The water wheel was still spinning. Li Yi listened to the sound of the threshing machine and felt that it was too noisy.
But in the ears of others, the same sound was so beautiful.
There wasn't a single person who didn't know how useful this divine artifact was.
In the past, the family would farm from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
There were those who collapsed from exhaustion from plowing the fields, those who collapsed from exhaustion from harvesting, and those who fell sick after harvesting.
However, things were different now.
There were many good things. There was a new curved plow after plowing the fields. With just one cow and one man, they could plow three to four mu of land in a day.
The large dustpan used for harvesting wheat could be swept out easily.
Now, there was actually such a heaven-defying item that shouldn't have appeared in the world.
How many people had it saved?
They didn't have to worry about the wheat and rice being damaged by the rain. They also didn't have to worry about people collapsing in the middle of the work.
"This item is made of wood and is worn out. It needs to be replaced with more parts."
Li Yi shouted loudly so that his voice could be heard above the noise.
He pointed out the flaws. Using the principle of lever and gear, there was no metal bearing. The wooden parts were easily damaged.
When everyone heard this, they didn't care at all.
Wasn't the water wheel made of wood? Weren't the wheels made of wood?
If they made more, they could remove and replace the parts that were damaged. It was better than using rollers and chains.
Li Yi looked at everyone's expression. No one felt that the item was bad.
He shouted again, "Near Zhuangzi, after harvesting the wheat, you can come over and threshing it. It's free."
Hua! Discussions broke out.
The people in Zhuangzi felt their hearts ache. Why should they let others use their things for free?
To borrow a mill, one had to give grain. To borrow a cow, one had to give it grain. Moreover, one had to feed the cow well.
Their Zhuangzi's water wheel and threshing machine should also be charged.
The others didn't think so.
Upon hearing that it was free, the people in Zhuangzi were the most tempted.
It was troublesome to make it themselves and even more troublesome to make the water wheel.
It wouldn't take much effort to transport the grains over and bring them back.
The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Plantation looked at the emperor, empress, and King Song. He wondered if he should come over when the Imperial Plantation harvested the wheat.
As soon as the eunuch had this thought, he heard Li Longji speak.
"Brother Yi is truly a kind person. If only the Imperial Plantation above could also make waterwheels and threshers for the neighbors to use."
The eunuch was enlightened.
Not only could he not use Li Yi's things for free, but he also had to make them for others to use.
Li Chengqi chimed in, "Third Brother is right. It's all because of Zhuangzi. Brother Yi's Zhuangzi has raised a lot of people and made a lot of money. The Imperial Plantation …"
He shook his head.
The eunuch's heart instantly turned cold.
King Song, did I offend you? Are you trying to push me to my death?
Li Yi's Zhuangzi is powerful, but aren't you all brothers with him? I'm just a eunuch. You want to compare me with him?
Should I compete with Prime Minister Yao Chong again?
How could anyone bully someone like that?
When the eunuch saw that the emperor was deep in thought, he felt unwell.
Emperor, Your Majesty, you can't be serious, right?
Li Yi has soy sauce to sell, but I don't. Why don't you squeeze me dry instead?
At this crucial moment, the eunuch was quick-witted.
He walked up to Li Yi and said, "Li Dongzhu, why don't the Imperial Plantation cooperate with the Li Family Zhuangzi?"
Shua, Li Yi retreated five steps as quickly as he could and looked at the eunuch warily.
He refused. Cooperate with a eunuch? How could he explain himself if he was pushed to his death?
Li Yi knew that there was something fishy going on in the Imperial Plantation. If he made money for the palace, the people in the Imperial Plantation would take advantage of him.
If he cooperated with the Imperial Plantation, how could his Zhuangzi escape?
"Li Dongzhu, what do you mean by this?" The eunuch was taken aback. It wasn't easy for me to come up with a solution, so why are you hiding so far away?
"Oh, the Imperial Plantation is too busy and can't be bothered with other things. Please … forgive me." Li Yi clasped his hands.
The eunuch's face was full of resentment, as if he had been ruthlessly abandoned.
"Brother Yi, the cooperation isn't urgent. I want to take away two threshing machines. Third brother, what do you think?"
Li Chengqi said. He wanted to take one of the threshing machines powered by water and the other by foot, but he had to ask the emperor first.
"Okay!" Li Longji nodded. He would take it back and dismantle it. He would ask someone to learn how to make it and use it in the capital office first.
He would learn how to make a few useful things in other places.
"Song De, bring the prepared two threshing machines over." Li Yi ordered the steward.
The steward shouted and someone pushed a cart over. It was a flatbed cart with wooden wheels. It followed the cement road.
Zhuangzi's main road to the Ba River was a cement road that led all the way to the sports field.
Transportation was convenient and there was no need to worry about mud.
It was also easy to clean when it snowed in winter.
Li Yi even wanted to make a pedal tricycle if it wasn't for the fact that his smelting and manufacturing skills were not up to standard.
There were two pieces of equipment on the flatbed cart. One of them had a stack of paper on it.
Li Yi picked it up and handed it to Li Chengqi: "Big brother, this is the blueprint."
Li Chengqi took it with both hands. After thinking for a while, he handed it to Li Longji: "Third brother, you take care of it."
Li Longji was satisfied. Good things must be kept in his hands.
"Big brother, third brother, sister-in-law, why don't we go to the manor and have lunch before leaving?" Li Yi invited.
"No, I'll go back and find someone to make it now." Li Longji refused. He couldn't leave the imperial court.
A group of people carried the equipment and left.
The people who came to buy soy sauce and hundred boiled eggs also received a blueprint. They discussed among themselves what to do.
The eunuch of the Imperial Plantation continued to complain and ran back to the Imperial Plantation with his blueprint.
Zhang Xiao, the village chief of Zhang Village, didn't ask for the blueprint. He said that the craftsmen in the village couldn't understand it because he couldn't understand it after flipping through it a few times.
His request was simple. The villagers came to threshing and when the harvest was over and no one was using it, he would take it back and dismantle it.
The people in Zhuangzi carried the wheat and threshed it.
Song De sold it. The pigs that came were penned up one by one. Which family's pigsty was together?
The village didn't buy chickens and ducks anymore. There were too many of them. They had been buying chaff and grass.
The poor people didn't have chaff and it was all eaten. Even so, sometimes it wasn't enough.
The rich people had more land at home. They used it to feed the animals and the servants.
Li Yi bought it in Zhuangzi. The price was 10% higher, so the rich people sold it to him.
The poor people took advantage of the grass and collected it to trade for grain in Zhuangzi.
Li Yi's lifespan would increase by one or two years. Trading was a form of trade.
Zhuangzi could feed the chickens and ducks with grass, but other people could live better lives with grain.
Now that they were buying pigs, they could get a 15% discount. If they bought hundred boiled eggs, they could get a 20% discount.
With a 20% discount, a spiced tea egg was still 400 coins, which was more expensive than a bucket of rice. The duck eggs were still pickled and hadn't been cooked yet.
Seeing that the summer grain was harvested, the price of grain would fall.
There was also more chaff, which was just right for the pigs.
They stored a lot of manure and straw for the biogas pool in the winter.
The flop sale began. Li Yi strolled back to the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
Li Longji hurried back to the Imperial City with the things he needed.
Li Chengqi went to his mansion. Empress Wang went to the harem and told the palace maids and eunuchs about what happened today.
Li Longji didn't enter Zichen Hall. He missed the meeting time.
He had people carry things to Xingqing Hall. The important ministers would meet Li Longji here.
At the moment, the ministers were working. The Emperor didn't have morning court, so the ministers were in a bad mood.
How could the Emperor run out for no reason? He even brought the Empress with him.
Your Majesty, you've changed. You used to …
"Call the three ministers here. Oh, the Minister of Works, the Minister of Finance, and the Junior Supervisor," Li Longji said to Gao Lishi.
Gao Lishi's eyes were fixed on the two things he had never seen before. Hearing His Majesty's order, he quickly went to call for them.
A moment later, five people arrived.
Yao Chong, Zhang Shuo, and Lu Huaishen, the three prime ministers, walked in front.
Wei Zhigu, who had just been moved from the position of prime minister to the position of Minister of Works, walked behind with his head lowered.
Last was the Junior Supervisor of the Minister of Finance, Yuan Qianyao.
The five people first cupped their hands in greeting to Li Longji. Then, they turned their heads and looked at the two things.
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