But it was said that Jia She led his family to Lingnan and met with Wang Ziteng first, and then Huo Sheng also rushed over. The next day, General Beringen came to the Governor's Mansion of Guangdong and Guangxi to meet everyone in person, and couldn't help but happily talked about Hong Kong
It turned out that I made much more money than I originally thought.
After talking for a while, Jia Congnai said: "We, the Western gentlemen from Lixiangyuan, have all arrived in Lingnan first and have met us two days ago. When we were in Beijing, we worked together on something very interesting. Everyone, please
Come with me."
Then he led everyone to the guest house where he lived with his Lixiangyuan brothers. They saw a small piece of soil spread on the neat green bricks in the courtyard. I don't know where they got it from, and it was compacted.
There was a smaller sack on the side, with something bulging inside. There were two wooden barrels, one big and one small. The big one was empty, and the small one was filled with half a bucket of water. There were also two drum-like wooden molds.
When a young man saw them coming, he poured the contents from the sack into a big wooden barrel. It turned out to be some gray grains.
Jia Cong said: "Everything in Beijing is inconvenient. We only hired people to build a calcining furnace in Zhuangzi on the outskirts of Beijing, and also invited an old kiln worker from Jingdezhen to help build it. The old kiln worker also followed
Mr. Westerners came to Lingnan together."
Another boy picked up a bucket and slowly added half of the bucket of water into the big wooden bucket. The one in front held a small shovel and stirred it. After a long time, the ash and water were evenly mixed, like a thick gray mud.
.
A young man first placed two discs made of bamboo strips on the ground, and then took the two round wooden molds and fastened them on them. Jia Cong laughed and said: "The time is too short, just casually walking on the street.
I found a carpenter and made this mold. I talked to him for a long time and he didn't understand. Finally I told him to use the cheapest fir wood to make two drums without drumheads, and he understood. Later, I went to find a carpenter to make the mold.
Two drumheads.”
The one with the shovel scooped out the mortar paste from the big wooden bucket, filled the wooden mold with the shovel, and smoothed it carefully; another one came up and put the discs from the other two bamboo strips.
Covered up, there were holes in the middle of the two. Then the round mold was turned sideways, facing each other, which was quite interesting. The mortar paste was very thick, and the round holes were not big, so it never poured out due to standing sideways.
He took an iron rod with a small iron bolt on each end. He inserted the two ends into the holes of the wooden mold and carefully adjusted them for half a day. Finally, he clapped his hands and stepped aside.
.
Jia Cong pointed at that one and said: "This is called a cement dumbbell. It is good for people who have strength to practice arm lifting. It cannot be used right now. You have to wait until the cement dries."
Wang Ziteng looked at it for a long time without understanding it, so he asked: "So what if I do it?"
Jia Congxiao took out a drawing from his arms and pointed it out to him: "This is what it will look like when done. Both ends are cement blocks, and in the middle is an iron bar. You can hold the iron bar to practice your arm strength." He pointed to the ground again.
The one who placed it said, "The mold right now is too rough to look good. If we have time in the future, we can make some exquisite molds and coat them with wax. Then we can use cement to make many exquisite stone sculptures."
It’s much more convenient than hiring a mason to make it, and it can be used repeatedly. Like this.” As he said that, he took a small cement lion rolling ball made in Beijing from a brother next to him and handed it to Wang Ziteng.
Wang Ziteng took the thing and looked at it carefully for a long time. Jia She and others also leaned over to look at it. Wang Ziteng asked: "Isn't this a stone?"
Jia Cong shook his head: "It's not a stone. This is what the cement looks like after it dries."
Wang Ziteng and Beringen looked at each other in astonishment. Beringen pointed at the lion rolling ball and said: "This thing is for..." He also picked up the unused cement paste in the barrel, "Which one is made of it?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "If General Bai doesn't believe it, just wait until this is dry and see. There are still some left, why don't you use them to make whatever shapes you want now, and wait until they are dry to see. We have all kinds of colors here."
The circle weaved from bamboo strips is first held up with skewers and sticks to make the shape. It’s just that there is too much water right now, and after two days when it dries a little more, it can be carved more finely.”
His words aroused everyone's interest, and they all rolled up their sleeves. The brothers next to them handed over a few gloves, which they put on their hands. They took shovels to dig out the remaining cement and squatted on the ground to play with it.
They all refused to get up for most of the day, and each complained about the bad behavior of others. But at this moment, Xichun ran over from behind to ask Jia Cong about something. When he entered the yard, he took a look - her uncle, Wang Ziteng, Bai Lingen, and Huo Sheng were all squatting.
They were like naughty boys underground; her brother Cong stood aside with his hands behind his hands and watched the fun, with seven or eight brothers behind him. He couldn't help but blurt out: "Uncle and the princes, are you playing in the mud?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Jia She stood up first, took off his gloves and said, "That's all, let's wait and see when it's dry! Then I'll make this big bowl that can be used to hold wine!"
Jia Cong couldn't help but said: "Dad, there is no big ocean bowl with such bumps and convexities! The circle of bamboo strips is so round that you can twist it just by applying it on it. He is really a talent. And it is so shallow.
The plate is about the same. It’s a big thick plate.”
Wang Ziteng immediately pointed at him and laughed loudly: "Your son said this! Not me!"
Without waiting for Jia She to curse, Jia Cong quickly continued: "Uncle Wang, are you a caterpillar?"
Jia She, Beringen and others laughed together. Jia She laughed and shouted: "He said that was a horse!"
Wang Ziteng said angrily: "How does it look like a horse? It's just a lying horse! This thing is made of mud, and it can't be made into a horse at all! I only made a rough shape, and then sculpted it after two days of drying.
It looks like a horse when it comes to shape. Besides, these bamboo strips don’t obey orders at all! It’s a mess.”
Jia She smiled and pointed: "What's the matter with the horse? The horse's head doesn't look like a horse at all? It's just a puddle of mud! Go and let Lian'er bring Meng'er and ask him if this thing his grandfather made is a horse.
!My cute son came to Lingnan on a horse all the way, and he knows horses best!"
Jia Cong said hurriedly: "No, this thing is still wet right now. Don't let me move it around. It won't be good if it sticks to your hands."
Jia She said: "No problem, no problem! Whatever you can do sooner or later, show it to Meng'er after you do it!"
Wang Ziteng glared at him and said, "It looks more like your big ocean bowl anyway!" The two of them started arguing.
Both Beringen and Huo Sheng stepped aside and just laughed and said nothing.
Yao'er came from the side and said: "I think neither Prince Huo nor General Bai can stay in Guangzhou for too long. I have prepared a few small boxes to pack the cement things you made. You two will take them back and see for yourself when they are done.
It’s quite interesting to write.”
The prince hurriedly said: "Put mine up for me too!"
Jia She said: "I will also take it back to my own yard!"
Yao'er agreed and carefully packed the cement toys made by the four of them into small boxes and handed them to their servants. He warned: "It must be ventilated to make it dry quickly. If you are not on the road, do not close the lid of the box.
." The four of them responded hurriedly.
For a while, everyone cleaned their hands, dusted off the dust on their bodies, and returned to Wang Ziteng's study.
Bai Lingen asked: "Master Cong, can that cement really be dried into stone?"
Jia Cong nodded and said: "This was made by a craftsman named Joseph Asperdin from the Western Kingdom of England." Although he was not born yet. "I got it from a gentleman who is familiar with Western things.
In the past few years, I have worked out the recipe and calcining method with my brothers and Western teachers, and have tried many times. This is definitely not the best at the moment, because it is not very convenient in Beijing, so this is the only way we can do it.
.Now that we have escaped from the cage, the sea and the sky are brighter, and we can make improvements."
Beringen asked again: "Are the raw materials for this thing rare?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "It's not hard to find. Most of them are ordinary limestone, clay and other materials. There are also some other ores. Later, General Bai will send a useful person over, and my nephew will teach him everything he has!"
Beringen was shocked: "Really?"
Jia Cong said: "Many businesses rely on Hong Kong. With cement, it will be much easier to expand Hong Kong. It saves a lot of effort in grinding stones, and it is very neat and strong. It seems like giving your family something important for nothing.
It’s everyone who gets the benefit from the things. I’ve said before that only when everyone gets rich can they really get rich.” He looked at Huo Sheng again, “What do you want?”
Huo Sheng stood up and raised his hands: "Thank you!"
After hearing this, Bai Lingen was stunned for a moment, and then stood up and bowed deeply to him: "Master Cong is so broad-minded!"
Jia Cong waved his hand and said: "How dare you take it! I just see it more realistically."
Beringen sighed: "Even a sixty-year-old person may not be able to see it so realistically. Mr. Cong is of such an age... he is indeed a man with a good background."
A trace of disapproval flashed in Wang Ziteng's eyes, but Jia Cong had already spoken and he couldn't stop him.
Suddenly there were people coming and going outside, lunch was ready, everyone went to eat together, and after leaving the table, they went back to their rooms to rest. Jia Cong was returning to his own yard, and Beringen caught up with him on the way: "Master Cong!
etc!"
Jia Cong quickly turned around: "General Bai!"
Bai Lingen dragged him to the side, with a bit of embarrassment on his face. He forced a smile and said, "Third Master Cong, I would like to take the liberty of discussing something with you."
Jia Cong thought it was about the cement, so he smiled and said, "General, don't be so polite. You are an elder. Just speak up."
Bai Lingen was a little embarrassed and said: "Well... because your ship has often come to Hong Kong in the past two years... this..."
Jia Cong didn't understand, so he blinked: "Well... General, can you be more direct?"
Bai Lingen thought for a moment and simply said: "Our princess has taken a liking to young general Wu You."
"Huh?" Jia Cong jumped up, "Wow, no way! Are they getting along? It's so fun, hahaha..."
Bai Lingen waved his hands hurriedly: "No, no, no... General Wu doesn't know yet. I just want to trouble the third master to see if he can settle the marriage."
Jia Cong was stunned for a moment and pointed at his nose: "I decided to marry them?!"
Beringen nodded.
"I'm not Wu You's father!"
Beringen smiled and said: "You are his lord. Of course, the third master can decide his marriage."
Jia Cong waved his hands repeatedly: "No! He makes the decision on his own marriage. I am his brother and boss, so why should I be his decision? There is no such thing as a boss taking charge of the marriage of his subordinates. If the princess likes him, why should she pursue him?
Do you want to embroider a purse for him to make the soles of his shoes, and watch him smile? If you can catch him, you have no regrets. If you can't catch him, you will have no regrets."
Bai Lingen frowned: "Nonsense! How could the princess be like a village girl?"
Jia Cong rolled his eyes: "What's wrong with the princess? The sky is high here and the emperor is far away, so there are no restrictions. It would be boring for a young man not to pick up a handsome boy. Rules are the most annoying." Seeing Beringen, he still had a look on his face.
He disapproved and sighed, "Forget it, we have a generation gap. Anyway, Wu You makes the decision on his own marriage. Man said I won't decide it for him. Even if his father decides for him a woman he doesn't like, I will have it.
It's a waste of time. You can't have the final say on your own life. It's so frustrating to live."
After hearing this, Beringen looked at him carefully and sighed: "The third master is really different from ordinary people." He handed him over and left.
Huo and Bai left the next day. As soon as he left, Jia She and Wang Ziteng felt a little uncomfortable. They only stayed in the house and rarely came out. No one was allowed in the house. Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng
They were both a little worried and asked the doctor to come and take a look, but neither of them would allow it. After a few more words of persuasion, the two old men got angry at the same time, insisting that they were fine and just needed to rest for a while, so they put them both together.
Everyone drove out. Jia Lian was very worried and came to Jia Cong for discussion.
Jia Cong laughed loudly when he heard this: "Second brother, don't worry! They are fine, their bodies and bones are fine."
Jia Lian said: "My father-in-law just wants to pay it back. He has been in Lingnan for three years. I'm afraid he is acclimatized. People who are celebrating the New Year must be safe and sound."
Jia Cong said with a smile: "I told you to rest assured! How can our old and rough man be so easily acclimated? Sister Lin is not acclimatized. Second brother, I will teach you a clever way." Then he lay down in Jia Lian's ear.
Bian bit his ear for a long time.
Jia Lian asked curiously: "What is this?"
Jia Cong winked: "Anyway, brother just do as he is told. If the guardian can make the two of them happy, they will never hide in the house again. If you want to know the reason, please ask the fourth sister.
"
Jia Lian left with doubts.
After a few days, the cement was dry. Jia Cong led his father, brother, sister-in-law, Wang Ziteng and others to watch the cement dumbbells. Everyone was amazed.
After lunch, a boy from Jia She's room brought a red lacquered plate over. Jia Cong took a glance at it and couldn't help hiding his face and being speechless. Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng looked at each other for a moment, a little funny.
Jia Shenai hugged Jia Meng, pointed to the thing on the plate and asked, "Meng'er, tell grandpa, what is this?"
Jia Meng said loudly: "A big bowl of wine!"
Jia She's eyebrows were filled with joy: "Okay! My grandson is really discerning!" While he was talking, he looked at Wang Ziteng proudly.
Wang Ziteng snorted: "It's obviously not what it was like back then. It's nothing more than what you did these days." He glanced at Jia Cong, and when he saw Jia Cong quietly giving a thumbs up to Jia Meng, he snorted again.
I saw one of Wang Ziteng's servants also bringing something over, covering it with red silk and placing it on the case. Wang Ziteng went over and snatched Jia Meng away, held her in his arms, lifted the red silk with one hand, and said softly
Asked: "Meng'er is good, tell grandpa, what is this?"
Jia Meng turned to look at his parents, and Wang Xifeng blinked hard. Jia Meng said loudly: "Mama! The horse that Meng'er rode to Lingnan is sleeping!"
Wang Ziteng laughed loudly and raised him above his head: "My grandson is still very discerning!"
Xichun couldn't bear it anymore, so she covered her mouth and laughed. When she smiled, others couldn't help it either, and the whole room of juniors laughed together.