"Because it's so cold, people in that area don't sleep on wooden beds like we do, but on kangs."
"Kang?" It was the first time Song Yuangang heard this term.
"Yes, kang is also called fire kang, which consists of three parts: stove, kang body and chimney. The supporting column base is built with red bricks, and then mud is pasted inside as a fireproof insulation layer, and then..." Xu Zhijin told Song Yuangang in detail the process he understood.
"...Connect it to the stove, and then whenever you light a fire to cook, the heat will come in and heat up the kang, making it very warm for people to lie on."
However, this is the method of making a kang in Kanto, and it's not really applicable here. Especially now that it's urgently needed, there's not much time to do such a big project.
Because the kang needed to be connected to the stove, and the houses in the Hongqi Production Brigade were all pre-built, and it would be difficult to connect them to each room by drilling holes in the walls. With so many people in each household, it would be extremely difficult to implement. Not to mention the cold weather and the shortage of food.
Song Yuangang obviously thought of this as well, and he couldn't help but frown, which made his joy fade away a little.
However, although it felt a bit difficult, Song Yuangang still planned to give it a try.
At this time, Xu Zhijin thought for a moment and said, "Or, we can leave a stove under the kang and build a flue pipe to let the hot smoke flow outside and burn directly for heating. This way, there is no need to connect a stove."
Upon hearing this, Song Yuangang was immediately delighted: "That's good."
After learning about this good idea, Song Yuangang couldn't wait any longer and wanted to go back and implement it. However, he definitely couldn't tell the whole team about it directly. He had to do an experiment first.
With this explanation, it will be more convincing when I talk to the people in the team.
"Thank you so much for coming up with such a good idea. I'll go back and take a look. I might need you again later. When the time comes..."
Before Song Yuan could finish, Xu Zhijin agreed directly: "If you need me, just let the captain know."
"Okay, then I'll go first." Song Yuangang was sincerely grateful to Xu Zhijin in his heart, and his favorability towards him deepened a lot after this incident.
He thought, no matter where Xu Zhijin was in Kyoto,
He didn't know what he had done wrong, but he believed that seeing is believing. He was not like those capitalists at all. Instead, he was a genuine and kind-hearted teacher of the people.
Before leaving, Song Yuangang carefully asked what materials were needed. After writing them down, he hurried back to the team in the heavy snow.
Fortunately, the necessary items were quite common. Once Song Yuan had found them, he began to think about where to build the first kang. He first considered his own home, but it was relatively far from the center, with many people coming and going from the brigade, and Xu Zhijin would have to come over, so he gave up.
Later, after much deliberation, I decided to leave it at Old Song's house.
Firstly, he has a close relationship with the people in the old Song family. Secondly, the old Song family has a lot of labor force. Song Aiguo and Song Aimin and other brothers are all there, which makes the work more convenient. They can also make the kang as soon as possible to see the effect.
However, this is just his idea. Whether to do it or not depends on the consent of the Song family.
Song Yuan was about to go back to Old Song's house when Zhang Aiyu hurriedly stopped him: "Hey? The meal has been ready for a while and will soon be cold. Where are you going if you don't want to eat?"
Song Yuan was about to say that he would eat after he came back, but seeing Zhang Aiyu, he swallowed the words back and turned back into the house to sit down and start eating.
After finishing his meal in a hurry, Song Yuan put down his bowl and said, "I'm going to go to Old Song's house first."
Zhang Aiyu was used to him being like this, so she didn't say much. She just reminded him, "Be careful on the road, don't fall."
"Okay." As he spoke, Song Yuan had already reached the gate.
Although the snow outside was slippery and difficult to walk, Song Yuangang still arrived at the old Song family's house quickly. At that moment, the old Song family members were staying in the house. Several children gathered together to study and play, while the adults played with Tiantian.
There were still some wool and cloth at home. If the weather wasn't so cold, Feng Guizhi could take them out and sew and knit. But the temperature was too low, and her hands were frozen stiff when she stretched them out. She spent half a day working on them and might not even finish a corner, so she simply gave up.
"Aunt Feng." Song Yuangang's voice came from outside. The distance was a bit far and the voice was a bit distorted, but they still heard it.
"Is the captain here?"
"I'll go open the door." Chen Xiuxiu said as she went out to open the door.
Although Feng Guizhi was older, she couldn't just sit there and wait, so she stood up and went to the front to greet them: "Team Leader
The chief is here, come in and sit down."
Song Yuangang didn't hesitate, and went into the house to find a small stool and sat down. He looked at the many people in the main room, including Song Aiguo and Song Jianshe. He didn't say any more small talk and said directly:
"Aunt Feng, I came here this time because I have something I want to discuss with you."
"Captain, you say."
"I heard about a method that can keep us warm this winter. However, we need to test it out first before we can promote it to the brigade. I originally wanted to test it at home, but for some reasons it's not convenient, so I wanted to come and discuss with you if I can do it at your house."
After hearing him say that he could stay warm through the winter, Feng Guizhi asked, "What's the method?"
Song Aiguo, Song Jianshe and others are also very curious and looking forward to it. If it really exists, it would be a great thing.
"Kang, let's make a kang, put firewood underneath, and wait until the kang is heated up, then people can sleep on it. It will definitely be warm and not cold at all." Then Song Yuangang roughly explained the method and principle of making a kang according to what Xu Zhijin said.
Everyone in the room was stunned by what they heard. They had never thought this method could be used. They didn't know much, but roughly speaking, it was similar to making a stove, except that instead of putting cooking pots on it, people were sleeping on it.
If it's really as Song Yuan just said, then just thinking about it makes me feel warm. But whether it can sleep people or is safe, we have to wait until we actually try it out to find out.
Although Feng Guizhi was not very educated, she knew that what Song Yuangang said was very feasible, so she agreed without much thought. Moreover, if this kang could really be made, the situation of freezing to death in Baoya's dream would not have happened.
"Captain, I agree. If you need anything, just tell us directly and we will definitely cooperate." Feng Guizhi looked up at Song Yuangang and said.
Seeing that she agreed so quickly, Song Yuangang smiled and felt relieved. However, now was not the time to talk about this. He didn't want to waste time and immediately asked Song Aiguo and the other four brothers to start making the kang.
Turning his head, Song Yuan just remembered Xu Zhijin, and turned to the people of the Song family and said, "By the way, this may require someone's help.
Help, but his identity is a bit special, you guys just know about it, but don’t say a word outside, otherwise you will get into trouble. "
The people in the old Song family looked at each other, and in their hearts they all thought of Zhao Rongsheng and others who lived in the cowshed, but they did not show it on their faces, nor did they ask him, and they remained silent.
Song Yuangang didn't notice anyone's strange look and just said, "You should have guessed who it is. It's the university teacher who was sent to our cowshed. His name is Xu Zhijin. He's the one who taught us how to build a kang. So when we start making it later, we have to call him over to give us some guidance. After all, we have no experience."
When they heard it was Xu Zhijin and not Zhao Rongsheng, the people of the Song family felt somewhat relieved. Otherwise, if they met in front of the team leader, they might reveal their true identity.
"Don't worry, Captain, we will definitely not say anything outside." Chen Xiuxiu spoke first.
Sun Suyun also followed up with a promise.
Song Yuangang trusted the people of the old Song family, so he didn't say anything more. He just said, "Okay, let's go and move the things we can use here first, red bricks, soil, straw... When we are almost done with the preparations here, we can call him over."
"good."
Everything was already available. Song Yuangang, Song Aiguo, Song Aimin and others moved into the old Song family's house together, and then they discussed together in whose room to build the first kang.
After a while, Song Jianshe spoke again, "Why don't we do it in Third Brother's room?"
The west room where Song Jianye's family of four lived was next to the yard, making it easier to get in and out and clean. They only had to move the bed to the other end, so they didn't have to pack too many things.
In fact, the east room where he lived was fine, but it was a bit inconvenient because of the kang and the hustle and bustle of going in and out. Tiantian was still young, and Li Qingyan had to prepare lessons.
Song Aiguo, Song Aimin and the others had no objections. After all, it made no difference to them which house they were in. Song Yuangang certainly had no objections either. After everything was finalized, Song Yuangang asked them to do some simple preparations first, and then went to the cowshed to call Xu Zhi in.
Soon, after calling someone, the two of them headed towards Old Song's house together.
Zhao Rongsheng, Shen Yibei and others heard about this from Xu Zhijin at noon.
, so I was not surprised when I saw it now, and was just waiting for their good news to come back.
Five or six people worked furiously for two days and quickly finished the kang. However, the soil on top was not dry yet, so they could not test it right away.
After waiting for another day, the soil was almost dry. Xu Zhijin touched it and said it was ready to be burned. Then a group of people gathered in the west room and watched Song Jianshe take the firewood and put it in the stove below and light it.
Everyone was waiting excitedly and anxiously to see if the kang could really get as hot as they said.
The fire below was burning fiercely. Song Yuangang stood by the bed and kept touching it. After a while, he felt a faint warmth and was immediately delighted.
"It's hot, it's hot."
Xu Zhijin felt the kang underneath slowly getting warmer, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.
When the others heard this, they hurried forward and curiously stretched out their hands to touch it. The younger ones couldn't help but move closer, their eyes widening in surprise.
"Wow, it's really hot!"
"From now on, I won't feel cold sleeping on a kang!"
"That's amazing! It must be very comfortable to sleep on it. I want to sleep here today."
"And me, I want to sleep here too. Mom, can I sleep in Uncle San's room today?"
"I want to sleep here too~!"
“…”
The children all clamored to sleep on the kang, much to the amusement of the adults. However, now that the kang was built, they no longer had to fear winter. Just thinking about sleeping on it would be so comfortable.
At this moment, let alone the children, even the adults wanted to sleep on the kang as soon as possible.
Baoya also stood next to the kang, placing her little hands on it, feeling the warmth slowly coming from underneath. Soon her hands were warm, and she opened her mouth in surprise, her face full of amazement.
Then she thought of the scene in her dream, and thought that if she had this, then, then they would not be cold.
Thinking of this, a slight smile appeared on Baoya's little face.
......
The kang was a success, and Song Yuan was so happy that he didn't stay any longer and went to the brigade headquarters. He wanted to broadcast the news and let everyone in the brigade build a kang.
It won't be long.
The brigade's radio began to blare again: "Today I have good news for everyone. Our brigade has found a way to stay warm through the winter. Now all the men in the brigade, come to Old Song's house. I'll tell you all the details once we're there."
"I'll repeat myself, today I want to tell you..."
The snow was still falling outside and the weather was still cold, but at this moment, Song Yuangang felt as if a fire was burning in his heart, making him feel warm all over.
The people in the team were stunned as they listened to his broadcast: "How can we stay warm during the winter?"
"Are you sending us something or something? Is there any way we can stay warm through the winter?"
"I have to go see what's going on. But why are we gathering at the gate of Old Song's house this time?"
"Could this matter be related to the Song family?"
"Come on, let's go over there and see what's going on."
“…”
Not long after, everyone in the team headed towards Old Song's house. More and more people gathered outside, discussing what Song Yuan had just said, and even ignoring the snowflakes falling above their heads.
"...Or we can just ask the Song family. They should know, right?"
"Yeah, since they're all here now, let's go ask."
As they spoke, several people gathered around Song Aiguo and asked him, "Aiguo, do you know why the captain called you to your door?"
Song Aiguo didn't reveal it directly. Anyway, Song Yuangang would come over and tell him later, so it didn't matter if he waited a little longer. He smiled and said, "You'll know when the captain comes."
After hearing what he said, several people stopped asking questions.
Not long after, Song Yuangang arrived. He was so anxious and happy that he didn't even open an umbrella. He was covered in snow. He casually brushed off the snow on his head and said to everyone:
"Today I want to tell you a method that can help us get through this winter well. This method is - building a kang, a fire kang!"
"You may not have heard of a fire kang, but it's actually very similar to our stove..."
Song Yuangang explained the principle again, and then continued: "I have conducted experiments in the past two days and succeeded, so I will tell you now, first, to let you witness it,
Secondly, it's already very cold, and we don't have much time to waste. The sooner we build the kang, the sooner we can have a comfortable winter."
The people in the group below looked at each other in confusion, unsure of what this kang (fire bed) Song Yuan had just mentioned was. However, from his description, it felt warm with a fire burning underneath and people sleeping on it, but everyone was also worried about the unknown.
Song Yuangang also knew this, so he said, "It's no use just talking about it. Now let's let you experience it for yourselves. But there are a lot of people, so let's go in a few at a time. You can feel the kang and see how it feels, and then decide whether to do it or not."
Afterwards, Song Yuangang simply lined them up, with eight people going in at a time. This was neither too many nor too few, and it also avoided too much chaos due to the large number of people. After all, that was the house where Song Jianye lived.
Everyone in the group was very curious, and when it was their turn, they couldn't wait to go in. When they came out, their faces were full of shock and excitement.
The others in the queue at the back quickly asked, "How is it? What does the kang look like?"
"Can you sleep with someone? It won't be dangerous, right?"
The person who went in did not answer them, but turned around and went to look for Song Yuangang.
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