Wei and Jin Cooks

Lai Qing's face turned red from the sun, and he was wiping the sweat on his face with his sleeves. When he saw the Queen Mother, he was very happy. When he saw the eldest princess who was following the Queen Mother, the smile on his face stopped and he ran down to the field to find Zhao Hanzhang. , "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Queen Mother and the Eldest Princess are here."

 Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan straightened up and looked behind each other in unison. When they saw the three people being surrounded, Zhao Hanzhang called Fu Tinghan, "Let's rest for a while."

 Fu Tinghan responded.

Wang was relieved when she saw the two people coming up. She quickly took out bowls from the basket carried by the palace maid and filled them with soup. "Come on, I've made sour plum soup for you."

Seeing the sweat on Zhao Hanzhang's face, Wang felt a little disgusted. After making soup, she handed it to Fu Tinghan, then wiped the sweat off her face with a handkerchief, "Are you really going to cut all the rice in this land?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Not much, you see there are so many of us."

Except for the first day when she brought the ministers to cut some crops and visit them, she did everything herself during the past two days. From harvesting to tying the rice ears and carrying them out, she took the lead.

 Zhao Hanzhang looked at Princess Hongnong and Fu Xuan with a smile, "Why are father and mother here?"

Princess Hongnong said: "I heard that your majesty is harvesting rice here, so my consort and I are here to help."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and did not refuse, but he still had lunch before continuing.

Zhao Hanzhang gave the order, and Zeng Yue came out with the imperial guards carrying sickles. Some soldiers came with a basket of cakes and two buckets of soup.

 Each person is given two cakes and a bowl of soup. After receiving it, everyone eats lunch while standing or squatting on the ground.

Zhao Hanzhang and the others had lunch brought by the Queen Mother, a small basket of steamed buns with three dishes and a soup.

Mrs. Wang knew that Zhao Hanzhang had a big appetite, so she brought extra steamed buns. She opened the bamboo basket and wrapped it with a layer of gauze. The steamed buns were still steaming, which made people very appetizing.

Zhao Hanzhang first gave the status to the three elders, then pushed the bamboo basket to Fu Tinghan, and she walked to the soldiers' meal.

Zeng Yue was nibbling a piece of bread. When he saw her coming, he understood and took two pieces from the big basket and gave them to her.

Zhao Hanzhang took it and asked, "Do you have enough?"

Zeng Yue: "That's enough. The kitchen will make more every time. This is the autumn harvest, and they don't dare to miss my food and drink."

Zhao Hanzhang took a bite with confidence. There was minced meat in the pancake, mixed with chopped green onion and grilled. Not to mention, it was really delicious.

Zeng Yue saw that she was eating well, so he handed her what he had in his hand. Zhao Hanzhang pushed it back, waved and left. He also waved to the guards who were looking at her, "Brothers, eat with ease, wait." The autumn harvest holiday is over, I’ll treat you to a big dinner!”

When the guards heard this, they all agreed happily.

Zhao Hanzhang returned to the mat with three meat pies, and Princess Hongnong came to her senses. They came to visit unexpectedly, and the lunch prepared by the Queen Mother was not enough.

 Princess Hongnong put down the steamed buns in her hands, "We came at a bad time..."

Without waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to comfort her, Wang immediately said: "Princess, please don't say that. This child has a big appetite and often eats with the soldiers. When you are not here, they often eat together, isn't it Tinghan?" "

 Fu Tinghan nodded: "Yes."

 He asked Princess Hongnong, "Are you here to discuss something with us?"

Princess Hongnong squeezed the steamed bun tightly and paused before saying: "No, I just heard that Your Majesty and you are harvesting in the autumn and setting an example for the people, so I wanted to come and help."

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said: "Mother came just in time. With your participation, we can harvest this area of ​​rice tomorrow morning, and then we can plow the land and prepare to sow winter wheat."

Princess Hongnong turned to look at the golden rice field. At this time, more than half of it had been harvested, with only one missing corner left uncut. "Are you going to plow this land to plant wheat?"

“No, the land is limited. This land needs to be cultivated after harvesting. Next year, we will plant a season of soybeans and then plant winter wheat. Do you see the empty land next to us? That’s where the winter wheat will be planted this year.”

 Princess Hongnong stretched her neck to look, frowning slightly, "There's a lot of grass."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said: "It's all new grass. After the flood, the land became empty. I asked people to spread some fertilizer. The village of Huangzhuang is nearby. They graze cattle, pigs and chickens on the land. After half a year, the grass eats sporadic fertilizers and grows better and better. It will be good to grow crops on such land."

Princess Hongnong was curious, "As I walked along, half of the land in the Imperial Manor was deserted, but the servants in the Imperial Manor weren't doing their best?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook his head, "There was a flood this year and there was not enough time to replant, so most of the land was left uncultivated. However, the land had to be planted in rotation to maintain soil fertility. Of course, this is just a plan of ours and has not been announced to the public. Civilian scientific planting There are too few, and the people cannot stand the test, so they farm according to the old methods. The test can only be handled by the court and the royal family."

Seeing that she didn't understand, Fu Tinghan explained in detail, "The land will be planted with winter wheat. After the wheat harvest next year, half will be left there, half will be planted with soybeans, and rice will be planted again the next year, so that we can compare. After wheat is gone, whether to plant soybeans or leave the land empty to maintain soil fertility all needs to be verified one by one,"

 In the past, their agricultural research mainly focused on cultivating improved seeds, fertilizing, and improving planting methods. Shen Ruhui even studied plants to prevent diseases and insect pests, but neglected the maintenance of soil fertility.

This year's floods destroyed a lot of fertile farmland and took away the fertile soil. The soil fertility is limited, and the people voluntarily enclose land to protect the soil fertility. Only then did the court wake up. They also need to pay attention to soil fertility conservation.

 So Sinong Temple began systematic research.

But Sinong Temple alone was not enough, so Zhao Hanzhang asked Huangzhuang to participate in various experiments with Huangzhuang under his name.

Princess Hongnong understood and followed them to the fields to harvest rice after lunch.

　　But it only lasted half an hour, because the sun returned to rest under the shade of the trees at noon.

At Shenshi, the weather cooled down a bit before going down to the fields. This time, except for getting up occasionally to drink water, they bent down until the sun went down.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan tried to persuade her several times but failed to persuade her to go up. Wang could only take a sickle and go to the ground.

My mother-in-law is already harvesting rice, and her cultivation really doesn’t allow her to sit in the shade of a tree.

However, Wang can fish, and Qinggu is helping her, which makes her look no worse than Princess Hongnong. Zhao Hanzhang couldn't help but smile when she saw Wang's proud look on her face. She personally helped the two mothers onto the carriage and asked Fu Tinghan to sit with Fu Xuan, while she sat with Princess Hongnong.

Zhao Hanzhang put down his rolled-up sleeves, poured her a cup of tea and handed it over, "If you have something to do, mother, you might as well just tell her."

Princess Hongnong clenched the tea cup in her hand, thought for a while, and felt that she really couldn't bend down tomorrow, so she said: "I have nothing to do and wander around. I heard that many new schools have been opened in the villages around Luoyang. Most of them are female students. Although they can go to school to study, they have to return home every day. Not only do they have to do housework, but they also occasionally have to work in the fields. As a result, they often arrive late for school and leave early."

 Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

 At present, the lowest-level schools in most areas of China are still county schools, that is, schools opened in counties.

 Children of school age are enrolled in school. Those who live in and around the county can stay at home. Those who live far away must live in school.

Only Luoyang and a few surrounding counties are currently piloting the idea of ​​sending schools to the countryside, that is, opening schools to large gatherings, commonly known as townships, usually in the centers of several villages.

This kind of school has only three grades and is only responsible for compulsory teaching. It is opened in the countryside to facilitate students in the village; and to reduce the pressure on county schools.

Because we don’t know whether it is applicable, we only piloted it in Luoyang and a few surrounding counties.

Princess Hongnong felt pity for those children. She wanted to allocate a sum of money to specifically support these children. "Just cook and eat in the school, so you don't have to rush home during the lunch break. I heard that the children have to go to school at noon." When they return home, they have to wash clothes, fetch water, feed pigs and chickens, and clean the room. Some are even taken to the fields to do farm work. They are often not released until they are ready. By the time the children rush all the way to school, it is almost time to apply. , gentlemen are not happy about this.”

Zhao Hanzhang lightly knocked on the table and said: "The princess means that the children will be detained directly in the school. As long as they come to school that day, they will not be allowed to leave school in the middle. All food and drinks will be taken care of in the school."

Princess Hongnong's eyes lit up. She had not thought of this. She just wanted to donate money to the school for cooking. After they had food, they would not have to return home. But the emperor's method was obviously better.

 She nodded immediately and said, "Yes, that's what I mean."

Zhao Hanzhang raised his lips and said, "Yes, but there are so many students in the school. It's not enough to rely solely on the princess's support. Let's let the children bring food and vegetables from home and send them to the school to cook together. The princess's kindness The payment is considered a subsidy.”

Princess Hongnong was slightly stunned, "Will their parents be less willing to let them go to school because of this?"

"Then they can only serve, for at least three months in a school year, as long as they are willing to do so," Zhao Hanzhang said: "Education is a long-lasting thing. It cannot be completed with the help of one person. It requires thousands of people." Thousands of families are working together."

  Zhao Hanzhang decided to write about the benefits of girls studying in the next issue of the newspaper, and asked Xuetang and Lizheng to publicize it.

 Now, women can join the court as officials and the army as generals just like men.

Zhao Hanzhang turned his head and glanced back, raising his eyebrows. How could he make his mother the queen mother?

Zhao Hanzhang immediately knew what to do, and immediately went to help the Wang family as soon as he returned to the palace.

Wang's back was so tired that she could hardly straighten up when she got out of the car. "Sanniang, I won't go to the fields to see you tomorrow."

She now feels that living in the palace is not bad.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly, "Mom, don't go. You have a day of rest, and I will take you out of the palace to play the day after tomorrow."

Wang was refreshed and asked, "Where are we going to play?"

"We will first go to the Yushan Hall to see the children, and then go to the countryside to visit the people in various places who are harvesting, and let them see the majesty of the Queen Mother."

Mrs. Wang: "...Growing up, I only heard that the Queen Mother wanted to summon the concubine in the palace, but I never knew that she had to go to Yushan Hall and the countryside. Wouldn't it be better to let the palace officials go to these places?"

"How can they compare with your majesty, Aniang? We originally came from the countryside, and we used to live in Zhuangzi. The common people know that you are kind and virtuous, and you have taught a powerful daughter like me, and you have a powerful daughter like Erlang. My sons all want to see you."

Wang felt that the pain in her waist had gone away a lot, and the sullenness in her heart had also dissipated. She said with a smile, "It's because you, siblings, are good-looking, and your grandfather taught you well. How can I take any credit?"

Having said this, she straightened her back and looked proud.

 Zhao Hanzhang summoned a chariot and escorted her all the way back to Xuanguang Hall. He coaxed her into being submissive and happy, and then returned to Deyang Hall.

Fu Tinghan had washed her hair and taken a shower, so she sat on the couch and stared at her, "Why are you coaxing mother so much?"

Zhao Hanzhang rolled his neck and said: "In order to let the people of the world know how good it is to have a daughter, this means that if my father is not here, if he is here, the position of the Supreme Emperor will not be lost every minute. So, it is better to train a daughter than to raise a daughter." If you have a bad son, you should open your mind and broaden your horizons."

"The difference in status between men and women is certainly due to productivity, but I think the biggest constraint is ideological constraints. When the People's Republic of China was first founded, the Chairman said that women can hold up half the sky. At that time, the vigorous women's movement went to the fields and built rivers. With all these women involved, wouldn’t there be a difference in power at that time?”

Zhao Hanzhang said: "Men farm and women weave, clothing and food. You must know that most of the folk cloth and clothes come from women. Without food, people will starve to death, without clothes, they will die of cold. Hunger and cold have always been discussed together, so Even in terms of life contribution, women’s contribution is not inferior to that of men, so why does their status have to remain low?”

"In the final analysis, it is still a matter of ideology, because those who stand in the court are all men, and most of the people who write are men. But it is different now. Women also have the right to stand in the court, so as long as we set the idea of ​​equality between men and women, If we change the old rules and regulations, even if we can't achieve equality between men and women in ten or twenty years, we can always achieve it in one hundred or two hundred years."

Zhao Hanzhang: "The most wonderful thing is that with our current efforts, even if we cannot change the fate of all the girls at once, as long as one of them lives a better life than the original trajectory, our efforts will be worthwhile."

Tinghe knocked on the door, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the hot water is ready."

Zhao Hanzhang went to take a bath first.

Fu Tinghan sat on the couch and thought. When she came out of the bathroom and wiped her hair, he was writing and drawing on the low table with a pen.

Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward and took a look curiously, then stopped wiping his hair and asked, "What is this?"

Fu Tinghan said: "Didn't you say that clothing and food are equally important? In this case, we will improve the efficiency of textiles and tailoring and increase their productivity, so that they can not only gain strength in thinking, but also gain strength in production value."

"Although looms and textile machines have been improved, the models are too large and are currently only suitable for workshops. I will go back to the Ministry of Industry to have a look and find someone to study it again to see if we can reduce the size and then increase the output. It is best to Make sure that every household can have one, as well as a sewing machine. If you have this thing, the speed of sewing clothes will be greatly improved, right?"

Zhao Hanzhang held his face, bit his lips hard, and laughed and said, "Ting Han, you are really my angel."

Fu Tinghan's face was red and his ears were almost bleeding. (End of chapter)