And so, with Lord Lin's observation and improvement, and with Gu Lili's reminder, the blueprints were completed three days later.
The sweet potatoes are almost all dug up; in another two days, we'll be finished.
Lord Lin was worried that Gu Lili's suggestion to replant the old vines would affect the yield, so he decided to plant only a dozen or so acres as an experiment this time.
The remaining fields can be used to plant wheat.
After the blueprints were completed, Gu Lili and Lord Lin went to Donghai Town and found the blacksmith shop that Gu Lili had mentioned.
After receiving the blueprints, Zhu the blacksmith found them somewhat difficult to understand.
"What is this?" Zhu the blacksmith asked, squinting and frowning as he held the blueprints.
Having spent most of his life forging iron, I can say I've seen it all.
After receiving the blueprints from Gu Lili and Lord Lin, he felt that most of his life's work on ironwork had been for nothing.
This thing, which is neither a weapon nor a vessel, is truly an eye-opener.
Fortunately, Gu Lili was already prepared.
"Yun Chu, Third Uncle, bring the threshing machine in!" Gu Lili shouted loudly towards the outside.
To save time, Gu Lili brought over a threshing machine from home so that Zhu the blacksmith could do it.
As soon as Gu Lili finished speaking, there was a commotion outside the blacksmith shop.
Before long, Gu Yun Chu and Li Tian Sheng brought in the threshing machine.
"Blacksmith Zhu, this is the actual object shown in the blueprints. It's called a threshing machine. Take a look and see if you can make it?" Gu Lili asked with a smile.
Before the threshing machine was even put down, Zhu the blacksmith hurriedly went over to check it.
He had never seen or even heard of this thing before.
As Gu Yun Chu and Li Tian Sheng put down the threshing machine, Zhu the blacksmith touched it from left to right and looked at it for a long time before finally nodding.
"Yes!" Zhu the blacksmith said confidently.
With both blueprints and physical samples, following them is a piece of cake.
Seeing Zhu the blacksmith's confident demeanor, Gu Lili felt that she had found the right person.
“Alright, then leave the blueprints and the threshing machine here. Once you’ve finished, send someone to Baiweixuan to tell the manager that if the finished product is identical, please make more for us,” Gu Lili said.
With so many acres of rice fields, naturally the more threshing machines the better.
It can be used again next year.
Zhu the blacksmith nodded, already eager to call his apprentice over and get ready to start forging.
Seeing this, Gu Lili and the others naturally decided not to stay any longer, lest they affect Zhu the blacksmith's progress.
The group then boarded the carriage and headed back to Gu Village.
Upon arriving at the village, Gu Lili alighted from the carriage and told Gu Yun Chu and Li Tian Sheng to go back first.
The canteen has already been built and will be put into use tomorrow.
With so many people eating at Gu Lili's workshop, it's necessary to take a look and see what's not up to standard, so that Aunt Zhang can make some improvements.
As soon as Gu Lili came in, Aunt Zhang and Uncle Zhang rushed out to greet her.
"Lili, you're here? Come and take a look. If there's anything wrong, you can give me some advice." Aunt Zhang said, taking Gu Lili's hand and leading her into the house.
As Gu Lili walked, she looked at the layout of the dining hall.
Everything is provided, including a table.
Gu Lili glanced around and estimated that there were ten tables in total. If they squeezed together, eighty or ninety people could sit down and eat together.
Gu Lili's family doesn't have that many long-term workers yet. If the number of people increases in the future, they will definitely have to eat at staggered times.
That works out well; some people eat while others work, so it doesn't affect the progress.
Looking at the gleaming kitchen utensils, Gu Lili nodded in satisfaction.
"Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang, you've done a great job! The meals will be as we agreed before: two meals a day, one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and one soup per meal. For breakfast, there will be porridge or vegetable puree or something like that," Gu Lili said with a smile.
Gu Lili gave Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang a daily meal allowance of five coins each. Although she couldn't cook fancy dishes, she could still ensure that everyone had enough to eat and that they wouldn't have to travel back and forth to their home every day.
Moreover, even if they eat at home, they might not be able to eat as well as they do in the canteen.
According to Gu Lili's standards, Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang should also be able to earn money.
Moreover, if you are not satisfied with the fixed dishes at Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang's canteen, you can pay extra to have them make better ones.
In this way, Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang can earn some more money.
Aunt Zhang repeatedly assured her, "Lili, we know, we know, we promise to make sure the food is spotless!"
Even without Aunt Zhang's guarantee, Gu Lili believed it.
After chatting for a while, Gu Lili went home.
She hasn't told the villagers who are working at home about this yet.
When Gu Lili returned home, the villagers who were rendering lard had just finished.
Gu Lili quickly asked Gu Chenxi and Li Tiansheng to call everyone to the courtyard so she could tell them what had happened.
Those who went to the canteen for meals included the villagers who made soap, the embroiderers and their apprentices, Old Zhou and his apprentices, and Yu Yirou and her apprentices.
With so many people to cook for every day, Grandma Li and Gu Chenxi were getting quite busy.
The group was called to the courtyard, and some of them were completely confused.
It's unclear what Gu Lili wanted to say, but she actually summoned them all here.
Not only were the villagers unaware, but even Old Lady Li and Gu Chenxi were kept in the dark.
Seeing everyone's curious expressions, Gu Lili didn't hide anything and directly revealed her plan.
Upon hearing this, everyone began to whisper among themselves.
The others were also quite normal; there was no difference between eating in the cafeteria and eating at Gu Lili's house.
But it's a different story for the villagers who make soap.
They always went home to eat when they helped make soap.
Gu Lili suddenly said she would provide them with meals, so does that mean their wages will be reduced?
One of the bolder villagers asked with a big smile, "Lili, does that mean we'll get less pay if they provide us with meals?"
If that's the case, it's better to go home and eat something simple; at least you'll still have fifteen coins a day.
Upon hearing this, Gu Lili finally understood that what everyone had been whispering about was their concern about wages.
"Don't worry, everyone, your wages will remain the same! In fact, I'll give you extra pay!" Gu Lili announced loudly.
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
Gu Lili continued, "Regarding the wage increase..."
This only applies to the villagers working at the soap workshop for now. I've kept track of the days you've worked for me. Every six months, I'll raise your pay by one coin. If you don't make any mistakes on ordinary days, you'll also receive a bonus at the New Year. So, everyone must work diligently!
As soon as Gu Lili finished speaking, the villagers in the soap workshop applauded excitedly.
Seeing the unhappiness on the faces of the other apprentices, Gu Lili knew perfectly well why.
They all had to study for a year or two before they could receive a monthly stipend, so they were naturally unhappy watching others receive theirs.
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