Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 32 Modifying the Curved Plow!

Those who know the truth but fail to report it will be punished as accomplices.

In addition to being punished by law, corrupt officials will be barred from holding office for life.

The descendants of corrupt officials are not allowed to serve as officials in the capital.

The impact is too great!
Therefore, anyone who isn't mentally unstable would never ask Xiao Ran for a little benefit and take such a huge risk.

“Young master, the village head and the village chief both said that I cannot leave the village, and my second aunt also knows this,” Zhang Dalang explained.

"Alright, then Second Mistress and Third Mistress, we'll go."

Xiao Ran pulled San Niang along and walked quickly, soon arriving at Wang Shen's house.

The village head's house looks similar to the village head's house, but Zhang Mingde's house seems a bit better.

Xiao Ran knocked on the door, and a young girl quickly opened it. "Excuse me, who are you?"

"Kaolao Village is desolate"

Before Xiao Ran could finish speaking, Wang Shen walked over from inside the courtyard.

Wang Shen looked at Xiao Ran, and his description was similar to Zhang Mingde's.

Wang Shen looks to be around forty years old and gives off an impression of being very knowledgeable.

"So you're Xiao Ran, right?" Wang Shen glanced at Zhang Erya and San Niang, then his gaze returned to Xiao Ran. "The old village headman already said that you can't handle this matter. It's not that I'm making things difficult for you, but you should go back!"

"I understand, I understand. But I still want to trouble you. If I could improve the current straight-shaft plow, I wonder if the matter of registering a household there would be possible?"

Wang Shen narrowed his eyes. "Young master, is this really true?"

Xiao Ran said to himself, "The current straight-shaft plow is heavy and troublesome to move. It requires two oxen. One ox is too much work, right?"

Wang Shen nodded. "Everyone in the village knows this; it's not a secret."

"If I could improve the straight-plow, making it smaller and lighter, so that it wouldn't require two oxen or two people, but only one person to plow the land, and turning it wouldn't be difficult either, what would the village head think?"

Xiao Ran spoke with great confidence, not as if he were just making things up.

Wang Shen was also a rural man and knew a lot about straight-plow ploughs. He understood very well what it meant if Xiao Ran said these things were realized.

"Young master, please come inside!" Wang Shen's attitude changed drastically at once.

This matter is very important and deserves Wang Shen's careful attention.

Improving the straight-shaft plow would be a great achievement, and even if Xiao Ran were a Hu person, the county magistrate would agree.

Moreover, Xiao Ran's only strange appearance is his clothing; he still looks like a Tang Dynasty person.

The current emperor employs people without being bound by convention.

The atmosphere was good during the Zhenguan era. Xiao Ran wouldn't dare to gamble on other periods, but there was no problem during the Zhenguan era.

Xiao Ran and the other two sat down and poured a glass of water.

"Young master, how confident were you about what you said before?"

"Absolutely!" Xiao Ran said confidently, because coming from the countryside, he was very familiar with this kind of thing when he was a child.

Xiao Ran's understanding of the straight-shafted plow came from books and various materials, but the curved-shafted plow accompanied Xiao Ran throughout his childhood.

They may not know much about straight-shafted plows, but they are very familiar with curved-shafted plows.

Wang Shen was surprised by this unexpected joy, but remained relatively calm.

"When His Majesty personally plowed the imperial field in the fourth year of Zhenguan, he said, 'The people depend on food for survival, and farming is the first priority for food.' Although our Great Tang Dynasty inherited the chaos of the Sui Dynasty, the people of Guanzhong were able to pay their taxes in peace, all thanks to the precious land under the plow."

"But the straight-plow is heavy and requires two oxen to pull it. Often, people have to pool their strength and exchange three bushels of millet for a day's work with an ox."

"Many slopes are overgrown with weeds because the plow cannot turn the soil properly."

"If we can truly enable a single ox to pull the plow and a single person to cultivate the land, then we will have planted the iron plowshare in the hearts of the people."

"This is no small matter; it is a matter of national importance concerning the livelihoods of countless families!"

"If what you say is true, young master, I will personally vouch for the matter of registering my household registration and will report this matter truthfully without hiding anything."

Wang Shen stated that he would not take credit for Xiao Ran's work.

"Thank you in advance, Village Chief Wang. No matter how much I say, it's better to let Village Chief Wang see for himself. How about this, give me some time, I'll make it, and then we'll take it to the field to test it, and then we'll see the results." Wang Shen nodded approvingly; this statement made perfect sense.

Seeing something with your own eyes is far more convincing than any flowery description.

“What you say is very true, young master. I will await your good news.”

Xiao Ran got up and left Wang Shen's house.

The matter of registering a household in another city will definitely not be settled in the short term.

Xiao Ran's purpose in coming this time was to speak with Wang Shen in advance.

On the way back, Zhang Erya looked at Xiao Ran with a different gaze, now filled with admiration.

I never expected Xiao Ran to be so powerful.

Although she hadn't seen the improved straight-shafted plow, Zhang Erya believed that Xiao Ran could definitely do it.

"Second Aunt, is there a carpenter in the village?" Xiao Ran asked as they walked.

“Yes, my great-grandfather made all the farm tools in the village, such as the straight-plow and hoe,” Zhang Erya said.

"Okay, let's go take a look later, and go home to prepare some pastries and such." This is all about social etiquette; it's never wrong to be overly polite.

Since they are relatives and neighbors, it wouldn't be appropriate to go empty-handed.

Seeing Xiao Ran's confident demeanor, Zhang Erya and San Niang were also in a good mood.

Zhang Jinhe had seen Xiao Ran lead the Zhang sisters out of the village earlier, and had been keeping an eye on the outside, wanting to see what was going on with Xiao Ran.

Seeing the three of them return chatting and laughing, Zhang Jinhe walked out of the courtyard.

“Young master, second and third mistresses, it seems they are doing well.” Zhang Jinhe could sense that the three of them were very happy.

He was curious how Xiao Ran had managed to persuade Wang Shen, since even his own grandfather hadn't been able to do it.

"Not yet, but there's a chance. How much does the Jinniang straight-plow cost?" Xiao Ran had asked Zhang Erya before, but Zhang Erya didn't know.

Because Zhang Erya's family didn't have it, and they never bought it.

Zhang Jinhe didn't understand why Xiao Ran asked that, but still said, "A decent one will cost three hundred coins, a slightly less desirable one will cost two hundred coins, and if the materials are good, then it will cost four hundred coins."

Xiao Ran had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

"Jinniang, I'll pawn my Shu brocade to you, can you lend me some money?"

"No need for collateral. Just tell me how much you need, young master. Collateral would be too formal."

We've only known each other for a day, but it feels like we're already very familiar.

“I need consistency,” Xiao Ran said, rounding it up to a whole number.

“Alright, young master, wait for me a moment.” Zhang Jinhe readily agreed.

Xiao Ran could tell that Zhang Jinhe was indeed different; she had a certain say in the family and also financial power.

Someone without a voice would not have agreed so readily.

Zhang Erya was also surprised. Xiao Ran asked to borrow a string of cash, but her own cousin didn't even hesitate.

Soon Zhang Jinhe came out carrying a string of Kaiyuan Tongbao coins.

"Young master, count them."

Xiao Ran took it, "Thank you, Jinniang. There's definitely no problem, no need to count."

Zhang Jinhe really wanted to ask about the situation, but he held back.

"Jinniang, I have some urgent business to attend to, so I'll head back now."

"Okay, young master, you go ahead with your work."

Seeing Xiao Ran and the others leave, Zhang Jinhe looked suspicious. The attempt to register their household registration had failed, but it seemed that there was a turning point.

Zhang Jinhe simply couldn't guess what the turning point would be.

(End of this chapter)