My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 104 Shangshu

More than a month has passed since Lin Ziping left Xinping Village. During this time, he returned to the county town once and brought back some daily necessities.

Upon returning, they found the streets of the county town increasingly desolate, yet long queues formed at rice shops and pharmacies.

Seeing this, Lin Ziping covered his mask tightly and felt fortunate that Xinping Village was relatively closed off and had little contact with outsiders. In addition, he usually paid attention to prevention and had not contracted the disease.

Lin Ziping gradually became acquainted with the villagers by offering several suggestions for improving the quarrying and paving of the road, and would occasionally visit their homes in his spare time.

A few chairs were placed in the square in front of the ancestral hall in the village, and people would occasionally sit in the square.

“If one knows the hardship of farming, then one will be at ease and know the reliance of petty people. Petty people are those whose parents work hard in farming, but their children do not know the hardship of farming and are at ease [1]. What did Lin Xiaoguanye read?”

Lin Ziping was sitting in the square enjoying the cool air with a book when he was startled by a sudden sound. He quickly stood up and found Cui Li standing behind him. The words Cui Li had just spoken were from his book.

"Cui Lizheng, this is the book I brought, it's the Book of Documents." Lin Ziping said, turning the book to the cover. Seeing that Cui Lizheng's gaze was fixed on his hands, he handed the book over.

There are no cell phones here, and the stories in the storybooks are mostly about talented scholars and beautiful women, or mischievous and clever men. To me, the plots are too old-fashioned. This book is the same one I used at Moshan Academy. I read it on the way from Qingyang to Fuchun. I had nothing to do in Xinping Village, so I brought it with me when I went back to the county town last time. I flip through it occasionally to pass the time.

“When we examine the ancient times, Emperor Yao said that Fangxun was respectful, wise, cultured, thoughtful, and peaceful. He was truly respectful and modest, and his virtue shone throughout the four directions, reaching the heavens and the earth. He was able to understand the virtues of the people and befriend the nine clans. When the nine clans were in harmony, he governed the people. When the people were enlightened, he harmonized all nations. When the common people were prosperous and peaceful…[2]” Cui Lizheng took the book with both hands, lovingly stroking the cover, and slowly recited it.

Lin Ziping was somewhat puzzled by Cui Lizheng's excited expression.

After a while, Cui Lizheng handed the book back to Lin Ziping, cupping his hands and saying, "Young Master Lin, I'm sorry you had to see this."

Lin Ziping put the book away and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "It's alright, just call me Ziping, Village Chief Cui."

Cui Lizheng asked, "Does Ziping also participate in the imperial examinations?"

"Last year, I participated in the prefectural examination in Qingyang and barely passed the county-level examination. My family is in business, so I found a job in the county government," Lin Ziping replied.

“So that’s how it is. When the heavens are out of season, the sun and moon have no light; when the earth is out of season, grass and trees do not grow; when the water is out of season, the wind and waves are not calm; when people are out of season, their fortunes do not go through. It is all about timing, fortune, and fate.” [3] Cui Lizheng sighed.

Lin Ziping smiled wryly: "With my talent, it's already a stroke of luck that I've earned the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination). According to Cui Lizheng, I once read hundreds of books and respected the teachings of Confucius and Mencius."

“My surname is Cui, my given name is Yuan, and my courtesy name is Qianzhi. You can just call me Qianzhi. Does Ziping have a courtesy name?” Cui Lizheng walked to the bamboo chair opposite Lin Ziping and sat down.

“A gentleman cultivates virtue through his actions, which are visible daily. The term ‘hidden’ refers to actions that are concealed and unseen, actions that are not yet accomplished. Therefore, a gentleman does not employ such actions. Brother Cui, your calligraphy is excellent!” Lin Ziping exclaimed, then thought for a moment and said, “I once used the courtesy name Shaoying, but now few people call me that.”

“Shaoying,” Cui Lizheng said.

Shao Ying... Shao Ying...

Lin Ziping stared blankly at Cui Lizheng.

Mu Shaoying used to think that her parents gave her a boy's name, which sounded really bad. If she wasn't worried about being beaten by her father, she would have changed her name long ago. Later, when Ji Xun and the others were still debating when choosing a courtesy name, she immediately thought of the name Shaoying. Even so, because she hadn't reached adulthood yet, she and Ji Xun still called her by her given name. Now, hearing someone call her Shaoying felt like a lifetime ago.

Seeing that Lin Ziping did not speak, Cui Lizheng comforted him, saying, "There are many people in this world who pass the imperial examinations at a young age, and there are also people who live in the deep mountains even when they are old. [5] Flowers bloom in their time, so Shaoying need not worry about it."

Lin Ziping nodded and said, "I am not yet of legal age, so you can just call me Ziping, Brother Cui."

Cui Lizheng said, "Ziping, I have come here today to thank you. The method you proposed a few days ago for breaking stones is indeed ingenious. The villagers heat some stones with fire and then pour cold water on them, while others drive wooden wedges into them, making it much easier to break stones."

One of them utilized the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, while the other used wooden wedges to disrupt the integrity of the stone. These were all things I learned in junior high school physics, and they were hardly worthy of such praise from Cui Lizheng.

Lin Ziping smiled sheepishly and offered two reasons: "I thought of this when I was lighting the fire a few days ago and the stone next to the pot broke, and when Zhang Xiaohu was making this chair for me. Now that it's usable, the villagers will feel much more at ease."

Cui Lizheng frowned and said, "That's true, but I think it might rain today. However, our progress is too slow. I'm worried that if it rains, the mountain will be too slippery..."

"Brother Cui, I've never understood why we need to repair the road in Xinping Village, since I've seen very few people using it to travel in and out of Fuchun County these past few days?" Lin Ziping asked, puzzled.

“That’s right. There used to be two routes to Fuchun: one by water and one by mountain. But after the river changed course, the waterway has been abandoned for many years. Everyone takes the mountain road, but the mountain road passes through Maomao Mountain. Now Maomao Mountain…” Cui Lizheng paused and said, “Last time the county magistrate came to Xinping Village, he wanted to rebuild this road.”

Lin Ziping recalled what Lao Huang had said: the sick villagers of Maomao Village had all been driven to Maomao Mountain, and it was indeed not suitable to go in and out from there anymore.

“But there are several other counties around here. Only Fuchun changed the original river channel into a road. It’s no use if the other counties don’t change it.” Lin Ziping was still puzzled.

“Just follow the old riverbed eastward, around Maomao Mountain, and connect to the official road. The front and back sections have already been repaired. Now it’s just the Xinping Village section, which is all sand.” Cui Lizheng sighed.

Lin Ziping also sighed. If only he had cement, water, pebbles, sand, and cement, he could just mix them together and make concrete. Unfortunately, he only knew the composition of cement and didn't know how to make it.

"Young Master Lin, your 'Wuling Hongguang'!" Just as Lin Ziping and Cui Lizheng were speechless and sighing, He Shun led the "Wuling Hongguang" over, and He Shi, riding on the back of a donkey, called out to Lin Ziping.

After getting acquainted with the villagers, the "Wuling Hongguang" was borrowed to transport stones. He Shun and He Shi were responsible for taking care of it, going out with it in the morning and returning it to Lin Ziping in the evening.

"Put it in the stable for me," Lin Ziping said to He Shun.

He Shun didn't say anything, and led the "Wuling Hongguang" to the stable.

"Ziping, I should go back now. Please help me think about the road paving. Thank you for your help." Cui Lizheng stood up, bowed, and took his leave.

Looking at Cui Lizheng's retreating figure, Lin Ziping suddenly felt a heavy responsibility ahead.