With a creak, Lu Qing pushed open the wooden door of the blacksmith shop, and a wave of heat mixed with the smell of rust hit him in the face.
Shen Qiqi subconsciously fanned herself with her hands and looked around the slightly dim shop.
The stove was burning, sparks were flying, the sound of clanging and knocking came one after another, and the air was filled with a primitive metallic smell.
"Master Zhang, are you there?" Lu Qing raised his voice to drown out the sound of the hammer hitting the target.
A burly, dark-skinned, unshaven man poked his head out from behind the stove, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, and asked in a muffled voice, "Who is it?"
"Master Zhang, it's me, Lu Qing, and I'm here with my wife to ask you to make something."
Zhang the blacksmith came out, looked Shen Qiqi up and down, and his eyes fell on the drawing in her hand, "What is it? Let me see it."
Shen Qiqi hurried forward, handed over the drawings, and explained: "Master Zhang, I want to make some new farm tools. This is the drawing I designed. Can you see if you can make it?"
Blacksmith Zhang squinted his eyes and looked at the blueprint carefully, his brows furrowed more and more.
From time to time, he pointed at certain parts of the drawing with his rough fingers, muttering, "This thing... this thing..."
Seeing this, Shen Qiqi's heart sank, and she asked cautiously: "Master Zhang, is there any problem?"
Blacksmith Zhang returned the drawing to Shen Qiqi and shook his head: "This thing is too complicated. I have never done it before. I am afraid that if I don't do it well, it will ruin my reputation." His tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
Shen Qiqi felt a little lost, and the atmosphere in the shop suddenly became depressing.
Seeing this, Lu Qing gently patted Shen Qiqi's hand and comforted her: "Qiqi, don't worry, we will think of a way."
"Master Zhang, do you think this will work?" Shen Qiqi continued to persuade him, "I can give you a higher salary, and I can watch you work here. If you have any questions, I can communicate with you at any time."
Blacksmith Zhang was unmoved, with his arms folded across his chest, looking unmoved. "It's not about the money, girl. I've never made this before. If I make it wrong, my reputation will be ruined." The apprentices around him also stopped their work and watched the stalemate curiously.
"Master Zhang, you are the best blacksmith in this area.
Blacksmith Zhang sighed and was about to speak when he heard Shen Qiqi say, "How about this, Master Zhang, please take a look at the seeds I brought..."
In the blacksmith shop, the heat wave mixed with the smell of rust made it hard to breathe.
Shen Qiqi felt like she had punched cotton, soft and fluffy, with nowhere to put her strength.
Her slightly trembling shoulders revealed her helplessness at the moment, like a kitten drenched in rain, looking pitiful.
Lu Qing held her hand tightly with heartache. The warmth of his palm conveyed silent comfort, but his eyes were like a taut string, full of worry.
"This...this..." Blacksmith Zhang felt a little uncomfortable as he looked at the young couple in front of him.
He was not heartless, but the blueprint of the new farm tool was like a heavenly book, and he was really not sure about it.
He wiped the sweat from his face and said in a rough voice, "Girl, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that my craftsmanship... I'm afraid I can't do it."
Shen Qiqi took a deep breath. She was not a soft persimmon who would give up easily.
A light bulb went off in her mind, and a sly smile appeared at the corner of her mouth: "Master Zhang, do you think this will work? As for me, I won't force you to agree immediately. I can help in your shop, give you a hand, or serve you tea and water. You see, with my physique, I can definitely do the work well." As she spoke, she deliberately rolled up her sleeves to reveal her white arms, as if to show her "strength".
Blacksmith Zhang was stunned, his eyes wide as bells, as if he had heard some fairy tale.
This little girl has a unique way of thinking!
He has seen people asking for help, but he has never seen anyone asking for work.
The apprentices beside them were also whispering to each other.
Lu Qing was also a little surprised, but he chose to believe his wife.
He looked at the twinkling light in Shen Qiqi's eyes, and a warm current surged in his heart. He held her hand tightly, conveying support and encouragement with his eyes.
"I can also help you light the fire and pull the bellows, as long as you don't mind!" Shen Qiqi continued, with a hint of playfulness in her tone, as if to say, I am an all-round master.
Blacksmith Zhang looked at Shen Qiqi, then at the drawing in her hand, and began to wonder.
This little girl is really interesting.
He scratched his head, and his rough stubble made his palms itchy. Just as he was about to say something, he heard Shen Qiqi suddenly raise her voice: "Master Zhang, please take a look at the seeds I brought first!" As she spoke, she took out a bulging cloth bag from her shoulder bag, opened the bag, and some strange-shaped seeds appeared inside.
A faint fragrance wafted out, and Zhang the Blacksmith frowned slightly, subconsciously reaching out his hand...
Blacksmith Zhang picked up a seed with his rough fingers and brought it to his nose to smell it. The strange fragrance made him feel refreshed.
"What is this? It smells pretty good."
"This is a new variety I brought. The yield is much higher than ordinary seeds." Shen Qiqi smiled mysteriously, "As long as you promise to help me make farm tools, I will give these seeds to you. How about it?"
Blacksmith Zhang hesitated. This new variety looked really good. If it was as high-yielding as Shen Qiqi said, he would make a fortune!
He looked at the drawings, then at Shen Qiqi, and gritted his teeth: "Okay! I promise you! But, let me be frank, if it goes wrong, you can't blame me."
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