Chapter Eight: Testing the Plow

After bringing everything back from Fuchang, Wei Renshi began the assembly. He had already calculated the sizes and dimensions of the joints in advance, and had chosen spots to connect that wouldn’t bear much force, so putting it together wasn’t much trouble. Once assembled, it would function just as he intended.

Using only the tools he had at home, he gave everything a quick polish, fitted the parts together, and nailed them with long nails. Before long, Wei Renshi had put together a plow commonly seen in the mountain villages of later generations.

With the new plow finished, he needed someone experienced with plowing to truly appreciate its advantages.

Wei Renshi went to find Old Zhao—their homes were close. Li Rong hadn’t left yet, so they used his donkey cart to transport the curved-beam plow to Old Zhao’s house. After calling out at the gate a few times, Old Zhao emerged.

“What are you youngsters up to?” As neighbors from the same village, Old Zhao recognized them both. Seeing Li Rong first, he greeted him with a smile, and upon noticing Wei Renshi, he added, “Ah, Young Master Wei, you’re here too.”

“Uncle, you’re a master at plowing, and more familiar with the plow than anyone. I’d like to ask for your help.” Wei Renshi stepped forward from behind the cart and addressed Old Zhao.

Old Zhao chuckled, “What can I do for you, Young Master Wei?”

Wei Renshi smiled, “It’s not a command, just a request to borrow your skill with the plow to test this new one I’ve made. I noticed your old plow was giving you trouble in the fields the other day, so I made some changes and built a new model.”

Old Zhao was taken aback, his face a mix of astonishment and doubt as he looked at the plow on the donkey cart. “Well, I’ll be! Young Master Wei can make a new plow himself?!”

He stepped closer, examining the plow intently for a long while and pointing at it, “It’s definitely different from the usual plows!”

“So, would you please try it out in the field and see how it works?” Wei Renshi asked.

Old Zhao, now thoroughly intrigued, rolled up his sleeves and headed straight for the field.

The three of them arrived at the edge of the field, where a group of villagers was already at work. Among them was Zheng, the headman, who approached when he saw Wei Renshi.

“I was just about to come find you, Young Master Wei. The wheelwright says the parts are nearly done but needs to check some details with you,” Headman Zheng said. Noticing the plow on the cart, he asked, “Whose plow is this?”

***

The headman was well aware of every plow in the village—who owned them, how many there were, and where they were being used. It was the busy spring season; all the plows were already in the fields.

Before Wei Renshi could reply, Old Zhao spoke up, “Let me tell you, Headman, this is Young Master Wei’s newly made plow, different from all the usual ones. I’m about to try it out and see how it works!”

“Young Master Wei made a new plow?” The headman was astonished, though recalling Wei Renshi’s earlier irrigation ideas, he thought he shouldn’t be so surprised.

“Let’s try it first and see how it works,” Wei Renshi said with a smile. “Uncle Zheng, lend a hand and help us carry it down.”

Headman Zheng strode over, and the four of them carried the plow into the field.

He and Old Zhao were both seasoned hands—one at the front, one at the back—they pushed and pulled, setting the plow in motion.

“This part is adjustable—raise it for shallow plowing, lower it for deep. With this feature, you can break up the earth and push the soil to both sides as you go…” Wei Renshi explained, pointing out the features as they worked.

The two men listened as they plowed a short distance, then turned and continued for a few more steps. Their initial surprise soon gave way to true amazement.

Both were skilled farmers, quick to notice the difference in this new plow.

It was obviously lighter and more maneuverable—turning and moving were effortless. It entered the soil easily, requiring little strength; even a woman could use it. After passing, the soil was loose and broken, neatly pushed to the sides, and stones were picked out during plowing. You could sow seeds immediately after!

“It’s so much easier!” Old Zhao exclaimed excitedly, turning to shout, “Young Master Wei! This new plow you’ve built is much less tiring than the ones I used before! And it’s convenient—one pass and it’s ready for seeding. Not only easier, but more efficient too!”

The headman stopped, walked over to Wei Renshi, and said, “This plow can do both deep and shallow work, saves effort and time—it’s truly a fine tool! Far better than the old ones! Young Master Wei, how did you make it?”

Wei Renshi laughed, “It did take some effort. What do you think, Uncle Zheng? Is it enough for the county magistrate to reward me with some silver?”

Headman Zheng paused, then laughed, “More than enough! And if your irrigation device works too, the two together could even earn you an official post!”

“I’m not after a title—some money would be enough,” Wei Renshi replied, nodding at Li Rong. “I even borrowed the money for this plow from him.”

“How much?” the headman asked.

***

Wei Renshi replied with a smile, “I borrowed one string of cash, but didn’t use all of it. The cost of this plow comes to about three hundred coins.”

“I’ll pay off your debt for you first, Young Master Wei, and give you another string of cash. Make a few more of these plows for the village,” Headman Zheng suddenly proposed.

In their dialect, they called paying off a debt “tiding over a famine.” Wei Renshi hadn’t expected the headman to be so considerate, offering his own money to have new plows made for the villagers and to settle his debt.

But then he realized—the headman stood to gain as well. If the new plow truly proved its worth, and he, as headman, had funded the adoption of the improved design in the village, that would count as a merit for him. And by paying off Wei Renshi’s debt, it would be as though he’d sponsored the invention himself—a further achievement.

It was a win-win situation.

After Li He’s mother had warned him that no one would rent the plow—those who could afford it didn’t need to, and those who needed it couldn’t afford to—Wei Renshi had given up on making money from plow rentals.

Now he needed to finish the simple drip irrigation system and, with the merit from two improved tools, exchange it for some capital to buy ingredients for his seasoning business.

So, as long as he gained recognition, the more people who used the new tools, the better—it would benefit everyone.

The headman needed merits too, to bring himself advantages. By paying off the debt and funding more plows for the village, he’d gain both credit and goodwill.

Everyone got what they wanted; it was mutually beneficial.

Wei Renshi would profit, the headman would profit, and the villagers would have new tools. What could be better?

Naturally, Wei Renshi agreed.

It would also win him goodwill and a solid reputation in the village—why not?