Chapter 937 Carpenter Lu
The village has many households, and there are no extra yards to rent out.
It was getting late, so Qi Heng and Lin Yuesha needed to find a family to stay with before making any further plans.
“Sister Cloud, follow this path, and you’ll find Carpenter Lu’s house at the end.”
Er Mao gave the couple directions. Lu the carpenter wasn't from this village; he had moved here a few years ago to build a fishing village and settle down.
Normally, he hardly interacts with the villagers, but if a villager comes to him asking for a small item such as a wooden basin, Lu the carpenter will make it for them immediately. He gets along well with the villagers.
The small fishing village is sparsely populated, with many black reefs along the coast. Walking on a path mixed with sand, there is no hustle and bustle of the city. Listening to the sound of the waves, Lin Yuesha felt incredibly peaceful.
Following Er Mao's directions, the two walked for a quarter of an hour and finally arrived at the door of Lu the carpenter's house.
Just as Qi Heng was about to knock on the door, the iron gate creaked open.
A tall, burly man in his early thirties stepped forward, met Qi Heng's gaze, and asked with a puzzled look, "Who are you...?"
"Brother Lu, my wife and I are planning to start a business in the fishing village. We heard that you have a spare room. Would it be possible to rent one of your rooms?"
Lu the carpenter had a square face and an upright demeanor, but he didn't seem very comfortable interacting with people. Qi Heng decided to compromise and said, "If it's inconvenient, it would be fine to stay the night."
Some people prefer to be alone due to their personality, and having two extra people around will disturb their peace.
Lu the carpenter frowned; he wasn't used to being around people. He could accept staying just one night.
"We won't stay for nothing."
Lin Yuesha quickly explained, not wanting to be misunderstood as someone who took advantage of others.
"No need for money."
Carpenter Lu opened the iron gate and said, "Please come in, both of you."
The threshold was too high, so Qi Heng removed the carriage frame from the back of the horse before leading it into the courtyard.
People living by the sea can freely enclose land. In the front yard of Lu the carpenter's house, there is a water storage tank.
"The room on the far right isn't locked, so you can stay there tonight. I'm going out to get some water and drinks."
Lu the carpenter gestured for him to do as he pleased, but Qi Heng stopped him, saying, "Brother Lu, it's fate that we met. I brought quite a few things with me on this trip. How about we have a drink tonight?"
Qi Heng and Lin Yuesha prepared not only wine and water, but also meat.
Qi Heng was very enthusiastic towards Lu the carpenter. Lin Yuesha realized what was happening and chimed in, "I'll cook tonight and make a few dishes to go with the drinks."
As soon as she entered, Lin Yuesha noticed several lifelike ship models in the reservoir, which looked more like decorations than mere ornaments.
The carpenter Lu mentioned by the villagers was probably a shipwright, a very accomplished person.
Qi Heng cherishes talent, and his closeness to someone clearly indicates he has some ulterior motive.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law."
Lu the carpenter was not at ease. He lived alone, and his kitchen was a mess and had not been tidied up yet.
"I'll do it."
Lin Yuesha took the initiative to do the work. After traveling for several days, she also wanted to have something better to eat.
Cut the pork belly I bought into large chunks and blanch it. Add star anise and ginger to make braised pork. Make some fried peanuts as a snack with drinks. The rest of the ingredients, such as oysters I bought from Er Mao, were either steamed or stir-fried with chili. Finally, I added some wood ear mushrooms and scrambled eggs to make a big meal.
By the time Lin Yuesha finished cooking, it was completely dark.
Qi Heng and Lu the carpenter became acquainted and the two chatted happily.
"Brother Qi, I didn't expect you to be such an expert."
Lu the carpenter was very excited and became more talkative without realizing it. He had apprenticed to a boat repairman when he was a teenager, and his master, seeing his talent, gradually taught him some skills.
He spent nearly ten years building the ship and found that the hull was not stable enough, making it easy to capsize in the face of strong winds and waves at sea.
"I often wonder what it's like on the other side of the sea."
In earlier years, the Great Qi Dynasty had opened up maritime trade, and people from distant countries had visited this place.
However, it's considered good if you see one ship all year round; too many people who dream of getting rich quick end up at sea and are never heard from again.
Since Lu the carpenter's mother passed away, his father and elder brother became even more unrestrained, boarding a ship with a ruthless merchant and never returning.
They left the small fishing village and walked for five or six years, so the carpenter Lu moved here to wait.
Every year, some people still take a chance and leave with a batch of goods, but Lu the carpenter never heard from them returning.
"Overseas trade is a lucrative business, and ambitious people all want a piece of the pie."
Qi Heng has a broad vision and a long-term perspective.
Sooner or later, the Great Qi will reopen maritime trade and use the profits to fill the national treasury.
Only in this way, by reducing taxes, can the people become more prosperous.
Without understanding what's happening outside and without comparison, there will never be progress.
Like shipbuilding, if you have this idea and persevere like Lu the carpenter, you will eventually realize it.
"Brother Qi, are you serious?"
Carpenter Lu grasped Qi Heng's hand, his hand trembling.
For many years, he hid in a small fishing village, staying indoors to modify the blueprints, earning him the reputation of being an eccentric among the villagers.
He had many thoughts, but no one to confide in.
His peers thought his move was fanciful and too risky, since the sea conditions are unpredictable and difficult to change by rowing; sailors have to rely on sails to sail with the help of the wind.
Having found a kindred spirit, Lu the carpenter had long forgotten about eating and began to talk to Qi Heng about the wooden sailboat he had made.
Due to limited resources, he didn't have the money to build a large ship, so he could only scale it down and put the small wooden sailboat in a reservoir. Occasionally, on windy days, he would conduct tests.
After several years of research, Lu the carpenter hit a bottleneck, which is why he has been drinking alone lately and is very distressed.
He needs money to build large ships and test them at sea.
Only in this way, through continuous adjustments, can the desired effect be achieved.
He mentioned it to acquaintances, and they all thought he was a crazy conman who was trying to scam money, so no one was willing to invest.
The initial costs were enormous, and it might take eight to ten years to develop a wooden sailboat that could sail smoothly.
If it fails, the money invested will be wasted.
Lu the carpenter was devastated and extremely depressed. His savings from his early years had long been exhausted, and he made a living by going to the beach and helping villagers make household items.
"Brother Lu, I'm willing to contribute money to support you."
Qi Heng was convinced that Lu the carpenter's design was very reasonable after reviewing the blueprints. The rigid sail structure with bracing on the sail surface, although heavier and more difficult to raise, could utilize the wind to increase the ship's speed. Furthermore, the mast had no fixed barge, which allowed it to adapt to sudden changes in the sea, making it flexible in adjusting the mast and turning, and able to take advantage of winds from multiple directions.
The concept is perfect; Lu the carpenter has already conducted numerous experiments, and all that's left is to build the finished ship and launch it.
"Brother Qi, are you kidding me?"
Carpenter Lu was incredulous. Building a ship was no small feat, especially his design, which would increase the cost several times over compared to ordinary fishing boats.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
