Chi Tang pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved, her big eyes red, like a frightened little rabbit.
Upon entering the house, Aunt Chi felt a pang of heartache upon seeing her daughter's condition. However, she still managed to say a few words, despite her distress: "Tangtang, you need to be more careful. You can't show your different side to bad people."
Huh?
What does this mean?
"...That Shi Hongxing is not a good person. If she discovers your unusual behavior, she will definitely do something to harm you!"
As she spoke, Aunt Chi's voice became somewhat fierce.
Having learned from Xiao Zhou's lesson, Aunt Chi was determined this time to drive Shi Hongxing away immediately if she showed any ill intentions towards Tangtang and her family!
Even if the second child doesn't want to, she will still do it!
We can't let one bad apple spoil the whole family!
"Mother~"
Chi Tang called out softly, hugged her mother's neck, and gave her two kisses: "So, Mom, you still like me."
She thought her mother no longer loved her.
"Silly girl, if your mother doesn't love you, who will she love?" Aunt Chi hugged her daughter and kissed her twice.
After Old Man Chi and the others returned in the evening, Chi Tang, with Aunt Chi's permission, told her about making charcoal.
Actually, making charcoal is not difficult.
Coal is indeed a natural substance, but charcoal can be made.
If you use good quality wood, the charcoal produced will be warm and smokeless, making it very useful.
"Tangtang, tell me, what should we do?"
Old Man Chi was quite excited.
If we could make charcoal, wouldn't that be another way for our family to make a living?
Chi Tang then slowly recounted what she could remember.
The first thing to do is to build a kiln.
There shouldn't be too much airflow when making charcoal, otherwise the charcoal will burn completely. However, some airflow is still needed, so a kiln is the most suitable place.
The iron pot on top can block the air, while the vent below can ensure a certain amount of airflow.
"Does it have to be a kiln? Would a cave work?" Old Man Chi asked, somewhat puzzled.
They've never worked with a kiln before, they really don't know how to do it.
Chi Tang's little head was filled with big doubts: "As long as it can be sealed, it should be possible."
Strangely enough, when talking about serious matters, Chi Tang's pronunciation became quite standard.
This amazed Aunt Chi and her husband, who both felt it was a gift from the gods.
Later, Chi Tang talked on and on with her parents for a long time.
The method for making charcoal is actually quite simple by modern standards. The underlying principle is even simpler, which is why Chi Tang knew it.
Moreover, charcoal has existed since ancient times.
The Eastern Han Dynasty scholar Xu Shen wrote in his book "Shuowen Jiezi": "Charcoal is wood that retains its properties when burned. It is used to make fire for warmth in the cold moon. It produces neither smoke nor flame, and is therefore precious."
The phrase "burning wood retains its properties" is particularly clever, clearly explaining that charcoal is made from burning wood, but it is not completely burned and retains the characteristics of wood.
This also shows that charcoal making was a skilled craft in ancient times.
The mature history of charcoal can be traced back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
The Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou) states in the Monthly Ordinances section: "In late autumn, when the grass and trees turn yellow and fall, firewood is cut down to make charcoal." The Book of Rites also states in the Monthly Ordinances section: "Large pieces that can be split are called firewood, while smaller pieces that are bundled together are called firewood."
To this end, the Zhou Dynasty also established an official position to manage charcoal.
Because charcoal is easy to ignite, burns for a long time, is clean, and is easy to store and transport, it was not only used for cooking and heating in the ancient upper class, but also became an excellent fuel for smelting.
Chi Tang knew this, but she didn't know if charcoal existed in this dynasty.
She had seen the charcoal fire used by Nan Xingyi and his sister; it was top-quality silver wire charcoal and red silk charcoal, naturally formed.
Farmhouses typically use heated brick beds (kang), so she had never seen an earthen kang here before.
"No matter what, it's worth a try. According to my daughter, charcoal can be made from wood, so ordinary people like us can afford it."
Old Man Chi's heart was burning with passion.
If it succeeds, not only will his own family benefit, but he can also help other people, which is why Mr. Chi attaches great importance to it.
"So tomorrow my older brother and I won't go to work either, we'll go up the mountain and cut down more wood to see how it goes."
"Okay, you guys give it a try. Try it for a month, and if it still doesn't work, then forget it."
We can't let our family starve just for a piece of charcoal, can we?
Old Man Chi nodded in agreement.
——
Inside the residence of the Princess in the capital, a mother and son were warming themselves by a fire.
The silver charcoal burned silently, without a trace of smoke.
It's warm and clean.
"Has Mother decided how to handle this?"
Before dinner, they received a reply and learned who the three people Tangtang saw in her dream were.
One of them was someone even Princess Duanyang hadn't expected.
That was her dowry maid!
"I haven't decided yet. I used to think that it was someone sent from over there to harm you and my child, but now it seems that might not be the case."
Princess Duanyang squinted her eyes and stretched out her hands, turning them in front of the charcoal fire.
The maids who could serve as her dowry maids had to have impeccable reputations for eighteen generations, not to mention who their parents and brothers were!
But among those who secretly tampered with her food was her dowry maid!
I'm afraid Huo Minglang doesn't have that ability!
Huo Chenyi thought so too: "I just don't know if they're after Huo Minglang or their mother."
Because the other two people were people secretly planted by Huo Minglang and Wang Shi.
Princess Duanyang chuckled: "Who do you think we are, mother and son, that we're worth such scheming against?"
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