Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 100: Making Instruments
"Is this... a sawmill?"

I saw a circular saw embedded in a wooden machine tool in the woodworking workshop, with an iron shaft connected in the middle, and the driving connecting rod of the waterwheel was tightly and seamlessly stuck on the iron shaft.

As the waterwheel turns, the circular saw begins to rotate rapidly, quickly cutting the wood fixed on the wooden table groove into pieces of uniformly shaped wood boards.

If you ignore the wooden machines and only listen to the harsh sound of sawing wood and watch the logs being quickly cut into boards, you will feel like you are in a modern sawmill.

"This sawmill should be considered the first industrial machine tool in our Shixing Fort." Zhang Ruosong said with a smile, reached out to take a cut wooden board, and carefully looked at the cut marks and cross-section.

Well, it's pretty neat, almost as well made as an electric sawmill.

Of course, due to the limitations of hydraulic driving force, the rotation speed of the circular saw is not very fast, but it is definitely more than ten times more efficient than a manually pulled saw.

"Sure, Lao Zhang!" Kuang Xu took the plank from him and touched the cut surface. "From now on, our wood processing industry can be considered mechanized! Just this sawmill can save at least ten workers."

"Actually, this sawmill isn't that advanced!" Zhang Ruosong said dissatisfiedly. "As early as the late 14th century, European countries had already developed primitive sawmills that used water, animal, and wind power to drive a chain in a reciprocating motion to saw logs."

"However, circular saws like this were invented relatively late, perhaps in the mid-to-late 18th century. Overall, this sawmill was only slightly ahead of its time, not particularly advanced. Anyone could easily copy a sawmill using this circular saw."

"That being said, technology is something that, until someone understands it thoroughly, even if you rack your brains, you won't be able to come up with something!" Kuang Xu was extremely optimistic. "Qiming Island, where we are, is remote enough. Even if we invented a few modern lathes now, I don't think anyone would steal them."

"Hey, Lao Zhang, when can you build us a steam turbine so that we can drive a steam ship and ride a steam train?"

"..." Zhang Ruosong rolled his eyes at him upon hearing this. "What are you thinking? We can't even make a cylinder right now, let alone a steam engine! Besides, even if we could make you a practical steam engine, with our current industrial scale and population size, could it be widely used? Do we have enough coal?"

"Our most pressing industrial development goal is to first produce sufficient iron and steel. Then, we will mechanize as many manual or human-operated tasks as possible, elevating primitive small-scale handicraft industries to a quasi-industrial stage."

"That is to say, we need to build more ore crushers, sawmills, mixers, leather kneading machines, flour mills, threshers, and a large number of agricultural machines that save labor and energy."

"Before we have trained enough industrial talents, you want to step into the steam age in one step. It is nothing but a foolish dream!"

"Hey, hey, hey..." Kuang Xu was so depressed by what he said that he said, and said angrily, "I'm a little anxious. Sometimes, I wish I could step into the electrical age and industrial civilization right away. You said that life now is not as bad as slash-and-burn agriculture, but everything is much slower, which makes people particularly anxious. ... It's been three years!"

"Development takes time." Zhang Ruosong patted him on the shoulder. "But don't worry, before you die, I will definitely let you see the original version of the steam locomotive!"

"Fortunately, they didn't wait until I died to burn it for me."

"Hey, you're taking advantage of me!" Zhang Ruosong laughed and punched him. "The people who burn things for you must be your children, right?"

"Children?" Kuang Xu's expression dimmed when he heard this. "Well, maybe they are burning paper for us in that world."

"It's been three years. It's time to let go of some things." Zhang Ruosong sighed secretly. "The director also said that we must face a new life."

"But..." Kuang Xu's expression suddenly became awkward, "But, their ages are indeed... too young."

"Then just raise her as your daughter first." Zhang Ruosong smiled.

"..." Upon hearing this, Kuang Xu was stunned at first, and then he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
-
Ding Shuimei sat on the doorstep, hugging her knees with her hands, staring at the gate of the yard in the faint moonlight, lost in thought.

It was so late, and her husband still hadn't come back. No one knew what he was busy with.

There were a few candles in the room, but she was reluctant to light them.

Before this, when I was still with my parents, we had never lit candles at home.

Whether I got up in the middle of the night or needed to look for something, I would search the house carefully.

Those who can afford to burn candles and light lamps are either rich or noble, which is not something ordinary people like them can dream of.

I still remember that Mr. Liu's family in the village usually didn't light many lights except when guests visited or when they hosted a banquet.

If you really want to do something with the help of lighting, or travel at night, you can just light a torch.

Poor people can’t even get enough food to eat or wear warm clothes, so how can they have extra money to buy a candle or light an oil lamp?

Oh, speaking of having enough to eat, it was only after I was bought by the people from Shixing Fort that I was able to get rid of the feeling of being hungry all day.

The family was so poor that they could barely make ends meet, and my younger brothers and sisters were so hungry that they couldn't even walk.

In desperation, her mother held her and cried all night long, and only reluctantly handed her over to the human trafficker in exchange for eight taels of silver.

After arriving in Guangzhou, she thought she would be sold to a brothel and become a most miserable prostitute.

Or, be sold to some rude and ugly man to bear his children.

Her own destiny is no longer in her hands.

In fact, how could a girl like her from a poor family control her own destiny?
However, after several twists and turns, it was bought by the master of Shixing Fort who came to Ming Dynasty.

Not long after, they boarded a large ship and sailed across the ocean to this strange and desolate continent.

Then came the happiest time of her life since she could remember.

Not only did they have three meals a day, but they also had a full set of new clothes, a warm and comfortable home, and a group of sisters to talk and play with.

What surprised her even more was that the people of Shixing Fort also arranged for these women who were bought back to read and write and receive various cultural knowledge.

There was no beating or abuse, and she was not immediately married off and became someone else's wife.

On the contrary, he received unimaginable care and attention in Shixing Fort.

Everything seemed like a dream, so unreal.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed. As one of the few girls who had turned eighteen, she had been informed a month earlier that she would be getting married.

After hearing the news, apart from shyness, embarrassment and a little panic, she didn't seem to be very afraid or repulsed.

Because the men she was going to marry were several "managers" of Shixing Fort.

Oh, that's the member of the decision-making committee that the residents are talking about.

Although they were all around 30 years old, they were a full generation older than these unmarried women.

But they look much younger than their actual age.

What is even more rare is that they are strong and well-proportioned, and they are also knowledgeable. They know everything about astronomy, geography, ancient and modern times, China and foreign countries, and even all kinds of "strange skills and tricks".

Moreover, two of the committee members often gave them lessons and were extremely friendly.

In other words, the man you want to marry should not only be someone you know well, but also someone who is extremely talented.

So, don’t trust your loved one like this.

Thinking of this, Ding Shuimei couldn't help but smile.

Why hasn't he come back yet?

I raised my head and looked outside the yard. It was dark and no one was coming.

A few days ago, after marrying Commissioner Kuang, he didn't seem to be very close to me.

Not only did he not consummate the marriage with her, but he also set up a bed in another room and lived separately from her.

This made her feel relieved, but at the same time, she felt a little sad and heartbroken.

Does he hate himself?

It doesn't seem to be either.

More than ten days ago, he said that the two of them should spend some time together first, until they get a little familiar with each other and have a certain degree of tacit understanding, and then proceed to the next step.

He said this is called cultivating feelings.

Ding Shuimei didn't understand what love was, but her mother once told her that once she got married, she would be everything to a man, and she would have to listen to him in everything and obey him in all matters.

And bear children for him.

What's more, I must stay with him for the rest of my life and remain unchanged until death.

No matter how much hardship or suffering he endures, I will accompany him and bear it together.

As for cultivating feelings, what is it?

When a man and a woman get married, isn't it just like what the books say, that they support each other and watch over each other?
Living in the same house, sleeping in the same bed, working together, raising children together, and living together, wouldn't you gradually become familiar with each other?

Well, whatever a man says is what it is. All I have to do is stay with him.

Oh, not really. He said that he didn’t need to be so isolated and could continue to read and learn to read in school and receive education in various subjects.

In the future, you can also choose the job you like.

He also said that women do not need to rely on men, they can have their own ideas, preferences, and things they like.

She felt confused and a little scared by the man's remarks.

How can a woman not depend on a man?

How can women live without men?
Suddenly, Ding Shuimei heard voices outside the yard, faintly her husband's voice, and she stood up immediately.

"You... are back." Although she couldn't see the man's face clearly in the dark, the familiar figure still made her recognize that it was her man.

"Why are you standing outside again?"

"I’m waiting for you."

"Oh..." Kuang Xu shook his head slightly.

This is the wife of the Ming Dynasty? !

"From now on, don't stand guard at the door anymore." Kuang Xu said gently, "There are so many mosquitoes outside. If you get bitten, it will be... uncomfortable."

It seems that it is a blessing that Shixing Fort has not experienced an outbreak of malaria caused by mosquito bites so far.

"Hmm..." Ding Shuimei responded in a low voice.

"Okay, let's...quickly go back to the house."

Oh, why does it feel so awkward?

Ding Shuimei timidly followed him into the dark room, her hand subconsciously holding the corner of her husband's clothes.

No matter what, with the man's return, she felt a sense of security and peace of mind deep in her heart.

(End of this chapter)