On both sides of the river, new buds sprouted, and flowers bloomed on a small path. The ice and snow slowly disappeared, and the spring breeze gently brushed across the cheeks. The floating clouds flipped, and the sun shone high. The running water set off the cliffs several times. Yesterday, it rained. Tomorrow, it was busy.
After two consecutive rains, the people of Tuqiao Village finally breathed a sigh of relief. From the end of the year until now, if it wasn't for the rain last night, there wouldn't have been enough water before the spring plowing.
In the Zhang family's courtyard, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan looked at the villagers outside who were busy preparing for the spring plowing. They looked at each other and nodded at the same time.
"Drought. It looks like there will be a drought this year. Fortunately, we dug a pond two days ago, so we can hold on for a while. Should the chickens, ducks, and geese be sent there now? If we really go there, we will have to eat a lot of food along the way."
Wang Juan held half a steamed bun in her hand and said to Zhang Xiaobao worriedly.
Zhang Xiaobao held a bowl of milk and took a sip unhurriedly. He then said, "There's no rush. Wait for it to get bigger. It's just a drought, and the grasshoppers haven't come out yet. Even if we want to go, we can't let our two Zhuangzi take the lead. Let's go to Sanshui City first to find County Magistrate Cheng. This is also a merit, and we can also inquire about the matter of the investigation of the fields."
"That's good. The plows were sent the day before yesterday. Pomegranate, arrange for people to send them to our two villagers. Also, arrange for the cows and horses that were collected. Do it like last year's autumn harvest."
Wang Juan responded to Zhang Xiaobao and turned to give orders to Pomegranate.
Pomegranate responded and turned to leave. She naturally knew what the two young masters were talking about last year's autumn harvest. The two Zhuangzi villagers didn't harvest their own fields separately, but worked together to harvest all the fields of the two villages at the same time. This was the spring plowing.
In addition to this, the servants in the two villages also had to help. Usually, it was the men who were sent out.
He walked to the place where the young master's curved plow was placed. He called out, and two male servants immediately came over.
"Find a cart to transport the things that Young Master and Young Lady Caijuan made, and send them to the manor with me."
As the young master's maidservant, Pomegranate also put on airs. As the two of them prepared the carriage, they curiously looked at the pile of things. It looked like a plow, but they had never seen one before.
When the carriage arrived, one of them couldn't help but ask, "Sister Pomegranate, what is this thing? Could it be used for plowing? "
"Yes!" Pomegranate snorted with her nose and then said, "That is natural. The young master felt that the plowing process was a little slow, so he came up with a new plow that is several times faster than the previous one."
In fact, Pomegranate didn't know whether this was true or not. She just had more confidence in the young master and his maidservant. Anything that the young master and his maidservant made was good.
The two male servants nodded as well. The position of the Young Master and Young Lady Cuckoo in their hearts had already reached a level that others could not compare to. If not for the two manor's order to keep their mouths shut, they would have already bragged to others.
One by one, the plows were carried onto the cart by the two of them. After filling up the cart, they rushed out. Shiliu sat on the shaft of the cart, her eyes looking forward. She guessed that this thing that the Little Gongzi had named 'Curved Plows' would be very useful.
The male servant driving the cart turned his head and asked, "Sister Pomegranate, did the young master pay for this plow?"
"Of course." Pomegranate replied with two words.
"I think so too. Speaking of which, ever since the young master and Miss Cuckoo learned how to talk, the villagers' lives have been much better than other places. Perhaps there hasn't been such a master in the entire Tang Empire." Speaking of this, the two male servants were proud.
The cart traveled on the muddy road. When it reached the fields, both wheels were covered in mud. The villagers were using the old plow to plow the fields. When they saw the cart and Pomegranate sitting on it, the people nearby thought that there was something to do in Zhuangzi. They immediately put down their work and went forward to welcome them.
Before the villagers could ask, Pomegranate spoke first, "Fellow villagers, this is a newly made plow in Zhuangzi. Take a look and see if it's better than the one you're using now. Also, Zhuangzi has bought some cows and horses from outside. The master has instructed us to cultivate them together according to last year's autumn harvest. "
When the villagers heard that the cart had a new plow, they were all curious. In the past few months, every item that the master had brought out had brought them many benefits. This plow seemed to be of good quality.
What made them the happiest were the last two things that Pomegranate mentioned. With cows and horses and a joint cultivation, it would be much easier. The spring harvest would be ahead of the other families.
At that moment, these farmers called out to the other people who were still busy. Everyone rushed over and helped unload the new plow from the cart. Each and every one of them used their hands to gently touch it. In their hearts, they were all deeply moved. The main family had even thought of this.
Some impatient people had already put the new plow on the cows. They were not used to the first few steps, but after a few more steps, they couldn't help but cheer.
"Look, look at this speed. It's amazing, simply amazing. Using this plow is several times faster than before. Hurry, quickly put it on. Miss Pomegranate, this plow …?"
"This is called a curved shaft plow. Fellow villagers, don't worry about using it. There will be more later. The cows and horses will be sent over soon. They are all strong and healthy." When Pomegranate saw that someone had agreed, she was also happy.
When everyone saw the speed of the previous person, they could no longer maintain their original steadiness. They began to unload the original plow and put on the new one.
"Fellow villagers, don't be in a hurry to start. I heard this old man say that this curved shaft plow was given to us by the master of Zhuangzi. Don't let others learn it."
An old man who was also farming saw the new plow and loudly shouted to the surrounding people. When the surrounding people heard this, they nodded in agreement. They didn't want the master's good things to be learned by others.
With the addition of the curved plow, the cows and horses were also brought along. Everyone began to work together according to the situation of the autumn harvest, regardless of whether it was you or me. In the evening, everyone discovered that this day's harvest was comparable to the previous few days' harvest.
Seeing this situation, everyone didn't seem to feel tired at all. One by one, they put away their tools and prepared to go home. At this moment, Pomegranate appeared in front of everyone again and said to everyone,
"Fellow villagers, the Zhang family and the Wang family's courtyards have already set up pots to cook. The ground is cold in spring and there is also some wine. Split up in Zhuangzi and go to your respective master's courtyard to eat."
When the villagers heard this, they cheered and went to their respective master's courtyard.
*****
As the sun set, the people of Ge Zhuang also returned home after a busy day. The people who were near the river casually glanced at the Zhuangzi courtyard of the Zhang Family and Wang Family. Suddenly, their eyes widened.
Previously, the people of Ge Zhuang didn't know that the Wang Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi was plowed from the inside to the outside instead of the inside of the river. When night fell, the land was actually plowed to this side. In the past, it was also like this. Usually, it would take at least three days before plowing. They didn't expect to see a piece of land that had already been plowed today.
The shocked people didn't rush home. They hurriedly ran across the bridge to the Wang Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi to take a closer look. What they saw was amazing. The Wang Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi had actually been plowed in a day that would normally take several days to plow.
Driven by curiosity, this person stopped a villager from the Wang Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi.
"Brother Qiushu, did you all plow in a day? Did you find people from other places? "This villager from the Ge Family stopped the person and wanted to ask for clarification.
The person who was called Brother Qiushu puffed out his chest and smiled: "So it's Brother Sun. Are you done with your work? Quickly go back and eat. Otherwise, the food will get cold. We are the ones who plow this area. There are many people and we work quickly. We didn't find people from other places. Who has the time? Spring plowing is busy.
I'm going to eat now. The master's courtyard has already prepared the food. Ah! Once the master's courtyard is mentioned, we don't know what to say. The master's courtyard is afraid that the land will get cold in spring and even prepared wine. I'll go first. Brother Sun, you continue with your work. "
As he spoke, Brother Qiushu shook off the dirt on his feet and hurried back to the master's courtyard.
Seeing him walk away, the villager from the Ge Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi still stared in that direction in a daze. Only when a gust of wind carrying the smell of dirt blew by did he shiver. He tightened his clothes and slowly turned around. His head was lowered and his waist was bent. From time to time, he would sigh from his mouth.
That night, the news of the Wang Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi's courtyard of Zhuangzi spread throughout the Ge Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi. At first, the people from the Ge Family didn't believe it. Who would be so nosy? They lit torches in the middle of the night and went to take a look. They waited until they saw it with their own eyes and came back to report it. This caused a huge commotion.
Ge Yingxi also heard about this at night. He also didn't believe it and ordered the steward to clarify the matter.
The next morning, the villagers woke up again. Ge Yingxi and the steward also ate breakfast and went out. When they came to the side of the small bridge that belonged to their courtyard, they stopped and looked around. After looking, they were shocked.
He didn't know where the Wang Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi got so many cows and horses. He still had many people in Zhuangzi to pull the plow.
"Master, look. The people from the Wang Family's courtyard of Zhuangzi don't seem to be working separately. It's the same as during the autumn harvest. Also, look at the plow over there. Why do I feel that it's different from the ones we usually use?" Ge Zhuang's steward pointed over there and said to Ge Yingxi.
Ge Yingxi's eyes weren't as good as the steward's. When he looked over there, he couldn't see what the plow looked like. He was clear about the methods of working together. After thinking for a while, he said to the steward, "In a moment, tell Ge Zhuang to learn from the other side and work together. I'll go and take a look at the plow."
The steward accepted the order and left. Ge Yingxi strolled across the small bridge as if he was looking at the scenery. He stared at the plow, wanting to see it more clearly as he got closer.
Before he could understand what was going on, a person came over and greeted him from afar. "Village Chief Ge, why are you here today?"
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