They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 209 The Three-Piece Set is Complete

Magistrate Lu and the others laughed heartily, without doubting Xu Zhichun's words.

Magistrate Lu was not ignorant, but he had never seen or heard of a threshing machine or a windmill before. If the Ming Dynasty really had such wonderful treasures, they would have been circulating among the people long ago. However, they did not.

Therefore, Magistrate Lu had ample reason to deduce and be certain that the book Xu Zhichun saw was definitely not from the Ming Dynasty, but rather from some unknown foreign land.

Perhaps some scholar or literati from the Ming Dynasty who enjoyed traveling and exploring the world obtained such a book, and then wrote it down in the Ming Dynasty script and drew illustrations. By sheer coincidence, Xu Zhichun saw it and remembered it.

To verify his deduction, he even secretly sent someone to investigate Madam Xu's background, but unfortunately, no one knew.

Even in Liangjia Village, no one knew about it.

She wasn't from any nearby village or county; all people knew was that Liang Minglang had brought her back from elsewhere.

It's been too long, and Liang Minglang is no longer alive, so where can we ask him?
Unfortunately, she committed suicide by jumping off a cliff to follow her husband in death, resulting in brain damage and near-total amnesia.
However, whether she remembers the past or not is not so important anymore; it's enough that she remembers the threshing machine, the windmill, and the watermill.

This is great stuff, absolutely great stuff.

Magistrate Lu nodded and smiled with great satisfaction: "It works very well, it works exceptionally well, this is truly a wonderful thing!"

County Magistrate Zhao nodded excitedly, "Your Excellency just tried it yourself, and I tried it too. It's amazing! Using this threshing machine to thresh grain is so effortless, fast, and efficient. Even women, children, and the elderly can use it. The windmill is even more effortless to use. The lives of the people will be so much easier from now on."

Master Shao chuckled and sighed, "Madam Xu has truly done a great service this time."

Magistrate Lu hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, Madam Xu has indeed made a great contribution this time, and she will definitely receive a reward."

Madam Lu smiled and said, "You've seen it all, tried it all, and had your fun. Why don't we go inside and talk?"

"Yes, yes, let's go inside and talk! Let's go inside and talk! Magistrate Zhao, go and test the watermill. Clerk Shao, get this place ready."

Magistrate Lu gave the order and, together with his wife, called Xu Zhichun into the room to talk.

After entering the room and taking a seat, a young maidservant served tea and bowed before leaving, leaving only Granny Ji to serve them.

Magistrate Lu said, “Madam Xu, I will submit a memorial to the court regarding the threshing machine, windmill, and watermill, and send the blueprints to the Ministry of Works. They will also be promoted among the people. Madam Xu has done a very good thing, which benefits the people. After the Ministry of Works verifies and approves them, there will be a reward. It will just take some time. Once the reward arrives, I will inform Madam Xu as soon as possible.”

"I will keep my promise and reward Lady Xu with three hundred taels of silver. If Lady Xu has any other requests, she may make them."

Madam Lu smiled and said, "Miss Xu, please don't worry. Just tell me what you need. As long as the master can agree, he will definitely agree."

Magistrate Lu nodded and smiled, "That's right."

Magistrate Lu felt a pang of regret for Xu Zhichun. In his opinion, such merit was immense, and he would have been willing to reward him with the title of Township Head or a thousand taels of silver.

But the imperial court would not think so.

Whether it's a threshing machine, a windmill, or a watermill, in the eyes of the emperor and high-ranking officials, it's nothing more than a more useful tool.

The artisans were not considered respectable by them; they would be lucky to receive two or three hundred taels of silver as a reward from the Ministry of Works.

It was only by using the Lu family's connections that the reward money could possibly reach him quickly. Otherwise, not only would it take a long time, but after layers of deductions, he would be lucky to get fifty taels by the time it reached him.

In the Ming Dynasty, craftsmen were simply worthless.

He wanted to change the status quo, but he was powerless to do so.

Having integrated into the current state of the Great Ming Dynasty, Xu Zhichun has come to understand quite a bit about this era. This is not an era that values ​​technological development; the status of craftsmen is even lower than that of ordinary farmers.

Fortunately, the local officials in Qingshan County valued this approach.

Otherwise, even if she wanted to offer these things, she probably wouldn't have the means.

Therefore, Xu Zhichun could only feel grateful for Magistrate Lu's words.

There was some disappointment, but not specifically regarding Magistrate Lu.

Magistrate Lu has done a very good job.

There's no way that offering just two or three such items would earn the praise and rewards of the emperor and the important officials in the capital, with chests full of gold and silver treasures, and the emperor even bestowing upon her an imperial title—it's beyond imagination.

Firstly, artisans have always had a low social status. Secondly, since emperors and ministers don't farm themselves, how could they possibly understand or appreciate the benefits of these things?
Fortunately, Lord Lu liked it.

Since Lord Lu likes it, she can't help but try to get some benefits for herself.

"Thank you, sir and madam," Xu Zhichun curtsied. "Sir, may I ask if you could write a few words for me?"

Having the magistrate's calligraphy in the house is quite impressive; it can be used to ward off evil spirits and protect the home.

Magistrate Lu's eyes lit up, and he glanced at Xu Zhichun with some satisfaction and pride, thinking to himself that this Mrs. Xu was quite good, she had good taste, and she knew that he wrote well.

Why would Magistrate Lu refuse?
"Very well, how about I propose the inscription: 'A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings'?"

Xu Zhichun was overjoyed: "That would be wonderful, thank you so much, sir!"

"Haha, Madam Xu, you're too kind. Besides that, does Madam Xu have any other requests?"

Magistrate Lu felt that simply writing an inscription wasn't enough; it was still too unfair.

Xu Zhichun wanted to make money.

However, he hesitated for a moment because he was afraid that Magistrate Lu would think he was mercenary and greedy.

Madam Lu smiled and said, "Miss Xu, take your time to think it over. Just say it, it's alright."

Xu Zhichun: "I will speak now. I am not very knowledgeable, so please forgive me if I am wrong. I think that ordinary people may not be willing to make threshing machines, windmills, and watermills. Even if they were, not many families could afford it. Wealthy families are extremely rich. I feel a little unwilling to let them use the blueprints for free."

The magistrate and his wife exchanged a glance and slowly nodded.

Indeed, after hearing what she said, not only she, but even they felt somewhat unwilling.

These blueprints are incredibly rare. How could we just give them away to those wealthy people?

What's wrong with making a profit?
It's a waste not to make money off those people.

Anyway, they're not short of money.

"Does Madam Xu have any ideas?"

"I want to find a reliable merchant in the city to cooperate with and sell these threshing machines, windmills, and watermills through the merchants. Not only in Qingshan County, but also in other prefectures and counties, provincial capitals, and even more distant places, wouldn't that make a fortune?"

(End of this chapter)