Building a pottery kiln is not something that can be accomplished by just one or two people. Gu Qing must mobilize the whole village, young and old, to help.

So Gu Qing immediately visited Feng Aweng and politely explained the purpose of his visit. Gu Qing's polite attitude made Feng Aweng very satisfied. He found the authoritative old man's feeling that he had not seen for a long time.

"Help! We must help, including everyone in the village who has the strength, we can do it within three days." Feng Aweng's words were firm, as if he was issuing a military order to the general in the military camp and raising his head to see him after a disagreement.

Gu Qing said hurriedly: "If you are not in a hurry, just ask the villagers to do their best, and your help cannot be in vain. It's just that I don't have enough money. When the pottery kiln is completed and there is income, I am willing to pay some remuneration."

Feng Aweng said flatly: "There is no need to mention any remuneration among fellow villagers. It is just a matter of carrying stones for a few days and ramming walls for a few days. It is not a heavy job."

Gu Qing smiled, but decided to pay the reward.

There are about a hundred people in the village. After excluding women, children and the elderly, there are only about a dozen people who are really strong enough to work. According to the standards of these days, it is normal for each person to be paid one penny per day. If the pottery kiln can be built in three days,

It cost a few tens of pennies in total, which is not expensive.

Although we are from the same hometown, we are not familiar with each other after all. Gu Qing does not like to owe favors, especially favors from strangers.

Feng Aweng stroked his long white beard and looked at Gu Qing's face, and said slowly: "Gu son, why do you suddenly think of making pottery? This is more risky than farming."

Gu Qing smiled and said: "There is too little land in the village. I don't want to live half-starved and half-fed all my life. I want to find a way to survive for myself."

"Are you sure? The pottery will be sold naturally after being fired. Do you know any businessmen outside who can take over?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure I can sell it."

Feng Aweng hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but said: "If this can be done, can you help the neighbors and let them live a good life with no worries about food and clothing for a few days?"

Gu Qing thought for a while and said with a smile: "If you have some spare energy, I will certainly do it, but I won't give it away for nothing. You will be paid according to your work. No matter how much you do, you will get the same reward."

Feng Aweng nodded repeatedly: "This is natural and a matter of course."

…………

The new generation of village bullies in Shiqiao Village and the respected old man Su jointly mobilized, and the whole village, young and old, quickly became mobilized.

The pottery kiln was built halfway up the mountain, requiring a lot of people to carry large rocks and wood. The amount of work was not large, but it was very tiring. There were not many laborers available in the village, so everyone worked together to carry the rocks and shouted slogans from the foot of the mountain to the kiln.

Move up.

Fortunately, these days stones and wood do not cost much and can be obtained anywhere. In less than a day, the prototype of the kiln entrance on the mountainside can be seen, and Gu Qing's mood becomes even more joyful.

From ancient times to the present, working people have been diligent and efficient in their work. Gu Qing has been observing that everyone worked very hard on this day, and no one was lazy. With the chanting, their whole bodies seemed to have been injected with some kind of stimulant.

, moving stones one by one to the mountainside to the rhythm of chants.

The nation that built the Great Wall truly deserves its reputation.

Three days later, as Feng Aweng said, the pottery kiln was basically built. The first thing Gu Qing did was to pay money to the villagers who participated in building the kiln.

We don't have much money, three cents per person. According to the prices these days, we can buy about one liter of millet. If a family of three saves a little and eats it mixed with wild vegetables, it will be enough for half a month. For the villagers, this is not cheap.

of reward.

After the money was distributed, the villagers' eyes changed when they looked at Gu Qing.

Before this, the villagers were quite afraid of Gu Qing. After all, he was a powerful being who kept the village bully in submission. Gu Qing seemed quite friendly on the surface, and he had never been seen bullying his neighbors, but the villagers

Everyone knows that in the past few days, in the dead of night, the old Ding family house will make screams like a slaughtering pig. No one knows what happened in that house.

Today, Gu Qing distributed money to the villagers with a smile on his face. Gu Qing's image suddenly changed.

A little cruel, a little cruel, so what? He is kind to his neighbors, and his cruelty is only used on bad people, that's enough.

Shiqiao Village is fortunate to finally have a young man who can provide equality and justice to the villagers.

The villagers who had received the money gathered around Gu Qing and refused to leave.

Gu Qing looked at them inexplicably, with a bit of a villain in his heart. Could it be that the money was too little? He asked Song Gensheng, what is the going price?

A villager who had received the money timidly stepped forward and asked tentatively: "I heard from Gensheng that if I want to show respect and surrender to you, all I need to do is shout 'Dad' to you?"

"Ah?" Gu Qing paled, and his expression suddenly became awkward: "Well, uh, no... that's not necessary."

However, the villager bowed to Gu Qing very seriously. He was so angry that he exerted all his strength in his Dantian. He was holding back until the veins on his neck jumped. He shouted hoarsely at the top of his lungs: "Dad——(broken sound)"

Gu Qing's eyelids twitched, and the villagers behind him all followed suit and bowed: "Dad——!"

The sound shook the sky and frightened a group of crows perched on the branches.

Gu Qing was so frightened that he took a few steps back, suddenly feeling that the responsibility on his shoulders was as heavy as a mountain.

"No, no gifts... let's get over it." Gu Qing said uncomfortably.

Then he turned around and walked away, looking around, wanting to kill someone, wanting to kill a big-mouthed scholar to sacrifice to heaven.

…………

The mold made of clay has been formed in Uncle Han's hands. As expected of the professionals invited from all the way, a piece of humble clay turned into a small and exquisite pottery bowl after just a few pinches in Uncle Han's hands.

There were many types of pottery brought back by the villagers. Uncle Han marked each type of pottery to match the markings of the formed pottery. After sending it to the pottery kiln, Uncle Han rubbed his hands and said, "Master, it's almost done. Now

It’s time to light the fire. Do you want to use dry firewood or charcoal?”

Gu Qing smiled: "You don't need dry firewood or charcoal. Uncle Han, you seem to be a responsible person. I can hide something from others, but I can't hide it from you. Let's use something new to burn the kiln..."

Uncle Han said strangely: "What's new?"

Gu Qing didn't answer and asked Uncle Han to dig a hole together.

Strange, why am I so connected to digging holes?

Uncle Han didn't know what was going on, but his boss ordered him to dig together. The two of them were sweating profusely and dug until they were three feet square, and the familiar black coal was exposed at the bottom of the pit.

Uncle Han naturally knew Coal, so he looked stunned for a moment and said: "Graphite?"

"It's coal... forget it, it's not important." Gu Qing pointed to the coal at the bottom of the pit and said, "Shall we try this?"

Uncle Han was much more knowledgeable than Song Gensheng, and murmured: "The blacksmith shop under the government uses graphite to make weapons and farm tools. I heard that the iron made from graphite is pure and durable, and is better than the iron made from dry firewood and charcoal."

The iron is a lot stronger. The old man always thought it was due to the blacksmith’s craftsmanship. Could it be related to the graphite?”

Gu Qing explained: "Coal...that is, graphite, its burning temperature is completely different from dry firewood and charcoal. If the temperature is high enough, the iron produced will naturally be purer. By the same token, if it is used to burn kilns

…”
Chapter completed!