The "double harvest" is in full swing, and thanks to Zhao Xian's invention of the threshing machine, this highly efficient agricultural tool was quickly popularized.
After the rice is harvested, the fields need to be irrigated, followed by plowing and harrowing, which is hard work and is usually done with the help of water buffalo.
But back then, there were very few oxen, so most of the work was done by manpower. The "double harvest" season was the hottest time of the year, and digging and mixing mud under the scorching sun was indeed very hard work.
The river level has dropped drastically, making irrigation extremely difficult. It has been more than a month since it rained, and if this continues, the river will dry up in no time.
This river is the main waterway in the village. If this river dries up, other small rivers will have dried up long ago, and how will the late rice grow this year?
Sigh, I can't worry about that now. I'll just plant the late rice first. There'll always be a way.
After the rice was harvested, taxes had to be paid to the government. The tax rate in the Northern Dynasties was one-tenth, which, although not high, was still a very heavy burden for ordinary people.
Because Zhao Xian was a scholar, his family was exempt from paying taxes.
As time went by, most of the late-season rice seedlings in the paddy fields had been planted, and the annual "double rush" (harvesting and planting) was coming to an end.
At that moment, Li was inspecting the fields and noticed that some rice paddies had not yet been planted with seedlings, so he went over to remind them.
"The Beginning of Autumn will be tomorrow afternoon at 1-3 PM. We must plant the rice seedlings before the Beginning of Autumn."
The villagers, alerted, immediately planted the late-season rice seedlings. Farmers all know that planting rice after the start of autumn will greatly affect the harvest.
After a period of busy work, the rice paddies that Zhao Xian's family had redeemed were planted with late-season rice seedlings, and the "double harvest" finally came to an end.
Next, Zhao Xian continued the internal construction of the workshop.
First, two or three rooms need to be set aside in the workshop and decorated as a kitchen and a dining room, especially the dining room, which should be able to fit at least four or five dining tables.
Secondly, dormitories need to be built to accommodate multiple people.
As for warehouses, they are relatively easy to renovate, but warehouses storing grain must have ventilation facilities to prevent the grain from spoiling.
That morning, Zhao Xian was busy in the workshop when a soldier rushed over to report.
"Master, two carriages have arrived. They claim to be imperial merchants from the capital and wish to see you."
Zhao Xian frowned. Why would imperial merchants come to this remote and impoverished village? He had no connection with them whatsoever. What were they doing here?
Zhao Xian did not think this was a good thing. The world is bustling with people, all for profit. The imperial merchants must also be here for profit.
"Let's go take a look." Zhao Xian said and walked out, with Zhao Cheng and Qin Shiyu following closely behind.
Two luxurious carriages were parked outside, and five or six people had already gotten out of them. The leader was a man in his thirties, dressed in fine clothes and with a rather arrogant attitude. Beside him were his attendants, all of whom looked utterly superior.
Zhao Xian sized up the newcomers; they were likely all merchants.
A true businessman should have a humble demeanor, but this person was not kind and seemed to look down on everyone here.
Zhao Xian immediately felt resistant, but since the other party claimed to be a royal merchant with power and influence, it was best not to offend him.
"My name is Zhao Xian. May I ask how this shopkeeper is addressed?"
“In the capital, there are countless families, generations of imperial merchants. I am Wanfu, and you are the scholar Zhao Xian.”
Zhao Xian didn't know who the Wan family in the capital was, but he was immediately annoyed by their arrogance.
Standing to the side, Qin Shiyu frowned slightly. Coming from a family of merchants, she naturally knew about the Wan family in the capital.
"The Wan family holds a prominent position in the capital. Their patriarch, Wan Yaozu, is the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a third-rank official. Most of his family members are engaged in business, with Wan Fang being the most successful among them."
Wan Fang was a distant relative of Wan Siqing. Although Wan Fang had business dealings with the royal family, he was not a true royal merchant.
This Wanfu is a lackey of Wan Fang. He has an extremely keen sense of smell and uses the Wan family's position in the capital to swindle merchants from all over the country. Wanfu's personal visit to Narcissus Village this time is probably for the secret recipe for making white sugar.
Qin Shiyu whispered, and Zhao Xian nodded. He was just a servant; there was nothing to fear.
"So it's Manager Wan. My apologies for my rudeness. May I ask what brings you here, Manager Wan?"
"Recently, a type of snowflake candy has appeared in Beijing. It is said that you produced it. Mr. Wan came all the way from Beijing to discuss business cooperation with you." Wan Fu spoke with an air of superiority.
"How can we cooperate? Manager Wan, please tell us."
“I will pay a high price to buy your secret recipe for producing white sugar, and you will give me the production method and management rights. It’s that simple.”
As expected, they came for the secret recipe for producing white sugar. Qin Shiyu is indeed clever; she gets it right the moment she sees it.
"I purchased this sugar-making recipe with my own money, so how can I transfer it so easily? Besides, I currently have no intention of transferring the recipe. Manager Wan, please leave," Zhao Xian said calmly.
When Zhao Xian refused outright, Wanfu's face immediately darkened.
"There's nothing the Wan family can't do if they want to. If you know what's good for you, hurry up and give me the secret recipe. I'll give you a transfer fee of one thousand taels of silver, which is already a great favor."
"If I don't give it to you, are you going to try to steal it?" Zhao Xian retorted.
"Haha, of course I won't rob it, but you should know the consequences of going against the Wan family. Not only will you lose your business, but you might also end up in jail."
Zhao Xian was not familiar with some of the unspoken rules of this dynasty, but he could tell from Qin Shiyu's expression that what Wanfu said was true.
Qin Shiyu and Qin Yingying were both once wealthy young ladies, but due to the involvement of a relative in a crime, the sisters lost their freedom and were sold as commodities in a brokerage firm. As a time traveler, she must be careful in her actions.
He currently has no background or power, and while he is not afraid of bandits or robbers, he is actually a little afraid of these officials and businessmen.
Seeing Zhao Xian's worry, Wan Fu burst into laughter.
"I hope you think this through. We are imperial merchants. Not cooperating with us is going against the current royal family. If you offend the Wan family, you won't even know how you die." Wan Fu became increasingly arrogant.
“Your master, Wan Fang, does indeed run a very large business, but he is not a royal merchant at all. You are just a servant under Wan Fang, yet you use his name to swindle and deceive people, damaging his reputation. If Wan Fang finds out about this, he will skin you alive.”
Everyone was taken aback and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw Li Guang walking over and coming to Wan Fu's side.
Li Guang was wearing a tattered straw hat and straw sandals, his trousers were rolled up, his legs were covered in mud, and his skin was dark—a typical image of a peasant.
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