Chapter 22
Gu Xinxin nodded and made way.
It was just a minor incident, and she didn't take it seriously. She was only worried about one thing now, which was how to meet the county magistrate's daughter and how to get Gu Daniu to stop attacking her again.
But after thinking about it, there is only one way - to give Gu Daniu some benefits temporarily, and then improve his own martial arts value.
Mountains will run away if you rely on them, water will flow if you rely on it, but people can only rely on themselves.
Gu Xinxin inquired about the location of the carpenter shop and planned to take a look around the shop first. Before leaving, she was afraid that Gu Daniu would come back and get angry if he couldn't find her, so she specially said a few words to the owners of the small stalls around.
"I want to make something, I wonder if you can do it." Gu Xinxin found the carpenter's shop, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and then greeted the owner inside.
The shopkeeper was also busy, sawing inside, apparently making a stool.
Hearing the greeting, he looked up, pulled down the towel on the wood next to him, wiped his face, and asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Do you have any brushes and ink? I can draw it," Gu Xinxin asked hurriedly. She had seen pictures of the repeating crossbow online. She had been enjoying mountain climbing for a while, as it helped her relax. However, mountain climbing for a single woman was still somewhat dangerous, so she had searched online for similar equipment.
Although it was never used, she practiced using it after getting it.
I have some understanding of its composition and working principle.
The shopkeeper said nothing as he took out the brush, ink, paper and inkstone. Gu Xinxin drew a picture on the side and explained to the shopkeeper: "This is the groove, about this inch."
"They use beef tendon here? Beef tendon isn't cheap." The shopkeeper, listening from the opposite side, couldn't help but wonder, "Besides, the better the beef tendon, the more expensive it is. You need three inches of this, right?"
It’s not that the size of your crossbow determines the amount of tendon you need, but you need more.
One inch costs one tael of silver, and three inches costs three taels.
The rest wasn't worth much, just a few pieces of wood. However, the shopkeeper said, "Ordinary wood is prone to cracking and warping. I see you're making something like a bow and arrow, so you should know that bows and arrows will break after a long time, right? Therefore, it's best to treat it with either butter or horse oil. Of course, better wood will last longer. Ordinary locust trees and poplars last about two or three months, while redwood and sandalwood last longer, perhaps half a year or a year..."
Gu Xinxin chose ordinary wood.
If she had used good wood, she might not have been able to keep the thing.
"Can you make it smaller so I can hide it with me?" Gu Xinxin asked. The shopkeeper pondered for a moment and nodded: "Sure, it doesn't require much arm strength anyway, so you can make it smaller."
It is okay to wear it on your arm, but it must be covered with long sleeves.
Gu Xinxin is now a farm girl and wears narrow-sleeved clothes that are convenient for work, so it is not suitable for her to wear this.
"The deposit is one or two taels of silver." said the shopkeeper. Gu Xinxin picked out a small silver melon seed from the sole of her shoe - it was the share given to her by the second aunt.
Second Aunt didn't tell Gu Daniu, and Gu Xinxin had to think of ways to hide these things all day long.
After the transaction was completed, Gu Xinxin hurriedly left the carpenter shop and returned to her previous place to wait. Fortunately, Gu Daniu had not returned yet.
When Gu Daniu came back, Gu Xinxin noticed that he had a jar in his hand.
She quickly stepped forward and asked, "Dad, what is this?"
If you can't afford to offend someone, just try to please them first. Anyway, there is no shame in doing anything as long as you are alive.
Gu Daniu said angrily: "Lard, the lard used by the restaurant every day, will be cheaper than the ones sold outside."
Gu Xinxin couldn't help but open her mouth. Why do we still have to use gutter oil in ancient times?
"Isn't this a bad idea? The food will taste different." Gu Xinxin whispered. Gu Daniu sneered, "If the food doesn't taste good, can't we just make two batches and sell them to ordinary people?"
Gu Xinxin pursed her lips and argued for herself: "Integrity is the key to doing business."
"Isn't it lard that I use?" Gu Daniu asked. There was no way to say it, it was indeed lard.
"But using lard too often is bad for your health," Gu Xinxin continued. Gu Daniu waved his hand, "It's not as serious as you say. Do you know how hard it is to buy this stuff? Do you think you can get it just because you want it? If it weren't for your father and I, who have connections in the restaurant, we wouldn't have gotten this cheap and good stuff. Stop talking nonsense. It's getting late. You should go home quickly."
Gu Xinxin had no choice but to catch up quickly.
Gu Daniu was in a hurry on his way without caring about Gu Xinxin at all, and walked fast and hurriedly.
Gu Xinxin was almost running behind, but she didn't ask Gu Daniu to stop and wait, she just kept running - just thinking of it as exercise to strengthen her physical fitness.
After running all the way home, I was so tired that I lay down on the chair and couldn't get up.
As it was getting dark, Gu Chen was still calling her to cook: "Xinxin, you've been out playing all day and you've become so carefree that you didn't even make dinner, right?"
Old Mrs. Gu leaned against the window and shouted, "I'm hungry, I'm hungry."
Just like a zombie, Gu Xinxin commented in her heart.
Gu Daniu, also known as Gu Xinxin, said, "I've bought everything for you. How do you make that honey twisted dough stick you mentioned?"
Gu Xinxin paused for a moment before saying, "I can't cook today. I need to let the dough rise. Besides, I'm very tired today. My stepmother has been sitting at home all day. Let her cook."
Gu Chenshi was like a screaming chicken: "Who said I sat at home all day? Who swept the floor? Who fed the chickens? Who washed the clothes?"
Gu Xinxin yawned: "I've been running around all day too. Who said I just played around all day? Anyway, I'm so tired that I can't stand up. If no one of you does it, then you can all starve."
Gu Xiangrong and Gu Wenshu haven't returned from town yet, and they will be even later.
Gu Chen looked at Gu Daniu and opened her mouth to complain, but Gu Daniu said impatiently: "You do it!"
Gu Chen was stunned for a moment, and pointed at herself in disbelief: "You said, let me do it?"
Gu Daniu nodded: "Hurry up, I'm tired after a day."
Gu Xinxin was under her watch, so she must have been really tired after making such a trip. As for Gu Chenshi... he hadn't seen her working, had he?
Gu Chen wanted to say something, but was stared at by Gu Daniu. After a moment, she had to get up and go to the kitchen.
Gu Xinxin called out to Gu Qiuhe, "Bring me a bowl of water and don't spit in it, or I'll beat you to death."
Gu Qiuhe was unwilling, and Gu Xinxin sneered: "Are you itching for trouble?"
She behaves like a vicious eldest sister.
Of course, Gu Qiuhe was not a poor illegitimate child, but she was young and had just been frightened by the incident yesterday when Gu Xinxin dared to bite Gu Daniu, so even though she was reluctant, she stomped her feet and went into the kitchen.
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