Jiang Tangtang didn't dwell too much on the Cui family's affairs; her thoughts quickly returned to the valley's infrastructure development.
The red bricks have already been fired, but building houses and city walls requires more than just red bricks. A high-quality adhesive is also needed to ensure the walls are stable.
As far as Jiang Tangtang knows, before cement was invented, people in ancient times often added glutinous rice to mortar to increase its stickiness and make the wall more solid.
But clearly, this method wasn't suitable for their valley. Firstly, she didn't have that much glutinous rice right now, and even if she did, she wouldn't be willing to part with it.
This was during a famine; there wasn't even enough food to eat, so how could they afford to use glutinous rice to build houses?
Fortunately, the "Complete Book of Civil Engineering" is a very comprehensive book. Besides adding glutinous rice to increase stickiness, it also mentions methods such as adding lime and sand; adding lime, sand, and clay; and adding lime and paper pulp to clay.
Jiang Tangtang realized that no matter which method was used, lime was indispensable. But she had previously overlooked lime.
Fortunately, she knew how to make lime, and there was limestone that could be burned to make lime not far from the valley.
However, before burning lime, Jiang Tangtang planned to teach her family how to use farm tools.
That day, after Lu Shiyan and the others left the valley, Jiang Tangtang gathered the Lu family and the Jiang family together and taught them how to use various farming tools.
Jiang Tangtang had some farm tools made at the blacksmith's shop this time. In addition to an iron plow that could be used by oxen, there was a wheelbarrow, a six-pronged deep-plowing hoe, and an improved sickle.
Actually, these farm tools are not difficult to use, but they are different from the farm tools of the past, so everyone was a little unaccustomed to them at first.
But after getting used to it, everyone discovered the wonders of the new farm tools.
The six-pronged deep-turning hoe may look strange, but it is actually very easy to use.
There are also newly crafted sickles, which not only have wooden handles added to the original ones to make them easier to hold, but also come in different sizes and angles to suit different functions.
One type of sickle was specifically designed for land clearing; it could be used to cut grass while standing, and its blade was exceptionally sharp.
With the newly made tools, the land reclamation efficiency of both the Lu and Jiang families greatly improved.
The villagers, who hadn't paid much attention to the farm tools Jiang Tangtang had brought back, all stopped what they were doing and gathered around.
"What's that? How can it cut the lawn so fast?"
"I never expected that cart to be so useful. Zhou, a woman, carried such a big stone away with ease."
"Didn't you see how fast Su Shi turned the ground with that iron fork? Did you see how a woman turned over this large piece of land in no time?"
...
The villagers gathered together, discussing the new farm tools used by the Lu family, and the contempt they had shown yesterday was gone.
Many people approached Jiang Tangtang, asking if they could borrow her farm tools.
Jiang Tangtang naturally did not refuse, but it was agreed beforehand that there were not many farm tools available, and they would have to wait until the Lu family had used them all.
Moreover, all her farm tools were made with great effort, and anyone who damages them must pay for them at the original price.
In addition, a rent was also set. The villagers don't have any extra food right now, but they can buy it on credit and pay later when they do.
Jiang Tangtang's actions weren't primarily motivated by the need to collect a small amount of grain; rather, they stemmed from a shortage of farm tools, and she wanted to prevent conflicts arising from excessive competition. Another point was to foster a positive work environment.
She led everyone to develop the valley and earn career points in the system, but she didn't want to be taken advantage of.
Jiang Tangtang's requests were all reasonable, and the villagers naturally had no objections.
And so, the matter of the farm tools was settled. She then turned her attention to burning lime.
Like making red bricks, limestone production requires the construction of kilns for firing.
That evening, Jiang Tangtang asked Village Chief Song to gather the villagers together and told them about building a kiln to burn lime.
The news caused a sensation once again.
However, although the villagers were surprised, they had no doubts.
Having successfully fired red bricks for the first time, the villagers had an inexplicable admiration and respect for Jiang Tangtang.
Besides worship and faith, many villagers were deeply moved and felt hopeful for the future.
Although they live deep in the mountains, they can make their own bricks and lime, and they have so many advanced farming tools. How could they not live a good life in the future?
A small number of people also felt regretful. If Jiang Tangtang had used her skills back in Dawan Village, would their village still be the poorest village in the surrounding area?
However, upon further reflection, if they were outside, the Lu family would probably not want them to get involved in family-passed-down skills like brick-making and lime-making.
Thinking about it this way, those few who felt regret suddenly felt a sense of relief.
Regardless of what the others were thinking, Jiang Tangtang continued talking about the pay for working at the lime kiln.
Just like in brick-making, the payment was still in the form of grain. However, the amount of grain paid varied depending on the type of work.
As for the main people in charge of the lime kiln, Jiang Tangtang chose her fourth and fifth brothers.
When people saw that Jiang Tangtang had handed over the management of the lime kiln to the Jiang family, some thoughts inevitably arose in their minds.
Once the party was over, the women began whispering among themselves.
"In the end, the maternal family is still closer. Look at Jiang, she assigned the brick kiln and lime kiln to her own brothers to manage. The Lu family really didn't have a thing to do."
"That's right, Granny Su is probably going to be furious this time. She usually spoils this daughter-in-law rotten, but when something good happens, people still trust the mother's family, not the husband's family."
Zhang Qifang had always been at odds with the Su family. Now that she learned that Lu Shiyan had become successful and had become an official, while Jiang Tangtang, a mere woman, had become the leader of the valley and had the final say in everything, she was so jealous that she developed several blisters on her lips.
Despite her jealousy, she couldn't do anything to the Lu family. Most of the time, her family still had to rely on the Lu family.
Now that Jiang Tangtang has handed over the management of the brick kiln and lime kiln to her family, she feels extremely happy.
I almost wanted to run up to the Su family and see them make a fool of themselves.
One of the ladies in the group shook her head and said, "Jiang is foolish. A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl. No matter how much she sides with her own family, she is still an outsider in the Jiang family."
She'll still be relying on her husband and son to make a living. If she offends her in-laws, how can she expect to have a good life there?
...
Not to mention that the villagers secretly speculated that Jiang Tangtang had ulterior motives and was siding with her own family, even the Jiang family members felt that Jiang Tangtang was deliberately helping them.
Seeing her daughter helping her family in every way, Wang felt comforted, but she couldn't help feeling worried.
After the meeting ended, he quickly pulled Jiang Tangtang aside and said, "You silly girl, even if you are capable now and can stand up for yourself in your husband's family, you can't be so obvious about it."
Go back quickly and tell your in-laws to let the two Lu brothers manage the lime kiln. Don't let helping us cause any rift with your in-laws.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com