Chapter 122 Turbulence

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the temperature gradually drops, a few days ago it rained, then it cleared, the refreshing wind seems to have brought some vitality to this closed city for nearly a month, the sky is clear and clear during the day, and the starlight is also clear and clear after night, and the cotton clouds float in the sky, one by one.

For more than a month, the situation of the hungry people inside and outside the city has been pushed to the limit. Of course, it is said that in previous years there were more difficult situations than this year, and the strings have been tightened, but it is difficult to say where the limit is. The government occasionally released grain, and some large households also helped to give soup and rice, and there were people inside and outside the city to take care of it. Whenever this kind of charity relief came, the officers and soldiers also helped to maintain order, and there was no major chaos.

However, some gangs and gangs have also formed among the victims, and there are often fights and grabbing grain, and this kind of chaos often occurs after the government and large households have finished putting grain and distributing porridge and rice, and it is not easy to manage. After the closure of the city, some people died, in fact, a few died of starvation, and most died of brawls and robberies, or were dragged to death after lack of money for medical treatment. Overall, however, it is said that there is still a decrease compared to previous years.

Living in this era, I have heard it many times in previous years, most people have compassion, but now the situation is good, and life still has to be lived. Business continued to talk about socializing, but the atmosphere of the whole city became a little quieter, and the autumn rain continued a few days ago, and the feeling of silence and stagnation became even more serious.

The Mid-Autumn Festival poetry will be held as usual, still as lively as in the past, but the content of the poems is a little different from previous years, from the type of huā group brocade describing various grand scenes or feeling nostalgic for the wind and moon to sigh those things that are not reunion on the night of reunion, describing the scene of the victims inside and outside the city now, Li Pin, Cao Guan, Liu Qingdi and others have new works, and some poets and lyricists who have been famous before have made more breakthroughs this time. Of course, the author of the song "Water Tune Song Head", which made a lot of noise last year, did not participate, he was deeply involved in family business affairs, and had no time to care about it, and some people talked about his clumsiness in business, or ridiculed or sighed, but it also reduced the mystery behind the name "Ning Liheng" a lot.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the days returned to their original trajectory, and people waited day by day for the effects of the floods to pass, and many merchants and shops in the city also operated as usual in this atmosphere. The refreshing morning breeze blew this morning, and it was about ** o'clock in the morning, in a small room next to the Su family's cloth store warehouse in Jiangning City, several people were busy with something. This warehouse room is also connected to the shop next to it, but in the current situation, business is not very good, and a maid named Juan'er occasionally comes in to have a look.

Busy in the room are Ning Yi and Zhou Pei, Zhou Junwu sister and brother, the two sisters and brothers are dressed as young men in green clothes and hats, but their skin is white and tender, and at a glance, they know that Lu Dao is a little bit of a child, and the two of them have been following Ning Yi for a month inexplicably, and some of the Su family have adapted to their existence, only thinking that they are the children of the main family or Ning Yi's disciples, so they take them around. Sometimes Ning Yi asked them to serve tea and pour water, and sometimes even asked them to help carry some goods - of course it was not heavy.

As this pair of sisters and brothers, this kind of life is also quite novel, the day before yesterday, Ning Yi even gave them the first month's salary, one or two taels of silver per person, the standard of child labor this month, and then compared the prices outside, the two sisters and brothers with one or two dollars of silver is probably not of much use, but the next time, it is still quite novel.

Of course, calling them as child laborers is only occasionally boring, most of the time, Ning Yi still does his duty as a teacher, and when he is free, he lectures with the two of them, and also gives Zhou Pei a modern arithmetic course, which corroborates the course of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with the calculation method of this matter in a relatively casual way. At first, Zhou Pei was unimpressed by the code name of the Arabic numerals, but at this time, he often asked some questions in this regard.

The reason why the three of them tossed about today's events was because they were followed by the two of them all the way to the laboratory a few days ago, so they also let them visit and roughly talk about the concept of physics. Ning Yi mainly found a few glass pieces that could be used as convex lenses, and was going to get a telescope to play with. Since the telescope was still being made, Ning Yi was going to do something very simple but not necessarily known to everyone. ,

At this time, some black cloth was used to make a black-out tent and surround it, and the three of them hid in it and lit a candle, and then Ning Yi covered this side of the candle, because the box was only half covered, and the light was still coming out, Ning Yi took a hole and put it down with thick rice paper pasted up in a bamboo frame, and did a simple experiment of imaging small holes.

Juan'er stood at the door and looked at the black cloth tent here, a little suspicious. After a while, I heard it say, "Look, the light here is upside down." ”

"Uh......"

"Ah, teacher, how can this be"

"It's definitely a trick."

"The trick also makes sense."

There was a lot of chattering inside, and when Juan'er leaned over, Ning Yi had already walked out of the black cloth and smiled at her: "Go in and take a look, it's not very interesting, but I shouldn't have seen it before......"

Juan'er entered suspiciously, and then saw the flame of the upside-down candle that appeared on the side of the wooden box.

In the past month, Ning Yi has been like a worker, holding a morning meeting every morning, walking around the fixed line, and then playing freely, seemingly diligent, but not doing much. Most of the time it is Chan'er who follows him, and sometimes there is Juan'er, a few maids and Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu, the two sisters and brothers, have also known each other, and Junwu, who knows how to be polite, often calls them Sister Chan'er Sister Juan'er. Zhou Pei is more reserved, but for them, for Ning Yi, he already has an acquaintance's attitude.

"Some people will say it's a KitKat skill, so for the time being, you don't have to take it too seriously, but some things will be interesting. These two lenses, for example, are placed at such a distance from each other that they magnify things...... Well, I've asked Carpenter Chen to help me chisel a good cylinder and find a way to fix them......"

Ning Yi has always liked to lecture in the form of small talk, and this morning, the long bamboo tube was placed on the table by the windowsill, and Xiao Pei, Jun Wu, and Juan'er, who came in, took turns to look inside, and then were dumbfounded. The lens can't be fixed for the time being, Ning Yi just found the approximate focal length, and put the lens in a bamboo tube with a circle of rice paper to take a look at it temporarily, the lens is not fixed, and it is easy to fall down, so this small telescope can't move yet, when at least from the effect, it is actually quite amazing.

"The reflection of light through small holes actually shows that light travels in a straight line. But in some cases, such as putting a chopstick in the water, it bends, and here, the light turns. If you want to say that you can do something when you see a reflection, that's very difficult, because this telescope is the product of a combination of many different things and principles, and once people can study to this extent, everything is clear, then you don't have to try your luck like I did, you just know what kind of lenses you have to use to make a telescope, what kind of concave and convex surface should look like...... When you know more about the principles of the Dao, you will also know how to accurately create those concave and convex surfaces and how to control them precisely. ”

"But you don't have to think about how to make these, what I want you to know is...... A way to think about things, because, so the combination, don't know why it is, many craftsmen they have been using the old method for many years, but they don't know what the old method is for what has such and such an effect, if you know the principle of the Tao, you can make a more transparent lens, see farther and clearer telescope. The efficiency will increase tenfold, hundredfold. It's the same in everything you do......"

"Zhou Pei, the calculation you like is the same, it is clearer, from the fact that one is equal to two, two plus two is equal to four, it can continue to extend out, we are the world of people, that is the world of a number. In fact, to calculate how light is refracted and how much is magnified, it all needs to be assisted by numbers. The world of numbers is simply because of this, a clear logical relationship...... I don't want you to become craftsmen or something, but I want you to figure out the logic. This should be useful. ”

"Of course, there are some more extreme examples in the calculation, which is very interesting to think about, such as ......"

After doing the experiment, it probably extended to say something messy, Jun Wu looked at the small hole imaging device over there, occasionally fiddling with the telescope, Zhou Pei was also surprised by Fang Cai's experiment, but at this time he listened more carefully, Juan'er listened for a while to see the situation in the store, and sighed where there was no one: "Uncle is so powerful......

After a while, Xi Junyu passed by here, came in and chatted with Ning Yi for a while, and Junwu and Xiaopei went over to pour tea and move seats, which was also the tacit understanding between the two children and Ning Yi. In fact, apart from listening to the class, they have also suspected that Ning Yi has not done anything for the past month.

Xi Junyu is passing by here today, because the gathering of the cloth shop will be held in three days, and the chips of each household will also be officially put out at that time, so let's take a look at Ning Yi's situation at this time. In fact, all the shopkeepers are busy now, and Xi Junyu has just met with the owner of a shop this morning, and is ready to go to another party.

"Although after this month, it seems that my Su family has the highest voice, but the shopping mall is cheating, and all kinds of things have to be guarded against. Although Lord Han supports us now, and Lord Dong also cares about my Su family, it is difficult to say whether there will be any changes. The Xue family and the Su family also have a deep network of relationships in officialdom, and it is difficult to say whether they will turn the tables on the spot. If there is anything to do, it has to be arranged as soon as possible. ”

Xi Junyu belongs to the Shaozhuang faction in the Su family, and he is enterprising, but he is also sober, after listening to him, Ning Yi nodded: "In the officialdom, the old lady has done his best." Shopkeeper Xi, don't I know the doorway very well, has there been similar things in the past? ”

"Over the years, the cloth industry has never fought too hard in the past. Of course, no one can say for sure what is hidden behind the surface...... Oh, maybe I'm too worried, the Su, Xue, and Wu families all have a background, this time since it has reached this level, there will probably not be too many changes, if they can still turn the tables at once and cover the sky with one hand, then in the past, I am afraid that they would have swallowed my Su family a long time ago. ”

"Probably not." Ning Yi laughed, "Open the door to do business, for so many years, when the time comes, we will put things out, even if they have any actions, it is impossible to open their eyes and say nonsense that our things are not good, if we are small merchants, it will be fine...... Oh, in fact, this time I was forced to have no choice, a stab, a planting, and then I took the imperial business, until now I don't know who Lu Dao is, if not, there is probably no need to be so high-profile this month, in short, if you can get by, there will be a future, if you can't get by, there will be nothing to talk about, and the 150,000 taels that were picked out a little bit before are now also laid down to improve the loom, just waiting for the imperial businessman, retreat or something, then there is really no ......"

Xi Junyu nodded, sighed, and then raised his head and smiled: "It's only been three days, there shouldn't be any problems, don't worry, in addition, Uncle Lao also told the second lady that no matter what, this time the matter has been done the best." ”

"Do your best, obey the destiny of heaven." Ning Yi nodded, "Shopkeeper Xi has also worked hard recently. ”

"It's a matter of duty." After a few words of greeting, Xi Junyu invited him to go to the entertainment over there to meet an official of the Weaving Bureau, Ning Yi then shook his head and pushed it away, it didn't make much sense for him to go. After Xi Junyu left, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu frowned and spoke.

"Why don't you go?"

"Maybe you'll be able to convince that man......"

Ning Yi packed up his things and said with a smile: "I have so many things, why do I have to bother about it." ”

"But you're fine." Zhou Pei pursed his lips.

"Who said that I have nothing to do, I will go to dinner later, and I will go to the street in the afternoon, and by the way, I will go to Carpenter Chen to get the shell of the telescope, and by the way, I will study how to fix it. Well, I'm going to paint it on the outside, and I'm going to go to the East Market to see if there's any new novels for sale. What is not more important than socializing......"

"If you don't socialize well, there will be problems at the teacher's house."

"But aren't they entertaining, it's useless for me to go, the preparations to take the imperial merchant have been made, you two also know the way, we don't have to make any small moves, we just run the relationship, let everyone speak with their conscience, don't need those adults from the weaving bureau to show favoritism to us, we also sent money to send such and such things, and don't make it difficult for them, as long as they don't speak with their conscience, we can be sure to get it."

"Wouldn't it be better if they spoke with a clear conscience for the Su family? This makes it even more secure. ”

"Of course, that's not bad......"

"Anyway, I don't think you're trying your best, teacher......"

Jun Wu was a little unhappy, but Ning Yi smiled: "Don't worry, don't worry, I've already done what I should do, it was originally a trivial matter, I don't know why you are in such a hurry." It's not early, let's go, take you to lunch to ......",

He was about to leave, but Zhou Pei suddenly came over and stopped in front of him, and said with a smile: "Uh, wait, it's only been three days, can you let us see that cloth too?" ”

Ning Yi thought for a moment, then tilted his head: "Heh, okay." He took out a key and opened the cabinet next to him, then took out a brocade box to open and showed the two children, Xiao Pei and Jun Wu surrounded him a few times.

"Wow, it's really prettier than what you see at home......"

"I haven't seen much of this kind of cloth before."

"The secret ingredient." Ning Yi smiled, and then made three chapters, "But there is one thing to say first, you two guys are not allowed to go home and talk nonsense, you are not allowed to help find people, and you are not allowed to find a way to hint at a few adults in the Weaving Bureau or something...... Of course, you don't have that kind of influence right now, but I'm going to be fair. ”

"Stinky beauty, we won't help." Zhou Pei rolled his eyes with a smile.

Xiao Junwu nodded beside him: "If you can't get the imperial businessman, it must be that Dong Decheng collected money and collected a lot of money." ”

"Hehe, let's go, let's eat...... Juan'er, one piece is gone"

At noon, a group of four people walked out of the cloth shop, and then the palace guards who were also dressed as cloth shop guys or passers-by also followed from all around, the sun shone down, and the words spread in chatter.

"Is this called the good fighter without great achievements...... But you really didn't do anything, teacher...... Sister Juan'er, right? ”

"Uh...... My uncle has done a lot of things......"

"Of course you speak for your aunt, but my sister and I didn't see anything...... But yes, I didn't have to do too much, I thought it was a big crisis, but step by step it came to this point. It's called Yangmou, sister. ”

"I don't know how to ......"

"What are you doing?"

"Isn't it strange that those people did one thing, and then there was nothing to do."

"Yes, yes, teacher, my sister has a point, don't you think it's strange?"

"Yang Mou, I'm not afraid of yīn Mou."

"Yes, yes, sister...... Ah......h

“…… It's noisy. ”

There were still three days before the assembly of the Weaving Bureau, and after a calm noon, it was a quiet afternoon, so Ning Yi went to the street to get the shell of the telescope, and then bought some small tools to prepare for better mounting the lenses. After the evening, into the night, in the middle of the night, there was a dispersed crowd at the door of a Qinglou restaurant, Xi Junyu said goodbye to several shopkeepers at the street entrance, and also refused the invitation to take a shopkeeper's carriage home, today's weather is good, he decided to go alone.

Walking along the Qinhuai River, to a relatively secluded bay, he looked around, and then walked to the small pier next to it, after a while, the sound of the water holding the boat sounded, the boatman held the boat and rowed towards the depths of the water, Xi Junyu stood on the boat, looking at a hazy circle of light in the distance, his eyes were quiet.

It was a small painting boat that didn't seem to be lively, and when the two boats approached, Xi Junyu walked up, and it seemed that a banquet had not long dispersed in the hall in the center of the painting boat, the lights were dim, and there was a feeling of cold scraps on the tables. Directly in front, a man sat in the host's seat, holding a bowl of rice, bowing his head to fill his stomach, hearing footsteps, he ate a meatball, still with his head down, and talked while using chopsticks to put vegetables into the bowl.

"I'm just wondering if it's too early to send people away, maybe leaving a beautiful woman to accompany you, this meal will taste a little more fragrant. Fortunately, Brother Xi came early, and this is the same. ”

Xi Junyu stepped aside and picked up a bowl in his hand, "I'm not a beauty." ”

"Hehe, but ...... Brother Xi always brings me good news. ”

The man smiled and raised his head, and in the light, the person in front of him was the eldest young master of the Wu family, Wu Qilong.