Chapter 91: I’ve Got Everything Here
When Liuzi learned that Wen Xiuyi wanted his father to make something, he handed the stall to Wen Nong and took Wen Xiuyi and Wen Yao straight to his home.
Wen Nong: So I’m the only one working now?
At Liuzi’s house, the courtyard was stacked with timber covered by oilcloth to keep the rain off. Liuzi’s family name was Zhang, and carpentry had been their trade for generations.
Carpenter Zhang knew Wen Xiuyi was a scholar and also knew he taught Liuzi to read while running the stall. The Zhang family was deeply grateful.
“Brother Wen, what brings you here today? Come in, come in! Wife, make tea!” he greeted warmly.
After sitting down, Wen Xiuyi immediately took out his drawings.
“Take a look—can you make this?”
Carpenter Zhang studied the paper in surprise. “This is… a plow?”
It resembled the ones he usually made, yet was clearly different.
“Yes. It’s a curved-beam plow,” Wen Xiuyi explained. “I’ve marked the structure and details. Ask if anything’s unclear and try to make it as soon as possible.”
Carpenter Zhang began studying the blueprint so intently he didn’t even look up when tea arrived. Soon he asked about a couple of unclear parts, and the two leaned together, discussing quietly.
Meanwhile, Wen Yao chatted with the younger children outside and secretly gave them candy she had swapped into new packaging.
After finishing, Carpenter Zhang said, “I’ll start now. It should be done by tonight. The iron plowshare needs to be forged by a blacksmith though—that part will cost money.”
Wen Xiuyi hesitated. “Won’t this delay your other work?”
Zhang laughed. “Nothing’s more important than helping you. The iron will cost money, but the wood is on me.”
Wen Xiuyi insisted on paying, but Zhang refused. “Brother Wen, Liuzi eats at your stall every day and you teach him to read. Our family already owes you so much. Let me repay you this once.”
Finally, Wen Xiuyi relented. “Alright—but just this once.”
Outside, Wen Xiuyi still felt uneasy, but Wen Yao reassured him. “Think of it as tuition. You teach Liuzi, he makes us a plow. Besides, we’ll need furniture from him when the new house is built.”
Feeling better, they returned briefly to the stall, informed Wen Nong, and left again—assigning Liuzi extra homework before going.
At the broker’s office in the south of town, the clerk recognized them as guests of Manager Qiu and hurried to fetch Broker Deng.
“Brother Wen! What are you buying this time?” Deng asked warmly.
“We just bought land,” Wen Xiuyi said. “We need a working animal. Do you sell cows?”
Deng laughed. “You’ve come to the right place. My shop has everything in Yunwu Town. Need one now?”
“Yes, if possible.”
“Then come see the livestock shed. Want an ox cart too? I sell those as well.”
Wen Xiuyi nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes! We’re old friends—give me a discount!”
Deng laughed heartily. “Anyone who’s a friend of Old Qiu is a friend of mine. I won’t cheat you.”
