However, it requires high-temperature firing, exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius, which is difficult to achieve with current kilns. She needs to have one specially customized.
With her current meager salary, she barely has time to pay for glutinous rice, let alone dare to conduct any other experiments.
As for the roof, she didn't have the money to buy tiles. She was a poor person and would avoid buying materials that cost money if possible. But she didn't want to use thatch either. After thinking it over, she chose bamboo tiles.
This type of bamboo tile was unprecedented in the State of Ye.
Cut bamboo in half to mimic the shape of roof tiles, and lay them up alternately. They are lightweight, do not absorb water, have good drainage, and most importantly, are easy and labor-saving to install.
Compared to thatched roofs, as long as you apply a layer of tung oil regularly, it can stay waterproof and rot-free for more than ten years.
However, they don't have tung oil at home, and it's even harder to find on the market. She'll refine it when she finds tung oil-producing green fruit later.
Once she had prepared all the necessary materials, she was ready to begin building the house.
When Zheng Quchi took out the house construction drawings that had been revised again, the young workers and other construction workers were like country bumpkins visiting the Grand View Garden—their eyes were opened wide.
She sharpened a charcoal pencil, bought the roughest paper on the market, and used modern hand-drawing techniques. The final form of the building was thus presented to them in the most intuitive and three-dimensional way.
This is a row of detached country houses with a natural wood base color scheme.
The house is divided into two main rooms, three bedrooms, a backyard, a front yard, a kitchen, and a toilet and bathing area. The layout is not much different from that of an ordinary house.
The problem lies in the style and construction method of the house. The courtyard and the house are arranged in a staggered manner with steps, stone paths and lawns, and the layout is clear. This kind of design is unprecedented.
It is less a place to rest and more a refined and breathtaking work of art.
The courtyard even has garden flower beds, landscape stone tables, and a row of fruit trees that bear fruit in all four seasons around the perimeter wall.
"Brother Sang, your house... is truly extraordinary."
"Yes, just looking at these blueprints, I'm already looking forward to seeing how it will look when it's finally built."
Everyone was in high spirits. Before, they all thought it was just building a house, but now they felt that they were creating a novel and innovative building.
From materials and construction methods to house design, every aspect has broken their perceptions and created a new experience.
Because there were enough people building the house, and there was no need for complicated procedures such as building a steel frame and installing water and electricity, the overall framework of the house was completed in just half a month.
During this time, Zheng Quchi also took the time to make some decorative paint herself. She used a brush to paint the yellowish-brown mud walls white. The main ingredients of this white paint are resin and lime, which can greatly prevent moisture, insects and mosquitoes.
Upon hearing about the purpose of the paint, the craftsmen all shamelessly asked for a list of materials, intending to apply it to their own homes in the future.
Zheng Quchi naturally didn't hold back and generously gave it to them.
The main structure of the house is finished, but the interior and exterior decorations are still empty.
She ran into the grove and dug up all the grass along the stream to decorate her yard.
They also found some wild roses, wild chrysanthemums, and calamus, which are ornamental and medicinal plants, and planted them in the flower beds. They also asked someone to help them buy some peach and pear saplings to plant in the yard.
In short, although her house was not large, it was full of beautiful scenery, evergreen all year round, and everything about it was unique.
As the houses they were building gradually took shape, everyone sighed with admiration.
“Brother Sang, I never knew before that a house could be built so beautifully without spending a lot of money.”
"However, your courtyard wall is indeed quite high. I wonder what your intention is?"
What other intention could there be?
To prevent theft, robbery, and surveillance.
The reason she was willing to spend a lot of money to buy glutinous rice from the village was because it was safe and secure. She even inserted thin, sharp pieces of wood into the rough stone wall of her courtyard. She had tested it and found that even the strongest person couldn't easily break down her yard with a hammer.
Although it cannot prevent people who know martial arts from entering, she had already arranged traps for those who entered through special channels.
On the day the Sang family mansion was completed, the craftsmen gazed at the house they had built for a long time, mesmerized and amazed.
It's not that it's as awe-inspiring as a magnificent palace, nor as dazzling and idyllic as a fairyland, but it is a truly warm, comfortable, and beautiful home that they can dream of.
On the day of the relocation, Zheng Quchi specially spent a lot of money to buy several roast chickens, white flour steamed buns, several pots of stew, and steamed a large pot of rice to entertain and thank them.
The craftsmen were very kind; they not only came in person but also brought congratulatory gifts.
A set of seven-star table and chairs moved from the young worker's home.
As expected of his masterpiece, the Seven Star Table can be disassembled into seven sections. The four corners can be removed to form a square table for four people, and then assembled to form a large round table for seven people.
Lei Gong had a job as a constable in the county. Although he didn't come to help this time, he knew that she was moving today, so he specially arranged for someone to deliver three canopy beds. These were precious and valuable items, which made the villagers who were watching very envious.
Other craftsmen also delivered boxes, cabinets, and shelves to celebrate the move.
Zheng Quchi happily welcomed all the furniture into the house. Looking at the empty house, which had been filled to the brim in such a short time, she was so happy that her eyes almost disappeared.
Brother Sang looked flattered and embarrassed, but seeing Zheng Quchi accept the gift without any hesitation, he didn't know what to say.
Zheng Quchi was naturally very grateful for their kindness; these people were new friends she had made in this world.
She couldn't afford to pay them. These were all renowned carpenters from the village and county; giving them her meager wages would only make her a laughingstock.
So she remembered this favor.
He also shared some of his architectural technical knowledge with them.
In the courtyard, a platform was built with a landscape stone table on it, the style and size of which were carved by the carpenter according to her specifications.
As the crescent moon hung in the night sky, after a hearty meal and drinks, the men couldn't keep their mouths shut. They started bragging, one after another, which was both funny and lively to listen to.
“My son will be able to get married this year, and next year he will definitely give my Wu family a big, fat grandson.”
"Speaking of which, it's already December before we know it. The wedding procession in the county is about to start again. Hehe, my brother has been looking forward to it for a year. I'm determined to find him a beautiful wife this year."
Zheng Quchi felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing this topic.
Suddenly, she remembered that her brother had mentioned that he wanted her to participate in the wedding procession and get married.
She leaned closer and asked, "Brother, Uncle, what's going on with this wedding procession?"
"You didn't know that? By the way, Brother Sang, you should be sixteen by now, right?"
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