There was a huge demand for iron to lay railway tracks. Fortunately, the imperial court attached great importance to it. They used the black technology of gunpowder to mine iron on a large scale in Guanzhong and then spread it to all parts of the country. Thus, the imperial court was able to obtain a large amount of pig iron.
As the quantity increased, the price of pig iron fell. This was very beneficial to the popularization of iron farming tools. Ordinary people were very happy. However, the merchants who had stored a large amount of pig iron earlier suffered heavy losses. Their huge wealth evaporated instantly. One could imagine how they felt. Because of this, there were many tragedies of people jumping into the river.
Of course, the fall in the price of pig iron had more advantages than disadvantages. After all, the merchants who jumped into the river were very few. Moreover, they were too greedy.
The fall in the price of pig iron was also a loss for the mine owners. However, after the use of gunpowder, the production of pig iron increased many times. This made up for the loss caused by the fall in the price and even made more money.
In addition, the imperial court was also organizing forces to mine iron. Even if these private mine owners worked together to reduce the production, they could not stop the fall in the price of iron. Instead, they would completely lose the market. In order to make more money, they could only continue to mine and use the production to make up for the loss caused by the fall in the price. At the same time, the price of pig iron would fall further. Unless the price fell to the point where it was no longer profitable, these mine owners would not stop.
With the huge production of pig iron and the low price, the laying of railway tracks went very smoothly. There was no shortage of raw materials in the major manufacturing areas.
In order to build more and further railways in the future, the imperial court took advantage of the low price in several major cities to store a large amount of pig iron raw materials. Among them, a huge warehouse was specially built in the Changle Square in the north of Chang 'an to store a large amount of pig iron raw materials.
The laying of the tracks was in full swing, and everything was going smoothly. The weather continued to warm up, and summer was coming soon.
Ang Lee's courtyard, after nearly half a year of meticulous carving, was completely completed. All the facilities were very complete. Living in it was even more comfortable than living in the imperial palace.
In order to avoid the hot summer, Ang Lee temporarily moved his mansion outside the city. Only seven or eight servants stayed in the mansion in the city to look after the house.
The courtyard mansion was 50 mu in size. For this reason, the interior space was very large. There were a total of more than 20 courtyards of various sizes built. The functional facilities were so complete that the craftsmen who participated in the construction were amazed.
The main house was in the center. It was a small three-story building. The facilities were much better than those in the main house in the city. It was designed to be warm in winter and cool in summer. Heat insulation, ventilation, and other conditions were fully considered, and even built with earth energy facilities.
The so-called earth-energy equipment was a very long hollow metal tube buried underground. Two ports were left in the room. One was used to pump air, and the other was used to vent air.
After the warm summer wind was blown into the metal pipe and circulated underground, it would be cooled to a low enough temperature. Then, it would be blown out from the outlet, filling the room with cold air. With the continuous blowing and blowing, a large amount of hot air in the room would be cooled to a low enough cold air, making it very comfortable for people to stay inside.
Moreover, the earth energy equipment could not only be used for cooling, but also for heating in winter. One equipment had two functions.
There was a balcony on each floor of the three-story building. On the balcony on the second floor, there was a sunroom made of tempered medicinal jade. When the weather was cold, one could lie in it and bask in the sun. In addition, there was no need to worry about dust or sudden rainstorms if it was used to dry quilts.
There were study rooms on the first and second floors. Each master bedroom had a separate room. There was a dining room on the first floor. Even the bathroom was built inside the main house. Moreover, it was more advanced and convenient. The hot water boiled outside the main house could be directly flowed into the bathroom through the pipe. It was convenient and fast.
On the side of the first floor of the main house, near the bathroom, there was an indoor swimming pool. It was one zhang wide and three zhang long. It could be considered a large indoor swimming pool. There was also an outdoor swimming pool. Of course, the area was much larger. It was three zhang wide and ten zhang long. The depth was very uniform. They were all five feet deep. An adult would not be submerged if he stood in it.
There were only two small rooms on the third floor. In addition, there was a large balcony on which astronomical equipment could be placed. At night, one could stand on it and watch the stars. During the day, one could also see the scenery far away.
The courtyard of the main house was the one with the largest investment. In the neighboring courtyard, there was a special back garden. All kinds of precious flowers and trees were planted there. There was also an orchard for planting fruit trees. In this season, the fruits were already very big. Of course, they would not be ripe until autumn. It was still too early to taste them.
As soon as they moved into the courtyard, Yan Ruyu's eyes suddenly brightened. She fell in love with this place at first glance. It was really beautiful here. Moreover, the places to play were much larger than the mansions outside the city. Moreover, the rooms in the main house were very cool and comfortable.
"Ruyu, do you like it here?"
Ang Lee asked proudly.
"Yes, I like it very much. It's so beautiful here. We will live here in the future."
Yan Ruyu answered excitedly.
"Madam, you don't want to go back to the city?"
"En ~ ~ I can go back occasionally. After all, I have lived in the house in the city for so long. I have feelings for it."
Yan Ruyu replied.
"Madam, you are quite nostalgic. It's so hot today! Let's go swimming! "
Ang Lee suggested.
"Swimming? Husband, I don't know how to do it! "
Yan Ruyu shook her head.
"It's okay. I can teach you. My wife is so smart. You can definitely learn it."
Ang Lee said with a naughty smile.
"Husband, my clothes will get wet."
Yan Ruyu was a little reluctant.
"Wet clothes? Who asked you to go down with your clothes on? Of course, you have to take off your clothes. "
Ang Lee said seriously.
"Ah … I have to take off my clothes. How can I do that? It's so embarrassing."
Yan Ruyu looked at Ang Lee angrily. Her little face was full of shyness.
"Why are you so shy in front of your husband? There are no outsiders here."
Ang Lee said jokingly.
"That won't do! It's broad daylight. It's so embarrassing! "
Yan Ruyu still couldn't accept it.
"Come on! Madam, I have prepared a swimsuit for swimming. Madam will look beautiful in it. "
Ang Lee pulled Yan Ruyu to a small room next to the indoor swimming pool.
"Ah … Husband, are these clothes?"
Yan Ruyu frowned as she held the bikini swimsuit from the future.
This was designed by Ang Lee himself. He chose the materials and asked the best tailor in the capital to make it.
"Madam, this is a swimsuit. You will look beautiful in it. It can show off your perfect figure. Come, put it on."
Li An urged as he took off his clothes and put on a pair of swimming trunks.
"Husband, how can I wear this!"
Yan Ruyu hid behind the curtain. She took off her clothes, but she didn't know how to wear the swimsuit.
"Madam, let your husband help you wear it!"
Ang Lee walked over and helped Yan Ruyu put on the swimsuit. He also touched it a few times.
"Hmph, this swimsuit must be invented by my husband! Ordinary people wouldn't invent such things. "
Yan Ruyu looked at Ang Lee with disdain.
"Of course. This swimsuit is tailor-made for my wife. Come, stand up and let your husband admire it."
Ang Lee took a few steps back. He wanted to see how Yan Ruyu looked in the swimsuit.
"Wow, so beautiful. What a beautiful figure."
Li An's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Yan Ruyu's figure was indescribable. It was a hundred times better than those bikini beauties he had seen in the future. Moreover, her skin was fairer and more alluring.
"Madam, pose."
Ang Lee asked with a smile.
Yan Ruyu smiled and made a few poses casually. Each one was more beautiful and charming than the other. Ang Lee's eyes not only popped out, but also everything else.
"Husband, it's so shameful to dress like this!"
Yan Ruyu crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked pitiful.
"Hey, there's nothing to be ashamed of in front of your husband. Come, let's go swimming."
Ang Lee smiled and pulled Yan Ruyu into the swimming pool. Because it was an indoor swimming pool, there was no need to worry about being peeped by outsiders.
"How is it, Madam? Comfortable!"
After playing in the swimming pool for a while, Ang Lee felt very comfortable.
"Well, it's really fun, hee hee."
As Yan Ruyu spoke, she poured a handful of water on Li An's head and dodged with a grin.
"Haha, you dare to attack me. See how your husband will teach you a lesson."
Ang Lee set off a huge water column and poured it on Yan Ruyu who was running away. Yan Ruyu was shocked and shouted for help.
"Haha! No one will come to save you even if you shout until your throat is broken, hahaha! "
Ang Lee suddenly hugged Yan Ruyu from behind and pressed Yan Ruyu on the railing.
"Husband, you can't."
"Why not? There are no outsiders here."
Ang Lee knew from her expression that Yan Ruyu wanted to refuse. Of course, the movements of his hands were more bold.
Then, there was an intoxicating sound in the swimming pool.
In the following few days, Li An would play with Yan Ruyu in the swimming pool every noon when the weather was hot. There were even a few times when he boldly ran to the outdoor swimming pool to play. In any case, the residence was surrounded by courtyard walls, so no one would peek. In the main residence, there were usually only three maids, Cao 'er, Xiaoyin, and Xiaomeng. It didn't matter if they found out. At worst, he could just let them come down and play together.
"Alang, Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon and the others are here."
Grass walked to the outdoor swimming pool and reported in a low voice.
Ang Lee had just finished and his breath was a little weak. He hugged Yan Ruyu's shoulder and whispered, "Madam and Grass can play here! Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon and the others are bothering me again. "
"Husband, go quickly! Don't let Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon wait. "
Yan Ruyu was quite reasonable. At least, that was what Ang Lee thought.
After taking off his swimsuit, Ang Lee put on his summer clothes and left the main house. He walked to the main hall more than a hundred steps away. Li Yu and Li Qiu were waiting for him there.
Li Yu and Li Qiu came less and less recently. They came once every seven or eight days. First, the weather was too hot and they didn't want to travel so far. Second, they had homework to do and didn't have much free time. Of course, another reason was that the novelty was getting less and less. No matter how inventive Ang Lee was, he only knew a few things. It was impossible for him to invent something good every day. Sometimes, it was really boring to come here.
In addition, as the weather became hotter, as long as the sun rose, the rails would become incomparably hot. This caused the two of them to no longer dare to sit on the rails, and could only run to the main hall of Li An's residence.
"Why are there only cucumbers? Aren't you drinking?"
Walking into the main hall, Ang Lee saw Li Yu and Li Qiu each holding a cucumber. They didn't intend to drink.
"Assistant Minister Li, the weather is too hot. Drinking wine will make it even hotter. You can't drink."
Li Yu said truthfully.
"Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon is right! The weather is indeed too hot. It's so hot that people have no appetite. However, if there are ice cubes to eat, wouldn't it be better? "
Ang Lee said with a smile.
"Ice cubes, Assistant Minister Li's mansion doesn't have ice cubes, right? Your housekeeper said that he forgot to store them last winter. "
Li Yu said. When he first arrived, he asked Zhao Liu for ice cubes to relieve the heat. However, Zhao Liu said that there was no ice cubes stored in the mansion. This made the two of them very helpless and had to bear with it.
"Yes! My mansion was just built last year and didn't store ice cubes. However, it doesn't matter. I can make ice cubes on the spot! "
Ang Lee replied with a smile.
"On the spot? Ice cubes are something used in winter. Can you make ice cubes on such a hot day?"
Li Yu and Li Qiu both widened their eyes. Their expressions seemed to say, 'Don't lie to me.'
"Of course I can make ice cubes. Wait here. I'll make ice cubes for you in a while."
Ang Lee turned and left. He asked the male servants to prepare separately. In a short while, a large pot, a small pot, a large bucket of saltpeter, and a large bucket of clear water were prepared.
"Assistant Minister Li, you can make ice cubes with these things?"
Li Yu and Li Qiu looked at the four things in surprise.
"Of course. These things add up to a divine tool for making ice. Come, let me demonstrate it personally. Just watch."
As Ang Lee spoke, he first placed the large pot on the table and added a large amount of water into it. Then, he placed the small pot in it and added clear water into the small pot.
"Watch carefully. The time to witness a miracle is coming soon. Open your eyes wide."
Ang Lee poured the saltpeter in the bucket into the water in the large pot bit by bit. In an instant, a large number of bubbles appeared in the water and gave off a unique sizzling sound.
"Ice cubes. There really is ice cubes. The water in the large pot has frozen. It's really amazing."
Li Yu cried out in surprise.
"Look, the water in the small pot is starting to freeze. It's really freezing."
Li Qiu looked at the small pot and cried out in surprise as well.
As time went by, the ice cubes in the two pots became bigger and thicker. Soon, they reached the standard for eating.
"Feel it and see if this is the ice cubes you need."
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