered who was the genius who came up with such an ingenious threshing machine; it turns out it was my sister-in-law—she's truly admirable.
Master Fan was also amazed. This thing that benefits the country and the people was actually conceived by a woman from the countryside, and it was the same woman he admired at the yamen gate.
Song Anxin didn't stand on ceremony and immediately stood up, saying, "Did the magistrate come here about the threshing machine?"
Yan Shuping said, "Sister-in-law is very intelligent. As soon as the blueprints for this threshing machine were handed over, I immediately sent people to find the best craftsmen to make it. However, some problems were encountered during the production process. I will bring Uncle Bai with me to come and consult with you right away."
Song Anxin said, "I dare not ask for your advice, but I will tell you everything I know."
Lin was extremely anxious, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly.
How could Fengnian's mother let the magistrate and his clerk stand at the courtyard gate like that? Seeing that they kept talking and Fengnian's mother didn't seem afraid at all, he truly believed that Fengnian's mother was the daughter of a scholar and a worldly person.
Seeing an opportunity, he quickly seized the moment and winked, saying, "Ahem, Fengnian's mother, why don't we invite the magistrate, his advisor, and Master Bai in to talk?"
Song Anxin understood that talking at the door was not a good idea. She said, "Magistrate, clerk, and Master Bai, if you don't mind, please come into my house and we can discuss this at your leisure."
The group had no objections and entered Song Anxin's courtyard. Zhang Mei and Lin Dasao, who were arranging duck eggs in the courtyard, were so frightened when they saw the county magistrate enter that they immediately knelt down, their heads almost touching their crotches.
They had been secretly listening in the courtyard and knew exactly what was going on. How could they not know that this was the county magistrate? They had never seen such a high-ranking official before, and the women were trembling as they knelt.
When Yan Shuping and his companions entered the courtyard, they were quite surprised to see that most of the courtyard was filled with duck eggs, and there were also four women who seemed to be washing the duck eggs.
Song Anxin explained, "We run a small food business at home. My sister-in-law, my daughter-in-law, and two other women from the village are helping us process these duck eggs. There's not much room to walk in the yard, so please bear with us, Your Excellency."
Yan Shuping waved his hand to indicate that he didn't mind: "You all get up, no need for formalities."
But Zhang Mei and the others didn't dare to get up. They wanted to get up too, but their legs wouldn't obey them.
Seeing them like this, Lin Li thought to himself that he was indeed a bit stronger than them. Just then, Lin Fengyao returned from digging up some grass, his big eyes wide as he asked:
"Mother, Third Brother, Village Head Grandpa, who are these people?"
After figuring it out, Lin Fengyao obediently bowed and said, "Greetings, Magistrate; greetings, Uncle Clerk; and greetings, Grandpa Bai."
Yan Shuping and Master Fan were amused by Lin Fengyao: "Haha, your son is indeed different from the one your wife raised. You're good too, little brother."
Lin Li was saying, "..."
When did Feng Yao become so open-minded?
Looking at the people still kneeling on the spot, Song Anxin said helplessly, "Feng He and Feng Yao, quickly help your aunt to the backyard. I have something to discuss here."
The two obediently agreed, helped their aunt and sister-in-law to their feet, and went to the backyard. The women were still a little unsteady on their feet, relying entirely on the two younger children for support.
Song Anxin led the group to the main room, whereupon Lin Fenghe returned and poured tea for them. Song Anxin silently gave her third brother a thumbs up; her efforts in educating him over the past few days had paid off.
After everyone was seated, Yan Shuping introduced Master Bai, who bowed and said:
"My name is Bai Songchang. I have been a carpenter for decades and I am in charge of making this threshing machine. Unfortunately, my skills are not good enough and the threshing machine is still a little short of completion. I would be grateful if this young lady from the Lin family could give me some pointers."
Song Anxin quickly waved her hand and said, "Master Bai, you flatter me. I wouldn't dare to offer any guidance. Where have you encountered any obstacles?"
How could a carpenter invited by the county magistrate be unskilled? He must have some skill.
Bai Songchang said modestly, "Sister-in-law Lin, you flatter me. You can design such exquisite and beneficial items. I dare not call myself a master in front of you. Just call me Uncle Bai."
Seeing that Master Bai was quite humble, Song Anxin smiled and said, "Alright, then Uncle Bai, don't be so polite with me. Just call me Fengnian Niang like the villagers do."
Seeing that Song Anxin spoke so generously, and knowing that he himself was usually a very easygoing person, Mr. Bai was impressed.
He stroked his beard and chuckled, "Then I won't stand on ceremony, Mother Fengnian. Take a look at the design of this threshing machine I made..."
Old Bai pulled a toy-sized model from his pocket. It was exactly the shape of the threshing machine, and the workmanship was exquisite. It was no different from the modern threshing machine. Song Anxin secretly admired him. No wonder he was a capable person that the county magistrate had invited.
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