Chapter 678: Chapter 450: Learning
The two quickly reached a consensus.
Whether or not they actually go on a ship doesn’t matter; what’s important is showing a serious attitude towards learning and research.
It’s okay to draw some blueprints when you have spare time, build some model ships, or write and draw to show that you’re seriously studying something.
Wei Ziang even suggested that Xiaomi should memorize the technical terms from the books, and get a basic understanding of their meanings.
As for studying ships?
Just follow the simplest model drawings on the tree, and bit by bit, use bamboo and branches to mimic and create them.
"Is it that simple?" Xiaomi was a bit surprised.
"It’s not that simple." Wei Ziang shook his head, "Not to mention anything else, just the content in those books is enough to give you a hard time."
After all, they know nothing about ships.
And Wei Ziang also asked, whether Xiaomi had ever seen what a ship looked like on the sea, or been to the sea, neither had he.
Moreover, the content includes a lot of professional stuff. Just memorizing them isn’t enough; you must understand what they mean.
"Especially the craftsmanship. After I go back after the New Year, I’ll specially make a set of tools for you. Be careful, and don’t rush. Just take it as a pastime."
After all, there are still three or four years left.
Xiaomi nodded earnestly: "Okay, just consider it preparation for going out to sea in the future. Studying well now will save us time later."
With Wei Ziang’s reminder, Xiaomi finally reacted, realizing that going out to sea is not as simple as it seems.
Even if she could fly like Ling’er and Xiao Ba, she couldn’t be flying over the sea forever, right? There must be a place to land.
The dark currents under the sea are tumultuous, and there’s also the worry about whales or sharks, volcanic eruptions under the sea, rocks, and so on.
Thinking carefully, it really takes a long time to prepare everything.
"Then it’s up to you, Xiaomi. You study ships while I find masters to make muskets. Once the muskets are made, we’ll figure out things like siege cannons, and then think of ways to install them on big ships."
Talking back and forth, the two sat on the stones at the top of the mountain, slowly setting the plans for the upcoming years.
Until the sun set, with a refreshing breeze blowing, they suddenly came back to their senses, hurriedly packed all the books, went to find the horses that had run away, and rushed home.
"I thought you two had gotten lost. It’s almost time to eat, and you didn’t know to come back."
From afar, they saw their big brother waiting outside, clearly relieved but feigning reprimand.
Xiaomi quickly dismounted, laughing and joking, "Big brother, didn’t we rush back? With the delicious food that mom and dad cooked, we definitely made it in time."
Wei Ziang led the two horses: "Big brother, sorry for worrying you. We’ll return earlier next time."
Jiang Yu snorted, "Only because mom and dad are fond of you."
He then turned to go inside, Xiaomi and Wei Ziang exchanged a glance, Xiaomi giggled, Wei Ziang smiled.
Indeed, it was thanks to the family’s affection, though not just from mom and dad.
Dinner was sumptuous, with a variety of meat and vegetables covering a big table, all dishes that everyone liked.
And there was dessert too, candied sweet potatoes, which Ling’er once made. Xiaomi had been thinking about it ever since, attempting it herself. Now, everyone would make it occasionally to taste.
After the sweet potato harvest this year, over twenty carts were directly delivered from Xiangmu Village, and that wasn’t enough; more would be sent after the New Year.
Sweet potatoes are easy to preserve, have a high yield, and taste incredibly good from the Jiang family.
Whether baked, boiled, or eaten raw, they’re delicious. To farming people, sweet potatoes aren’t particularly valuable, while the vines used to feed pigs hold more worth.
But still, they’re irresistibly tasty.
Jiang Hu generously distributed ten pounds to each person in the village, including to Yang’s leadership.
Now, knowing that there were so many sweet potatoes, everyone would egg on Yang’s leadership to discuss with Jiang Hu about sending more, for everyone wanting to buy some.
Around the middle of January after the New Year, when the rotation of people arrives, they’ll prepare to head home, having already reserved quite a few things from the Jiang family. Right now, they wish to take dozens of pounds of sweet potatoes home.
Not that they didn’t want to buy more, but each person’s carrying capacity was limited, and the journey was long, so they couldn’t take much.
Besides the sweet potatoes, there were also sweet potato vermicelli, hearty and filling, albeit pricier than sweet potatoes, but a pound of it was enough to make a satisfying meal for a whole family.
Because of the large number of people, they weren’t greedy, with each person getting just a pound.
Even then, five hundred people meant five hundred pounds.
This time, Liu Ze found his own caravan, specifically going to Xiangmu Village to transport the goods. Although wages were higher around New Year, it was timely for the five hundred troops returning home.
But just this once, it sparked a bit of a plan and vision for Liu Ze about what he wants to do in the future. He’s even asked his mother to bring a caravan over.
Of course, this matter isn’t urgent. Right now, Liu Ze is restoring his old career, teaching in the village.
As for the students, naturally, they’re the hundred-plus villagers, both men and women, children and adults.
The folks don’t require a classroom. In good weather, when not busy, they find an open spot in the village.
People either bring small stools or thick mats made of straw, and some even carry small braziers.
Liu Ze himself went to the nearby area to find a large stone, had them chisel it thinner, and then polish it into a slab, using charcoal as a pen to start teaching in an open-air setting.
Initially, it was only a few bored kids, but gradually more people came. Everyone carefully replenishes the used charcoal, and after class each day, they bring water to clean the slab.
Among these people, there are those from previously well-off families who have studied and learned characters.
It must be admitted that better-off families more easily raise good-looking children, whether it’s from the perspective of eating and drinking or not having to work for a living.
Attractive people indeed more easily become targets for villains.
Previously, everyone was quite melancholic, laboring diligently, staring blankly when free, without any hobbies or interests.
The kids had a better outlook, being ignorant, and thus the first to forget those terrifying experiences.
Initially, Liu Ze noticed the kids, feeling idle, playing with mud in the fields, absent of any engagement. Thinking he had nothing better to do, he asked if they wanted to read and learn characters.
Then it started in the village, gradually drawing others to listen, with nothing else to do, they listened while passing the time.
Eventually, it formed, with both young and old coming to learn.
It’s not for exams, plus the little teacher’s relaxed and calm teaching style brought comfort to their minds.
Moreover, Liu Ze also found that as time increased, spirits and moods lifted among them.