The History of Plow Development

The testing method was the same as before, only this time the new plow blade turned the soil to the other side.

How should I put it?

You could consider the first plowing as turning soil to the left, and this one as turning soil to the right.

It's pretty much the same.

So, Lu Mingyuan quickly finished the test.

As he expected, there was virtually no difference between the two tests.

Not only was there no difference in the plowing effect, but the ease of use of the plow blade at various angles was also similar.

Of course, since there were no precise measuring tools, Lu Mingyuan could only rely on his feel to judge all of this.

Therefore, Lu Mingyuan wasn't actually sure if there was a real difference between turning left and right, or how much of a difference there was. He could only roughly judge that they should be the same. And logically, turning left and right should be the same.

Unless this world is divided into left and right on a macro level. Otherwise, there's no difference.

After testing both the left-turning and right-turning plow blades, Lu Mingyuan combined the two plow blades using the small circular rings specially left at the back of each.

This way, the original two plow blades merged into one larger, two-winged plow blade. In between the two wings was a spine cone for breaking the soil. This two-winged plow blade could now turn soil to both the left and right simultaneously.

Upon seeing this, Jing Zhi's surprised voice came from the small courtyard, "This can also turn soil?"

Lu Mingyuan glanced at the girl beside him, "Why not? And let me tell you, this double-wing plow blade is the most primitive plow."

"The most primitive? That's impossible."

Hearing that the plow before her was the most primitive version, Jing Zhi's tone was full of disbelief. She wondered if her Mingyuan was trying to fool her again; he loved doing that.

"What? You don't believe me?"

Seeing Jing Zhi's "Don't lie to me" look, Lu Mingyuan understood. "A Zhi, do you know what the earliest plows were like?"

"The earliest plows?"

Jing Zhi closed her eyes and searched her mind for a while but couldn't find an answer. It seemed like curved-beam plows had been used very early on, or perhaps straight-beam plows. As for anything earlier, she didn't know. She hadn't really cared about this issue.

At this moment, seeing Lu Mingyuan's "Ask me quickly, ask me quickly" expression, she knew he wanted to show off his knowledge again. Jing Zhi found it a bit amusing, but she wanted to know the answer quickly, so she could only go along with him. "Then tell me, what were the earliest plows like?"

Seeing Jing Zhi's cooperation, Lu Mingyuan was immediately satisfied. He stopped playing coy and said directly:

"In the very beginning, during the primitive era, seeds were just scattered on the ground. Whether they grew or not, or how well they grew, was all up to luck.

By chance, a primitive person discovered that burying seeds in the soil increased their survival rate, and they were less prone to disease or being blown over by the wind afterward.

So, farming as a labor began.

Then, do you know how they farmed?"

"How did they farm? Did they invent the plow?" Jing Zhi quickly asked.

"Not that quickly. At this time, people would find something to dig a hole or chisel a pit in the ground, then throw the seeds into the pit and cover them up. That was it."

"Dig a pit, then cover it..." Jing Zhi listened, dumbfounded. "That simple?"

"What did you think? Everyone learned and developed slowly. How could it be done in one step? Don't you think so?"

"Then what? What happened next?"

Jing Zhi was now filled with a thirst for knowledge. She was eager to know how the next step developed and how it reached its current state.

"Later~, someone discovered that this was too slow. Digging holes one by one, what could be done?

At this time, the most primitive plow appeared. They sharpened pieces of wood or ground stones to a point, tied them to another end with a rope, and pulled it from the front.

This way, when the sharp wood passed, wouldn't a shallow furrow be left in the ground?"

Hearing this, Jing Zhi chimed in, "Then put the seeds in, cover them with soil afterward, and that's it?"

"Yes! This type of plow should have existed for a long time. As for the specifics, I'm not an archaeologist, I just have a general understanding."

Jing Zhi didn't care how long this period lasted. She wanted to know what came next. "Then what?"

"Later~, after a long time, as the population grew, they couldn't grow enough food.

At this time, some people discovered that after deep plowing and turning the soil, the seed survival rate and the lodging resistance of wheat seedlings would further increase. So, gradually, deep plowing and meticulous cultivation developed.

Due to the need for deep plowing, plow blades slowly appeared...

After that, animal power replaced human power...

Then, curved-beam plows replaced straight-beam plows...

All the way until now."

"I see!"

After listening to Lu Mingyuan's explanation, Jing Zhi finally understood the history of the plow's development. According to him, this double-wing plow blade was indeed very similar to the most primitive wooden plow blade; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were from the same lineage.

However, how did Mingyuan know so much? But he had never taught her?

Was he being secretive?

Thinking of this, Jing Zhi gave Lu Mingyuan a deep look, then questioned, "Why didn't you ever teach me this? Was it because we weren't engaged before?"

At this point, Jing Zhi inexplicably felt like crying. "Lu Mingyuan, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person! You actually treat me like an outsider."

"Wuwuwu!"

The more Jing Zhi spoke, the sadder she became. By the end, her eyes were red, and tears welled up. She thought sadly, I always considered you the closest person to me, and yet you're holding back from me?

This is just too heartbreaking.

Seeing her suddenly break down, Lu Mingyuan panicked. Why is she crying all of a sudden?

And I didn't even do anything to her.

He had no experience with this. After some fumbling, Lu Mingyuan explained, "Hey, hey, hey, can we be reasonable here? These are from the Zuo Zhuan and Shang Shu. You've read them before, haven't you? It's not that I'm not teaching you. Don't overthink it."

"Really?"

Upon hearing that the Zuo Zhuan and Shang Shu contained such information, Jing Zhi instantly dropped her heartbroken expression and replaced it with curiosity. Did I misunderstand Mingyuan?

Lu Mingyuan replied, "Of course, it's true. Do you want me to find them for you?" As he spoke, he got up, ready to go back inside to fetch the books and prove it to Jing Zhi.

Seeing this, Jing Zhi was convinced he wasn't lying. So, she decided against checking the Zuo Zhuan and Shang Shu. The reason she was upset earlier was simply because she didn't want Lu Mingyuan to deceive her.

"No need. I believe you wouldn't lie to me."

"I told you to read more, but you wouldn't listen. Now you know the consequences. And you're blaming me..."

As he spoke, Lu Mingyuan tapped Jing Zhi's smooth forehead with his index finger. This girl always shifts the blame to me.

Also, she was crying so sadly just moments ago, and now she's fine. To be honest, Lu Mingyuan wasn't sure if that whole scene was an act.

He'd always heard people say, "Women are born actresses," and now he couldn't tell real from fake.

Jing Zhi, on the other side, didn't know what Lu Mingyuan was thinking. However, she also knew she was in the wrong for misunderstanding him earlier. So, she lowered her head slightly, looking at the patterns on the table, and said softly, "No, I do read, just not that thoroughly."

Seeing Jing Zhi's apologetic expression, Lu Mingyuan decided to let it go and stopped teasing her. However, some things still needed to be clarified to avoid future misunderstandings. "A Zhi, if you have something on your mind in the future, just say it directly, ask directly. Don't be like you were just now, okay?"

"Mm, I understand."

Since she could ask directly, Jing Zhi didn't hesitate. She immediately voiced her confusion, "Then, Mingyuan, what's the difference between your double-winged plowshare and the single-winged one? Which one is better?"

"This, I'll try it first."

Lu Mingyuan didn't answer directly. He decided it was better to test it first, as facts spoke louder than words.

About half an incense stick later, Lu Mingyuan sat back down.

He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and then began, "It's as I thought.

The double-winged one doesn't plow deep easily, or rather, it doesn't plow as deep as the single-winged one.

When I was testing it just now, I found that the double-winged one tends to ride up. Even if it starts deep, it easily comes up. I don't know why.

Similarly, the double-winged one is a bit more labor-saving than the single-winged one."

"No wonder everyone uses the single-winged ones now. Is the double-winged one useless then?"

"Uh, this is actually like the hand-pulled plow. Neither is particularly essential. They can be used as supplements. Apply them based on the situation."

"Okay!"