Black Cloud's horse hooves stepped on the muddy official road.
The outline of Ink City appeared on the horizon. Qin Tiexin reined in his horse and looked at the gray city wall in the distance. It was winter when he left more than a year ago, and now it is early spring when he returns.
The gate of the city was deserted. The guard guard huddled in the doorway and dozed off. He came out rubbing his eyes when he heard the sound of horse hooves.
"Lu Yin."
Qin Tiexin handed over the customs clearance documents. The soldier opened it and looked at it, and his expression changed - Northern Army General's seal, Ministry of War customs defense.
"Please!" the soldier hurriedly got out of the way.
A group of people entered the city. The streets were still bluestone roads, and most of the shops on both sides were closed. The war had just ended, and the energy had not recovered.
The blacksmith shop is at the end of Dongshi Street.
Turning the corner, a shop appeared in front of me. It had black tile walls and a closed elm door. The signboard "Qin Household Blacksmith Shop" was covered in thick dust. Withered grass grew from the cracks in the stone steps in front of the door.
Qin Tiexin got off his horse, walked to the door and pushed it open. The door was unlocked and creaked open, and a musty smell came out.
"No one." Tu Dazhu said behind him.
Qin Tiexin pushed hard and the door shaft groaned and opened.
The shop was dark. The forge was cold, the anvils were covered in dust, and the pile of coal in the corner was messed up by rats. Thick Earth was accumulated on the floor.
He walked in with very light steps. He touched the anvil and it was cold. He pulled the bellows and it made a sound like a broken bellows.
"Fortunately, it didn't collapse." Zhou Cang walked in, leaning on a wooden stick.
Qin Tiexin said nothing, rolled up his sleeves and started cleaning.
He found a broom, swept the soil, fetched water, and wiped the windows of the anvil and stove. He worked slowly and carefully. The water was changed from bucket to bucket. Tu Dazhu couldn't help much with one hand, so he went to clean up the yard. Zhou Cang sat on the threshold and watched. Zhou Nan was the most diligent, and wiped the lower parts.
After working until the sun turned to the west, the shop looked a little better. The stove showed its true color of black iron, the anvil was shiny, the windows were clean, and the setting sun shone in.
Qin Tiexin wiped away the sweat and walked to the backyard.
The weeds are half as tall as a man. The bare branches of the old locust tree point to the sky. There are several holes in the window paper of Master's house.
He walked into his hut. The wooden bed was bare, and the stoneware bowl on the table was half covered with dust.
After sitting for a while, I got up and started weeding, sweeping and repairing the roof. Tu Dazhu and Zhou Nan helped, and Zhou Cang took command. They worked until dark, and they could barely live in the house.
Dinner was bought on the street: hard bread, braised dried beans, and dark wine. The four of them sat around and ate under an oil lamp.
Qin Tiexin ate five cakes, most of the package of dried tofu, and two bowls of wine. He put down the bowl and said, "I'll buy bedding, rice and noodles tomorrow. The oven will be on the day after tomorrow."
Zhou Cang nodded. "Okay."
Tu Dazhu grinned. "Finally we have a place to stay."
Zhou Nan asked in a low voice, "Can I learn blacksmithing here?"
"Yes." Qin Tiexin said, "Start by pulling the bellows."
Early the next morning, Qin Tiexin went to the coffin shop.
Buy wooden boards. Pick up good pine wood, plan it, and cut it into long strips. Go to the incense shop to buy yellow paper for incense candles. Return to the shop and jingle and bang in the yard.
He is making spiritual tablets.
First do the Li Zhenwei. Plane the wood board, and carve "Li Gong Zhenwei's spiritual place" stroke by stroke with a knife. Carve slowly and hard, with sawdust falling down. After carving, apply ink.
Then came Shi Meng. Chen San, Zhang Shan, Wang Meng, Zhou Laowu...Formation-Breaking Second Battalion, Squad A. Six people died in the battle. He made six spiritual tablets. Each time he carved a name, he paused for a while.
Lin Feng If you don't see the body, you are not dead, Qin Tiexin thought to himself.
After all the carvings were finished, it was past noon. He built a brick platform at the base of the backyard wall and arranged the six spiritual tablets. He lit incense candles and inserted the incense burner. Green smoke curled up.
Qin Tiexin took two steps back, knelt down together with Tu Dazhu, and kowtowed three times.
Didn't speak.
Zhou Cang stood under the eaves with a stick and looked, Zhou Nan hid behind the door and exposed his eyes.
After kowtowing, Qin Tiexin stood up, patted the soil, fetched water and washed his face, and said to Zhou Cang, "Teacher lives in the master's room. Dazhu lives in the east wing. Nanzi lives in the small room on the west side."
"What about you?"
"I still live in my cabin. It's enough sleep."
After the distribution, Qin Tiexin went out again. He bought bedding, rice, flour, oil, salt, pots and pans, new coal repair tools. He used the scattered silver brought back from the army, and kept a thousand taels of gold and silver notes close to his body.
After buying things back, the shop became popular. Zhou Cang lived in Qin Feng house, saying it was better than the military camp. Tu Dazhu tidied up the wing room. Zhou Nan rushed to sweep the floor and boil water.
After settling in, Qin Tiexin resumes daily homework.
I got up before dawn and practiced "Old Qin Household Body Tempering Method" in the backyard. After eight repetitions, my clothes were soaked with sweat.
After practicing, the sky was twilight. Grab Edgeless.
"Mountain Collapse." The blade was raised from bottom to top, making a dull sound.
"Sever the Flow." Cutting horizontally, the sword was as bright as a sword, one weight was not finished and the other was rising again.
"Return to Stillness." Stop the momentum, the tip of the knife droops, and the power is restrained.
Practice with concentration and polish each pose repeatedly. Edgeless becomes more and more tame.
After practicing the sword, the sun rose as high as a pole and my whole body was filled with steam.
After breakfast - half a pot of porridge and five steamed buns - the shop turned on the stove.
The fire rose, and the orange Flame licked the hearth. The bellows was pulled by Zhou Nan and made a whirring sound. The iron material burned red, and Qin Tiexin was clamped out and placed on the anvil.
"Clang!"
The first hammer fell. The crisp impact echoed.
Aunt Wang was feeding chickens next door when he heard the sound of iron. He was stunned for a moment and ran out to open the door to take a look. He saw Qin Tiexin shirtless and sweating, a lame old man sitting, a skinny boy pulling a bellows, and a strong man arranging iron materials with one hand.
"Tiexin?"
Qin Tiexin stopped the hammer and turned around, nodding. "Aunt Wang."
"It's really you! You're back!" Aunt Wang entered the shop in surprise and joy, "These are..."
"My teacher Zhou Cang. My brother Tu Dazhu. Apprentice Zhou Nan."
"Oh, okay." Aunt Wang looked at the few people with curious and sympathetic eyes, "Just come back. I've been helping you look at the shop, and no one dares to touch it. It's just... deserted."
"Thank you Aunt Wang. Let's chat some other time and work first."
"Hey, you're busy!" Aunt Wang exited and stood outside the door to watch.
Soon the neighbors heard the sound of forging and came over to take a look. Uncle Li, Butcher Zhang, Shopkeeper Sun, Tofu Xishi... The old neighbors saw Qin Tiexin bringing back so many people, and they started talking a lot.
"I heard that he came back from the north and made meritorious deeds!"
"Why do you come back to blacksmith after you have made a meritorious service?"
"Look at those people, they are so injured and disabled that they may not be able to survive..."
"Keep your voice down!"
The sound of discussion drifted into the shop. Tu Dazhu frowned and wanted to speak, but Qin Tiexin shook his head and continued to swing the hammer. Zhou Cang closed his eyes and rested.
Qin Tiexin is a hatchet. It is made of ordinary iron and is of ordinary style. Every hammering is done carefully, forged, folded and then forged again. The iron block is formed with sparks flying around, and the blade is straight and the back is thick.
The rough embryo is beaten and quenched. The white steam evaporates. It is tempered and polished to install the wooden handle.
An ordinary hatchet.
Qin Tiexin picked up the knife to test the edge and walked out of the shop. The neighbors were still watching.
He walked to the old hard wood piled on the street, raised his knife and swung it down.
"Crack!"
The wood opened in response, and the cuts were smooth.
After a few more cuts, the wood turned into neat pieces. The blade remained Sharpness.
Qin Tiexin handed the knife to the nearest Uncle Li: "Try."
Uncle Li took it, weighed it, found some wood and chopped it with surprise. "What a great knife! It's much stronger than the one Heavenly Craft Workshop opposite me!"
Neighbors came to be interested. After Heavenly Craft Workshop monopolized low-priced ironware, Ink City hadn't seen solid handmade ironwork for a long time.
"Tiexin, are you selling this knife?" Butcher Zhang asked.
"Sell for thirty cents."
"Thirty cents? Heavenly Craft Workshop's is only fifteen cents."
"That's their price. My knife is thirty cents. It can last three years without sharpening."
The neighbors looked at each other. Thirty coins are expensive, but Sharpness can see that they are solid. Uncle Li paid for thirty coins and said, "I bought it! You have to use solid tools to cut firewood!"
Where there is the first, there is the second. Butcher Zhang also bought one and said it was useful for killing pigs. Aunt Wang bought a smaller one and said it was useful for cutting vegetables. Three knives were sold out in one morning.
The furnace at Heavenly Craft Workshop opposite is still rumbling non-stop.
After closing the stall, Qin Tiexin divided the ninety cents into four parts, keeping thirty for himself and giving twenty to Zhou Cang Tu Dazhu Zhou Nan. "This is how the shop's income will be divided from now on."
Zhou Cang accepted it without courtesy. Tu Dazhu scratched his head and accepted it. Zhou Nan was holding twenty coins and his hands were shaking - he had never received so much money.
The shop was closed in the evening. After dinner, Qin Tiexin didn't rest.
Let Tu Dazhu Zhou Cang sit under the lamp and look carefully at the broken limbs.
Tu Dazhu The left wrist was completely severed, and the scar is hideous. Qin Tiexin Press the surrounding skin to feel the muscles and bones. "Does it feel hard when you hold something?"
"Yes. Even though I don't have hands, my flesh gets tight when I want to hold something."
Qin Tiexin nodded and took note.
Zhou Cang The thigh of the right leg is gone. Qin Tiexin Feeling the residual limb, the skin and flesh wrap around the bone end, and the skin near the armpit is thickened and calloused. "What is the main support for walking?"
"The thighs and waist. The crutches support the armpits, but the real pain is in the waist and thighs."
Qin Tiexin nodded again, he wanted to help them forge prosthetic limbs.
Look carefully, make gestures with your hands, and mentally outline the prototype of the prosthesis. Close your eyes and sink into consciousness [Illustrated Catalog of Ten Thousand Artifacts]Illusory Realm Hall.
Time flows ten times faster than the outside world. The body structure of the two people is called up - the detailed information recorded by [Appraisal] after observation during the day. Void Realm reveals the outlines of two translucent human bodies, and the broken limbs flash red.
Start simulation.
First use ordinary iron materials to make a simple hook set Tu Dazhu to break the wrist. It simulates chopping with a hammer. The hook quickly deforms and breaks at the connection.
"No, it's too brittle and it won't bear the force."
Change the plan. Use a composite steel sheet with better toughness to imitate the curvature of the palm, and add a spring latch mechanism inside. This time it is better, I can hold the hammer handle, but it is easy to get stuck when swinging.
Adjust again. Change the spring strength, optimize the latch structure, and pad cork leather where it contacts the skin...
Over and over again. Time passed in the Void Realm, and Qin Tiexin took the trouble to try and fail again. Consider function, comfort, durability and even weight. Tu Dazhu only has one hand left, and the prosthetic hand cannot be too heavy.
Two hours later (about a quarter of an hour in the outside world), Qin Tiexin exited Void Realm, sweating on his forehead. Void Realm studied and consumed his energy.
When I opened my eyes, the shop was quiet. Zhou Cang They were all asleep. The oil lamp was still on.
He took out a long cloth bag from under the bed and opened it, revealing the sword Lin Feng.
The sword is very ordinary. It has an iron body and a wooden handle with no decoration or lines. But Qin Tiexin knows that it is not ordinary.
Hold the hilt of the sword and close your eyes to mobilize [Appraisal].
Consciousness seeps into the sword like threads.
First feel the iron - refined iron, which is denser than ordinary iron and has very few impurities. That's all. Looking deeper, there are extremely fine and dim lines in the core of the sword. The lines seem to be naturally generated and engraved by wonderful techniques, forming an incomplete and complex circuit. There is a trace of energy that is so weak that it is almost imperceptible and flows extremely slowly in the circuit. The energy feels strange, not like hot air Cold Qi, but more like a "living" thing falling asleep.
Try touching the circuit with a weak Qi and Blood.
No response.
I also tried to use the "thoughts" condensed during forging - the mental state of extreme concentration - to communicate.
The circuit lights up slightly and then goes back to dim.
Qin Tiexin opened his eyes and frowned. The sword was like a locked door. He knew there was something inside but couldn't find the key. Lin Feng What did it mean to leave it behind? Is it just a sword or a token clue?
Lin Feng, are you still alive?
Put your fingers on your knees and unconsciously rub the hilt of the sword. There is a very inconspicuous bump on the hilt near the hand guard, which is smaller than a grain of rice. You usually don't notice it. Your fingers stop there.
Press hard.
No response.
Try twisting it left and right.
No response yet.
After looking at it for a long time, I rewrapped it and put it back under the bed. The mystery is still there, but you have to be patient. It's like forging iron, if one hammer fails, try again.
I blew out the oil lamp and lay down. In the darkness I could hear Zhou Cang snoring slightly next door, Tu Dazhu breathing deeply, and Zhou Nan mumbling indistinctly in his sleep.
He was no longer alone in the shop.
Close your eyes and fall into sleep.
At the same time, candles were brightly lit in the backyard room of Heavenly Craft Workshop main store.
Zhao Xuan is sitting on a chair holding hot tea. He is older than a year ago, with gray hair on his temples and a gloomier look in his eyes. Standing in front of him is his son Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming lowered his head and did not dare to look at his father. The brocade clothes he wore were wrinkled, his face smelled of alcohol, and his eyes were distracted.
"I've read the accounts for this month." Zhao Xuan said, his voice flat and cold, "The revenue of the store you manage has dropped by another 30% compared to last month. What's going on?"
"Dad... business has been hard recently. The war just ended in the north and the people have no money..."
"People have no money?" Zhao Xuan sneered, "Then why did the Chengnan store in charge of Xue Household see its revenue increase by 50%?"
Zhao Ming is speechless.
"I asked you to manage the store to give you a chance." Zhao Xuan put down the tea cup, and the porcelain clattered on the table. "It's good for you. You spend your whole day drinking, gambling, and hanging out with those gangsters! What do the outside say about you now? They say you're a waste! They say I, Zhao Xuan, gave birth to such an incompetent son!"
Zhao Ming The body trembled and the head dropped lower.
"You don't have to take care of the store from tomorrow on." Zhao Xuan said, "Go to the newly opened store in the west of the city and start as a clerk. Learn how to treat people and run a business."
"Dad!" Zhao Ming raised his head suddenly and his face flushed, "I am your son! How can I be a buddy! Where can I put my face!"
"Your face?" Disappointment and disgust flashed in Zhao Xuan's eyes, "You have already ruined your face! Look at what you look like now! I paved the way for you and made plans for you, but what about you? Besides causing trouble, what else can you do?"
"I..." Zhao Ming still wanted to argue.
"That's enough!" Zhao Xuan slapped the table, "Either become a man, or get out of this house! Choose for yourself!"
Zhao Ming Looking at his father's cold face, he knew there was no room for change. He gritted his teeth and fists turned white, and finally squeezed out one word between his teeth. "... yes."
He turned around and staggered out of the wing. The door closed behind him, cutting off his father's sight and the cold disappointment.
Zhao Ming Standing on the corridor, the cold spring night wind blew and made me shiver. I was mostly drunk, but instead I was full of resentment and unwillingness.
Why?
Why did the late-comer woman Lady Xue win her father's favor? Why did her son Zhao Lang fall into his father's favor after only a few months? Why did she want to be the lowest-ranking clerk?
All because of Qin Tiexin!
If it weren't for Qin Tiexin, Li Zhenwei wouldn't have intervened. The shop would have been obtained long ago, and his father wouldn't be disappointed in him, let alone marry Lady Xue! He is still the sole heir of Heavenly Craft Workshop and has endless glory!
Yes, it's all Qin Tiexin's fault!
Zhao Ming There was mad hatred in his eyes. He staggered out of the backyard and disappeared Ink City Deep in the street at night.
In the side room, Zhao Xuan rubbed his brows and sighed tiredly.
There were soft footsteps outside the door, and a young woman in her early twenties walked in with a tray. She was wearing a light blue dress and had a pretty face, with sharp eyebrows and clear eyes. Lady Xue.
"Master, have a bowl of ginseng soup to refresh you." Lady Xue put the tray on the table and handed the bowl of soup to Zhao Xuan.
Zhao Xuan took a sip. The soup was warm and relaxed his tense nerves.
"Ming'er made you angry again?" Lady Xue sat down and asked softly.
"Mud can't hold up a wall." Zhao Xuan shook his head, "I gave him a chance and he never cherished it."
Lady Xue gently advised, "Ming'er is still young, just teach him slowly. Don't get too angry and hurt your body."
Zhao Xuan Look at her. This wife married a year ago. Xue Household Ink City is a big business owner of cloth and medicinal materials. In fact, he initially proposed marriage to his son Zhao Ming. If his son married Lady Xue's daughter, he would not have to fight Qin Household Blacksmith Shop's territory was occupied, and he could expand in another direction and apply for a second furnace. However, Lady Xue got some news from nowhere and insisted on marrying his daughter to him for a second marriage. He also agreed to double his investment support, so he agreed.
Over the past year, Lady Xue's daughter-in-law was not only beautiful but also smart and capable. After moving in, she kept the house in order, gave a lot of help in business, and successfully applied for a second furnace. The most important thing was that she seemed to vaguely know that she was "special" but never pointed it out and worked harder. This made him very satisfied.
More importantly, Lady Xue gave birth to his son Zhao Lang. The child was just a few months old, plump and very cute. Zhao Xuan transferred all his disappointment in the eldest son to the youngest son. He had even begun to plan to test Spirit Root for Zhao Lang when he was six years old. If there is Spirit Root, he has reason to apply to the sect to bring his young son back to the mountain gate for training; if not, use the Spirit Awakening Pill that is about to be obtained to give him Pseudo Spirit Root, Spirit Root+himself+Xue Household. This is the real future of Zhao Household.
"Did Lang'er sleep?" Zhao Xuan asked.
"I just fell asleep." Lady Xue said with a smile, "Before going to bed, I still grabbed the little bell you gave me and wouldn't let go."
Zhao Xuan showed a rare smile on his face, "That's good."
"Master," Lady Xue hesitated before saying, "I heard... Qin Household Blacksmith Shop seems to have reopened."
Zhao Xuan The smile on his face disappeared instantly.
"Qin Tiexin is back?" the voice deepened.
"It seems so." Lady Xue nodded, "Today, word spread on Dongshi Street that there were a few more people in the shop, including a lame old man, a man with a broken hand, and a child. Qin Tiexin forged iron himself, and even sold a hatchet for thirty cents, and there were still people buying it."
Zhao Xuan was silent. Qin Tiexin... This name was a thorn in his heart. More than a year ago, this young man asked him to carefully plan the annexation plan and failed, and it almost attracted Li Zhenwei's revenge. Although Li Zhenwei went north and no longer interfered with Ink City's matter, Zhao Xuan has never forgotten the shameful loss.
Now this kid is actually back? And he brought a few disabled people to open a shop again? Although with the help of Xue Household, I moved to the newly built "Zhao Residence" a year ago, I still feel uncomfortable thinking about what happened before. I have never been so aggrieved.
"He is lucky." Zhao Xuan said coldly, "So many people died in the north and he actually came back with all his tail intact."
"Master, do you want..." Lady Xue asked tentatively.
"No need." Zhao Xuan waved his hand, "Now is not the time. The sect's year-end evaluation is coming soon. I have performed well this time and I have a good chance of getting the Spirit Awakening Pill. There can be no extraneous matters."
After a pause, a cold light flashed in his eyes. "When the elixir is obtained, Lang'er's matter is settled... It won't be too late to deal with him slowly. An ordinary blacksmith cannot make any trouble."
Lady Xue nodded. "I understand."
Zhao Xuan felt better after drinking the ginseng soup. He stood up and said, "I'm going to see Lang'er."
Lady Xue stood up and followed me docilely.
The two of them walked out of the side room and walked to the back house.