She stepped forward and asked, "Uncle Bai, how much silver does it cost to make such a threshing machine?"
“Because the rotating shafts are all made of iron, it costs about four ounces to build one. Why did you ask about this, Fengnian’s mother?” Old Man Bai replied.
This is worth as much as half a cow.
There are only three machines in the village, and with nearly two hundred households in Linjia Village, there will definitely be a queue. Her family is also running a business and is already short-handed; they won't be able to manage everything when the autumn harvest comes.
Therefore, his family absolutely needs one, both to save time and improve efficiency. Moreover, Song Anxin now has some money on hand, enough to buy one for her own home.
She said, "Can I buy one myself?"
Old Bai stopped what he was doing and said, "Of course it's possible. Many merchants in the county have their own farmland and are vying to order this threshing machine from the county."
He lowered his voice and said, "Fengnian's mother, guess how much they paid for one?"
Song Anxin leaned closer to listen, and Old Man Bai secretly held up a few fingers and said:
"Nearly fifty taels, but that's just a drop in the ocean for these merchants. It's considered cheap in Ningdu County, and even more expensive in the capital."
Song Anxin clicked her tongue inwardly, thinking how lucrative it was; she should have started this business herself if she had known.
However, this is a major issue concerning the nation's livelihood, and she doesn't have the guts to take it for herself. Only the imperial court can do this, which can be considered taking from the people and using it for the people.
Old Man Bai chuckled and said, "Fengnian's wife, I'm only giving you this cost price because we're getting along well. Could you sell me some salted duck eggs later?"
Song Anxin smiled. This old man wasn't just chatting with them; he was simply craving her salted duck eggs. A few salted duck eggs wouldn't hurt, especially since he was paying for them. She could give Old Man Bai a few more later as a way of thanking him.
She said, "Of course, I'll have someone deliver it to Uncle Village Head's house for you later."
Old Bai was so happy to receive Song Anxin's reply that he hummed a little tune while working.
"Then I'll immediately send someone back to tell the magistrate to bring over some more materials."
Song Anxin narrowed her eyes. This old man Bai was no ordinary person. He not only knew the cost price but also how much silver the county magistrate had sold the wealthy merchant, and he had even mentioned the capital. Most suspiciously, he could directly send someone to speak with the county magistrate.
It seems she's more than just a skilled craftsman. Song Anxin didn't delve into it; they'd already done her a favor, why should she worry about their identity? In the end, she hadn't lost out.
After lunch, news came from Uncle Bai that the county magistrate, after hearing Song Anxin's request, decided that the county would pay for a free phone for her.
This is also a way of thanking her for submitting such a good item. But this is nothing; when this stuff really proves to be of great use after the autumn harvest, she will definitely be rewarded by the higher-ups.
Song Anxin hadn't expected the county magistrate to be so generous, saving her a considerable sum. After thinking for a moment, she picked up her charcoal pencil and started drawing on a small piece of paper that she had taken from the village head.
In the afternoon, Song Anxin spent her time at home with a few children cultivating mushroom spawn. After they finished, she went to find Uncle Bai under the big ginkgo tree in the middle of the village.
Lin Fengyao followed her along, chattering on and on about his own life the whole way.
"Mom, I also brought a spinning top with me. All my friends will definitely surround me when I go over there," Lin Fengyao said happily, jumping up and down.
Song Anxin teased him, "Oh, so do they like spinning tops or you?"
Lin Fengyao was immediately caught in a dilemma. Bringing the spinning top would indeed attract more friends, but even without bringing it, some friends would still come to play with him.
He really didn't know whether he or the spinning top was more popular.
Song Anxin patted his head and said, "Mother thinks it must be our Fengyao who is the most likable."
Lin Fengyao's confidence immediately surged, and he puffed out his chest, saying:
"That's right, some of my friends also have spinning tops, but they say it's the most fun to play with me, hehe."
Song Anxin was amused by her appearance and couldn't help but laugh. In the past, Lin Fengyao was always dirty and timid, and the children in the village didn't like to play with him. His only playmate, Lin Dongzi, was even scolded away by the original owner.
Now this child has actually become the most popular kid in the village. That's good, so he can have a happy childhood.
As soon as Song Anxin and Lin Fengyao arrived under the big ginkgo tree, Lin Fengyao was immediately surrounded and led away by a group of children playing under the tree.
Song Anxin saw that the village head was also there, so she went up to greet him:
"Uncle Village Head, you're here too. Uncle Bai, are you done with your work?"
Lin Li replied with a smile, "The Year of Abundance is here."
Old Man Bai also looked up at her: "The apprentices are finishing up, it's almost done, and yours, Fengnian's, is ready too."
"Then thank you very much, Uncle Bai. Please also thank the magistrate for me," Song Anxin said.
Mr. Bai waved his hand, indicating that this was also Song Anxin's achievement, and she deserved it.
Song Anxin stopped exchanging pleasantries and said seriously, "Uncle Village Head, since you're here too, I won't go to your house."
She took out the blueprints and said, "This is something I suddenly thought of during my lunch break. I also saw it by chance in a book before. It's called a blower, which can separate shriveled rice grains and impurities from plump rice grains, so we don't have to spend time and effort winnowing them."
Winnowing rice husks is a laborious and time-consuming task. After the rice is harvested, it takes the whole family of six several days to finish the task without taking a single day off.
Lin Lizheng jumped to his feet, unsure what to say, and after a long pause stammered:
"Fengnian's mother! You, you, how have you read so many books!"
Mr. Bai: "There's a second item like this, hahaha, my trip was definitely worthwhile."
In the end, instead of going to the next village, Old Man Bai stayed in Linjia Village to study the new blower and also reported it to the county government.
As Song Anxin left, she noticed a lone villager squatting and watching the apprentices under the tree. This was quite common; it was rare for anything unusual to happen in the village. Ever since Old Man Bai brought these carpenters to build a threshing machine that morning, villagers had been coming to watch from under the tree.
It was almost lunchtime, and most of the villagers had gone home to prepare for their meal, leaving only a few children laughing and joking around. The villager squatting there seemed particularly out of place.
At this moment, Lin Dongzi ran over to the man and said, "Dad, Dad, Mom wants you to come home for dinner. You haven't even gone to the fields this afternoon. Mom said that after dinner, before it gets dark, you should quickly go and pull a round of weeds."
Song Anxin then realized that it was her older brother. Earlier, some villagers had surrounded him with their backs to her, and they were so busy talking about the blower that she hadn't noticed him at all.
"Okay, wait a little longer." Brother Lin didn't even turn his head to look at Lin Dongzi, his eyes fixed on the hands of the carpenters fiddling with the blower.
Seeing this, Lin Dongzi pulled him away, saying, "Dad, let's go, or Mom will scold us."
Brother Lin reluctantly turned back, glancing back every now and then, until he reached Song Anxin's place.
She greeted him with a smile, "Big Brother."
When Brother Lin heard someone calling him, he turned around and asked in confusion, "Fengnian's mother, what are you doing here?"
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