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墨書 Inktalez
Four days had passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time to assess the results. Early in the morning, Xia Muxin got out of bed and brought her family to the Kiln.
At this time, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Xia Muxin thought she had arrived early, but to her surprise, when she got there, the Kiln was already surrounded by villagers, all of whom looked up in astonishment.
Seeing Xia Muxin and her group approach, everyone made way for them, gazing at her with admiration and respect.
Xia Muxin smiled at everyone as she walked in to take a look at the kiln. For seven days, the fire had not stopped for a moment, and the kiln had been remarkably successful. The red bricks were strikingly vivid. Unable to contain her excitement, Xia Muxin walked around the kiln, ultimately smiling with genuine satisfaction.
Ming Yi and the others were equally astonished. They were used to living on the edge, going wherever there was danger; in their world, they had long been accustomed to violence. It seemed that only during these months at Daimiao Mountain did they truly feel like ordinary people.
Moreover, they all came from rural backgrounds but had never seen a woman like Xia Muxin before. As long as she was willing, anything could become a miracle.
Shen Muhan's calm eyes concealed a storm of emotions. He had not expected that bricks could turn out this way after being fired; they looked incredibly sturdy. Even without thatched grass covering them, they wouldn’t crack or melt in the rain. Such houses should be beautiful.
"Miss Muxin, you truly are remarkable! I, Xu Si, have lived for over half a century and have never seen such a capable child. Just look at these bricks; they’re like sculpted works of art! I've seen similar art pieces in Town; they're very special..."
Old Xu had also risen early today. They were calculating their time carefully; work could wait as he led his wife over. Upon seeing the bricks, he was utterly captivated and immediately began to speak excitedly upon seeing Xia Muxin.
"Old Xu, you flatter me! I’m just inspired by the moment; this is all thanks to everyone’s hard work. I want to thank you all!"
Seeing that Old Xu showed no signs of stopping, Xia Muxin quickly interrupted him and bowed slightly to express her gratitude.
"Miss Muxin, look! There are still plenty of bricks left. When will we fire another batch?"
Black Bull was addicted to firing bricks, glancing eagerly at the bricks not far away. His question drew laughter from everyone around.
In truth, he was worried about those bricks. After all, the seasons were about to change, and with the arrival of winter and spring, there would be plenty of rain. The Donghe River would also rise, and the clay for these bricks was dug from the ground. Right now, it resembled a sinkhole, large enough to be concerning. If it collected water, those bricks would be ruined, and they were made with great effort at Miss Muxin's expense. He felt pained at the thought of wasting them.
However, seeing his hard work transformed into the bricks in the kiln filled him with pride and a sense of accomplishment.
Xia Muxin had similar thoughts. Typically, brick firing occurred from late spring to early autumn; winter and early spring were impossible due to heavy rainfall. The freshly made clay bricks would become soaked if left out too long, and no matter how well protected they were, they wouldn't look good in this weather. After a pause, she said, "Let's wait until we unload this batch before we fire the next one."
If she built her house taller and larger, these two batches of bricks would be nearly sufficient. Therefore, she needed the second batch as soon as possible; otherwise, her house construction would be delayed again. With more people in the household, it was truly not feasible to keep living in such cramped conditions. Thus, she was even more eager than Black Bull for the next batch to be ready.
"When... when do we start unloading?"
Upon hearing about unloading bricks, some villagers couldn't contain their excitement. Unloading required manpower, which meant daily wages. Miss Muxin was very trustworthy; just a few days ago, she had already paid them their wages without missing a single coin while expressing her gratitude repeatedly. This money could help prepare for winter supplies and even provide a set of Winter Clothes for their children—something everyone dreamed of!
The fire had just gone out today; it would take at least three days for everything to cool down. After all, the heat in the Kiln combined with the hot weather made it difficult to dissipate heat quickly. Xia Muxin pondered for a moment before saying:
"Four days from now, Er Dan Ge, please gather forty people to come here early in the morning. I have plans for you all; the pay will be the same as before. We need strong individuals. The rest will need to help me find one hundred tree trunks as large as this white Poplar. Our village doesn't have enough, so please go buy them from other villages; I will cover whatever cost there is. Additionally, I need some Limestone—more is better! The pay will remain unchanged as well. Everyone can go home and rest for a few days to prepare; once I sort things out, I will provide detailed arrangements."
With good bricks available, they couldn't settle for using mud anymore. Her next step was to personally find sticky soil because her primary goal wasn't just firing bricks but making cement. She aimed to build the most unique and sturdy houses in Tianli Kingdom.
Upon hearing Xia Muxin's words, everyone became excited again; it meant they wouldn't be idle and that this year they could surely celebrate a good New Year.
"Uncle, they..."
As everyone began to discuss, Xia Muxin glanced at the few people on the tree stump before turning her attention to Shen Muhan.
"Well? They're all still alive!"
Shen Muhan understood her thoughts. No matter what, she couldn't cause a death in this village; her reputation was currently quite good. If something like that happened, people would only grow afraid of her.
"Muxin, let's head back and wait for your news."
Perhaps feeling a bit uneasy seeing Shen Muhan, Er Dan cleverly spoke up.
"Yes, everyone can go back now!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin gave him an appreciative look and replied cheerfully.
As the villagers departed, Shen Muhan snapped her fingers. Ming Yi and the others gathered their energy and flew up, swiftly bringing down the eight individuals in no time.
The group had dry, cracked lips and felt weak all over. They looked significantly paler and thinner, their pupils dilated. Yet upon seeing Shen Muhan, they struggled to show their fear, their legs trembling as if they wanted to flee as far away as possible.
"Muxin, don't you think these people look more appealing after hanging up there for a few days?"
Shen Muhan seemed to take pleasure in their miserable state, glancing at them before speaking in a charming tone.
Xia Muxin had to admit he was right; Wang Dafu had lost a lot of weight. The fat on his face was gone, and his skin had darkened considerably. The pits and hollows on his face were less noticeable now; he looked like a completely different person. She wondered how Zhou Qinglian would feel about this change.
"Uncle is right; they actually look more handsome now!"
After a moment of contemplation, the words slipped out.
Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan's eyes darkened. He grabbed Xia Muxin and pulled her tightly into his embrace, locking his gaze onto her as he spoke, "Notify their families to come and collect them. If there's any delay, toss them into the deep mountains to feed the wolves."
At the mention of feeding wolves, several people felt their legs weaken and immediately dropped to the ground.
Ming Yi was somewhat surprised; their leader was being excessively domineering and petty. Xia Muxin had merely complimented their looks, yet he reacted with such jealousy. Even so, Ming Yi could only pretend to be oblivious, accepting the order before leaping away.
Xia Muxin glared angrily at the slightly mischievous Shen Muhan and stomped hard on his foot. As he loosened his grip a bit, she hurried back home, while Shen Muhan's expression darkened as he quickly followed after her.
Ming Peng and the others pretended to observe with detached interest, but inside they were already bubbling with excitement. Their master's master was indeed extraordinary; just a single glance could subdue their leader. From now on, they would no longer suffer from unequal exploitation.
The father and son duo from Summer Forest shook their heads and smiled at the retreating figure.
Once Xia Muxin returned home, she began preparing breakfast. Since there were many people, she opted for simple noodles made with marrow broth, adding some leafy greens and mushrooms along with a few ginger shreds. Although these were just ordinary noodles, they tasted remarkably better than any chicken or fish outside.
The ingredients were the same, yet Aunt Xia couldn't replicate this flavor. However, there was plenty of noodles—two large pots worth. Ming Yi and the others were all teenagers with hearty appetites due to their training; each could eat four portions of what Xia Muxin prepared. They made enough to satisfy everyone before heading out to hunt since Xia Muxin needed to go to Town later. She had been busy and hadn't made any wine-pickled fish recently, but she had prepared some apple snails. After finishing the meal, Xia Muxin began making the wine-pickled fish while Songzi started cooking the apple snails. Once the snails were ready, everyone gathered around to begin picking them.
By the time Xia Muxin finished preparing the wine-pickled fish, everyone had returned with a haul of over forty snails. Xia Muxin was delighted; what she needed most right now was money. Although she had sold some thresher fish for several hundred taels previously and had saved up over a thousand taels, she had spent quite a bit on kiln expenses over the past few days and was left with just over seven hundred taels—far from enough for her needs.
After loading everything into the cart, Xia Muxin mounted her horse and climbed into the carriage. Shen Muhan jumped up beside her, then drove off with a flourish.
"Mother, look at that arrogant demeanor! The Wang family doesn't dare touch them anymore. And look at Summer Old Man—it's only been a short while and he's glowing red all over! No matter what, you are his wife; how can he just abandon you like this without a care? Is that how one should treat their conscience?"
At the entrance, the Wu Family and You stood watching the carriage of Xia Muxin leave, their eyes filled with resentment. You, in particular, fumed as she added fuel to the fire.
Just moments ago, she had visited the Wang family. That child, Wang Dafu, was utterly useless, rambling nonsensically and trembling in fear. He had become so emaciated he was hardly recognizable. Azure Lotus cried bitterly, while the Meng Family summoned her here and there, leaving no time for her to even speak a word to her own mother.
The Wang family was no longer reliable. If Color Lotus's belly grew any larger without a marriage being arranged, they would lose their standing in the village entirely. What hope did they have for bride prices now?
Zhou Yousheng was also a disappointment. He hadn't returned home in days, claiming he had found a job in Town that paid thirty coins a day. But it had been so long without him bringing home a single coin, yet he had managed to change his clothes and groom himself neatly. She suspected he might have found someone else outside.
Without evidence to confirm her suspicions, she could only vent her frustration at home. They could barely afford even a vegetable leaf now, and there were mouths to feed. Thus, she turned her attention back to Summer Old Man.
"This Old Immortal is living it up with a bunch of heartless people, completely forgetting about this old woman. Doesn’t he think about who has been caring for him all these years when he returned home with warmth and good meals?"
Just hearing Summer Old Man's name made Wu Family furious. However, having witnessed the fate of the Wang family, she dared not confront Summer Old Man or his family in this critical moment. If they were to tie her to that tree stump and leave her out in the sun and rain for seven days and nights, she would be done for.
"You too! You're such a grown man but won’t even plant vegetables. Starving yourself is one thing; what about the little ones? I’ll go to Changsheng Family; our firewood is nearly burnt out. You go get some more."
With that thought in mind, she coldly addressed You.
Without this one son, she still had two others left; she refused to believe they wouldn’t feed her. It had been days since she had eaten anything oily; she needed to replenish her strength.
You watched Wu Family’s hurried departure with clenched teeth, stamping her feet in frustration.
"Gui Lian, Color Lotus, get to work!"
She then went behind the door to grab some tools and shouted out loud.
Xia Muxin entered the town and delivered the snail meat to Fortune and Longevity Restaurant. She then taught Uncle Bingzi how to prepare two dishes. Everyone had been eagerly anticipating her Wine-Pickled Fish and Orchid Bean, continuously asking her about them.
"I've been busy lately and forgot to make the Wine-Pickled Fish, but I prepared it this morning. It should be ready in about ten days to half a month. As for the Orchid Bean, that will probably have to wait until next year," she said with a chuckle. "Uncle Bingzi, do you still have the Jar?"
Xia Muxin didn't have time to explain everything one by one, so she answered all their questions in one breath, not forgetting to inquire about the Jar.
Hearing this, Uncle Bingzi looked up from the two dishes, casting a puzzled glance at Xia Muxin before replying, "Yes, yes. The master specifically asked me to save it."
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin's eyes lit up with a smile as she followed Uncle Bingzi to retrieve the Jar.
"Muxin, are you sure anyone will eat that Beef Tendon?" Uncle Bingzi finally couldn't help but ask as they walked halfway.
This time, Xia Muxin was teaching him how to make Spicy Beef Tendons. They had tried serving Beef Tendon before, but the flavor just wouldn't go away. Very few people ordered it, and even when someone did, it would remain untouched after they finished eating. They never ordered it again. This was still due to the reputation of Fushou Tower; if it were an ordinary tavern, there would have been complaints long ago.
"Don't worry! I'll stir-fry it right away. You can taste it first before making any judgments," Xia Muxin reassured him.
Although she had taught him two dishes, she had only prepared the ingredients and hadn't cooked them yet. All four stoves were busy because a wealthy merchant had booked a banquet today, and everyone had been bustling about since early morning. Coincidentally, the banquet included snail meat, which the master had already declined to provide since they had run out. Xia Muxin arrived just in time; she had sent someone to notify the front desk to check with the guests if they still wanted the snail meat.
At this moment, after hearing Xia Muxin's words, Uncle Bingzi's heart remained uneasy. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the Beef Tendon shouldn't be served at all.
Previously, Xia Muxin had cooked beef once, and the family had praised it several times after tasting it. He wanted to learn that dish and thought about trying to cook it himself, but the family said it wasn't quite the same. He had never tasted it himself, so he didn't know what made Miss Muxin's beef different.
Xia Muxin didn't say anything; she simply had everyone help move a jar and then went to the kitchen to start preparing Beef Tendon.
The method wasn't difficult. First, she marinated the Beef Tendon with ginger, then put it in a pan with Cooking Wine and stir-fried it. After adding salt to reduce the moisture, she continued by adding Dried Chili and Garlic, along with some Chicken Essence and other spices, finishing with Scallion Segments.
Of course, the only thing to be cautious about was that the chili had to be spicy; a moderate level of numbness was acceptable. Xia Muxin used super spicy Chili Powder, which smelled pungent even from a distance, but once cooked, that sharpness disappeared.
When Xia Muxin plated the Spicy Beef Tendons and handed a pair of chopsticks to Uncle Bingzi for him to taste, he looked at the colorful and aromatic Beef Tendon with disbelief. Curiously, he wondered what else she had added besides ginger for marinating.
Carefully picking up a piece and bringing it to his mouth, he first tasted the rich aroma of wine, followed by spiciness and then numbness. After a slight chew, his eyes lit up as he nodded repeatedly; this Beef Tendon was chewy without any gamey taste—delicious indeed.
Seeing Uncle Bingzi's ecstatic expression of appreciation, everyone eagerly lined up to try it. In no time at all, the plate was nearly empty as they each took their turns.
Afterward, Xia Muxin had Uncle Bingzi try cooking a plate himself. The flavor was far from hers, so she encouraged him to keep trying. It took nearly half an hour before he managed to achieve about seventy percent of her flavor.
But for Pancake Uncle, this was already incredibly exciting.
The next dish was easier: Ants Climbing a Tree. In this era, something as common as vermicelli wouldn't usually make an appearance on the table. However, when Xia Muxin presented her plate of Ants Climbing a Tree and everyone tasted it, they were utterly amazed. Pressed for time, she asked Uncle Bingzi to give it a try as well. After cooking two plates, he managed to achieve about seventy percent of the flavor too. Xia Muxin praised him a few times before bidding farewell to everyone.
By the time Su Yan-Chu and the wealthy merchant hurriedly arrived at the kitchen after finishing their business, they were informed that Xia Muxin had already left. His eyes dimmed instantly as he walked away dejectedly.
Having successfully sold all the Game Meat, Xia Muxin went to a seed shop. Soon there would be many things ready for planting. She bought garlic, cabbage seeds, carrot seeds, white radish seeds, and finally some rapeseed seeds.
Then she slightly adjusted her grip on the marrow and ribs, deciding not to buy any game meat or fish for the house. However, she couldn't shake off her thoughts about the Lotus Root Pond. After this month, she wouldn't be able to dig up any lotus roots, and every time she passed by, she would linger and gaze longingly at it. Unfortunately, the mud there was too deep.
Shen Muhan followed behind her, his hands full of various items. When Xia Muxin stopped in front of a fabric store, she turned to look at him before entering. When she came out, she was carrying several pieces of fabric in different colors.
But there was no black.
"Are you all set?"
Seeing her struggling to hold so many pieces of fabric, Shen Muhan stepped forward and took one large bundle from her, asking in a somewhat muffled voice.
Xia Muxin was puzzled by his sudden moodiness and stared at him for a while. When she noticed his eyes shining like a child's as he examined the fabric, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright, let's head home!"
Seeing him like this made her even happier. She took a few steps ahead and cheerfully said.
Looking at her petite figure, Shen Muhan shook his head with a smile, realizing he might be overreacting.
Because of the several hundred taels spent today, Xia Muxin wouldn't be going out for a while. Once they returned home and finished lunch, she headed up the mountain to search for clay soil, with Shen Muhan naturally following as her protector.
"Uncle, do you know what clay soil is?"
Xia Muxin understood that the cement produced in this era wouldn't be as good as modern ones. However, having some was better than none. Moreover, making it required skill; now she just needed to gather the materials and experiment slowly. Perhaps after a few trials, she might succeed.
However, there probably weren't any mines on Daimiao Mountain, so finding these materials might not be easy.
"Clay soil?"
Shen Muhan, being an outsider to this topic, furrowed his brows in confusion as he responded to Xia Muxin's question.
Xia Muxin anticipated his reaction; after all, everyone has different areas of expertise. She didn't expect him to know everything. Instead, she bent down to sift through the weeds beneath her and carefully examined the soil on the ground.
"Can you explain it in more detail?"
Seeing her focused on the soil around them, Shen Muhan felt a bit overwhelmed. He leaned closer to her and inspected the dirt she had been working with before finally asking with a frown.
"This..."
Upon hearing his question, Xia Muxin bit her lip, seemingly deep in thought.
- End of Chapter -
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