"Feiji, go get these materials for me!"
After sending off Li Gang, Li Zexuan wrote and drew in the study for a while. Then, he took out a list of materials and ordered Pang Feiji.
Pang Feiji did not even look at it. He took it and cupped his fist. "Yes, Marquis!"
Then, he turned and left.
Li Zexuan hurriedly called out to him, instructing him with a stern face, "Keep this list safe for this Marquis. If it's lost or seen by others, you won't be able to pay for it even if you use your life! Do you understand? "
Pang Feiji straightened his back and said seriously, "Understood! Marquis! I'll definitely keep it safe! "
Walking out of the courtyard, he took out the list of materials that Li Zexuan gave him. He was dumbfounded. "This! This … What does Marquis want these things for? Is he keeping them for the New Year? "
Previously, when Li Zexuan asked Li Gang to write couplets, Pang Feiji guessed that Li Zexuan was preparing for the New Year even though he was not there. However, what did the things on the list have to do with the New Year?
"Forget it! I don't care anymore! I just need to find these things for Marquis and make sure that no one else sees this list! "
Pang Feiji could not figure it out no matter how hard he scratched his head. In the end, he could only put the list back carefully and walk down the mountain.
After instructing Pang Feiji, Li Zexuan returned to the study and continued writing.
In fact, he had already written a portion of the second semester's teaching materials a few months ago. After so many days of seclusion, he was almost done with the second volume of teaching materials. Now, his main job was to proofread.
The house was quiet. There were only him and two maids. Han Yuxi went to Chang 'an in the morning. The rest accompanied Ye Guozhong and Old Lady Ye to tour the academy.
That's right. This group of people had been walking around the academy for a few days and they were still not tired of it. Li Zexuan sometimes did not understand. Wasn't it just a bunch of reinforced concrete buildings? Was it that attractive?
This guy was just standing there and talking. He didn't even think about it. Ye Guochong and Old Madam Ye were born and raised in the Tang Dynasty. How could they not feel refreshed when they saw the tall cement building? It was like a modern person seeing an ancient house for the first time. It would be strange if they didn't find it novel.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Marquis! I've already found everything you need! "
After an unknown amount of time, Pang Feiji knocked on the door. Li Zexuan put down the document in his hand, raised his head and said, "Come in!"
With a creak, Pang Feiji came in with a gunny sack.
Seeing this, Li Zexuan frowned and said, "You put everything in a sack?"
Pang Feiji quickly put down the sack and opened it, saying, "No, no! Marquis, look, these are all wrapped in small packets of paper! "
Li Zexuan nodded in satisfaction. "Alright! Well done! Go guard the front yard. I'm going to the back yard to do something. Without my orders, no one is allowed to enter the back yard! "
Pang Feiji nodded and replied, "Yes! Marquis! "
Then, he couldn't help but ask, "Marquis, what are you going to do with these things? Uh … "
After saying that, Pang Feiji immediately regretted it. In a big family, it was taboo to know too much!
Li Zexuan wasn't angry. He raised his eyes and glanced at Pang Feiji. "You'll know when the time comes! Oh right, did you destroy the list just now? "
Seeing that Li Zexuan didn't blame him, Pang Feiji heaved a sigh of relief. He then replied, "The list is here. I haven't destroyed it yet!"
Li Zexuan picked up the gunny sack with one hand and walked out of the door. He said calmly, "Remember to burn the list later!"
Pang Feiji was stunned. He then said, "Yes!"
However, Li Zexuan was no longer beside him. The latter had already gone to the back yard to do something!
…
"Husband, I'm back!"
It was close to noon when Han Yuxi returned from Chang 'an City. Once she entered the house, she habitually shouted inside. However, there was no response from inside.
At this time, Xiao He appeared out of nowhere and said, "Young Mistress, Young Master is doing something in the back yard alone!"
"Oh! Then I'll go take a look! "
Han Yuxi put down the package in her hands, then clapped her hands and walked towards the back yard.
Pang Feiji, who was guarding the front yard, obviously heard it. However, he wasn't stupid enough to stop her. Although Li Zexuan had instructed him not to let outsiders into the back yard, Han Yuxi was obviously not an outsider!
"Wife, you're back?"
In the backyard, Li Zexuan was using glue to make thick paper cylinders. The diameter of the cylinders was about a little thicker than a thumb, and the cylinders were about 20 centimeters tall. There were materials scattered all over the ground beside him. Li Zexuan, who was fiddling in the yard, heard the sound of footsteps and spoke without turning his head.
Judging by the sound, this was the tacit understanding between an old couple!
Speaking of glue, many people subconsciously thought that there was no glue in ancient times. In fact, there was glue, but it wasn't the modern chemical glue!
The glue Li Zexuan was using now was fish gelatin. As the name implied, it was made from fish bladders. The fish bladders were steamed, boiled, pounded, and filtered before they were finally made into fish gelatin. When it was used, it was heated in water. After it was melted, it would be applied to the surface of the object. After it cooled and dried, it would be successfully adhered. In terms of viscosity, it was much stronger than most modern adhesives!
Other than fish gelatin, there was also pig gelatin. It was made from pig skin. After boiling, it became something like glue. When it was used, it was also heated in water. It was used in the same way as fish gelatin.
It could be said that the wisdom of the ancient people in terms of tools and materials wasn't as weak as most people thought!
"Mm! Husband, what are you doing? "
Han Yuxi saw the paper tubes lying on the ground and other materials scattered everywhere. She couldn't help but ask curiously.
Li Zexuan thought for a moment and said, "Well … I'm making something similar to firecrackers, but it's not only louder than firecrackers, but also better looking than firecrackers! Wife, you just came back. Go and rest. I'll be done in a while! "
That's right, Li Zexuan wanted to make fireworks. At this time, the "firecrackers" wrapped in gunpowder with paper had not appeared yet. There were only "firecrackers" or "exploding rods". To put it bluntly, this thing was a bamboo rod. Because the bamboo rod was sealed in sections, when it was heated, the gas inside would expand. If it was heated for a long time, the bamboo rod would explode, so it was called a firecracker.
Usually, during the New Year, naughty children liked to play with this thing the most. They could often see naughty children on the street throwing bamboo rods into the fire in groups of three to five. They mainly wanted to hear the sound!
Official firecrackers with gunpowder were only recorded in the Northern Song Dynasty. At that time, they were also called "firecrackers".
The fireworks that Li Zexuan was making now with the help of gunpowder were definitely not available in the Tang Dynasty …
…
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