Chapter 84: Really courageous

July 19, 2023Ai Hrist

Early the next morning, Xiao Hanzheng went to the county government with some saltpeter on his back.

When Mo Qingling heard that Xiao Xiucai was going to see him, he was a little confused.

He had heard the name of Xiao Hanzheng, the first junior Sanyuan in Nanxi County, and he was quite famous.

But what impressed him the most was Xiao Hanzheng’s little wife who tied up the doctor to sue last time.

He had something to do at first, but he put it down and let someone called Xiao Hanzheng in.

Xiao Hanzheng was a scholar, so he doesn’t need to bow down when he sees an official.

But he greeted Mo Qingling line as a scholar: “This student has met the magistrate!”

Mo Qingling looked at the gentle and elegant young man who walked in and couldn’t help feeling a little fond of him.

Xiao Hanzheng’s temperament was not at all like a scholar from a poor family in the countryside.

Mo Qingling was only a few years older than Xiao Hanzheng.

But he still appreciates talented peers.

A smile appeared on his stern face: “You may excuse me, please sit down!”

He then asked straight to the point: “You came to see me today, what’s the matter?”

He was busy with his official business, so he don’t have any extra time to waste.

Xiao Hanzheng knew what kind of person Mo Qingling was.

He also bluntly stated the purpose of coming: “I have something to discuss with the magistrate that’s why I come here today.”

“My wife’s master once taught her how to make ice. She is grateful for the master’s kindness, so she wants to make this method in public.”

“Anyone who wants to learn how to make ice can learn it.”

“It’s just that the Wu family wanted to buy this prescription by force, but my wife didn’t want to waste her master’s efforts, so she refused.”

“We are afraid that if we teach people how to make ice in the village, the Wu family will not agree and destroy it.”

“That’s why I want to ask the magistrate, can I borrow the free space in the county government office and let me teach people how to make ice?”

“With this, first, the people in the county can put ice basins at home to cool off the heat, and second, they can also make some ice drinks to earn some pocket money.”

He paused again: “Of course, if you think this recipe is useful, you can also donate it to the capital so that more people can learn how to make ice to relieve the heat.”

Although Mo Qingling was very busy in the county government, he also knows what was going on in the county.

So he has heard about ice making in summer, but he was a little dubious.

So he didn’t expect that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife would be so generous. Not only would they give away the prescription for free, but they would also teach everyone how to make ice.

This was also a good thing for the benefit of the people, so naturally, he will not object.

But he asked again: “Have you thought about it?”

Xiao Hanzheng nodded: “We thought it over, I hope that the magistrate will make it happen!”

Mo Qingling sighed that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife were courageous, and had a better impression of them.

“Since there is such a good thing, I will naturally fulfill it.”

He asked curiously: “Is it difficult to make ice?”

Xiao Hanzheng replied: “It’s not difficult, it just needs one thing.”

“I have already brought it, how about making ice on the spot for the magistrate to see?”

Watching his little wife make ice at that time, he thought it was amazing.

So seeing it with your own eyes was more convincing.

Mo Qingling also wanted to see it: “Good!”

So according to what Xiao Hanzheng said, someone found a big wooden basin and put it on the ground, and put a small wooden barrel in it.

Then he added water to both the barrel and the tub.

Mo Qingling and the people from the county government then saw Xiao Hanzheng take out a few small white stones from his back basket and throw them into the big wooden basin.

“Wait a while, the water in the small wooden barrel will freeze.”

Mo Qingling: “… …”

The people from the county government: “… …”

Why does it feel so unreliable?

Throwing a stone into a water basin freezes the water in the bucket. Was this real or fake?

Mo Qingling’s doubts deepened, but he didn’t stop them.

“Okay, then I’ll work first, you drink tea for a while, and I’ll come back when the ice is ready.”

Not long after he took over Nanxi County, the previous county magistrate had a backlog of official duties.

Since he came here, although he didn’t come here to be the county magistrate, he took this position, so he still wanted to do well.

Xiao Hanzheng nodded: “Your Excellency, can do his job!”

The servants in the county government have been staring at the wooden barrel curiously.

After a while, a government servant couldn’t help shouting, “The water is starting to freeze!”

The other yamen servants also walked over to look at it one after another: “It’s frozen, it’s amazing.”

“As expected of the Old Immortal Master, he can think of a way to make ice in summer.”

“The apprentice of the Old Immortal Master is also smart, and she has learned everything.”

A group of people sighed around the outside of the tub, and soon Mo Qingling also came out from inside.

Seeing that the water in the barrel started to freeze, he was shocked.

Seeing is believing. Otherwise, it would be hard for him to believe it if he only heard other people talk about this method.

He was also a smart person: “This water can freeze, is it related to the white stone you just threw?”

Xiao Hanzheng replied: “Yes, this is saltpeter, which can be used for medicine. Some Taoist priests use it to make alchemy, and people can buy it in medicine shops.”

Mo Qingling quickly asked the point: “If I use this saltpeter to make ice, will it cost a lot of money?”

Xiao Hanzheng said truthfully: “If you go directly to the saltpeter mine, it will only take some time and energy, not money.”

“If you buy it, it will cost you a lot.”

The cost of making ice with saltpeter was not low, and they have never wanted to promote it nationwide, anyone can use it.

They only want to announce this method so that everyone can learn it.

It was also conducive to the development of saltpeter mines.

Poor people can look for saltpeter, and then transport it to the city and sell it to rich families to improve their lives.

The main idea of his little wife was to let the people in the county take the initiative to develop the saltpeter mine near the Taoist Temple, and at the same time make a profit for everyone, and also open a business way.

When the saltpeter mines in the mountain were almost fully mined, their workshops might be on fire at that time.

His little wife can connect things one by one, so he can’t help but admire her.

As soon as Mo Qingling heard it, he knew what Xiao Hanzheng meant.

It seems that this method of making ice requires a lot of money.

Ordinary people may not be able to use it, but it can also benefit the poor who will be lucky enough to find saltpeter.

Of course, this method was better than nothing.

How many years has Daliang been established, after the war stopped, many places were waiting to spend money to develop.

The external expenses of the imperial court were huge, and the Ministry of Household was often short of money. Now the palace still uses the ice storage of the previous dynasty.

The amount of ice storage was limited, so the palace was short of ice every year.

Numerous concubines and ministers approach the Emperor to ask for ice in summer.

If this method was presented, the Emperor will be happy.

Mo Qingling thought for a while and said: “You write down the method of making ice, and I will send someone to the capital to present it to His Majesty, and let the people in Daliang learn about it.”

For the Emperor and the imperial court, their reputation with the people was also good.

Then he added: “You also write down the source of the ice-making method on paper.”

This also means that he will let the Emperor know that this prescription was given by Xiao Hanzheng and his wife.

He will not be greedy for the credit of the two of them.

He will let everyone know that the method of making ice has a source.