Village Chief Luo's eyes lit up, and he walked over and pushed the crowd away.
"Everyone, get out of the way. Whose family are you from? Step forward and stop."
Li Xuemei also looked over following the voice.
Then you can see the crowd rushing to both sides like water.
An old man with a stooped body appeared in front of everyone.
They were exiles sent by the great master to help them work.
The old man didn't feel uncomfortable at all being watched by so many people.
When he lowered his head, he looked inconspicuous.
The moment she raised her head, Li Xuemei suddenly saw a hint of sharpness in those turbid eyes.
"You know how?" Village Chief Luo asked.
Old man: "Bring it to me and see."
An old woman next to him reached out eagerly and pulled his sleeve.
The old man patted her twice with his dry hands to reassure her.
The woman then retracted her hands, hugged several children and stood aside, blocking them behind her with her thin body.
Village Chief Luo put the mold in his hand.
He weighed it first, then looked closer at the materials, and finally took a look at the neatly arranged holes.
Say two words: "I can do it."
…
Li Xuemei invited people to her home.
The village elders also came over to hear whether he could really do it or was just fooling around.
Yan Xiangheng came forward to entertain everyone.
Just by looking at the old man's behavior, Li Xuemei knew that this man must have been a person of high status in the past.
But this is not surprising. Ordinary people will never be exposed to the word "exile" in their lives. Anyone picked up from Huju's quarry has a history.
"Old man, what do you want to change?" Li Xuemei asked.
The old man was looking at Yan Xiangheng before. When he heard her speak, he was a little surprised. He turned his eyes to her, looked at her for a while, and said: "Take long nails and short arrows, cut this mold into two parts, and then use skillful work to make the inner part."
When the carving is done to achieve what the owner wants, molten iron is poured into it and the shape is formed."
What he was shouting outside just now was in authentic Guanzhou dialect.
But now that I talk a lot, I still have some southern accent.
Li Xuemei made a judgment in her heart, she was a southerner.
"After the mold is separated, if suitable materials are available, the upper part can also be sealed and reused. It can be used to make nails or arrows," the old man added.
Still talking to Li Xuemei.
"We will try our best to find any tools we need. We just hope they can be found quickly." Li Xuemei was very decisive.
The old man thought to himself that he was indeed right, this woman could make a fortune.
"Most of the things you need can't be found here. There is a carpenter in your village. I'll find someone who can use it myself." He paused and then said: "What kind of arrows do you want to make? Do they have the appearance and the real thing?"
It’s best. If you don’t have it, you can probably draw it for me.”
He wasn't worried that people in this village couldn't draw.
The arrow tower and the wall surrounding the village were all illustrated, and he had seen them from afar.
The bamboo crossbows made by the villagers are all based on her iron crossbows.
The lengths of arrows are also about the same.
It would be best to use an iron arrow as a demonstration, but she couldn't take it out.
"Heng'er, you take the old man to Qi's house to see what works, and then let your fifth uncle Qi work harder and help." Li Xuemei said.
The old man raised his eyebrows, this woman was quite careful.
Yan Xiangheng took him out.
Old Songtou couldn't help but asked: "Second daughter-in-law Yan, do you think he has any clues?"
"Uncle Song, I think he seems to be quite capable. He doesn't seem like a big talker." Li Xuemei said.
Village Chief Luo was puzzled: "He wanted to negotiate terms with us just now, why doesn't he say a word about it now?"
Uncle Hu said: "It's not a good thing not to mention it. Let him do it first, and we can do without him. They all committed crimes and were exiled here. I think he didn't dare to mention anything excessive. Most likely
Just some food, or a house. I just noticed that he and an old woman are from the same family, and they have several children, some big and small, and there are quite a few."
Li Xuemei thought that being exiled to Guanzhou could save so many people.
The old is old, the young is small.
It's not simple.
On the contrary, I have more expectations that he can make arrowhead molds.
…
It was hard to cut the mold open.
The old man is very tired.
He doesn't need to exert any force, but he has to hold the mold throughout the process and constantly calibrate its position.
It was possible to split it into two parts so quickly, thanks to the strength of the Qi brothers.
He couldn't help but look at it a few more times.
Mrs. Qi couldn't see it, but she could hear the sound of the saw grinding stopping.
Ask the eldest granddaughter to put the noodles in the pot, and ask the second granddaughter to call someone to stop and have a rest.
She doesn't worry about her sons, they won't be tired from such small work.
But when she heard that the old man who said he could change molds was old, she couldn't help but worry a little, don't let the old man tire himself out and delay things.
Apart from anything else, she knew from just a few steps of the old man that he was weak and weak.
The old man looked at the hot noodles brought to him and swallowed.
Looking outside the hospital, I saw my old wife and several children milling around outside.
Everyone in Xiaoan Village is busy, working all night long.
I am kind to them, the old, weak, sick and disabled, and let them rest.
However, they were like frightened birds, they didn't dare to stop, they just stayed together and did whatever they could.
His old wife was among them, constantly looking over here as she moved.
Mrs. Qi is a few older than Qi, but she has a smart head and a smart head.
As soon as she told Madam Qi, Madam Qi asked her to call the person in.
"Sister, where are you from?" Mrs. Qi asked, holding the old woman's hand.
"We are from Yuzhou," the old woman said softly, and you knew we were from the south.
"It's the south, so you're not used to living in Guanzhou, right?"
…
Madam Qi figured out a few things without saying a few words.
The old man's surname was Kang. He used to be a good old man at home, but he didn't want his son to commit a crime and his whole family to be implicated and be exiled to Guanzhou.
I've lived here for two years and it's been a tough time.
The old couple has two sons, both of whom work in the quarry.
The daughter-in-law has returned to her parents' home and did not come with her.
Five grandchildren, two daughters and three sons.
The oldest is fifteen and the youngest is only three years old.
Madam Qi was listening and looked at the children in surprise.
Which one is fifteen? They are all as thin as kittens.
But looking at the heights of the old couple...it makes sense.
The old man struggled to eat his bowl of noodles for a long time, and finally found the opportunity to feed it to his grandchildren.
The Qi family pretended not to know.
…
Yan Laoer and Yan Yu arrived at Guiyuan Town and did not dare to stay for a moment.
Go directly to the place selling bamboo that I saw last time.
They only sell bamboo by the way, and they mainly sell home-made bamboo products.
Hearing them talk about wrapping bamboo into round shapes, not only was he not happy, but he also felt a strong sense of crisis. Yan Laoer had to explain clearly why he bought so much bamboo. If he didn't explain clearly, he wouldn't sell it.
Yan Laoer:......
"My family makes paper!" Yan Yu came to the rescue.
Yan Laoer reacted quickly and quickly covered her mouth and smiled coquettishly at her.
The child's unintentional words are more convincing.
The man was relieved, this was not a colleague trying to steal business.