Chapter Forty: Commendation from the County Office

Wei Renshi and Li He sat on low stools, a large block of ice placed before them. Waves of coolness drifted on the breeze, instantly refreshing the two of them. Taking another sip of chilled, sweet yellow sugar water was all the more delightful.

Looking at the yellow sugar ice water in his hand, Li He said, “Who would’ve thought ice could be made out of thin air, without relying on winter frost? Every year, wealthy households go through great trouble to store ice!”

“How much trouble?” Wei Renshi asked casually.

“You need a proper ice cellar, don’t you? And people to harvest ice in winter, and someone to tend the cellar,” Li He listed. “After all that work, you only end up with a little bit of ice. My twenty-eighth uncle enjoys ten or so blocks of ice in a summer, and that’s enough to make people envious.”

Wei Renshi immediately conceived the idea of selling ice. How much did saltpeter cost? Water, even less worth mentioning. The cost of selling ice was almost nothing, like conjuring profit from thin air.

The process itself was simple—draw the water, boil it, let it cool, pour it into the inner basin. Fill the outer basin with water, add saltpeter, rapidly lower the temperature, the inner basin freezes, cut out the ice, and it’s done.

Wei Renshi rubbed his temples, sighing inwardly. Business opportunities were everywhere, but he lacked trustworthy hands, and it was inconvenient to manage such things personally.

Leaving Li He’s house, Wei Renshi didn’t head home directly; instead, he turned off toward the construction site of the distillery. Old Man Sun was overseeing the building and came over when Wei Renshi called him.

“What can I do for you, young master?” Old Man Sun asked.

Wei Renshi thought for a moment. “Grandpa Sun, do you remember any of our former tenants who were upright and dependable? Or among people you know, are there such men? I need some trustworthy hands. Of course, they’ll be well compensated.”

Old Man Sun pondered, then replied, “Old Liu’s family was good folk, but I’m not sure if they’re still around. Old Dong’s family too, though they’ve moved to the Lower Village. I have a nephew working as a server at the relay station on the main road—sharper than Youqing, but honest, and reliable. I just don’t know if he’d be willing.”

“Let’s try this then,” said Wei Renshi. “For those families, please do me the favor of seeking them out to see if they’ll return to help. Their wages will provide for their families without worry, I guarantee it. As for your nephew, tell him I have a new business, and if he comes, he’ll be the manager.”

“Ah?” Old Man Sun was astonished. “Young master, you trust him so much you’d make him manager right away?”

Wei Renshi grinned. “I trust you, Grandpa Sun. Find a time to talk to him—as soon as possible.”

The words moved Old Man Sun deeply, and he wanted to bow in gratitude.

“There’s no need for ceremony,” Wei Renshi stopped him. “Quickly gather them so we can open for business soon.”

Old Man Sun nodded vigorously. “Yes, I’ll go right away!”

Wei Renshi was about to say more when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Turning, he saw Village Chief Zheng, Tian Dali, and a crowd of villagers running toward him.

Village Chief Zheng called out, “Quick, go home! The county magistrate himself has come to your house!”

As he spoke, he grabbed Wei Renshi and hurried him into the village.

By the time they reached Wei Renshi’s house, crowds had already gathered in layers around the door. As soon as he returned, the villagers parted to let him through.

Standing at the back was a middle-aged man of about forty or fifty, smiling and chatting with the neighbors. Everyone’s face was aglow with excitement—a look Wei Renshi recognized well, reminiscent of people crowding around a visiting official in modern news reports.

Seeing Wei Renshi approach, the middle-aged man ended his conversation and stepped forward. Wei Renshi, not lacking in social sense, hurried to greet him, clasped his hands, and bowed in the manner of a younger scholar. “Student Wei Renshi greets the honorable county magistrate!”

He was not an official subordinate, so a subordinate’s bow would have been improper. In the Tang dynasty, kneeling was rare—unlike later eras where one had to kneel and kowtow to officials. For commoners, a formal salute sufficed, without kneeling.

Wei Renshi was a scholar, the magistrate too was a man of letters, and so the respectful address befitting a student to a learned elder was most appropriate.

In a few glances, the magistrate had sized up Wei Renshi. Though the young man’s family was poor, there was nothing petty about his demeanor; he stood straight and unafraid, composed and dignified. His coarse hemp clothes were clean, his looks unremarkable but not crude, and he carried himself with calm assurance.

“What an outstanding young man!” exclaimed the magistrate. “I heard from the village chief that you improved the plough, making it far more efficient—able to till ten times the land in a day. And I hear you invented a watering device so the fields no longer need to be irrigated by hand, but water themselves day and night. I’ve come to see for myself. If this is true, it is a great achievement. I will see you are properly rewarded and report your merits to higher authorities.”

Wei Renshi bowed again. “Thank you, Magistrate! Your care for the people, coming personally to inspect farming tools, sets a model for us all. With such a fatherly official, Fuchang is truly fortunate.”

The magistrate, pleased by the compliment, smoothed his beard and laughed. “Agriculture is no trivial matter, and tools are at its very foundation. I must see for myself, and if there is genuine benefit, spread the word so all the people may profit.”

“Your concern for the common folk commands my respect!” Wei Renshi bowed once more. “May I ask, which would you like to see first?”

“Let’s begin with the plough,” the magistrate replied.

Wei Renshi and Village Chief Zheng accompanied the magistrate, with the villagers crowding behind in a great procession toward the fields.

Village Chief Zheng had already sent for the plough. At the field’s edge, the magistrate lifted his robes and stepped down. Seeing bamboo pipes laid on the ground, he asked, “What are these for?”

“Let’s first look at the plough, Magistrate,” said Village Chief Zheng. “Afterwards, we’ll demonstrate the use of the pipes.”

“Very well,” nodded the magistrate, moving to the plough and examining it. “It certainly differs from the usual kind.”

Wei Renshi stepped forward to explain its workings. Whether or not the magistrate understood, he nodded frequently. Then, pointing to several attendants, he asked, “You’ve all used ploughs before?”

“Yes, Magistrate, we have!” the attendants replied at once.

“Good. You go and try this one out,” ordered the magistrate.

The attendants obeyed. One took the front, another the rear, and together they set about testing the plough in the field.