Qin Yihuai only half-understood the contents of the book.
By referring to the traditional Chinese characters, he could roughly guess the meanings of the simplified ones.
He wanted to ask Ye Zhinan about it, but then he remembered his two embarrassing incidents. So, he retracted the foot he had just stepped forward.
The construction of the new village was progressing rapidly and was already taking shape.
The villagers went out early and returned late every day, which reduced a lot of conflicts.
"We can move in the day after tomorrow. Everyone, help each other. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can move into our new homes."
Li Feilong's house was already completed. He was strong and intelligent.
He had figured out some labor-saving methods and built his house quickly and well.
He had even started building a new one.
Wu Yangping walked past him, watched him gesturing in the yard, and said quietly,
"Wooden houses can't keep out the cold. If possible, build brick houses."
Brick houses?
Hearing this, Ye Zhinan rushed over. Looking at Wu Yangping's expression, it didn't seem like he was joking.
"Can you build brick houses?"
Wu Yangping was stunned for a few seconds and then nodded.
"Moreover, I can make blue bricks. I saw an abandoned brick kiln on the mountain. If it can be properly repaired, it might still be usable."
"A brick kiln? Where did the brick kiln come from?"
Li Feilong rolled up his sleeves and came closer, demanding loudly.
"I know everything on the whole mountain. I've never seen any brick kiln!"
Ye Zhinan calmed his emotions and asked tentatively,
"Isn't there any other eye-catching building?"
Li Feilong thought seriously and swallowed.
"There actually is one, but we didn't recognize it and used it for something else."
Ye Zhinan was overjoyed. If the brick kiln could really be repaired, maybe all the houses in the northern border could be renovated.
If the bricks could be sold, it could also completely boost the local economy.
Thinking of this, Ye Zhinan felt elated.
But soon, her expression darkened.
Building a kiln and making bricks required the approval of the government.
She didn't know Shen Beiting well, but judging from the way he had been meekly paying taxes every year, she could roughly guess that he was a conservative person.
Building a new village was still within the realm of reason, but using a kiln was really pushing it too far.
"Don't be hasty about this. I'll go and ask Inspector Qin for instructions before making a decision."
She smiled at Wu Yangping, spotted Qin Yihuai, and strode towards him.
When she got in front of him, the words got stuck in her throat, and she didn't know how to start.
"Just say it. What do you need my help with?"
Whenever she asked someone for help, she would repeatedly touch her earlobe.
Seeing that her earlobe was already red from touching, if he still couldn't tell, he would be extremely dull.
But Ye Zhinan didn't realize that her habit had been noticed. She suddenly looked up, her eyes full of surprise.
Seeing Qin Yihuai's expression, she lowered her head again and hesitated for a long time.
"There's an abandoned brick kiln on the mountain. I want to repair it and see if we can make blue bricks."
Qin Yihuai raised his eyebrows slightly, rubbed his fingers gently, and sighed almost inaudibly.
"Was it Wu Yangping's suggestion?"
Ye Zhinan felt inexplicably guilty but still nodded.
"Where will the money come from? And the manpower? How do you plan to get the coal and clay for firing?"
Facing these questions one after another, Ye Zhinan lowered her head and stopped talking.
Qin Yihuai's questions were reasonable. She had just believed someone else's idea without making any plans.
One couldn't achieve anything just by being full of blind courage.
"Since Wu Yangping proposed this, he must have a perfect plan in mind. You might as well go and ask him."
Ye Zhinan opened her eyes wide in surprise, and then her expression gradually dimmed.
Not only did he not help her, but he also actively pushed her away.
Did he really not care about her at all?
"I understand. Thank you for your advice, Inspector Qin."
She turned around and dragged her feet out.
Her shoulders drooped, and she looked listless.
Qin Yihuai watched her look and felt heartache.
But in the end, she still had to grow up.
Chen Zhenhai saw Ye Zhinan coming towards him. He walked over to say hello, but she walked past him as if she didn't see him.
When he entered the yard and saw Qin Yihuai, he understood most of it.
"Did you upset Miss Ye again?"
Qin Yihuai gave him a disdainful look, remained silent, and turned away.
After walking a few steps, he turned back.
His tone sounded inexplicably aggrieved.
"I just wanted to tell her that she should learn to plan when doing things and not believe others' instigation."
Chen Zhenhai curled his lips.
"Did you tell her that?"
Qin Yihuai was so choked that his face turned ugly.
Without saying a word, he slunk away.
Chen Zhenhai shook his head helplessly, sat down at the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and sighed,
"The road ahead is long and arduous..."
Ye Zhinan didn't go out for several days. She locked herself in the room, and no one knew what she was researching.
Ye Yingfeng was anxious. Every time he knocked on the door, he was turned away.
He had no choice but to get up early and stop Qin Yihuai.
"Go and talk to her. It can't go on like this."
Qin Yihuai glanced at the closed door and was about to go over when he was immediately pulled away by Li Feilong.
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
Ye Yingfeng watched the person being dragged away and followed to watch the fun.
Ye Zhinan must have her own plans. Even though he was worried, he was still relieved.
So, the fun was more important.
Ye Yingfeng followed Li Feilong up the mountain. When he saw what was in front of him, he didn't know whether to go forward or retreat.
Li Feilong rubbed his hands nervously.
"This should be the brick kiln he mentioned."
Looking in the direction he pointed, the perfectly good brick kiln was wrapped in colorful ribbons.
It was festive yet a bit eerie.
"Aunt Xu from the village said this is called a mani pile. It's for praying."
Qin Yihuai coughed a few times and held back his laughter.
After all, this was the northern border, not the Tibetan area. Where did the mani pile come from?
"Go back and tell Aunt Xu that she's mistaken. There's no such custom in the northern border."
Li Feilong nodded repeatedly and echoed,
"I said so. I've traveled far and wide, and I've never seen such a thing."
Qin Yihuai found many people in the city who had worked in the brick kiln before, but they were all old.
They could only talk about what had happened in the past. It was impossible for them to come and work.
"The brick kiln has been abandoned for decades. It won't be easy to reuse it."
Qin Yihuai turned to look at Wu Yangping, as if waiting for him to speak.
Wu Yangping was scared by his stare. He trembled and took out a drawing from his bosom.
"To be honest, when I wandered on the mountain, I lived here. I've already figured out the structure and thought of a countermeasure."
Compared with the surprise of others, Qin Yihuai seemed much calmer.
If one wanted to stay, one naturally had to have a skill for survival.
Qin Yihuai stretched out his hand, indicating for him to continue.
"I don't know why the brick kiln was abandoned, but from my observation, the airtightness inside is too poor, which leads to insufficient temperature."
He walked around to the back of the brick kiln, searched carefully, and finally stood still.
"Right here. Come and take a look."