Hearing this, Su Yanke couldn't help but smile. She shook her head and said, "Aunt Li, I only know a bit of minor mystic arts. I'm not a celestial being. You don't need to be afraid!"
Aunt Li and the others obviously had no idea what mystic arts were. Su Yanke wanted to explain more, but after thinking about it, she decided to let it go. It would take quite some time to explain this matter completely and clearly.
So Su Yanke changed the topic and said, "Now that the fire source problem is solved, the next thing is to rely on Uncle Lao Ji for the stove!"
Uncle Lao Ji slapped his chest and said cheerfully, "No problem. Leave it to me!"
Now, when Xiaobao looked at Su Yanke, his eyes were so bright that it was startling. The admiration was almost overflowing from his eyes!
Su Yanke was quite picky about food. So she didn't eat much for dinner and then went back to her room.
Aunt Li and the others were also relieved because they had solved a major problem for the winter. The economic pressure caused by unemployment had also eased a bit.
This night was surely an extraordinary one. It was a turning point in Xiaobao's fate, a moment when Su Yanke began to cherish this world, and a starting point for Uncle Lao Ji's family to stand up!
That night, Uncle Lao Ji stayed awake all night. He was alone in the small wooden shed, pondering over how to make the stove. Meanwhile, Su Yanke was in her room, trying to repair her Dantian.
Aunt Li and Xiaobao were in their room, having a heart - to - heart talk that they rarely had over the years. This was something Su Yanke had secretly told Aunt Li. At this moment, it was necessary to let Xiaobao understand that he was the most precious thing to his parents and nothing could compare to him, so as to build a sense of security and self - confidence in his heart.
At the end, they also talked about their longings for the future, telling Xiaobao not to limit his vision to this small place and not to be troubled by trivial matters every day.
Although the night was cold and dark, the warmth among people was enough to offset the chill.
At dawn, Su Yanke opened her eyes. After a whole night of repair, she could already see a glimmer of light.
Uncle Lao Ji's door remained closed and there was no sound at all. It seemed that he might have been busy all night and then fallen asleep. Su Yanke lightened her footsteps. Just then, there was a soft sound of a door opening.
Su Yanke turned around upon hearing the sound. She couldn't see clearly, but from the sound of the footsteps, she recognized it was Xiaobao.
Su Yanke and Xiaobao walked to the middle of the yard. Su Yanke lowered her voice and asked, "Xiaobao, why did you get up so early? Couldn't you sleep?"
Xiaobao handed a willow twig to Su Yanke for washing up. Su Yanke felt it and was a bit confused. She didn't know what the willow twig was for so early in the morning.
Xiaobao replied, "You can't be lazy when practicing martial arts. I'm not lazy!"
Su Yanke thought for a while and guessed that Aunt Li might have told Xiaobao something about the things to pay attention to when practicing martial arts.
Su Yanke stroked Xiaobao's little head and smiled with relief.
Xiaobao's face flushed red immediately because of Su Yanke's touch.
Xiaobao lowered his head and noticed that Su Yanke's hand holding the willow twig seemed unfamiliar. He said, "Jiejie, this willow twig can be used to rinse your mouth."
After saying that, Xiaobao also explained in detail the steps of rinsing the mouth and how to use the willow twig.
Su Yanke was quite curious about this way of rinsing the mouth. She also tried it. First, she bit the willow twig flat with her teeth to expose the fibers inside, and then dipped the fibers in ginger water. After the whole process, Su Yanke felt that her mouth was a bit cleaner.
After washing up, Aunt Li also came out. She looked at Su Yanke and Xiaobao, washed up herself, and then went to the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone.
Su Yanke officially started training Xiaobao. The first step was to practice standing in a horse - riding stance to lay a good foundation before increasing the difficulty.
Xiaobao's perseverance really shocked Su Yanke. During the whole morning's training, Xiaobao only took a short break in the middle. When Su Yanke first started training, she had to take a break every fifteen minutes or so.
Su Yanke couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed.
Aunt Li's breakfast was almost ready. Su Yanke estimated the time in her mind. When it was about right, she asked Xiaobao to stop and take a break. They would continue after breakfast.
Aunt Li finished making the meal and was about to go and call Uncle Lao Ji. Before Aunt Li could knock on the door, Uncle Lao Ji rushed out of the door, trotted to the dining table, and announced excitedly,
"I... I've made it! I've succeeded!"
Su Yanke was stunned for a moment and then reacted, saying, "The stove is finished!"
Uncle Lao Ji nodded heavily.
Aunt Li was also very happy. But seeing Uncle Lao Ji's disheveled appearance, she quickly urged him to go and wash up. "Let's eat first. We can talk after that."
Everyone ate this meal absent - mindedly. Uncle Lao Ji and Aunt Li were absent - minded because they now had a guarantee for the winter, while Su Yanke was thinking about another thing. Could this stove be used to maximize the profit?
After breakfast, Su Yanke followed Uncle Lao Ji to take a look at the finished stove.
Su Yanke felt it with her hands. The joints at several turning points were well - connected, and there would be no smoke leakage.
Su Yanke also roughly felt the shape of the stove. It was indeed very similar to the one in her memory!
Su Yanke nodded in satisfaction. Uncle Lao Ji's face was also full of joy. He was a very skilled blacksmith, but he had never had the chance to show his talent. In the shop of the village head's family, he just repeated the work of forging iron every day. For him, it was really a waste of his talent.
Su Yanke hesitated for a while and then put forward her suggestion.
"Uncle Lao Ji, I have an idea."
"Go ahead!" Uncle Lao Ji obviously attached great importance to what Su Yanke had to say.
"I want to maximize the profit from this stove. Specifically, you should find some partners, that is, blacksmiths you trust. You all work together to make more stoves like this and then sell them in the county. One fire in this stove can warm up everyone in a room. Most of the harvests this year are not good. Such an economical and practical stove will surely find buyers! What do you think, Uncle Lao Ji?"
Uncle Lao Ji was obviously not as smart as Aunt Li. While Su Yanke was speaking, Uncle Lao Ji just listened blankly, but Aunt Li's eyes were getting brighter and brighter.
Seeing that Uncle Lao Ji couldn't keep up, Aunt Li said to him, "Husband, this is a good thing. Xiaobao will be old enough to go to school next year. If this stove business is successful, we won't have to worry about the school fees!"
Uncle Lao Ji thought it was a good idea too and immediately turned around to go out. But Su Yanke stopped him and said, "You can't just go like this. You have to choose the partners carefully!"
"Choose carefully?" Uncle Lao Ji was puzzled.
Su Yanke explained in detail. You can't choose partners casually. First, their craftsmanship must be good. You can't choose those with poor skills, or it will ruin your reputation.
Second, their character must be good. Nowadays, every family is having a hard time. If someone discovers that this can make a lot of money and then sets up his own factory after learning the technology, won't we be doing all the work for others?
Uncle Lao Ji nodded, indicating that it made sense.
Su Yanke continued, so when you choose people, you can't be careless. Finally, try to choose those with difficulties in their families.
This time, it was Aunt Li who was puzzled. She asked, "Why?"
Su Yanke looked at the weather outside and said calmly, "If we can help, we should try to help. Everyone is having a hard time."
Suddenly, there was a moment of silence in the hall. Aunt Li looked down at Xiaobao and felt happy. She had been a bit dazed just now. As soon as she heard that they could make money, she had been so excited that she had completely forgotten that when she could give a hand to those in the same difficult situation, she hadn't even thought about it.
Aunt Li was very happy in her heart. She was relieved that even if she was no longer around in the future, Xiaobao could follow Su Yanke. Su Yanke was a person with great kindness in her heart.
After discussing the matter, Uncle Lao Ji told Su Yanke about some of his good - related blacksmiths in the workshop who had difficulties in their families. Aunt Li assisted them on the side. They selected some people and tentatively decided on the candidates. Su Yanke still had to meet them in person before making the final decision.
Finally, Su Yanke asked Uncle Lao Ji some questions about the local laws. After that, Uncle Lao Ji went out to select talents.
Su Yanke and Xiaobao continued with the next stage of training.
At this time, in the village head's house, almost everyone was red - faced with anger.
"That Lao Ji is really too hateful. After we fired him, he still managed to influence a large number of people to rebel. They even wanted to threaten us to raise their wages, otherwise they would ask Lao Ji to come back?"
The eldest son of the village head spat and said, "Bah, it's just wishful thinking!"
"Go and tell them that if they don't want to work, they can all get out. If they leave, don't even think about getting the charcoal this year!"
As soon as this order was given, most of the workers became quiet. They were really scared. Their whole families were relying on that charcoal to get through the winter! They themselves could endure the cold, but what about the women and children?
Only some of Lao Ji's close friends who were still unmarried and had no family burdens shrugged their shoulders and roared at the servants of the village head's family,
"I quit. This disgusting and bullying workshop will surely go bankrupt! Bah!"
When Uncle Lao Ji came, he saw this scene and was a bit confused. But the servant of the village head's family saw him first and immediately sneered,
"Hey, isn't this the tough Uncle Lao Ji? What? Now you're slinking back, trying to get your job back?"
The others burst into laughter. Uncle Lao Ji just gave them a cold look and ignored them. He walked straight towards the person who had just quit.
"Da Li, don't act impulsively. Have you really thought it through?"
"I've long wanted to quit this job. If it weren't for you being here, I would have gone on strike a long time ago. Now that you've left, what's the point of me staying here alone?" Da Li looked seriously at Uncle Lao Ji and said.
Hearing this, Uncle Lao Ji patted his shoulder and looked at the servants of the village head's family in the distance. "I'm here today to get my labor vouchers. My labor now no longer belongs to you!"
Suddenly, the other workers in the workshop began to stir. An older man stood up and said to Uncle Lao Ji, "Lao Ji, have you really thought it through? Winter is coming. If you lose this job, what will happen to your wife and children?"