Early Ming Dynasty: Turning Clouds and Rains into New Learning Saints

Chapter 29
If Zhu Jingjing is here, Zhang Yifan's work will be much smoother.He discovered this when Zhu Jingjing first participated yesterday.Therefore, he was certainly very happy that Zhu Jingjing came so diligently the next day.

"What are you doing by the river?" Zhu Jingjing met Zhang Yifan by the river. As soon as she saw him, she asked happily, "Are you going to catch fish again?"

After hearing this, Zhang Yifan immediately smiled and said: "No, I am going to let this river attack the village!"

"What?" Zhu Jingjing was very surprised when he heard this, and immediately asked curiously, "What do you mean, start? Is it possible that you can still summon He Bo to help you work?"

"Haha!" Zhang Yifan couldn't help but laugh after hearing this, looked at her and replied, "I don't know if He Bo is there, but this river can really help a lot!"

"What should I do?" Zhu Jingjing said as she approached Zhang Yifan, and finally the two of them stood together.

The people on the side looked away from them, and then secretly looked at the two of them.

Talented men and beautiful women are nothing more than this!

Zhang Yifan did not explain directly to Zhu Jingjing, but called Tian Dazhuang and others, and then told them: "The river here is relatively narrow, and there is a relatively large drop. Now it is the dry season, and the water volume is not large. We have organized manpower to bring the water to the river." The water here is blocked, so it’s best to do this..."

While listening to him talking, Zhu Jingjing raised her head to look at the river, still confused. She didn't know what Zhang Yifan meant by the things that could make the river work.
Because of his wife's affairs, Tian Dazhuang is now Zhang Yifan's staunchest supporter. Although he also doesn't understand the true meaning of what Zhang Yifan asked them to do, he still nods and agrees without hesitation.If you don’t understand something, ask for it on the spot.

After Zhang Yifan made arrangements for him, he called to Niu Daddy and said, "Uncle Niu, I still need you to do some carpentry work in the next two days. If there are not enough manpower, you can estimate it and I will allocate it to you..."

Ordinary farmers have little knowledge because they have neither studied nor traveled far, but this does not mean that they are not smart.You can be self-sufficient in many things.For example, in addition to farming, some ordinary handicrafts, even if you are not a specialized craftsman, you can still tinker and make something yourself.

Niu Daddy is one of those ingenious people in Liujia Village, he can do a little bit of everything.The same is true. In the past, Zhang Yifan had asked Niu Daddy to make his bird cages and fish cages.

But this time, after hearing Zhang Yifan's explanation, he said with some embarrassment: "Yifan, I don't have the tools to make such a big guy. I'm afraid I need to find a specialized carpenter!"

Zhang Yifan couldn't help scratching his head after hearing this.Talent issues arise.What is being conceived has to be made by someone.

Zhu Jingjing heard it from the side and quickly interjected: "That's no problem. Just go to the city and hire someone!"

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang divided craftsmen's households into two types: shift and living.

Shift craftsmen are craftsmen who are transferred to the capital from other places to serve in the capital. Their household registration belongs to each province. They are divided into three-year shifts and serve for three months at a time. After that, they can take care of themselves. They can stay in the capital or return to serve.During this period, as long as one craftsman serves in the service, he will be exempted from the rest of the family and will be managed by the Ministry of Industry.

Those whose household registration belongs to the capital are those who live in the city and serve 10 days a month. Those who are unable to serve due to illness can be sent to serve on their behalf.Residential craftsmen are under the management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Therefore, there are definitely a lot of carpenters available for hire in Nanjing.

After listening to Zhu Jingjing's words, Zhang Yifan thought for a moment and said to Zhu Jingjing: "I asked them to make this thing, which is a tool that can help the river. It is definitely very useful. Do you think this will work? You can help me find a skilled person." How about if the carpenters come over and don’t pay them, let them learn how to make the tool and treat it as wages?”

He thought about it. It would be difficult to keep that tool secret. Instead of doing this, it would be better to use it and reduce costs.

"Is it a waterwheel?" Zhu Jingjing couldn't help but confirm after listening.She had seen such things as waterwheels from books.Therefore, this was the first guess.

After hearing this, Niu Dae shook his head immediately, but he didn't dare to talk to this noble lady.

If it was a waterwheel, he would recognize it, but Zhang Yifan asked him to make something that was bigger and more complicated, so it was definitely not a waterwheel.

Sure enough, Zhang Yifan smiled and shook his head and said: "No, it's just like a waterwheel, it's a tool that uses water flow!

Zhu Jingjing thought for a moment and couldn't think of anything, so she called Qiu Ju and said: "You ride back immediately and see my sister-in-law and ask her to hire the best carpenter. Remember to explain the situation clearly!"

"Yes, miss!" Qiu Ju agreed immediately after hearing this, and then left quickly, found her horse, and left the city.

At this moment, Zhu Jingjing suddenly came back to her senses and immediately said "ahhhh" at Qiu Ju's back.

Seeing that her expression was a little off, Zhang Yifan asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Zhu Jingjing heard this and turned to look at him, but stopped talking.She couldn't tell Zhang Yifan that she came here secretly.

I didn't pay attention just now. I was busy thinking about how to help Zhang Yifan, but I forgot that Qiu Ju's whereabouts would definitely reveal her traces.

There is no other way. After I go back today, I have to go to the East Palace to explain and coax my sister-in-law!
Putting aside the problem for the time being, Zhu Jingjing smiled again and said to Zhang Yifan: "It's nothing, it's okay, don't care!"

After hearing this, Zhang Yifan looked at Zhu Jingjing and probably guessed it.Girls in ancient times were not as free as in later generations, and they ran to him every day.

Feeling that Zhu Jingjing's thoughts were all on him, he couldn't help being a little moved, thinking in his heart, or else, find a time to chat with her later, and find out about her life experience.If I remember correctly, Zhu Yuanzhang's attacks on heroes began with the Hu Weiyong case, but that was still four years away.

If her life experience is indeed involved, he must help her resolve it.

After having this idea, Zhang Yifan put it aside for the time being and ordered Niu Daddy and the others to cut down the trees and make preliminary preparations first.

Then, he directed the remaining people and said not far from the river: "And here, we need to level this large area and prepare to build a kiln here!"

Hearing this, Zhu Jingjing asked curiously: "What kiln? Didn't you say yesterday that you should go to the next village to buy those tiles?"

She has been involved since the village community was established yesterday, so she probably knows everything.

Zhang Yifan smiled after hearing this and said: "I have asked Uncle Liu Wu to discuss the bricks and tiles. You have never seen the kiln here!"

(End of this chapter)