Great Qin Emperor

Chapter 5 A Little Invention

There is an old saying that "receive the kindness of a person with a drop of water, and repay it with a spring"; Li Bai lamented that people's hearts are not ancient, and lamented that the ancients "repay kindness with a meal".Although Zhou Chong didn't have the virtues of the ancients, at least he wouldn't walk away, because he found that the old man Sun and his wife didn't have much food left in their house, and the couple's food intake was small, but it wasn't enough.

The old couple treated Zhou Chong well, Zhou Chong was grateful in his heart, and planned to earn some rations for the old couple before leaving.Zhou Chong is the operating officer of a star company, and he is very comfortable with this matter, and a plan clearly appeared in his mind.

Zhou Chong asked the old couple to send tofu to the neighbors, saying that they made it unintentionally, and asked the neighbors to try it.Of course it was easy to find an excuse, the old couple had no one to take care of them, and it was inevitable that the neighbors would not help them when they had heavy work. With this as an excuse, the neighbors naturally deserved it.

The neighbors tasted it, and it tasted good. It was the first time in their lives that they couldn't give up.Naturally, they had to ask how it was made. As for the method, it was difficult for the old couple to explain it clearly. Fortunately, Zhou Chong had already thought that his neighbors would ask this question, so he taught them how to say it. If the neighbors need it, they can exchange it for beans. For the sake of the neighbors and folks, a catty of beans is exchanged for a catty of tofu.

A catty of beans is exchanged for a catty of tofu. Zhou Chong only earns but not loses, because he can adulterate. If he saves a little effort when pressing, the water in the tofu will be more, and he will earn a lot.This was a matter of treachery and profit, Zhou Chong saw that the people at that time were too simple, he couldn't bear it, so he didn't cheat them.Even so, it is also a profitable business.

In the Guanzhong area, beans are planted in a large area, and the neighbors are naturally willing to exchange them if there is no big bag or small bag.The neighbors exchanged it with the idea of ​​trying it first, but they didn't know that they tasted the sweetness of tofu later, so they exchanged more.

Zhou Chong, the operating officer, of course knows that there are business opportunities. Whenever someone comes to exchange, he tells his neighbors: Tofu can be eaten as a vegetable.This is a truth that modern society knows without being taught, and it was still a great invention for the ancients.

The life of modern people is really many times happier than that of the ancients. If nothing else, let’s say that the vegetables are much more abundant than the ancients. Let’s not talk about meat for the time being. Vegetables alone have many more choices than the ancients. , the ancients could not choose too many vegetables, otherwise they would not use wild vegetables and bean leaves to accompany meals.

In my memory, sometimes my neighbors can feed pigs up to more than 400 catties. This is not much, but it is a good illustration of the benefits of modern society due to the improvement of livestock breeds and technological progress.It is not impossible for the ancients to feed such a large pig, but it is also very difficult. I think it is very good that the ancients could raise pigs to more than two hundred catties. (Note: My friends, please don’t say that you can solve it by hunting. Hunting is very unstable. It’s good to be rewarded five or six times out of ten. Otherwise, the life of a hunter will not be very difficult.)
The ancients often ate dog meat, and Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, especially liked it. This is certainly due to his personality, and it may also be related to the fact that pigs are difficult to grow up due to poor breeds and long growth seasons.Because of the lack of scientific and technological knowledge, the ancients would be amazed even by white-headed pigs, which well reflects the imprint of the times.Liu Bang is not normal, that is, the kind who eats and is lazy. How much pork can be eaten by him at home is unknown. Is there any reason why he, a "greedy man in the city", doesn't bother with dogs?

In addition, the ancients often used dog fat, mutton fat, and butter for cooking. Some people thought it was enjoyment. Of course, it made sense among the rich and powerful. For ordinary people, it can only prove that there is no lard, or there is not enough lard. Use alternatives.

Tofu can be eaten as a meal or as a side dish. It is very affordable and is very popular with neighbors. Ever since, the exchange volume has increased. Within a few days, the thatched cottage was full of beans.Old man Sun and his wife never imagined that their beans would increase at such a fast rate, and they couldn't close their mouths from laughter.

The old couple laughed, but it was Zhou Chong who suffered. He had to take on the hard work of making tofu, and he was not so tired that his back hurt.Based on Zhou Chong's thinking, he only needs to work hard for a few days to earn enough food for the old couple, and then he can leave. He did not expect the neighbor's response to be so enthusiastic, far exceeding his expectations.

Zhou Chong didn't do it at all, and kept going. He simply hired two strong men to help with ten catties of tofu.If in modern society, a strong man earns ten catties of tofu a day, there is still a reason not to bring the lawsuit to the labor bureau.The neighbors thought it was a fat job, and wanted to be hired. Thinking of this, Zhou Chong himself laughed a little, feeling incredible.

There are too many people, and the problem arises that the stone mills are not enough.This is easy to handle, Zhou Chong decided to rent it.Stone mills are still in use in parts of our country, but in smaller numbers.Stone mills have played a great role in improving the quality of life of the people in Chinese history. It is precisely because of stone mills that the ancients were able to eat pasta, sell cakes, and tofu that have been passed down to this day.

Stone mills originated during the Qin and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, but because the method of eating food is not as perfect as later generations, its use is not very wide, and it can only be used occasionally.Zhou Chong traveled a lot of land, and managed to rent five pairs. With a few more people, a small tofu workshop was formed.

The benefits of eating tofu and eating beans are obvious, and the news spread like wind, and other villages also came to exchange.Passing on to ten, ten to a hundred, the transaction volume is getting bigger and bigger, and the beans that are too late to process have filled the old man's thatched hut, and the old couple even have no place to sleep.

Looking at the piles of beans, Zhou Chong scratched his head. His original intention was to earn enough food for the old couple for a year. The beans he earned now were enough for the old couple to eat until they were put into the coffin. Zhou Chong's head Not too big.

After a little calculation, Zhou Chong decided that it was time for the last step.Zhou Chong discussed with the old couple and said that they would invite stonemasons and carpenters to make some tools. At this time, the old couple admired Zhou Chong very much. I have nothing to say.

With the support of the old couple, Zhou Chong hired three masons and one carpenter with tofu as salary, and asked them to work according to the style he drew.

The work of a stonemason is very simple. It is to hollow out a large stone to a depth of half a foot, with a small hole on the side and two horizontal grooves underneath.In addition, a smaller stone has to be cut to form a circle with two horizontal grooves on it.

The work of a carpenter is more complicated, that is, the kind that makes two big wheels that can be wrapped with ropes.

In addition, Zhou Chong also exchanged beans for a large copper pot, and asked someone to build a large stove.I also specially ordered a long copper shovel with a wooden handle.

This matter is a bit weird, old man Sun was curious, and asked Zhou Chong what he was using it for?Zhou Chong said with a smile: "Don't worry, Bao Zhun has fulfilled your wish."

(End of this chapter)