Chapter 33: So You're a Dog? My Apologies, My Deepest Apologies

"With this, we no longer need to bow to the Xu Family Village; we can use the water however we like! If they dare to play any more dirty tricks, we can take our case directly to the county magistrate." The more Yu Dong thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

"Ningning, you are truly brilliant. Let’s go cut the bamboo now and set it up as soon as possible, so the rice in the fields doesn't wither and die—it would be a waste of a whole year's hard work."

Yu Dong was overjoyed to have solved the problem that had been plaguing him for so long.

Fang Ning smiled and said, "I was just idly brainstorming; it's wonderful that it can actually help."

"Shall we head back and cut the bamboo now? When we return, could you show us how to set it up?"

"Of course."

Fang Ning followed the village chief back.

The villagers agreed with the plan. Everyone who owned land in Shitou Chong hurried to send hands to cut bamboo, striving to get the irrigation pipes installed as quickly as possible.

Fang Ning mused that the support structures for the bamboo pipes shouldn't just be piled up with loose stones; that would make it too easy for the people of Xu Family Village to sabotage them.

If only she could make cement.

She knew there was no way to produce the cement used in modern civil engineering, but she did know a recipe for "earth cement."

By using quicklime, clay, and iron slag as the main raw materials, one could crush, blend, and grind them into a raw mix, calcine it at high temperatures to form a clinker, and then grind that clinker with gypsum in the right proportions to create a rudimentary cement.

This kind of earth-made cement couldn't compare to the cement of the future, but for this era, it would surely be considered an incredible invention, right?

Quicklime was available, and clay and gypsum were easy to find, but the imperial court kept a very tight grip on iron ore; obtaining iron slag would not be easy.

Fang Ning sought out Si Yuheng.

"Young Master, can you get your hands on iron slag? The kind left over after smelting iron."

"What do you need that for?"

"To make something you’ve never seen before. In the future, it can be used for building houses, paving roads, and reinforcing city walls to bolster defenses."

"What is that?"

Si Yuheng, who had once guarded the frontiers, was naturally curious about any material that could be used to strengthen defenses.

"Cement. Once I make it, you’ll see for yourself."

"How much do you need?"

"As much as you can get me."

She would need it for building houses later anyway, so the more, the better.

Si Yuheng raised an eyebrow. "You are quite greedy."

"Once I’ve made it, Young Master will realize that no amount is too greedy!" Fang Ning said, keeping him in suspense.

Si Yuheng, also eager to see what other novel things Fang Ning could produce, agreed to the task.

There was a brick kiln in the village; he could use that for the calcination.

Because Fang Ning needed it urgently, Si Yuheng returned to town himself and instructed You An to handle it.

You An was bewildered. "Young Master, why do you need this iron slag? Have you been fooled by that Fang Ning? Young Master, he is cunning and treacherous; you really ought to be careful."

Si Yuheng’s expression remained indifferent. "Are you telling me how to do my job?"

You An lowered his head, not daring to speak further.

He felt that his master had changed significantly since he went to Futian Village and met Fang Ning. He couldn't help but worry that Si Yuheng might actually turn his "pretend" feelings into reality and become a "sleeve-cutter."

"Master, Fang Ning is only ten years old," You An reminded him weakly. "You are already fifteen."

Si Yuheng turned his head, his gaze like cold lightning. "You An, you have overstepped!"

You An immediately knelt. "This subordinate knows he was wrong. Please, Young Master, punish me."

"If you don't have the iron slag I want by tomorrow, you can spend half a year washing dishes at the Quanwei Restaurant," Si Yuheng said coolly.

You An shivered. Half a year of washing dishes? His master was too ruthless!

Not daring to delay for fear of being sent to wash dishes, You An hurried off.

Recalling Fang Ning’s words about cement strengthening city walls, Si Yuheng was very curious to see if it was truly that impressive.

Before returning to Futian Village, Si Yuheng had Shopkeeper Lin pack two full food boxes with fish and meat to take back for Fang Ning.

Since the cement wasn't ready yet, Fang Ning had the village chief use tree branches as temporary supports. Under her guidance, the villagers finished setting up the bamboo by the next day, ensuring that the fields in Shitou Chong received plenty of river water for irrigation.

The people of Xu Family Village, who hadn't expected Futian Village to come up with a way to bypass their fields, were livid, their faces turning black with rage.

Seeing the people from Xu Family Village, Yu Dong warned them coldly: "If these pipes collapse, I will certainly take the matter to the county magistrate and sue your village!"

Any thoughts the Xu clansmen had were instantly stifled by Yu Dong’s words. The village chief was a figure of great authority to them.

Going to see the magistrate? That was something they absolutely dared not do!

Fang Ning deliberately said to the village chief: "The Xu Family Village has a scholar, doesn't it? Since we in Futian Village are having a hard time, let's go make a scene before the county magistrate and the educational official. Even if the magistrate can't revoke his scholar title, I don't believe the educational official can't!"

The people of Xu Family Village were so angry they nearly fainted.

"You are a villain accusing the victim first!"

"Hmph, if you hadn't messed with our water, none of this would have happened. But since you did, don't blame us. If you don't want us to live, then none of you will have it easy either. I hear that if a scholar’s title is revoked, he loses all chance at a career in the officialdom forever!"

Fang Ning knew exactly where to strike. The Xu scholar was the source of the Xu Family Village's arrogance, and also their greatest weakness. Without him, the Xu Family Village would be nothing.

"You people of Futian Village, mark my words: since you’re so capable, don't you ever dare send your children to study in our village again!"

"Forget it. I have grander ambitions. Have the Xu scholar teach me? I fear he wouldn't even be able to pass the scholar exam himself. Your village relies on having one scholar, right? Just wait; next year, our Futian Village will produce one!"

The county exams for this year were already over; the soonest Fang Ning could take the exam was next year. Moreover, she had to enter the imperial examination system as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once her body matured, it would be inconvenient to participate. After all, there were no female officials in this era, and she vaguely remembered that there were strict physical inspections before entering the examination halls for the provincial and metropolitan exams. If her biological sex were discovered, she would be finished!

"Hahaha, are you trying to kill me with laughter? You think your little Futian Village can produce a scholar? Go burn more incense at your ancestral graves; maybe the smoke will turn blue and grant you one. But I advise you: stop dreaming!"

"Whether it’s a dream or not, you’ll know soon enough."

Fang Ning sneered. Her greatest strength was learning, and when it came to exams, she had never lost! The "child prodigy" of Tongzhou City would be none other than her, Fang Ning.

The people of Xu Family Village laughed heartily, as if they had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"If you can pass the scholar exam, I’ll eat shit—and I’ll eat three bowls of it!"

"Why eat something so foul? Are you actually a dog? My apologies, I didn't realize! Uncle Yu, let’s go home. There’s no point in lowering ourselves to the level of a dog; it would be an insult to dogs."