Fortune Across the World

Chapter 27: Creating a Plow and Stirring Jealousy (Part 1)

That evening, Ding Qiyu sat at her desk, pondering the problem of farming tools. Recalling basic farming knowledge, she realized that plowing the field was the most labor-intensive step before planting. Most people in Hejia Village, including her family, used hoes to plow the land—one hoe strike at a time. Only a few families, slightly better off, could afford an ox and a simple iron plow.

Ding Qiyu initially considered buying an ox, but Aunt He felt their small plot didn't justify the expense, so they didn't. Therefore, Ding Qiyu aimed to design an efficient, labor-saving manual plow. With her right hand supporting her chin, she recalled the advanced cultivator plows from the game "Farming Simulator." The most advanced tools were designed for a reason. She remembered the plow blades were shaped like a leaf with clipped ends, twisted into a spatial curve. Along with the "curved beam plow" from history lessons and the cross-sectional structure from the game, she sketched a complete structure in her mind.

Using a piece of wood as a paperweight to hold the paper steady, Ding Qiyu picked up a bamboo pen with her right hand and sketched a structural diagram, focusing on the curved shape of the plow blade, the force distribution on the plow frame, and the ergonomics. With her left arm still healing, she couldn't physically build a prototype, relying on drawings and theoretical analysis instead. Parameters like the angle of the spatial curve, the depth and angle of the blade in the soil, required assumptions and verification, leaving Ding Qiyu frustrated. The calculations filled page after page, each set of parameters requiring manual recalculation. She wished for a computer to input the data and get instant results. After a night of calculations, Lian'er came to ask why she hadn't slept yet. Ding Qiyu finally established the relationship between two parameters and the user's exertion. At this rate, it would take two or three more days to finalize the main structural data. Once the data were confirmed, she planned to build a prototype as soon as her arm healed. With the early August timeline, there was plenty of time before late autumn in September.

The medicine from the doctor—and the frequent pig trotter meals—proved effective. Within ten days, Ding Qiyu's arm had improved significantly. During bandage changes, she could see the wound edges knitting together, with a scab forming, and her left arm could exert some force. Each time it was time for a bandage change, Qing'er would bring the doctor, which made Ding Qiyu happy, as it indicated Miss Lu's ongoing concern for her injury. Ding Qiyu guessed correctly; Lu Weixi was indeed keeping an eye on Ding Qiyu's recovery, even wanting to inquire in person. However, Ding Qiyu simply listened to the music daily, and neither wanted to disrupt their shared understanding and connection. Thus, Lu Weixi felt it inappropriate to show too much concern proactively.

Ding Qiyu had calculated the optimal theoretical data for the plow and verified the material strength. Given the twisted leaf-like shape of the plow blade, she decided to name this new plow "Curved Leaf Plow."

Eager to bring her calculations and designs to life, Ding Qiyu, under strict orders from Aunt He and Lian'er to avoid any strenuous left-hand activities, secretly brought her drawings, tools, and some materials in the cart to the small courtyard at the General's Mansion. After listening to the zither at noon, she began building the Curved Leaf Plow. She was careful, using her right hand wherever possible and relying on her left for simpler tasks. Though her right hand grew exhausted after several days, the sense of accomplishment was indescribable as the plow took shape.

When Ding Qiyu brought the Curved Leaf Plow home to show Aunt He and Lian'er, they realized she had been working in secret all along. Fortunately, her injury hadn't worsened, so after a stern reprimand, they let it go. By then, the family's field had been harvested, and Ding Qiyu took Lian'er to the field to test the plow. Based on the experience and Lian'er's suggestions, Ding Qiyu received valuable feedback and inspiration.

She made adjustments to the initial design, adding a pivot, limiter, and latch at the plow's connection point, creating a bidirectional conversion mechanism. This allowed the plow to be used both ways, either pulled or pushed, greatly enhancing convenience. She also tested different soil conditions to find the optimal plow blade angle, adding an adjustable mechanism for users to set the best angle for different soils, making it more efficient and easier to use.

After a series of tests and improvements, the Curved Leaf Plow was finally complete. Lian'er contributed significantly with her ideas and efforts, showing that her clever mind held great wisdom. To celebrate the plow's creation, Lian'er prepared a feast, a "celebration banquet," though Ding Qiyu felt slightly nauseous at the sight of yet another pig trotter, she enjoyed the meal immensely.

The next day, Ding Qiyu returned home early from the city, and the family took the Curved Leaf Plow to their field for its official use. Villagers had already seen Ding Qiyu and Lian'er testing the plow and found it intriguing. Seeing it in action today, they gathered to watch. What once required backbreaking hoe work was effortlessly done by Ding Qiyu, who pushed the plow with her right hand and guided it with her left, leaving neatly tilled soil behind. It was significantly easier and produced more uniform results than hoeing.

"Amazing!" "Never seen anything like it." "I thought ox-pulled plows were fast, so I tried dragging a hoe, but it wouldn't budge. How does his thing move so easily?" "It's ready for planting!" The crowd grew, buzzing with curiosity and envy over Ding Qiyu's tool.

"Hey, Qiyu! Can I try it?" a young man familiar with Ding Qiyu called out. The onlookers were eager to try it themselves.

"Sure, come here..." Ding Qiyu encouraged, glad for the help and seeing an opportunity to promote the plow. Her invention aimed not only to improve her family's life but also to benefit countless others in Daqian, bringing her closer to her goal of becoming a master of mechanical arts.

The young man followed Ding Qiyu's instructions and, after a round, exclaimed, "Qiyu! This thing is amazing, not tiring at all!"

Before Ding Qiyu could respond, several others chimed in, "Qiyu, let me try!" "I want to try too!"

"Haha, everyone can try, no rush," Ding Qiyu laughed, enjoying the free labor and advertisement, while Lian'er playfully poked her head, amused by her antics.

In just an hour that evening, their field was largely plowed, thanks to enthusiastic volunteers. Comparing time spent, the Curved Leaf Plow reduced plowing time by six to seven times compared to using hoes, with impressive results.

That night, the Curved Leaf Plow became the talk of Hejia Village. Many considered borrowing it from Ding Qiyu, but with so many households, lending wasn't feasible. Ding Qiyu saw a business opportunity—the plow was inexpensive to make and quick to produce. The primary effort went into design and calculations. Once the structure was set, manufacturing was swift, allowing for reasonable pricing. With her machine receiving such positive feedback, Ding Qiyu fell asleep that night dreaming of a bright future.

The next day, Ding Qiyu went to the city for work as usual. In the afternoon, a shop she planned to visit was unexpectedly closed, and the next one was far away, so she decided to end the day early and head home. Thinking about the plow's production and sales plans, she approached home to find the gate wide open, feeling a twinge of unease. Tying the cart to a roadside tree, knowing villagers recognized it as the General's, she secured her crossbow at her waist and approached the house.

Before reaching the gate, she heard Aunt He's loud, scolding voice, "You wild girl, getting bolder with that beggar, daring to shout at me! Today, I'll teach you a lesson your dead father never did!"

Rage surged through Ding Qiyu, and she rushed inside to see Aunt He, face twisted with anger, gripping Lian'er's arm, ready to slap her. Aunt He's stout frame dwarfed Lian'er, who couldn't break free.

"Stop!!!" Ding Qiyu shouted, charging forward, but too late to halt Aunt He's hand. With a sharp slap, Lianer's delicate form lost balance and fell like a leaf. Ding Qiyu's mind exploded, rushing to catch Lian'er, holding her tightly in her arms.