The sky was covered with dark clouds, and the sun was covered tightly, as if it was dark all of a sudden. At some point, a heavy snow fell and the snowflakes were like goose feathers, fluttering, and soon turned the world into white.

Du Zhongxiao stood outside the village, watching the heavy snow, and said to Su Song beside him: "Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. This good snow will surely be a good harvest next year. Many people burned wasteland in the newly reclaimed fields nearby. With this heavy snow, you will not have to worry about planting in the spring next year."

Su Song said: "I remember that I first met you in the capital. I searched for people to discuss poetry and essays every day, and my mind was full of imperial examinations. After passing the Jinshi, I couldn't stay idle even when I went to a local official. I had been busy for half a year and finally became quiet, but I thought about reclaiming desert land. When we are officials, we cannot think about these things every day. Reading articles and listening to new songs is not only to entertain others and ourselves, but also to be familiar with the ancient teachings of sages and to know the sufferings of the world."

Du Zhongxiao smiled slightly and said softly: "I have seen too many sufferings in the world. I have read the ancient teachings of sages too messy. At this time, I focus on doing things, just to read these principles, otherwise I will not understand them. I came from a farmer family and could not compare with Zirong. There are so many things in this world that I can't understand and can't figure it out. Cultivating fields here is not only to recruit people to grow food, but also to know the world and know the world and people's hearts. - Forget it, if you don't talk about these, it's rare that there is a good snow today, let's go back to drink a drink. Manager Zheng doesn't have to be in a position to stay in Jingdong Road. The next person is in full swing, and we'll gather together."

Su Song always felt that Du Zhongxiao was strange when he talked about things in the officialdom, and did not argue with him and returned to the village together.

He ordered Chai Xin to prepare wine and meat. Du Zhongxiao asked his entourage to call Zheng Peng, the manager of the village, who was still in the village, and the village leader He Kun, and drink and enjoy the snow with them. He Kun is a warrior. He has been promoted recently and has learned to start studying and prepare to become a high-ranking official.

After roasting the fire with Su Song for a while, Zheng Peng and He Kun came together, followed Tao Shiqi, who was running errands. The officials in the state discussed repeatedly and sent Tao Shiqi to the inspection camp, which was considered as a military force. In fact, the real military force was to go to the prison city and be assigned to the prison city command. How could there be such a good thing as a military force? Although the prison city command is also a wing army sequence, it is actually a hard labor service. Such as various chores in the prefecture city, repairing bridges and roads, all of which are the tasks of the prison city command. They lacked enough staff, so other military forces were supplemented. In the words of Du Zhongxiao in his previous life, the prison city command was actually a labor camp, and there was the place where prisoners were truly serving their sentences. The prison city was actually a prisoner to be tried.

Seeing Tao Shiqi wearing a new jacket and looking red, Du Zhongxiao said, "The village master is really good at treating you. You should be careful and do things well in the village. Good or bad things are over, don't think too much."

Tao Shiqi bowed: "The little one is repaid for the big revenge, and the officials of the festival contributed a lot. The little one is remembered in his heart."

Du Zhongxiao smiled and shook his head: "I am just doing my own thing. What kind of kindness do you want to remember? The weather is cold, drink a glass of wine to get rid of the cold."

Tao Shiqi took the wine handed over by Chai Xin, raised his head and drank it all, his face immediately turned red, and bowed, "Thank you, the official, and the wine is recommended!"

Seeing that Tao Shiqi was well-behaved, Du Zhongxiao was in a good mood and said to him: "After the New Year, the master of He Village will be promoted to his state. It is impossible for you to have nothing to do in the village. This year, thanks to the nearby factory that makes fireworks and firecrackers, there will be some staff and some wings. After the master of He Village, you can go there to work. The workplace is as if there is nothing to do in the village."

Tao Shiqi bowed and thanked him repeatedly, happily standing aside. He was young and was imprisoned in prison for several months, and he was forced to hold on in one breath. He was released a few days ago, and he was so happy that he showed a lot of childishness.

Reclamation costs money, especially Du Zhongxiao did a large-scale project there, which attracted many boatmen and boatmen on the Bian River. Spending money is more like running water. It can be supported by the factory that makes fireworks and firecrackers.

This factory was built by Du Zhongxiao. In the past, no one in the state was in charge. Now that Du Zhongxiao is making a lot of money, it cannot be decided by Du Zhongxiao alone. Officials cannot buy industries under their rule. When the factory is built, it is an official business, and the income must be handed over to Bozhou. Han Yi is not very good at Du Zhongxiao because of his son Han Jiang, and he ignores Du Zhongxiao. He retired after the New Year, and the new officials will not be so easy to talk to. How to raise money for the land reclamation business at that time? Du Zhongxiao is worried about it. Now he has to put some people in the field affairs, and then he will have to discuss with the new magistrate.

As the New Year Festival approaches, fireworks and firecrackers have been sold very much recently. The capital is underwritten by the designated yamen. Recently, Du Zhongxiao opened the market to the lower reaches of the Bian River, and asked Yangzhou's ruling Wang Anshi to help him sell it all the way to Liangzhe Road.

Everyone sat down, and Chai Xin brought a pot of cooked mutton, which were cooked with large pieces of meat with small bones and were just enough to enjoy it on such a snowy day. He also served a few snacks and served wine for everyone.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Du Zhongxiao said to Su Song: "After the New Year, Manager Zheng and He Village Master were promoted to another place. Although the Ma Meng case has been concluded, there are still many documents to be made. Zirong stayed here for a few more days, and it would not be too late to return to Suzhou until spring is in full bloom."

Su Song was an easy-going person and agreed immediately. He was like Du Zhongxiao, and he was particularly idle without a major case. The state did not urge him to go back. Besides, he also wanted to wait until spring to take a boat to Yangzhou along the Bian River to see his father. Compared with other positions, the officials at the Mu Office are relatively idle, and not everyone is as idle as Du Zhongxiao.

Du Zhongxiao left Su Song with another intention, which was to use this time to study the steam engine in depth with him. In Du Zhongxiao's impression, the steam engine can be used widely and there is also a problem of miniaturization. If a large machine only has a few horsepower, it will not be of great use. Whether it is installed on a car or a ship, it must be reduced in size and increase in power. This step involves the content of power, using high-temperature and high-pressure steam. Even if it is very simple, geniuses like Su Song must participate in this study.

Drinking the strong wine and looking at the snowflakes, Du Zhongxiao said with emotion: "The northwest is about to negotiate peace, and the thieves on Jingxi Road and Huainan Road are impounded. By the end of the year, there are some signs of internal and external troubles being relieved. No wonder the emperor gave up Deyin. The trial was quickly cut off in the past half month, and finally he was completely imprisoned before the New Year. The magistrate and the minister gave office a good face. Moreover, such a big case was not executed in the end, and it was also a prosperous era. Chai Benshan and Ma Meng responded to the evil thieves and attacked Shamen Island, and a group of gangs and evil people in the local area were wiped out. I became an official here, and I unknowingly passed half a year. Now I think about it, so many things have been done."

Speaking of this, he raised his glass to the other three people and said, "Because I insisted on handling the Ma Meng case, you have suffered a lot of hard work for nothing. I will toast you this glass of wine. However, the court saw your hard work and finally had a good result. After drinking this glass of wine, this year will be over. The next year's holiday will be the next, and I will no longer care about business. Come and drink this glass together!"

After saying that, Du Zhongxiao and everyone drank it all.
Chapter completed!