Chapter 39: A Lead Emerges

“How ingenious! Absolutely brilliant! Hahaha…” Yuan Fang burst into hearty laughter as he studied the drawing. Spreading the paper flat on the table, he pointed at three spots—Li Ping, Li Jian, and Li Jian—and exclaimed in admiration, “Just by adding three simple little pieces, you can control the depth of the plow’s furrow. Brilliant! How did no one ever think of something so simple before?”

Liu Yitiao’s eyes lit up. To glean so much from a single diagram—perhaps Yuan Fang truly could craft this curved-beam plow.

Yuan Fang carefully put the drawing away and, looking at Liu Yitiao, sighed, “Sir Liu, your diagram is truly exquisite. According to this design, the finished plow will be two or three times more efficient than the Wei plow, and far superior to the straight-beam plow. Moreover, it doesn’t require much material, though the structure is a bit intricate and will take some effort to make. But I’m confident I can have a set ready in three days!”

“Really?!” Liu Yitiao was overjoyed and respectfully said, “If I may trouble you, Uncle Yuan, could you make twenty sets for me? Price is no object—whatever you need, just say the word.”

Yuan Fang waved his hand. “Sir Liu, all I need is for you to provide the necessary timber and plowshares. As for the labor, I won't take a single coin. I’ll make the twenty sets for you free of charge. But I do have one condition…”

“Oh? Please, Uncle Yuan, speak. As long as it is within my power, I will do everything I can.”

“Haha, nothing so serious,” Yuan Fang chuckled. “I simply love this plow design and hope you’ll let me keep the original drawing.”

So that was it. Liu Yitiao breathed a sigh of relief. “If you like it, Uncle Yuan, by all means, take it. I’m no craftsman—keeping it here would be like hiding a pearl in the dark, serving no purpose.”

“Very well, then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Yuan Fang smiled, tucking the drawing into his clothes, then said, “It’s getting late today. Tomorrow, Sir Liu, gather some willow wood for me—let’s say thirty trees for now. Make sure the trunks are straight, not too thick, and about ten years old. Once you’ve got them, bring them to me. As for the plowshares, just order twenty from any blacksmith, same style as the straight-beam plow. Once we have all the materials, Pei and I will get to work and finish them for you as soon as possible. You won’t miss the spring plowing.”

“Thank you so much, Uncle Yuan and Uncle Pei.” With the matter settled, Liu Yitiao felt at ease. Seeing that it was already late, he rose to take his leave. “It’s getting late—I won’t trouble you any longer.”

It was the first day of the Lunar New Year. That night, every household would offer sacrifices to their ancestors, so it was not the time to keep guests. Yuan Fang and his son did not insist on him staying, but courteously walked him to the door and watched him leave.

When Liu Yitiao returned home, everyone was already up. Madam Liu was in the kitchen with young Xiao Hui preparing the meal, while Old Liu and Liu Ertiao were in the yard feeding the oxen.

Seeing Liu Yitiao return, Old Liu asked, “Yitiao, where have you been? Haven’t seen you all afternoon.”

“Oh, I went to Xia’er Village,” Liu Yitiao replied. “I asked Uncle Yuan to make some new plowheads for breaking new ground. It’s all arranged—I need to deliver some materials to him tomorrow.”

“Yuan Fang, is it?” Old Liu nodded. “That’s the right thing to do. With the ten new oxen we just got, we still lack enough plowheads. We should prepare several sets. Hmm, and we’ll need seeders, hoes, mattocks, and sickles too. We should go into town soon to buy them.”

“Yes,” Liu Yitiao agreed, then turned to Liu Ertiao. “Ertiao, tomorrow Magistrate Wang is leaving for his promotion in Chang’an. You’re coming with me to see him off. He’s your teacher now, so remember to be warm and respectful.”

“Master Wang got promoted?!” Liu Ertiao’s eyes widened in surprise and delight.

“Yes, he’s now Chief Historian of Zhongzhou, sixth rank,” Liu Yitiao said. “He came by this afternoon, but you were all napping so I didn’t wake you. He left after a few words.”

Old Liu interjected, “Since Lord Wang is leaving, and it’s such a happy occasion, you must go early tomorrow and bring plenty of gifts—to see him off, offer congratulations, and wish him a happy New Year. Don’t let your teacher think we’re cold or ungrateful.”

“Understood, Father—we’ll be sure to mind our manners,” Liu Yitiao replied. Even without Old Liu’s reminder, he knew what was expected.

After a little more work, Liu Yitiao shooed Liu Ertiao inside—children should focus on their studies, not always loiter behind the oxen.

Seeing there was still some daylight, Liu Yitiao took the bamboo left from yesterday, split it into finger-thick strips in the yard, and began weaving a bamboo muzzle for the oxen.

The bamboo muzzle is a folk invention, much like a horse’s bridle but for oxen, woven from bamboo. Fitted on the ox’s mouth during plowing, it prevents the animal from biting crops or grazing at will. There’s even a saying: “With a muzzle on the ox’s mouth, it cannot open wide.” It’s a practical tool that improves working efficiency.

Old Liu, seeing Yitiao fiddling with another new contraption, eagerly came over. From healing stomach ailments to piercing the oxen’s noses, he had come to trust the resourcefulness of his sons.

Watching Liu Yitiao weave the bamboo strips into a small basket-like object, Old Liu asked, “Yitiao, what’s the point of making such a tiny basket? It can’t hold much.”

Liu Yitiao smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, he approached their ox, Little Yellow, and fitted the muzzle over its mouth—it fit perfectly, enclosing both jaws. He patted Little Yellow’s head and turned to Old Liu, “Father, as you see, this is for the oxen. It doesn’t need to be large, just big enough for the mouth.”

“This…?” Old Liu was puzzled. What was the point of covering the ox’s mouth?

Seeing his father’s confusion, Liu Yitiao grabbed a handful of hay and held it out to Little Yellow. The ox eagerly tried to eat, but no matter how it tried, the muzzle kept the grass out of reach. After several attempts, Little Yellow gave up, gazing at Liu Yitiao with big, mournful eyes.

At last, Old Liu understood and began nodding repeatedly. With this little basket, there’d be no more worry about the oxes foraging while working the fields.

Next, Liu Yitiao found some rope and showed Old Liu how to make a harness for the oxen.

The harness was looped from the nose ring, under the jaw, over the horns, and down the forehead, forming a triangular “underpants” shape with the nose as the base point. With this, the ox’s nose would be well protected, preventing injury from too much force while leading it.

---

There will be another chapter at noon, and tonight I’ll be making some revisions to earlier chapters. Thank you all for your advice and support.