Ancient Doomsday Traveler

Chapter 63 The Exploitation of the Works of Nature

Lin Xiu nodded and said, "I found some tobacco shreds and pipes in Mengzhou City. There should also be some tobacco leaves in the same place. I don't recognize them and can't be sure, but I collected them all."

I originally wanted to try it myself, but I couldn't get used to it, so I left it at my place and didn't take it with me when I left Mengzhou City.

But those tobacco leaves had been lying there for so long without me paying attention to them; they must have gotten damp by now.

Carpenter Yang excitedly said, "It's alright if it gets damp, what's wrong with it? At a time like this, who can be so fussy? Just bring it back, treat it, and it'll be fine as long as it's barely usable!"

Is Mengzhou City far from here? I think it's not far, is it?

This time, Lin Xiu didn't need to answer. Han Cheng already knew about it and said, "It's not far. Head south, and the next county town is it. If you ride a horse quickly, it should take about half a day."

"But Master Wang, now is not the time for such things. I'm here to talk to you about something. Let's finish this work first, then we can discuss other matters."

Carpenter Wang asked, "What is it? Where's the money?"

money?

Lin Xiu raised an eyebrow. Besides bartering, could money really be used for transactions here?

Han Cheng smiled slightly, and actually took out a string of coins and handed it to Wang the carpenter.

He seemed to see the doubt in Lin Xiu's eyes and explained, "Brother Lin, you didn't expect that Lijiaji could still use money?"

Being able to use money is not a strange thing, Brother Lin, there's no need to find it odd.

However, the village's money cannot be used recklessly.

Brother Lin, although the coins of our dynasty are of the same design, the size and specifications of each coin are actually slightly different, whether due to the casting mold or the process.

The coins usable in our village were all printed at the government office, so the quantity was limited, and everyone in the village knew that.

When people trade with each other and use money, if they know each other well, then it's fine. But if they are not very familiar with each other, they can take the money to the government office to have a rubbing made and compare it. If there are some differences, then it proves that the money is not usable in the village, and then they can be investigated.

Brother Lin, do you have any copper coins you brought from elsewhere?

Lin Xiu shook his head and said, "No."

Lin Xiu found some money in a hidden compartment of the Wind Goddess Temple, but he didn't know if it was the money that Song Zaixu and Taozhi had taken out of the village. If it wasn't taken out from there, it would be useless. If it was taken out, taking it out would only cause trouble.

So it's best not to mention it at all.

Han Cheng said, "If you don't have it, you don't have it. In this world, money is mostly useless. Let's get down to business."

Then he said to carpenter Yang, "This Brother Lin has only been in our village for the past two days, as you should know. He wants to make a horse-drawn carriage. Do you think you can make it?"

Carpenter Yang said, "What's so difficult about making a carriage? I've made them before."

Back in Yancheng County, my family was known for our excellent car repair skills. Car dealerships and other car-related businesses in the city always came to me for their work. Didn't you know that?

Han Cheng said, "Alright, alright, stop bragging. I've heard of you being famous in Yancheng, okay?"

However, Brother Lin seems to have some rather unusual requirements for this carriage; you should discuss it with him yourselves.

Only then did Carpenter Yang turn his gaze to Lin Xiu.

Lin Xiu sorted out his thoughts and expressed them one by one.

His idea was actually nothing special; he simply wanted a horse-drawn carriage with shock absorption, a driver, and cargo capacity.

What he initially envisioned was a four-wheeled carriage with steering, designed for the American West, offering ample cargo capacity and ease of riding and driving. Back when he played Red Dead Redemption, he loved stealing these carriages and running around in them.

Therefore, when he was in the government office, he specifically chose a horse that looked the most stamina.

But after careful consideration, he realized that his idea was too unrealistic and impractical.

Although it's a place I've traveled to, different from my previous life, the country I'm in now is still quite similar to the environment of my previous life. However, it's very different from the American West, with fewer plains and open roads for me to roam.

After that, Lady Yao will continue north. Perhaps after reaching the capital, she will not be able to find her master and will have to go in other directions. The terrain she will pass through will be complex and varied. How could the four-wheeled carriage that is suitable for the American West be suitable for this place?

So, the wheels are still two-wheeled, but they don't need to be replaced; the ones from the old car might still work.

A steering mechanism is worth trying. Even a two-wheeled carriage would be easier to drive with a steering mechanism, and it would be easier to turn in inconvenient places.

Then there's the shock absorption system.

This world is similar to the ancient world of my previous life. It is not without shock absorption systems, such as leather suspension, but they are too cumbersome and not very sturdy, which would be extremely inconvenient for long-distance travel.

Those inconvenient technologies are rarely used nowadays. Most high-ranking officials and nobles would simply make the wheels bigger, padded the seats, and cover the wheels with wet cowhide, silk, or cotton to reduce vibration.

But even so, it's still not comfortable.

Lin Xiu then considered transplanting the leaf spring damping material. However, leaf spring damping material requirements are quite high; ordinary iron contains too many impurities and is therefore somewhat brittle.

We'll have to ask the blacksmith next door, Mr. Wang, if he can do it.

If it's not possible to do that, then we'll have to give up for now.

Lin Xiu first told Yang the carpenter about his ideas on the steering mechanism of the carriage. Unexpectedly, the more Yang the carpenter listened to this idea, the brighter his eyes became, and his fingers started moving involuntarily, as if he was itching to try it out.

After Lin Xiu finished speaking, Carpenter Yang clapped his hands and said, "Excellent! Excellent! No problem! I never expected this friend to have such a wonderful thing! I wonder what kind of extraordinary book 'Tiangong Kaiwu' is; I really want to see it!"

Han Cheng said, "Don't even think about it, Carpenter Yang, you can't even read."

Carpenter Yang glared at Han Cheng: "You may not be able to read, but I can understand pictures! I refuse to believe that there aren't any pictures in 'Tiangong Kaiwu'!"

Lin Xiu: "..."

Han Cheng: "..."

"Mmm~"

Brother Donkey brayed.

Carpenter Yang walked behind the donkey, looked at it, touched it, and said, "The wheels are ready-made and can be used. The wooden planks on the cart are also intact and of good quality. They can be disassembled and modified without any problems, but it is still a little lacking."

No problem, I still have some stock here, which will come in handy. Consider it payment for telling me about the tobacco news and the amazing techniques in "Tiangong Kaiwu"!

"I'm busy now, you guys go ahead and don't get in the way. Go ask across the street if Old Wang can make that board or something!"