In order to make more advanced things, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan asked someone to draw some blueprints the next morning and ordered them to order pottery. When the servant left, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had to study how to increase the temperature.
One was to provide air. Neither of them knew how to build a blast furnace. According to the literal meaning, they asked someone to build a big furnace, especially a small building that was more than two stories high. The upper part of the building was easy to store some raw materials, while the lower part and the surrounding area were empty. It was specially for putting fuel.
There was no coal, so they could only use charcoal. At the same time, in order to increase the temperature, they also sprinkled some cooking oil inside. This was the only way they could think of. Using this method, the refining might fail or succeed, but the biggest possibility was that it would explode. Therefore, this furnace was built in the most remote corner of Zhuangzi.
"Xiao Bao, do you think it will succeed? What if it can't withstand the pressure and explodes? " No matter how Wang Juan looked at the blast furnace, she felt that it was unstable. Other people's blast furnaces were made with heat-resistant materials. Their counterfeit version was really not safe.
Zhang Xiaobao also did not think that it would succeed on the first try. This was not a scam. If it worked, it would work. If it didn't, it wouldn't. There was nothing to discuss, but he still had to do it.
"I don't know either. I think the possibility of failure is the highest. It's nothing much. Any progress will end with failure. What I mean is to invite those who are good at making ceramics and let them work harder. Also, there's the blacksmith. It's just temperature and some things to add."
"Well, ask them to pay attention to safety. There is hope as long as people are alive. If things are gone, it's just a matter of material conversion. For us, it's just a matter of money." Wang Juan also felt the same. Even if they knew that it would fail, they still had to do it.
The speed of making things was not slow. A few days later, some equipment was sent. Some were made of iron, and some were made of ceramics. For this, Zhang Xiaobao took out hundreds of bolts of silk, which was only a few dozen taels of silver. It was not much.
The experiment also began after the arrival of these things. Accompanied by the sound of explosions, the purchased equipment broke down one after another. For two days, other than knowing that no one was injured, there was no other good news.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan would take some time to come over every day to take a look. They were afraid that someone would be hurt. It was fine if the equipment exploded. It was just money, but people were very precious to them.
As the sound rang out again and again, everyone became numb. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were hoping that one of them would succeed, while the others were doing it mechanically. This was not in line with the nature of scientific research, but Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had no other choice. They were all here to work, and they couldn't possibly expect them to be scientists.
When another explosion sounded, the blast furnace also blew up. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan asked everyone not to go over first. After an hour, they came closer to watch.
"Little Master, all the things are broken, and only this one is left. It's still fine. Can this be used?" A man on Zhuangzi picked up something from the ruins and carried it to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan looked at it and found that it was suitable for an iron furnace. It was sealed well and did not explode. They called a blacksmith and asked, "Why is this still intact?"
The blacksmith was more experienced. After checking it, he replied, "The wall of this is a bit thick. It should be made by an apprentice. It was not done well at all. When the apprentice made the seal, his craftsmanship was also a bit poor. He used lead as the seal, instead of directly using the iron method to seal like some good blacksmiths."
"Oh, so that's how it is. He used lead as the seal and made the wall thick. Good, good. Now that the welding can't be done, we can only continue to build the blast furnace. But this thing is very useful. Find the apprentice and let's see."
At this time, Steward Zhang heard the Little Master's whisper and said to the blacksmith. He did not know why the Little Master wanted such a useless apprentice.
His words frightened the blacksmith. He begged, "Steward Zhang, he's just an apprentice. He's not bad at all. He's also very filial. Please be magnanimous and let him go."
The blacksmith thought that Steward Zhang was going to make trouble for the child. Even if the apprentice was not Zhangjia Zhuangzi, it was still very easy for such a big Zhuangzi to deal with an ordinary person.
For a moment, Steward Zhang did not know what to say. He looked at the Little Master standing next to him. Zhang Xiaobao felt that Steward Zhang was not coordinated with him and could not understand his intention. Weiwei shook her head and waved her hand.
When Steward Zhang saw the Little Master's two movements, he immediately thought about it. What did it mean? Normally, it meant to refuse. Of course, the Little Master and Little Madam refused. But in the past, the Little Master and Little Madam would not do this to others.
The two little ancestors never did things that were ruthless. They were good to the people in the yard. They were good to the point that they left oil lamps for the people who kept watch at night and provided at least four meals for the people who worked hard. They were also good to the villagers. The gifts given during the holidays were all paid for by the Little Master and Little Madam.
They were not bad to outsiders either. Those yamen runners actually cared about everyone. Yesterday, they even sent five coins worth of ginseng to a yamen runner's house. The yamen runner's father was sick and needed the ginseng. Five coins! That was bought with eight hundred copper coins. They let someone ride a fast horse from the manor and rush all the way to the yamen runner's house to deliver the ginseng.
The Little Master could do this, so why couldn't he tolerate an apprentice? This was absolutely impossible. Then why did he shake his head and make a gesture?
"Steward Zhang, please do me a favor. That apprentice is the son of an old friend of mine. If you really want to find fault, just find me. I'll take the blame for him." When the blacksmith saw that Steward Zhang was standing there silently, he was really anxious and almost knelt down to beg.
Steward Zhang hummed and dealt with the blacksmith while looking at the Little Master. Zhang Xiaobao was angry. You, a steward, can't understand the master's intentions? What are you doing? Usually, they would come to his yard at least once a day. If it were Xiao Hong, Cherries, or Pomegranate, they would have known.
Helpless, he could only pick up the charcoal from the ground and write the words "Zhao Lai" on his clothes. As soon as he finished writing, he blurred it with his hand.
This did not affect Steward Zhang's judgment. When he saw the two words, he understood. He said to the blacksmith, "Blacksmith Ai, don't be anxious. They are not looking for trouble with your apprentice. Look, other people's things are broken, but your apprentice's is fine. They want to find your apprentice and ask him properly. Not only will they not harm him, they will also give him benefits."
"Really? Don't tell me they are tricking him here and will deal with him later? "The blacksmith was obviously still worried.
Steward Zhang's face darkened and he glared, "Blacksmith Ai, what are you thinking? Do you think that I, Zhangjia Zhuangzi, will go back on my words? "
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Zhangjia Zhuangzi has never done such a thing. Very well, when we go back later, I will ask my apprentice to come here." When the blacksmith saw Steward Zhang's expression, he no longer doubted him. There were so many people around, how could Zhangjia Zhuangzi trick someone to come here?
In the afternoon, the apprentice came. When he came, he was still worried. He didn't know what he was going to face. Housekeeper Zhang personally brought him in. First, he asked someone to serve him tea. Then, he said many words of praise.
"Steward Zhang, did you ask me to come here for something?" The apprentice finally couldn't help but ask the question in his heart.
"En, actually it's not a big deal. The thing you made is not bad, and the master has taken a fancy to it. He wants you to make another one according to this drawing. The seal will still be the same as you thought, with lead. At the same time, you have to make it thicker. Come and take a look."
Steward Zhang took a piece of paper from the side and drew something on it. He gave it to the apprentice for him to see.
The apprentice could understand this, but after seeing it, he didn't know what it was for. He looked up at Steward Zhang in confusion.
"What's wrong? You can't make it? "Steward Zhang asked.
"Yes, this thing is very simple. I can make it in two days. But I don't know what this thing is for?" The apprentice quickly agreed. After seeing the drawing, he found that it was very simple, especially when he didn't consider how to make the walls thinner.
"En, that's good. This is your wage." Manager Zhang took out two big strings of copper coins from the side and put them on the table, making a clattering sound.
The apprentice was scared and quickly stood up. He didn't dare to look at the money. It turned out to be two strings of copper coins. If it was a normal exchange, it could be exchanged for two taels of silver. In terms of spending, it could be two and a half taels of silver. How could it be so much money to make such a thing?
"What's wrong? You think it's too little? I'll give you this small amount of silver. "Steward Zhang threw a silver bean that was about five copper coins on the table.
The silver bean fell on the table and kept spinning, making a slight sound. The apprentice couldn't help but look at the silver bean. He clearly knew that this amount of silver wasn't as much as the two strings of copper coins, but he still liked the feeling of holding the silver in his hand.
"Enough, enough. It's not enough, it's too much. Take some of this back. I don't need so much. That amount of silver is already a lot." The apprentice waited for the silver bean to stop spinning and said with a little panic.
Steward Zhang nodded with satisfaction. "It's enough. Take all of it. Remember to make that thing well. And no matter who asks, you can't tell others how to make it. Except for Zhangjia Zhuangzi, you can't make the same thing for anyone else in your life. You can't do it yourself. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes. Steward Zhang, don't worry. I'll forget about it once it's done." The apprentice immediately understood that the money also included a seal.
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