Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 630 Meeting an old friend again

Uncle Zhao personally practiced it, which made Minister Zhang, who was already scratching his head anxiously, overjoyed. Unexpectedly, Hua Lei was resting at home and was still thinking about the official field planting. Such a diligent and good subordinate is rare.

So, he immediately took a few people and went to the fields to conduct experiments in person. No matter whether it was a harrow, a square rake or a harrow cart, the results certainly made him very satisfied.

After praising Hualei, Minister Zhang sent the drawings of the harrow and harrow cart that Hualei had given him to the Ministry of Works, asking them to work day and night to produce as many harrows, square harrows and harrow carts as possible.

The production process of these is not difficult, at least much simpler than the waterwheel. More than half a month later, Minister Zhang got a batch of harrows, square rakes and harrow carts, and started the rice and soybean sowing business, expanding the planting area efficiently every day.

At the same time, Hua Lei also asked his own sawmill to make a batch of harrows, square rakes and plow carts. Some of them were used on his own farm, and some were given to the soldiers in Pei Jingyang's military camp.

This year, the military camp reclaimed a lot of land. The addition of several farm tools made them even more powerful, expanding the area of ​​​​military farmland, which made Pei Jingyang very happy.

Of course, the drawings and samples of the plow, square rake and plow cart also arrived at the imperial study a month later, which made Emperor Shengwu very happy.

He specially invited Lord Pei into the imperial study, praised him highly, and rewarded him with many good things.

Half a month later, these farm tools began to appear in the fields of Shangjing City, and were gradually introduced to other prefectures.

Hualei, who thinks she is very capable, finds that Rong Jin is also very good and they complement each other in many ways. He has advantages that she does not have.

Not only is he patient and meticulous in his work, but he also has strong deductive ability. He can help deduce a lot of data about the plow truck based on just a drawing of his own.

Thanks to Uncle Zhao's excellent hands-on ability, they finally made the plow. Hua Lei was very proud of herself, so she shamelessly continued to rest at home.

Minister Zhang certainly had no objection and just told Hualei to have a good rest. After all, a good rest would make the brain work better.

On this day, Hua Lei was strolling around the courtyard when the maid at the door announced that an old friend from the capital city was outside the door and wanted to see Hua Lei.

Hua Lei hurriedly invited someone in. The man was slightly plump, wearing a dark blue robe, with a warm smile on his slightly round face. Seeing Hua Lei in the yard, he slightly bowed and greeted jokingly, "I meet Mr. Hua."

"Master Jijiu? Hualei greets Master Jijiu. Master Jijiu really honors Hualei." Hualei bowed and saluted. The person who came was Gui Jijiu whom she hadn't seen for a long time. Behind him followed the old acquaintance Qian Guanshi, who was holding a pile of gifts.

"Hahaha..., Lord Hua, I'm no longer the chief priest. I retired at the end of last year! Now I'm a commoner. I beg for Lord Hua's care and protection." The chief priest Gui laughed loudly, and it was obvious that he was in a very good mood.

"Master Jijiu, please stop saying that. Please come in. When did you come to Mobei?" Hua Lei happily invited Master Gui into the study.

"I arrived yesterday, packed up and came here. Lord Hua, it's time to change your address. It's not appropriate to call me Lord Jijiu! If you want to be casual, you can just call me Lao Guitou. However, I guess you won't be so casual, hahaha..."

Hua Lei also smiled, and after serving tea, the two began to chat.

It turned out that at the end of the year, Gui Jijiu retired from the Imperial College because of his age and left the Imperial College where he had worked for his entire life.

At the beginning of the year, when the weather was getting warmer, Gui Jijiu went to several prefectures in Jiangnan for a stroll. By the way, he also visited the large and small bookstores in each prefecture.

The rice grid and field grid made by our printing house are now selling well in these bookstores. Our papermaking and printing houses in Shangjing City are also doing well.

After coming back from a relaxing trip, he received a letter forwarded by the old Marquis Pei. After seeing Hua Lei's letter, Gui Jijiu only considered it for half an hour before he decided to come to Mobei to take a look.

Although his wife, sons and grandchildren all objected, saying that the cold weather in Mobei made it unsuitable for them to come, Gui Jijiu did not care much.

When I was young, my family was struggling financially. I had to get up early and work late every day to make a living. Even if I earned a penny, I would feel like I had spent it on two petals. I didn't dare to even dream of traveling.

Now, he finally had some time, he had some money, and his legs and feet were still quite nimble. It would be a shame not to go out and take a look. Besides, Hua Lei's suggestion made him very excited.

Therefore, after arranging the affairs of his own paper mill and printing house, he brought a group of people here. Mobei, who had just arrived yesterday, came to visit Hualei today.

So, the next day, the two of them went to Beihe Village together, found the village chief's son Huang Damao, and asked him to take them to check the actual situation in Beihe Village.

Many villagers in the village heard that Hua Lei was bringing people into the village, and they all gathered around happily, and many children followed behind.

The reeds in the village are now in the budding stage. Reed shoots similar to bamboo shoots grow densely on the banks of rivers and ponds.

The name "reed" was more common in the previous life. Its other name is more aesthetic, called "Jiang Jia". The "Jiang Jia" mentioned in the "Jiang Jia is lush and green, white dew turns to frost" in the Book of Songs is this reed.

Reeds have very strong reproductive abilities and come in many varieties. They can adapt to different ecological environments. Reeds that grow in swamps, riverbanks, shallow lakes and other environments are called wetland reeds.

Phragmites australis is a kind of reed that is distributed in arid oases, farmland peripheries, saline-alkali lands, and even in some desert areas. Under suitable conditions, it can be planted in seeds, rhizomes, and aboveground stems.

Moreover, reeds are a treasure from head to toe. Reed stems and roots can be used as medicine to clear away heat, promote the production of body fluids, relieve restlessness and stop vomiting. In the past, reed flowers were generally used for viewing and were also very beautiful for photo shoots.

However, the reed flowers here are often plucked and used as the main raw material for making reed quilts. Especially in Mobei, every household of villagers who cannot afford cotton quilts has several reed quilts.

Reeds also have the functions of strengthening embankments, protecting slopes, controlling weeds, purifying water sources, regulating climate and protecting biodiversity. In addition, the stems can be used to weave reed mats, curtains and other items, and are also the raw material for papermaking.

Hualei wrote to Gui Jijiu, planning to use these reeds as the raw materials for the paper mill in Mobei. In fact, the bamboo next door is also one of the raw materials for papermaking.

The reason for choosing reeds for papermaking is that compared to bamboo, reeds grow quickly and have strong adaptability.