"Brother Wei, our academy just obtained the authorization from the Steam Engine Research Institute of Guanshishan Academy and began to build our own research institute, which specializes in developing steam engine equipment that can improve production efficiency for each workshop. However, the incident that happened to Gu's clothing workshop suddenly turned the steam engine into a human-eating machine. Should we postpone the construction of the research institute?"

In Qujiang Academy, Du Gou and Wei Siren stood in the same yard, looking at the busy students and teachers, hesitated.

Since returning from the Tang Dynasty Royal Science and Technology Awards ceremony, Qujiang Academy has begun to fully learn the style of Guanshishan Academy and want to become the second largest academy in the Tang Dynasty.

As one of the top priorities, the establishment of the Steam Engine Research Institute was the first to take action.

With a complete set of R&D equipment and a steam engine prototype, Qujiang Academy has given the procurement fee to Guanshishan Academy.

But this incident happened before the institute was fully built.

No wonder Du Gou was a little worried.

"In recent years, there have been no incidents in various workshops, but this time the situation of Gu's clothing workshop is quite special. I think the people at Guanshishan Academy's Steam Engine Research Institute must be more anxious than us, and His Highness the King of Chu is even more anxious than us. However, in the end, the steam engine cannot be stopped because of this. I am very confident about this."

As the business leader of the Wei family, Wei Siren is still relatively smart in economics.

He knew very well that the Chu Prince's Mansion could not have stopped the steam engine directly because of a production accident.

It's like a ship sinking on the sea and stopping all the shipbuilding workshops. It's simply unrealistic.

It's just that this is the first time that an accident related to a steam engine has occurred, so it's a bit bigger.

"You make sense to say that, but in the past two days, many people in Chang'an City have been talking about the steam engine equipment that cannibalize people. Even in our academy, some voices of opposing the construction of the steam engine research institute have been heard."

"Brother Du, if you are an opponent of the Chu Prince's Mansion, then when you encounter this, will you think of adding fuel to the fire behind the scenes and disgusting him?"

Wei Siren interpreted this matter with Du Gou from a different perspective.

Obviously, he had a very thorough understanding of this.

"you mean……"

At this moment, Du Gou finally understood it in seconds.

A noble family, who hasn’t done anything behind the scenes that can cause trouble?

After all, Du Gou was also the patriarch of the Du family. Even though many things were not planned by him personally, he must have heard of them.

A large family can exist for a long time, but it is not enough to live a life honestly.

"The steam engine is very popular recently. I encountered some things when I was building the railway a few days ago. Nanshan Construction's handling method has caused a lot of controversy. The matter has not yet completely subsided. There has been another accident in Gu's garment workshop. If I want to make the Chu Prince's Mansion uncomfortable, I will push it behind the scenes. Anyway, there is no need to pay any price."

"That's right, then we'll build the Steam Engine Research Institute as per the normal plan."

...

"Panpan, I told you that you should not be so radical in doing things, so you won't listen. Now, something is wrong, right? Everyone is waiting to see the jokes of our Gu family."

In Wannian County, Gu Lian looked at his daughter with a sad face.

There is a saying circulating in Chang'an City that daughters are all their father's close-fitting cotton jackets.

But why does Gu Lian think that his little cotton jacket is unintentional?

I haven't let myself worry about it for so many years.

He is not young anymore and doesn't want to get married.

He wanted to help him find a son-in-law, but Gu Panpan refused harshly.

Gu Lian felt so miserable in his heart!

Isn’t it said that money can solve most of the problems?

Why are you so rich, but you still have so many problems that can’t be solved?

"Aye, this is just a simple production accident. What are you doing so much? I have already thought about the countermeasures and will never make a sound again. The hair will be caught in the equipment."

After hearing Gu Lian's words, Gu Panpan was not in the mood to eat, so he put down his chopsticks.

"What countermeasures? As long as the steam engine-driven equipment is still in the workshop, as long as you continue to invest more of this equipment, the concerns of the helpers will not be completely eliminated. Besides, you cannot ignore the rumors outside, as these will eventually affect the workshop's business."

The Gu family is a big family in Jiangnan Road.

As the patriarch, Gu Lian naturally cares about the reputation of the family very much.

However, this accident made the Gu family embarrassed in Chang'an City.

For Gu Lian, this is a very difficult thing to accept.

"Since it is an accident caused by too long hair, we will stipulate that all the helpers who operate these equipment must cut their hair short. This will prevent the accident from the root. Of course, in order to compensate for the losses of these helpers, we will also increase their wages."

As soon as Gu Panpan said his plan, Gu Lian exploded.

"Cut your hair? Panpan, what are you kidding! "The Book of Filial Piety: The Original Eloquence": The body, hair, skin, and parents, dare not hurt it. It is the beginning of filial piety. If you ask the helper to cut his hair, isn't it just forcing others to be an unfilial person? I absolutely disagree with this matter, it will cause big trouble!"

Gu Lian looked at Gu Panpan in a frustration, and he really didn't expect that the solution she said was actually such a solution.

Since ancient times, no one has cut off his hair casually except for the monks in the temple.

Once Gu's clothing workshop requires helpers to cut their hair like this, there will definitely be a large group of people in Chang'an City to come forward to criticize them.

Especially those from the Ministry of Rites and Confucianism will definitely make you doubt your life.

"It's just a haircut, why is it related to filial piety or not? If we were to say that, we were also stolen and peed, and that thing flowed out of our bodies, wouldn't it be considered unfilial to our parents?"

There are no outsiders around, and Gu Panpan dares to say anything.

Sure enough, Gu Lian's face turned pale when he heard this.

"Anyway, if I say no, I can't do it!"

"You don't agree with a simple haircut. Do you have to remove the steam engine before you are happy? The equipment that uses steam engines has increased by more than ten times compared to the equipment that used water trucks before. This will definitely be a trend in the future.

You have seen His Highness the King of Chu’s speech at the Tang Dynasty Royal Science and Technology Awards ceremony. Our Gu family must follow the trend and not go against the current.”

"Panpan, my father understands what you said, and I don't deny that the benefits of steam engines are many. In the future, it may really become something that exists in many workshops. But now other workshops have not used steam engines, but our workshops are using them, but they still use them. So can it be the same?

Otherwise, our workshop will introduce the steam engine first. If other workshops in Chang'an City are using steam engines at that time, I will definitely support you in purchasing steam engines?"

Although the cotton jacket is unintentional, it is still my own cotton jacket after all.

Gu Lian saw that Gu Panpan was anxious and his eyes turned red, and his tone immediately became soft.

There is no way, who made him a daughter slave?

"No, how can we turn back when we open the bow? Since our Gu's garment workshop has become the first workshop in the Tang Dynasty that officially started using steam engines, we have to wear this name. Now that we just encounter a little difficulty, we retreat and will think that our Gu family has no principles in doing things and can change it by saying that changes will not be beneficial to our future development.

Besides, I haven’t told you that I have a way to solve this problem. You can take good care of your own affairs and don’t worry so much.”

After Gu Panpan finished speaking, he was about to get up and didn't want to continue staying here.

"Is that what you call a solution? You're making trouble!"

Gu Lian looked like he was so disappointed that he couldn't make him feel tired.

"His Royal Highness of Chu also supports our approach. Even if it is to cause trouble, we will not be causing trouble by ourselves. I will go to the King of Chu's Mansion first, and you don't have to worry about this matter!"

After Gu Panpan finished speaking, he really left in a flash, regardless of Gu Lian shouting behind him.

...

"Prince, do you really need to use this method? This is easy to cause huge controversy?"

In the Chu King's Mansion, Wu Meiniang also rarely questioned Li Kuan's decision.

Li Kuan, who has the soul of later generations, thinks cutting a hair is actually a very simple and very ordinary thing.

But in the eyes of people of this era, cutting hair is definitely a big deal.

An important event that is enough to cause heated discussion among the whole nation.

"As long as you find the right entry point, this haircut is not as scary as you think. The Royal Military Academy of the Tang Dynasty has been established for many years, and now the students there are starting to wear new clothes, even when they are not in the academy. This is because everyone finds that new clothes are more convenient and are conducive to exerting their combat effectiveness.

This long hair is actually very inconvenient for the soldiers who are marching and fighting. Not to mention that everyone has no time to take care of it, nor has there sufficient water to wash their hair. Just a lot of hair on their heads will slow down when avoiding swords.

I am going to suggest that all the students at Guanshishan Academy cut their hair into short hair. Didn’t those sour scholars always say that their bodies and skin are taught to their parents? They have to associate their hair with filial piety. But loyalty and filial piety cannot be achieved at the same time. This principle should be very understandable, right?

In order to better improve the combat effectiveness of the army and to better improve the quality of life of everyone in the army, what is the point of cutting a hair? Who dares to object?"

Li Kuan originally thought that he would take the lead in cutting his hair, but thinking about it would actually be more effective to make the Royal Military Academy of the Tang Dynasty ahead.

After all, I went to solve the problem.

"Do you first promote short hair from the Royal Military Academy of the Tang Dynasty? But there are all men and women in the academy; but most of them are female workers in various garment production workshops. We need to solve the risk of steam engine equipment rolling hair in, and these female workers need to cut their hair.

Except for the nuns in the temple, no woman can cut her hair off.”

Although Wu Meiniang felt that what Li Kuan said was reasonable, she still had a lot of concerns in her heart.

"Not before, but there will be no later!"

Without waiting for Li Kuan to speak, Gu Panpan, who had just entered the door, spoke first.

"Panpan, what do you mean?"

Wu Meiniang saw Gu Panpan, who was a little haggard on her face, and felt that there was something in her words.

"Qing'er, come here with a pair of scissors. I'll cut off my hair today and see the female workers in the workshop, what else can I say. If they are not willing to cut their hair like this, don't do it in my workshop!"

As soon as Gu Panpan said this, Li Kuan was quite surprised.

This girl is really different from other girls.
To be continued...