Chapter 016 Amazing Bundle Repair

Liu Xiaodao was all smiles and raised his hand to take down the large wicker basket behind him, instructing, "The iron stove is here. If there's anything that doesn't fit, take it to my father to fix."

"Okay."

After seeing Xiaodao off, Lu Xiaomi enthusiastically called for his second brother to help assemble the iron stove.

The iron stove was not large, with a thin top and bottom and a thick middle, resembling a stout man. It had small fist-sized stove eyes at the bottom, four layers of rings on top, and an extended round tube at the back, connected to several sections of iron pipes, with a paper window frame sticking out.

After stuffing the stove with straw and twigs and lighting it, it quickly burned bright red.

Lu Xiaomi then lifted the matching flat-bottomed iron pot and placed it directly on the stove, quickly heating half a pot of water. Finally, he smiled and said, "Uncle Liu is really skilled. This stove suits me perfectly."

There was no need to guess. This stove was the iron stove commonly seen in Northeastern rural households in later years, which was very convenient for heating or boiling water in winter.

But in the eyes of the native people of Dayuan, this stove was too novel and practical.

Compared to the charcoal basin, this stove was naturally warmer. Especially with the small iron pipes leading out the smoke, it was extremely safe, and there was no need to worry about being suffocated by carbon monoxide in their sleep.

The flat-bottomed pot was also magical, making cooking and boiling water extremely easy.

"Good, this iron stove is so simple, yet so useful."

Old Yang was the first to praise, and Feng Jian also nodded repeatedly.

In Dayuan, copper was expensive and iron was cheap. This iron stove cost only three hundred wen, but it was definitely a great help for the people of the North to get through the winter.

If it could be popularized, it would definitely benefit the country and the people.

Lu Xiaomi carefully checked the flat-bottomed iron pot for any leaks, and then clapped his hands in satisfaction, saying, "Uncle Liu is really skilled. I'll have to talk to him in a few days. Even if it's too late for this winter, if we start making iron stoves in the spring and sell them in the city by the first snow next year, we'll definitely make a small fortune."

"That would be great. I'll go to the city to sell them then!" Lu's second brother eagerly took charge, patting his chest with his hands.

Even though he was reluctant, and despite being fully prepared, Lu's third brother set off on the second day at dawn, riding a horse-drawn plow. Lu Wutian was a restless wanderer by nature, and he urged the chestnut horse to run out of the village without waiting for the others to say a few more words.

Anzhou was often snowy, and even when there was no snowfall, the north wind would often rage, stirring up the remaining snow.

Soon, the figures of the Lu brothers were swallowed up by the snow-covered plains. Lu Xiaomi worried about her bookish third brother and impulsive second brother, fearing they might encounter some mishap on the road, but she couldn't follow them, so she reluctantly put aside her concerns and turned back.

In a few days, Liu Xiaodao brought the second iron stove, and Lu Xiaomi carried out the wooden frame he had prepared earlier, directing his eldest brother to place it in the east wing.

Once the iron stove was lit, the room became much warmer. Feng Jian got up, wearing soft cotton shoes, and leaned on the wooden frame that surrounded the room, slowly walking around inside.

Perhaps finally being able to stand and see the world, a lot of the pent-up frustration in his heart dissipated in an instant.

When he saw Lu Xiaomi come in with a new cloak and down pants, the remaining traces of frustration vanished completely...

Lu Xiaomi stirred the eggs in the pottery bowl, standing at the door and smiling as she watched Feng Jian, who had already moved into the courtyard, supporting Old Yang. "Uncle Bi's ointment is really effective. At this rate, by the time of the New Year, I'm afraid Brother Lu's leg will be healed."

At these words, Feng Jian paused, and Old Yang quickly asked, "Young master, is your leg hurting again?"

Feng Jian nodded and said, "It's still not strong enough."

"In that case, go back inside and rest. I'll make egg soup. Sleeping is the best way to heal an injury."

Lu Xiaomi hurried back to the kitchen, busy with her tasks, and didn't see how Feng Jian struggled to walk...

On this day, perhaps the heavens were preparing for the next big snowstorm, as the sun came out, reflecting off the snow-covered fields, forests, and villages, creating a dazzling scene that made it hard for people to open their eyes. The mischievous children couldn't bear it any longer and, blocking their ears to shut out their mothers' scolding, ran out of their homes to play together, riding sleds and playing in the snow, their lively shouts echoing through the air.

Lu Xiaomi was grinding in the corner of the courtyard, planning to grind the soaked sticky and glutinous rice into a slurry, and then, after draining off the excess water, it would become sticky dough. She would then wrap it around bean paste and steam it, making the most famous and common food in the North, sticky bean buns.

Although this kind of food was not easy to digest, it was the most filling and convenient. In her previous life, the orphanage where Xiaomi lived often ate this, and she was so skilled at making it that she could do it with her eyes closed.

When Mrs. Liu and several young daughters-in-law came to the door, Xiaomi had already ground a bucket of slurry and was struggling to pour it into a cloth bag.

Aunt Liu quickly stepped forward to help and scolded, "You, girl, why didn't you ask your big brother for help? Be careful not to strain your back."

"Yeah, if you fall ill in your family, there will be no one to cook!"

Several young women also took over the bags from Lu Xiaomi and moved the buckets, held up the bags, and in the blink of an eye, the rice slurry was ready.

Finally, one person pushed the mill, another put the grain, and helped to start grinding the slurry, which was efficient and decisive.

Lu Xiaomi couldn't resist the good intentions of everyone, so she quickly went into the house to get tea and snacks to entertain everyone.

"Aunt and a few sisters-in-law, why did you come to visit today? Isn't everyone busy at home?"

Aunt Liu had a straightforward temper and didn't like to talk too much. She was usually very familiar with Xiaomi, so when she saw several young women smiling and not speaking, she spoke up.

"Seeing that it's almost the twelfth lunar month, how can the family not be busy? But no matter how busy it is, it can't delay important matters. Your sisters-in-law asked me to come and help."

"What's the matter?" Lu Xiaomi was puzzled and wondered if everyone had their eyes on a certain recipe of hers, or perhaps a clothing style? Could it be that they wanted to borrow money?

Fortunately, Aunt Liu didn't keep her in suspense and said directly, "It's not a big deal. The people in the village have seen how smart and capable you are after your illness, and they all envy you. They want their children, especially the little girls, to learn a few words, so they asked me to come and inquire with you."

"Learn to read and write?" Lu Xiaomi subconsciously looked towards the main room. It seemed that Mr. Lu had not yet emerged from the pain of losing his wife, and it had been very quiet these days.

After hesitating for a moment, she said, "My father has been unwell recently, and we have been using less food. I'm afraid..."

"Oh, no, you've got it wrong!" Aunt Liu quickly smiled and waved her hand, "Mr. Lu's knowledge is naturally good, but no one in the village expects the children to achieve as much as Qian Ge. It's just to learn a few words, be able to write letters, sell fur, and make some money without being cheated."

"Oh, so that's it!" Lu Xiaomi felt relieved and said with a smile, "Auntie, if that's the case, then I can handle it."

"Silly girl, they came to find you."

Hearing Xiaomi say this, the young women who had been on edge all this time were delighted, and the two women who were grinding stopped their work and came over.

"My third daughter is smart, and I want her to learn to write and count, so it will be easier for her to find a good match in the future."

"That's right, my son, Gousheng, is not stupid. He's learning to skin animals from his father, and he's already good at it! But there's no future in being a hunter. If he learns well, he can go to the city and become an apprentice in a shop."

Everyone was talking excitedly about their children, all with hopeful expressions on their faces, which made Xiaomi envious. No matter when, a child with a mother is a treasure.

Aunt Liu, who was shrewd and caring, immediately stopped everyone from talking and smiled as she pulled Xiaomi aside.

"Xiaomi, everyone knows that you are always busy with family matters and rarely have free time. You don't have to teach the children all day long. Just take half an hour each day. Your sisters-in-law are all good at housework. If you have any chores, let them help you. Each child will give you ten catties of sorghum flour as a token of appreciation every month. What do you think?"

"Oh, of course not. We all live in the same village, and Auntie and the sisters-in-law have helped me a lot. How can I teach the children and still take tokens of appreciation?" Xiaomi shook her head vigorously and refused, "Besides, there's not much work to do in the winter, just three meals a day. Tomorrow, I'll clean up the west wing and have my big brother build a clay stove. When it's warm, the children can come and learn to read. At the beginning, they don't need to use ink and paper, just tree branches and a sand tray. But we don't have extra tables and chairs at home. If any of the sisters-in-law have extras, they can bring them over temporarily."

Everyone listened to Xiaomi's arrangements and was delighted. They naturally didn't want her to work for nothing, so they all spoke up, "Tables are easy to come by, everyone has them. But the tokens of appreciation must be given, otherwise, it's a big favor to send the children to us."

"That's right, even when you apprentice to a master to learn how to make barrels, you have to work for three years for free. The children are learning to write, how can they not give tokens of appreciation?"

Xiaomi was overwhelmed by the clamor of the young women, and she thought of a bright idea.

"Right, there is something I really want. If the sisters-in-law insist on giving tokens of appreciation, why not use that thing instead?"

"What thing?" Everyone was curious, and some of the more cunning young women even secretly touched the silver hairpin on their heads, wondering if Xiaomi wanted gold and silver jewelry.

As a result, Xiaomi spoke two words, which shocked everyone and made them doubt if they had misheard.

Xiaomi tugged at her braid, smiled, and said, "Sisters-in-law, you didn't mishear me. I want manure and urine as tokens of appreciation. Whether it's pig manure or human urine, just bring it all to me."