Chapter 306 Xiao Yan's Arrangement
At night, after Lu Qiniang fell asleep, Xiao Yan quietly changed into his night clothes and went out.
He went to a dilapidated house near the dock in secret.
This is what he just bought.
The door was locked, but Xiao Yan didn't open it. Instead, he jumped over the wall and entered.
Holding a lantern, Xiao Yan walked into the yard and then went straight to the window of the main house.
After hanging up the lantern, he picked up the broom beside him and swept away the layer of dirt under his feet, revealing a wooden board underneath.
When I stepped on the wooden board, it was obvious that it was empty.
Xiao Yan bent down and used some strength to lift the wooden board, revealing a dark abyss-like hole.
But this hole is not very deep.
Inside is a cellar, which was dug by the previous owner to store things.
Xiao Yan fell in love with this house because of the land and the cellar.
He picked up the lantern and jumped down.
The cellar was very spacious, and inside it was a large package of unopened things, which was the rice paper lost by the man at the dock.
In addition, there are many things scattered here and there.
There are wooden boards, rosin, wood ash, clay, etc., and the best pine soot ink is piled in the corner.
However, Xiao Yan checked the number and felt that it was still less than expected.
It seems that I have to continue stockpiling.
He took out a carving knife and, using the light of a lantern, carved words on the clay. The words he had already carved were scattered around him.
Because it is reversed, it is difficult to recognize.
Xiao Yan planned to print a batch of things himself and distribute them.
The events of the Lantern Festival are not over yet.
A few days later, Xiao Yan asked Lu Qiniang for another 1,000 taels of silver.
Lu Qiniang didn't even ask why and just gave him the banknote.
——Xiao Yan is doing big things, she doesn’t need to understand, just support him.
Xiao Yan took the 1,000-liang silver note and found Lei the Deafzi.
Lei Longzi and his family have moved to the capital. His nephew and eldest son work with him, while the younger ones stay at home with his wife. They are also busy and do needlework, which brings in some income.
Lei Longzi is extremely satisfied with his current life.
Seeing Xiao Yan coming, Lei Longzi naturally gave him a warm welcome.
Xiao Yan explained his purpose directly to him: "We won't be making firecrackers and fireworks until the end of the year. In the meantime, you can only work with me and others. It's a waste of your talent."
"Unyielding talent, unyielding talent." Lei the Deaf said awkwardly.
"I have another job for you. I wonder if you'd like to take it."
"You say, whatever you say, Mr. Xiao, just give me your orders, I will obey you."
"You should also know my past identity."
"I know, I know. Who hasn't heard of General Po Lu? My kids are so happy that I can work with you. They even said they want to follow you to fight in the future."
"Maybe there's a chance." Xiao Yan smiled. "Although I haven't been reinstated yet, I will eventually go back. I'm very interested in gunpowder. The explosion that blew up the city wall on the Lantern Festival was very powerful. I think if it can be used on the battlefield, it will be a great help to us."
"Isn't this dangerous?" Lei Longzi said honestly, "Although I can do it, sometimes I'm afraid of losing control and backfire on myself."
Isn't that how his brother died?
"I know, so I'm going to give this job to you," Xiao Yan said. "I'll give you time. You can slowly study it until you figure it out. If it doesn't work out this year, come back at the end of the year, make some money, and then go back next year. How about that?"
"Where are you going?"
"To be honest, I want to keep gunpowder a secret weapon," Xiao Yan said, "so I can't let anyone know about it. But during the development period, I have to test it. The noise is so loud that it's hard to hide from others."
"That's right. I've been thinking about this too. I'm worried that it doesn't matter if we do research, but I'm afraid someone will use it to harm others and then blame us." Lei the Deaf said.
When Xiao Yan was in jail, Lei Longzi was extremely worried, thinking it was all his fault.
Xiao Yan nodded, "So this time, we have to do it secretly."
"It's hard to keep this secret." Lei Longzi looked embarrassed.
He wanted to cover it, but he couldn't!
"If I asked you to pack all your things and go to the island of Dengzhou, would you be willing? I will prepare all your food, clothing, and necessities for you." Xiao Yan said, "There will also be people to provide for you, and there will be people to accompany you."
"Dengzhou? That's not close." Lei Longzi hesitated.
"Yes. Dengzhou Wei is my lifelong friend, and he will take care of you. But this matter is indeed difficult, and I'm afraid you won't be able to return home for most of the year, so I hope you will think it over carefully."
Xiao Yan put down the 1,000 taels of silver.
Lei Longzi quickly said, "No, Mr. Xiao, it's not about the money."
"I know you're not bargaining with me, it's just that I feel it's been very hard and I should give you more."
"That's not hard. I used to beg for a living. I'm just a little worried about my family—"
"Don't worry, I will take good care of your family. If anything happens to you, I will take good care of your wife and children for the rest of my life. But this matter must be kept secret, not even to your family. As for the excuse for going out, think of it yourself. You know better what your family will believe."
"Okay." Lei Longzi agreed immediately. "Now that we've come to this, I have no more concerns. I'll leave everything to Mr. Xiao. Just that, how powerful do you want it? If I prepare it in advance..."
"I'll tell you in detail. If you have exceptional talent and can finish it in a few months, return to the capital and I'll offer you a separate reward."
After finalizing the matter, Lei Longzi quickly said goodbye to his family and set off.
He didn't bring anyone.
Xiao Yan brought his nephew Lei Tianyi and son Lei Tiansha with him to raise them.
Lu Qiniang didn't know about these things.
In addition to these major tasks, Xiao Yan also did a few small things.
For example, Xin Jian soon arranged to get married again, but when he was feeling very proud, he was trampled by a frightened horse on the street. Originally, he only broke his leg, but later, for some unknown reason, he became paralyzed.
Doctor Hu specially invited a banquet to Lu Qiniang's house for this matter. He drank with Xiao Yan until half the night, got drunk, and then he smashed the wine glass.
He said, "Xiao Yan, be my witness. I will never drink a drop of alcohol again in my life."
Lu Qin's mother came out cursing and cleaning up, "No wonder you invited us to dinner and even invited the banquet to our house. You can't bear to part with your own things, so you come to throw mine away."
Doctor Hu's eyes were hazy with drunkenness. "What do you know?"
It was no longer possible for him to trust Lin as completely as before.
He was only drunk for the last time, but he didn't want to tell Lin about this last thing he did for Dujuan.
Dujuan, the fate between you and me as father and daughter in this life has ended. In the next life, I hope you will be born into a good family and be a good person.
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