Chapter Nine: Improving the Tipping Cart

A string of a thousand copper coins was enough to forge a curved-beam plow. The going rate was said to be three hundred coins, but in truth, only a hundred would suffice.

Thus, for each plow he made, Wei Renshi could pocket two hundred coins in profit.

Yet Wei Renshi had no intention of charging the full three hundred coins to the village head.

After delivering the plow home, the two of them headed toward the riverside. On the way, Wei Renshi said, “Uncle Zheng, actually, it doesn’t take three hundred coins to make a plow like this—one hundred is plenty. With your string of coins, we could make ten. However, in the future, if folks from neighboring villages want one, remember to tell them it’s three hundred apiece.”

Village Head Zheng turned to him in surprise. “Only a hundred coins?”

“It’s not such a complicated thing,” Wei Renshi replied with a laugh. “If this plow truly finds its way to the authorities and they decide to promote it, then it will be out of our hands. For now, while the officials haven’t caught wind of it, let’s sell a few. Uncle Zheng, you provide the capital, I provide the know-how. We’ll sell in the surrounding villages, and whatever profit we make from each plow, we split evenly. What do you say?”

“Young Master Wei, you’re thinking of going into business?” Village Head Zheng’s surprise was plain, and he stopped in his tracks. He added quickly, “Your mother dearly hopes you’ll pursue your studies. If she hears you want to become a merchant, wouldn’t that…”

Wei Renshi burst out laughing. “Uncle Zheng, you know our family’s situation—I’m barely scraping by, let alone thinking of the future. It’s only because I worry about causing my mother pain that I came to you. Besides, we’re merely helping folks make plows—hardly the work of merchants. With each plow earning us at least two hundred coins, splitting it means a hundred for each of us. Sell ten, and each of us has a string of coins. There are plenty of villages around Fuchang…”

Zheng was clearly tempted, though his face still showed some concern. “But this is your invention. If I do this, am I not taking advantage of you? And your mother…”

“We’ll keep it from her, naturally,” Wei Renshi said. “If I don’t earn something soon, our family won’t last much longer. My mother is proud and strong, but as her son, I can’t let her keep suffering.”

“Then… very well!” After a moment’s thought, Village Head Zheng nodded firmly.

Wei Renshi held out his hand with a grin. “Then it’s settled, Uncle Zheng.”

“It’s settled,” Zheng agreed, slapping his palm against Wei Renshi’s.

In these times, a person’s word could still be trusted. Besides, this was just a little side business—hardly enough to require a contract.

It was work Wei Renshi could have handled alone, but he brought Zheng in because he didn’t want to run all over himself. The village head knew everyone in the area; his efforts at “promotion” would be far more effective than a young lad’s. This way, Wei Renshi could spare himself the legwork and focus on other things.

The two of them discussed how to sell plows to the neighboring villages, or even those a bit farther afield.

As they spoke, they reached the riverbank at Daoyuan Stream.

Outside the waterwheel stood a wooden shed. Voices could already be heard from within. Pushing the door open, they found several craftsmen at work. One carpenter came forward and said, “Young Master Wei, the horizontal wheel is nearly finished. I wanted to ask if it looks all right. If so, we can install it now.”

Wei Renshi went over to inspect. “Your handiwork is second to none—I see no faults. But this lower wheel is meant to push water. Could the paddles be made a bit broader? That way, the current will turn the wheel with more force.”

As soon as he finished, the wheelwright laughed. “Let me tell you, Young Master, the paddles can’t be any bigger. They’re attached to the mechanism above—if they’re too large, the water’s force below will be too great for the top to keep up, and the paddles will break, or the axle might snap.”

Wei Renshi nodded. “So that’s how it is! You’re the wheelwright, the true expert—I’ll defer to you.”

The wheelwright had never heard the word “expert,” but he understood that Wei Renshi would make no further changes. “Shall we go ahead and install it, then?”

Wei Renshi agreed, and the craftsmen set to work.

Fitting the gears required real muscle, especially the lower wheel, which had to be secured in the stream. Village Head Zheng lent a hand, and after half a day’s labor, it was finally in place.

Water was gently pushed up the long dragon-spine flume, splashing down from above in a cascade like a miniature waterfall.

Wei Renshi watched the flow, then turned and asked, “Uncle Zheng, how far is it from here to the back slope?”

“It’s just behind your house—not more than a few hundred paces,” Zheng replied.

“The flume was made extra long and angled upward; it should already be higher than the back slope. Next, we’ll use bamboo tubes for the channel, connecting the flume to the reservoir on the back slope,” said Wei Renshi.

Zheng’s gaze was fixed on the long, gently rising flume, watching the water being carried upward. His tone was full of certainty as he said, “I believe your plan will work! I’ll gather people to build the channel right away!”

With that, he turned and hurried back to the village.

Wei Renshi strolled home at a leisurely pace.

Changgu was rich in bamboo, thick stalks wider than Wei Renshi’s thigh were everywhere. Village Head Zheng did not make a public announcement, but quietly summoned his own kin and close friends to help cut the bamboo.

They worked during the day, and by evening Zheng had brought a few strong young men to Wei Renshi’s home, offering to plow the fields for his family.

Madam Wei tried to refuse, but Zheng explained about the irrigation: the waterwheel was ready, and he was confident in its success. Since Wei Renshi had solved the irrigation problem, they would fulfill their promise to help with the plowing. Madam Wei had no choice but to accept.

Using Wei Renshi’s improved plow, and with several able-bodied men, they finished plowing the Wei family’s fields in just one evening—a task that would otherwise have taken two or three days.

“I never thought it could be done so quickly! This plow truly is remarkable,” said Village Head Zheng, who had used the new design for some time and found it a great improvement. He turned to Madam Wei with praise: “Young Master Wei is truly gifted. He’ll surely restore your family’s honor and attain great success in the future.”

“You flatter us, Village Head,” Madam Wei replied, her manner still polite and reserved.

“The plow is finished. In a few days the bamboo channel will be ready, and the reservoir on the back slope can be dug,” Zheng continued. “To lead water from the reservoir to every field through bamboo pipes will take some work, but if everyone in the village pitches in, it won’t take long. I reckon that, in at most seven days, this whole—this whole, what’s it called…”

“Drip irrigation system,” Wei Renshi prompted from the side.

“Yes! This drip irrigation system will be up and running,” Zheng exclaimed, picking up the phrase. “From then on, our village will never worry about watering the fields again. We won’t have to toil carrying water—the fields will irrigate themselves. The villages for miles around will be green with envy!”

Madam Wei smiled. “It’s all thanks to you, Village Head, thinking of everyone’s welfare and sparing no expense. If it were the head of any other village, even knowing the benefits, they would never spend their own money to do all this.”

Hearing such praise, Zheng beamed with delight, almost jumping for joy, scratching his head in embarrassment.

Wei Renshi grinned at the side, and Xi’er, noticing, began to giggle as well, her eyes turning into charming crescents.