Chapter 83 - Helped them to dig a hole

When the villagers came back to their senses, they all looked at Shi Qingluo in disbelief.

“Why didn’t you sell the formula?”

They could make ice in summer, so this formula must be very expensive.

Didn’t they see the Wu family wanting to buy it forcily?

Shi Qingluo smiled at everyone generously.

“This is the formula my master gave me. I wanted to build a tomb for him and let more people remember him. So, I thought of sharing this formula in public so that I could accumulate merit for him.

“Those who successfully learnt the method, if they remember how good he is, they can also offer him a few incense sticks from time to time in the future.”

Using the name of a dead old priest for such things wouldn’t evoke fear among those in power.

The crowd not only couldn’t find any reason to refute, but also affirmed Shi Qingluo’s filial piety and generosity.

She also had the charm. This formula could earn a lot of silver and she just gave it away just like that.

“Then can we learn it too?” Someone asked excitedly.

Shi Qingluo nodded. “My husband will go to the magistrate to discuss this matter. In order to prevent the Wu family’s ill doing, let’s see if we can apply to teach in the county yamen.

“As long as the magistrate agrees, anyone who wants to learn it can go to the county yamen to find my husband to learn it.”

In ancient times, matters that required one to show visibility required men to be present.

She then changed the topic and said, “When you learnt how to make ice, I will also share some food recipes made from ice. You can use the pockets of free time in between your farm work to earn some pocket money.”

This benefit was restricted to those in Xiaxi village.

After all, she didn’t intend to monopolise the saltpetre mine on the mountain.

In this way, the people in the village would already be standing on the same side of the fence as them.

When the villagers heard this, they were elated.

“Dalang’s wife is really good.”

“Dalang, you are really lucky to marry her as your wife.”

They kept praising Shi Qingluo.

Xiao Hanzheng smiled and nodded. “It is indeed my fortune to be able to marry her.”

Then, under his arrangements, they went to the backyard to build the workshops and worked even harder.

Of course, they were paid to build them.

After returning to the room at the front yard, Shi Qingluo tugged at her collar and went to the ice basin to pick up a fan.

Xiao Hanzheng walked over and carried the ice basin away from her.

He took the fan and fanned her. “I just came back. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Shi Qingluo leaned lazily on the recliner and let him fan her. “It’s too hot.”

She smiled and asked, “When are you going to the county town to look for the magistrate?”

This was the countermeasure that she had discussed with her young husband last night.

Xiao Hanzheng smiled lightly and said, “Tomorrow early in the morning, I’ll bring the formula and saltpetre.

“No matter what, we have to give Eldest Young Master Wu the opportunity and time to ask for additional manpower today.”

His young wife came up with the idea of going to the county town to share the ice-making method.

She announced that she was afraid of the Wu family’s persecution and could only teach them at the county yamen.

Firstly, she was using the county yamen to flex. Secondly, it was enough for the Wu family to be scolded by everyone in the county town.

If the Wu family wanted to force them to surrender the formula and other villagers’ interests weren’t tied to it, they would probably just criticise them a little behind their backs.

However, if the Wu family wanted to hog everyone’s benefits for themselves, the public would definitely be infuriated.

His wife’s idea was particularly derogatory to the Wu family, but he liked it very much.

It just so happened that he could use this opportunity to befriend Mo Qingling.

He could use the formula for making ice to make him the middle man who would mention him to the emperor.

“Based on my understanding of that magistrate, he should be able to get people to make ice willingly, and then he would hand it over to the emperor.”

For example, since the Wu family came to find them and said that they would pass the formula to the emperor, Xiao Hanzheng and his wife couldn’t possibly say no, or even ask to exchange it with money, right?

Therefore, they were playing on the time difference.

They couldn’t go to the county town too early to teach, else the Wu family and the magistrate wouldn’t plan their next move after discovering it.

They also couldn’t be too late, else the magistrate would send people to ask for it, and if they didn’t give it, they would be disrespecting the emperor.

They had to manage their time very well and also taking into account the Wu family and the magistrate’s roles in this game.

“This is a good deal. I’ll leave the timing to you.” Shi Qingluo knew what he meant the moment she heard it.

If the magistrate sent someone to ask for the formula, and they happened to teach them the method to make ice in the county town, should they continue teaching them? Or should they stop?

Therefore, they weren’t the ones who were in an awkward situation. It was definitely the magistrate.

They would then spread the news that the Wu family had threatened and bribed the magistrate in order to suppress them.

Anyone who wasn’t stupid would have guessed that the magistrate came to ask for the formula for his personal benefit.

This was also equivalent to destroying everyone’s interests.

Even if they learnt how to make ice but did not have the opportunity to use it, they would be uneased.

This is the formula that the old disciple wants to share with everyone, what right did you have to monopolise it for yourself? This is everyone’s property.

As a result, the commoners’ impression of the Wu family and the magistrate worsened.

Shi Qingluo realised that her young husband was also quite bad, but she liked it.

Xiao Hanzheng was fanning her, and there were several ice basins placed in the room. Gradually, the room became cooler and she fell asleep on the rocking chair.

Recently, Shi Qingluo had specially asked a carpenter to make the rocking chair.

It was covered with a thick cushion and a mat on top, which was soft but not hot.

He watched his wife fall asleep. Compared to when they first met, her skin was less sallow and fairer. There was also some flesh on her face and body.

One could slowly see that she was not ordinary.

Xiao Hanzheng had been in a high position in his previous life and had seen many beautiful women.

However, he felt that they were more or less the same.

Nevertheless, looking at his wife who was still thin and pale, the more he looked at her, the more he felt that she was beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

He could not help but laugh after looking at her for a while. Is this why there’s a saying that your lover would be a beauty in your eyes?

He walked over and carried her onto the bed.

He grabbed a book and fanned Shi Qingluo while reading it.

With this ice basin, this summer was much cooler than before.

That afternoon, the servant boy serving Eldest Young Master Wu rode a fast horse to the capital.

That night, he also rode the horse back to the Wu residence.

“Young master, this is your letter.”

Eldest Young Master Wu took the letter and read it. A look of realisation appeared on his face.

That’s right. Why didn’t he think that his uncle would directly send someone to ask for an ice formula.

As long as he said that this formula was meant to be presented to the capital, Shi Qingluo and Xiao Hanzheng would not dare to resist or disobey. Else, they would be very disrespectful.

He waved his hand and said, “You may leave. Once the honoured guests from the capital arrive tomorrow, report to me immediately.”

Then, he took the letter and went to look for Master Wu.

The two of them discussed that once the people from the magistrature arrived tomorrow, they would immediately bring people to the village in the afternoon to look for Shi Qingluo and ask for the formula.

Otherwise, they were afraid that something unexpected would happen.

Of course, the sooner they got it, the better it was.

As Shi Qingluo had only mentioned this to the villagers during the day, the news had yet to spread to the county town.

The Wu family did not know that Shi Qingluo had already tossed them a huge pot filled with scoldings and cursings.

Thus, the father and son were still dreaming that they would be able to get the formula without spending a single cent.

However, Shi Qingluo and her husband had helped them to dig a hole.