"Master, aren't you going too far?"
In a house in the county town, Zhang Dazhi's third apprentice put down the rag and beat his waist, with a look of exhaustion and complaint on his face.
Zhang Dazhi said: "What do you know? Let me tell you, people like him will definitely achieve great success as long as nothing unexpected happens in the future."
He took a sip from the small teapot and said leisurely: "I have endured hardships at the lowest level and have been used to life and death, but I also have extremely outstanding abilities. I need to have a good mind and a good ability. It is best to make friends with such people." , the loss is just a small loss, and the profit is a big profit!”
The apprentice rolled his eyes, "I mean, can't you clean it up with me? I've been busy here for an hour, and you haven't responded at all?"
Zhang Dazhi took a sip of tea and said immediately: "Ahem, my teacher is training you in that direction, and tempering your mind more. You are too impetuous."
The apprentice was stunned and gave a thumbs up.
The master-disciple relationship between craftsmen has always been similar to the relationship of personal dependence. Zhang Dazhi is willing to tolerate his apprentice saying these things and is willing to find excuses. This is already considered very good, and the apprentice does not dare to say anything more.
While he continued to clean up, he said: "But Master, I think you still have too good ideas. We will be supervising many skilled craftsmen who have worked for half a life. Mr. Xia just said it casually last night. Where? What other good ideas can you come up with!"
Zhang Dazhi rubbed his chin and said, "You can't say that. The pulley earth-moving method seems to be simple, but it is actually very useful. If there is another method like this, I will probably be able to use a little more force when I go back." It’s the prison’s position.”
The disciple muttered: "Master Xia is a great scholar, you might as well have someone write a poem and take it back to Zhongjing City as a gift. Then there is still hope."
"What do you know? I'm busy with your business. I'll go to Cuihua Building to arrange for a dinner later."
Zhang Dazhi waved his hand impatiently, but he couldn't help but murmur in his heart.
As the apprentice said, most of these supervisors are skilled craftsmen, but they haven't made anything good for a long time.
Whether it is the creation of military equipment, the method of building a fortified city, or the supply of treasures and crafts to the royal family and dignitaries, they are basically just continuing the techniques of the past.
Even though the general general who took office last year couldn't stop urging them, it's not like these things are just there because of the squeeze. If they can't get out, they can't get out.
Expecting Xia Jingyun to come up with any good methods other than the pulley earth-moving method does seem a bit unrealistic and overwhelming.
Forget it, if there really isn't any, then just treat him as a treat.
As I said just now, it’s not a bad idea to make friends with such people.
And if people of his status like Xia Jingyun and other scholars are willing to make friends with him, then it will be even more of a loss.
Just as he was thinking about it, his disciple came in with a few people.
Zhang Dazhi drank tea silently, not even bothering to move his eyes.
Immediately, a figure came to the entrance of the courtyard, "Master Zhang!"
Zhang Dazhi stood up with a smile on his face, "Mr. Xia! I apologize for missing you from afar!"
Xia Jingyun waved his hands repeatedly and said in fear: "Master Zhang is such a bad guy."
"Why do you have to be so modest? As a disciple of Su Daru, things are no longer the same as they used to be, haha!"
When Xia Jingyun heard this, he knew in his heart that Master Su had already released the news as he had said before.
He smiled, stood up suddenly, shook his sleeves, and bowed respectfully, "I haven't thanked you for your great kindness."
Zhang Dazhi was stunned, "What do I have to thank you for?"
Xia Jingyun said with a smile: "I helped you twice in the labor camp that day. I never had the opportunity to express my gratitude for this kindness. Today I finally have the opportunity to express my gratitude in person!"
That day at the labor camp, after Manager Hu failed to steal Xia Jingyun's labor results, Zhang Dazhi said that this method was quite clever, dispelling Magistrate Zhao's concerns and giving Xia Jingyun a chance to use it.
Then after Xia Jingyun succeeded, he suddenly rewarded Xia Jingyun with ten taels of silver.
Originally, County Magistrate Zhao could have settled this matter by exempting the whole family from hard labor, but when Zhang Dazhi said this, the three officials had to express their opinions, so Feng Xiuyun had to stand up and give the reward.
Although judging from the follow-up results, Feng Xiuyun would have said something even if Zhang Dazhi had not taken action, but when they did, Xia Jingyun, who had always been clear about grievances and grievances, still kept thinking about this good thing.
After listening to Xia Jingyun's words, Zhang Dazhi laughed, and he valued him even more. There are many people with literary talents, but people with brains are even more valuable. Obviously, this young man who turned from a labor camp to a civil servant is very good. The kind with brains.
"No need to say anything else. Let me have a few more drinks tonight!"
"It is better to obey orders than to be respectful!"
As they spoke, the two of them showed humility to each other and came to the dining table. The waiter from Cuihua Building had already placed the table full of food.
Zhang Dazhi and Xia Jingyun sat down, while Zhang Dazhi's disciple was pouring wine.
Although the strict rules between master and apprentice prevented the young man from feeling any displeasure, seeing his master and Xia Jingyun chatting and laughing while he had to stand aside and pour wine, the young man still felt somewhat unhappy.
The most important thing is that he is deeply skeptical that Xia Jingyun can help the supervisor.
He is much better than Xia Jingyun in this regard. Why should the master seek the distance from the near? Maybe he could stand aside and pour himself two glasses of wine and flatter himself, and then he would have a flash of inspiration!
"What are you doing standing there? Pour some wine!"
The master's dissatisfied reminder interrupted the young man's dream, and he quickly picked up the wine flask and filled it with wine.
After drinking for a while, Zhang Dazhi and Xia Jingyun went through the familiar process of calling themselves brothers.
Zhang Dazhi blushed slightly, "Brother Gao Yang, you said last night that you had something to teach you, but in what direction?"
Xia Jingyun smiled and said, "Brother, do you know the bellows?"
The young man on the side lowered his head and pursed his lips silently. Zhang Dazhi laughed awkwardly and said, "The bellows must know. Smelting and forging require the help of the bellows to increase the temperature of the furnace."
Xia Jingyun asked again: "Is the bellows pulled by manpower?"
"That goes without saying! Even livestock can't do this!"
Xia Jingyun smiled, "Why not try the waterwheel?"
Zhang Dazhi was stunned, and Xia Jingyun briefly told him the structure of the hydraulic bellows.
This kind of thing is almost easy for an experienced person like Zhang Dazhi. He understood it immediately after hearing the words. He stretched out his hand and gestured in the air, muttering to himself, his eyes getting brighter and brighter, "According to this method of my dear brother, this Not only can the bellows be enlarged, it can also completely save manpower! If it is built on the bank of a river, the water power will never run out, which is wonderful!"
As he spoke, he raised his cup and clinked it with Xia Jingyun.
He felt that with this method, tonight's drink would be worth it.
But Xia Jingyun smiled slightly, "With the help of such a bellows, one thing can come in handy."
As he spoke, Xia Jingyun told him the basic principles of the indigenous steelmaking blast furnace and some key points.
Hearing this, Zhang Dazhi's eyes widened even more, while his apprentice, who was a little angry before, opened his mouth slightly, dumbfounded.
This thing is used to smelt iron. It is countless times more convenient than the existing technology, and the output will be much increased!
Forging weapons is what a general is good at!
After Xia Jingyun finished speaking, he smiled modestly, "I want to say something first. This is just an idea I had when I was bored and looking at the blacksmith shop. Whether it can succeed or not needs to be measured by me. This is not a labor camp suggestion. If anything goes wrong, please don’t blame me, brother, you are of great importance and I can’t afford to wait any longer.”
Zhang Dazhi wiped his face, but he couldn't wipe away the strong look of shock on his face. "Brother, tell me, why is this person so different from other people? We have been facing that furnace for so many years, why are we so different from each other?" It’s not up to you to just think about it!”
After saying that, he patted his thigh regretfully and looked at Xia Jingyun's face full of salivation, "Brother, actually it would be quite good to be a general supervisor in our place..."
Xia Jingyun smiled playfully, "If I can settle it with one word, I would be willing."
Zhang Dazhi sighed, "Come on, let's have a drink! Thank you brother for teaching me tonight."
Then he took out a one-hundred-tael silver note from his arms and handed it over, "Brother, I didn't bring much money this time. I've already spent a lot. You can keep it first, but if you have a reward, you won't be rewarded." Forget the love of brotherhood.”
Xia Jingyun declined a few times, but finally accepted it.
He likes this kind of exchange, pure and magnanimous.
Putting the banknote into his arms, he smiled and said: "No matter how many rewards there are in the future, I will fight for them myself. You don't need to take care of me anymore."
Naturally, Zhang Dazhi quickly said no. The methods Xia Jingyun mentioned would definitely be of great help to him after he returned. How could they be spent with one or two hundred taels of silver?
After all, he has plans for a long-term relationship, so he won't take advantage of this.
Xia Jingyun smiled and said, "If I really feel sorry for you, why don't you do me a favor?"
"you say."
"I heard that the general supervisor not only has the task of making equipment and palace construction, but also has the task of building exquisite and expensive works for a nobleman in the palace?"
"That's right. What's the purpose of asking this, brother Xian?"
Xia Jingyun smiled and said: "Can you please help me get something for me, such as a piece of more transparent glass? It's expensive, I can pay for it."
Zhang Dazhi thought for a while and said, "Okay, I can give it to you in ten days, but it does require some money from my dear brother."
Xia Jingyun raised his cup happily, "Thank you, brother!"
------------------
It was dark at night, and master and apprentice Zhang Dazhi personally sent Xia Jingyun back to Nantian Lane.
At home, the lights were still on.
The family has nothing else to do. The women are doing needlework at the moment, Xia Hengzhi is writing in the room, and Xia Yunfei and his son went to buy some stone locks, wooden sticks and other martial arts equipment today. Practice hummingly in the big yard.
Seeing Xia Jingyun coming back, everyone put down their work and gathered around him.
Xia Ning was really dressed in a red dress. She jumped out happily and said crisply: "Second brother, where did you go today? You came back so late."
Everyone looked at him when they heard this, and only Xia Ning could really ask this question.
Xia Jingyun smiled and said: "The big shot who will be the supervisor said some things together before, but they are not big things."
As he spoke, he sighed inwardly that he still couldn't change his habit of reporting good news to his family but not bad news even if he moved to another place.
Maybe this is human nature.
He took out the three gift boxes in his hand and said, "Mom, aunt, and Ning Zhen, I bought a hairpin for each of you. Do you like it?"
The three women's eyes lit up, and even Xia Li, who had the most gentle and reserved temperament, showed a bit of joy on her face.
After their homes were confiscated and their families were banished, they had been wearing sarongs for a long time, but what woman doesn't love beauty?
"Mom, aunt, look, am I beautiful?"
Xia Ningzhen quickly put on the hairpin. The elegant hairpin lined her hair. The light gold-plated pieces on the hairpin swayed slightly in the wind with her steps, like a butterfly flapping its wings.
Xia Li smiled and said: "Beautiful, the hairpin is beautiful, the person is even more beautiful!"
"Second brother, what do you think?"
Xia Jingyun nodded, "I didn't expect sister Ning Zhen to be so beautiful. I wonder which noble family will be lucky enough to marry you!"
Xia Zhang, the mother-in-law who was in love with Xia Ning, was naturally happy when she saw her daughter's smiling face. However, she couldn't help but said, "Gao Yang, you said you were serious. Just now." If you have a little money, just spend it randomly..."
"Auntie, please shut up!"
Xia Jingyun slapped the one hundred taels he just received from Zhang Dazhi into her palm.
"Pfft!"
Xia Ningzhen was the first to laugh, Xia Yunfei was also silly, and when Xia Zhang couldn't help but smile, everyone else laughed.
It is a relaxed yearning for a better life.
Ever since their home was ransacked, no one has experienced this feeling for a long time.
I thought that this night would pass by so happily and easily, but when the night was getting darker and people were sleeping soundly, a hurried knock on the door shattered the quiet night and woke everyone up from their sweet dreams.
"Mr. Xia! Mr. Xia!"
Xia Jingyun walked out wearing clothes and opened the door latch sleepily.
A few words from the county police officer across the street scared him away from his drowsiness.
"Master Xia, the prison robbers are indeed here!"
