Chapter 240: A Strange Woman
In the fifth year of the time travel, Sang Luo put on the biggest show in her two lifetimes.
Don't mention it, although she was about to dig a castle with her toes, she was calm in the face of the crowd. She could be described as steady in her conversation with the Shezhou officials who were waiting outside the government office. The slogans could be passionate, but after such a fuss all the way, it was time to show humility.
But Sang Luo didn't know that there were so many young men in the village, the village chief was on the side, and there was a young man wearing a state school uniform on the other side, but she was the leader, facing a group of officials, and she was the one who answered all the questions. She was also born gentle and beautiful. Although she was dressed in plain clothes, she behaved politely, advanced and retreated in moderation, and answered calmly, which was already the biggest limelight.
This contrast was even more shocking than her standing there in luxurious clothes, and it made people unable to take their eyes off her.
After this day, as the curved plow was pushed open, I'm afraid half of the people in Shezhou City knew who Sang Luo was.
Chu Qichang looked at Sang Luo who was explaining the differences between the old and new plows to the governor, the chief secretary and other officials, and he was so impressed that he could only exclaim in admiration.
Intelligent, dignified, generous, and most importantly, we are all human beings. You said you can grow yams, but how can you grow flowers with a plow?
Chu Qichuang didn't know whether it saved labor or not, as this was all said by Sang Luo and the people of Daxingzhuang. However, he had clearly seen the operation that could adjust deep plowing and shallow plowing.
The imperial court is eager for talent. If this person is a man, wouldn't the governor immediately recruit him to the provincial government to help manage agriculture and sericulture?
Wow, I’m convinced!
After being convinced, he sighed again, isn't this a man?
Chu Qichang was puzzled when he saw Shen Lie helping to demonstrate the operation while Sang Luo was explaining. The imperial court was eager for talents, and it was not just the imperial examination that was offered. Selecting talents through practical work was also one of them. He really didn't understand why a woman like Sang Luo would come to the fore when the curved plow was invented at such a great time when the Great Qi was unified.
What can a woman gain by standing out, except fame?
It was different for Shen Lie. He was able to enter the provincial school, so he was literate. Even if he didn't take the imperial examination, he had yam before him and the curved plow after him. The curved plow also caught up with such a good opportunity. Which of these is not a ladder to the sky? I dare not say about Shezhou City, but there are many vacancies in the counties below.
Tsk.
This brother Shen of his is really... He doesn't know what to say.
However, Chu Qichang just thought about it. After all, this was the Shen family's family affair. Maybe it was just because the other party was so ambitious that he didn't want to take away the credit from his wife and was confident that he could make a name for himself?
No matter what, the Shen family couple is really amazing. It has only been a month since the last time the governor went to Daxing Manor? Last time, Governor Zeng gave him a book, and this time the commotion is even bigger.
The highest official in Shezhou, how many people want to meet him but have no chance, just look at the Shen family couple. Isn't it only a matter of time before he becomes rich?
Chu Qichang thought that it was useless to just call each other brother, he had to go back home and tell them about it, and gradually he had to find opportunities to move around.
Just as this thought came to her mind, she saw the wife of the governor and two personal maids had arrived. Sang Luo raised her eyes and saw Concubine Fan. She actually smiled slightly and nodded in greeting.
Chu Qichang: ???
How come we already know each other?
Just as I was thinking this, I saw a look of surprise on Concubine Fan's face: "It's you?"
Sang Luo bowed and said, "Sang Luo greets Madam."
Before she could even finish her half-salute, Concubine Fan helped her up, her bright eyes full of smiles: "I've heard from my husband that there is a fellow countryman like me in Shezhou. I've long heard of your reputation. The other day you said you were looking forward to meeting me. It turns out that we actually met on the street that day."
Wow, I really recognize him! Look how lively he is.
Not only Chu Qichang and the officials present were grumbling in their hearts, even Governor Zeng was surprised that the two had already met. However, since there were many people watching, he did not ask in detail. Instead, he said to Sang Luo and Shen Lie, "This plow looks good. Whether it saves labor or not, we have to try it out in the fields to know."
Chen Lie smiled and said, "Of course, sir, you can let someone try it."
He himself had tried it twice and was extremely confident about it.
When Governor Zeng saw the expressions of the couple, he knew that it must be correct, but there was no need to find someone else to test it: "I will test it myself."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned, even the onlookers were unable to react, and the next moment there was a murmur of discussion.
This is the governor.
In previous years, when the county magistrate wanted to encourage farmers to grow crops, he would go to the fields and whip them a few times in the spring. Would the governor also go to the fields to try out the plowing?
Chu Qichang reacted quickly, "Sir, it's not possible. I'll just do it myself."
Governor Zeng did not say much, but just said: "Let's go outside the city."
He called out to the young men in Daxing Village who were carrying the plows: "Please help me carry the plows for another leg."
As he said this, he had already walked out of the city.
Sang Luo glanced at Concubine Fan, and seeing that she did not stop him, she smiled a little more, "Madam, are you going to take a look too?"
"Go, it's such a grand occasion, why not go? Madam Sang, come with us."
"please."
"please."
As the two of them were talking, they actually followed Governor Zeng and went out of the city. Sang Luo knew her place and walked half a step behind Concubine Fan.
It was only half a step difference, which seemed not much. Moreover, Concubine Fan waited for Sang Luo intentionally or unintentionally, and asked her along the way how she came to Shezhou, how she fled to the mountains to avoid disaster, how she taught the mountain people to grow crops, and she also talked about the konjac tofu she bought in the East Market that day.
Sang Luo was also calm, and the two of them walked all the way out of the city, seemingly having a pleasant conversation. Chen Lie and Zhou Cunzheng and the others consciously retreated a distance away, leaving the front position to Fan's two personal maids, a group of officials from the state government, and the two men carrying the plow.
The old ladies, women and children who came from Daxingzhuang were all stunned.
Mrs. Chen was so excited that her heart was beating so fast that she clutched Qin Fangniang's hand, her legs limp, and she said in a very small voice that only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could hear, "My mother."
I know what Sang Luo is capable of. How come she is so capable?
Is that the governor's wife? She saw her in the motorcade that day.
Ahhhhhhh?
If Chen Po hadn't been holding her daughter-in-law's arm, her hands would have been shaking.
Xu Wenyin, Chen Ning, Chen Xiaoya and Shi Qiaoer often hang out together, and they got together today as well. The girls first watched Sang Luo talking to the governor, and now saw her chatting and laughing with the governor's wife, and they were really fascinated.
Chen Xiaoya was hanging on the left side of Shen Ning: "Aning, sister-in-law A Luo is so amazing."
Next to Chen Xiaoya, there was Shi Qiaoer who also nodded vigorously.
Xu Wenyin, who was hanging on the right, kept walking to the side, stretched her neck to look forward, and after a while, she murmured in a low voice: "Aning, when I grow up, I really want to be someone like your sister-in-law."
Become someone like her sister-in-law?
Chen Ning looked at her sister-in-law's back in front of her. Occasionally, she could see her sister-in-law turning her head to talk to the governor's wife. She didn't know if it was the spring sunshine falling on her face or something else. In short, Chen Ning felt that her sister-in-law was glowing.
Yes, with someone like her sister-in-law, even if the team is mostly composed of men, no one can overshadow her sister-in-law.
Shen Ning’s eyes also lit up.
…
Outside Shezhou City.
Hundreds of people followed the team out to watch, and people from the Zheng, Lin, and Wang families heard the news and rushed back to inform their clans. At this moment, people from each major family were also rushing out of the city.
Chu Qichang had already run ahead and asked his officials to quickly find a cow to borrow outside the city. He even selected the uncultivated land closest to the city gate.
As soon as Governor Zeng and his entourage left the city gate, he had already made quick arrangements and stood on the official road beside the field. The cow was almost brought close to him.
Before Chu Qichang could move, Governor Zeng lifted his official robe and tied it to his belt, then with a slight push of his hands, he jumped from the higher official road to the ridge of the field below. The official road was quite high, and there was a canal next to the ridge. This jump caused the onlookers to cheer.
"Sir!" Chu Qichuang lifted his official robe and jumped down immediately. Several young men from Daxingzhuang also moved quickly. Chen Lie went down first, followed by Shi Erlang. They and the men who were originally carrying the plows took over in pairs and took over the two plows.
Chu Qichang was about to help harness the ox to the plow, but Governor Zeng waved his hand and said, "How can you tell if using an ox will save effort? The ox can tell me. I'll do it."
Just one sentence made Chu Qichang's face change.
He thought that in a trial plowing operation, the ox was pulling the plow in front and people were holding the plow from the back, but now this was... was it Inspector Zeng who was pulling the plow himself?
Treat yourself as an ox to pull the plow?
Chu Qichang was a very scheming person. He was stunned for a moment, with tears in his eyes.
Many people who were standing closer and heard these words clearly, especially farmers and ordinary people, were unable to react for a long time.
"What does this mean, Lord Governor?"
Is that what they heard?
No one dared to believe it.
Over there, Governor Zeng had already started to take off his boots and roll up his trouser legs, and called out to Chen Lie, "Come, help me put this plow on, and try the old one first."
Chen Lie did not hesitate, but he respected the governor Zeng even more. Without saying a word, he stepped forward to help him hitch the plow and taught him the general techniques.
When Governor Zeng pulled the plow, there was always someone to hold the plow. After the plow rope was put on, he looked around and knew that the officials under him were all the same as him. None of them looked like they could do farm work. So he simply pointed at Chen Lie and said, "You hold the plow."
Chen Lie didn't say anything. He tied his robe, took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his trouser legs, and followed him to the fields.
As soon as the two of them took action, the people who had heard the words but did not dare to believe them were immediately in an uproar.
"Sir Governor, pull the plow!"
"The governor is pulling the plow himself!"
Among them are many old farmers who have pulled the plow many times. Those who are in their fifties or sixties can no longer pull the plow by themselves as it is too heavy. This job has been given to their sons and grandsons. All they can do is relatively easy work such as holding the plow.
But when they saw the young governor tucking his official robe around his waist, taking off his shoes and rolling up his trousers, and stepping barefoot into the muddy field, the more sentimental ones, especially those who had just bought cattle and grain seeds on credit from the government office, actually had tears in their eyes.
"Good officer, good officer."
Those who failed to occupy a position on the roadside and those who came later could only stand four or five floors outside. They didn't understand the noise and asked the people in front what happened. Someone turned back and told them that the governor had gone to the field himself to pull the plow.
Let me emphasize again, pull the plow, don't hold the plow!
Pull the plow.
The Zheng, Wang, and Lin families also arrived one after another at this time. Their servants cleared a path for them in the crowd and stood in a position with a good view and some distance away from Fan and the others.
I was also stunned when I saw the scene in front of me.
Sang Luo also looked at him, and saw that Mr. Zeng did not show any reluctance at all, so she turned around and looked at Mrs. Fan.
Fan looked at Zeng Sanlang, and there was no discomfort or displeasure in her eyes, but rather they were full of admiration and love.
Sang Luo smiled and turned her gaze back to the two people who were trying out the plow.
…
Zeng Sanlang studied with Grandpa Zeng since he was a child, and he never fell behind in martial arts. His family had a martial arts master hired specifically for him since he was young.
But practicing martial arts and pulling a plow are two completely different things. How could a young man from an aristocratic family have been exposed to these things before he was appointed as the governor of Shezhou? Even though he had a foundation in martial arts since childhood, he felt a little heavy after pulling the plow for more than ten steps.
He was young and strong, and a warrior, but he still felt it was heavy. Zeng Sanlang thought about the farmers working in the fields. In this year's harvest, the poorer ones might have to rely on wild vegetables for two meals a day to barely fill their stomachs. How could they do such heavy work day after day?
He didn't just take two steps to try, but just pulled the plow all the way to the end of the field before trying to turn.
The old plow could not be turned around, so people had to lift it up and move it to another position before they could continue.
Chu Qichuang had already come running over carrying a new plow, followed by Changshi who had walked down the ridge of the field, and behind them were Old Man Chen and a few others who had followed involuntarily.
The chief historian stepped forward and advised: "Sir, the old plow has been used, try the new one."
You can't just pull the old plow back, what's Zeng Sanlang's background? This is probably the first time for a young man from a noble family to work in the fields. Does he really treat himself like an ox and use his strength?
Zeng Sanlang was not in a hurry, so he called Chen Lie and said, "You pull the old plow, and I'll try to hold the plow."
He also asked about the techniques of holding the plow.
The two of them lost each other in the blink of an eye.
The skill of holding the plow does not require just physical strength. At first, the land that was plowed was really ugly. Old man Chen, who was watching from the side as he walked down the ridge, couldn't help but give some pointers. Zeng Sanlang was also happy and asked a few questions from time to time. Gradually, the land was plowed properly.
After walking for a while with the old plow, they switched to a new plow, and Zeng Sanlang was still the first to pull the plow.
After putting the plow rope on and taking a few steps, Zeng Sanlang felt the benefits. He stopped and his eyes lit up: "It saves more energy! Much more energy! How about you hold the plow?"
Chen Lie smiled and said, "It will be easier if you hold the plow. You may try it later."
Chu Qichang on the side: "..."
Bro, you are really good.
Even the long-bearded official couldn't help but take a second look at the young man.
Zeng Sanlang responded with a smile, and did not count these few tries. He pulled the plow for a full distance, stopping during the process to let Chen Lie change from shallow plowing to deep plowing, and then tried to turn around. After the whole distance, he was so happy that he looked back to carefully examine the land that had been plowed by deep and shallow plowing, and compared it with the land that had been plowed by the old plow next to him.
Different, very different!
He was so excited that after trying to pull the plow enough, he took off the plow rope and called Chen Lie: "Come on, you pull the plow, I'll hold it and try."
When they returned to the starting point on the second trip, they were already full of joy. The two plows had been lifted onto the ridge of the field by Old Man Chen and his men. They all knew that this was something that everyone wanted to see. Old Man Chen and his men used the water in the ditch to wash the pears, and then asked Chen Lie and a few strong young men to carry them to the official road above.
The onlookers surrounded that small area so tightly that no one could get in, and most of them couldn't even squeeze in.
Zeng Sanlang also went up the official road, not paying attention to the others, and walked around the two plows to study why the new plows saved effort. The plow blades were sharper and narrower, which was the same as forging swords. The resistance was reduced and the blades were sharper. A warrior could understand this.
As for more, Zeng Sanlang couldn't quite understand it.
This is something that Sang Luo has to explain, mechanics and the like, using the simplest words possible to state it.
Not to mention the governor Zeng Sanlang, even Concubine Fan, the chief secretary, Chu Qichang, and other officials from the provincial government were all speechless.
The people from the three major families who originally wanted to avoid the officials couldn't help but move closer to this side. Among them, several teachers from the provincial school who came with Old Master Lin also pricked up their ears and listened.
There was a group of prominent figures in Shezhou City. Some listened with their eyes lighting up; some understood the general idea; and some were completely confused and understood nothing at all.
But this doesn't stop them from admiring him. How did they come up with this?
Look at Sang Luo again, the woman.
Woman!
Zeng Sanlang added another thought in his mind: What a wonderful woman!
He couldn't help but think of the imperial edict that asked all prefectures and counties to recommend talents. If Sang was a man... He lowered his eyes and asked Sang Luo, "You presented this plow to the government, which is a great achievement. What reward do you want? If you have any ideas, please tell me. I can submit a memorial to ask for a reward for you."
Sang Luo shook her head, "I am just a humble woman. I have lived in chaos for many years. Only now that the emperor has pacified the country can I live a peaceful life. The court has also granted me land, so that I can live in my own house, cultivate my own land, and have food and clothing. Farming is my duty as a farmer. Making a better plow and presenting it to the government is also my duty as a citizen of Da Qi. Why should I ask for a reward? If you ask me if I have any wishes, I do have two wishes."
Zeng Sanlang raised his eyebrows: "You say."
"Farmers have worked hard, and I am offering you my plow. First, I hope that the governor can do his best to let the people know about the new plow and use it as soon as possible, so that they can reduce the pain of labor, cultivate more fields, and have more meals. Second, it is a pity that today's stable life is hard-won. I am very happy to be able to do my part. I hope that the Great Qi will prosper, the country will last forever, and Chang'an will prosper. This is my only wish."
She spoke each word clearly and at a leisurely pace. When she finished the last sentence, she put her hands at her chest, bowed slightly and saluted.
The scene was extremely quiet.
There were obviously hundreds of people in that small area, but it was extremely quiet. No one spoke for a while until Zeng Sanlang's voice rang out.
"I will do as you wish. I will not limit the new plow to Shezhou. I will send the new plow to the capital and present it to His Majesty. I will let the people of Daqi know about the new plow and use it as soon as possible."
Finally, a voice was heard in the crowd. I didn't know who shouted "good!" or where the applause started first, but emotions can be aroused and for a moment there was thunderous cheers.
Wang Maolin looked at the Shen couple standing next to Governor Zeng and his wife in the crowd, and his eyes moved.
As for the gentlemen from the Zheng family, the Lin family, and the provincial school, some were whispering to others if they knew who that woman was, while others turned their heads and whispered to the servants beside them to go and find out the news.
Sang Luo didn't care about that. She took out the rolled-up drawing from her sleeve and handed it to Chen Lie beside her, asking him to present it to Governor Zeng.
"This is a blueprint of a curved plow. The drawing is crude, but I hope you can take a look at it and use it."
When Zeng Sanlang unfolded the scroll, several teachers at the provincial school had already noticed the student uniform on Chen Lie. Someone whispered, "Is this the student the school accepted this year?"
Two of the teachers who had taught students yesterday nodded, and the one with a better memory said, "His surname is Shen Lie, and it seems that he is from Daxing Village outside the city. He has a younger brother who was also recruited this time."
"Daxing Village."
Someone muttered these few bits of information.
What happened next was that Governor Zeng announced publicly that a new plow would be made as soon as possible, and how to exchange the old plow for the new one. He also recruited carpenters on the spot and told them that they could sign up at the yamen later.
Sang Luo took two steps back and stood next to the people in Daxing Village.
The Shen family’s new plow will be sent directly to the capital by the government. As for the Shen family’s plow, the new plow will be sent to their home first after it is made.
When people heard that a new plow was available, they cheered and there was another round of thunderous applause.
The lively plow donation event in Daxing Village started with dozens of people, but now there are at least four or five hundred people from near and far gathering to watch, making it quite lively and bustling.
After Daxingzhuang completed his mission, Chen Lie met his teacher and asked for leave, saying that he would go back to sort things out and then rush to the provincial school.
The group of gentlemen were particularly kind. They all told me not to worry and gave me some words of encouragement before leaving.
Governor Zeng also led the officials back to the provincial government office. His legs were covered in mud, so he had to go back to the back house to clean it. The couple went to the back house, and Zeng Sanlang sighed, "It's a pity that Sang is not a man."
Concubine Fan had seen this before. As a woman herself, she knew that women in this world were subject to far more constraints than men, so she could empathize with her husband's words.
However, since she was born in an aristocratic family, the closer she got to the top, the more Fan Fei Niang understood how difficult it was to break the rules and constraints that had been formed over thousands of years.
"When Sanlang presented the plow, he might as well write down the identity of the Sang family woman in the memorial."
As for embellishing the memorial with nice words, Concubine Fan felt that it was unnecessary. She only wanted to express Sang's two wishes without adding any words. They could be written as they were in the memorial, which was worthy of the unification of the Great Qi Dynasty. This was the will of the people.
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