Chapter 7

Liu the blacksmith stepped into Zhang Ke's room, where the strong smell of medicine assaulted his nostrils. Zhang Ke had already gotten up and was sitting against the head of the bed. The young man's face was somewhat pale, but his features were clear and his eyes were full of spirit, exuding a scholarly yet resolute air, which made Liu the blacksmith sigh involuntarily.

"Looks just like him, just like him! If Brother Zhang were still alive, who would dare to bully you!" Liu the blacksmith shook his head in pain.

The stepfather had good relations, and Zhang Ke smiled, "Uncle Liu, I have an idea to make money. I plan to go to Guangning market to buy some clothes and fabrics, and then trade them for fat sheep from the Tartars. One trip back and forth, I can at least earn enough to pay off our debts!"

"Good, good idea!" Liu the blacksmith smiled, "But Guangning is over 150 miles away, quite a long distance!"

Zhang Ke smiled slightly. 150 miles was a considerable distance now, but in the future, it would be just a short drive on the highway.

"Uncle Liu, when you're in dire straits, you have to think of change. I have no choice," Zhang Ke smiled, "I just thought of something. Can you help me?"

"Hehehe, except for blacksmithing, I don't understand business. I'm afraid I can't help much!"

"I need your blacksmithing skills! You help me make something. If it sells for a good price, we'll split it 30-70!"

Liu the blacksmith scratched his head and said, "Forget 30-70, if it really makes money and helps you pay off your debts, just give me the cost."

Zhang Ke gave Xiao Xue a wink, and she brought over the ink and brush. Zhang Ke held the brush, but he was a bit at a loss. Although he had inherited the original memories and could write with a brush, drawing with it was too much of a stretch.

"Xiao Xue, go find a piece of charcoal from the stove."

Xiao Xue nodded and ran to the stove, but there was none. She had a sudden idea and quickly grabbed a shovel to take out some red-hot coals, then brought a bowl of cold water.

Splash!

A cloud of white steam rose, dust flew, and a mushroom cloud formed. Xiao Xue stuck out her tongue in fright. But in the world, nothing was bigger than Brother Ke! She quickly grabbed a few pieces of charcoal and ran to Zhang Ke's room.

"Brother Ke, will this work?"

The girl presented it to Zhang Ke, who looked up and couldn't help but laugh.

"Brother Ke, is it not good? I'm too stupid!"

"Ha ha ha, of course it will work." Zhang Ke took the charcoal and said, "Xiao Xue, go wash your face quickly, you're a little flower cat now!"

The girl was taken aback, blushed, and covered her face, turning to run. Behind her, Liu the blacksmith laughed, "What a good girl!"

In front of the water basin, she peeked through her fingers. Her delicate face was covered with dust and charcoal, black and gray, looking like a little beggar.

"Ugly, ugly! I made Brother Ke laugh again!" The girl quickly washed her face with water, still unsure, and ran to the mirror to check, afraid of any flaws.

While the girl was admiring herself, Zhang Ke had already drawn a 3D diagram with the charcoal. It wasn't anything mysterious, just a common stove from the future.

Liu the blacksmith, though illiterate, was immediately drawn to the realistic drawing.

"Is this a stove?"

"Uncle Liu, you have a good eye!"

Liu the blacksmith frowned, "Although the iron stove is smaller than a stove, it's also more expensive. I doubt anyone would buy it."

"Uncle Liu, that might be true for Han people, but not for Mongols!"

"Is there something special about it?"

"Think about it, Mongols live a nomadic life. They can't always build stoves wherever they go. If they have a stove like this, they can take it with them wherever they go, how convenient would that be? See, the stove doesn't need to be too big, just big enough to hold a piece of dried cow dung. One or two pieces of cow dung can cook a meal. If we give them a detachable iron rack, they can also grill meat on it. Would they buy it?"

The stove Zhang Ke described was something you could still see in street stalls for roasting corn in the future. It was very common, but in the present, it was a remarkable invention, capable of both grilling and cooking, and very practical.

Liu the blacksmith nodded repeatedly, "Good, really good. This thing will definitely sell. I'll go make it right away."

"Wait!" Zhang Ke said, "Uncle Liu, I plan to go to Guangning in three days. How many can you make in three days?"

"That's a challenge!" Liu the blacksmith frowned, "One stove needs at least ten pounds of iron, costing about one tael of silver. I have the iron, but I'm not sure I can finish in time. I estimate I can't make even one in three days. If my sons help, maybe we can make two or three."

Zhang Ke was also at a loss. Although he didn't plan to do big business, two or three stoves were barely enough to make a difference.

He thought for a moment, how could he make more?

Right!

How could he forget such basic common sense! Zhang Ke wanted to slap himself.

"Uncle Liu, I have a way to make more stoves. Listen to me, divide the work, and each of your sons can handle a part. Then combine them at the end. This way, we can definitely make ten stoves."

Is it that simple?

Liu the blacksmith was full of doubts, "Can it work? My sons' skills aren't that good yet, I'm afraid..."

"No problem, Uncle Liu. Set the specifications, and you handle the hardest part. It doesn't need to be too precise, just good enough! Make ten stoves, sell them for at least three taels each, and after deducting costs, we can earn two taels. According to the 70-30 split, you can get fourteen taels!"

"How much?" Liu the blacksmith's eyes widened. He might not earn that much in a year, and ten stoves could bring in fourteen taels?

"Is it really that easy to earn money?"

"Ha ha ha, Uncle Liu, don't worry. Fourteen taels is nothing. In the future, we'll earn thousands of taels. Just wait and see!"

Liu the blacksmith clutched the drawing, his muscles trembling, his goatee bouncing.

"I'll listen to you this time. I'll start working right away."

...

Three days, not long, but not short either.

Zhang Ke's injuries were almost healed. Whether it was due to his enhanced constitution after the穿越 (time travel) or the effectiveness of Doctor Zhou's medicine, the bruises had faded, and the wound under his ribs had scabbed over, the flesh inside was itchy. He might be fully recovered in another three to five days, but now wasn't the time to rest.

Zhang Ke got up early. His mother and Xiao Xue were busy preparing breakfast, and the smell wafted through the door.

Creak, the door opened slightly, and a small head peeked in.

"Second Brother, you're up?"

Zhang Ke saw it was his sister Hui'er and smiled, "The sun is rising in the west. Why isn't the little lazy pig sleeping more?"

"Don't call me a little lazy pig. Are there any cute pigs?" The little girl pouted, glaring at Zhang Ke, and her cold little hands reached for his neck.

"Second Brother surrenders." Zhang Ke laughed, "You must have something to ask, right? Speak up, or I'll go back to sleep!"

"Hmph, you're the lazy pig!" Hui'er thought to herself.

She leaned in and whispered, "Second Brother, Mother bought a lot of meat yesterday, a huge piece, dozens of pounds!"

She gestured with her hands, her eyes sparkling, and glanced at Zhang Ke, then lowered her head, whispering, "I, I, I want to eat a little, just a piece."

Hui'er spoke timidly, as if she had committed a great sin. Zhang Ke had been sick for a while, and Mother Shen had bought meat and eggs, but gave them all to Zhang Ke. Hui'er was very sensible and ate cornbread and dried vegetables with Mother Shen every day.

The little girl knew her brother needed to recover, and she had been secretly swallowing her saliva. But this time, Mother bought so much meat, and the smell of cooking meat was irresistible. She timidly came over and made a request.

It's no big deal for a child to eat some meat! But with the family focusing on Zhang Ke, even this small request seemed excessive. Hui'er looked like a child who had done something wrong, rubbing her skirt.

Seeing this, Zhang Ke felt a lump in his throat. This was his own sister!

"Come, let's go eat some meat!"

Zhang Ke pulled Hui'er to the stove. Fortunately, Mother Shen and Xiao Xue were not there. Zhang Ke lifted the lid of the pot, and steam rose, a large piece of meat bobbing in the water, a layer of beautiful oil on the surface.

Gulp, Hui'er couldn't help but swallow her saliva. Zhang Ke held a pair of chopsticks and a knife, and with one cut, sliced off a piece of meat, about two pounds, with a good mix of fat and lean.

"Hui'er, go get a bowl, we'll dip it in soy sauce!"

"Okay!" The little girl happily brought a large bowl, and Zhang Ke cut the meat into finger-thick strips. Without garlic, he grabbed a few dried peppers, burned them in the stove, and crushed them into the soy sauce.

Mission accomplished!

The siblings grabbed the meat strips, dipped them in soy sauce, and ate them in large bites. Despite her small size, Hui'er had a big appetite, and in no time, half a bowl of meat was gone. As they were enjoying their meal, the door opened, and Mother Shen and Xiao Xue came in.

Seeing the two siblings squatting by the stove, Mother Shen's eyes widened, "Little ancestor, this is for your brother's trip to Guangning. How could you eat it all!"

Hearing her mother's scolding, Hui'er was frightened. Her cheeks were puffed out, and she couldn't swallow the meat, but she looked at Zhang Ke pitifully.

Zhang Ke smiled, "Mother, we've been through hard times. When I come back from Guangning, we'll have good days. Let's enjoy it now, don't worry!"

Zhang Ke petted his sister's head, and Hui'er smiled widely, swallowing the meat with a sweet feeling.

"Ah, you're thinking about eating and drinking before we have good days. You're a wasteful child!" Mother Shen scolded, but she actually agreed.

"Mother, don't worry, your son won't let you down!" Zhang Ke smiled, "This meat must be over ten pounds. We can't eat it all on the road, let's eat it together!"

Zhang Ke was about to cut more meat, but Mother Shen stopped him, "Poor at home, rich on the road. It's better to bring more food. I used three taels of silver from Uncle Liu to buy ten pounds of beef and fifteen pounds of pork. I gave the beef to Aunt Li next door, who is famous for her braised beef."

Mother Shen took a greasy paper package from Xiao Xue and smiled, "It won't go bad in the cold. Take it for the road."

The heavy package made Zhang Ke think of his college days, when classmates would bring large bags of snacks from home, and he would feel sad. Now, he could finally enjoy it too!

Home, family, the taste of happiness...

Zhang Ke felt energized, "Mother, we will definitely get through this, we will!"

Seeing her son's determined gaze, Mother Shen nodded with tears in her eyes.

...

"Brother Ke, come out, see how we've prepared!"

It was Qiao Fu!

Zhang Ke quickly stood up and went to the courtyard. Qiao Gui and Qiao Fu were dressed like bears, and behind them were two large wooden sleds. Next to the sleds were two large yellow dogs, wagging their tails and baring their tongues.

"Is this all you've prepared? No horses, at least a cow?"

"How can there be no cow!" Qiao Fu pointed at Zhang Ke and then at Qiao Gui, laughing, "We three are the cows!"

Qiao Gui scratched his head, "We wanted to borrow a cart, but it required a deposit. Since both of us are strong, we can pull it. Maybe, should, possibly, it will be fine!"