The next morning, a large group of people, carrying tools and driving horse-drawn carts, arrived at Dashui Village.
More than half of these people were county yamen runners, with a few carpenters also conscripted from the surrounding areas.
The rest were all laborers.
As the master carpenter of Dashui Village, Yan Dajun was directly assigned by Magistrate Chen to supervise the construction site.
In fact, everyone in the village knew he was quite skilled.
Previously, Yun Jinshan had even studied carpentry under him for a period, but in the end, he couldn't even make a stool.
The Yun family also provided laborers.
Except for Old Man Yun, who was watering the fields, Daman, Erman, and Jinshan all went to work by the lake.
Magistrate Chen's injuries were not serious, and he still had to go to other villages to guide drought relief efforts.
Therefore, only Provincial Governor Qin remained to oversee the situation in Dashui Village.
The blueprints were distributed to the craftsmen, who were to start building waterwheels according to the specified dimensions.
Other laborers began excavating the irrigation channels, digging from the inlet of Gougou Lake all the way to the fields of Dashui Village.
This distance was about five to six li.
Fortunately, the soil was loose and did not contain too many stones.
"Erman, hurry up and get out of there. This is work for the laborers, and you are an official from the county yamen!"
Liu Cuirong squatted above the trench, handing Yun Erman a cup of strong tea.
This scoundrel always rushed to the front when working, getting exhausted and not earning a single coin. Why bother?
"Look at Yun Wangcai, he's been sitting on the dirt pile all morning and hasn't even boiled any tea."
Liu Cuirong glared at Yun Wangcai, who was puffing on his pipe, her face full of disdain.
Yun Erman took a sip of tea and wiped his mouth. "Why are you looking at him? Don't you know what kind of person Yun Wangcai is?"
It was truly a self-inflicted annoyance.
This time, the conscription of laborers required each household in the village to send one person.
Yun Wangcai had no choice but to come and slack off.
Zhao Guihua also carried a water kettle and walked along the trench, refilling the men's tea.
Building waterwheels was not something that could be completed overnight.
The craftsmen were also building this kind of thing for the first time and had no experience.
So, Little Xi Tian, leading four dogs and carrying a small satchel, came with her hands behind her back.
"Oh, look, Sweet Baby is here!" Du Laosan wiped the sweat from his brow, his face beaming.
"Heh heh, with Sweet Baby in our village, even if we don't build waterwheels, the crops won't die of drought!"
Fu Daqiang heard this and glared at him, "Then why are you still digging the trenches? Just snatch Little Sweet Baby back, and you won't have to farm anymore. You'll have meat to eat every day!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Why did she feel like a money bag? These people were all staring at her intently.
"This support pillar is too short, make it longer!"
Little Xi Tian raised her small head and said to a strange old carpenter.
The old carpenter's eyesight wasn't good. He had to bring his head almost to Little Xi Tian's face before he could clearly see a tender little child.
"Wow, whose child is this? She looks like a kitten."
The old carpenter was delighted and reached out to pick up Little Xi Tian.
Yun Jinshan, quick as lightning, pulled his little aunt behind him. "Auntie says your support pillar is too short!"
The old carpenter rubbed his eyes. "This little child is your aunt?"
What kind of seniority was this?
He looked at his nephew, who was quite a bit older than his aunt.
"Alas, forget it, let's get back to work!"
The old carpenter mumbled, pulled out the short support pillar, and made a new one with a planer.
Provincial Governor Qin directly used the room where he had undergone surgery as his office, eating and sleeping there.
The Yun family prepared writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for him, and the county yamen also sent two attendants to run errands.
After much deliberation, Provincial Governor Qin picked up his brush and wrote a letter.
Along with the waterwheel blueprints designed by Little Xi Tian, he sent someone to deliver them to the capital and present them to the Emperor.
He could not claim such great merit all to himself.
The letter focused on explaining that the Yun family's youngest daughter was intelligent, sharp, and resourceful, a born prodigy.
He requested that His Majesty heavily reward the Yun family's daughter.
"Someone, deliver this letter to the capital immediately, and make haste!" Provincial Governor Qin ordered.
"Yes!"
From Dashui Village to the capital, horses would have to be changed twice at post stations, otherwise, they would be run to death.
Three days later, Provincial Governor Qin's wife, Madam Xue, arrived at Dashui Village with her two daughters.
As soon as they entered the village, a group of children surrounded them and ran alongside the carriage for a while.
Magistrate Chen's wife, Madam Huang, arrived at the village almost at the same time as Madam Xue.
She brought Chen Xiaoran and many gifts with her.
This time, she intended to arrange a marriage with the Yun family, betrothing Chen Xiaoran to Yun Jinshan.
No, it was to take Yun Jinshan as a live-in son-in-law.
"Greetings, Madam Xue." Madam Huang alighted from the carriage and, pulling Chen Xiaoran, paid her respects to Madam Xue.
Indeed, rank dictated status; the Provincial Governor's wife appeared noble, elegant, and refined.
Madam Xue smiled and said, "You shouldn't be older than me, should you? I'll call you sister from now on!"
Madam Huang glanced at her, then stepped forward and linked arms with Madam Xue. "Then I ask my sister to take good care of me!"
Only Madam Gu was at the Yun residence. She was currently kneading dough with Huaihua and Xi'er.
She planned to make noodles for dinner, and perhaps fry some egg sauce or make some pickled mustard shreds as a condiment.
Noodles were the favorite staple food of the young and old in the Yun family.
They were satisfying, quick to make, and most importantly, very filling.
Madam Gu was unaware that the wives of the two officials had arrived. Hearing laughter from outside the door, she asked Huaihua to go and see.
A moment later, Jin Huaihua entered with Madam Huang and Madam Xue.
"You are Little Sweet Baby's mother, aren't you?"
Madam Xue smiled amiably, her fair skin exceptionally well-maintained.
One could not tell she was already over forty.
Madam Gu looked at Qin Yiyi and Qin Fenglan before she realized who they were.
She wiped her hands on her apron and stepped forward with a smile, "I am!"
"Oh dear, I've finally met a living person!"
Madam Xue's smile reached her eyes. She quickly broke free from Madam Huang and hurried over, taking Madam Gu's hand.
"I've always heard my husband mention your family. I wonder what kind of excellent mother could raise such an outstanding child as Little Sweet Baby."
Madam Xue was genuinely grateful to Madam Gu.
This time, she had brought another cartload of gifts, each of better quality than Madam Huang's.
Madam Gu withdrew her hand and gave a dry laugh. "Madam, you flatter me. I dare not accept such praise."
Madam Huang rolled her eyes inwardly, feeling somewhat dejected.
Why bother flattering? She was about to get engaged to the Yun family, so any further attempts at pleasing them were unnecessary.
"By the way, where is Little Sweet Baby?" Madam Huang looked around.
Madam Gu smiled slightly. "She's gone to Gougou Lake. She might not be back until late."
Her daughter was so young and already busy.
She felt honored by this.
Madam Huang said "Oh" and her eyes darted around. "Is Jinshan at home then?"
She had to create more opportunities for her daughter to facilitate the engagement discussions.
"Jinshan is also working by the lake. Are you looking for him, Madam?" Madam Gu asked in surprise.
"No... it's nothing. Xiaoran hasn't seen him in a long time and misses him."
With that, Madam Huang nudged Chen Xiaoran. "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and wash the melons in the cart and take them to Jinshan!"
Chen Xiaoran: "..."
Madam Gu: "..."