sjar Chapter 434 The Flower of Barrenness (9)
Chapter 434 The Flower of Barrenness (9)
As the ancients said, "A virtuous wife brings fewer troubles to her husband." Women should not limit their vision to the small world of the inner quarters. By broadening their horizons, women are no less capable than men.
As for why Wangyou dared to write such an article, it is naturally because the current emperor's mother was such a person. Raising the status of women is not something that can be changed by one person or one event, but requires a long-term, gradual process.
Plant a seed first, then plan for the future.
Unsurprisingly, Wangyou's book became a huge hit again, but the reviews were polarized, with some supporting it and others not. Those who didn't support it were mostly people who knew about the woman's abilities but were afraid that she would surpass them.
In the blink of an eye, three years have passed, and students from various academies are actively preparing for the upcoming autumn examinations.
Tian Ye and Tian Zhuang have reached a similar level of knowledge and can now try their skills. If they want to learn anything else, they will need to figure it out on their own or have a renowned teacher to guide them to reach a higher level.
"You two shouldn't take the exam yet. Take some time to calm down. Or Tian Zhuang could give it a try, but Tian Ye needs to settle down," Wang You said after a moment of contemplation.
"Sister, I believe I can get a place."
"I also believe you can achieve a good result, but the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. You are still too young. Participate in the next competition!"
"Wangyou, how about I take some time to reflect and try to get a high ranking in three years?" Tian Zhuang felt that following Wangyou would definitely be fine.
"Sister, I'll listen to you." Tianye clenched his fists upon hearing this reason; he was still too weak.
"Alright, from now on, besides going to the academy to study, you can spend more time walking around the streets, or set up a letter-writing stall, or sell calligraphy and paintings, or write letters for others, etc., to see more of the different aspects of life, and your perspective on things will also change."
"Yes, elder sister!"
Afterwards, the two returned to the academy and told the teacher that they would not participate in the competition this year.
"Why? Does your family disagree?"
"Master," Tianye said respectfully, "our elders say that we are too young and inexperienced. They suggest we go out and see more of the world, to gain more experience. They say that traveling ten thousand miles is worse than reading ten thousand books."
“That’s right, your elders are quite knowledgeable. Actually, you two are indeed a bit lacking in experience and not very old. Waiting three years won’t hurt.”
After discussing it with their teacher, the two decided to temporarily suspend their studies.
After that, the two of them really did go out into the streets and alleys to learn about the different lives of different people, and they carried a small notebook with them to write down whatever came to mind.
They would also travel together to nearby towns and villages, and every year when their service term was up, they would visit the places where they served.
“Sister, we came back from the other side of the river. The laborers serving there are not getting enough to eat, and they have to work even on rainy days. Many of them are sick.”
"After seeing so much, don't you two have any ideas for improvement?"
"Sister, what do you think about us setting up a stall by the river to sell food? That way, when the migrant workers take a break, they can at least have something hot to eat instead of eating hard, dry biscuits all the time."
"Do whatever you want, but remember to build a good relationship with the local officials in charge."
"Sister, I understand."
The next day, the two men, carrying their bundles, went to the vicinity of the river again, found the official in charge of supervising the work, and appealed to his emotions and reason. The official, thinking that he would also be able to have a hot meal later, agreed.
As soon as the official agreed, the two immediately turned around and went to Xinghua Village, which was nearby, to find the village chief.
The village chief was very enthusiastic because he could earn money and make sure his family members who were serving in the military were well-fed. He quickly found several honest women in the village who were good cooks and assigned them tasks.
After that, two stalls selling steamed buns, noodles, and bone broth appeared on the river. The prices were not expensive, and almost everyone could afford them. This gave the migrant workers more motivation, and the efficiency of the river excavation increased.
Tianye and Tianzhuang did not leave. Instead, they began to draw maps and record along the river. The river needed to be repaired every year, so people were needed to work there every year. The two wanted to see if they could find a way to solve the problem once and for all.
Meanwhile, Wangyou was reading a book she had acquired from a spendthrift son.
This book contains detailed records of the course of the Dayong River and the distribution of mountains and rivers. It was a book that could be passed down as a family heirloom, but that spendthrift son sold it off.
Wangyou also found the river near where Tianye and Tianzhuang went in this book.
After reading it, Wangyou found some inconsistencies. She then carefully examined the book and discovered that it was written a long time ago, dating back to a previous dynasty. Since that dynasty existed for over 500 years, the book itself was over 300 years old.
No wonder it differs from what Tian Zhuang and Tian Ye recorded. The previous dynasty had managed this river channel, but time has changed everything, and all traces have been erased over the years. However, the wisdom of our predecessors is still worth learning from.
Why does the river need repair every year? It's because we don't have the money. If we had the money, we could solve it all at once.
Wangyou picked up a pen and started drawing. After finishing the drawing, she rummaged through the rich man's belongings.
Merchants value profit, but fame is even better. If these waterways were managed in sections, the effect would definitely double.
Thinking of this, Wangyou went to find her father, Tian Laosan.
"Mother, do you know where Father went?"
"Your father said it's been raining a lot lately, so he's going to check on the crops on the farm. What's wrong? Do you need to see your father?"
"Yes, something's happened, and it's great news! Mother, quickly check how much silver we have," Wangyou said impatiently.
"Our family currently has about ten thousand taels of silver at our disposal."
"Mother, how about we take out five thousand taels to buy grain, vegetables, meat, and other necessities, and then donate it to the government to repair the river?"
"Why did you suddenly decide to do this?"
“Mother, I’ve looked at the area where the river is being repaired this year. If there were enough silver or grain to support it, the problem could be solved in one fell swoop. But the government obviously doesn’t have that much silver. But if the government doesn’t have it, the merchants do.”
"What merchant is so foolish as to hand over silver for nothing?"
"Mother, please let me finish!" Wangyou smiled. "We can cooperate with the government. If the grain our family donates is enough to repair a kilometer of river, then we can erect a stone tablet at that kilometer of riverbed, with our family's name written on it."
A wooden track could be built across this river, and horse-drawn carriages could run on it. That way, whenever a vehicle passes by, it would see the name of our study. Mother, if it were you, wouldn't you be curious?
"Daughter, what's wrong with your brain? How come I didn't think of these things? If what you said is true, our business will definitely be even better."
"Would other merchants be willing to hire a live-in mother like that?"
"Of course I'd be willing. It might seem like a loss in the short term, but it'll definitely be a profit in the long run."