"Brother Shen, although there's no shortage of rain in the south, we still need to take precautions when the rain is scarce, just like last year. Once a drought strikes, it's too late to do anything."
"Yeah." Shen Nian nodded. This was also the question he had been thinking about.
How can we avoid this situation?
"Build a few reservoirs in the village to store excess rainwater. You can use it to irrigate the fields when the weather is dry." Xia Tian suggested when he saw Chen Nian looking thoughtful.
However, this matter also requires an investigation of the terrain and topography, so we still need to find a professional to come and take a look on the spot.
But that's not what they want, they can build wherever they want.
"Well, let's study this matter when we get back." Shen Nian put away the waterwheel drawing.
Just started to clean up and wash up.
After cleaning up, Xiatian went to make some breakfast. After the four of them ate, they went for a walk in the field again.
Then he said goodbye to Village Chief Ma and others and headed for Sangluo City.
For most of the day on the road, Chen Nian had been discussing the canal repair and waterwheel construction with Xia Tian. He asked about all the details he could think of, wrote down the parts he didn't understand, and planned to find someone who was more knowledgeable about water conservancy to ask.
Xia Tian saw that Shen Nian was devoted to his work, and he admired him in his heart.
She also believed that if Shen Nian became an official, he would definitely be a good official who served the people and the country.
It was almost dinner time when they got home.
When Ningxiang, Ningxue and the others saw them coming back, they started to get busy, some of them started to boil water, some of them started to prepare food.
"Madam, you said you would be back that day, but you only came back today." Ningxue complained as she helped Xia Tian take off his cloak, "You don't know, we were worried about you last night!
Next time you go out, you must take us with you, so that you can at least take care of the lady."
"It was already late yesterday when I finished checking the land in Ma'an Village, so I stayed overnight." Xia Tian explained with a smile, "I'll only be gone for a day or two. I can handle it."
"No, from now on we will go wherever the Madam goes!" Ningxue didn't care. She was the Madam's maid, and she couldn't let the Madam suffer outside while she stayed at home and enjoyed herself.
It was their duty to take them with her and serve her.
"Okay, okay, next time I go out, I will definitely take you with me." Xia Tian quickly coaxed her. If she is not coaxed now, she will nag for several days.
"That's more like it." Ningxue laughed again.
As the two were talking, Ningxiang prepared the hot water, and Ningxue helped Xiatian take a bath first.
After washing, showering and changing clothes, the food was placed on the table.
Chen Nian went to the front yard to wash up, and just now she came back neatly dressed.
After they finished their meal, they walked around the yard for a while to help digest the food, then went back to the house to sleep.
I was so tired after traveling all day today that I fell asleep almost as soon as Xia Tian touched the pillow.
Shen Nian wanted to ask a few more questions, but before she could, she fell asleep.
Chen Nian leaned closer to her, stretched out his arms and held her in his arms. After a while, he fell asleep with his chin resting on Xia Tian's head.
The next day, Chen Nian went to the governor's office early. He wanted to discuss the construction of a reservoir and a waterwheel with Lord Cao, Lord Li, Lord Wang and others.
In the summer, after a leisurely breakfast, I went to the study to paint.
The portrait of Mrs. Cao's daughter that I promised her is almost finished. I must finish it today so that I don't have to worry about it every day.
Two days later, Chen Nian also found someone who knew about water conservancy to investigate the villages near Sangluo City.
See which areas are suitable for building reservoirs and which areas are suitable for loading water trucks.
This is a long-term project and cannot be completed in one go.
If the governor's office were to provide all the necessary funds and manpower, it would probably be difficult.
Chen Nian was checking to see if there was anything else that could be used in Linzhou, and he was very busy.
Even dinner was eaten directly in the yamen.
There was nothing I could do in the summer but remind him to take care of his health, and sometimes I would stew some soup and send it to him.
After she finished painting the portrait that Mrs. Cao wanted, she sent it over directly.
"Oh! Madam Shen, how can this be so embarrassing? Just let us know when you're done and we can pick it up ourselves. Why would we bother you to deliver it in person?"
Seeing that she had come to deliver the painting in person, Mrs. Cao felt a little embarrassed and quickly asked her to sit down.
After sitting down, he repeatedly instructed the maid to make tea and bring snacks.
Xia Tian sat down and took out the portrait and handed it to Mrs. Cao.
"Mrs. Cao, take a look. Are you satisfied?"
Mrs. Cao took the scroll with joy, placed it on the table and slowly opened it, and saw her daughter's appearance frozen in the portrait.
Madam Cao’s eyes lit up, “This is exactly like my daughter. Madam Shen, this portrait cannot be said to be similar or not, it can only be said to be exactly the same. Your painting skills are indeed this!”
Mrs. Cao gave a thumbs up while praising.
Xia Tian smiled and said, "As long as Madam Cao is satisfied."
Miss Cao is pretty and speaks gently. In fact, she likes Miss Cao very much.
Especially when Miss Cao smiles, the two deep dimples on her face are so cute.
Mrs. Cao looked at the portrait and became more and more satisfied. The more she looked at it, the more she wanted to have one painted for herself.
“Mrs. Shen, how about you draw one for me too?” Mrs. Cao put the portrait away and said a little embarrassedly.
"This is so similar. If I want to draw it, there is no need to rush. I can finish it whenever I have time."
After saying that, he looked at her hopefully.
Xia Tian didn't know whether to agree or not. She came here today to deliver a portrait, not to take an order.
But I would feel sorry for myself if I didn't make money.
After hesitating for a moment, he agreed.
No matter what, you can't go against money.
"Thank you, Madam Shen." Madam Cao agreed as soon as she heard it, and quickly told the maid to get the banknotes.
Mrs. Cao still took out five thousand taels of silver notes, but Xia Tian still only accepted two thousand taels.
After leaving Cao's house, she took Ningxue and Fu Gui to the paint shop and bought some things.
There isn't much left at home.
When they passed by Cui's shop, she asked Ningxiang to buy two boxes of snacks. She didn't go in herself for fear of being recognized and owing them a favor.
After buying everything, I returned home.
There was nothing to do in the next few days, and Shen Nian was so busy that she could only see him when she went to bed at night.
She concentrated on painting in the study, thinking that she would finish it quickly and then go to Ma'an Village to see how the potatoes she had planted were growing.
The potatoes planted this time can be harvested around April or May.
I don’t know if those modern methods are useful. Xia Tian was thinking about something and was distracted, and almost made a mistake in the painting.
Quickly concentrate and start painting with concentration.
Before the portrait of Mrs. Cao was finished, she received a letter from the Cui family.
He told her to go to Cui Mansion when she was free.
Xia Tian didn’t know what was going on. She had wanted to tell Chen Nian, but he was busy until very late and she fell asleep while waiting.
When he got up in the morning, before he had time to talk, Shen Nian went to the governor's office again.
Xia Tian was afraid that the Cui family had some urgent matters, so she packed up and asked Fu Gui to drive the car. She took Nanny Zhang and Ningxiang to the Cui family.
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