Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 67 I want to be quiet
After spring plowing and planting, farmers are not done with their work.

The busy farming season is far from over.

The achievement of "sowing one grain of millet in spring and reaping ten thousand grains in autumn" is not something that can be obtained simply by scattering seeds.

Three parts depend on planting, seven parts on management, and the next most important thing is irrigation.

This is the most important thing after spring sowing, as it directly affects the germination rate of crops.

If there is a spring drought, villagers have to use all kinds of tools, such as waterwheels, scoops, and canals, to draw water from rivers, wells, and ponds to irrigate their fields.

However, the fields here rely heavily on the Longhe River for irrigation.

Water is drawn from the Longhe River and flows through the vast plains, leaving behind irrigation networks like tree branches.

While inspecting the fields, Yang Can discovered another area that could be improved: the waterwheel.

Although the ability to draw water from the Longhe River for irrigation is already considered a unique advantage for this land, it is still a testament to its superior water resources.

However, due to the nature of water flowing downhill, some plots of land, despite having excellent soil, cannot be developed on a large scale simply because of their high elevation and the difficulty of irrigation.

Zhang Yunyi's hidden fields and households were opened up by later generations, while the best, easily irrigated land had already been developed by the local people. Therefore, they could only reclaim wasteland in higher-lying areas.

Therefore, they were unable to cultivate more land, not because they lacked land, but because they couldn't irrigate it all.

Feng'anzhuang also had waterwheels, but in those days, waterwheels needed to be driven by human or animal power.

Whether it's pedaling, cranking, or using an ox to pull the lever, the efficiency is naturally quite low.

Moreover, manpower is sometimes limited, and it cannot operate continuously.

At the same time, this old-fashioned waterwheel has a limited capacity to lift water to a certain height.

Therefore, even fertile land cannot be extensively developed if the terrain is slightly higher.

Yang Can was delighted when he saw it; this was simple, even simpler than the research process of the curved plow.

Great, now my buddy can show off in front of everyone again!
Before long, the first high-powered waterwheel, improved by Master Yang, was erected.

A waterwheel like this can lift water to a height of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters).

If a reservoir is built at a height of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), allowing the water to flow, and a waterwheel is built at the point of flow, it can continue to lift the water to an even higher place.

With this powerful irrigation tool, many high-lying areas can be developed into fertile farmland.

Yang Can once again displayed his prowess in public, and as the news spread, the name "Yang Can's car" became known throughout the world once more.

If Yang Can's secret wasn't that he slept with the eldest son's wife of the Yu family, he could have remained firmly in the Yu family based on that alone.

The Yu family can no longer easily sacrifice Yang Can.

In that case, the Yu family's reputation will be ruined by the gossip of the public.

This made Yu Xinglong feel both hatred and love for Yang Can.

What's appealing is that Yang Can's two improvements can significantly elevate the Yu family's strength.

However, the large amount of grain produced by the Yu family is not enough to support a significant increase in their strength.

Especially in the political ecosystem that has become balanced and stable after hundreds of years of development.

However, a significant increase in grain production can lead to a qualitative change from a quantitative one.

Yang Can has made great contributions to the family.

Yu Xinglong was already in dire need of manpower, and he was absolutely unwilling to use Yang Can as a pawn now.

Moreover, he can trust Yang Can without conducting any investigation.

Because no powerful family would send such a person out as a spy.

No spy would provide their infiltrator with such a powerful weapon that could increase their strength.

Yang Can, he must stay.

If Yang Can hadn't already been appointed as the second steward of the eldest branch and the master of Feng'an Manor in such a short period of time, making it unsuitable to promote him again immediately, Yu Xinglong, who was eager to recruit talent, would definitely have promoted him once more.

Regardless, he was determined to keep this precious child.

However, some problems still need to be filled, and some blame still needs to be taken.

It's difficult to find someone who can be pushed out without feeling bad, yet also has a convincing social standing.

The current leader of the Yu family not only lacks talent, but also struggles to find a suitable scapegoat.

"Little Deng..."

After much deliberation, Yu Xinglong consulted Deng Xun, the steward who had been his study companion since childhood and had stayed with him until his old age.

What do you think of Li Youcai?

……

You don't need to look closely at this waterwheel; one glance is enough to see where its improvements lie.

Therefore, it spreads exceptionally fast.

Soon, its blueprints appeared in the Blackwater Pavilion of Beique Villa in Dailai City.

Although the person who drew the diagram wasn't a professional and the waterwheel was drawn a bit messy, the principle behind it was easy to understand.

"Immediately have people build it according to the blueprint!"

Yu Huanhu slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

"Where is Ziming? Hasn't he made contact with Yang Can yet?"

"Sir, Yang Can is causing trouble in Feng'an Village, and there are many people watching him."

The young master said that we should try our best to act naturally and not arouse suspicion.

Therefore, the young master needs to do some things and hasn't contacted Yang Can yet.

"Okay, tell him to bet more; I'm going to have Yang Can!"

"Yes!"

His subordinates immediately rushed to make arrangements and hurriedly reported the news to Yu Rui.

As for what stakes to offer, they are nothing more than wealth, children, fame, and fortune.

As Yu Huanhu's successor, Yu Rui can make these decisions on his own; his father doesn't need to explicitly designate them.

……

Yang Can only made some improvements to the waterwheel; the rest was left entirely to Zhang Yunyi, the head of the Zhang family.

Thinning seedlings, replanting seedlings, weeding, pest control, fertilizing...

These tasks are complicated, but anyone from a farming family can do them.

More people are now busy in the fields, because only able-bodied laborers are needed.

They can handle all these tasks, from the elderly and weak to women, children, and teenagers.

Kang Zhengyang could finally begin his long-planned scheme: to start a business.

If he were to do something, it would be a small business, which would make it easier to implement.

Yang Can's business, however, was to first parasitize the Suo and Yu families, until it grew strong enough to replace them.

This business started at a much higher level, so it's still far from being a done deal. Thanks to Yang Canli, the Kang family has saved a lot of able-bodied labor.

By this time, the most arduous stage of spring plowing and planting had passed, and the women, children, and other family members could be put to use, further liberating the workforce.

Kang Zhengyang decided to take advantage of this rare opportunity to make a fortune.

He gathered the able-bodied men of the Kang family, raised a sum of money, and headed to Tianshui City.

When they arrived, they brought honey, beeswax, angelica, astragalus, felt blankets, and cloth...

These items were all collected from the farm.

They took these agricultural products and textiles produced by the women of the farm to Tianshui.

Once these agricultural products are sold, along with the cash we brought, we can buy a batch of daily necessities that the nomadic tribes urgently need, and then sell them through the Flying Fox Pass to do another business with the nomadic tribes.

With such a back-and-forth exchange, their profits have become a considerable fortune for them.

Of course, this matter couldn't be kept secret, and Kang Zhengyang never intended to hide it from anyone.

Therefore, from the moment he gathered his relatives and proposed this vision, the whole of Feng'an Village already knew about it.

Many people admire him, but not everyone has the ability to emulate him.

Moreover, his caravan is not large yet; it is enough for him to only have relatives, friends, and close retainers and family members. There is no need to recruit so many people.

Those envious commoners could only watch with envy.

……

That night, the Kang family caravan stayed overnight at Tielinliang.

They should be able to arrive in Tianshui City by tomorrow morning.

The leader of the team was Kang Zhengyan, Kang Zhengyang's third brother.

Kang Zhengyi, the second brother of the Kang family, was too honest and simple and not suitable for business, so Kang Zhengyan chose the third brother.

Tielinliang is a canyon covered with pine trees, which appear as if cast in iron when viewed at night, hence its name.

Kang Zhengyan and his party consisted of twenty-one people, escorting four large carts carrying goods they had purchased in Feng'an Village.

There is a cave halfway up the mountain in the canyon, which even the locals know about.

Lighting a fire inside the cave can drive away mosquitoes, flies, snakes, and other insects.

This is an excellent place to stay.

Around midnight, Kang Licheng groggily got up to relieve himself.

Kang Licheng is the eldest son of Kang Zhengyi, the second son of the Kang family, and the nephew of Kang Zhengyan.

It was late April, and the nights in the mountains of Longshang were still quite cool.

He was afraid of snakes and insects in the grass, so he didn't dare to go into the dense grassy areas.

Fortunately, this is in the mountains and fields, so there's not much to worry about.

Kang Licheng was urinating when he suddenly heard a "thud," as if someone had thrown a pebble.

Kang Licheng was immediately suspicious. He quickly fastened his belt, drew his sword, and looked at the scene warily.

"Ta-la-la..."

Then came the sound of another pebble rolling.

Kang Licheng held his breath and carefully followed the sound.

After turning a corner, two bonfires suddenly appeared on the mountain path.

There were four carriages parked beside the fire, the same number as them.

The horse has been unloaded from the cart and tied to a tree.

More than twenty burly men were gathered around two bonfires, grilling things and chatting in hushed tones.

Kang Licheng noticed that all four large trucks were covered with rainproof tarpaulins.

In those days, tarpaulins were mainly made of oilcloth and lacquered cloth.

Oilcloth is more expensive; using varnish cloth is more cost-effective.

It seems this is a merchant from afar.

Upon seeing the tarpaulin, Kang Licheng suddenly realized what was happening.

Short-distance merchants like them didn't have tarpaulins, and although lacquered cloth was cheaper than oilcloth, it was still an expense.

They run a small business and can't afford to buy it.

Seeing that they were just a group of merchants on a long journey, Kang Licheng wanted to quietly slip away.

But to his surprise, a stone suddenly fell from among the strong men gathered around the campfire.

The rock, about the size of a fist, was smashed into the fire, immediately sending sparks flying.

The people gathered around the campfire jumped up, and someone yelled, "Who the hell is messing around like this?"

"Hmm, who is it? Stop!"

Suddenly someone saw a figure flash past the rocks and immediately shouted.

Seeing that these men were all burly and had knives at their sides, Kang Licheng knew they were not easy to deal with.

Like his father, he was honest and didn't want to cause trouble, so he didn't say anything, but just quickened his pace.

This made the others even more suspicious, and they immediately drew their knives and gave chase.

This group of people were transporting mountain goods for "Mountain Master".

They know best what they're carrying in their vehicles.

They knew that if this matter were exposed, it could very well lead to their deaths.

Now that I've encountered some strange people, I naturally won't let them go easily.

"Stop! If you run again, we'll shoot arrows!"

The people behind them shouted as they chased after them.

Kang Licheng ignored him and ran straight into the cave.

How difficult it is to shoot a running person in the darkness of night.

Kang Licheng usually goes hunting in the mountains with his father and is very skilled with a bow and arrow.

He knew this all too well and was not afraid of their threats at all.

"Third Uncle, Third Uncle, get up quickly, someone is causing trouble."

Upon reaching the cave, Kang Licheng immediately shouted.

Kang Zhengyan and the others, who were sleeping in the cave, were suddenly awakened.

Hearing Kang Licheng's exclamation, everyone scrambled to their feet, grabbed their weapons, and rushed out of the cave.

(End of this chapter)