...
However, this kind of project is systematic and grand. It cannot be completed overnight, and no matter how anxious one might be, it can't be rushed. Wang Shouzhe simply boarded the slightly larger boat on the inner river, standing on the high pile of rice bags, and followed the waterway of Fenggu Farm back to the Wang Family's Main Residence.
The boats on the inner river are very small, and this largest one is only about six zhang long. It reaches its limit merely by carrying four or five hundred dan of grain, with a carrying capacity far less than river boats. Furthermore, it does not use sail power but relies solely on the boatmen paddling and poling.
Fortunately, the water flow on the inner river is stable. With the combined effort of paddling and poling, the boat can barely move, yet it took more than an hour to traverse the winding twenty-li river channel. Comparing with Earth's speed, it is only equivalent to more than two kilometers per hour.
The fleet passed through the river mouth and entered Zhuwai Lake.
On the relatively narrow Zhuwai Lake, one can already see the architectural group of the Wang Family's Main Residence under the steep mountain walls. However, Wang Shouzhe didn't hurriedly return but continued to observe the terrain of Zhuwai Lake on the boat.
"She" is slightly oval-shaped, about six or seven li long and more than four or five li wide, with a total water area already exceeding ten thousand mu. The lake surface is clean and magnificent, surrounded entirely by mudflats and reed marshes, imparting a primitive beauty to the scenery.
Perhaps the "natives" would feel it is desolate, but to Wang Shouzhe, who is used to big cities and constant human presence, this primitive landscape makes him feel exceptionally comfortable, even improving his state of mind considerably.
If such a large expanse of water is used to breed spirit fish, it would be excellent, Wang Shouzhe pondered quietly.
However, Zhuwai Lake has a significant disadvantage: the lake water is too shallow, generally less than one zhang deep, and there's too much silt accumulated at the bottom. No chance of breeding spirit fish, even raising ordinary large fish species would find the water level too low.
Besides, in this mystical world, large-scale fish farming is not mainstream. At most, some small fish are caught and thrown into ponds to grow freely.
The reason for this is twofold: firstly, there are many fish in the wild, and even with simple fishing techniques, one can still reap good hauls by going out to fish. Secondly, due to limitations in fishing technology, investing money and manpower in fish farming in wide lakes is also very challenging to harvest, better to wild fish in resource-rich Anjiang.
Take Uncle Wang Dinghai, for example, it takes two months for twenty weavers to barely weave a small trawl net... The difficulty of a large-scale encircling net in a big lake is imaginable.
The greatest difficulty in fish farming lies in managing water quality, density, diseases, scientific feeding, and other technical aspects. A slight mishap in these might lead to mass fish death, causing a total loss.
Yet, this world is vast, with countless Black Tortoise Clans, naturally, some families have already achieved results in the fish farming industry. Like Yingxiu Lu Family, they have already mastered some fish farming technology and developed the industry.
However, the Black Tortoise clans always value production technology, keeping it secret very well. Even in some key industries, family women are not allowed to participate, fearing they might spread the technology upon marriage.
Even with Wang Shouzhe's relationship with the Lua Family, obtaining their fish farming technology is still impossible.
The isolationism in clan technology has similarly resulted in the backward overall production technology in the Black Tortoise World. Even though Earth's patent strategy was criticized extensively, it actually triggered a technological storm, where myriad technological inventions blossomed in a short time.
Though that's the case, Wang Shouzhe thinks it's better for the Black Tortoise World not to bloom profusely; his greatest advantage now is his "wide experience" and "foresight" beyond this world.
He generally knows many technologies but vaguely knows they exist and their general direction. For instance, the famous monosodium glutamate, an amazing product that changed the human taste system.
Ask Wang Shouzhe to create it, and he couldn't even do it in ten or eight years.
But if a group of smart people is found to specialize in studying this aspect, engage in similar research, because of the clear direction, with good luck, it might take twenty or thirty years to create.
Even with bad luck, as long as the related technology accumulates continuously, surely in a hundred years it can be done, right?
There are also spinning or weaving devices, like the renowned transmigrator's must-have — [Jenny Loom], even if Wang Shouzhe is beaten to death, he couldn't draw a blueprint, but he knows it exists and vaguely understands some principles, find a group of craftsmen to work on it slowly, sooner or later something might be tinkered out.
If this thing is created, it would be far more powerful than Wang Luojing the [Spirit Insect Master].
Of course, these are just concepts for now. Before the clan has adequate strength to sustain, introducing these things would be pure suicidal. Not mentioning others, but the Changning Xu Family, whose primary operation is the textile industry, would turn against the Wang Family in an instant, because the [Jenny Loom] surely touches the Xu Family's survival base.
Let's put aside the idle talk.
Wang Shouzhe and his fleet gradually increased their speed in Zhuwai Lake, arriving at the rear dock of Wang Family's Main Residence less than half an hour later.
This dock and waterway, although seldom used, are often traveled by several farms to carry grains and produce to the family, mostly via this waterway. Although slower by water, the capacity is large, and fewer carts are required; raising horses is more expensive than raising people.
In the rarely visited rear dock of Wang Family's Main Residence, it was bustling with people at this moment, led by two women. One of whom was precisely Wang Shouzhe's eldest aunt, Gongsun Hui, while not far behind her stood a young woman Wang Luotong.
Behind them were four Household Generals, three of whom are female Household Generals. It is worth noting that now in the Wang Family's nine Household Generals, three are female.
When the ship was about to dock, with still seven or eight zhang distance from the pier, Wang Shouzhe lightly tapped with his foot, his body soaring in the air, swooping to the dock like a large bird, landing steadily on the pier within just two breaths.
This was Wang Shouzhe's current leaping ability, thoroughly crushing Earth's long jump and high jump champions, yet it wasn't the realm of some high-martial fantasy where one could soar the sky or shatter mountains with a punch.
"Aunt, why have you returned? Shouldn't you accompany our grandfather more at your family?" Wang Shouzhe greeted Gongsun Hui with a gesture.
"Earlier, you wrote a letter asking my brother Gongsun Qiang to handle matters for you, I asked Wang Zhong roughly, knowing the main residence also needed someone to assist you." Gongsun Hui said, "Though not knowing the specifics, I thought it better to return to the family soon to help. Prior, you mentioned preparing the rear warehouse, currently it's only partially done."
"Then thank you, Aunt, the partial preparation is enough for now." Wang Shouzhe gestured profusely, his heart warmed and moved, Aunt Gongsun Hui truly considers the Wang Family wholeheartedly, assisting him diligently in steering the family.
"Fourth Brother." Wang Luotong saluted Wang Shouzhe, a slight spark flickering in her eyes. Earlier, Fourth Brother entrusted some tasks to her through letters.
What does that mean? It signifies Fourth Brother's esteem for her. She, too, wants to contribute to the family like her sister Wang Luojing, to aid Fourth Brother.
"Thank you for your hard work, Luotong, Ah, did you just break through to Qi Refining Realm Third Layer?" Wang Shouzhe's eyes slightly narrowed, under Qi Observation Technique, Wang Luotong's aura was significantly stronger than before, with signs of uncontrollable aura overflow, "Congratulations, congratulations."
"I still have to thank Fourth Brother." Wang Luotong's cheeks were slightly red with happiness, "If not for the Minor Primordial Cultivation Pill sent from the family treasury as per your order, I couldn't have broken through so quickly."
"It was also your effort, having honed at Qi Refining Realm Second Layer Peak for a while." Wang Shouzhe praised, "Continue to strive, be a role model for our younger siblings and future generations."
Having understood her situation beforehand, naturally, he wouldn't watch her slowly hone at Qi Refining Realm Second Layer Peak, thus he allocated a Minor Primordial Cultivation Pill from the family treasury for her before departing.
She indeed proved herself, breaking through immediately. At least far surpassing that little brat Wang Zongwei, The twenty-year-old is still dawdling at Qi Refining Realm Second Layer High Stage.
"Hmm, Hmm, Fourth Brother, Luotong will certainly do her best." Wang Luotong joyfully nodded repeatedly. For her, earning Fourth Brother's recognition is an exceptionally happy matter.
As people conversed, the grain transport ship had already started docking.
Eldest Aunt Gongsun Hui directed the Household Generals and servants, together transporting the grain to the vacated rooms. Even Wang Luotong joined in, taking charge of the main transport efforts alongside several female Household Generals.
She was already at Qi Refining Realm Third Layer, her physical strength and power far exceeded that of ordinary household servants and slaves, carrying four or five bags of rice at once while briskly moving. Eldest Aunt Gongsun Hui initially wanted to stop her but was signaled by Wang Shouzhe to let Luotong contribute.
Moreover, even when the family's Lu generation Fourth Miss was involved in transporting grain, drenched in fragrant sweat, household soldiers and servants worked even harder, not daring to slack, showing high morale.
The family's cohesion and centripetal force are built bit by bit in such moments.
...