Chapter 209 The three-piece set is completed
County Magistrate Lu and others laughed and did not doubt Xu Zhichun's words.
Magistrate Lu was not ignorant, but he had never seen or heard of a thresher or a windmill. If the Daming Dynasty really had such precious items, they would have been circulated among the people long ago. However, in reality, they did not exist.
Therefore, County Magistrate Lu had sufficient reason to infer and be certain that the book Xu Zhichun saw was definitely not a book from the Daming Dynasty, but must have come from some unknown foreign country.
Perhaps a lay scholar who loved traveling in the Daming Dynasty got such a book, and wrote the words and drew the pictures of the Daming Dynasty. It was by such a coincidence that Xu Zhichun saw it and remembered it.
In order to verify his inference, he even sent someone to secretly investigate Madam Xu's background. Unfortunately, no one knew.
Even no one in Liangjia Village knew about it.
She was not from any nearby village or county. Everyone only knew that she was brought back from another place by Liang Minglang.
It’s been too long and Liang Minglang is no longer around. Where can I ask this?
Unfortunately, she committed suicide by jumping off a cliff to follow her husband, which damaged her brain and she almost forgot her past.
However, it didn't matter whether she remembered the past or not. It was enough for her to remember the thresher, windmill, and water mill.
Good stuff, absolutely good stuff.
County Magistrate Lu nodded and smiled with great satisfaction: "It works very well. It works very well. This is really a good thing!"
County Magistrate Zhao was also so excited that he nodded repeatedly. "Your Excellency just tried it out himself. I tried it too. It's absolutely amazing! Using this thresher to thresh grain is so labor-saving. It's fast and effective. Even women, children, and the elderly can use it. The windmill is even more labor-saving. I wonder how much easier life will be for the people in the future."
Master Shao smiled and sighed, "Madam Xu has truly accomplished something great this time."
County Magistrate Lu said hurriedly, "Yes, Madam Xu has indeed made a great contribution this time, and there will definitely be a reward."
Mrs. Lu smiled and said, "You've seen it, you've tried it, you've had enough fun, why don't you go inside and talk?"
"Yes, yes, let's go inside and talk! Let's go inside and talk! County Magistrate Zhao, how about you try the water mill? Master Shao, you clean up this place."
County Magistrate Lu gave instructions and, together with Mrs. Lu, called Xu Zhichun into the house to talk.
After entering the room and sitting down, the maid served tea and bowed before leaving. Only Nanny Ji was left to serve him.
Magistrate Lu said, "Madam Xu, I will submit this thresher, windmill, and water mill to the imperial court and send the blueprints to the Ministry of Works. I will also promote it among the people. Madam Xu, you have done a great job, and it will benefit the people. After the Ministry of Works verifies and approves it, there will inevitably be a reward. It just takes some time. Once the reward arrives, I will be sure to inform Madam Xu immediately."
"I will also fulfill my promise and reward Madam Xu with three hundred taels of silver. Madam Xu, if you have any other requests, please feel free to ask."
Madam Lu also smiled and said, "Madam Xu, don't worry too much. Just ask for anything. As long as the Lord can agree, he will definitely agree."
County Magistrate Lu nodded and sighed, "Not bad."
County Magistrate Lu felt a little sorry for Xu Zhichun. In his opinion, such a contribution was enormous and it was worth it even if he was rewarded with the title of a county lady or a thousand taels of silver.
But the court would not think so.
Whether it is a thresher, a windmill, or a water mill, in the eyes of the emperor and court officials, it is just a tool that is more convenient to use.
In their eyes, the craftsmen were not worthy of being shown on the stage, and a reward of two or three hundred silver coins from the Ministry of Works was considered the best they could get.
He had to use the Lu family's connections to get the reward money as soon as possible. Otherwise, not only would it take a long time, but after being deducted from many levels, he would be lucky to get fifty taels of silver.
In the Daming Dynasty, craftsmen were just that worthless.
He wanted to change the situation, but he was powerless.
Xu Zhichun has integrated into the current situation of the Daming Dynasty and has learned a lot about it.
This is not an era that values technological development, and the status of craftsmen is even lower than that of ordinary people who farm the land.
Fortunately, the local officials in Qingshan County value this.
Otherwise, even if she wanted to offer these things, she probably wouldn't have the means.
Therefore, Xu Zhichun could only be grateful for what County Magistrate Lu said.
If there is any sense of loss, then there is, but it is not directed at County Magistrate Lu.
County Magistrate Lu has done a good job.
How could she win the praise and reward of the emperor and the important officials and ministers in the capital by presenting just two or three such things, and be rewarded with boxes of gold, silver, jewelry, and mountains of gold and silver, and the emperor would also give her an imperial edict and a title - no need to even think about it.
On the one hand, the status of craftsmen has always been low. On the other hand, the emperor and his ministers did not farm themselves, so how could they empathize with and value the benefits of these things?
Fortunately, Lord Lu likes it.
Since Lord Lu likes it, she has to seek some benefits for herself.
"Thank you, my lord, my lady," Xu Zhichun knelt and bowed. "My lord, I'd like to ask you to write a few words for me."
If we have the county magistrate's calligraphy at home, it will be very impressive and can be used to ward off evil spirits in the future.
County Magistrate Lu's eyes lit up, and he looked at Xu Zhichun with some satisfaction and pride, thinking to himself that this Miss Xu was quite good and had good taste, as she knew that his handwriting was good.
Why would County Magistrate Lu refuse to agree?
"Very well, how about I ask for the title 'A family that accumulates good will surely have good fortune'?"
Xu Zhichun was delighted: "That's great! Thank you very much, sir!"
"Hahaha, Madam Xu, you're too polite. Besides that, does Madam Xu have any other requests?"
County Magistrate Lu felt that just writing an inscription was not enough and was a bit unfair.
Xu Zhichun wanted to make money.
But he was afraid that County Magistrate Lu would think he was materialistic and greedy, so he hesitated for a moment.
Madam Lu smiled and said, "Madam Xu, take your time to think about it. Just tell me. It's okay."
Xu Zhichun: "I will say this now. I am not very knowledgeable. If what I said is wrong, please forgive me, my lord and madam. I think that ordinary people may not be willing to build threshers, windmills, and water mills. Even if they are willing, not many people can afford the money. Those wealthy families are extremely wealthy, and they are giving them these drawings for free. I always feel a little unwilling to accept this."
Magistrate Lu and his wife looked at each other and nodded slowly.
It’s true. After hearing what she said, not to mention her, even they felt a little unwilling.
How rare is this blueprint? How can I give it away to rich people for free?
What's wrong with making some money?
It would be a waste not to make money from those people.
They have money anyway.
"What ideas does Madam Xu have?"
"I'd like to find a reliable merchant in the city to cooperate with. I can sell these threshers, windmills, and water mills through them. Not only in Qingshan County, but also in other counties, provincial capitals, and even further afield. Wouldn't it be a great profit?"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
