Just as the chief clerk took out his notebook and charcoal pencil to write down the slogan painted on the wall, he saw someone teleporting towards him...
This frightened the chief clerk: "Who is that?"
Before Fang Luo could answer, the chief clerk saw clearly that the man was not walking without wind, but was riding a bicycle.
This car is something I have never seen before. It has two wheels, one in front and one in the back, and a seat in the middle. The car will move if you step on it.
The chief clerk opened his eyes wide and asked, "What is that?"
In the past, the willful Mr. Fang would have been very impatient with such questions.
But now, perhaps because his time in the new village had mellowed his temper, or because his master's bewildered expression was too amusing, Fang Luo smiled and replied, "It's called a bicycle."
bike?
The chief clerk stared at it for a long time, then nodded and said, "This name is appropriate."
Isn't it a car that can move on its own?
Perhaps because he had just built so many rare objects, which had honed his ability to accept them, the chief clerk quickly regained his composure and exclaimed, "This thing looks incredibly exquisite. Could it be, like the railcar, an immortal artifact?"
Fang Luo shook his head first, then nodded: "It should be related to the fairyland, but it wasn't built by Qi."
"Huh? Where did that come from?"
"The Zhou Kingdom has also benefited from the Immortal Realm. I heard they're building a Fairy Temple Square and a factory there. A caravan went there and bought this car. Since the new village is directly under the jurisdiction of the county town, they need to go there every few days, so Wan Cunzheng bought one with his own money to facilitate the trip."
Since Fang Luo was staying at Muramasa Wandong's house during his time in the new village, he had a deep understanding of these things.
But the chief clerk was from Yuanluo County and he didn't care about these details.
What really made him feel important was that such an exquisite artifact actually came from the Zhou Dynasty!
Originally, Yuanluo County and Fenghe County belonged to two different places. They cooperated with each other, but also competed with each other. They were always eager to win, but in the end they were all people of Qi and shared the same honor and disgrace.
What he said now clearly showed that he was on the same side as Fenghe County: "Zhou State actually has a factory too? Will it surpass us in the future?"
Fang Luo laughed upon hearing this. "I've had this concern before, too. I even asked about it when I visited County Magistrate Zhuang on behalf of my father. At the time, County Magistrate Zhuang said that the two countries were heading in different directions. Furthermore, Zhou had many craftsmen and a better foundation, so they were indeed more prominent in manufacturing tools." He paused. "And anyone who insisted on making bicycles was no ordinary person."
"Which immortal king or fairy is it?"
"No, it's the son of King Zhou."
"……ah?"
"I heard that the young master even went to the fairyland to study just to build a car. The design of this car was drawn by him personally."
Chief Clerk: ...
A prince of a country, not content with pleasure... well, not fighting for power and profit, actually took the lead in drawing up a blueprint for building a car?
No wonder they say that Zhou craftsmen have a good foundation, they are no match for them.
But then Fang Luo continued, "And according to what the caravan said, Zhou's direction is different from ours. I can't explain the specific differences, but since the trade routes between the two sides are open, they should know each other well. Someone will make the plan, so there's no need for you and me to worry."
Upon hearing this, the chief clerk immediately responded with "yes".
But as soon as he finished speaking, he was stunned.
It’s not because there was anything wrong with what Fang Luo said, but because such insightful words actually came from the mouth of his own young master!
Is this still the same young man who was naughty and noisy in order not to stay in the new village?
However, it was transformed into this in just a few months.
What on earth did my husband go through in Fenghe County!
Fang Luo didn't notice what this person was thinking. He had already walked forward a few steps with a smile and said, "Wan Cunzheng, did you just come back from the county town?"
Wan Dong skillfully stopped the car and picked up his child as he got out. He smiled and said, "I've been home for a while. The child said my husband wanted to read the newspaper, so I went back home. I didn't see my husband, so I came out to look for him."
Then he handed the newspaper to Fang Luo.
Mr. Fang had long heard that this newspaper was issued on the order of the King of Qi, and the name was given by the Fairyland, so it was naturally a rare item.
So he subconsciously adjusted his sleeves and then took it with both hands.
The newspapers printed in Qi State were different from those in later generations. They were not that thick and only had one page at most.
But this one is not small, and it is divided into various columns.
There are words and pictures.
The printing is clear and easy to understand.
This may seem ordinary, but being able to print words on such a large page without blurring or missing anything is a difficult task in itself.
As for the paper quality, although it is not top-notch, it is not bad either.
As the county magistrate, Fang Luo knew very well that although the newspaper looked like just a light page, there was actually a lot to be seen from it.
From printing, to papermaking, and the sketch above, each one requires technological advancement to achieve.
So before he even read the contents carefully, he sighed and said, "This looks really good."
As the confidant of the prefect of Yuanluo County, Zhubu naturally knew that his own county city had also received the order from the King of Qi and was also required to build a newspaper office and publish newspapers.
As for the content of the publication, it was all conveyed from the capital, so as long as there was a newspaper in the whole state of Qi, the content printed was the same.
So the chief clerk took a curious look.
As a result, I saw words all over it.
This made him a little worried: "With so many words and no pictures, can it really be spread?"
This time it was Wan Muramasa who answered him: "Of course you can."
The chief clerk was still worried: "Will the people not recognize it?"
Wan Dong didn't say anything, but his youngest son spoke in a baby voice: "The teacher said that if you don't know how to do it, you must learn. If you don't learn, you will never be able to do it."
Chief Clerk: ...I suddenly feel that Yuanluo County has lost again.
But Fang Luo wasn't worried at all. Instead, he smiled and pinched the little guy's cheek, "Xiao Bao'er, you're absolutely right." Then he turned to his chief clerk and said softly, "For ordinary people, if they don't need something, they will never learn it. Just like writing. Many people don't take the imperial examinations, nor do they enjoy poetry. In this world, most people come and go just to make a living, so they will never have the motivation or reason to learn to read."
The chief clerk quickly grasped the point: "You are right, sir. If the newspaper is spread out and the people are interested, then they will naturally be interested in learning to read."
Fang Luo nodded, a smile on his face that could not be suppressed: "Education is the foundation of a country. The move of the capital is truly amazing."
Wan Dong, who was listening on the side, actually didn't quite understand any of this.
Although he became the village chief, he got to the position through his "technical position" and usually took a pragmatic approach. He was not good at these high-level political affairs, so he never said anything.
But there was one thing he knew.
So after the two people from Yuanluo County had finished their conversation, he said, "If compulsory education is not yet universal, the people can still read newspapers, but they just need help."
Fang Luo immediately looked over and asked: "Wan Cunzheng means to have someone help recite it?"
"Yes, and this person was also prepared long ago."
"Why?"
"According to the people at the newspaper office, during the construction and printing process, Fenghe County also trained a group of storytellers. They would know the news in the newspaper two days in advance so they could prepare. When the newspaper was published, these storytellers would travel to the surrounding counties and tell the stories in the newspaper to those who couldn't fully understand the text."
When this was said, the chief clerk was surprised and asked, "Do you want money?"
Wancunzheng replied, "Newspapers are two cents a piece, and as for listening to books, of course we don't charge."
The chief clerk became worried again: "Then it sounds like this newspaper can't make a profit."
Wan Dong was resolute. "I'm not too sure about the trade matters, but since it's the king's order, I'll obey." He paused, his loyal Langyun fans coming online. "Besides, this is a suggestion from the fairyland, so it must be beneficial."
The chief clerk said no more and only thought about discussing the matter with his own county governor after returning.
Fang Luo carefully rolled up the newspaper and put it into his sleeve. He then said, "I have troubled Wan Muramasa for a long time. Thank you for your care during this period. I will return to the city today."
Before Wan Dong could say anything, the little kid looked up, looking reluctant: "Brother, are you leaving?"
Fang Luo then said, "Yes, my father missed me and sent someone to take me home."
The little kid wanted to try to persuade him to stay, but after hearing this, he sensibly stopped talking and said, "My brother's father is really good to me."
Fang Luo laughed, while the chief clerk beside him looked up at the sky silently, without understanding clearly what his master said, "Let that kid go back."
Sometimes, it’s better not to know too much about some things.
After saying goodbye to the Wan family father and son, Fang Luo packed up his things and left in a carriage.
While in the car, Mr. Fang wanted to take out the newspaper and take a closer look.
But before he could move, he heard the chief clerk say, "Actually, the reason the county magistrate ordered his men to come and fetch you is not just because he misses you, but also because he wants to ask if you still want to participate in the construction of the railway car or the charcoal pencil factory."
Fang Luo's answer this time was firm: "No, let my brothers take care of these."
Upon hearing this, the chief clerk's face changed.
Her face was full of the expression "It's all over, it's all over. My husband really doesn't want to come back after going to the countryside."
Fang Luo seemed to be able to guess what he was thinking, so he smiled and said, "It's not unusual for me to choose this way. I think this is what father would want to see. I've been studying in Fenghe County for over three months now. Although I'm not proficient in everything, I've gained some experience. So, it's not right to put it aside and waste it. Putting what you learn into practice is the right thing to do. Besides, both rail cars and factories are in great demand these days, so there's always someone to do the work."
Unexpectedly, this sentence made the chief clerk look embarrassed.
After this study session, Mr. Fang had calmed down a lot and his mind had become more careful. Seeing this, he asked, "What's the problem? Feel free to tell me."
If the person in front of him was someone else, the chief clerk would not say a word.
After all, it involves the affairs of the county, and it is not appropriate to tell outsiders.
But the one sitting here is the son of the county governor, who has made great achievements, so he will naturally listen.
The chief clerk then said, "The county held an imperial examination some time ago. While the liberal arts candidates were quite good, the science and engineering candidates were few and far between. Furthermore, the county governor once ordered me to visit the private schools and academies in the county, and I discovered that many were studying liberal arts."
Fang Luo was puzzled: "Isn't this a good thing? The more people there are, the more people will pass the imperial examinations in the future."
The chief clerk sighed and said softly, "Who will work at the charcoal pencil factory then?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Fang Luo quickly understood what the other party meant.
The house can be newly built.
Equipment is available for purchase.
But if there is no one, it will never succeed.
Perhaps the initial stage can be used for a while now, but during the time Fang Luo stayed in the new village, he often went to Fenghe County City. The factory was never closed to him, so he could go there whenever he wanted. Judging from the development there, I am afraid the scale will become larger and larger.
If Yuanluo County wants to follow the path of Fenghe County, then the construction of spiritual civilization is important, but material civilization is also important.
This involves science and engineering talents.
These people need to be cultivated. It is impossible to force them to grow without any foundation. At least now we must make more people pay attention to emerging disciplines.
So Fang Luo asked, "Dad, have you ever thought of a solution?"
The chief clerk replied, "I've considered it, but the results haven't been very positive. After all, there's only one charcoal factory in the county, and the railcar doesn't belong to our county; it's just a way out. So while the people might find it somewhat convenient, it's unclear what they can do with it." He sighed, "Before I went to the new village, I didn't understand what kind of changes I could bring."
Fang Luo frowned slightly: "Hearing is believing, seeing is believing. Having said that, I can't organize so many people to wander around Fenghe County."
The chief clerk didn't say anything else. He really couldn't think of any good solution.
At this time, the carriage had already entered Yuanluo County.
Fang Luo lifted the carriage curtain, looked outside, and said, "My father must still be at the government office at this time. I don't want to disturb him. Let's find a place to sit down first."
The chief clerk responded and asked the driver to go to a teahouse in the county first.
When the carriage stopped at the back alley of the teahouse, the chief clerk got off first, and Fang Luo was a little late.
When he came out of the carriage again, he had changed his clothes.
Although Fang Langjun came to the new village to study and did not need to integrate with the people, after witnessing many wonders there, Fang Langjun was eager to learn more.
It's not just about those novel machines and equipment, but also about how all those auspicious large agricultural products are produced.
In this case, it is natural to wear something that is convenient for movement.
She no longer wore flowers in her hair or powder on her face, and even stopped wearing gold and jade accessories. She changed out of her long gown and put on a short top.
So much so that when the chief clerk saw his husband this time, he almost didn't recognize him.
Now that I'm back home, I'm bound to run into familiar people when I go out and in.
Even though Fang Luo didn't think there was any difference between villagers and city dwellers, and even the farmers in the new village lived better than those in the county town, he still had to consider the face of the county magistrate's office and had to wear the proper clothes.
So he changed into the white gown he wore when he left and tied his hair up again.
Although there are no other decorations, he already looks like a handsome young man.
It's just that she has less makeup and more heroic spirit than before.
Afterwards, he and the chief clerk went into the teahouse.
The waiter who led the way was obviously acquainted with the County Magistrate. He smiled apologetically, "The private room you usually go to is ready. I wonder what kind of tea you would like to serve this time?"
Fang Luo raised his eyebrows slightly: "I remember that your teahouse only had one kind of tea before, how come there are so many now?"
The waiter smiled and said, "Yes, there are several more varieties, and they all have different flavors and are cooked in different ways."
"Where did it all come from?"
"Some of them are from before, and some were purchased from the South. They seem to be newly discovered teas there."
The chief clerk, who oversees commerce within the county, added, "Originally, there were different types of tea in the south, but their astringent taste didn't suit the tastes of the people in our county, so we couldn't import them. However, since last year, they've changed their roasting methods, and I hear they've also learned about fermentation techniques, making the taste much better. Two months ago, the county governor allowed tea merchants to enter Yuanluo County."
This matter is not a big deal, but it is not a small one either. In the past, Mr. Fang would not have taken it seriously.
But now, he subconsciously said: "The method of roasting new tea is probably not taught by immortals."
The chief clerk was stunned at first, then shook his head gently. "I don't know yet. I haven't asked in detail, but I can't rule out this possibility. Otherwise, how could they change the method of tea roasting that has been passed down for hundreds of years?"
Fang Luo was already certain in his heart that this must be related to the fairyland.
But he wasn't surprised.
After all, I have seen it before. What the immortals say casually is a famous quote, and what they take out casually is a magical weapon. It is not an exaggeration to say that the changes they have made to Fenghe County are like turning stones into gold. Tea is at most a small microcosm of this.
I'm afraid there will be more and more in the future.
At this time, they had already entered the teahouse.
You can see some Confucian scholars dressed as students walking out.
The conversation between the few people went straight into Fang Luo's ears.
"I heard the newspaper has been published. It seems very interesting. Brother Zhang, don't you want to take a look?"
"We are here to study the books of sages, so why should we join in the worldly excitement?"
"But I heard that most of the things written on it are beneficial to the country and the people. It seems that they also teach people how to farm and raise livestock..."
"How can we do such a thing?"
"Brother Zhang is right. A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen. Moreover, there are examinations to take. I don't even have enough time to review. How can I have the spare time to study trivial matters? I'd rather spend that time listening to books."
"Yes, after all, only by studying can one serve the State of Qi."
"That's what we said. Let's go together."
These words did not have much impact on others. After all, in Qi State, studying and taking exams were the top priority, and it was the default choice of everyone from top to bottom.
But Fang Luo frowned fiercely, stopped and did not go up the stairs.
The chief clerk also stopped and asked softly, "My dear, what's wrong?"
Fang Luo said in a deep voice, "If all students have this mindset, it will be very difficult to recruit people in the future. Not to mention those factories, even promoting new rural areas like Fenghe New Village will be extremely difficult."
Although the chief clerk was also worried about this, he was more concerned about his own husband. Fearing that his husband would be worried about this, he comforted him, "I'm afraid the other county towns are the same. Just take it slow."
But Fang Luo was remarkably clear-headed. "Time waits for no one. You may not have seen the transformation of the new village day by day; it's truly terrifying. Perhaps we don't need to compare ourselves to Fenghe County, but how can you know that other counties aren't secretly working hard? If they make progress while we remain stagnant, we'd be rowing against the current, not only achieving nothing, but also making mistakes."
There was another thing that Fang Luo did not say explicitly, but the chief clerk also knew it, that is, the development of each county town was in the eyes of the King of Qi.
Especially those newspapers that were built by the order of the King of Qi himself, their changes should be closely watched by the capital.
I'm not afraid of being too outstanding, I'm just afraid of being the last one.
At the very least, it will affect the Fang family's career, and at the most, it will probably implicate the people of the entire county.
So Fang Luo said, "Let's not go to the private room for now. Just find me a place by the window."
Although the waiter didn't know the reason, he agreed without hesitation and led them to the seat by the window.
Mr. Fang frowned as he sat down.
He took out the notebook he had always treasured from his arms and opened it. It was filled with all the knowledge he had learned in the new village.
From the beginning to the end, and then from the end to the beginning, basically everything requires human assistance.
This made Fang Luo feel more and more depressed, and even the clear and sweet tea could not make him happier.
I took out a charcoal pencil and started writing down ways that might change the students' minds, but every time I wrote one, I denied it. After nearly an hour, I still had no idea what to do.
After all, Mr. Fang is young, and he has not yet learned how to understand and change people's hearts.
What's more, this is a matter that determines a person's future, which is even more difficult.
As a result, Mr. Fang didn't even want to drink tea, which made the chief clerk feel embarrassed to drink alone, so he could only turn his head and look outside.
Unexpectedly, I saw the door across the street open and people pouring out. There were scholars and common people. They were dressed differently, but the vitality on their faces was the same.
This made the chief clerk curious, so he called the waiter over and asked, "What's that across the street? I remember it was a restaurant, but it's not dinner time right now, so why are there so many people here?"
The waiter took a look and replied, "It's empty, but a storyteller came in this morning and told stories there to liven up the atmosphere. Many people went there just to see him."
"Stories? What kind of stories?"
"It seems to be something in the newspaper. I can't read, so I don't understand it. I was thinking of going over to listen to it in the evening."
As soon as these words were spoken, Fang Luo raised his head.
The chief clerk also remembered that Muramasa of the new village had mentioned that Fenghe County had trained storytellers to promote newspapers in various places.
This is probably one of them.
This matter may have been approved by the prefect of Yuanluo County, but it did not seem to be a big deal, and it did not even need to be discussed with the chief clerk, so the chief clerk was not aware of it.
But now, after seeing all the wonders of the new village, no one dared to underestimate it.
So the chief clerk looked outside again, and Fang Luo stood up and walked to the window.
As luck would have it, I saw the students who had left the teahouse earlier.
But their mental state was completely different from their previous lazy appearance. They were full of energy, with rosy cheeks, just like they were drunk.
But they were not drunk, but were too excited and passionate.
He forgot the reserve of a scholar when he spoke, and his voice was eight octaves higher than usual, and it once again entered Fang Luo's ears.
"Brother Zhang, I think what the newspaper said is absolutely right!"
"Yes, studying is important, but building a strong country is even more important."
"Poetry and prose are not in conflict with emphasizing science and engineering!"
"Science and engineering can also contribute to the country of Qi!"
"Come on, let's go to the academy and ask if we can learn one more subject."
"Let's go together."
Fang Luo: ...
Chief Clerk: ...
What are you doing?
Don’t scholars these days have any clear ideas?
How can it change so suddenly?
It's only been less than an hour, and they've already taken a detour...without even a hint of foreshadowing...
Fang Luo seemed to suddenly remember something. He quickly took out the newspaper from his sleeve, unfolded it, and read the contents carefully.
Then my attention was drawn to a section that took up a large space.
Seeing this, the chief clerk asked, "What are you looking at, sir?"
Mr. Fang didn't look up, his voice a little vague: "I'm reading... a storybook."
"...There's a storybook in the newspaper?"
"Yes, it's quite nice."
The chief clerk immediately leaned over to take a look. He originally just wanted to take a look, but he couldn't move away after just reading the beginning. He stared at it with his eyes fixed, his body rooted to the ground, unable to move.
At this time, on the second floor of the restaurant opposite, Ji Liang was sitting there with a confused look on his face.
Originally, he came to Yuanluo County because he received an invitation from the county magistrate of Yuanluo County and also received a new task. He came here to see what kind of new village was suitable for the local climate and soil.
As for the newspaper, as a student of the Agricultural College, he did not pay much attention to the tasks of other majors, nor did he think about reading it first.
The reason why I came here to watch is simply because I wanted to help the capital and see the effect.
You can also earn points by doing this.
Unexpectedly, the publicity effect was so amazing that he was speechless.
At this moment, Ji Liang was holding a newspaper in his hand and had a mobile phone in front of him.
There is a video link above with Kun Jingming who is in the capital.
Seeing that Ji Liang remained silent, Kun Jingming had no choice but to ask, "What's going on over there?"
Ji Liang was stunned for a moment before he replied, "Very good, very good. I see they all really like it. Some of them even talked about signing up for school when they left."
Kun Jingming nodded.
But before he could say anything, Gu Zeyun, a journalism major, thrust his face into the screen and said with a smile, "Tell me, how did you praise me?"
Ji Liang blinked and asked carefully: "Senior is..."
"This newspaper is published by our profession, and the novel that the storyteller tells is written by me."
? ? !
Ji Liang immediately sat up straighter: "Really? This is well written, and they all like to listen to it, and they can understand it."
Gu Zeyun raised his chin slightly and said proudly, "Of course, I write about the Su Shuang upgrade style. The protagonist is beautiful, strong and miserable, and he gets slapped in the face overnight. This kind of setting is good no matter where it is placed, and it can be used in modern times and ancient times."
Ji Liang looked confused: "This routine has existed in ancient times?"
The one who answered him was Kun Jingming: "Recall the Monkey King's journey to obtain Buddhist scriptures."
Ji Liang: ...
Beautiful, strong, and miserable, fighting monsters and leveling up, finally achieving the right result...Huh???
Gu Zeyun narrowed his eyes and smiled: "It's just the beginning now. This story is serialized and involves many tasks. As long as they can identify with the protagonist and feel the benefits of overall social development, the publicity effect will be better as time goes on."
Ji Liang raised his hand: "Can I ask what the title of this article is?"
Gu Zeyun replied: "Summoning the school to do infrastructure construction."
Ji Liang: "Hey, so down-to-earth?"
Kun Jingming: "It has been changed. It is now called 'Destruction and Establishment'."
Gu Zeyun muttered quietly: "I still think the original name is more conducive to dissemination."
Kun Jingming didn't say anything, but just looked at the sky silently.
Ji Liang whispered, "May I ask you something? Senior Gu, you're so good at writing and even able to come up with names. Are you a literature major?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kun Jingming shook his head: "No."
Gu Zeyun smiled and said, "Indeed not. I am studying journalism, but it's just a hobby."
"What's your hobby?"
“Write online articles.”
Ji Liang was surprised at first, but then he felt it made sense. What the senior student had just said really sounded like something out of an online writer.
As a result, Gu Zeyun suddenly sighed.
Ji Liang hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Is there something that you're not satisfied with, Senior?"
Gu Zeyun shook his head and sighed, "I just remembered that before I traveled through time, I had an article serialized. Now it suddenly disappeared, and the article is also dead."
Ji Liang: Ah, this...
Gu Zeyun sighed again: "Tell me, when we really go back, I tell my readers that the reason I stopped updating is because I traveled through time, will they believe it?"
Ji Liang: ...
This question is beyond the scope.
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