When they came to the upstream water division, they saw the brook gurgling down from the high mountains, hidden in the dense bushes on both sides, and the water was crystal clear, and it splashed on the boulders on the bank of the stream, and it was like pearls scattered in the sun. However, in the winter the flow of water is very small, and the stream appears only as a bundle on the riverbed, and when it flows to the dividing place, it is intercepted by a stone embankment, and the water surface suddenly opens up, forming a pool of clear water, and the stream seems to be stagnant. The design of the dam is also exquisite, and there are holes in the dam at every other step, which are like battlements; There are 10 holes, and the stream water slowly overflows to the water holes, and flows down against the stone surface of the embankment, smoothing the surface of the stones.

But such a beautiful scenery fell on the eyes of Xu, Zhou and others, and it was normal tight.

Li Zheng Xu Heyuan of Shuiyantou Village, and Hou Hongye's staff Xu Shiming were waiting at the water divider. Xu Heyuan saw that Xu Heguang was also in the crowd, and Fang relieved himself slightly. Yesterday's fight, he deliberately was not at the scene, that is, he deceived Zhou Shihui and brought a group of juniors away, and it was rare for the young people to have the upper hand in the "high-end combat power" of Shangshui Yantou Village, so he indulged everyone to fight. But I didn't expect to be bumped into by Jiang Guogong. So I didn't sleep well last night. This will hurriedly greet the general with Hou Hongye's staff member Xu Shiwu.

Hou Hongye was also polite: "Grandpa Guo, Xu Shiming is a subordinate staff member and a member of the Xu clan in Kengkou. The subordinates asked him to come and tell the prince about the whole story. Grandpa Guo rest assured, in front of Grandpa Guo, Shi Mingjuan will not be biased. ”

When Xu Shiming went to Hou Hongye in the middle of the night last night, he already had the consciousness that he might be a scapegoat, so he was not stage frightened. "Grandpa Guo, the source of this creek is on this high mountain, although the stream flows all year round, but every winter and summer when there is drought and little rain, the amount of water is insufficient, and it is okay in winter, but in summer when the rice heading is cut off, it is fatal."

"As early as more than ten years ago, the two villages had a lot of quarrels over water because of their growing population and more paddy fields, until in recent years, there have been frequent fights. But the amount of water in the stream is like this, more in one village, less in another. Therefore, five years ago, Xiaomin was a county official at the beginning, and with the support of the Zhou and Xu clans, he built ten drainage holes at the water divide, and during the dry season in summer, the two villages built a fort under the embankment, and each took 5 holes of water, which was five or five points of water. ”

"Nowadays, Shuiyantou Village says that it has many paddy fields, and Menkeng Village says that it has a large population, which is nothing more than an increase in the number of water distribution holes. But as prefaced, in these ten holes, one family has more, and the other has less. ”

"Now the two villages are not satisfied, and for today's plan, the two villages will negotiate separately to determine the number of holes."

Hou Hongye turned to Zhou Shihui and Xu Heyuan: "The two of you are positive, what Shiming said, do you two have anything to add?" ”

Xu Shiming made things clear, and everyone had no objections.

Hou Hongye said again: "But if the two families negotiate, I'm afraid that it will take ten or eight years to negotiate, and it will be difficult to come up with a charter." ”

Xu Shiming continued: "What the county magistrate said is extremely true. Therefore, there have been precedents in the handling of water disputes by the people since ancient times. ”

Hearing Xu Shiming say this, Zhou Shihui and Xu Heyuan's faces were extremely ugly on the spot, and even Xu Heguang frowned.

Hou Hongye didn't look at the others, but said leisurely: "Let's listen to it." ”

"This example is to take money from the oil pot, take copper coins from boiling oil, one party takes it first, and take a few of the ten copper coins, which is a few percent."

Luo Zhengwen and the others gasped after hearing this. Without him, this method is to exchange life for water, and there is a risk of losing one's life and not getting a satisfactory result.

Hou Hongye had a cold face, staring at Zhou Shihui and Xu Heyuan, "What about the two of you?" ”

Zhou Shihui was already sweating on his back. But it was so, but it couldn't. If he is discouraged, then he will naturally have no prestige in the village, but if he can't restrain the villagers, the county will naturally have a hundred ways to deal with him if something happens. Xu Heyuan was the same, and he was even more annoyed that Xu Shiming didn't say anything in advance.

Xu Shiming looked at Xu Zhiyuan's face, and knew that this time he had offended this clan uncle to death. But this method was Hou Hongye's idea, and he just said it through his mouth, and he had no other way to think of it.

It was just a matter of a few breaths, but everyone only felt as if time had stopped. Finally, Zhou Shihui almost gritted his teeth and said: "Mr. Xu is fair, and what he says is indeed a rural example, which is exactly what I want." ”

————

Hou Hongye also said that he had to go to a third party, and under the witness of many villagers, he did boiling oil to get money. So the group went straight to Kengkou Village without stopping.

Hang Hau Village is even more out of the mountains, and the creek has become a big river when it flows through Kengkou. There are people on both sides of the river, and the center of the village has built a pavilion on the riverside, as if it has the appearance of a small town.

On the edge of the small pavilion, there is also the ancestral hall of the Xu family, there is a small building in the ancestral hall, the building is two floors high, the carved beams and painted buildings, even the outside of the ancestral hall is clearly visible; There are more stone lions at the door, which are dignified and solemn, just like the mythical beasts of the towns and villages.

Xu Heguang saw Li Congyi's eyes wandering around the ancestral hall, and wanted to invite Jiang Guogong to visit, but he was worried that it would not conform to the etiquette system, so he gave up.

Xu's mansion is significantly larger than the Menkeng Zhou house, and there are several plane trees in the front yard, which is enough for one person to hug, proving that Xu's words from the Jin Dynasty are not false.

Xu Heguang went to Zhang Luowushi to contact the villagers. Zhou Shihui and Xu Heguang also arranged for people to go to the representatives of their respective clans. Li Congyi went to the thatched house, and Luo Zhengwen found an opportunity to remind, "Grandpa Guo, these hands take out the money from the boiling oil, this person is afraid that he will die." ”

"Let's see what happens." Li Congyi said, and Orr said, "You find an opportunity to tell Hou Zhixian about the fact that I just accepted Zhou Yuanying as a personal soldier." ”

————

It was almost noon, and Li Congyi also felt hungry, but at this juncture, except for Li Congyi's group of people, no one else had the heart to eat.

Xu Shiming had already set up an oil pot in the courtyard, just waiting for the fire to be lit. 10 new copper coins were placed on a small table next to the frying pan. Under the guidance of Xu Heguang, Li Congyi took the lead in taking a seat, and when Hou Hongye also sat down, Xu Heguang and a group of villagers who came to witness sat down in a chaotic manner.

Hou Hongye didn't care about everyone's coaxing, and while ordering Xu Shiming to light the fire, he asked Zhou Shihui and Xu Heyuan: "The two of you are positive, but you can think about it, who wants to give it a try?" Without waiting for the two to answer, Hou Hongye said again: "If both of them give up, then the matter of dividing the water will have to be mentioned again in the future, and the two villages will fight because of this, then you are the only one who asks." ”

Zhou Shihui didn't look at the first few people, and arched his hand: "Lord Huizhi County, Xiaomin, please have the courage to give it a try." ”

There was an uproar in the courtyard. Immediately, everyone's eyes turned to Xu Heyuan. Xu Heyuan peeked at Xu Shiming, but lowered his head and said nothing. Li Congyi naturally noticed Xu Shiming's small action of glaring and laughed secretly.

Hou Hongye didn't say much, motioned for everyone to be silent, and then said: "The two villages of Menkeng and Shuiyantou are doing the oil pot to get money for the proportion of water. This week, Shihui represented the door pit, took money from the oil pot, a total of ten copper coins, regardless of the number of times, a total of a few pieces are taken out is a few percent. Today, there are Jiang Guogong, Lord Thorn Shi, and the old villagers to witness, set up a pleading, and he will take the stone as a monument again in the future. Regardless of the outcome, there must be no recurrence in both villages. Do you have any objections? ”

Everyone nodded yes.

Unexpectedly, Li Congyi stood up. Go straight to the oil pan, and the oil is boiling. Smelling the faint sourness, Li Congyi understood that Xu Shiming had indeed done something. The courtyard was very large, and the oil pot was placed at one end away from the crowd, so it was not possible to smell the smell when sitting there. Add water to the bottom of the pan and add acetic acid, so that the water is not boiling but acid gas is coming out, making the pan look like it is boiling. Such a trick can't even be hidden from junior high school students in modern times. But in ancient times, it had a miraculous effect, the government did it, if you do your hands and feet, the person who takes money from the oil pot will live, and if you don't do your hands and feet, you will die.

Thinking about it, Hou Hongye should have made two preparations a long time ago.

Everyone didn't know what Jiang Guogong wanted, and they all held their breath for a while.

Li Congyi slowly paced back to his seat before he said: "I'm a kind-hearted person, don't do it if you take money from the oil pot." In my opinion, this bad habit should not be done in the future. ”

The crowd was silent for a while.

Hou Hongye was also at a loss for a while. Li Congyi leaned over to look at the oil pot just now, which startled him, thinking that Jiang Guogong had already peeked into the secret.

However, the boss has always only watched and not spoken, and has not spoken or expressed his position, which is the most headache for his subordinates. As long as the boss opens his mouth and speaks, the subordinate will be easier to handle. "The Lord Guogong has the world in mind and is sympathetic to all the people, and he only wants to settle disputes, but he is acting violently, please forgive the sin. Lord Guogong has a commanding position, thinking that there is a clever plan to break the situation, and I hope that Lord Guogong will show it. ”

Hou Hongye's words were even beaten, and he seemed to be pleading, but in fact, he made excuses for himself, slapped Li Congyi's sycophants again, and then pushed the matter to him. In later generations, he is also a master of prevarication in the office.

Li Congyi has already made up his mind, and he also hopes that there will be such an occasion to let more people know his ideas, so as to facilitate implementation. Therefore, he was not polite, and said: "In the morning, Mr. Xu of the county government said that there is only so much water in this stream, and if there is more family, there will be less another. Of course, that's true. However, I think that this stream has more water in the rainy season and less in the dry season, so if you can store the water in the rainy season and use it slowly in the dry season, then everyone will have it. ”

Grandpa Guo's suggestion turned out to be to build a dam!

For a while, the courtyard was full of people.

Li Congyi pressed down with his hands and signaled that he had not finished speaking. "Fellow villagers are here, my father's proposal to build a reservoir is to hope that everyone will take this as an example and think of more ways to achieve a win-win situation, rather than playing in circles that harm others or profits; The second is to build a reservoir, which is a big matter, and we need to actively put forward valuable suggestions, if anyone has the ability to help the public build a reservoir, welcome to recommend or recommend; The third is that the construction of the reservoir may require labor or occupy the field, which may damage the small family, but this is a matter that is beneficial to everyone and the future, and it also needs to be widely publicized and explained on behalf of everyone. ”

"Of course, it is good to build a reservoir, but it costs a lot, if you raise the strength of a village and do it for a year or two, you can build a reservoir, but it is not a matter that benefits the whole village, I am afraid it will be difficult." An old man asked a question.

"The public knows about it. The financial benefits of building the reservoir are divided into two parts, so it is not appropriate to rely on the spontaneous consciousness of the villagers, and this public is here to discuss solutions with you. Li Congyi looked around, "My father-in-law has been temporarily staying in the gate pit recently, and he will definitely come up with a way to return to Fucheng." Therefore, recently, all the villagers, if you have to teach me, or have a master craftsman to recommend, you must hurry up. ”

The crowd said yes after another.

Li Congyi said again: "It's almost noon today, why don't you ask Xu Lizheng to cook some noodles, and everyone will chat while eating." After the discussion of the reservoir matter, it is other rural affairs, and my father is willing to hear about it. ”

The crowd applauded. As soon as the tension wore off, many people's stomachs rumbled, causing even louder laughter.