GD (QT) Chapter 8

“A crucial agricultural tool the Imperial Court urgently requires? Such bold words.” County Magistrate Cao was unimpressed when he heard the report.

The bailiff bowed low. “This subordinate also felt that a country bumpkin wouldn’t have much insight. However, since Your Honor ordered that anyone answering the recruitment notice must be reported, I…”

Magistrate Cao waved a hand dismissively. “Then bring him in for a look.”

The order had been issued over a year ago. At the beginning, many had come forward to recommend themselves, but unfortunately, they were all frauds with useless tricks. After many such instances, Magistrate Cao had grown deeply disappointed—his initial anticipation had turned into irritation.

Over time, he had given up, believing the common people were too ignorant to understand the profound intentions of the Sages. However, since the notice was still posted, he felt obligated to spare a moment to dismiss the man.

Perhaps I should take the notice down to save everyone’s time, Magistrate Cao thought.

“Magistrate Cao will see you. Get inside.”

Lin Yu pushed his small flatbed cart forward with calm composure. The bailiff stole a curious glance at the cart, but seeing it was just an ordinary iron plowshare, he was instantly disappointed.

Another one here to try his luck, the bailiff thought. I just hope the Magistrate doesn’t lose his temper later—and if he does, I hope he doesn’t take it out on me.

“Your two daughters can’t go in. They must wait out here,” the bailiff said, stopping the two girls.

Lin Pan and Lin Lai were terrified in their hearts. They quickly said, “Dad, we won’t go in. We’ll wait for you out here.”

“Then stand in the shade so you don’t get sunstroke.”

Seeing how uncomfortable they were, Lin Yu didn’t force the issue. He slipped a few copper coins into the doorkeeper’s hand. “Brother, please watch over my daughters for a moment.”

“Sure, go ahead,” the doorkeeper replied with a smile.

“Hurry up, don’t keep His Honor waiting,” the bailiff urged.

The cart was heavy, weighted down by the iron plowshare. The bailiff was considering whether to lend a hand, but then he saw Lin Yu reach down and, with a single lift, hoist the entire cart over the high threshold of the gate.

The bailiff couldn’t help but offer a word of praise: “You certainly have a good bit of strength.”

Unfortunately, brute strength and improving agricultural tools were two different things. The County Magistrate didn’t care about strength.

The bailiff warned, “Answer honestly when you’re in front of His Honor. You must not fabricate anything, or you’ll be in for a flogging.”

Lin Yu gave his word while subtly observing the layout of the yamen.

…

Lin Pan and Lin Lai stretched their necks, watching their father’s receding back with great unease. Luckily, the sisters had each other for company.

Having taken the money, the doorkeeper greeted them with a smile. “Sit behind the gate and have some water while you wait. Don’t worry, your father will be out in a bit.”

The sisters exchanged a look and sat down, though they didn’t dare touch the water. Seeing their constrained behavior, the doorkeeper felt a hint of disdain.

He had seen plenty of people like this last year. Every single one of them was sent packing in disgrace within fifteen minutes.

“People are born with a certain lot in life, and they must accept it,” the doorkeeper said. “Take your father, for instance. Instead of farming properly, he runs to the yamen. Wasting time is a small matter; provoking His Honor and getting a flogging is the real concern.”

Lin Lai’s small face tightened. “My father won’t! He has real skill.”

“Little girl, do you even know what real skill is? Flapping your lips doesn’t count,” the doorkeeper mocked.

Lin Pan held back her sister who was about to argue, simply saying, “We’ll find out in a bit.”

“Heh, you two still don’t believe me?” The doorkeeper crossed his legs. “Just you watch. Your father will be limping when he comes out.”

The sisters looked at each other. Although they believed their father wasn’t lying, they couldn’t help but grow worried.

…

Unbeknownst to them, inside the yamen, Magistrate Cao was slamming his hand on the table and cheering.

“Good! Excellent! Such a brilliant tool! According to what you just said, this ‘Curved-Shaft Plow’ truly has so many advantages?”

Lin Yu introduced the features one by one: “This humble commoner changed the straight shaft to a curved one, and the long shaft to a short one. I also installed a freely rotating plow disk at the head of the shaft. Look, Your Honor—this makes the plow frame smaller and lighter, making it much easier to turn around and pivot. It can be used even in small plots of land.”

“Furthermore, after these adjustments, the operation of the entire curved-shaft plow is flexible, which saves the maximum amount of human and animal labor.”

As the local official, Magistrate Cao understood agriculture. He knew that if this were true, the efficiency of plowing would be greatly improved. He walked around the iron plowshare excitedly but couldn’t quite see the mystery behind it.

“Just such a small change has such a huge effect?” the County Secretary nearby couldn’t help but ask.

“Did you think of this yourself? How did you come up with it? Have you ever actually worked the fields? How can you be sure it saves labor? If you dare to use big words to deceive His Honor, you’ll be dragged out for a flogging.”

His tone suggested he didn’t believe Lin Yu at all, thinking it was just a useless prop that sounded good but did nothing.

Hearing this, Magistrate Cao suppressed his joy and stared at Lin Yu. “Do you know that deceiving this official is a grave crime? If you dare to lie, you will be thrown into the dungeon.”

Lin Yu simply said, “If Your Honor does not believe me, we can go to the fields and try it; then it will be clear.”

Nothing was more convincing than seeing it with one’s own eyes.

Magistrate Cao immediately said, “Follow me.”

He actually led Lin Yu to the backyard. There was a small flower garden here, clearly well-tended, filled with vibrant colors.

“Try it right here,” Magistrate Cao said with a wave of his hand.

Lin Yu looked at the flower beds, stunned. “Your Honor, this…”

“You spoke so boldly just now, but now that it’s time for the real thing, you’re making excuses? Guards, drag him down for a flogging!” the Secretary barked.

Lin Yu quickly said, “I am not making excuses. I simply feel it is a waste to plow over such beautiful flowers.”

“If it is a tool that benefits the people, then not just flowers, even a house would be worth tearing down,” Magistrate Cao said calmly.

Lin Yu’s brow twitched slightly. He now understood the dynamic in the yamen. Magistrate Cao was a good official who cared for the people; from the moment he entered, the Magistrate’s eyes had been fixed on the plow—he truly wanted to get things done.

The Secretary, however, was different, showing a tendency to bully the weak—though it was possible they were playing “good cop, bad cop.”

With a shift in thought, Lin Yu hesitated no longer and took the curved-shaft plow down. Since there were no oxen in the yamen, the bailiffs brought a donkey.

“Can this work?”

“It can.” Lin Yu nodded and fitted the harness over the donkey’s neck.

As he was harnessing the animal, the Secretary whispered in Magistrate Cao’s ear, “I’ve never heard this man’s name. In my opinion, he’s just another charlatan wasting your time, Your Honor.”

Magistrate Cao didn’t think so. Ordinary commoners stuttered when speaking to him, but this man had been poised and confident since he entered. He might actually have real talent.

“Let’s see,” Magistrate Cao silenced the Secretary.

Lin Yu stood behind the plow. “Your Honor, please watch closely.”

With a crack of the whip, the donkey moved forward reluctantly. In an instant, the colorful flower bed was turned into dark soil.

Magistrate Cao stepped forward quickly and reached down to feel the turned earth.

“It goes even deeper than a standard iron plow. This is no mere showpiece!”

Magistrate Cao was overjoyed. He actually made Lin Yu step aside so he could try it himself.

“Your Honor, perhaps I should try it instead,” the Secretary and bailiffs said, their hearts jumping in fear that the Magistrate might hurt himself.

Magistrate Cao waved them off. “Brother Lin, come here and give me some guidance. Is this how I stand?”

“Your Honor is brilliant; you’ve learned it just by watching,” Lin Yu said, stepping up to help adjust his posture.

The curved-shaft plow was simpler and more flexible to use. Even though Magistrate Cao had never used one before, he got the hang of it very quickly. After this trial, Magistrate Cao knew the benefits of the plow. He realized Lin Yu hadn’t lied—if anything, he had understated its value.

When he jumped down from the plow, he couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter. “Truly a marvelous thing for the country and the people! I never expected to encounter such a hidden talent among the common folk!”

“Brother Lin, come, come! Let’s go inside, sit down, and talk properly. Guards, bring tea!”

…

At the yamen gate, the sisters were becoming increasingly restless. They couldn’t stop standing up to peer inside.

“He still hasn’t come out. I’m afraid things have gone south,” the doorkeeper sighed intentionally.

Lin Lai retorted, “You said just now he’d be out quickly. Since it’s been so long, my father must be talking with the County Magistrate!”

The doorkeeper curled his lip mockingly. “You certainly have an imagination. I bet he’s getting a flogging.”

“You’re lying! My dad won’t get a flogging!” Lin Lai stamped her feet in anger. “Dad said he came to give the Magistrate a treasure.”

The doorkeeper didn’t believe a word of it. “What treasure would a country bumpkin have? He’s just tricking you kids.”

“He is not! Dad never lies to us!” Lin Lai clenched her fists.

“My, aren’t we getting worked up? Fine, if you don’t like hearing it, I won’t say it. We’ll see soon enough that I was telling the truth.”

Lin Lai was so upset she wanted to cry, and she grabbed her sister’s hand. “Second Sister, what should we do?”

Lin Pan was also extremely anxious. She asked humbly, “Old Sir, could you please go inside and take a look for us?”

“I’m not going,” the doorkeeper shook his head repeatedly. “That’s where the officials work. Entering without permission means a punishment.”

He sat back leisurely to drink his water and watch the comedy. “There’s no need for you to be so anxious. A round of flogging won’t kill a person.”

The sisters were terrified by his words, their hearts racing with no idea what to do. Lin Lai’s eyes were red with worry, yet she didn’t dare rush inside.

Just then, Lin Pan grabbed her sister. “I hear Dad’s voice.”

Lin Lai immediately stretched her neck to look inside.

The doorkeeper was sitting calmly drinking his water, but when he looked up at the sound, he was so shocked he dropped his cup. He scrambled to his feet to bow.

“Greetings, Magistrate Cao!” The doorkeeper didn’t dare raise his head.

Magistrate Cao was actually personally escorting that country bumpkin out! He had just offended the man’s daughters—what was he to do now?

Magistrate Cao didn’t even look at the doorkeeper. Instead, he looked at the two young girls. “I presume these are your daughters?”

“These are my second daughter, Lin Pan, and my youngest, Lin Lai,” Lin Yu replied. Seeing the distress on the sisters’ faces, he nodded to comfort them. “This is our local official, Magistrate Cao.”

“This humble girl greets Your Honor,” the sisters said, first in shock, then in joy. Realizing the man before them was the Magistrate, they became flustered and stuttered.

Magistrate Cao didn’t mind. Instead, he said with a beaming smile, “They truly are fine, intelligent girls.”

He then patted Lin Yu on the shoulder. “Brother Lin Yu, I will report the curved-shaft plow as quickly as possible. The Imperial Court’s reward will take some time, but rest assured, I will remember your contribution.”

Lin Yu naturally offered his thanks.

The father and daughters then left the yamen. The cart that had arrived carrying a plow returned carrying several large boxes—gifts from Magistrate Cao.

Who would have thought a country man could be personally escorted out by the County Magistrate?

The yamen doorkeeper kept wiping his sweat, cursing himself for offending the wrong person. Why did he have such a big mouth?