Chapter 106, Bonus Chapter for 27,000 words of nutrient solution...
He Yan opened the design draft. Unlike the watercolor, pencil, or even computer-generated designs she had seen before, the design draft produced by Qinghe Textile was a beautiful line drawing, and the level of completion was very high.
The lines were smooth and delicate, the form precise and meticulous, and the details exquisite; its artistry alone was enough to amaze her. She hadn't expected a design draft to be so pleasing to the eye. Putting aside the style and details, she loved the drawing itself.
Han Yushang watched nervously from the side. This was the result of several sleepless nights she had stayed up to paint, and it could be said to be the pinnacle of her painting career.
"Two sets?" He Yan looked up at Han Yunshang in surprise.
Han Yunshang nodded: "Yes, Miss He. You initially only mentioned the dress for leaving the house, but considering the integrity of the wedding ceremony and the fact that you may need to show different styles during the toasting, we designed two dresses for you, both from the same collection. Of course, if you only like one of them, that's perfectly fine too."
He Yan initially said she only wanted dresses for going out, but Han Yunshang wanted to get dresses for toasting as well, so she made two different styles in one series.
He Yan refocused her attention on the design draft and examined it carefully.
The first picture shows an outfit for going out. The delicate brushstrokes clearly outline a dignified and elegant light pink brocade phoenix and cloud pattern round-necked jacket, paired with a solemn and luxurious brocade dragon and cloud pattern shawl. The skirt is a matching brocade pheasant pattern horse-face skirt, but it is embellished with light mustard green, which is very eye-catching.
Han Yunshang: "You said you didn't want to use bright red, so we changed to this color. It's a light pink Song brocade with subtle patterns, and the gold embroidery adds a touch of elegance and sophistication."
In the past, brides were expected to wear bright red, but modern young people are not so bound by such restrictions. Wedding dresses are all white, and while traditional wedding gowns are predominantly red, many also wear pink, blue, or gold—they do whatever they like.
He Yan wasn't suited to bright red; she preferred lighter shades. So Han Yunshang used a lighter pink, paired with gold embroidery, which also looked very elegant.
She brought over a sample of the fabric.
In fact, Han Yushang's meticulous brushwork is already very detailed, and the accompanying sample allows for even greater room for imagination.
The entire set is meticulously designed and exudes a powerful aura, perfectly matching the sense of ceremony and noble status required when a bride leaves her home.
"However, this is just for you to imagine. Our staff will weave some beautiful Song brocade." Han Yunshang called over the woman who was skilled at weaving Song brocade. "This is our master craftsman who is skilled at weaving Song brocade."
She smiled shyly at He Yan, her voice gentle: "I'll add some silver thread later, so the fabric will look even better and shimmer when you walk in it."
Her description was simple, but He Yan could almost imagine the thick, silky, subtly shimmering texture.
Han Yunshang picked up her teacup and saw her expression. The corners of her mouth turned up, but she quickly covered it with the teacup before continuing her introduction: "The peony and phoenix patterns on top will be handled by our Wang Xiuniang. She specializes in the gold-embroidered embroidery popular in the Tang Dynasty court. The dress in the window is her work."
He Yan's eyes lit up immediately: "That dress in the shop window is absolutely gorgeous."
Wang Xiuniang was lively in front of familiar people, but very introverted in front of strangers. After smiling, she immediately lowered her head and continued to do her own thing.
He Yan gently stroked the design draft—the three-dimensional effect of the gold threads and the intricate and gorgeous patterns were already evident under the white lines. She trusted the workshop and could foresee that the actual product would be dazzling and extremely luxurious.
Moreover, Han Yunshang modified the original style of the large robe sleeves to be smaller, with just the right amount of variation, perfectly balancing traditional majesty with modern aesthetics.
In short, He Yan was very satisfied with the design; it had both sophistication and a sense of luxury, enough to impress any grand occasion.
She opened the second set.
It was actually a strapless, floor-length evening gown! The lines were smooth and sexy, completely overturning her preconceived notions about traditional Hanfu.
Is this Hanfu?
This looks exactly like a Western-style formal dress, doesn't it?
Han Yunshang could tell what she was thinking from her expression, and smiled, "This is actually still the form of traditional clothing. This style is based on the Song Dynasty style of swirling skirt. When you wear it, it's like a tube skirt in modern clothing, which makes you look very slender."
She and her sister came here to look at a lot of modern clothing designs and various magazines. They actually found some familiar elements in many modern styles, only the details and cuts were different.
Han Yunshang asked Liniang to bring her a swirling skirt.
He Yan took it, and felt the comfortable cotton and linen texture. The style was simple and neat, with a high waist and a natural tube shape. It was indeed similar to a simple dress she often wore in period dramas, only more casual.
Li Niang helped her put it on and try it on. Actually, the way she wore it was a bit like a "wrap dress" in modern fashion, except that she wrapped it from the waist down.
He Yan is someone who really likes wearing bodycon dresses; this style of dress suits her H-shaped figure perfectly.
Sure enough, when she put it on, she was pleasantly surprised to find that the cut fit her body perfectly, outlining her slender waist, lengthening her leg proportions, and modifying her slightly flat waist and hip curves just right, making her stand tall and graceful.
“Look,” Han Yunshang said, looking at He Yan with admiration, “traditional clothing is not just about wide robes and flowing sleeves, and ethereal beauty. The swirling skirt is simple and neat, and easy to move in. It was a style that Song Dynasty women often wore for daily work or outings. Its silhouette is similar to modern fitted tube skirts and fishtail skirts.”
She paused, her tone tinged with a hint of helplessness at the stereotypes portrayed in movies and TV dramas, "People in ancient times didn't always wear elaborate formal attire."
They also need to live ordinary daily lives, okay?
"I see!" He Yan suddenly realized, turned around in front of the mirror, and her liking for the style skyrocketed. "This cut really suits me!"
“Yes,” Han Yunshang smiled and nodded, pointing to the design draft, “So, we chose a swirling skirt as the core silhouette for your toasting dress and made some improvements to suit modern aesthetics.”
She boldly paired an elegant strapless top with a swirling skirt, highlighting her beautiful collarbone lines and exuding luxury in its simplicity.
The main body of the long swirling skirt has been elevated in length and silhouette. The skirt is not straight all the way through, but begins to gracefully flare outwards below the knee, forming a fishtail silhouette, with the back hem trailing slightly on the ground.
He Yan really liked the design: "It's very elegant and also very simple."
The design sketches indicate that the bustier is not simply made of fabric, but rather a silk tapestry woven with twisted gold and silver threads, incorporating a haori (feather weave) technique. At the overlapping points on the sides of the skirt, there is a small piece of haori in the same material as the bustier, featuring a phoenix perched on a parasol tree motif throughout.
The patterns are also embellished with crystal fragments and pearls.
“If the entire dress were made of kesi (silk tapestry), it would be too heavy,” Han Yunshang explained. “Using it on the bodice and one side of the skirt, with a little embellishment, is beautiful enough.”
He Yan was a little excited: "The toasting ceremony requires walking around and interacting closely with the guests, so the pattern can be subtly revealed when I walk around."
She imagined the scene, and it would be interesting whether it was static or dynamic.
Moreover, guests can fully appreciate its exquisite details—it's perfect!
The first outfit is a dignified and elegant masterpiece, while the second outfit is a dazzling and dreamlike wonder.
He Yan remained silent for a long time, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two design drafts.
Should we buy them all?
Seeing He Yan's focused expression, Han Yunshang added softly, "Although the two sets are very different in style, we have considered the colors and patterns to create a harmonious visual transition. Moreover, the phoenix is an auspicious bird, symbolizing 'the phoenix and the luan bird singing in harmony' and 'the phoenix perching on the parasol tree,' which are all very good omens."
He Yan didn't hesitate for long before making her decision: "Hmm... I want both of these sets!"
A hint of joy flashed in Han Yunshang's eyes; her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. Not far away, Wang Xiuniang, momentarily distracted, almost pricked her fingertip with a needle, but she didn't seem to care at all. The others exchanged knowing glances, conveying their happiness.
He Yan's assistant, Xiao Wen, asked, "Regarding the price..."
Han Yunshang nodded slightly, her tone calm and clear: "Thank you for your trust, Miss He Yan. As for the cost," she paused, seemingly considering her words, before stating a figure: "The total price for both dresses is one million."
When the number was announced, the room fell silent for a moment. Assistant Xiaowen instinctively gasped.
While top-tier haute couture gowns are expensive, with individual pieces often costing millions, this price is truly astonishing considering it comes from an unknown workshop in China.
He Yan raised an eyebrow, but her face didn't reveal much emotion.
Han Yunshang's heart tightened slightly. She knew He Yan could afford it, but the price was indeed very high. At the time, both she and Miss Lu were a little uneasy, wondering if it was a bit too expensive, and wanted to lower it by about half.
As a result, Su Jun, who was in charge of the entire Fifth District, said with a half-smile, "Three hundred thousand? Who are you looking down on with that price?"
Han Yunshang had dealt with many powerful and influential people, so she naturally understood his meaning. Therefore, she decided to report it first, but seeing He Yan's expression at this moment, she felt that she had to explain the value behind it clearly.
“Miss He,” her voice remained steady, but her pace quickened slightly, and she spoke with sincerity, “please understand that this price is by no means inflated, but is based on the finest materials, the most exquisite craftsmanship, and the longest time required.”
“These two garments of yours are uniquely custom-made, starting with the fabric.”
"The Song brocade woven by Madam Zhou uses the finest mulberry silk, with a large amount of genuine silver and gold threads twisted into the warp and weft to ensure that the fabric can exude a truly luxurious luster."
"Wang Xiuniang's gold-embroidered patterns also require gold threads made from extremely pure gold leaf. You can see those coiled three-dimensional patterns on the design draft; every inch requires an immeasurable amount of gold leaf. This is not only a matter of craftsmanship, but also an investment of real gold and silver."
"Our kesi (silk tapestry) feather weaving requires manually separating specific parts and lengths of feathers from tens of thousands of rigorously selected peacock feathers before twisting them into silk threads. Just collecting and processing these feathers is a massive undertaking. And kesi itself is a top-tier craft, where every inch of kesi is worth its weight in gold."
"These precious metals represent real costs."
He Yan couldn't help but nod; that was indeed the case.
Seeing an opportunity, Han Yunshang continued to escalate the challenge: "The three-dimensional intricate embroidery with its fine, hair-like stitches—the patterns on a single robe and shawl might require Wang Xiuniang to work continuously for months. The same goes for the silk tapestry and feather weaving..."
Kesi (silk tapestry) is an extremely slow process of weaving and twisting warp and weft. The twisting and weaving of peacock feather threads is far more difficult than ordinary silk threads. Without Huang Daopo's blessing, it would have taken her at least half a year to make the fabric needed for such a long dress.
After calculating each item one by one, Han Yunshang suddenly realized that the price she had set wasn't actually that expensive.
Each of these requires top artisans to dedicate an unimaginable amount of focused time. This is not assembly line production, but a true art form measured in time.
Is it excessive to charge a million for a workshop that has been busy for months just to make two pieces of clothing?
No wonder Young Master Su said that setting the price too low was disrespectful!
Yes, she has to respect herself first.
Having figured this out, Han Yunshang's expression became even calmer, and her back straightened even more: One million, no, it should be said five hundred thousand. In the past, even those high-ranking officials' wives couldn't hire her for that much money!
Her emotions immediately calmed down, and she looked at He Yan with sincerity: "So, this million is for materials, time, skills, and hard work. Please understand."
After listening quietly to Han Yunshang's explanation, He Yan's face showed no displeasure. Instead, a bright smile slowly spread across her face, even carrying a hint of... relief?
“Manager Han,” He Yan’s voice was filled with laughter, even a hint of relief, “you don’t need to be nervous. My silence wasn’t because I thought it was expensive.”
Han Yunshang blinked: ...Huh?
He Yan paused, and under Han Yunshang's slightly surprised gaze, continued, "On the contrary, after hearing your explanation, I feel that it is indeed worth more than its price."
She picked up the design draft and dusted it off: "A significant investment of real money, months of hard work by top craftsmen... this price is very fair."
She once commissioned a master craftsman in Paris to create a heavily embroidered evening gown, the labor cost of which exceeded this amount. And that gown was far less intricate in its craftsmanship and made with more precious materials than this piece. Not to mention the cultural and historical significance it embodies. One million, at least half a million, is for the master craftsman's reputation and brand premium.
When I visited some custom designer workshops in China before, I found that any basic style with handcrafted and complex techniques was priced at six figures or more, and slightly more complex styles cost half a million.
Here, the process starts with customizing the fabric for her.
Furthermore, the craftsmanship must be more refined and more impressive.
He Yan was very satisfied.
She had originally expected the two items to cost no more than 150 yuan in total, but she hadn't expected Han Yunshang to be so generous and give her a round number. She immediately felt like she'd saved money!
He Yan's discerning eye relieved Han Yunshang and the workshop members present, and a warm feeling welled up in their hearts. This feeling of being understood and respected for their true value was more precious than money.
Of course, if Han Yunshang knew that He Yan's momentary daze wasn't because it was expensive, but because it was cheap, she would probably have mixed feelings.
"Then..." Han Yunshang looked at He Yan questioningly.
“Let’s sign the contract.” He Yan said without hesitation. “I’ll pay half the deposit. I have no other requests. My wedding is only five months away. Is there enough time? And you can’t tell me it’s done the day before the wedding. It has to be at least a month in advance.”
This also gave her some time to prepare.
If things don't go well, we can immediately activate the backup plan.
That means it has to be completed within four months... Han Yunshang readily agreed: "No problem, Miss He, don't worry."
She immediately gestured for Han Yushang to produce a beautifully printed, custom-made contract that had been prepared beforehand by the ancient town's legal department. He Yan didn't even glance at it, directly signing her name in the designated area for the second party, and then promptly arranged for her assistant to transfer the funds.
Seeing the contract finalized, Han Yunshang felt a huge weight lifted from her heart, and was immediately filled with immense joy and a sense of responsibility.
We made money!
Their textile workshop has finally made money!
......
"She really paid a million?" Lu Xiaoqi was dumbfounded.
She was worried that the price was too high, but the other party bought it without even considering it for a few days? There wasn't even a bargaining process. Shouldn't it be "Too expensive, I don't want it" and then pretend to leave, and then be stopped by Han Yunshang and asked "Then how much do you want?"
Su Jun almost choked on the tea in his mouth, coughing violently, but he still couldn't help but laugh.
Lu Xiaoqi looked at him expressionlessly. What are you laughing at? I'll cough you up!
However, I still handed him a tissue in the end.
"Thank you." Su Jun covered his mouth, finally stopping coughing. He cleared his throat. "Customers at this level usually don't haggle. They buy if they can, and leave if they can't. They don't make a fuss about it."
He and his friends used to do this, sometimes without even asking the price of something, they would just put it on the tab, and the merchants would come to their house every month to reconcile the accounts with the housekeeper.
"However, don't think they're stupid and rich; you have to hit their sweet spot."
Whether it's craftsmanship, style, fabric, or even just brand value, there needs to be something that makes people willing to pay for it.
Lu Xiaoqi rested her chin on her hand, thought about it carefully, and said, "You're right."
Aside from the money being magnified many times over, the psychology behind it isn't much different from that of ordinary people buying things. An ordinary person would spend a thousand yuan on a wedding dress and wouldn't hesitate if they liked it.
“The items in Zone 5…” Su Jun pondered, this was his territory, “Besides textiles and clothing, there are a few other items that could also be marketed as high-end: wooden furniture and gold and silver jewelry.”
He felt that these three had the greatest potential.
Lu Xiaoqi nodded: "Master Jin's jewelry is very beautiful, and it can indeed be called a work of art."
Su Jun said with some regret, "The current output is low, and we have the same problem as the textile workshop: too few people. Perhaps we can only see it in the second phase. As for the wooden furniture, next month is the time for Hejia Village to submit their work, so we can make a move on that."
"Perhaps we can try recruiting some craftsmen from outside."
Lu Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow at him, and Su Jun couldn't help but lean back, his ears inexplicably feeling hot: "...What's wrong?"
She shrugged and smiled. "It's nothing."
I just felt that he really cared about District 5, so I felt at ease leaving it to him.
However, upon closer reflection, she had always trusted Su Jun with any task entrusted to him since his transmigration.
Just as Su Jun was about to say something, he received a phone call: "...Teacher Zhao, hello...What? Uncle Zhao is missing?!"
Lu Xiaoqi looked up and saw Su Jun hang up the phone, his expression somewhat grave: "Commander Zhao has gone missing."
This Uncle Zhao is not that Uncle Zhao.
Lu Xiaoqi was somewhat surprised, but immediately remembered that she could see Zhao Guo's location in the system, and immediately relaxed.
Su Jun dialed Zhao Guo's number, but no one answered. After asking Zhao Simin, he learned that Zhao Guo had left his phone on the table.
"Don't worry, he's fine, he's left the ancient town..." Zhao Xiaoqi saw in his space that the little red dot representing Zhao Guo had left the ancient town and was moving outwards at a pretty fast speed, so he must have gotten into a car.
What was Zhao Guo doing leaving the ancient town?
Zhao Simin was a little nervous: "I didn't say anything, but Uncle Zhao seemed a bit excited, and he said he wanted to see for himself. After the break, he went out by himself."
She and Zhao Guo were from the same clan, so she simply called him Uncle Zhao.
Su Jun suddenly remembered something: "What classes are you having today?"
Zhao Simin: "They just showed a documentary about agriculture." She sounded a little uneasy. "Was something wrong with it?"
Su Jun and Lu Xiaoqi exchanged a glance, realizing the truth!
"It's okay, it's okay, it has nothing to do with this." Lu Xiaoqi patted her shoulder to comfort her. "We know where he is, we'll go find him right now."
After thinking for a moment, she decided to cover it up: "Uncle Zhao doesn't have any other hobbies, he just likes farming. Maybe he wanted to go to the fields after watching the documentary. It's not a big deal."
Zhao Simin nodded repeatedly, "Mhm."
Uncle Zhao looked like he came from a farming background. I just wonder what his relationship was with the boss, and what he was doing in Qinghe Ancient Town...
Lu Xiaoqi and Su Jun immediately drove to the outskirts of the ancient town to find Zhao Guo, following the location.
Su Jun's brows remained furrowed: "Commander Zhao hasn't gone out at all, he shouldn't have run into any trouble, right?"
He was somewhat worried.
Although Su Jun wouldn't follow these newcomers around all the time like before, he would assign them mentors every day and kept track of their daily activities. Since arriving here, Zhao Guo hadn't gone out at all, staying in the house reading history and literature books, taking classes with Zhao Simin, and occasionally chatting with Wang Wei, Huang Daopo, and others.
In short, he has a very dull personality.
As Lu Xiaoqi drove, she said, "Don't worry, I actually think this might be a good thing."
Su Jun looked over in confusion.
Lu Xiaoqi: "He hasn't mentioned going to the outside world at all during this time, and he doesn't seem very curious about what the world is like now. This reminds me of Li Bing."
Li Bing was like that back then; after fulfilling his wish, he faced death with equanimity, having no attachment to this world. Now, Zhao Guo is willing to go out and see the world, and although she didn't give prior notice, she is actually relieved.
At this time, Zhao Guo had already arrived at the outskirts of Anping County.
He estimated a direction away from the tall houses and started walking in that direction, convinced there must be farmland there. So, he gritted his teeth and began walking along the sidewalk. But after walking for half an hour, he was still in the area of the tall houses, which were still standing tall and the pedestrians and vehicles were even more numerous.
As he crossed a narrow side road, a speeding electric tricycle almost brushed past the hem of his clothes, the force of the wind it generated causing him to stumble and break out in a cold sweat.
The middle-aged man on the bus turned around and yelled, "Watch where you're going, buddy! Are you out of your mind?!"
Zhao Guo, still shaken, stood by the roadside catching his breath. He realized that finding farmland in this strange and dangerous world on his own two feet was probably a pipe dream. A rare look of confusion and a hint of frustration appeared on his dark face.
Perhaps he should tell Lu Xiaoyou and Su Xiaoyou to make the arrangements.
He had just rushed out so recklessly that he forgot to bring that thing called a cell phone... Zhao Guo looked back and even forgot which road he had come from.
Since things have come to this, we might as well find farmland first.
Just then, he saw the tricycle that had almost hit him stop a short distance ahead next to a fruit stall.
The man driving the car was in his forties, wearing an old jacket covered in mud, his skin also tanned dark, clearly someone who worked under the sun year-round. He parked the car and was taking several bags of fruit from the vendor, preparing to tie them to the back of the vehicle.
Zhao Guo hesitated for a moment. He could tell that this man was also a hardworking person; perhaps... he could make an exception?
He mustered his courage and, imitating a modern person, stepped forward and bowed slightly: "Excuse me, young man," he carefully chose his words, "may I bother you? May I ask, is it far to the farmland outside the city?"
The man had just finished tying the fruit when he heard this and looked up to sized up Zhao Guo. He saw that although Zhao Guo was wearing a modern ordinary jacket, his face was dark and rough, and his hands had large knuckles covered with calluses. He looked like a farmer, and the man immediately felt a sense of kinship with him.
He grinned, revealing a set of slightly crooked teeth: "Hey bro, you're going to the fields too? You look unfamiliar, you're not from around here, are you? The fields outside the city are really far, walking them? You'd be exhausted by nightfall!"
"It's so far?" Zhao Guo's heart sank.
"That's right!" The man patted the seat of his tricycle. "Look, I'm heading back to the village, passing by that big field on the outskirts of the county. Are you going there? If you don't mind the bumpy ride in my old tricycle, I can give you a ride."
Looking at the oddly shaped car emitting a slight hum, Zhao Guo felt a little apprehensive. But thinking of the fields he longed to see and the stunning scenes in the documentary, he gritted his teeth and said, "In that case, thank you! I appreciate your help."
The man was amused by him: "Hey, brother, why are you being so polite? Get in the car, sit tight and hold on!"
He patted the simple wooden seat that had been added to the back of the truck bed.
Zhao Guo carefully climbed onto the back of the tricycle, sat on the hard wooden plank, and gripped the cold iron frame at the edge of the back tightly with both hands. As the man twisted the handlebars, the tricycle lurched forward, and Zhao Guo involuntarily leaned back, startling him so much that he quickly tightened his grip even more.
The wind whistled through his ears, accompanied by the sputtering of the tricycle engine. The tall buildings, shops, and pedestrians on either side rushed past. This exhilarating speed far surpassed that of any horse he had ever ridden.
Zhao Guo kept his mouth tightly shut, trying his best to adapt to this unprecedented experience, feeling both nervous and filled with a strange excitement.
The man driving was very talkative. While driving, he loudly asked, "Brother, judging from your appearance, are you a farmer too? Where are you from? Your accent doesn't sound like it's from Anping."
Zhao Guo composed himself and cautiously replied, "I am indeed a farmer. I came from afar to see how farming is done here."
"Oh, fellow traveler!" The man became even more enthusiastic, automatically filtering out his flowery language and assuming that this guy was probably a fan of period dramas. "Then you've come to the right place. The paddy fields in Anping are the best in the city, and now is the perfect time to plant rice seedlings."
He assumed Zhao Guo had come to Qinghe City to make a living. Men often have a certain sense of superiority over their locals, so he asked him where his hometown was and how he usually farmed.
Zhao Guo gave a vague reply.
The man was quite surprised to hear that they were using oxen to plow the fields, and couldn't help but ask, "You really still use oxen? I haven't seen that in years!"
Zhao Guo hesitated: "Are you sure you don't need oxen to plow the fields here?"
He recalled the scene he had just seen in the documentary.
"Of course. Your place is really remote. We don't use them anymore. Now we all use tractors, which are faster and less strenuous! My little tricycle is only used for hauling odds and ends. For real farm work, we need that big machine! You'll see it in a bit. When that thing turns the soil, wow, it's like a bulldozer."
“Tractor… bulldozer…” Zhao Guo chewed on these unfamiliar words, his anticipation and curiosity growing wildly like weeds.
The wind blew against his face, ruffling his graying temples, as the tricycle chugged along the road leading to the suburbs.
"We're here, brother. Can I drop you off here? I still need to buy some things." The man stopped on the main street on the outskirts of the county. "If you want to go back, just wait for the bus on this road. This is the bus stop. Just turn right ahead and you'll see the farmland."
Zhao Guo immediately got out of the car and thanked him.
The outskirts of Anping County are covered with farmland, and April is the rice planting season. Following the direction the man pointed, he turned a corner and suddenly the view opened up before him!
This field was not the boundless expanse he remembered. It was divided by rivers and highways, and even had tall pillars supporting a railway track in the distance. It was a typical rural scene in southern China, completely different from the Guanzhong and Yuzhou regions he had visited.
But Zhao Guo was still shocked.
Here, there are no farmers bent over, sweating profusely, as I remember; no shouts of cattle and horses; and no familiar wooden plow turning over the soil with weed roots.
Instead, there was a roar!
The enormous, bright orange-red "iron ox" moved steadily across the fields like a steel behemoth. Behind it dragged a wide iron frame covered with menacing rotating teeth. Wherever it passed, the dark, glistening soil was easily lifted and shattered as if by an invisible giant hand, and finally returned to flatness.
The mud churned and rolled, its efficiency astounding.
In just a short while, a large area of land became soft and fluffy, flat and smooth, waiting for the rice seedlings to be planted.
Zhao Guo stood there, frozen in place, as if he had been struck by a spell.
He had improved seed drills and double plows, and knew the importance of tilling the land for agriculture, as well as the manpower and resources it consumed. The power of this "iron ox" before him completely overturned his lifelong experience and imagination.
His improved double plow, with two oxen and three people, could plow how much land in a day? But how much land can this "iron ox" turn over in a day?
He simply couldn't believe it!
Is this the tractor that the man just mentioned?
Not far away, several elderly farmers wearing rubber shoes and straw hats were resting on the edge of the field, smoking and watching the tractors work. They looked relaxed, with a kind of peace and contentment on their faces that Zhao Guo had never seen on the faces of farmers before.
There was no weariness or sorrow, no anxiety about the harvest, only a calm acceptance of a bountiful harvest.
Zhao Guo took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and walked towards the old farmers with a hint of barely perceptible tension and utmost solemnity.
The elderly farmers also noticed him. They could tell at a glance that they were all farmers, and immediately greeted him warmly.
"Brother, have a seat."
"Hey bro, who are you from? I've never seen you before."
Zhao Guo, like the others, sat down on the edge of the field without any hesitation.
He mumbled, "From Qinghe Ancient Town."
The old farmer's eyes lit up: "Oh, you're going there for fun? That place is really fun! My daughter just took me there not long ago."
His words were full of boasting.
“Yes, I also came from out of town for a visit. I’m an old hand at this; wherever I go, I always want to see the local farmland,” Zhao Guo said immediately.
Everyone laughed and said, "Yes, we're used to farm work, so going out to play is just exhausting!"
Zhao Guo continued the conversation with them, and once they were more familiar with each other, he casually remarked, "This tractor is quite useful."
An older farmer tapped his pipe and replied with a smile, "That's right, bringing a rotary tiller makes turning the soil much faster! It saves a lot of effort!"
"Tractor, rotary tiller." Zhao Guo silently repeated these two unfamiliar yet powerful words, his eyes burning with intensity.
He then inquired, "How many acres of land can our tractors plow in a day?"
"This thing is powerful!" another old farmer chimed in, his tone filled with pride for his tool. "This one is a new model we bought last year, and it works incredibly well! It can easily tame dozens of acres a day. If the paddy fields are level, it can handle hundreds of acres without a problem. It's more efficient than using ten oxen in the past!"
"Dozens of acres?! Hundreds of acres?!" Zhao Guo's breath hitched.
This efficiency is dozens or even hundreds of times greater than that of his time!
He felt his heart pounding violently in his chest, almost bursting out. He had poured his heart and soul into improving farm tools, seeking only to increase efficiency slightly, so that the people could work less and harvest a few more bushels of grain. But this tractor before him had already achieved something he never dared to dream of!
It took Zhao Guo a few minutes to calm himself down completely.
"Then our harvest here must be quite good," Zhao Guo said confidently. In fact, if you listened carefully, you could hear a noticeable tremor in his voice.
The old farmer remained calm, extending his rough fingers to gesture a number that sent shivers down Zhao Guo's spine: "So-so. If management is adequate, and the weather is favorable, a mu of land can yield about a thousand jin!"
He called out to the guy sitting furthest away: "Old Ma, didn't your family harvest over 1,200 jin last year?"
Old Ma's expression was also calm: "Almost 1,300. But it's not of much use, the price of grain is low now, it won't fetch much money."
"More than a thousand catties?!" Zhao Guo was completely speechless.
He suddenly stood up, his body swaying violently. If he hadn't grabbed a small tree nearby in time, he would have almost fallen to the ground.
What was the yield per mu (a Chinese unit of land area, approximately 0.067 hectares) in the Han Dynasty? Millet and wheat yielded only about one or two shi (a Chinese unit of dry measure), which, according to modern calculations, is roughly 120 jin (a Chinese unit of weight, approximately 60 kg). Rice was expensive, and its yield was even lower. Despite his tireless efforts in promoting the alternating field method, he only managed to increase the yield per mu to 200 jin, and that was on fertile land tended by the best farmers. This is already a monumental achievement that will be remembered in history!
The "more than a thousand catties" that the old farmer mentioned so casually was nothing short of a myth to him.
"Brother, are you alright?" Everyone looked at him.
Zhao Guo's voice was hoarse: "It's nothing, it's nothing..."
He asked urgently, "How did you manage to get over 1,300 jin?"
When Old Ma heard him ask this, although he felt that his yield was quite common, he also felt a little proud and started to ramble on: "What's this? Good seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, and irrigation canals and reservoirs to protect us, so we're guaranteed a good harvest regardless of drought or flood. Unlike in the past, when we relied entirely on the heavens' favor, the harvest was not only small, but we also had to pay so much in taxes, life was tough!"
Although he complained that the grain wasn't selling for a good price, he was actually quite satisfied compared to the past.
“Imperial grain and national tax…” Zhao Guo keenly caught the weight of this heavy phrase and gasped.
What? Does that mean we don't have to pay now?!
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