Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

As the bright yellow castor oil continued to gush out, not only the few people in the oil mill, but also the villagers watching from the doorway felt extremely happy.

Ji Manqing and Ji Manchuan lifted their shirts to wipe the sweat from their brows, exchanged a glance, and their dark red faces were filled with an irrepressible sense of happiness.

"Manchuan, you said that the oil pressed from castor beans is really bright when used as lamp oil, brighter and lasts longer than the lamp oil we use now. So let me ask you, in the future, can we exchange castor seeds for this castor oil with you, so we don't have to buy and sell it back and forth, damn it!" Aunt Big Mouth shouted into the room from the doorway.

Ji Manchuan glanced at Ji Mancang, who was eagerly trying to figure out the oil beam pulley, and said, "Those from our village can exchange it. Those from other villages will have to buy it from my older brother's shop at the market. The price will definitely be reasonable!"

"Alright, alright, I still have some castor seeds in my house. I'll bring them over and mix them with two pounds of oil for you!" Aunt Big Mouth said, squeezing into the oil mill.

Master Chen was very satisfied with the oil extraction speed and yield of this vertical oil press. He wiped his sweat and was just about to take off his clothes as usual when he suddenly remembered that this was not the old oil mill. He also saw Aunt Big Mouth crowding at the front of the door.

So he turned and went out, saying to the villagers at the door, "This is how oil is pressed. Women, after you've finished watching, go back inside! Women shouldn't easily enter this oil mill!"

"Why should I?" Ji Yongfei, who had been watching the oil pressing with Ji Yongling at the door, retorted defiantly.

“Is it unlucky? Do you even need to ask!” a young man from the Niu family replied.

Ji Yongling hadn't thought that much about it before, but then she suddenly remembered that in ancient times, some professions were not easily open to women.

For example, traditional seagoing vessels.

Even in modern times, some elderly people with old-fashioned traditions will say that women cannot board boats, as this is a rule passed down from their ancestors.

They believed that "women belong to the yin element, and it is unlucky for them to board a boat, as it will anger the gods and bring disaster."

In reality, the truth is that these industries have extremely harsh working conditions due to their unique environments, which are difficult for even men to endure, let alone women.

Therefore, these professions have very high requirements for the physical condition of their staff, and considering the special physiological and psychological characteristics of women, women are restricted from entering.

Of course, Ji Yongling was not trying to excuse feudal customs and bad habits.

In the modern world, what men can do, women can also do, such as going into space, flying fighter jets, and performing surgery... If men can do it, women can do it too!

However, in ancient times, she did not want to be aggressive, and she would not easily challenge traditional ideas. Because without strength and power, so-called challenges, overthrows, and struggles were just empty words.

Who doesn't know how to use the "spiritual victory method"?

Only when you truly possess power will everything you do be governed by rules, and you will be the one who sets those rules! Great scholars will naturally come to your aid in interpreting the classics!

However, this is something that a peasant girl like her could never have in her entire life!

She could only challenge and fight in front of her family.

Sigh! Come to think of it, I'm a bully at home but not at home!

Ji Yongling tugged at Ji Yongfei's clothes, trying to signal her not to say anything more.

But Ji Yongfei was like a proud little rooster, holding her head high, which made Teacher Chen frown.

Master Chen said, “It’s not about good or bad luck! Look at the fire in the furnace inside, it’s never gone out. Even though it’s autumn, look how hot your uncle and I are! Tell me, with you girls watching, how could we possibly take off our clothes to work! It’s only because our oil mill is less strenuous. If it were any other oil mill, the craftsmen would be working naked in the winter!”

Upon hearing this, some of the women and girls in the crowd dispersed in embarrassment, and even Ji Yongfei's face turned slightly red.

Master Chen was a stubborn man. Before he could finish speaking, he continued, "Besides, not everyone is well-off these days. Clothes have to be made from cloth, and that costs money. Working in here, you'll get greasy in no time. How many clothes do your uncle and I have to change?"

Ji Yongfei was even more embarrassed and hurriedly pulled Ji Yongru away, but Ji Yongling stayed behind.

Seeing that Ji Yongling hadn't left, Teacher Chen frowned and asked, "Yongling, why aren't you leaving yet?"

Ji Yongling smiled and said, "Uncle, I understand what you're saying. I'll be leaving in a bit. As you know, I designed this asphalt beam, and I want to see if there's anything that can be improved. After all, only by actually using it can we know what's not right and where adjustments can be made."

Upon hearing this, Master Chen nodded and said, "That's true. Then come in and have a look!"

Ji Yongling carefully inspected the oil mill, asked Master Chen some questions, and then returned to the courtyard next door.

Today is the opening day of our own oil mill, so we'll definitely be preparing a good meal.

So right now, Jia Ronghua and Hu Xirong are busy at the stove, while Yue Shuixian and Zhao Yunxia are helping out.

Seeing that Guowa had been watching Ji Yong'an in the yard for so long, Ji Yongling told him to go to the oil mill next door to play with Ji Yongning and the others, while she came to see her sister.

Guowa shook his head and said, "I don't want to play. I'll just watch over Yong'an."

Ji Yongling smiled, didn't try to persuade her any further, went into her room and took out a needle-and-thread-bound notebook, where she made detailed records of the oil mill's setup and the oil pressing process. She also added some of her own insights.

Seeing Ji Yongling writing and pausing, and even drawing, Guowa asked, "Sister Yongling, what are you writing?"

Ji Yongling put down his pen, looked at the pot-shaped pot, and said, "I'll draw the oil mill and write it down."

Guowa, confused, asked, "Why are you writing this down?"

"Writing it down can help us reflect on and summarize our experiences, and it can also be left for future generations to see. It lets them know what we did in this era and how we lived. Of course, more importantly, I want to record everything here. Only by recording it can I clearly understand who I am and who I have become."

"Oh, this is so complicated, I don't understand!"

"It's okay if you don't understand. You can write down everything you see and think in the future. Recording is a beautiful thing!"

"Ok!"