The story of the struggle of the poor girl who crossed

Chapter 81 Zhao Yan
Pinellia: "It's not hard, the dumplings have been made long ago, now you only need to cook them in a pot, steam them in a steamer, or fry them in oil! Compared with making dumplings, it's not too tiring!" Especially chopping stuffing The ingredients, and the dough, are not easy jobs.

Two quarters of an hour later, the dumplings were served, and they were fragrant.

Zhao Yan's tongue was full of fluid, almost drooling.

Mai Xiang set the table and chopsticks with her hands, and Zhao Yan couldn't wait to pick up a fried dumpling. After taking a bite, she exclaimed, "Well, it's very delicious. It's the first time I've eaten such a delicious thing!"

As soon as he said that, Leng Dong was almost drooling, he took a pair of bowls and chopsticks unceremoniously, and also picked up a fried dumpling.Before it cooled down, he took a bite and felt the fragrance on his lips and teeth: "Well, it's delicious, it's really delicious! Mai Xiang, after I go back, I have to ask you for some dumplings!"

Mai Xiang nodded and smiled: "Okay, when I go back today, I will invite my uncle's family to my house for dinner! For today's dinner, just eat dumplings!"

Leng Dong laughed from ear to ear.

Zhao Yan snatched his bowl and chopsticks: "You still have a meal tonight, don't eat it, leave it to my brothers to eat you! In the evening, I will call those Baihu and Zongqi to have a good meal Tooth Festival!"

Leng Dong muttered in dissatisfaction: "Oh, I said General, you are too stingy! I only ate a few, and you refused to let them eat. Isn't this too much?"

Zhao Yan: "I'm generous enough to let you eat a few! There are so many people in the barracks, five hundred households, and so many general banners. It would be nice to have ten of the remaining ones!"

Mai Xiang hurriedly came out to smooth things over: "Don't worry, I brought a total of [-] dumplings! If you like it, I'll make some more in a few days!"

Zhao Yan quickly waved his hand: "No need, I was just joking. I've given so much today, I'm already embarrassed enough!" So many dumplings, how much pork do you have to use?The poor these days can't eat meat a few times a year, but today he can eat so many dumplings, which is enough.

Mai Xiang smiled and said: "Next time, I won't bring so many, I will bring twenty or thirty specially, enough for the general to eat! In the future, if you have time, the general can also visit my house, and I will cook some special dishes , then treat the general well!"

Zhao Yan was also not polite, and responded heartily: "Okay, then I will be cheeky and find time to go to your house to eat and drink!"

Leng Dong took the opportunity to say: "General, Ms. Liang proposed to build a large reservoir in Luhuawan. The location of the reservoir is well-planned, it is between several mountains, and the reservoir will be built in the valley. As long as the two ends of the valley are blocked Living, and digging a slightly higher place in the valley, the reservoir will be built! Ms. Liang said that the construction will start now, and it will be completed before the freezing. In this way, the water can be stored in the spring of next year! "

Zhao Yan: "That's a good idea, why didn't I think of it? Yes, I firmly support it!"

In the past, he also thought about building a reservoir, but the amount of work required to build the reservoir was too large. Even if five hundred soldiers built the reservoir together, it would take less than a year to complete the project!Now, Ms. Liang thought of using the terrain to build a reservoir using the valley. This idea is really great!In this way, a lot of time, as well as human and financial resources can be saved.

Leng Dong said: "But, you also know that Luhuawan has only so much labor. So, I want to borrow a hundred people from you to help build the reservoir."

Zhao Yan said: "Borrowing someone to build a reservoir? This is not very good. Think about it, our army also has the task of reclamation and drill. From time to time, we have to fight the enemy who comes to attack you. It will take a month to build a reservoir, right? Also, if you borrow these 100 people, even if you don’t have to pay wages, you still have to take care of food, right? So many people, can you manage it?”

Leng Dong couldn't help being stunned: "Well, there are so many people, it's really impossible to manage. The grain harvested by Luhuawan in the past year is just enough for Luhuawan's own people to eat, and some people still want to fight famine! "

Zhao Yan: "That's right, this is the ruthless reality. Although, I really want to help you, but not all the people below me agree with me. Let's say Deputy Fan Qianhu, he is very close to me. Something is wrong, fight against me everywhere! Otherwise, I can avoid the matter of Miss Liang's father enlisting in the army.

In this case, there is no need for Miss Liang to join the army in place of her father!I know that if I defend Miss Liang's father on this matter, that deputy Fan Qianhu will definitely fight against me and make a big fuss.At that time, even if Miss Liang wants to join the army instead of her father, there is nothing I can do to help her!
For the same reason, I cannot lend you so many soldiers for free.To be honest, you can borrow a few, if you borrow a few, even if you borrow for several months, there is no problem.If I borrow a hundred soldiers, I can only lend you three or two days at most, and it's the kind of emergency grabbing.For example, when farming is busy in summer and autumn, there is still an excuse to rush to harvest crops!Borrowing soldiers to repair the reservoir, for this reason, Deputy Fan Qianhu would never agree! "

If he did not get the consent of deputy fan Qianhu, he made a talk and lent his soldiers to Luhuawan to build the reservoir, that person would probably jump up and down, and he would not let it go unless he was removed from Qianhu's position.He has a backer, that Deputy Fan Qianhu, naturally he also has a lot of big backers.

Leng Dong remained silent, this result was something he had never thought of.Originally, he thought that as long as he spoke, Zhao Yan, who was dedicated to the common people, would definitely agree to his request.

Zhao Yan was not very happy when he failed to agree to the old man's request.

For a moment, the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Mai Xiang thought for a while and said, "How about this, how about I buy that valley and pay for the construction of the reservoir?"

Hearing her words, Tong Leng was shocked immediately: "What? You funded it yourself? How can this work? In this case, when everyone wants to release water to irrigate crops in the future, won't you suffer a big loss? And, then What are you building a big reservoir for?"

Mai Xiang smiled lightly and said, "It can be used to raise fish and ducks!"

Leng Dong had a smile on his face: "Oh, that's right, you can also raise fish and ducks! Oh, my brain seems to be rusted, I can't even think of such a simple thing? But, I still want to say that the main purpose of building the reservoir is to store water to irrigate crops. If there is a severe drought and the villagers want to release water to irrigate crops, what should you do then?"

Mai Xiang: "It's very easy to do. If the family pays a little money, I will sell the water to someone! In other words, as long as the money is paid, the crops at home can be watered."

Originally, she wanted to say that the water could be released for free.However, good people are not so easy to do these days. If the water is released for free, then there is no telling how many terrible things will happen.Sell ​​water for a fee. In this case, at least there will be no phenomenon of people trampled to death.

If the water cost money, who would rush like crazy to lead the water from the reservoir to their own fields?Moreover, there is a lot of release, and no waste is spared.

Zhao Yan nodded: "You have a good idea, I think this will work!"

Mai Xiang said: "General, I will hire a hundred soldiers to help me repair the reservoir, and take care of two meals a day. One month, I will give 500 taels of silver to the guard. How do you think?"

Zhao Yan nodded: "Well, 500 taels of silver is equivalent to five taels of silver a month for one person. This kind of salary is considered very high, I think it's okay! Even Deputy Fan Qianhu should have nothing to say I said it! Now, there is a shortage of food and pay in the barracks, with this 500 taels of silver, the people in Lushan Guard will have a better life this winter!"

Leng Dong hurriedly said: "So, the folks from Luhuawan are no longer needed? No, how can this be done? If that's the case, how embarrassing it is!"

Mai Xiang waved her hand: "There is nothing embarrassing about this. Now the reservoir has become my own property, and it is no longer a collective property of Luhuawan! In the future, I can freely raise fish and ducks in the reservoir. You have to pay for the water in the reservoir!"

"Oh, that's it, I know!" Leng Dong looked a little lonely.

Mai Xiang said again: "I bought that valley with 3000 taels of silver, do you think it is good? The 3000 taels of silver can be used as the collective property of Luhuawan to build a school and medical center in Luhuawan."

Leng Dong: "Yes, absolutely! It's just a broken valley. If you don't want it, just put it there, wasting resources for nothing! However, the school can be repaired, and the master can just ask Pinellia to be in charge! As for the doctor It’s useless to build a hall, where can I find a doctor to sit in the hall?”

Mai Xiang looked at Zhao Yan: "Isn't there a military doctor in the military camp? You can send a boy who likes to be a doctor and has a good understanding to study with a military doctor for a year. Then, he will be a doctor in the medical center and help the common people." Let's treat minor illnesses and pains! I also know a thing or two about medicine, and I can give pointers when the time comes."

After hearing her words, Leng Dong was so happy that his eyes almost narrowed. He looked at Zhao Yan with anticipation.

Zhao Yan smiled cheerfully: "I think it's okay, Miss Liang's idea is very good! The military doctor has a good relationship with me. I'll go and tell him, and he should agree."

The matter of the reservoir was resolved in such a dramatic way.

Prior to this, Mai Xiang had never even thought about building a reservoir by herself.

Mai Xiang said again: "I suggest that the folks in Luhuawan can start to build the diversion canal, and the soldiers in the military camp should also do the same. The diversion canal should preferably be connected to the reservoir and the small river. There are too many people in the military camp, so it's okay. Separate some people to build water cellars and Karez wells."

When Leng Dong heard this, he was very interested: "What is Karez?" For this little girl Liang, he became more and more fond of her. He found that she was very knowledgeable and had many wonderful ideas.

Mai Xiang explained patiently: "Karez is generally composed of four parts: shafts, underground channels, surface channels and small reservoirs. As far as I know, a lot of snow and rainwater flow down the valley in spring and summer in the Lushan area and sneak into the ground. We can take advantage of the slope of the mountain to skillfully dig Karez wells and guide the subsurface flow to irrigate the farmland. Kaner also has a great advantage that it does not evaporate a large amount of water due to heat and strong winds, so the flow is stable and can ensure artesian irrigation. "

Zhao Yan and Leng Dong's eyes lit up and their faces glowed when they heard this.

Leng Dong was very excited, and praised without hesitation: "Mai Xiang, what is your head made of? Why do you have so many wonderful ideas? The reservoirs, canals, water cellars and Karez you mentioned, But it has helped me a lot! In the future, with these things, even if there is a severe drought, we in Luhuawan will no longer have to worry about water shortages!"

(End of this chapter)