Chapter 37: PVC Water Pipes
Yesterday, all the coachmen driving carriages in Qingshui County were grinning from ear to ear. Although Han Lei forgot to include the carriage plan in the recruitment, it was only when she saw a row of carriages in the evening returning everyone to the restaurant doorstep that she realized Zhao Zun had arranged everything for them, and it was all at double fees.
Han Lei was deeply moved. Zhao Zun always combined roughness with finesse, being a compassionate warrior.
Mr Wang managed to arrange rooms in three inns, while the restaurant laid out mats to barely accommodate everyone. This was only temporary; once the new dormitory is completed, everyone can directly reside at the wasteland side.
Returning to the government office, although Han Lei was already very tired, she continued working late into the night.
She printed multiple copies of the wasteland planning design drawings on the computer. These drawings will be handed to the foreman and craftsmen. Once she returns to the Capital City, they will complete the tasks based on these drawings.
She also downloaded cooking videos of Twice-Cooked Pork, Braised Pork, Fish-flavored Shredded Pork, and Braised Pig’s Head and Innards from the computer. She intends for Mr Wang and the newly recruited cooks to watch them repeatedly and practice once the staff and ingredients are in place.
Early the next morning, Han Lei bought ten ox carts from the system and left them at the government office entrance. She left a message with the guard at the door, asking Luo Hai to send someone to purchase grain, tableware, and some simple daily supplies, then use the ox carts to transport them to the wasteland. This way, breakfast and dinner could be eaten at the restaurant, and lunch could be prepared at the wasteland.
Today only the farmers were responsible for building straw sheds. Since Han Lei brought the drawings, the craftsmen were tasked with constructing pigsties and stoves.
The foreman chosen by the masons was named Yang Qi Quan, an elder who had done masonry work all his life. He often worked for big families and had remarkable skills.
In an hour, Han Lei not only taught Yang Qi Quan and his masons how to read the drawings and about using concrete, but she also demonstrated hand-on-hand how to use a shovel and concrete. Then she joined them in pouring the cement floor for the pig farm.
"Mr Yang, the passageway is between two rows of pigsties, and the floor on both sides should have some slope. There must be a certain slope between the pigsties and the septic tank. This way, the waste water from cleaning the pigsties every night can flow into the septic tank via the gutter. Do you understand this?" Han Lei carefully explained the design on the drawings to Mr Yang.
"No problem, Miss, I understand." Mr Yang understood immediately.
"Remember daily maintenance; the floor must be fully dry before setting up the pigsties above it. While the floor cures, you can start building the outside fence or septic tank. The basic knowledge has been taught, can you manage the outdoor constructions yourselves?"
"Rest assured, Miss, we can handle the rest, and you just need to come and check when it’s done." Mr Yang patted his chest confidently.
Mr Yang resumed work, while Han Lei went to check on the carpenters’ work.
The carpenters with average skills were crafting tables and chairs for resting and dining in the straw sheds, while the more skilled ones were rushing the fabrication of waterwheels by the small river.
Waterwheels had emerged in this era; however, their use was not yet widespread.
The principle of a waterwheel lies in utilizing the force of water flow to elevate water from a lower level to a higher level, thereby irrigating farmland.
A waterwheel is a mechanical device driven by water power, primarily composed of axles, gear teeth, paddles, clutches, and a frame. When water flows past the axle, the water’s force turns the axle, driving the paddles through the clutch. The end of each paddle has a fork that moves water to irrigate the intended farmland.
By the small river, two waterwheels were being fabricated. One diverted water into manually excavated canals for field irrigation. The other had an elevated platform constructed from logs in front, with a large wooden barrel atop. The wooden barrel had an outlet at the bottom, used for connecting a water pipe, making it convenient to clean pigsties.
Thinking about connecting the water pipe, Han Lei summoned Zhao Zun and Ping Chuan. Then she purchased PVC pipes, fittings, tees, faucets, and installation tools from the system.
Han Lei taught them how to install and fix the PVC water pipes. Then she split bamboo in half, inserted the PVC pipe, sealed the splits with 502 glue. Unless meticulously examined, one would think the water pipe was made of bamboo.
From the waterwheel area to the pig farm, all outdoor pipes were encased in bamboo, using hoses and faucets only inside the pigsties.
The task could only be entrusted to Zhao Zun and Ping Chuan. The base is currently unstable, and to protect herself and Zhao Zun, she must develop inconspicuously. Moreover, Qingshui County is Han Lei’s first pilot site; she didn’t want to attract trouble that might affect future development.
The carpenters working on waterwheels were quite skilled, and Han Lei found no major issues there. Thus, she proceeded to inspect the straw shed area.
Today, Zhao Zun had brought all his trusted aides who were helping with the work nearby at the straw shed area.
In the straw shed, the shape of the stove built by the craftsmen was emerging. Made by stacking stones, all they needed was to pour concrete into the stone seams and then smooth the surface for curing over two days for use.
When Luo Hai led people from the government office arriving with ox carts, it was already afternoon. Staring at the wasteland that had transformed significantly in just a day, he was momentarily stunned.
No one used a whip to lash the laborers, yet each was working fervently. In just a single day, there were three large straw sheds capable of accommodating hundreds, a cleared stone-free wasteland, and several bases made of stacked rocks.
"Miss Han, are you progressing so quickly?" Luo Hai exclaimed in surprise.
"Mr. Luo, you’ve arrived? Many hands make light work, so naturally, a speedy progress!" Han Lei replied while patting the dirt off her hands.
"While we were coming, the restaurant recruited quite a few more people, and we brought them along for you." Luo Hai gestured, with guards bringing forward the recruits.
"Haha, that’s wonderful! Our team has grown even larger." Han Lei said, as her gaze swept over the newly recruited people.
Han Lei had the newcomers move all the supplies from the ox carts to the straw shed, then led Luo Hai and the government office personnel to tour the wasteland’s planned designs while introducing Luo Hai to the future tasks he would oversee.
By transporting swill from the restaurant to feed pigs, and using the decomposed manure to fertilize the land, the produced pigs, grain, and vegetables supply both the restaurant and the market. This forms a complete closed-loop system, requiring a large number of farmers and laborers.
Luo Hai and the government office personnel grew increasingly excited hearing this. Han Lei’s plan was grand in their eyes. It not only resolved many people’s food issues but also opened a new gateway for Qingshui County’s economic development.
Han Lei stated, if this industrial chain was successful, all participants would deserve recognition. Even if the government office didn’t reward them, she’d give them bonuses from her own pocket.
Over on Han Lei’s side, medieval industry was running enthusiastically and dynamically; meanwhile, deep on the grasslands, the Turkic royal court received an incredible piece of news.