Chapter 733: Stirring Up Trouble Again
The moment they caught sight of the Governor, the young scholars and students thought to themselves: "Coming to this bookstore today was absolutely the right decision!"
How difficult it usually was to even catch a glimpse of the Governor. Who would have thought that simply reading in a bookstore would allow for such close proximity to him? This was an incredible windfall, a massive gain!
The group quickly stood and bowed respectfully.
Chen Qiyu glanced at them, then waved his hand, indicating they should carry on with their business.
The scholars quickly sat back down, pretending to read, but their actual attention was entirely focused on Chen Qiyu.
Chen Qiyu was well aware of this, but he had no time to concern himself with a bunch of youngsters. Smiling, he said to Gao Shan: "I have been eagerly anticipating the opening of your bookstore."
Gao Shan chuckled. "Thank you for your favor, Governor. Your previous note to me greatly simplified the process of opening the shop for me, and none of the yamen runners in charge of this area came to cause me any trouble."
Chen Qiyu smiled. "It's only right. This bookstore, opened here, brings great benefits to both the people and the nation. It's only right that I lend a hand."
Gao Shan asked, "Will the Governor be selecting some books?"
He had long heard reports from his subordinates that the New Village Bookstore had a dedicated "technical manuals" section, filled with numerous practical technical books. That's why he brought a contingent of officials to browse and choose.
Gao Shan accompanied them inside. Chen Qiyu himself didn't examine things too closely, but his subordinates carefully perused the shelves, book by book.
Before long, the master artisan in the group pulled several books from the shelf: "Methods for Optimizing Steel Quality," "How to Forge Unbreakable Blades," "Detailed Explanation of Furnace Temperature Control Technology," and "How the Patterns on Japanese Samurai Swords Are Created."
The artisan opened them and glanced through. The more he read, the more startled he became.
Several seconds later, he bowed deeply to Gao Shan. "Master Gao," he exclaimed, "these books contain the secret arts that master craftsmen pass down only to their sons, never to their daughters!"
Gao Shan smiled. "In our Gao Family Village, those words, 'pass down only to sons, never to daughters,' would get you a beating!"
He wasn't exaggerating. Everyone in Gao Family Village knew that the Heavenly Lord intensely disliked the phrase "pass down only to sons, never to daughters." The phrase was offensive on two counts: First, it promoted patriarchal values, an attitude the Heavenly Lord deeply scorned. Second, it hindered the dissemination of knowledge and technological progress.
Therefore, in Gao Family Village, if you uttered the phrase "pass down only to sons, never to daughters," you'd instantly be criticized by passersby. At best, you'd get a stern scolding; at worst, you'd be dragged before a statue of the Heavenly Lord and ordered to thoroughly reflect on your values before the divine image.
All technologies invented in Gao Family Village were bought out by the village after the inventors received a substantial "Scientific Invention Incentive Award." They became "village-owned," and explanatory books were then produced, made available for all students to learn from.
The books Gao Shan had brought this time were some of the more basic technical manuals.
Naturally, he wouldn't bring any truly advanced ones. First, he worried about technology leakage. If Gao Family Village and the imperial court ever fell out, it wouldn't be good if the court used Chassepot Rifles to confront Gao Family Village's militia. Second, some technologies, even if leaked, wouldn't be understood by outsiders.
Books that people couldn't understand wouldn't sell, and that wouldn't align with his business interests.
These basic technical books from the Gao family were already considered "advanced technology"—at the "pass down only to sons, never to daughters" level—to outsiders.
No wonder the master artisan from Yan'an Prefecture was so incredibly excited.
Chen Qiyu turned his head and asked the artisan, "Are these books truly excellent?"
The artisan nodded vigorously. "Extremely good!" he confirmed. "Pass down only to sons, never to daughters!"
Chen Qiyu chuckled, half-scolding: "They've printed an entire shelf full of them and put them here for anyone to buy. What are you still rambling about 'passing down only to sons, never to daughters' for? Buy a few more, take them back, and give a set to each craftsman family."
The artisan replied, caught between laughter and tears: "But the craftsmen are illiterate! While these books have few words and are mainly illustrations, they still contain text."
Chen Qiyu fell silent.
Did he really have to hire a scholar to read these books to the craftsmen?
No scholar would be willing to do such a thing.
Chen Qiyu sighed.
"Governor!" an accompanying official in charge of agriculture exclaimed. "I've found a large number of agricultural books here: "The Benefits of Winter Plowing for Next Year's Sowing," "Methods for Planting Potatoes, Corn, and Sweet Potatoes," "How to Increase Cotton Yields..."'"
Chen Qiyu asked, "Are these also at the 'pass down only to sons, never to daughters' level?"
The official looked a little awkward. "I suppose... one could say so."
Chen Qiyu nodded. "Good. Buy them all, and promote them vigorously. It doesn't matter if the farmers are illiterate; let the literate scholars in their villages read to them. This is far more important than artisan techniques."
In our dynasty, officials traditionally valued agriculture over industry, and Chen Qiyu was no exception.
Just moments ago, he felt it impossible to find a scholar to read technical books to craftsmen, but now that it was agriculture, he suddenly found it acceptable.
Blatant hypocrisy, indeed!
Witnessing this scene, Li Daoxuan found himself at a loss for words. He could only sigh inwardly.
Slowly, slowly things would change...
The official responsible for agriculture leaned closer, whispering to Chen Qiyu: "Governor, there's something..."
Chen Qiyu pressed, "What is it? Why the hesitation?"
The official whispered: "Last year, the rainfall was plentiful, and the Yellow River even overflowed. But since the start of this year, the rain, it's been... well, a bit lacking... Alas, I fear this year will see another drought."
"What?" Chen Qiyu was greatly startled. "How can you tell? It's only March; how can you claim such a thing?"
The official replied, "Governor, just think, how long has it been since it last rained?"
Chen Qiyu froze.
Li Daoxuan also frowned involuntarily. *Another drought? Then... the bandits we just managed to suppress, I'm afraid they'll rise again from the ashes.*
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!
No sooner had Li Daoxuan thought this than a messenger burst in from outside. He knelt with a thud right at the bookstore's entrance: "Reporting, Governor! Wang Chenggong, the rebel leader who was pacified two years ago, taking advantage of the Mongol incursions on the border and with General Wang Cheng'en absent, has once again gathered his followers and rebelled in Xichuan. He has plundered Shuanghuyi and is currently encamped at Wangjia Fork, with a formidable force of over two thousand men."
Li Daoxuan: *Damn it!*
Chen Qiyu also stiffened. "Dreadful! Again?"
He hesitated for less than three seconds before steeling himself, and waving his hand, he commanded: "Go quickly and invite Garrison Commander Shi Jian here."
Watching his expression and movements, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but recall a scene from "Journey to the West," where, as Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, the Jade Emperor cowered beneath his desk, reaching out and shouting, "Go quickly and invite the Buddha Rulai!"
Chen Qiyu added, "Send the previous messenger. He's been there once; he knows the way."
His subordinate replied, "Reporting, Governor! The previous messenger has already fled, and we don't know where he's gone."
Chen Qiyu's face was a mask of utter bewilderment: "???"
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