Chapter 44: The Scalding Servant (Part 2)

  "Jade girl, you don't understand, my parents died early, my elder sister is like a sister to me, and also like a mother."

  "I've also heard of it."

  "Some of you may not have heard, my elder sister married into her husband's family, and her father-in-law was also a small soldier who later got injured. He received some compensation and they used it to do some small business, which was better than ordinary people but still not as good as now. My father gave a generous dowry and using his connections, he helped my brother-in-law set up a small wine shop by the riverbank. My sister worked hard to manage it, originally she had a lot of authority in her husband's family, but because she didn't take care of things properly sometimes, there were some injustices, and she couldn't speak as confidently. I used to be obsessed with reading books and didn't understand, but later when I grew up, I gradually saw the situation."

  "No wonder you stayed home and cooked on Dragon Boat Festival instead of going to your elder sister's place."

  "It's precious to be self-aware, I don't blame my sister's husband either. It's human nature, not just him, anyone would feel the same way if their wife occasionally helped out her family, but constantly doing so would also make them unhappy. Although the affection makes me feel warm, because of this love and affection, I'm also afraid in my heart. I told a lie, it was a kind-hearted lie, I didn't want to worry my sister."

  "Is it because of love that you're afraid?" Yu Ping was a bit dazed, the summer breeze blew in, unable to dispel the stifling heat in the room, but dispersing her beautiful hair and the few sparkling tears in her eyes: "Jiu Lang, although you've suffered, can you still be afraid? Because of the fear born from love, I, since childhood, was taken by my father to Khitan, my mother passed away early, and I don't even know what the taste of human affection is."

  "The future will be beautiful," Song Jiu sighed.

  He suddenly thought of a person, Feng Dao. This man was involved in the internal affairs of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and was ridiculed by later generations. He remembered that when he studied history as a child, only a few figures from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were memorable, except for Zhu Wen who had some controversy, all others were negative characters. One was the great poet Li Yu, one was the emperor Shi Jingtang who brought harm to the country for thousands of years, and another was this Feng Dao. However, when he arrived in the capital city of the Song Dynasty, he heard many citizens praising Feng Dao. He only did one thing: when the Khitan army entered the capital city, Feng Dao welcomed Yelü Deguang, who looked down on Feng Dao and mocked him, asking why he came to welcome him. Feng Dao replied, "Without a city or an army, how dare I not come?" Deguang scolded him again, saying, "You are just a foolish old man with no talent or virtue." Not wanting to lose face, Feng Dao continued, "Even so!" Yelü Deguang asked again, "How can the people of the world be saved?" At that time, this Khitan emperor wanted to conquer China, so he asked this question. Feng Dao replied, "At this time, even Buddha cannot save us, only the Emperor can."

  The Buddha's coming out is useless, it all depends on your thoughts. Yelü Deyong then launched a surprise attack, but did not annihilate the people of Central Plains. Otherwise, it is very likely that the Zhao and Song families would have been destroyed together. Is such a shameless character, such a traitor, good or bad? However, when the Khitan entered Central Plains, they caused harm to the people of Central Plains, for example, Yu Ping.

  "The future of our household is in your hands."

  "Don't worry." Song Jiuh replied hesitantly. If it was about future life, that would be fine, once the shop opened up and Yu Ping became the boss, not only wouldn't she have to put on a smiling face all day, but her status would also rise greatly. But if it was about lifelong companionship, Song Jiu really didn't dare make any promises.

  Suddenly, a burst of whistling sounds came out.

  Dr. Zhang persuaded Dr. Yan for a while, and Dr. Yan finally agreed with anger. The two doctors each gathered their students in two classrooms to announce the half-day holiday notice, but mentioned many terms, including writing so many words in the afternoon, reading so many books, and other things, including gathering in the evening on the river embankment to continue managing accounts for the laborers. Among all the practical courses of Song Jiu, only this one was most supported, after all, these people will mostly manage accounts for the government in the future, and now is the time for practice and tempering. The students listened patiently as they finished speaking, then looked at each other and cheered together.

  "Jiulang, it's not right to say in front of the shop, but regarding the bridge and the academy, won't the imperial court provide support?"

  "Some will, some won't, and some will provide partial support."

  The court does not support at all, and the consequences will be severe, but this situation will not occur. For example, bridges, academies, and docks, the court must provide assistance. There is also a kind of mutual benefit and mutual support, such as the increasingly busy water transportation on the Bian River, clearing silt has benefits for the country, and proposing to work together to clear the silt, believing that the court will also agree. There is also technical exchange for support, such as iron production, if one can increase it, the country can also allocate some iron for its own use every year.

  Furthermore, it is steel.

  The Tang Dynasty's Mo Dao was extremely ferocious, with some people having great strength, and with one slash, they could cut a person and horse in half. This was not only due to human strength, but also the length and weight of the Mo Dao, as well as the steel itself. The Song Dynasty also had Baolian steel, but the Mo Dao was made of Baizhe steel. It was forged by folding it over 100 times, equivalent to stacking a piece of iron billions and billions of times. Not only did it have high toughness, but it was also highly carbonized. Therefore, the Mo Dao was incomparably sharp, and because this technique was lost, the Song Dynasty could never replicate the Mo Dao again.

  I don't know what the real tamahagane would look like, but the real tamahagane is no less than the good steel of later generations, but the cost is too high. The armor worn by the soldiers of the Song Dynasty was estimated to be at most six-fold steel or seven-fold steel, and it would not exceed ten-fold steel.

  If the cost of steel production is reduced, it's a good deal to make a deal with the imperial court and get some support in return. At least the research funding doesn't have to be paid out of pocket. It's not taking advantage of the imperial court, but rather a fair exchange. But if this technology isn't handed over, that's just asking for trouble.

  "Don't worry, just wait a bit longer, and the real store will officially start in a year. What about Cui Er?"

  "Cuier has not brought her family."

  Yu Ping's thoughts were crystal clear, but Song Jiu's sister suddenly called her to the river, making her both happy and worried. Happy was that Song Jiu's sister, although slightly putting on airs, clearly regarded herself as an elder sister. Worried was that she didn't know what the elder sister wanted to say, fearing that Cui'er would be displeased in her heart, so she came alone. But at present, the relationship is a bit messy, and it can be said that her own appearance is not inferior. Those who are more popular than her are just some courtesans who are willing to "pay out", which makes some literati and scholars loudly praise them. As for these courtesans, their beauty and artistic skills may not necessarily be stronger than hers.

  She had to make the first move, but this little nine was not receptive at all, making people feel uncomfortable with his ambiguous attitude. That Pan's wife, he definitely couldn't climb up, but one headstrong person stuck inside and wouldn't come out. Thinking of this, she said: "Ninth brother, sometimes I think of something."

  "What's wrong?"

  "If I had a past life, then I must be the white fox that owed you a favor."

  "No way," Song Jiulian said awkwardly, and then asked: "How did you hear it too?"

  "That song of yours is so crude, no one dares to sing it. That story has been passed down by many people, and even the storytellers in the teahouses have modified it repeatedly, I don't know how many young girls' tears they've deceived."

  "Is that so?" Song Jiu was delighted, but unfortunately, Zhu San hadn't gone to the tile kiln to tell stories for a long time, and Song Jiu was kept in the dark.

  There are even more, Song Jiudao apologized and told a messy story, his stories are many, the speaker is insincere, but the listener is intentional. There are thousand-year romances, human-demon romances, triangular loves, both dog-blooded and sentimental, spreading quickly. In fact, this story has its own meaning, reminding people to cherish those around them, a hundred years of cultivation can lead to sharing the same boat, a thousand years of cultivation can lead to sharing the same bed, becoming relatives is not easy, how many opportunities are needed? From the perspective of imperial examination, it's not simple either, among billions of small shrimp, only one survives. Don't wait until you lose something to know its preciousness.

  After the story spread, at least a few dozen pairs of masters and servants were fulfilled. But what's even more dog-blooded is the story behind it. Song Jiu had his eyes on Pan Mei's daughter, this matter couldn't be kept under wraps anymore. However, Yu Ping was stuck to him, pursuing him again, another love triangle emerged. Some people scolded Song Jiu for being ungrateful, Pan's young lady wasn't someone he should pursue, yet he pursued her with enthusiasm, why was Yu Ping so good? This is just like that hateful bookworm, not knowing how to cherish the person by his side. As a result, Pan Lian'er got hurt again.

  This is something Yu Ping dare not say out loud.

  Silent, gazing at the pagoda tree, its leaves rustling softly in the summer breeze. The pagoda tree has also grown old; although its branches are lush and verdant, upon closer inspection, it resembles a hunched elderly person. Perhaps the pagoda tree is sentient too, perhaps it will grow old as well.

  Everyone likes gossip, there's the White Fox story, and real-life love triangles, even Zhao Kuangyin is curious, so he comes to his second brother's house as a guest, and unintentionally mentions Song Jiu with Zhao Kuangyi, then says: "Second brother, I'll make a bet with you, bet on who this kid will marry in the end?"

  "Your Majesty, I won't gamble. This kid is clever. If Your Majesty wants to help him and Pan Lian'er, grant him wealth and nobility, the two families will be somewhat matched. Pan Mei attaches great importance to relationships and takes good care of all the former court officials. This marriage might just come true. But if the Emperor doesn't want to help him with that, but rather wants to help him with that qing girl, not granting him wealth and nobility, the gap between the two families is too big. In the end, that qing girl will be sincere and devoted, and he can only marry her. However, this kid still has some guts, it's just that he won't give in."

  "It's not cowardice, it's cleverness. One fruit is not that important, he's afraid of Director Zhao and also gambles that you and I won't get angry, so he doesn't give it." After speaking, Zhao Kuangyin shook his head and said, "The edict can be issued now."

  The following is a formal proclamation: Song Jiu was granted the title of Chengwu Lang and appointed as the Inspector of Xiangzhou Iron Pond.

  He was promoted again, from the eighth rank of a scattered official. After Zhu San saw the eunuch leave, his eyes turned red and he hugged Song Jiu: "It won't do, we have to invite guests, we have to set up a big banquet."

  It's nothing to be a minor official from the eighth rank, but it's quick to get promoted. In just this short period of time, he has been promoted again and is only 19 years old. At this rate, by the time he's thirty, he'll be a first-rank official. Zhu San was driven mad, his mouth spouting nonsense, talking non-stop.

  "You little brat, don't be arrogant, do you know why you were promoted to this position?"

  "I don't know?" Zhu San shook his head, as if Song Jiu was sitting at home teaching books, and official positions came like manna from heaven.

  "Brother Zhu, I once said something in front of the Second Duke, saying that I could increase iron production, but I need the imperial court to allocate some iron for me to use. The Second Duke said that if it can be done, he will speak beautifully in front of His Majesty and promote my official rank by one level. I said that there is not much difference between being an eighth-rank official and a regular ninth-rank scattered official, as long as they allocate some iron for me to use. Now, I haven't figured out the method yet, but my official rank has been promoted, do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing?"

  "So what can you do about it?"

  "It seems there is something."

  "What's the difference then?"

  "Brother Zhu, yes, it's about the output. The Second Master Wang said that the increased output is one million catties. If you have a good plan, I'm willing to transfer this official position to you."

  What was being transferred, don't listen anymore, Zhu San was stunned: "One million catties."

  "Zhu brother, is this official position good or not?"

  "It's hard to do, it's hard to do, too hot to handle!"

  The difference is huge, the procedure is reversed. Song Jiuxiao said that he would first look and then think of a way, and then let the imperial court allocate iron to him, regardless of whether he was promoted or not. Of course, if he failed, it wouldn't matter. Now the procedure has been reversed, first promote him, give him power, not just letting him look, but also giving him the right to inspect, with this right, he can inquire about all matters related to the management, accounts, operation and production of Xiangzhou Iron Mine. But this means that Song Jiuxiao can only succeed and cannot fail! How can it not be a hot potato?