It's moving! It's moving! Young master, look, it's really moving!
Xiao Qing, who had come to watch the excitement, excitedly shook Fang Er's arm and said, seeing the waterwheel slowly turning.
"Yes, young master, this is too magical!"
Zhao Hu said, trembling with excitement.
As the waterwheel turned, the bamboo tubes on it scooped water from the canal and then poured it down.
Fang Er directed the crowd to set up a long bamboo tube, split and with the sections removed. One end was placed near the waterwheel to catch the falling water, while the other end extended to the drainage ditch. He then blocked the intersection of the drainage ditch and the Dragon Head Canal.
In this way, the water from the Dragon Head Canal, driven by the turning waterwheel, flowed through the bamboo tube into the drainage ditch, beginning to irrigate the drought-stricken farmland.
"Oh~~ oh~~ oh~~! There's water!!"
"Young master is so amazing!"
"Hahahaha, I'm going back to tell my mother! The crops in the fields can finally be watered!"
A group of men shouted with excitement, watching the water in the drainage ditch gather and slowly flow towards the fields. Some even shed tears of excitement, while others ran directly towards the manor to spread the good news to more people.
When Fang Er and his men returned to the manor, a group of people were already waiting at the manor entrance.
Seeing Fang Er approach, these people rushed forward, expressing their joy and gratitude to him.
Not all the land in the manor belonged to Fang Er. Each of these farmers also owned a small amount of land, and Fang Er's bringing water allowed them to irrigate their fields. Under the drought conditions, this was undoubtedly huge good news.
"Everyone, next, we will build more waterwheels, striving to irrigate every piece of land. For some plots too far from the water channels, we will try to dig some wells to water all the plots!"
Fang Er dismounted and said to the crowd.
"Whatever young master Fang commands, we will do as you say!"
Old Man Ma bowed to Fang Er and said.
Since he could remember, they had relied on the heavens for their crops. In situations like this year, they absolutely couldn't get water. He never expected that this young master would divert water from the Dragon Head Canal within days of his arrival, which was completely beyond his understanding.
Although waterwheels had a long history, dating back to the Three Kingdoms period, they still had to be affordable. Common people lacked the skills and money to buy them. What could they do? They could only hear others talk about them, and few had even seen one.
"Are there any carpenters in the manor now?"
Fang Er scanned the crowd and asked.
"Reporting to the young master, this old man used to work as a carpenter for a while. These three are my apprentices. I wonder what they can do?"
An old man stepped out from the crowd.
"Tomorrow morning, bring your tools to the Fang residence, and I will teach you how to build waterwheels. Zhao Hu, you few already know how to install them. From now on, you will be responsible for leading people to install the waterwheels you make."
Fang Er finished speaking and turned to look at Zhao Hu.
"Yes, young master."
Zhao Hu quickly agreed.
"Alright, everyone, disperse. As long as I, Fang, am here, waterwheels and wells will become more and more numerous. Go back, rest well, your efforts are still needed."
After dispersing the crowd, Fang Er returned to the Fang residence with his servants.
They had been busy all morning, and it was already noon.
Xiao Qing and Hua Niang had already prepared the meal.
As they entered the courtyard, they smelled the enticing aroma.
Tables were set up throughout the courtyard, neatly arranged with food and wine.
"Brothers, you've been busy all morning, eat quickly, there's still work to be done this afternoon."
Fang Er said casually and returned to his room.
Looking at the neat meal in the courtyard, Zhao Hu and the others were deeply moved. Three meals a day was just a saying. Which of the farmers present could afford to eat three meals a day? One meal in the morning and one in the evening, two meals a day, was normal.
Young Master Fang had generously prepared three meals a day for everyone. They all secretly resolved to work hard for Fang Er.
In fact, the lunch Fang Er had the kitchen prepare was very simple, just egg noodles.
But the aroma of the fried eggs was something they had never experienced before. After eating one bowl, they felt it wasn't enough, so they went to get more. Hua Niang didn't say anything; whoever came, she directly served them a large bowl.
Even her own young son ate two large bowls, making Hua Niang extremely happy. She silently told herself that she must not fail young master Fang's great kindness.
By the time Fang Er came out of his room, the group had already finished eating and were sitting in the courtyard in groups of three and five, chatting happily.
Fang Er, however, was not idle. He was writing and calculating in his room, figuring out the materials to buy.
Stepping out of the room and looking at the people in the courtyard, Fang Er called out, "Zhu Zi, Zhao Hu, come here."
The two quickly stepped forward and approached Fang Er.
Fang Er handed a stack of paper to Zhu Zi: "This afternoon, you take ten people and the ox cart to Chang'an City to buy the lumber listed on this paper. If you need money, go to Xiao Qing to get it and tell her I have a use for it."
"Yes, young master."
Zhu Zi took the paper and went to find Xiao Qing.
Since the steward and Hu Zi had gone to Jiangnan, Xiao Qing had been in charge of the household finances. Fang Er really didn't want to bother with these matters, running around to get money for even trivial small items every day, which was too annoying.
"Zhao Hu, you were with me when we installed the waterwheel today, and you also helped. Do you know where the waterwheels need to be installed?"
After Zhu Zi left, Fang Er asked Zhao Hu.
"Reporting to the young master, I know. They need to be installed at the intersection of the Dragon Head Canal and the field drainage ditch."
Zhao Hu replied respectfully.
"That's good. This afternoon, you and your men go around the fields of the manor, take a good look, calculate how many waterwheels are needed, and then report back to me," Fang Er said.
"Yes, young master."
After Zhao Hu agreed, he led his men out of the Fang residence.
The way these people addressed Fang Er was quite interesting. The old servants who moved with Fang Er from Gaoling to Chang'an called him "Young Master," while the later purchased servants and the farmers from this manor called Fang Er "Young Master." Fang Er didn't mind, as the address could distinguish between those who were close and those who were not.
Everyone went about their tasks as assigned by Fang Er, while Fang Er himself was idle.
He sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, watching the fish swim in the water, with Xiao Qing standing behind him, massaging his shoulders.
"Qing'er, when do you think the steward and the others will return?"
Fang Er asked listlessly.
"Young master, it's hard to say. If they travel by land to Luoyang and then by water to Jiangnan, a round trip should take at least a month."