Chapter Eleven: Displaying Merit

The villagers gathered joyfully, each with a beaming face, wandering from one field to another, eager to see the changes. Witnessing every plot of land being thoroughly irrigated, their excitement only grew. Zheng, the village head, was equally delighted; he spent his own money to send a few nephews to buy supplies and invited everyone to a communal meal, which raised everyone’s spirits even higher.

The villagers took turns coming to thank Wei Renshi, their enthusiasm almost overwhelming him. Fortunately, the Madam Dowager soon arrived, and the crowd shifted to offer her their congratulations, praising her for having such a remarkable son. Only then did Wei Renshi manage to extract himself and breathe a sigh of relief.

Slipping away to sit on a pile of hay, Wei Renshi’s mind was occupied with how to persuade his mother to allow him to make a trip to Luoyang. He hoped to visit the kitchens of some restaurants there to discover what kinds of seasonings were currently in use. Depending on what he found, he planned to visit herbal and spice shops to purchase raw ingredients.

The basics such as scallion, ginger, and garlic needed no mention; those were staples. Common spices like Sichuan pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, dried tangerine peel, and more elaborate condiments like fermented black beans or bean paste were likely already available. However, some seasonings, such as star anise, cumin, angelica root, and sand ginger, as well as certain folk methods—like adding pinewood to mutton soup—were probably not yet in use. Some ingredients might still be limited to western regions and had not reached the heartland, which was promising.

Even with existing spices, preparation methods and combinations could greatly alter their effect. Blended seasonings had good commercial potential. As long as he could source raw materials, it would not be difficult for Wei Renshi to make them, and the cost would be low—an ideal venture for their current situation.

He could start with small batches, selling them locally in Fuchang to support his family of three, and think about expanding later. Mulling over his plans, Wei Renshi fell asleep unknowingly on the haystack.

When he was finally awakened, dusk was already approaching.

“My son has worked hard these days. If you need to rest, do it at home to avoid catching cold,” the Madam Dowager said, adjusting his clothes.

“Mother, in a few days I’d like to make a trip to Luoyang,” Wei Renshi replied.

She paused and asked, “For what purpose?”

“To find some books to read. I’ve gone through all the ones at home several times,” Wei Renshi offered as an excuse. “I heard from Li He that some gentry families in Luoyang allow scholars to peruse their collections.”

“My son has never traveled far from home…” his mother hesitated, clearly reluctant.

“To read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles,” Wei Renshi said earnestly. “I wish to go out and see the world. Besides, Luoyang isn’t that far away.”

“But you are not yet of age,” she replied, shaking her head. “It’s better to wait a few more years before journeying out, even if you have the ambition.”

Realizing he could not persuade her for now, Wei Renshi let the matter drop, deciding to try again another time.

Returning home, exhaustion overtook him and he slept soundly, not waking until early the next morning.

The farmers in the village rose early as usual. By the time Wei Renshi stepped outside, many people were already standing along the field ridges, pointing and discussing the now thoroughly irrigated land, their excitement still unabated.

Wei Renshi had now become a local celebrity. Previously, villagers addressed him as “Young Master Wei,” with the casual affection reserved for a neighbor’s child. Now, their tone had changed to a more respectful “Master Wei.”

Taking a walk around Changgu, Wei Renshi felt reassured. The irrigation had greatly improved the fields; unless the Daoyuan River dried up, the village would no longer rely on manual labor to water the crops.

In high spirits, he hummed a little tune on his way home. He had just sat down to eat when Zheng, the village head, arrived.

“Today I intend to go to the county office to report your achievement, Master Wei,” Zheng announced to the household. He then looked at Wei Renshi and added, “I’ll also visit neighboring villages.”

The Madam Dowager gave a slight bow and thanked him, “Thank you for your efforts, Village Head Zheng.”

Wei Renshi understood Zheng’s meaning and nodded. “Thank you, Uncle Zheng. Aren’t you also planning to commission more ploughs? I’ll accompany you!”

“Very well!” Zheng agreed.

After a few hurried mouthfuls of millet rice, Wei Renshi bid farewell to his mother, retrieved the blueprints he had previously divided into several components, and climbed onto the donkey cart with Zheng, setting off for Fuchang together.

During the Tang dynasty, four households formed a neighborhood, five neighborhoods made a unit, one hundred households constituted a district, and five districts made a township. Each district appointed a village head to manage census, farming, legal matters, and taxation. Reporting innovations in agricultural tools to higher authorities was precisely part of the village head’s duty.

However, Wei Renshi was curious about Zheng’s acquaintance with the county magistrate and asked along the way, “Uncle Zheng, how do you know the county magistrate?”

“In my youth, I was conscripted into the army,” Zheng replied. “The magistrate was then a staff officer. I saved his life once, and that’s how we became acquainted.”

Wei Renshi understood—“staff officer” meant the magistrate had been an aide in the military, while Zheng was a low-ranking soldier who had saved him during a campaign.

“Later, after my discharge, I returned to Changgu. A few years ago, when he was posted to Fuchang as magistrate, he recognized me when I was handling business at the county office.”

“Will reporting the achievement actually be useful?” Wei Renshi asked.

Zheng paused before answering, “I’m not sure about higher authorities, but at least the county office will ensure you receive a reward.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Renshi thought to himself that higher-ups might still claim credit, a sign of the Tang dynasty’s decline. In earlier, more upright times, such achievements might have been properly recognized. Still, as long as the county office provided a reward, that was enough—the aim was simply to receive some material benefit.

Changgu was not far from Fuchang county seat. Upon arrival, the two parted ways—Zheng headed to the county office, while Wei Renshi took the blueprints to find the craftsmen he’d met before.

“I’ll head off then. Where shall we meet later?” Zheng asked.

“Let’s meet at the flatbread stall near the city gate,” Wei Renshi suggested. “The flatbreads there are famous and delicious. My treat, Uncle Zheng.”

Zheng laughed heartily, “Let me treat you instead, Master Wei. All right, once you’re done, head there and I’ll join you.”

With that, Zheng went to the county office.

Wei Renshi found the craftsmen from before. With their previous experience, there was little need for further explanation. He quickly placed an order for ten sets of plough components, to be collected in five days.

Seeing that it was still early, he remembered Li Rong mentioning that the most well-stocked herbal shop in Fuchang was Jikang Hall, so he set off in that direction.