As soon as the family moved their things into the back room, Li Dechen came.

Li Dechen originally came to look for Lao Liu, but when he saw that Liu Yiyi was also there, he couldn't help but be overjoyed. He stood in the courtyard and bowed down to greet Liu Yiyi: "Boss, you can come back, the little old man has something to look for you these days." ”

"Oh," knowing that Li Dechen was reluctant to enter the house, Liu Yiyi moved two chairs to the courtyard, and said to Li Dechen with an unhurried smile: "If Uncle Li has anything to say, sit down first and then speak." ”

"Eh, thank you." Li Dechen took the wooden chair with both hands, and after Liu Yiyi sat down, he carefully sat down next to Liu Yiyi.

"Liu has been absent these days, and the affairs in the field are all done by Uncle Li, and Uncle Li has worked hard." Liu Yiyi lightly bowed his hand to Li Dechen to show his gratitude.

This was originally a very polite approach, but it startled Li Dechen.

Where had he ever seen such a battle before, and let the owner salute and thank him, where could he afford it? Hurriedly got up from the chair, bent over and saluted Liu Yiyi: "The owner, you are serious, these are all things that the little old man should do, but he can't afford to say such things as the owner." ”

"Hehe," Liu Yiyi chuckled and shook his head, this old man is still like that, he does things too according to the rules, he waved his hand at Li Dechen: "What I said just now is sincere, Uncle Li doesn't have to be like this, and sit down first." I'm not as good as other places, and I'm not a big family, I don't have so many courtesies, and I don't have so many rules. It's better for Uncle Li to be casual, and he doesn't have to stand up and talk back at every turn. In this way, you are troublesome, and I feel awkward. ”

After Li Dechen bent down and sat down, Liu Yiyi continued: "Just now, Mr. Li said that he had something to say to Liu, I don't know what happened?" ”

"Go back to the owner," Li Dechen couldn't help but arch his hand again, and replied: "Little Lao'er came this time to discuss the problem of the arid land with Master Liu, but now the owner is back. Just talk to the owner about it. ”

"The owner has been away from home all these days, so he doesn't know the situation in this field." Li Dechen said: "The spring millet in the field has been planted for half a month, and now the millet seedlings have also grown, and the tall ones have grown to the fingers, and the growth is very good." However, in the past few days, some problems have arisen. ”

"The fields are a little dry." Seeing Liu Yiyi looking at him, Li Dechen continued: "This year is a warm spring, since the end of the New Year, the weather has been sunny, except for the two light snows that fell a year ago, nothing has fallen in the sky. Now the day is running towards April. On this day, there is no intention of raining, and this spring, I am afraid that there will be a big drought. ”

"Well, this Brother Li is right." Lao Liu also carried a chair out of the house, put down the chair with Liu, and sat down. His face looked a little worried.

As peasants, especially those of the Tang Dynasty. What worries and fears you the most? None of them. It's just a natural disaster. And what are the most common and frequent natural disasters? Without him, there are only three plagues: water, drought, and locusts.

The current willow is unfortunately experiencing a drought.

"Hello Master Liu!" Li Dechen bowed to Lao Liu. Lao Liu nodded to him and said, "It turns out that Brother Li can also see that this year's rain is difficult to fall." ”

"Master Liu. It was a previous year. After spring ploughing. God will surely rain a spring rain of greater or lesser proportions to relieve the drought after ploughing. Li Dechen looked up at the sky: "But you look at this year." It's been half a month since this spring ploughing, but this day, it's still so sunny, the little old man is really worried, if there is no rain for half a month on this day, the land in this field will be all together. ”

"Dad, Uncle Li," Liu Yiyi was a little confused when he heard it, isn't it just that there is some drought in the ground, as for such a sad face? He asked Lao Liu: "Ploughing the fields and cultivating the land, flooding and drought irrigation, since there is a shortage of water in the field, can't we divert water for irrigation?" Remember that near our Gutian Village, isn't there a ditch dedicated to irrigating cultivated fields? ”

Lao Liu glanced at Liu Yi and said, "One is right, there is a ditch in the east of the village, but do you know how far that ditch is from our family's land?" At least a mile away. And there is a high hill in the west, even if you want to lead it, you can't lead it. Otherwise, how could there be so much wasteland vacated in the west of the village? ”

"Yes, the owner, far water can't quench the thirst of the near." Li Dechen echoed and said, "And the ditch in the east of the village doesn't seem to have a lot of water, so it can't irrigate much of the fields at all." This year's drought is hard to avoid. ”

In this way, Liu Yichi nodded, leaned back in his chair, and frowned slightly.

I remember how it is said that rain in spring is as expensive as oil. This is a good reflection of the heavy demand for water in the spring crops. This is a good time for all kinds of crops to grow and grow in the field.

Hydration?

"Since the water diversion can't be successful, then let's dig wells to irrigate the fields!" Liu Yiyi sat up and said to Liu Laoshi and Li Dechen in a strong voice: "Dig a deep well at the head of each household, draw water to irrigate the fields, and do it once and for all." Dad, and Uncle Li, what do you think? ”

"Digging a well?" Lao Liu and Li Dechen glanced at each other, and both frowned at the same time. I feel that this method is a little more difficult than water diversion.

Wells are difficult to dig, especially deep wells, and a well is usually dug by ten laborers for a month, and it may not be able to dig well. Otherwise, how could there be only one or two wells for drinking water in each of the nearby villages? Even in the city, there are only a few fixed wells, and only some large families will ask someone to dig one in their own home.

Moreover, even if they really took the trouble to dig the well in the ground, what did they use to irrigate it? You can't still beat buckets up bucket by bucket like you usually do when you draught, right?

"One, your method is very impractical." In the end, Lao Liu said bluntly: "If it is implemented, I am afraid that it will only be hard work and money, and it will not play a substantive role." ”

"Yes, the owner, digging wells to irrigate the fields is not only difficult to implement, but also the effect is extremely limited, and it is not suitable for the irrigation of the fields at all." Li Dechen also persuaded him: "Let's think of another place." ”

Somewhere else? Liu Yiyi glanced at Liu Laoshi and Li Dechen, and understood the thoughts of these people, and also remembered the habit of the ancients when farming: What should I do when there is a drought? Either they are diverted from the river for irrigation, or they wait for the rain to come and depend on the sky for food. There is no other way.

However, if there is a great drought, how can there still be water in the river? This is why, in ancient times, drought was the most likely to cause major disasters such as crop failure.

"Dad, Uncle Li, during the great drought, do you have any other recipes besides using well water? I know what is in your heart? Isn't it that deep wells are difficult to dig and there are no suitable irrigation tools? Liu Yiyi glanced at the two of them and said firmly: "I can solve these problems very well." Just do as I say. ”

"In a moment I will go to the blacksmith shop at the head of the village to order some ironware, and tomorrow or the day after tomorrow it will be distributed among the tenants, and every second household will dig a deep well for me in their own land." Although this time it may not be a big drought, it also reminded Liu Yiyi, how can there be less irrigation for farming? Digging a well in the ground can be regarded as having long-term insurance.

Liu Yiyi stood up and instructed Li Dechen: "After a while, I will be tired of Uncle Li to go back and tell the tenants, well, just say that if you dig a deep well, the owner will reward 500 wen and silver, and the first one to dig it will be rewarded with 800 wen." Anyway, it's the time of the slack, and the tenant farmers don't have any important work on their hands, so let's start tomorrow. ”

Five hundred texts? Eight hundred texts?! A well? Li Dechen's eyes widened, and there was a hint of longing in his eyes, this is another big temptation.

"One! You" Listening to Liu Yiyi's words, Lao Liu's heart couldn't help but shrink suddenly, isn't it obvious that the eldest son is losing his family by doing this? Digging a broken well that I don't know if it can be used, and I have to pay so much money?

"Dad," Liu Yiyi stopped Lao Liu's words first, looked at Lao Liu very seriously and said, "I have a sense of proportion in this matter, Dad, don't worry about it anymore." ”

"Uh," Lao Liu looked at their eldest child's confident eyes, and thought about the sack of silver in the back room, and shrank back when it came to his mouth. Dazi is not a fool, maybe he really has a way, or not?

"Okay, Uncle Li," Liu Yiyi turned his head to Li Dechen and said, "This matter is settled, you go back and talk to the people in the village, and start tomorrow." ”

"Yes, the owner, the little old man will leave first." Li Dechen bent over and gave Liu Yiyi and Liu Lao a salute, and left Lao Liu's house in a hurry.

"Dad," sent Li Dechen out of the door, Liu Yiyi turned around and called out to Lao Liu, wanting to explain to him about digging wells and irrigating fields.

Unexpectedly, Lao Liu shook his hand at him, and said very drunkly: "Okay, you don't need to explain more, Dad believes you." Now that you have grown up and become sensible, you have your own ideas in your heart, so if you want to do anything in the future, do it with your heart. Dad and your mother, as well as Erjo, Xiaohui, everyone in the family will support you. ”

"Huh?" Liu Yiyi picked up the chair and sat there, obviously not expecting that Lao Liu would say such a thing.