vrcanaries Chapter 229 The Waterwheel is Ready
Chapter 229 The Waterwheel is Ready
Everything is ready, just waiting to open!
Originally, Shen Wanning planned to transport these essential oils and soaps to Fuzhou now, and then choose an auspicious day to open the shop.
However, the day before she set out, the waterwheel was ready.
Lin Jiang ran towards her excitedly, "Aunt, Aunt, the waterwheel is ready, now we just need to test it."
Shen Wanning followed him to the waterwheel in the yard. She tried to turn it a few times with her hands, and the waterwheel started to turn.
"Yes, the waterwheel turns very smoothly. If it is driven by water power, it will be very convenient to irrigate farmland." Shen Wanning commented.
Lin Dashan came over and rubbed his hands secretly. "How about we move this waterwheel to the small river below the dam and give it a try? Winter is the dry season, and the water flow at the dam isn't too turbulent. It should be no problem to move the waterwheel across now."
"Okay! This water truck is too big to move. Xiao Jiang, go call a few uncles to help move it." Shen Wanning patted Lin Jiang on the back and said.
Lin Jiang hurried out to call for help and asked many villagers to come and help.
When many people heard that they had a new gadget, they came to see it. After all, whenever they had something new, it must be something good, and they didn't want to miss the opportunity to see it.
Looking at the large round wooden object in front of them, the villagers were all confused and gathered around the waterwheel to discuss it.
The village head finally arrived after most of the others had arrived. He had seen everyone running towards the Lin family, so he followed them.
"What is this thing? Why is it so big? It's taller than me."
"It looks round, so it should be able to rotate, but I don't know what it does."
The village head squeezed through the crowd and asked on behalf of everyone, "Wan Ning, what is this?"
"Uncle Village Head, this thing is called a waterwheel, and it can automatically irrigate farmland. We just made it today, and we don't know if it can be used yet. We are now preparing to ask the villagers to help carry it to the creek to test it out." Shen Wanning explained.
"Oh, okay, then quickly carry it over!"
As soon as the village head finished speaking, several men came over and prepared to carry the water cart out together.
The group walked and stopped along the way and soon arrived at the river, but they were at a loss as to how to release the fish.
Lin Jiang stepped forward and said, "Turn the wheels in the direction of the falling water so that the water hits the wheels."
As he spoke, he gestured with his hands to indicate the direction of the waterwheel.
Everyone took off their shoes and socks, quickly went into the water and placed the water truck in the position Lin Jiang had indicated.
Aunt Zhang quietly turned back home, got a towel, and brought back some hot water. When the others came up, she asked them to drink some of the hot water, rinsed their feet with the remaining hot water, and then wiped their feet clean with a towel.
Driven by the water flow, the waterwheel gradually began to turn, and the water-storing bamboo tube on the waterwheel was filled with water. Every time it rose to the top, the water in the bamboo tube slowly flowed down.
"Hey, look, look, the waterwheel is turning, turning!" Lin Dashan and Lin Jiang were very excited and happily grabbed each other's hands.
The village head watched the water pouring out of the bamboo tube on the waterwheel, still a little confused. "How can this waterwheel irrigate the fields?"
Shen Wanning stepped forward to explain his confusion. "Uncle Village Chief, the bamboo tube on the waterwheel is draining water downwards, so we just need to divert the water to each family's farmland through the bamboo tube, just like we did before with the mountain spring."
Since it rained and there was water in the village, they made the bamboo tubes used to divert water longer and directly diverted the water through the bamboo tubes to the farmland of each household.
The village head finally understood and sighed, "Excellent, wonderful! So that's how it is! This is just like sweet potatoes, a great thing that will benefit the people! Wan Ning, quickly report this to the magistrate. He will definitely report it to the emperor, right? This is a great achievement!"
Since the village head received the award, he has been thinking about making more achievements and getting promoted. So when he saw the great use of the waterwheel, he immediately became interested.
"Uncle headman, don't be anxious. I suggest we cut some bamboo today and build a structure with bamboo. This way, when the county magistrate comes, he will be able to see it more clearly." Shen Wanning said.
"Right, right, Wan Ning, you're right. We need to cut the bamboo first, and then build the bamboo tubes like before." The village head began to give orders, "Everyone who has nothing to do, go cut some bamboo, and the rest of you, stay here and build the frame with wood. Hurry, get moving."
Everyone went off to chop bamboo with great joy. Although the Lin family's reward had nothing to do with them, the construction of the waterwheel was crucial. When the waterwheel turned, they would all benefit.
Especially the new villagers who had received help from Shen Wanning, they were full of energy and went home to pick up their axes and ran up the mountain.
"Uncle Village Head, I estimate that the bamboo trough should be almost built by tomorrow. I will go to the county tomorrow morning and ask the county magistrate to come and take a look." Shen Wanning said.
The village head was even happier now. "Okay, okay, I'll have them build the bamboo trough today, and it will be finished before the county magistrate arrives tomorrow!"
Everyone was busy building the bamboo troughs that afternoon. Shen Wanning watched for a while before leaving. However, Lin Jiang and Lin Dashan stayed to watch for the entire afternoon.
During dinner, both of them couldn't stop smiling. Lin Dashan drank a small glass of wine, and he was very happy as he drank. "Hey, old woman, what do you think the emperor will reward me with? Will he give me an official position like the village head?"
"You're dreaming. Don't you see how old you are? You're dreaming!" Aunt Zhang said expressionlessly as she poured a basin of cold water on him.
"Hey, old woman, don't spoil my fun! The waterwheel is finished today, shouldn't I be happy? Can't you say something nice? Look, Wan Ning was awarded an official position twice by the emperor for discovering sweet potatoes and cotton. The village head was also awarded an official position for taking in refugees. Why can't I be awarded an official position?"
Maybe because of the wine, Lin Dashan started to talk more.
Aunt Zhang continued to poke at his heart, "If you want to give an official title, give it to Xiao Jiang. He's still young. Besides, Xiao Jiang did most of the work on this waterwheel. You just assisted him."
Lin Dashan was frustrated and deflated. He picked up the wine jar again and was about to pour another glass of wine. Aunt Zhang stopped him, "Don't drink anymore. I see you've been talking a lot today. I'm afraid you're drunk."
He was about to retort, but seeing Aunt Zhang's expression, he put the wine jar down again.
Shen Wanning smiled and advised, "Dad, you're old, so drink less. Wait until the day you receive the award, and then let the eldest and second brothers accompany you for a few more drinks."