"Dig a well?"
Song County Magistrate couldn't figure out how the water in a well could be enough to irrigate thousands of acres of parched land.
"Is there really that much water underground?"
"Sir," Wang Jiafu said, "Would I dare to talk nonsense in front of you? Most of the fields in our village have been irrigated once, and the seeds have been planted."
Song County Magistrate's heart suddenly thumped uncontrollably.
If this was true, it would be too good!
After pacing around, he immediately thought of the key to the matter.
"Zhang County Captain, prepare a carriage immediately. I want to go see it myself! If it's really feasible, other villages should start digging wells overnight!"
"Yes!"
...
"Mother! Mother!"
Li Yao was sunning at home when Wang Xiao Si rushed back like a gust of wind.
"What are you yelling about?"
"Mother, the county magistrate is here! Grandpa Li said he's here to see the little goose well."
What?
Just a well could make the county magistrate come in person?
Li Yao thought for a bit and felt something was wrong.
The county magistrate was an official, a parent official, so ordinary commoners would kneel and bow when they saw him. As a modern person, she didn't want to do that.
If you can't afford to provoke someone, can't you hide from them?
"Wang San'er."
"Yes Mother?"
"Let's go. Mother will take you to the mountains to train wilderness survival."
Wang San'er blinked and asked, "What's wilderness survival?"
"That's spending a whole day in the big mountain with just a knife and fire-starter."
Wang San'er's eyes lit up. This sounded super fun. He picked up the firewood axe and left.
Seeing them leave in such a hurry, Wang Er, who was studying in the yard, wondered. Mother was always fearless, why did she rush into the mountain when she heard the county magistrate was coming?
...
In the end, Song County Magistrate came on horseback.
The roads in River Bend Village were too narrow for the county carriage.
Besides Yu County Vice Magistrate, Zhang County Captain, Liu Tutor, he also brought several attendants with swords - the entire county yamen contingent was here.
Seeing such a huge entourage, the villagers of River Bend were so scared they hid in their homes and didn't dare come out, so when Song County Magistrate arrived at the fields, he didn't see a single person.
"Didn't they say they were farming here?" Yu County Vice Magistrate looked and immediately became unhappy. "Where are the people?"
"This..." the village head said, "The fields are all planted, everyone probably went back to rest..."
"Nonsense!" Yu County Vice Magistrate's face darkened as he coldly said, "Knowing Sir Song was coming, instead of coming out to greet us, they all ran home to hide. What kind of etiquette is this? Hurry and call everyone out!"
"Yes, I'll go right away."
"No need."
Song County Magistrate waved his hand. Right now he had no interest in putting on official airs. He only wanted to know if the land before him had really been planted, and if there would really be a harvest next year.
"Let's go look at the fields."
"Sir, how can this be?" Yu County Vice Magistrate quickly advised, "The fields are so dirty, it will soil your shoes."
"Haha, I'm not that pretentious."
Song County Magistrate walked into a field, used his hand to dig up some soil, and indeed saw some plump wheat grains.
The mud in the field was also moist one chi down, looking freshly watered and soaked through.
"Not bad, not bad at all! Village Head Wang, take me to see that well."
"Yes sir, please follow me."
The group came to the well. Song County Magistrate looked and silently praised it. The well was so big, with so much water, no wonder it was enough to irrigate thousands of acres.
If other villages, even other counties, even the entire Yizhou Prefecture followed suit, even if next year was dry again, there would be no worries about the grain harvest.
"Village Head Wang, you have rendered outstanding service this time."
"No no, it wasn't my contribution," Wang Jiafu quickly waved his hands, "I could not have come up with this method."
"Then who thought of it?"
"Replying to you sir, it was Li Yao from our village."
For some reason, Song County Magistrate was not surprised at all upon hearing this news.
When he first heard of this, he had a vague feeling that this matter was related to Li Yao, and now it turned out to be so.
He then saw a large stone erected by the well and asked, "What is this stone for?"
"This is prepared to engrave the well's name," Wang Jiafu replied, "We just haven't had time the past few days."
"Oh?" Song County Magistrate curiously asked, "What is this well called then?"
"At first we planned to call it Yao Well, using Li Yao's name, but she didn't agree to it," said Wang Jiafu. "Then Li Yao gave this well a name - Little Goose Well."
She could have had a well named after her, with her name carved on stone to be passed down for generations, yet in the face of such an honor, Li Yao actually refused it?
Song County Magistrate became even more curious. Just what kind of person was this Li Yao?
"Where is she? I want to meet her."
"I'll go get her right away."
But soon Wang Jiafu ran back: "Li Yao went into the mountains to dig herbs..."
"What?" Yu County Vice Magistrate unhappily said, "The County Magistrate wants to see her and she runs off to the mountains to dig herbs? Why isn't someone going to fetch her back immediately?"
Wang Jiafu was sweating profusely: "Sir, the mountain is huge, no one knows where she is..."
"Are you saying the County Magistrate has to go into the mountains himself to look for someone he wants to meet?"
"Yu County Vice Magistrate," Song County Magistrate coldly said, "She's not home, forget it. Don't bring this up again."
"But sir, reproaching..."
"I said, don't bring this up again." Song County Magistrate's face darkened. "Also, speak to the commoners with less pretense in the future."
"Yes."
Yu County Vice Magistrate verbally agreed, but was extremely unhappy inside.
This County Magistrate really thought highly of himself, actually dressing him down in front of so many people.
Hmph, reprimanding him, Yu County Vice Magistrate! One day, he would make this County Magistrate know his might!
After rewarding Li Yao, Song County Magistrate called over his clerk and ordered: "Li Yao has again rendered outstanding service by digging wells to fight drought. Note this down. Also, reward 50 taels of silver."
"Yes!"
50 taels of silver was no small sum, even making Yu County Vice Magistrate a little envious.
This contribution for digging wells to fight drought was merit the County Magistrate could have claimed for himself. They could have divided the rewards in private.
But now, none of them got any credit, let alone any rewards, and still had to suffer this pointless trip.
Keep up your high and mighty attitude! One day, he would make this County Magistrate know his capabilities!
After rewarding Li Yao, Song County Magistrate also instructed Wang Jiafu to have Li Yao visit the county yamen as soon as she returned home, to discuss digging wells in other villages.
Baichuan County had over 20 other villages. If they could all use this method to dig wells for water, the commoners of the entire county would have a harvest next year.
After successful trials in a few villages, he would immediately report to Yizhou Prefecture and have commoners across Yizhou use this method to fight drought.
If successful, it would definitely be a great achievement that would astound even the Emperor!