Chapter 421 Manual Automatic Fan
Lord Wu and Magistrate Shen sat in the side hall waiting, and Wei Hongying served them tea.
As soon as Cheng Wanwan walked over, she saw that Lord Wu's arm was draped around his neck and his head was bandaged, making him look even more seriously injured than she was.
"Madam Sui, you're finally awake!" Lord Wu stood up, his face filled with lingering fear. "If anything had happened to Madam Sui, I would have been guilty beyond redemption!"
Cheng Wanwan asked, "Lord Wu's injury is quite serious. Is your arm alright?"
"The bone was dislocated, but the doctor has already set it. It will be fine in ten days or half a month." Lord Wu said nonchalantly, "The injuries to the arms and legs are minor, but Madam Sui injured her head. I'm afraid it will leave a bruise, and she may suffer from headaches frequently in the future."
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, we got down to business.
"This explosion caused a severe landslide, burying all the existing mine shafts," Lord Wu began. "So now we have to re-excavate the shafts. Lord Shen and I have discussed it, and we'll follow Lady Sui's suggestion to dig a well-ventilated mine shaft from the southeast to the northwest. All other excavated shafts will become branches of this main shaft..."
He had been worried about the cost, but this explosion brought him so close to death that he realized that human life is more important than anything else. As long as it reduces casualties, what does it matter if it takes more manpower and resources?
Cheng Wanwan immediately said, "Digging just one ventilation tunnel isn't enough; we need to install manual automatic fans in the mine to improve air circulation..."
Magistrate Shen frowned: "What is a manual automatic fan?"
He only knew about fans. Wealthy families would hire people to fan them, which must be manual fans. So what does "automatic" mean?
Cheng Wanwan asked Wei Xiaohai to bring out paper and pen from the house. She casually drew a modern electric fan on the paper. Modern fans are powered by electricity, but there was no electricity in ancient times, so they could only use cheap manual labor. She made a pedal on the base of the fan and connected it to the fan blades, just like pedaling a bicycle. When you pedal, the fan blades will turn and drive the airflow. If this thing is made, you can set up human-powered fans in the entire well. Once a wind is formed, some fans can even start to fan themselves without human intervention.
As Lord Wu and Magistrate Shen looked at the blueprints, their breathing quickened simultaneously.
They had never seen or heard of this thing before.
But actually, judging from the blueprints, it's not difficult to make. However, before Sui Ruren, no one had ever thought of creating such a human-powered fan.
In the sweltering summer, the wealthy used ice to cool down or hired people to fan them, while the poor endured the heat with palm-leaf fans. In short, no one ever imagined that things could be done this way.
The entire fan is made of wood, with only the joints and the pedal rotation area made of iron, so the cost is not high.
"Madam Sui is truly intelligent and kind-hearted..." Lord Wu exclaimed. "This manual automatic fan can be used not only in mines, but if it is widely adopted, it will also be a great tool to benefit the people..."
This drawing is a huge treasure, and Lady Sui drew it without any precautions.
“Last summer was so hot, and I was bored, so I just pondered how to draw this. I don’t even know if I can actually make it,” Cheng Wanwan said with a smile. “Right now, the main thing is to make a batch and use it in coal mines. If it works well, we can promote it in the fourteen northern prefectures. However… getting those already established mines to dig new ventilation shafts might be a bit difficult…”
"No matter how difficult it is, this matter must be reported to the imperial court."
Suppressing his excitement, Lord Wu suddenly stood up, knocking the teacup off the table.
With a bang, Cheng Wanwan was startled, and a sharp pain shot through her brain. She closed her eyes tightly and pressed her temples.
"Madam Sui, are you alright?" Lord Shen quickly poured her a glass of water. "You're still recovering from a serious illness, so we shouldn't be talking to you about these things. Go back and rest."
Cheng Wanwan nodded: "I am a little tired. Hongying, come and help me."
I felt great after eating and drinking my fill, but after using my brain for a bit, I suddenly felt weak again.
Seeing Cheng Wanwan's unsteady steps, Magistrate Shen couldn't help but sigh.
“Lady Sui is truly a woman of great talent, with the country and its people at heart, and she is selfless and devoted. She deserves the title of Lady Sui.” Lord Wu looked at the blueprint in his hand. “If the Ministry of Works approves this blueprint, then Lady Sui’s official position will probably rise even higher.”
Magistrate Shen said slowly, "Yesterday I went to see the Prefect, who said that there have been frequent mine disasters in the northern coalfields recently, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. The local people have gathered and rioted, and it took a lot of military force in the north to suppress them. If Lady Sui's idea can reduce the occurrence of mine disasters, I think the imperial court will not refuse..."
Lord Wu nodded: "I'll go back and write a memorial, then have someone send it to the capital by express courier."
While Lord Wu and Magistrate Shen were busy with matters concerning Coal Hill, Cheng Wanwan was forced by her family to stay in bed and recuperate.
She was used to being busy and couldn't stand lying down for long. After lying down for three days, she was just about to get up and go for a stroll when Old Mrs. Zhao came in.
She immediately lay down obediently. She wasn't afraid of anyone in the house, except for the old lady's endless nagging.
"Grandma, this is the ledger that Manager Yan just wrote. He asked me to bring it to you for your review." Grandma Zhao sat down on the edge of the bed. "The workers at the glycerin workshop have officially started work. Manager Yan plans to make two sets of work clothes for each of them, just like the style from the soap workshop before. Each set will cost thirty copper coins. If you think it's okay, I'll arrange for someone to go to the city to buy the fabric."
Cheng Wanwan glanced at it; the accounts were very clear. She nodded and said, "Let's do it this way."
"Mother, I have an idea to discuss with you." She sat up straight and said, "The fifty-odd workers at the glycerin workshop are all from the next village. They eat dry rations and biscuits for lunch every day. If this continues, their health will collapse."
Grandma Zhao snorted: "These people just can't bear to spend money. Our family's canteen is located not far from Coal Hill. You can get a big bowl of porridge for just two or three coins, and you can also drink bone broth for free. They are ruining their own health."
“You can’t say that. They’re all used to being poor. They’d rather drink water and fill their stomachs than spend money,” Cheng Wanwan said. “I’m planning to provide lunch for the people in the workshop, at a rate of five copper coins per person. Would you like to take this job, Mother?”
Providing lunch can increase employee cohesion and make employees feel more at home, which is a good thing that benefits more than it harms.
A meal costs five coins, and you work six days a week with one day off. That's equivalent to working twenty-six days a month. The increase in labor costs per person is only a little over one hundred coins, which Cheng Wanwan can afford.
Grandma Zhao silently did the math in her mind. For a workshop that made a fortune every day, providing lunch didn't seem like a big deal.
The soap workshop and glycerin workshop together employ nearly a hundred people. If they were contracted out to the Zhao family, their daily income would double. It would be a great thing that benefits both parties.
Without much hesitation, the old lady nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll discuss this with my second son's wife, and I'll have her make a menu for you to review."
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mother."
Grandma Zhao didn't stop and continued her busy work.
Cheng Wanwan turned to look out the window and saw the rice seedlings swaying in the paddy fields and the golden waves of wheat undulating in the distance. The winter wheat planted last year would soon be ready for harvest, and Dahe Village would be busy again.
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