After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the temperature gradually dropped. It had rained a few days ago, and now it was sunny. The refreshing wind seemed to bring some vitality to the city that had been closed for nearly a month. The sky was clear during the day, and the stars were clear and bright at night. Cotton clouds floated in the sky, one by one.
Over the past month, the situation of the starving people inside and outside the city had been pushed to the limit. Of course, it was said that in previous years, there had been more difficult situations than this year. The strings had been stretched tight, but it was still hard to say where the limit was. The government occasionally released grain, and some big families also helped to give porridge and rice. There were people taking care of both inside and outside the city. Every time there was this kind of relief, the soldiers also helped to maintain order, so there was no big trouble.
However, there were also some gangs formed among the victims, and it was common to fight for food. After the government and the big families released grain and gave porridge, there would often be such trouble, and it was difficult to manage. After the city was closed, some people died. Actually, only a small number of people died of starvation. Most of them died from fighting, robbery, or because they had no money for medical treatment. But in general, it was said that it was still less than in previous years.
Living in this era, people had heard about what happened in previous years many times. Most people had a heart of compassion, but the current situation was good, and life still had to go on. Business continued, and social activities continued, but the atmosphere of the whole city became slightly quiet. A few days ago, the autumn rain was continuous, and the feeling of silence and stagnation was even more serious.
The Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Competition was held as usual, and it was still as lively as before, but the content of the poems was a little different than in previous years. From the type that described all kinds of grand scenery or feelings of love, to the type that described reunion nights and sighed about things that were not reunion, and mainly described the scenes of the victims inside and outside the city. Li Pin, Cao Guan, Liu Qingdi, and others all had new works, and some famous poets had a breakthrough this time. Of course, the author of the poem Shuidiao Getou, which caused a lot of uproar last year, did not participate in it. He was deeply involved in the family business and had no time to care about other things. Some people talked about his clumsiness in business, or laughed at or sighed, but it also reduced the sense of mystery behind the name "Ning Liheng" a lot.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the days went back to normal. People waited for the effects of the flood to pass day by day. Many businesses and shops in the city operated as usual in such an atmosphere. This morning, a refreshing morning breeze blew. It was about eight or nine o 'clock in the morning. In a small room next to the warehouse of Su Clan's Cloth Store in Jiangning City, several people were busy with something. This warehouse was also connected to the shop next to it. However, in the current situation, business was not very good. The maidservant named Juan'er would occasionally come in to take a look.
Ning Yi, Zhou Pei, and Zhou Junwu were busy in the room. The siblings were dressed in green clothes and hats, but their skin was fair and tender. One look and anyone could tell that they were children with some background. The two of them had been following Ning Yi for a month, and some of the Su family members had gotten used to their presence. They thought that they were the children of the main family or Ning Yi's disciples, so they brought them around. Sometimes Ning Yi asked them to serve tea and water, and sometimes he even asked them to help carry some goods — of course, they were not heavy.
For this pair of siblings, this kind of life was quite novel. The day before yesterday, Ning Yi even gave them their first month's salary. Each of them received one tael of silver, which was the monthly standard for child labor. Then, they compared it with the prices outside. One tael of silver for the siblings was probably not much use. However, it was still quite novel for them in the following days.
Of course, using them as child labor was only occasionally boring. Most of the time, Ning Yi still fulfilled his responsibility as a teacher. When he was free, he would teach the two of them, and he also taught Zhou Pei modern arithmetic. He used a relatively casual way to verify the calculation methods of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. At first, Zhou Pei didn't think much of the Arabic numerals, but now she often asked questions about it.
The reason why the three of them were busy today was that when they went to the laboratory a few days ago, the two of them followed them all the way, so they gave them a tour and roughly explained the concept of physics. Ning Yi mainly found a few pieces of glass that could be used as convex lenses, and he was going to make a telescope to play with. At that time, he showed the two of them the principles of focusing and magnifying. Zhou Pei didn't think much of it, saying that it was very simple and everyone knew it. Since the telescope was still being made, Ning Yi was going to do something very simple, but not everyone knew it.
Just now, he asked someone to help him make a wooden box. At this time, he used some black cloth to make a tent to block the light. The three of them hid inside and lit a candle. Then, Ning Yi covered one side of the candle. As the box was only half covered, the light was still visible. Ning Yi took a piece of thick Xuan paper with holes dug out and pasted it with a bamboo frame. He put it down and did a simple small hole imaging experiment.
Juan 'er stood at the door and looked at the black tent, a little puzzled. After a while, she heard someone say, "Look, the light here is inverted."
"Uh …"
"Ah, Teacher, how can this be!"
"It must be a magic trick."
"Magic tricks also make sense."
After a while of chattering, when Juan 'er leaned over, Ning Yi had already walked out of the black cloth. He smiled at her and said, "Go in and take a look. It's not very interesting, but I don't think I've seen it before …"
Juan 'er went in, puzzled. Then, she saw the inverted candle flame on one side of the wooden box.
For the past month, Ning Yi had been like a worker. Every morning, he would have a morning meeting, walk around a fixed route, and then be free to do whatever he wanted. It seemed like he was diligent, but he didn't do much. Most of the time, he was accompanied by Chan 'er, and sometimes Juan' er. A few maids and Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu were already acquainted. Jun Wu, who was polite, often called them Sister Chan 'er and Sister Juan' er. Zhou Pei was more reserved, but she already treated them and Ning Yi as an acquaintance.
"Some people will say that it's a strange trick, so for the time being, there's no need to pay too much attention to it. However, there are some things that are very interesting. For example, these two lenses. They're placed so far apart, so they can magnify things … Hmm, I've already asked Carpenter Chen to help me chisel out a cylinder and find a way to fix them in place … "
Ning Yi always liked to use the chatting method to teach. This morning, a long bamboo tube was placed on the table by the window. Xiao Pei, Jun Wu, and Juan 'er took turns to look inside and were stunned. The lenses couldn't be fixed for the time being, so Ning Yi only found a rough focal length. He wrapped the lenses in circles of rice paper and placed them in the bamboo tube for a temporary look. The lenses weren't fixed and could easily fall, so the small telescope couldn't be moved. At least from the looks of it, it was actually quite amazing.
"Light passing through the small hole and forming an inverted image means that light travels in a straight line. However, under some circumstances, such as placing a chopstick in water, it will bend. Here, light will bend. It's very difficult to say that you can do something just by looking at a reflection, because this telescope is the product of many different things and principles. Once people can research to this extent and understand everything, they won't have to slowly test their luck like I do. You'll immediately know what you want to make the telescope, what kind of lenses to use, and what the concave and convex surfaces should look like … When you understand more principles, you'll also know how to precisely create those concave and convex surfaces, and how to precisely control them. "
"However, you don't have to worry about how to make these. What I want you to know is … a way of thinking, the combination of the cause and the cause. Don't know the cause but not the cause. Many craftsmen have been using old methods for many years, but they don't know why the old methods have such and such effects. If you understand the principles, you'll be able to create more transparent lenses and telescopes that can see further and clearer. The efficiency will increase by ten times, or even a hundred times. It's the same no matter what you do … "
"Zhou Pei, the calculation that you like is the same. It's even clearer. Since one equals two, two plus two equals four, it can be extended continuously. We're humans, and that's a world of numbers. In fact, to calculate how to refract light, how to magnify it, and how much to magnify it, we need the help of numbers. The world of numbers is simply because, so, clear logical relationships … I don't want you to become craftsmen in the future, but I hope that you can understand this logical relationship. This should be very useful. "
"Of course, there are some more extreme examples in the calculation that are very interesting to think about, such as …"
After the experiment, it probably extended out to talk about some messy things. Jun Wu couldn't stop looking at the small hole imaging device over there, occasionally fiddling with the binoculars. Zhou Pei was also surprised by the experiment just now, but this time she listened even more attentively. Juan 'er listened for a while, then went out to check on the situation in the shop. When there was no one around, she sighed and said, "Son-in-law is so amazing …"
After a while, Xi Junyu passed by and came in to chat with Ning Yi for a while. Jun Wu and Little Pei went over to pour tea and move a seat. This was also the tacit understanding between the two children and Ning Yi. In fact, apart from listening to the lecture, they had been wondering why Ning Yi didn't do anything for the past month.
Xi Junyu passed by today because the cloth shop's gathering was going to start in three days. At that time, all the families would officially put out their chips, so he came to check on Ning Yi's current situation. In fact, right now, all the shopkeepers were busy running around, and Xi Junyu had just met with a shop owner this morning and was now preparing to go to another social event.
"Although after this month, it seems that the Su family has the most support, but in the business world, we have to be on guard against all kinds of tricks. Now, although we have Lord Han supporting us, and Lord Dong is also interested in the Su family, it is hard to say if there will be any changes. The Xue family and the Su family also have a rather thick network of relationships in the officialdom, it is hard to say if they will make a comeback on the spot. If there is any backup plan, we have to arrange it as soon as possible. "
Xi Junyu belonged to the younger generation in the Su family, and he was determined to make progress, but he was also a clear-headed person. After listening to him, Ning Yi nodded, "The old grandfather has already done his best in the officialdom. Shopkeeper Xi, I am not very clear about the knack, has there been anything similar in the past? "
"In the past few years, there has not been too much competition in the Bu family. Of course, no one can say for sure what is hidden under the surface … Ah, maybe I am thinking too much. The Su, Xue, and Wu families all have their own foundations, and since it has come to this, there probably won't be too many changes. At this time, if they can make a comeback and cover the sky with one hand, then in the past, I am afraid that in the past, they would have already swallowed the Su family. "
"Probably not." Ning Yi laughed, "After so many years of doing business, when the time comes, we will display our goods, even if they do something in private, they will not be able to say that our goods are not good. If we are small merchants, it is fine … Ah, in fact, this time, we have no other choice. One assassinated, the other framed, and then seized the imperial merchant. Until now, we still don't know who it is, if not, we probably won't have to be so high-profile this month. In short, we have to cut off our means of retreat. If we can get through this, there will be a future, if not, there will be nothing left to talk about. Previously, we have dug out one hundred and fifty thousand taels bit by bit, and now we will spend it all on improving the loom, waiting for the imperial merchant, there is really no way out …"
Xi Junyu nodded and sighed. Then, he lifted his head and smiled. "There are only three days left. There shouldn't be any problems. Don't worry. Also, I'll have to trouble you to tell Second Miss that no matter what, we have done our best this time."
"We have done our best, and leave the rest to fate." Ning Yi nodded, "Shopkeeper Xi has been working hard recently, thank you."
"It's my duty." After that, they chatted for a while, and Xi Junyu invited him to meet an official from the Weaving Bureau, but Ning Yi shook his head and declined. There was not much meaning for him to go. After Xi Junyu left, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu frowned and spoke.
"Why not?"
"Maybe you can persuade that person …"
Ning Yi packed his things and smiled, "I have so many things to do, why do I have to worry about that?"
"But you are fine." Zhou Pei curled her lips.
"Who said I am fine? I will go for dinner later, and in the afternoon, I will walk around the streets, and go to Carpenter Chen's place to get the binoculars. I will also study how to fix it. Uh, I also plan to paint the outside and go to the East City to see if there are any new novels for sale. Which matter is not more important than socializing … "
"If you don't socialize well, your family will have problems."
"But they have already socialized, so there is no point for me to go. We have already prepared to take the imperial merchants. You two know that we don't need to play any tricks. We just need to use our connections and let everyone speak with their conscience. We don't need the officials from the Weaving Bureau to be biased towards us. We have also given them money and things, so we won't make things difficult for them. As long as they speak with their conscience, we are confident that we can get it."
"Wouldn't it be better if they speak with their conscience for the Su family? Then we will have a 90% chance of success. "
"Of course, that's not bad either …"
"Anyway, I don't think you have done your best …"
Jun Wu was a little unhappy, but Ning Yi smiled, "Don't worry, I have done what I can. It is just a small matter, I don't know why you are in such a hurry. It's getting late. Let's go, I will take you to lunch … "
He was about to leave when Zhou Pei suddenly stopped in front of him. She smiled and said, "Uh, wait, there are only three days left. Can you let us see the cloth?"
Ning Yi thought for a moment, then tilted his head, "Oh, okay." He took out a key and opened the cabinet next to him. Then he took out a brocade box and showed it to the two children. Xiao Pei and Jun Wu touched it a few times.
"Wow, it is really more beautiful than what I saw at home …"
"I have never seen this kind of cloth before."
"It is a secret recipe." Ning Yi smiled and then made some rules. "But there is one thing I have to say first. You two are not allowed to go home and talk about it. You are not allowed to help find the imperial merchants, and you are not allowed to hint to the officials from the Weaving Bureau … Of course, you don't have that influence now, but I want it to be fair."
"We are not going to help you." Zhou Pei smiled and rolled her eyes.
Little Jun Wu nodded, "If we can't get the imperial merchants, it must be that Dong Decheng who took the money, a lot of it."
"Haha, let's go for lunch … Juan 'er, let's go together!"
At noon, a group of four people walked out of the cloth shop. Then, the guards of the Prince's Mansion, who were also disguised as workers or passersby, followed them. Under the sunlight, the chatter spread.
"Is this what they mean by those who are good at fighting have no illustrious achievements … But teacher, you really didn't do anything … Sister Juan 'er, right?"
"Uh … the son-in-law did a lot of things …"
"Of course you spoke up for the son-in-law, but my sister and I didn't see anything … But then again, there was no need to do too much. We thought it was a big crisis, but step by step, it escalated to this point. This is called an open conspiracy, sister. "
"I don't know …"
"Why?"
"Those people only did one thing, and then there was no conspiracy. Isn't it strange?"
"Yes, yes, teacher, what sister said makes sense. Don't you think it is strange?"
"It is an open conspiracy, not a conspiracy."
"That's right, sister … Ah …"
"… It's so noisy."
There were still three days before the assembly of the Weaving Bureau. After a peaceful noon, it was a calm afternoon. Ning Yi went to the street to get the shell of the telescope, and then bought some small tools to better mount the lens. Time passed by in the evening, and in the middle of the night, there were people dispersing in front of the brothels and taverns. Xi Junyu said goodbye to a few shopkeepers at the street corner, and also refused an invitation to go home in a carriage from one of the shopkeepers. The weather was good today, so he decided to walk alone.
Walking along the Qinhuai River, he arrived at a relatively secluded bend. He looked around, and then walked to a small pier at the side. After a while, the sound of a boat being pushed could be heard, and the boatman pushed the small boat towards the depths of the water. Xi Junyu stood on the small boat, looking at a hazy circle of light in the distance, his eyes calm.
It was a small pleasure boat that did not seem to be very lively. When the two boats approached, Xi Junyu walked up. In the hall in the center of the pleasure boat, it seemed that a banquet had just ended. The lights were dim, and there was a feeling of cold leftovers on the tables. Right in front, a man was sitting at the host's seat, holding a bowl of white rice, his head lowered to fill his stomach. Hearing the footsteps, he ate a meatball, his head still lowered, and used chopsticks to put food into his bowl as he spoke.
"I was just thinking, did I send him away too early? Maybe if he stayed with a beauty, the meal would be more delicious. Fortunately, Brother Xi came early, so it's the same. "
Xi Junyu walked to the side and picked up a bowl, "I'm not a beauty."
"Haha, but … Brother Xi always brings me good news."
The man smiled and raised his head. In the light, the man in front of him was the young master of the Wu Family, Wu Qilong.
*****
Recommended Book: Book Number: 2080918
Introduction of Sword Ancestor: The swordsman is sharp!
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