activa-t Chapter 398 That's Coal
Chapter 398 That's Coal
Shen Yi also asked about the progress of the village school.
A thin man covered in sweat grinned and said, "It's almost ready. We just need to wait for the tables, chairs and benches to be delivered, and then we can clean up the yard where Mr. Chu lives and use it!"
"That's great." Shen Yi showed his eight teeth and was about to go back when he was stopped by Shen Ying who came over.
"Shen Yi, I have something I wanted to discuss with you. Xiao Tai said that you have been away from home for the past few days. Are you going to leave right after you come back today?"
Shen Yi shook his head and said, "I'll go back to the county government tomorrow."
Shen Ying breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good," we talked as we walked. It's like this, I specially built a bigger village school this time, the place is spacious, but there are not enough teachers. A while ago, Mr. Chu was the only one to take care of it, and Mr. Chu was ill. He suggested that we find two more teachers to come, and he can share the tuition.
Oh! I am really worried! It is not a problem of money, but a problem of not being able to find people! "
Shen Yi looked at Shen Ying's frowning brows, listened to his long sighs, and said thoughtfully: "I will go to Dahe Town later and ask him by the way. If all else fails, I will go to Ma Xingteng tomorrow. He personally led a business trip last year and visited several nearby prefectures and even the counties and towns below. Maybe he knows some information and ways."
"Okay, okay! I'll leave it to you then!" Shen Ying's steps as he left seemed brisk and hurried, as if he still had a lot of things to do.
Shen Yi led the horse back home, and the twins' eyes lit up when they saw him. As soon as they moved their buttocks a little, a dry cough came from the corner. The two little guys immediately withdrew their gaze and continued to read with resentment.
Su Tai snorted coldly, stood up and greeted him, "You are finally back. There is something I want to talk to you about in detail."
Then she looked at her eldest son and daughter and asked with interest, "Is the ice field fun?"
"It's fun! Mom, the ice field is not what the outside world says. Although the house at my aunt's house is relatively short, it is very spacious. My cousin took us to feed the lambs and taught us to ride horses. We also ran and chased each other on the grassland. However, my uncle didn't let us go far, saying that there are jackals, tigers and leopards on the ice field. They will eat sheep and people. It's scary!"
Shen Congrong kept gesturing, his eyes sparkling, and he seemed very excited.
Shen Yuezhang, who was standing by, had already opened the things he had brought back. "Mom, I learned from my aunt to make some milk beans, yogurt, and milk slices. You can try them."
"Wow! My baby still remembers to bring food for mommy! That's great!" Su Tai was very surprised.
Not wanting to be outdone, Shen Congrong opened the bundle and said, "I also brought a gift for my mother. It's a pair of boots. There is a shop in town that specializes in making shoes. I asked the owner to make them for me."
Su Tai was overjoyed and gave her eldest son a big kiss, "You are such a good son!"
The mother and her two children were cuddling together over there.
The twins looked so excited but dared not to move.
Shen Yi walked over and squatted in front of the two of them, "Are you in trouble again?"
The twins cried in grievance, but they didn't dare to cry out loud, "Dad..."
Su Tai took her spoils and led Shen Yi to the backyard, saying, "Zhang'er and Rong'er, you just came back, take a rest first. There are some snacks in the kitchen, so fill your stomach first. I'll make you something delicious later. After you eat, go see Mr. Chu. He's been sick for two days."
"Mom!" the twins cried out in unison.
All that was left to them was Su Tai's resolute back of the head.
The couple returned to the house, and Shen Yi couldn't wait to ask: "Master Lu said that the soil in the yard would catch fire, what's going on?"
Su Tai curled her lips in annoyance, "You are such a good son and daughter. The two little troublemakers used firecrackers to blow up the mud pile and caught it on fire!"
"Firecrackers? Where do they come from?" Shen Yi had a question mark on his forehead.
Su Tai became more and more depressed. After sitting down, she took a piece of milk tablet and stuffed it into her mouth. "I brought them back from their grandparents' house. I was careless. I told the children to pack their own luggage that day, but I forgot to check what they brought. The two big ones must be fine, but the two little ones... each only brought a set of clothes, which were leaking here and there. I brought all the useless things, such as firecrackers, bamboo dragonflies, and a bag of earthworms!"
"Earthworm?" Shen Yi became more and more confused.
Su Tai gnashed her teeth in anger, "I heard the yamen runner say that you bought a yard with a pond, and you dug up a bag of it in just a short while, planning to feed the fish!"
Shen Yi: “…”
"Let's be serious. There is a coal mine under that silt. I suspect there is a lot of coal hidden under the county seat of Zhaohua County."
"Are you serious?" Shen Yi stood up suddenly, his eyes wide open.
Now it was Su Tai's turn to be surprised, "You know about coal? Lord Lu and the others don't know."
Shen Yi sat down next to Su Tai and explained, "I heard from Vice General Pan when I was in the military camp that we suffered a defeat a few days ago, and the Marshal asked them to analyze the reasons. Vice General Pan said that Longxia's weapons were better than ours. I asked him a question, and Vice General Pan mentioned coal at the time. He said that Longxia used coal for forging and smelting, and he also mentioned exchanging with Longxia, but was rejected.
During the peace talks between the two countries, Longxia State softened its stance and was willing to trade in coal, but the price was too high for ordinary people to even see it, and I'm afraid that even the petty officials had never heard of it."
Su Tai suddenly realized, "No wonder Lord Lu reacted so calmly."
Lu Tong has never left Lizhou in his life, so it is normal that he is cut off from information.
Shen Yi confirmed again, "Wife, is that really coal?"
Su Tai nodded confidently, "It is absolutely true, but I don't know how much. But according to my understanding, it should be a lot. This is a serious matter. You should discuss it with Lord Lu and see how to report it."
That's a coal mine. I'm afraid even the prefect won't be able to make the decision.
"Okay! I will go back to the county government tomorrow. As for Mr. Chu, I will go over to take a look and try to find him one or two helpers."
After Shen Yi finished speaking, he went out immediately.
Su Tai explained everything that needed to be said and immediately put those matters aside.
I tiptoed to the main hall and saw the twins were indeed writing big characters there. Shen Yuezhang and Shen Congrong were not there. They were probably going to Mr. Chu's place.
She nodded with satisfaction and turned into the kitchen.
The father and his two sons must have been sleeping in the open and not having anything good to eat these days.
Su Tai thought about it, then killed two chickens, stewed a nourishing medicinal chicken soup for them, steamed a big pot of white rice, made a few beef pancakes, braised some pork belly, and added some cold-boiled water spinach and cold-boiled Chinese cabbage.
The chicken soup has to be simmered until the evening, so the meal can be served first.
Shen Yi brought the two children back home. Seeing that the food was ready, he quickly invited the children to the table.
By the way, let me give the twins a few more words of education.
When it was getting dark in the evening, Shen Yi went to Pu's house in Dahe Town.
Things are different now. Shen Yi is already the county magistrate. Mr. Pu dare not be as casual as before. In order to receive him, he even called his wife and son and daughter-in-law out to meet him.