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"Boss, you've come at the right time. The reconstruction of the salt fields has already made some progress!" Zhao Pu was overjoyed to see Cheng Xi coming and spoke immediately.
Cheng Xi came to the East Gate this time to inspect the salt fields. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but ask, "Is the fired cement ready for use?"
She thought that the cement needed some time to mature before it could be used in the salt pond. To be honest, she didn't know how corrosion-resistant the cement was. Brine could even corrode ironware. It would be terrible if the cement was not durable.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Pu shook his head repeatedly. "That cement looks exotic, but building a pond requires an astonishing amount of manpower and resources. I'm afraid it won't be possible to build it in a short time. But I thought about it, the most important thing about this method of drying salt is making brine. Whether it's drying with boards or building a pond, it still needs to use prepared brine. So isn't the key still how to make the brine?"
This statement was logically sound. Cheng Xi nodded and said, "Then how do you plan to make brine? Without waterproof materials, won't the seawater we bring in seep into the ground?"
Zhao Pu slapped his thigh. "I knew you were thinking the wrong way, Boss. How can you make brine directly from seawater? You make brine from salt mud, and then extract brine from that mud! When we boil the sea, we sometimes dig up mud and sand from the seashore to make brine, but too much mud and sand will affect the salt yield. So, as long as we make a thick enough salt mud and find a way to filter out the mud and sand, wouldn't that make concentrated brine? And Boss, you also said you want to build ridges in the salt fields. Then, digging sand to make brine, wouldn't that be just like farming?"
This is indeed an ingenious idea, but Cheng Xi has to admit that this method is feasible.
After all, cement is a modern invention. If you wanted to dry salt in ancient times, there must have been other ways. This is not just a matter of alternative materials, but more likely a difference in technology.
If it is not possible to build modern salt fields for the time being, it is possible to use ancient methods as a transition.
After thinking for a while, Cheng Xi said, "If we use this method instead, we only need to build a cement salt drying pond at the end?"
Zhao Pu quickly said, "It doesn't necessarily require something as expensive as cement. Since it's waterproof, broken tiles or broken pieces of jars should be fine."
This really saves money. Cheng Xi laughed and said, "Your idea is good. You can try it first. You also need to pay attention to how to prevent rain and wind disasters. Drying salt depends on the weather, so you can't be careless."
Hearing this, Zhao Pu breathed a sigh of relief. What he feared most was that the young gang leader was arrogant and would not listen to advice. He didn't expect that he would adopt his advice so easily. This way, there was no need to wait for the cement to be baked and they could start working now.
They are all sea salt. No matter whether it is cooked or dried, it is always a matter of brine. Try a few times and you will definitely succeed!
When Zhao Pu thought of the increased output after the salt field reform, his face lit up with excitement. Who would find this money-making business troublesome?
…
"The salt pond no longer needs cement?" Upon hearing this news, Lin the bricklayer's jaw almost dropped. "No, boss, we've been busy with it for so long, how can you just say we don't need it anymore?"
He had racked his brains to figure out how to make "cement", which is how he stood out from the crowd and became a master craftsman in a cement workshop.
I was getting ready to do something big, but suddenly he said he didn't need his stuff. Is this a joke?!
Cheng Xi, however, was not joking at all. "Cement is showing initial results, but whether it can withstand being soaked in seawater is still unknown. Rushing into it is likely to cause losses. Using materials like tiles or ceramic jars as the base is cheaper and more effective, and there's no need to harden the cement."
Lin the bricklayer opened his mouth and uttered, "What about this workshop?"
The ground has just been leveled, the kiln has been built, and even the water mill for grinding flour is about to be built. Could it be that all this big fuss will be in vain?
Understanding what he was worried about, Cheng Xi laughed and said, "Of course cement is still needed, but there is no need to rush to build the salt pond. Once the brick kiln is built, this workshop will be of use."
Upon hearing this, Lin the bricklayer perked up: "Boss, I'm not saying anything, but the red bricks you ordered to be fired are not safe for building houses. They are too brittle and are not as decent as blue bricks."
Cheng Xi now knows that it’s not that red bricks couldn’t be fired in ancient times, but that the density and durability of red bricks were far inferior to those of blue bricks, and it was also difficult to fire the color evenly. They were not as beautiful as blue bricks for building houses, so they were eliminated.
But others can't use it, but she can.
"Compared with red bricks, blue bricks are more than twice as expensive. Building a house with red bricks alone does not look very beautiful, but what if you use cement to fill the joints and finally paint the walls?" Cheng Xi asked back.
Lin the bricklayer was a true craftsman. He was stunned when he heard it. After a while, he said, "It seems, it seems not bad..."
"It's more than just good. After coating the walls with cement, it's not only waterproof, but also more solid than ordinary brick houses. Apply a layer of putty on the wall and paint it white. And its cost must be much cheaper than that of an ordinary blue brick house." Cheng Xi said directly.
It can even be painted white? This is not only good, it is better than the houses of ordinary wealthy families! Lin the tile maker's eyes widened and he was dumbfounded.
He originally thought that the cement was for the salt pond, but who would have thought there was another trick hidden here! If this red brick house was really built, who knows how many people would come to ask for it.
Dongning has so much rain and wind disasters in the summer. Brick houses are definitely more reliable than adobe houses. What a big deal!
Thinking of this, Lin the Bricklayer's face flushed with excitement: "Don't worry, boss, I will keep a close eye on this cement recipe and will never pass it on to anyone else!"
Cheng Xi smiled: "The current output is not enough. You need to continue to improve the process and burn more cement. And the fuel. Wood must be replaced with coal as soon as possible. It doesn't matter if it's a little more expensive. It seems that slag and cement can be mixed to make bricks."
It seems that hollow cement bricks are made with slag. Her impression may not be reliable, but fuel replacement is always inevitable. It is better to come up with an idea first and let this group of professionals study it.
This surprised Lin the bricklayer again. However, after thinking about it carefully, it was not impossible to make bricks with cement. If coal slag was really useful, a lot of materials could be saved.
As for how to transport the coal here, the Red Flag Gang is a shipping gang, so are they afraid of this?
The heart that had been hit by the salt pond before suddenly cheered up again. Lin the bricklayer patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, boss, I will build this cement brick house as soon as possible. In the future, all the house building work in Dongning will probably fall into our hands!"
Cheng Xi smiled without saying anything. She wanted to be more than just a contractor. She wanted to open a factory of building materials, monopolize the technology and franchise the business. That would be a steady source of income.
Once the new red brick house is built, she may not need to exchange the savings she had withdrawn before.
…
Since Cheng Xi came back, Tian Yu has visibly more work to do. The preparation of several workshops is secondary. The most important thing is the fish stall that is about to open.
This is the key to setting foot in Panyu, and it involves a lot of planning for the next step. Even if he handles it, it will take a lot of effort.
However, Tian Yu didn't care about these. What gave him a headache was the little girl who stood in front of him all day long.
"What a mess you wrote?" Looking at the account book on the table, Tian Yu frowned. He didn't write properly, but had to scribble like that. I don't know where he learned that from!
He Ling chuckled, "Mr. Tian, don't you know these Western numbers? This is what the gang taught us. It makes calculations much easier."
Tian Yu was stunned for a moment, then looked at the string of symbols again. In fact, with his eyesight, how could he not see that it was used for counting? However, it was completely different from the codes used in the business, and there was no pattern to it.
He originally thought that this little girl was just being clever and came up with this idea, but he didn't expect that it was actually taught by Cheng Xi, and even knew the source.
After a moment's silence, Tian Yucai said, "Characters like this are too easy to tamper with. They can't be used for accounting. They have to be written neatly. Haven't you learned how to write from one to ten?"
This seemed to return her sarcasm, and He Ling immediately said, "Of course I've learned that. Not only that, but when I officially enter the numbers in the account, I always add capital letters. These lowercase characters are used for daily counting."
Tian Yu immediately understood. He divided the numbers into uppercase and lowercase and used them interchangeably when keeping accounts. For people who did not understand these Western characters, it would be like a heavenly book, and it would be difficult to forge it.
Even the secret code was used. It seems that Cheng Xi cares a lot about the bank.
Now that he understood the twists and turns here, Tian Yu said no more: "Write this down again, and use capital letters in all future account books. Don't be careless. Go down and bring me a cup of tea."
Seeing him ordering the maid without even raising his head, He Ling gritted her teeth inwardly and turned around and walked out.
"Uncle Wang, Mr. Tian wants to drink tea."
"Okay, okay, I'll send it over right away!"
Hearing the noise outside, Tian Yu couldn't help but raise his head and rub his eyebrows.
Was this meant for him? He knew, of course, that this girl wasn't a servant, but the bank's new "accountant." However, acting this way was a bit too much, not at all like a woman! He would have to be stricter in the test, to make her give up.
He Ling quickly walked back to the ear room and sat down at her small table.
After spending a few days together, she finally understood Tian's personality. No wonder the nurses avoided him in the hospital. He really had an unpleasant personality!
It would be fine if he was just sarcastic and mocking on a daily basis, but that indescribable arrogance was even more infuriating. If he wasn't a cripple and a guest of honor of the young master, he would probably have been put in a sack and beaten.
But having said that, after following Tian Yu for a few days, He Ling had to admit that he was a capable man.
She delivered dozens of documents every day, not to mention those handed directly to the desk or those ordered privately by the gang leader. This person could handle them all neatly and efficiently. He could approve a document at a glance. He could tell the numbers just by looking through the files, which was amazing.
It was for this reason that He Ling tolerated this man's bad temper.
She was sent by the young master and had an important mission to fulfill. No matter how cunning that person was, she had to carry it out.
It's just office work. She's experienced all kinds of hardships, so what's the big deal about this little thing? Thinking of this, He Ling didn't delay any longer and got busy again.
Without that girl hanging around, Tian Yu also calmed down to deal with the paperwork. Not long after, Wang Gener suddenly came in to report: "Mr. Tian, there are people outside the camp who want to see you. They say they are from the Suoyi Gang."
From the Suoyi Gang? Tian Yu immediately said, "Please invite them to the front hall first."
This person is an ally of the Red Flag Gang. Now that the gang leader is not here, he naturally has to be the one to receive them.
But then again, does this person know about the existence of this death row inmate? If I remember correctly, the gang leader rescued him, but he did it secretly while the Suoyi Gang was breaking into the prison. If the other party knew about this, would there be any disputes?
However, after thinking about it, Tian Yu decided to go and take a look first. After all, the other party might not have seen him, so he could just act according to the circumstances.
After figuring it out, Tian Yu let Wang Gener push him to the front hall.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the door, he heard a loud laugh: "Tian Danhui, you are really here!"
Tian Yu also saw who was speaking, and his face changed color: "Why did you go to the Suoyi Gang?!"
The old man in a wrinkled scholar's robe, with white hair and beard, chuckled: "Even you have joined the bandits, and you still want to control me? Tell me, where did this Red Flag Gang come from..."
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