Chapter Eighty-Nine: Lamb Slices Scalded in a Coal Stove Pot

Mother, shouldn’t we put out the fire? Wei Renshi fanned at the front of his robe and said to the old matriarch, who was wiping sweat from her brow.

The old matriarch shook her head, delighted. “The things my son makes are truly remarkable. Just a little trinket set in the room, and the room becomes so warm. When winter comes, won’t the house be warm all season?”

“It is only the end of summer and the beginning of autumn,” Wei Renshi said. “If you keep this up, be careful not to catch cold when you step outside later.”

“It can even warm water on top of it, so we’ll have hot water all day long.” The old matriarch was still beaming. She sat beside the coal stove, her face red with heat, and would not move, paying Wei Renshi no mind at all.

At last, Wei Renshi walked over and covered the stove’s vent with the iron lid. Once sealed, the fire inside would slowly die out.

Then he tugged the old matriarch away from the stove and led her a little toward the doorway.

Fortunately, the doors and windows had been left open the whole time, or the room would have been unbearably hot.

“Every year when winter comes, my body grows stiff and even moving is troublesome,” the old matriarch said, staring at the coal stove. “This year, with my son making such a thing, I’ll suffer much less.”

“Don’t worry. By winter, our new house will be built,” Wei Renshi said. “I’ll install heated walls and a heated bed inside as well. This winter, I won’t let you all freeze again.”

“What are those?” the old matriarch asked.

“You’ll know when the time comes.” Wei Renshi smiled and shook his head. Then he pointed at the coal stove and said, “Looking at this stove, I’ve suddenly grown hungry. No, tomorrow we’re having hot pot! Xi’er, do we still have any prickly ash?”

Xi’er nodded. “Yes.”

“Good!” Wei Renshi clenched a fist in excitement. “Xi’er, tomorrow morning come with me to buy some mutton, and we’ll pick out some vegetables too. I’ll make something delicious for you all when we get back!”

He could not get beef tallow, so he could not make a beef-fat broth. But sliced mutton in hot pot was no less delicious.

His mouth was practically watering already.

The next morning, Wei Renshi actually rose earlier than Xi’er for the first time. As soon as he got up, he pulled Xi’er along to Fuchang.

They bought a whole skinned carcass of freshly slaughtered mutton, along with as many vegetables as they could get. Fortunately, on the way back they met someone from the village who helped carry everything home, or else the two of them alone would never have made it back.

“We really ought to have a cart,” Wei Renshi sighed. “Ah, how I miss my old secondhand Ford.”

Shaking his head, he turned and went into the kitchen to start preparing.

He was busy for most of the morning before everything was finally nearly ready. Just as Wei Renshi stepped out, he heard someone knocking at the door.

He went over and opened it, only to find Jiao Haiqing standing outside with another man beside him—presumably the builder he had found.

“What smell is so fragrant?” Jiao Haiqing said as soon as he entered the courtyard.

“You’ve arrived at just the right time. I’ve just finished making the coal stove, and I was planning to use it to make us a fine meal.” Wei Renshi smiled. “This must be the skilled builder Brother Jiao mentioned!”

“I dare not claim so much praise. Lord Jiao flatters me,” the man said hurriedly, stepping forward to bow. “Rest assured, Lord Wei. My name is Liang Gedan. I’ve spent my whole life building houses for others. Whatever kind of house you want, I can build it for you.”

Wei Renshi fetched the drawings he had made himself and handed them over. “I drew up these plans myself. You must build according to my designs. Look—can you make sense of them?”

The man took them and studied them for a while, then looked up and said, “This… this doesn’t look like something meant for people to live in…”

“Correct. You understood it after all,” Wei Renshi said with a smile. “That’s excellent. I need quite a few things built, and they’re not quite like ordinary houses. Naturally, I won’t short you on the payment.”

The man looked down again and said, “Lord Wei is planning to build two more halls, and also this… is this not something for people to live in?”

“That’s called a livestock shed, for pigs and sheep,” Wei Renshi said. “As for the other two halls, I want them built in a row along the west side of the courtyard, with the middle opened through, and using the existing gate if possible. Everything already here needs repairs as well, so repair it all together. In addition, I have another place where I need five ordinary houses built.”

The man said at once, “That’s easy. I can bring people to start work immediately.”

“That would be best,” Wei Renshi said, nodding. “Since Brother Jiao trusts you, I’ll trust you too. I’ll hand the plans to you. If you have any questions, come ask me and I’ll explain everything clearly. From purchasing the materials to finishing the construction, I’ll leave the whole matter in your hands. Naturally, I won’t be stingy with the payment. Name your price. I want everything finished before winter sets in, so I can pay you more accordingly.”

The man studied the plans and thought for a moment before saying, “Since Lord Wei trusts me, then I’ll speak to you from the heart. Please rest assured. The houses I build will be solid, and I will certainly not skimp on materials or labor. The supplies will also be the good ones. Repairs won’t cost much. The two new halls ought to be at least of the same standard as your current ones, and from what I can see they’re a little different from ordinary houses, with some additional features, so that will cost more. The five houses can be priced at the usual rate. As for the livestock shed, it’s a bit complicated. If one isn’t familiar with this sort of work, it won’t be easy to build, so that will cost extra too. All told, I figure it can’t be done for less than seven hundred strings of cash. What makes it expensive is mainly the two new halls and the livestock shed. I make my living at this trade as well, so I ought to earn something from you, don’t I? And since everything must be finished before winter, the schedule is rather tight.”

Seven hundred strings of cash was about what Wei Renshi had expected.

So he nodded and said, “You’re a straightforward man. Seven hundred strings—fine. But you must guarantee the houses are sturdy.”

“That goes without saying. If they weren’t sturdy, why would the big families of Fuchang still come to me to build for them?” The man nodded.

“Good, then it’s settled,” Wei Renshi said.

“Excellent!” The man rose to his feet. “I’ll go arrange the workers at once. Lord Wei, may I take these drawings with me? I’d like to discuss them with the craftsmen. After all, some of these are things we’ve never built before.”

Wei Renshi nodded.

The man immediately took his leave to return home.

“Stay for a meal before you go,” Wei Renshi said with a smile as he stood.

“We have to finish everything before winter, so we need to hurry. I’d better go back and discuss the building plans with the craftsmen sooner. I’ll bring people tomorrow to start work!” the man replied.

Seeing him say so, Wei Renshi did not press him to stay.

After the man left, Jiao Haiqing smiled. “See that? The reason this fellow can make such a good business of building houses is not without cause. Ah, Brother Renshi, what delicious dish are you making for lunch today?”

Wei Renshi was just about to answer when someone knocked again, and a voice came from outside: “Excuse my intrusion, but may I ask whether this is the home of Wei Renshi?”