Chapter 64: The Opening of the Workshop

  Li Jihe searched every village and town in San Yuan County for three whole days, almost visiting every household. But the result was still nothing. The shadow of the divine doctor was still elusive. Li Jihe was even more anxious, like a fire burning fiercely.

  Actually, Li Jihong had also been to Gutian Village before and had heard villagers mention Liu Yitiao. After all, Liu Yitiao was able to cure the intestinal obstruction of a cow, which made him somewhat famous in several nearby villages. However, after learning that Liu Yitiao was just an animal doctor, Li Jihong directly dismissed him. In his opinion, how could an animal doctor possibly have such incredible skills?

  Thus, the one and only chance to find the divine doctor in his mouth was missed.

  Fortunately, Empress Changsun's condition has stabilized under the careful treatment of several imperial physicians, and the Crown Prince is no longer in such a hurry.

  Li Zhide sat with Li Ji and in the main hall of the county government, seeing Li Ji's worried face, Li Zhide comforted him: "Lord Li doesn't have to be so troubled. Although that divine doctor appeared in San Yuan County, who can guarantee he is a resident of San Yuan County? Maybe he is a traveling doctor from another place? Can you broaden your vision a bit?"

  "Lord Li," said Li Ji and, glancing at Li Zhide, "you're not unaware of the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince. It's a secret matter. Otherwise, why would the Crown Prince instruct us to investigate in private?"

  "There are only two reasons for doing so. One is that he doesn't want the identity of the divine doctor to be known by outsiders, which would bring trouble to the divine doctor. The crown prince is kind-hearted and doesn't want to do something ungrateful. Another reason is that His Majesty also doesn't want the matter of the crown prince being stabbed to be leaked out, which would lose face for the imperial court. After all, last time the crown prince went on a private tour outside the palace."

  "Moreover, this San Yuan County is different from other places. It is adjacent to Chang'an and has always had upright officials like you guarding it. With Master Li's help, we won't have to worry about anything leaking out. However, if the divine doctor really isn't in San Yuan County, then it will be a bit difficult. We might have no choice but to give up."

  "The superior's rebuke is that the subordinate's consideration was not thorough enough." Li Zhide bowed his head in apology. This matter, no matter how you say it, is a secret of the imperial family, and he indeed misspoke earlier.

  "Hmm." Li Ji picked up his tea cup and took a light sip, saying: "Tomorrow, send someone to search the county town again. If there's still no news, I'll return to report back."

  "Yes, sir." Li Zhide stood up with a smile and bowed to Li Ji: "I'll go make some preparations now. I'll take my leave first."

  The three days passed quickly, with several matches and a few lanterns, it was over.

  The greatest gain for Liu Yitiao in these three days was that he had climbed up the big tree of the Gong Sun family. He accompanied Gong Sun Wenda to play Go for two whole days, coaxing the old man until he was delighted. When looking at Liu Yitiao, he looked even more affectionate than when looking at his own son. There was also Gong Sun Helan, who would take Liu Yitiao to the martial arts hall to spar whenever she had the chance. Although every time it was his turn to be taught a lesson, he still didn't tire of it, having a somewhat masochistic tendency.

  By the time they reached seventeen in the morning, Lao Liu was worried about the oxen at home and urged his family to return by horse-drawn carriage early.

  Upon arriving home, Old Liu first lit incense for the ancestral tablet on the table, and the family took turns paying their respects. Afterwards, he directed his family to thoroughly sweep the entire house from top to bottom, removing dust and evil spirits, ensuring peace and good fortune.

  After the Lantern Festival, the ancestor worship officially ended. In the evening, the ancestral tablets had to be put away and would not be worshipped again until next year. Old Liu instructed Liu Yitiao to buy some offerings from the nearby market. The evening's sacrifice was the last one of the year, so it had to be grand, not a single detail could be neglected.

  Liu Yitiao took advantage of the early sky to go to He Bo's ironwork shop, and brought back all the plows that had been ordered a few days ago. There were twenty plows in total, which seemed like a lot, but actually only weighed about ten or so kilograms of raw iron. Each piece was only as big as a palm, shaped like a fan, far inferior to modern farming tools' ordinary iron plow.

  Liu Yitiao stuffed them all into the basket and carried it on his back as he walked down. When he arrived at the Yuan family's house, Yuan Pei was tidying up the two large red lanterns hanging from the top of the gate.

  Yuan Pei saw Liu Yitiao coming and hurriedly got down from the bamboo ladder, put down the lantern he had taken, and stood up to welcome him.

  "Uncle Yuan, I've come to pay my respects." Liu Yitiao bowed first and said: "The plow blades are all done, I've brought them specially this time. Is Uncle Yuan at home?"

  Yuan Pei smiled and returned the courtesy, saying: "Doctor Liu is polite, my father is now in the backyard, polishing the plow bed, I'll take you to find him." As he spoke, Yuan Pei gave way to Liu Yitiao, asking him to go first.

  Liu Yitiao had been there several times, and the doorman was also very familiar with him, so he didn't bother to be polite to Yuan Pei anymore. He just nodded at Yuan Pei and walked in.

  In the backyard, Yuan Fang was concentrating on carving a wooden board and didn't notice Liu Yitiao's arrival. Next to him were already seven or eight complete plow frames. Seeing this, Liu Yitiao felt happy in his heart, at this speed, by the end of the month, Yuan Fang would definitely be able to finish making all the plow heads.

  "Father, Liu Shen Yi has arrived." Yuan Pei walked up to Yuan Fang and called out in a low voice.

  "Oh? Mr. Liu?" Yuan Fang turned his head back, saw that it was indeed Liu Yitiao, put down the tool in his hand, stood up and smiled: "I happen to have something to discuss with Mr. Liu, and Mr. Liu has arrived just in time. Hehe, let's go to the main hall and chat together."

  Liu Yitiao unloaded all the plows from the basket and put the basket aside, then stood up and said to Yuan Fang: "Please, Elder Yuan, I will do as you say."

  Three people arrived at the main room, Yuan Pei personally got up to make tea and poured a cup for both Yuan Fang and Liu Yitiao.

  Liu Yitiao took the teacup with both hands and gently placed it on the table, opening his mouth to ask: "I don't know what Mr. Yuan wants to find out about this matter? Is there something wrong with that plow?"

  "Mr. Liu is worrying too much, the structure of the Liu plow is simple and convenient to use, what problem could it have?" Yuan Fang said: "I wanted to find you, Mr. Liu, just to discuss a business deal with you."

  "Business?" Liu Yitiao was puzzled in his heart. What business could they have between them? Was it for that curved plow?

  "Yes, a deal!" A pair of small eyes in Yuan Fang's face sparkled with enthusiasm as he gazed eagerly at Liu Yitiao: "I want to partner with Mr. Liu to open a workshop specializing in the production and sale of Liu-style plows. Does Mr. Liu have any interest in this?"

  "Open a workshop?" Isn't that just a factory? Liu Yitiao's eyes lit up, this was actually a good idea. The Liu family's plow, with its super-advanced farming capabilities, would definitely be quickly accepted by the farmers of this era. Think about it, in the entire Tang Dynasty, with tens of millions of people, every household that had land wouldn't need one or several plows? Hmm! The market potential was huge! And if they were the only factory in the country that could produce and manufacture them, wouldn't they make a fortune?

  "Yes, of course!" Just for a moment, Liu Yitiao was blinded by the huge profit inside, and he swallowed his saliva to ask Yuan Fang: "I just don't know what kind of cooperation method Mr. Yuan wants?"