Chapter 405 Fertilizing All the Way
Xiao Dazhuang squatted down and drew a picture on the ground with a charcoal pencil. He was worried that Lin Yuesha wouldn't understand, so he explained as he drew.
“Moonlight Maiden, here’s what I’m thinking: your other two maids can sleep on the roof of the carriage. The roof is spacious and won’t feel crowded.”
There was a large flat area on the roof of the vehicle, and Xiao Dazhuang decided to put a foldable tent on it. The folding part was made of iron frame, which was very sturdy and reliable.
During the day, when the horse-drawn carriage is traveling, the metal-framed tent can be folded up and placed on the roof of the carriage to provide shade and insulation.
On this trip south, the weather was hot and the sun was scorching. However, there were some things overhead to provide shade, making it more comfortable inside the car.
"If we're camping out in the wilderness at night, we can open the tent and cover the sides with thick tarpaulin. Although it's not very breathable, I can make a ventilation window on the side. Right here, I'll sew a few buttons around the sides. If we need ventilation, we can just open the buttons and let the tarpaulin down."
"That's a great idea!"
Lin Yuesha was very excited and gave Xiao Dazhuang a thumbs up. She, a modern person, never thought that it could be modified like this.
Adding a tent to the roof of the carriage effectively doubles the space, easily accommodating two people. Moreover, sleeping on the roof is relatively safer.
"You mentioned a well-ventilated window, plus a window screen, so you don't have to worry about mosquitoes or other insects at night."
Lin Yuesha made the decision to follow Xiao Dazhuang's idea, and not only her carriage would be equipped with it, but Liu Quan's family carriage would also follow this design.
Uncle Liu was grateful that they were going to the capital together and hadn't abandoned him, so he asked to drive the carriage and just find a wall to lean against for the night.
With Liu Quan absent, Uncle Liu and his daughter-in-law couldn't squeeze together. Lin Yuesha originally planned to have Uncle Liu sleep on the cargo wagon, but she noticed that they had brought too much stuff and the wagon was too cramped.
If adding another layer on top, without affecting the carriage's movement, would truly solve a major problem.
"Brother-in-law, make two windows for ventilation."
One on each side allows for air circulation, and if you need to repel mosquitoes at night, the smell can be released quickly.
If possible, divide the tent into sections and make separate compartments for easy changing clothes and grooming.
"Okay, no problem."
Xiao Dazhuang's idea was to improve the tent so that it could be opened during the day to dry clothes and blankets, and the soft blankets would make for a good night's sleep.
"You've been traveling along back roads to get to the capital, so you might not be able to find an inn in the next town to stay overnight."
Xiao Dazhuang designed many small details that provided Lin Yuesha with a lot of convenience.
Lin Yuesha had no prior contact with Xiao Dazhuang and only heard Chen Xiaohua's side of the story, so she thought he was an honest person. However, through his design of the carriage, Lin Yuesha discovered that Xiao Dazhuang was very intelligent and meticulous.
“I will build an iron frame outside the carriage so that your maid can climb onto the roof.”
After Xiao Dazhuang finished explaining his ideas, he asked Lin Yuesha, "Yuesha, where do you think it needs improvement?"
Lin Yuesha blinked. Actually, she had a little idea, but she was too embarrassed to say it.
This time, the family has a total of four carriages for the trip to the capital. One for my parents, one for Lin Yuesha and her maid, one for Liu Quan's family, and one for transporting goods.
Heading south, it gets hot, and sitting in the carriage is unbearably hot. You get a sore throat if you don't drink enough water, but finding a toilet is another problem.
Unlike men, women have to endure the discomfort of needing to use the restroom in order to save time on their journey. Qingxing and Qi'er recounted that they had come from the capital and had had very little water on the way. When their mouths were parched, they would only sip water from their teacups to reduce the number of times they needed to use the restroom.
Lin Yuesha couldn't stand it; how could she detox without drinking water, especially since she loved drinking tea.
The smell of a latrine on a carriage is unbearable, especially in hot weather; it's almost impossible to stay inside.
Stopping the carriage would waste time, and if we went to the mountains to relieve ourselves, we might get bitten by insects or snakes, which would be very embarrassing.
Lin Yuesha thought it over and over, and realized that the toilet problem had to be solved, at least the problem of urination had to be solved.
Placing a chamber pot on a carriage was really inappropriate, so she came up with a solution.
"You mean adding a compartment next to the carriage?"
Xiao Dazhuang didn't understand Lin Yuesha's meaning. It was all so abrupt. Didn't she say she brought a cargo wagon?
"that……"
Lin Yuesha decided to be frank, saying that when nature calls, it's a serious matter.
"You mean leave a small opening, and then..."
Xiao Dazhuang's face immediately turned red; the design was truly indescribable.
However, upon further reflection, he realized that it was indeed very convenient.
Using the toilet in the mountains is like fertilizing the land along the way; it's a good idea.
Lin Yuesha's face fell. What did she mean by "fertilizing the plants all the way"? If it weren't for the fact that carriages and horses were the only means of transportation in this era, she wouldn't have come up with such a terrible idea.
The cubicles are not usually used; they are only used when one absolutely cannot stand the urge to go. They have incense, a flushing bucket, and can ensure hygiene. The inspiration for the renovation came from the toilets of modern trains, and this is the best solution she could think of.
Those young ladies from wealthy families didn't have access to toilets when they went out; they had to hold it in. Lin Yuesha was afraid that holding it in would cause her problems.
"Okay, I'll start working on it first. Let me know if you have any ideas."
After chatting with Lin Yuesha, Xiao Dazhuang hurriedly made the tent, calling his father, Xiao the blacksmith, to join him. The two of them worked hard together.
"So, your brother-in-law isn't mad at me, is he?"
Chen Xiaohua's tone was somewhat annoyed. She suddenly thought of something, her eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly forgot what she had just experienced. She hugged Lin Yuesha and said, "You went to the capital, and you left so soon?"
"Didn't they say...didn't they say the earliest would be after the Lunar New Year?"
Chen Xiaohua was reluctant to part with her younger sister. The two sisters used to live apart, but not far apart, so they could still see each other if they wanted to.
If Lin Yuesha stays in the capital after this trip, gets married, has children, and perhaps... perhaps the two of them will never have the chance to meet again in this lifetime.
Thinking of this, Chen Xiaohua shed tears again. This was even more serious than Xiao Dazhuang's opinion of her, and she couldn't accept it.
“My brother-in-law isn’t angry with you; he’s just thanking me for helping him.”
Lin Yuesha smiled and sniffed. She hadn't wanted to cry, but her cousin Chen Xiaohua had led her astray, making it hard for her to control herself.
When Chen Xiaohua got married last time, the two of them agreed not to cry anymore, but it hasn't been long since then, and they are facing separation again.
"Waaaaah..."
Chen Xiaohua felt a pang of sadness. Her younger sister had a better future in Beijing, and she had no reason to stop her. She just felt a faint sense of loss, as if she had lost a loved one.
No one knows when it started, but the little girl who used to run around Chenjia Village all day long has grown into a graceful young woman and has quietly become her and the Chen family's support.
Without my younger sister's help, my family would never have been able to open two shops in town in our entire lives.
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