Chapter 7: 第七章：打造东西

Zhongli Chen led Su Jin through the bustling streets, which were lined with teahouses, taverns, pawnshops, and workshops. Since it was early morning, there were many vendors selling steamed buns and mantou; their shouting filled the air, creating a lively and boisterous atmosphere.

"Zhongli Chen, take me to see a blacksmith shop."

"Su Jin, do you want to forge a weapon?" Zhongli Chen looked at Su Jin in confusion.

"No, I want to forge these two things." Su Jin pulled two blueprints from her bosom. Zhongli Chen took the papers from her hands to look at them, but he couldn't tell at all what they were.

"What on earth are these?"

"I can't explain it clearly to you now. You'll know once they are made." Su Jin pulled the blueprints back from Zhongli Chen.

"Alright, then I'll take you." Zhongli Chen led Su Jin directly to a blacksmith shop, where an elderly man with white hair was instructing a young man and woman in smithing.

"Uncle Huang!" Seeing the old man, Zhongli Chen called out hurriedly. Hearing Zhongli Chen's voice, Uncle Huang quickly looked up.

"Eh? What brings you here, kid? And eh, who is this young lady behind you?"

"You've finally come to your senses, haha!"

"Uncle Huang, don't talk nonsense. This lady is my friend; her name is Su Jin," Zhongli Chen whispered into Uncle Huang's ear, his face instantly flushing with two red spots.

"Miss Su Jin, hello, hello!"

"Hello, Uncle Huang."

"Miss Su Jin, let me tell you, don't be fooled by the fact that this kid is always shy; he's a good man! You'd better make your move quickly, otherwise, once this chance passes, it'll be gone for good!" Uncle Huang leaned into Su Jin's ear to whisper. Hearing Uncle Huang's words, Su Jin's face turned bright red instantly, and she didn't know what to say.

"Miss Su Jin, Sixth Prince, don't listen to my father's nonsense. Come inside and sit down quickly; it's hot outside," the young man smithing put down his work and motioned for Zhongli Chen and Su Jin to enter.

"No need. I came today because I want to ask Uncle Huang to help me forge these things." Zhongli Chen took the blueprints from Su Jin and handed them to Uncle Huang. Uncle Huang took the papers and looked them over from all angles, but he also couldn't tell what they were.

"Kid, what are these things? This doesn't look like a pot," Uncle Huang asked, pointing at the blueprint that depicted a modern copper hotpot.

"Miss Su Jin drew these; I'm not entirely sure of the details myself."

"Miss Su Jin, what is this thing?"

"This is a pot. You can place burning charcoal inside the notch at the bottom, and put soup in the pot above it to dip vegetables in."

"Dip vegetables? What is that?"

"Uh... it's hard to explain to you. When our restaurant opens, we'll invite you over for a meal and then you'll know."

"Really?" Uncle Huang was clearly quite surprised by Su Jin's words.

"Really."

"Then what about this? This rack-like thing?" Uncle Huang asked, pointing at the blueprint of a modern barbecue grill.

"That? That is a barbecue grill, used for roasting meat. You place charcoal under the rack as well, then place this rack on top, and you can roast meat and such on it. Oh, right, I'll also have to trouble you to make some small iron skewers for me."

"Miss Su Jin is truly a genius! To think of all these things!" Uncle Huang exclaimed upon hearing Su Jin's explanation.

"Hehe." Su Jin scratched her head sheepishly. After all, she hadn't invented these; she was merely borrowing from modern hotpots and barbecues.

"Uncle Huang, can these things be forged?"

"You brat, what kind of talk is that? You know my skills. I can't guarantee if other shops can forge them for you, but in my shop, I can definitely do it. You can rest easy a hundred percent."

"Tell me, how many do we need?"

"Su Jin, how many?" Zhongli Chen turned his head to look at Su Jin.

"Let me calculate." Su Jin lowered her head and counted on her fingers. After a moment, she looked up.

"Uncle Huang, let's start by forging fifty of this pot and the rack, and then make 500 of those iron skewers."

"Fine."

"How long will it take to finish?"

"I estimate a sample can be done by tomorrow. To finish them all, it will probably take about half a month."

"Mm, that timing is fine."

"Let's leave it at that for now. We'll come back tomorrow to see how the sample looks. If the sample is good, then you can start forging the rest. Is that alright, Uncle Huang?"

"Mm, alright."

"Then when should we give you the deposit, Uncle Huang?"

"Look at what you're saying, kid. What kind of relationship do we have? Don't mention such things. We'll talk about it once they are forged."

"Then we'll trouble you, Uncle Huang. We shall take our leave."

"Then, Sixth Prince, Miss Su Jin, take care."

"Please carry on with your work; there's no need to see us out," Zhongli Chen waved his hand.

"Alright."