Merik is an ordinary blacksmith in the Pilates XC area. His main business is repairing farm tools and supplying some iron parts to the carriage workshop next door.
Farmers in the XC area had some difficulties after the Luna River was cut off. However, in order to survive, the area of farmland reclaimed increased, which kept Merik and his two apprentices busy.
There was no big work that day, and the work of repairing the hoe was left to the two apprentices. Merik was leaning against the wall outside the door, chewing grass and relaxing in the sun.
Grass has a name, it is called Pilates grass, and chewing grass is a unique habit of Pilates people.
This is a kind of weed that is similar to weeds around the city. It is slightly bitter but sweet. It has a weak analgesic effect when taken in a certain amount. It is more effective for pain caused by skin lesions on the hands and feet. People who do heavy work can chew a few sticks during their daily life. It will be easier.
The point is still cheap.
Selling "weeds" is an entry-level job, and it is done by young people. However, recently, little devils occasionally appear, and a few people are needed to protect it. There were once bad guys who wanted to contract lawn mowing and delivery, but this thing was really not that important, and it was very common in the local area, so the price couldn't be raised at all.
According to the recently popular measurement unit, one kilogram of Pilates grass costs only two cents of Phoenix coins.
Merik has been a blacksmith for twenty years, and the calluses on his hands have become so thick that it is difficult to make a fist. He has no need for the analgesic effect of grass for a long time. It is just a habit that remains. Buying it for a dime each time can last for several days.
Phoenix coins are a good thing, but it is a pity that Pilates people cannot enjoy the prices of Phoenix Kingdom.
Legend has it that in the Phoenix Kingdom, iron costs one yuan per kilogram. It is not even pure iron, but crude steel, and food is even cheaper.
Merik is a blacksmith, and the price of pig iron ingots in Pilates is three yuan. It was more expensive before. Of course, in real terms, it is still much better than smelting the miscellaneous iron ore by himself.
Food is more expensive. With my apprentice, mother-in-law, and two children, my family will have to eat two or three yuan a day. If the family does not have enough labor, they can only eat more grass. Fortunately, eating grass will not kill anyone, but they will eat too much. Feeling bitter.
While chewing grass and thinking wildly, Merik suddenly felt that the atmosphere in the alley was not right. It was a little quieter in the south.
Turning around, he saw three people walking together in the alley.
These three people were not dressed in luxury, but their gray and white clothes were neat and wrinkled, and they walked squarely. At first glance, they didn't look like working people.
Merik, like most small business owners, was worried about getting into trouble for blocking the way of the big shot, so he picked up the small stool with one hand and got up to go back to the house... To be honest, the heat wave in the blacksmith shop was something he couldn't get used to even after twenty years of work.
It seemed that he was not very lucky, as three big tasks stopped directly in front of the blacksmith shop.
"Who is the blacksmith? Make something." Anyone looking for a blacksmith doesn't even step in because it's too hot.
Merik felt that he was a bit unlucky, so he stepped forward to receive him, hoping that he would not do anything outrageous: "I am, what do you guys want to fight?"
One of the visitors opened the small box in his hand and pulled out something with several pages.
Although Merik stayed in the alley for a long time, this paper was too eye-catching, white and smooth, not handmade. It was white paper from the Phoenix Kingdom. If the three of them were not from there, it would be a bit luxurious to use this paper.
"Do you have a meter stick? There are dimensions marked on the picture. Let's see how much it costs to make it."
The meter stick is one of the standard measurements promoted by the Phoenix Kingdom. Anyone who has used their products cannot avoid this thing. Even the diameter of the bowl will be written on the packaging. There are even local people who specialize in making various meter sticks.
The working environment of a blacksmith is quite special. Handmade soft rulers and wooden rulers are not easy to use. You can only buy imported steel tape measures, which are very expensive. A five-meter roll costs 30 yuan. It is good and really good. You can Use it directly to measure red iron parts.
"Yes, yes." Merik turned his apron inside out and wiped his hands, then took the paper and looked at it.
Although it was wiped, the hand still left a mark on the paper, but fortunately the skin was rough and could not be seen.
He didn't recognize the contents, but they were clearly marked and required the making of many pipes and several iron boxes.
Blacksmiths are reluctant to touch things like pipes, and the process is more difficult.
It is large, and the iron plates are rolled and forged together. If the joints are not done well, it will easily leak. But having said that, the difficulty of the craftsmanship also means that it can command a more profitable price, and the old blacksmith is still willing to use his hands for the money.
After studying for a while, I had some idea in my mind, so I asked the three of them to wait while I went to the back and counted the accounts with my fingers.
Facing a big shot, it is very dangerous to make a random offer. In addition, if the other party does not force himself, he will always make some money.
Merik has never studied mathematics seriously. He relied on the blacksmith inheritance and business accumulation to do some calculations. After struggling for a while, he returned to the door and gave an answer: "If you give me Phoenix coins, it will cost 650, about 650." Wait 8 days."
The cost of materials and fuel is about less than 400, and this quotation still leaves some room for price reduction.
But the other person didn't seem to care about the "small money" of two hundred or two, and nodded directly. The other person took out the wooden money, counted twenty and stuffed it over:
"200 deposit, you take the drawings, we'll come back in ten days."
"Hey, I will definitely make something beautiful for you!" Merik thought it was a disaster, but it turned out to be a windfall.
Based on the current quotation, he and his two apprentices could make two hundred and sixty-seven dollars by making it. In the past, he never made so much in a month by making farm tools.
After seeing off the three gods of wealth, he brought the small stool out to the door to look at the drawings. Before he could understand it, someone suddenly spoke to him next to him: "Uncle Merik, you also accepted this thing? How much is the price?"
Looking up, he saw his colleague two alleys away, the son of a blacksmith from another blacksmith shop.
He didn't rush to answer, but asked: "What about you?"
"720." The blacksmith's son didn't hide it and was very happy.
"Tsk!" What a loss. Merik lowered the corner of his mouth, "650."
I thought the blacksmith's son would become proud, but he didn't. He revealed a strange news: "They seemed to be looking for all the blacksmiths. I found out that the highest quotation was 1,100, and I also gave a deposit."
[In view of the general environment,
"Huh?" Merik was shocked and asked, "Which bastard would offer such a high price?"
"Who else could it be? The Lefer family."
Lefer is the oldest blacksmith family in the XC area. It is said that it has been passed down for several generations before moving to Pilates City. The level of blacksmithing is quite exquisite. The main business is to make weapons for some guys in the XC area. The price is naturally not high. Those who repair farm tools can compare.
"Then if I quote 650, won't I be losing a lot?"
The blacksmith's son shook his head: "I don't know, actually everyone received 200."
Since the other party had inquired about a lot of information, Merik also lowered his old face and asked one more question: "What is that in the picture?"
"It says on it, it's called a camel machine, and it can replace animals pulling carts."
"When did you learn how to read? And this is written in Phoenix language, right?" Everyone outside Qin Yu is accustomed to calling him Phoenix language, which is more intuitive.
"...I also heard what others said."
"Go away, go away." He was not in a good mood and quickly sent the boy away.
After thinking about it for a while, I still didn't understand the other party's intention. I couldn't go back on it even after I quoted the price. Let's do it first and see what it's like.
