Not long after, Zhang Yanling and Xu Youtang arranged their hair and clothes and headed to the mountains. After being nourished by love, Xu Youtang was radiant and held Zhang Yanling's hand all the way and refused to let go, showing a sweet smile to Zhang Yanling from time to time.
Zhang Yanling felt a little guilty. Everything happened so unstoppably and suddenly. The fire of passion burned quickly and intensely. Zhang Yanling thought she could control the situation, but in the end she lost control.
Xu Youtang didn't seem to blame himself at all. But he felt a little guilty in his heart. Originally, a woman's first time should be beautiful and gentle, warm and comfortable. But he just took her virginity in broad daylight,
And his behavior is a bit rough. Will this bring an extremely bad experience to Xu Youtang, or even nightmare memories? Zhang Yanling is a little worried.
At this moment, seeing Xu Youtang's sweet expression, affectionate eyes, charming and cute appearance, Zhang Yanling was slightly relieved. Xu Youtang should not leave any psychological shadow.
After returning home, he had to quickly explain the matter to Tan Ruqing and Axiu. He should go to the Xu family to propose marriage as soon as possible and marry Xu Youtang. He must not betray Xu Youtang's trust and affection for him. Perhaps this is what he should do immediately.
Make amends instead of blaming yourself or feeling guilty.
On the mountain ridge, everyone was already busy. Sun Wanhou and Li Dagen had already led people to clean up the remaining iron and iron slag in the smelting furnace. It was only at this moment that the two people seemed to understand the wonderful functions of the eight small furnace cavities.
What was cleaned out from those eight small furnace cavities was all honeycomb-shaped scrap iron. Those were not considered slag, but scrap iron slag full of bubbles. It seemed that it was precisely because of the existence of these small furnace cavities that
These scrap irons are slowly accumulated during the smelting process and separated from the molten steel in the furnace cavity. This makes the molten steel refined in the main furnace cavity in the middle more pure and refined.
If these honeycomb-shaped iron slag containing impurities are melted into molten steel, the final molten steel will definitely contain a lot of impurities. In this case, the required refined steel cannot be produced.
This is why the final amount of molten steel coming out of the furnace is almost half less. Because most of it has become honeycomb-shaped scrap iron and slag.
Zhang Yanling and Xu Youtang immediately began to identify the smelted steel ingots. Under the pergola, the steel ingots had basically cooled down, but they were still slightly hot to the touch, but this did not prevent them from starting to identify their texture.
A square steel ingot was placed in a wooden basin. After the water in the basin submerged the steel ingot, the white steam began to evaporate, but it soon disappeared. The steel ingot had cooled to normal temperature.
"Let's begin." Xu Youtang said softly.
Zhang Yanling personally took the steel ingot out and placed it on the anvil for blacksmithing. Zhao Yuancheng picked up a sledgehammer and hit it. The sound of the hammer hitting the steel ingot was as long and loud as a dragon's roar, crisp and mind-boggling.
"Good steel!" The old blacksmith standing nearby couldn't help shouting loudly. Although he was not an expert, his many years of blacksmithing experience told him that this pure and bright sound was an expression of the extremely pure texture of steel. This
It's something he's never seen before.
Zhao Yuancheng hammered it five or six times, and a thin black hard shell on the surface of the steel ingot fell off. At the same time, everyone saw the dim blue color emanating from the surface of the steel ingot.
"It seems to have really succeeded." Zhang Yanling came forward in surprise and took a closer look.
Xu Youtang breathed a sigh of relief and said softly: "It looks similar on the outside. It's similar to dad's steel ingot. But to know whether the texture is the same, we need to create a physical test."
Zhang Yanling said: "What I am saying is that practical testing is the only criterion. You will know whether it is successful or not after you build it."
Xu Youtang said: "Then let's take it back to the capital to build it?"
Before Zhang Yanling could speak, the old blacksmith stood up and patted his chest and came: "Why take it back to the capital? Don't you believe in the old man's craftsmanship? Didn't we agree that the blacksmith workshop will be built by me? We are all ready. Just waiting for the big job. Why do you still talk like this?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Are you all ready? I don't know."
The old blacksmith smacked his lips in dissatisfaction and said: "Come with me and let you open your eyes. I still need your instructions to do everything well. How can that be the attitude of doing things? Yanling, you come."
The old blacksmith got up and left, followed by Zhang Yanling and Xu Youtang. They walked out of the gate and walked down the slope to the fork halfway up the mountain. Turn north and go up to the flat area on the east hillside. There is also a walled area there. The courtyard is not small in size. When we arrived at the entrance of the courtyard, the sounds of clanging and clanging inside reached our ears.
Zhang Yanling and Xu Youtang followed the old blacksmith into the yard, and immediately saw three blacksmith furnaces lined up in the yard. The furnaces were burning brightly, and several blacksmith masters were leading more than a dozen strong young men to forge iron profusely. On the ground There are piles of hammers, chisels, shovels, iron drills, etc., as well as some farm tools, sickles and the like.
"Hey, the work here is in full swing. Have you hired so many blacksmith masters?" Zhang Yanling said in surprise.
"After the work started here, my blacksmith furnace was set up. Didn't you say last time that you wanted me to recruit blacksmiths and manpower to establish a blacksmith workshop? These are all blacksmiths from far and near, all experienced craftsmen. Those who are somewhat They are their apprentice sons, and some of them are apprentice helpers I invited. After the construction started here, we made all the iron tools ourselves. Can't we still buy axes, chisels, drills and other tools? No, we will be busy with farming in a few days. Everyone was bored during the harvest, so I asked them to make a batch of new farm tools for the villagers to harvest crops. Everyone is working hard." The old blacksmith laughed.
Zhang Yanling nodded slowly. The old blacksmith was still very responsible and organized in his work. He really didn't expect that the old blacksmith had already built a blacksmith workshop, and the personnel, furnaces and space were basically in place. In the future, he would improve and build more here. The factory buildings and facilities are good.
"If you have an old man in your family, it's like you have a treasure. Look, this is the proof. Please accept my son-in-law as a gift. I thought it would not happen so quickly." Zhang Yanling bowed and saluted.
The old blacksmith stopped and smiled and said: "Hey, do you still need to give detailed instructions for such a thing? We old guys can't help us, so we have to do what we can. I want to ask Butler Ma I came to this place on Dongpo as a blacksmith workshop, and I arranged everything else myself. Trinling, don’t ask us to move, I’ve taken a fancy to this place.”
Zhang Yanling said: "If we don't move it, it will stay here. Your family will take full responsibility for this blacksmith workshop."
The old blacksmith smiled and said: "Then can things get started? Look at my furnaces and manpower."
Zhang Yanling looked at Xu Youtang with a smile, and Xu Youtang said sweetly: "Uncle Zhao, Youtang must tell you that what the Marquis made is not an ordinary axe-cutting farm tool. Otherwise, there would be no need to go to such trouble. It is a delicate thing.
I'm worried about whether you guys are up to the task."
The old blacksmith frowned and said: "How sophisticated? What kind of things can't we make? After decades of blacksmithing, we haven't made anything? I remember that I also made iron lanterns and iron hairpin flowers. That year, the hunters from Xishan came to me
He also made iron crossbows. Hey, don’t underestimate us blacksmiths in the countryside. Those in the capital may not be as good as us. Apart from making some daily utensils, those blacksmiths actually have average skills."
Xu Youtang said in surprise: "Do you also know how to wear iron hairpins?"
The old blacksmith did not answer directly and shouted loudly to a blacksmith: "Wang Dajiao, make an iron hairpin flower for the Marquis. The Marquis wants to see your craftsmanship."
The blacksmith named Wang Dajiao agreed and started immediately. He put a small piece of flat iron into the furnace and heated it red. After clamping it out with the iron tongs, he used a small hammer to jingle like a storm. His movements were quick as sparks flew everywhere.
It was dazzling. After being forged twice in the furnace, an iron hairpin was quickly formed. Finally, after being quenched in cold water, Wang Dajiao completed the forging of the iron hairpin.
Xu Youtang held the iron hairpin flower that was still warm in his hand. It was a five-petal peach blossom-shaped hairpin. It was completely made by forging, which was a test of craftsmanship. The smaller the object, the more beautiful it became.
Real skill. Although the iron hairpin does not look so exquisite, it just looks like five flowers blooming on an iron branch, but even a layman like Zhang Yanling can see that Wang Dajiao's craftsmanship is extremely exquisite.
Apart from anything else, the five petals of that peach blossom were cut out with a hammer, and there is almost no difference in the size, shape, and angle of the five petals. This is already extremely rare. If
If you give him time to refine and carve it, he will definitely be able to make it even more beautiful.
Xu Youtang was an expert, so he nodded repeatedly.
"What do Tanger think of his craftsmanship?" Zhang Yanling asked.
"You can give it a try. Of course, you need my guidance. After all, what you are making is parts, which are irregular, asymmetrical, and even weird. It is different from making petals, birds, etc. I'm afraid
How many days have I been staying here?" Xu Youtang said.
Zhang Yanling nodded and said, "That's fine, I'll stay with you too."
Xu Youtang hurriedly waved his hand and said: "You are busy with your own business, I don't dare to waste your time. Besides, you can't do anything to help me if you stay."
Zhang Yanling was speechless.
Xu Youtang smiled sweetly, pulled Zhang Yanling aside and said softly: "I know your thoughts and want to stay with me. I'm very grateful. But I don't want to delay your own affairs because of me. You still have official duties, and
We have a big family at home. I don’t want to offend anyone.”
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said: "Who would dislike you?"
Xu Youtang said softly: "They don't know about our affairs. I'm afraid they will be unhappy. I'd better do things well and don't bother you as much as possible to make them unhappy. I feel a little sorry now.
Sister Xiuer, talk about Miss and the others. It seems like you have robbed their things."
Zhang Yanling has nothing to say, this girl is too innocent and lovable.
However, Zhang Yanling cannot leave tonight. Not only does he want to see if the fine steel can be used, but more importantly, on this day, it is absolutely inappropriate to leave Xu Youtang here alone.