Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-One Visiting the Liwa Craftsman
After going to Zhao Xiucai's house, Zhuang Keqing felt relieved.
In the following days, she planned not to have Aling follow her around, but to spend more time studying for the exams in the coming year.
After a few days, things at home were almost busy. She chose a good day and was ready to go to the mason's house in the next village with the village chief's grandfather.
Li You was worried that his father was getting old, so he wanted to push a cart to take people there, but the old man waved his hand and refused.
"I'm not too old to walk. With this distance, I can go back and forth three times in one morning. Are you really worried?"
Before leaving the house, the old man muttered to Zhuang Keqing that his son's mother-in-law was worse at work than the little daughter-in-law in the village.
Zhuang Keqing smiled and nodded under Li You's apologetic eyes, and changed the subject to chat with the village chief, finally saving some face for the middle-aged man.
An old man and a young man faced the sunshine and traveled lightly. On the way out of the village, they occasionally met villagers going to work. The old man nodded and just said hello, without any intention of saying a few words.
Of course, sweet potato factories now produce so much potato residue every day that they have piled up into a mountain. If we don't think of a way to deal with it quickly, it would be a waste to just throw it all away.
God cannot stand it!
The mason they were looking for was the same one that Zhuang Keqing went to buy jars and bricks from last time, and he lived in Daxing Village.
Zhuang Keqing was familiar with the roads and led the village chief all the way without any detours. When they arrived at the door of the courtyard, the mason's family had just finished their breakfast.
Don't blame them for coming early, it's just that they were delayed because of something else this morning.
"Huh? Little girl, are you here again?"
The bricklayer's surname is Li, which is the only one in the surrounding villages. It is said that he came here after fleeing from the refugees in the early years. Thanks to some skills, he settled down in Daxing Village. He also married a wife and gave birth to a child, and his life was pretty decent.
Not a bad life.
Last time when Zhuang Keqing came to buy a jar, the person who greeted her was Li Shi, the eldest grandson of the bricklayer.
Bricklayer Li was deeply impressed by this girl. The thin and frail girl drove a mule cart with the boy and dragged back a large cart of bricks. They bought all the remaining inventory from his family's previous burning.
What are you here to buy this time?
Li Bricklayer stretched his head and saw an old man with white hair and beard beside the girl. The mule cart and the young man from last time were not there.
"Uncle Bricklayer, I came today to ask you to do some work at home."
Zhuang Keqing got straight to the point and explained his purpose before anyone could even enter the courtyard.
After hearing this, Mr. Li was completely confused.
What do you mean by asking him to come to your home for work?
Although he was called a mason, he was not the kind who would come to build a house and plaster it. What did this girl mean?
Li Brick felt a little unhappy, but he still opened the courtyard door and invited people in.
"What are you saying while standing outside? Come in and talk."
The village chief was worried about the potato dregs and became a little impatient. After entering the yard, he said without waiting for a while: "I am the village chief of Erli Village. I came to our village today to ask you to build a kiln for our sweet potato workshop."
"What?!"
When Li Brick heard this, he immediately jumped out of breath.
What do you mean, this is a smashing pot into the blacksmith shop, right?
My whole family, old and young, relies on the craft of kiln-making for a living. You asked me to build a kiln for you. I'm afraid you're just an old fool!
If I build a kiln for you, will I still have time to live with you?
Seeing that Li Brick's face was green and red, Zhuang Keqing knew that he had misunderstood and hurriedly explained.
"Uncle Bricklayer, that's not what we meant. Please listen to me..."
But before she could finish her words, she was interrupted.
"impossible!"
Li Baziang shouted loudly, and the whole family in the yard who were talking in low voices all shrank their necks and did not dare to speak.
He was so angry that he wanted to kick them out on the spot, but seeing the two men in front of him, one old and one young, he finally suppressed his temper.
If there are people who don't understand the rules, please go out. There is no need to talk to them.
He glanced at his eldest grandson who was standing aside watching the show, meaning to leave it to you to deal with. Afterwards, Li Bricklayer waved his hand and walked away.
The three of them stood in the yard. On one side were the crying babies and the coaxing voices of women. On the other side were the molds and clay embryos laid out on the floor. Li Shi smiled awkwardly and said:
"My grandpa is just a little bit hasty, so don't mind it, you two."
"I don't mind, I don't mind."
Zhuang Keqing waved his hands repeatedly.
Ever since she started the tofu business, she had never encountered someone with such a bad temper. The explosion just now shocked her eardrums, and they are still ringing now.
The village chief was also a little stunned.
After all these years, no one in the village dared to speak louder to him. Today, no one could even turn around after being yelled at.
"This kiln-firing is my family's cooking skill. It's really not easy to spread to other people. Please forgive me."
Li Shi was much more polite than his grandfather, but he still refused when he opened his mouth.
This was so well-founded that the village chief was unable to persuade him.
Indeed, people rely on burning kilns to make money to support their families. If they hire someone to build a kiln themselves, wouldn't it mean that they are depriving them of money? Who would do this if they are not smart enough?
It was also because he was too happy before and didn't think carefully, so in the end he dragged the girl along and made another trip in vain.
People are not as free as an old guy like him.
"Brother Bricklayer, actually you have misunderstood us."
When the village chief was about to get discouraged and prepare to leave, Zhuang Keqing stood still and looked at Li Shi instead.
"We in Erli Village are planning to build a drying workshop. After much thought, I still think it would be best to build a kiln. Moreover, this kiln is different from the one you are using now."
"Oh? How is it different?"
Hearing what kind of drying workshop it was, Li Shi became interested.
"The temperature should not be too high, and it must be ventilated."
Zhuang Keqing raised a smile, looking confident that he was determined to win.
Of course she is confident.
Firing utensils not only requires high temperatures, but also requires sealing, which is very demanding. Their drying kiln is completely the opposite of a kiln for burning utensils. Even if the bricklayers help build it, they can't use this kiln to bake anything.
It won't affect the bricklayer's business at all.
"So that's what it is?"
Li Shi was thoughtful.
If it is really what this girl said, then this job can really be done, but...
"Then let me ask, what will be used in the drying kiln your village is going to build?"
This question is really too much. Generally, craftsmen who are paid to work will not ask customers this for no reason. It’s just that Li Shi is young and curious, and if he doesn’t ask clearly, it will be difficult to convince him later.
Grandpa.
Zhuang Keqing didn't show any displeasure on his face, he just said: "Do you know about dried sweet potatoes?"
She didn't say that she wanted to bake potato dregs, just because the explanation was not only complicated, but also involved some secrets of making vermicelli.
In short, dried potatoes also need to be baked, so it is not considered to be a trick.
"Dried potato?"
Of course Li Shi knew.
The snacks that have suddenly become popular in the town over the past month are loved by the women and children at home. Even now, his wife still has a small handful hidden in the snack box in the cupboard.
"It's made in our sweet potato workshop."
Zhuang Keqing smiled and replied, "Originally, these dried potatoes are dried in the sun, but God is not willing to give you a smile every day. If the sun is not available for a long time, this thing will be broken before it is finished.
Oh, it’s such a pity.”
Li Shi didn't expect that he just asked a question tentatively, but he actually said it so plainly, without hiding it at all, which showed his sincerity.
In this way, he felt that this business could be done.
"In that case, you two don't have to worry. I will go to Grandpa and tell him. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, I will go to Erli Village in two days."
Li Shi also responded to the matter quickly and without any hesitation.
The matter is almost settled. Although it is not completely settled, the other party has not refused. It seems that the chance of successful negotiation is still very high.
Zhuang Keqing and the village chief thanked Li Shi, did not stay long, said hello and left.
On the way back to the village, the village chief sighed: "If I hadn't brought you here, this would never have been possible."
"Grandpa, village chief, we haven't agreed yet, so we can't be too happy. Besides, if the kiln is really built, how will you arrange the potato residues that will be baked later?"
It's not like the village chief Li Shu hasn't considered this point she mentioned in the past few days, but after thinking about it, he just wanted to distribute it to the villagers to make some steamed buns, noodles and the like as food rations, so that it wouldn't be wasted.
But now that the girl is asking about this, does she have any good ideas?
