When Youqing and Ma Dongqi went out, they happened to run into Emperor Kangxi. Kangxi noticed that Ma Dongqi looked unfamiliar and asked, "Where are you going?"
Youqing looked at Ma Dongqi and said, "This is Ma Dongqi, Master Ma. I asked him to make something, and now it's finished. I'm going to go and take a look!"
Upon hearing this, Kangxi remembered this person and said, "I happen to have nothing to do, let's go together!"
Youqing naturally had no objections.
This startled Ma Dongqi, who was standing to the side. What was going on? His Majesty! Although Ma Dongqi had met the Empress, there were many rumors about her among the people. In their minds, the Empress was more of an approachable and benevolent empress who worked for the benefit of the people.
But it's hard to say about Emperor Kangxi.
Not many stories about Emperor Kangxi circulate among the common people. His reputation as a wise ruler is undeniable, but his early achievements, such as eliminating Oboi and suppressing the Three Feudatories, are all terrifying.
Furthermore, in the eyes of ordinary people, the emperor is high above, and can decide life and death with a single word. Although Ma Dongqi has some ability, he is just an ordinary person in front of the emperor and is not a big deal. He was extremely nervous.
Kangxi was completely unconcerned about Ma Dongqi's nervousness. Having been emperor for so many years, he had seen all sorts of people, and someone like Ma Dongqi was nothing to be surprised about.
The group went to see the hand pump well built by Ma Dongqi. Youqing and Kangxi even tried it out themselves. Kangxi was very satisfied. Although Youqing felt there was still room for improvement, she was generally satisfied with it.
Youqing smiled: "Master Ma, you did a great job with this hand pump well. I think it is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. I intend to introduce it to ordinary people's homes for civilian use. You are a great contributor."
When Ma Dongqi heard that his creations could be distributed to ordinary people, he was immediately excited. This was wonderful!
This is truly a glorious thing for one's ancestors.
"This is a great fortune for this humble subject. I am willing to serve His Majesty and His Majesty the Empress."
Youqing smiled and continued, "I know you're kind enough to ask. So, is there anything you'd like to do?"
Since they are meritorious, they should naturally be rewarded.
Ma Dongqi didn't need any more rewards. He felt that it was already quite remarkable that his work was praised by the Emperor and the Empress, so he naturally refused to accept any further rewards.
"It is my good fortune to be able to serve His Majesty, the Empress, and the people of the world. I dare not ask for anything more."
He declined, but Youqing couldn't really refuse.
He then said, "How about this, the Luban Institute is currently short of a deputy director, so you can become the deputy director."
Ma Dongqi is currently working at the Luban Institute. Originally, with his rank, he could have entered the government office, but Ma Dongqi was unwilling. He felt that the Luban Institute, which was under the control of the Empress, was better, so he joined the Luban Institute.
He received good treatment because of his ranking, but everyone started at a similar point. As a deputy director, he was definitely young and promising for his age.
"This humble subject thanks Your Majesty the Empress."
Subsequently, Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Youqing bestowed upon him a considerable amount of silver, silk, and other valuables, all of which were exactly what he needed. Ma Dongqi expressed his gratitude.
The hand pump well that Ma Dongqi built was quite different from the hand pump wells that You Qing had seen in modern times. Most modern hand pump wells use iron pipes to pump water from underground, but in ancient times, iron pipes were strictly controlled, and the production of iron was limited, so it was impossible to use iron pipes.
Ma Dongqi used bamboo tubes, which are naturally less durable than iron pipes. Bamboo tubes need to be replaced frequently, but bamboo is common and doesn't cost too much money.
After understanding all this, Youqing knew that if she wanted to promote this thing, she would have to open an academy.
Nowadays, only a few people know how to drill wells, and a hand pump well requires quite a few parts. If it is built on a large scale, even more parts are needed. Before the development of machinery, a large number of people were required.
Therefore, Youqing also considered this aspect.
She plans to establish an ancient technical college, named the Well-Drilling College.
The name is so common and straightforward.
Setting up this academy wasn't difficult. There was plenty of land on the outskirts of the capital, so building an academy wouldn't be a problem for her. It would just cost some money, which was the last thing Youqing lacked right now, so the academy was quickly established.
However, although the college was established, enrollment became a problem.
“Master, very few people are willing to enroll in the academy. It’s the busy season now, and most people want to tend to the crops in the fields. Besides, many people don’t think much of the well-drilling academy.”
Youqing frowned upon hearing this; it was something she hadn't considered.
"Let's do this: relax the admission requirements a bit and recruit some young people who are new to the job and need to find work. Those who are strong would be best. We'll provide room and board, and after they complete their studies, they can immediately take on jobs. If they can enroll, each person will receive three qian of silver per month and one shi of grain per month."
Not everyone in the capital has land to cultivate. In fact, many people in the capital are in a very awkward position, with no land to cultivate and several generations living together in cramped conditions. Jobs in the capital are in high demand, so there are quite a few "unemployed vagrants".
Most of these people are in their prime, and it would be a real waste to leave them idle. Learning a skill would be an excellent thing for them.
It includes room and board, and you get paid to learn a skill – three taels of silver a month, which is more than what a typical shop assistant earns.
As soon as the news spread, many people signed up.
The "unemployed vagrants" in the capital city, although they had farm work to do in the countryside, were not too busy to handle. Almost every household could find someone to help them. So, upon hearing about this good opportunity, they all signed up.
With more people, exams are inevitable.
Those who are weak and sickly will not do. Furthermore, the person should be somewhat clever; those who are too stupid will not do, and those who are too old will not do either. Digging a well involves bumps and bruises, and it would be bad if someone had an accident.
After this screening process, they recruited more than 3,000 people.
It is said that this academy will enroll students regularly every year from now on.
So, not long after the New Year, Youqing became the representative of "being foolish and rich".
Some busybodies have done a calculation for the academy. Just this one academy, with the cost of raising students and hiring teachers, plus the initial expenses of building the academy, costs at least 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver every year. If it continues to recruit students every year, it will become a long-term "money-devouring beast"!
Youqing had no idea that she had become the epitome of "being foolish and rich." She wasn't really stupid; she wasn't just throwing money around. Although the academy had high initial expenses, no one could see the subsequent income!
After these students graduate, they will all be able to make money for her. Hand pumps are more convenient to use than regular wells, and as long as the price isn't too high, there will definitely be many people willing to make them.
In a world as vast as this, the principle of small profits but quick turnover will naturally bring in a steady stream of income.
When has she ever made a losing deal?
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